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Hire a Fractional CEO to lead your business forward. Senior executive leadership, strategic vision, and proven expertise—at a fraction of full-time cost.
A Fractional CEO is an experienced Chief Executive Officer who works with your company on a part-time basis—typically 2-3 days per week. You get the strategic leadership, executive expertise, and business acumen of a senior CEO without the commitment and cost of a full-time hire.
Unlike consultants who advise from the sidelines, a fractional CEO becomes your executive leader. They set strategic direction, lead your management team, represent your company to stakeholders and investors, make critical business decisions, and take ownership of business outcomes—just not five days a week.
"Companies access CEO expertise for £4,000-£8,000 per week instead of £15,000+ monthly for a full-time CEO."
A full-time CEO costs £200,000-£500,000 in total compensation, including salary, benefits, equity, and overhead. According to ONS data, executive compensation in the UK has risen significantly, making full-time C-suite hires increasingly expensive for growing companies. For many businesses, full-time is unnecessary—you need CEO-level thinking on strategy and growth, but not 40 hours weekly.
A fractional CEO gives you exactly what you need: senior executive leadership scaled to your actual requirements. This model is particularly effective for founder-led businesses where the founder wants to remain involved but needs experienced executive partnership. As your company grows, you can increase their time—or transition to a full-time hire when the role justifies it. Most fractional CEOs work through limited companies, ensuring tax efficiency and professional structure.
Core responsibilities your fractional CEO will own
Set company vision and strategy. Define goals, priorities, and growth initiatives. Make critical business decisions aligned with long-term objectives.
Lead and develop the management team. Build a high-performance leadership culture. Provide mentorship and accountability to key executives.
Manage relationships with investors, board members, and key partners. Represent the company externally and build strategic relationships.
Drive revenue growth through partnerships, new markets, and strategic initiatives. Identify and pursue major business opportunities.
Ensure operational alignment across departments. Build scalable processes and systems. Drive execution of strategic initiatives.
Shape and reinforce company values and culture. Lead through transitions and change. Build an organisation that can scale effectively.
Lead fundraising processes and investor relations. Evaluate M&A opportunities. Prepare the company for exit or acquisition scenarios.
Navigate challenging situations and major pivots. Provide steady leadership during uncertainty. Make tough decisions when needed.
Manage board relationships and communications. Prepare comprehensive board materials. Ensure governance and compliance standards.
Access CEO-level expertise at 40-60% less than a full-time hire. Pay only for the time you need—typically £100,000-£280,000 per year versus £300,000+ for full-time.
Skip the 6-12 month executive recruitment process. Fractional CEOs are seasoned professionals who can start within days and make immediate impact.
Get a CEO with 20+ years of business leadership who has navigated your challenges before. Many have scaled companies through major growth phases and exits.
Scale leadership up during critical periods, scale down during steady states. No long-term commitments—engagements flex with your business needs.
Fractional CEOs work across multiple companies and industries. They bring fresh thinking, proven playbooks, and objective insights you won't get from an internal-only perspective.
Test executive leadership before committing to a full-time hire. Assess cultural fit and leadership style with lower risk and investment.
The right time to hire a fractional CEO depends on your company's stage and challenges. Here are the most common scenarios:
You're a technical founder who wants to step back from the CEO role but aren't ready to hire full-time. A fractional CEO can lead the business while you focus on product or technology.
When founder needs to focusYour company is scaling rapidly and needs experienced executive leadership to navigate growth challenges, build teams, and establish processes.
During rapid scalingYou're pivoting business model, entering new markets, or undertaking major strategic shifts that require experienced change leadership.
3-6 months before changeYou're preparing for acquisition, merger, or sale. You need an experienced CEO to professionalise operations and maximise valuation.
12-18 months before exitYour leadership team needs development and the business needs experienced executive oversight to reach the next level of maturity.
When team needs growthInvestors or board members have requested stronger executive leadership but you're not ready for a full-time CEO commitment yet.
Immediately after requestYou need CEO-level leadership during a transition period—between CEOs, during recruitment, or while testing the need for a full-time role.
During transition periodYou have major initiatives (fundraising, market expansion, restructuring) that need dedicated executive leadership and expertise.
At initiative launchCompare the cost of fractional vs full-time CEO
Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CEO UK average day rate: £1200.
BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions. Consult with a qualified accountant for accurate financial planning.
Pricing varies based on the CEO's experience, your industry, company size, and complexity of the role. Specialist expertise (e.g., turnaround, PE-backed, international) commands premium rates.
Choose the right model for your needs
| Feature | Fractional CEO | Interim CEO | Full-Time CEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commitment | 1-3 days/week | Full-time (temporary) | Full-time (permanent) |
| Duration | Ongoing (6+ months typical) | 3-12 months | Permanent |
| Cost | £3,000-£6,000/week | £8,000-£12,000/week | £150,000-£250,000/year + benefits |
| Focus | Strategic + operational | Gap-fill or transformation | All responsibilities |
| Flexibility | Scale up/down as needed | Fixed term contract | Limited flexibility |
| Best For | Growing companies, specific expertise needs | Leadership gaps, major transitions | Large orgs with full-time need |
From first conversation to start date in as little as 7 days
Tell us about your needs, company stage, and what you're looking for in a fractional executive.
We curate a shortlist of pre-vetted fractional executives who match your specific requirements.
Interview your top candidates. We handle scheduling and provide interview frameworks.
Your fractional executive begins within days. We support onboarding and ongoing success.
Tell us about your needs, company stage, and what you're looking for in a fractional executive.
We curate a shortlist of pre-vetted fractional executives who match your specific requirements.
Interview your top candidates. We handle scheduling and provide interview frameworks.
Your fractional executive begins within days. We support onboarding and ongoing success.
Specialists with deep sector experience
Product-market fit, scaling, tech strategy, investor readiness
Brand building, growth strategy, channel expansion, operations
Regulatory navigation, funding strategy, market positioning
Clinical partnerships, regulatory compliance, scaling care delivery
Partnership models, service scaling, brand positioning
Founder transitions, growth acceleration, investor relations
Tell us about your needs and we'll match you with pre-vetted fractional CEOs who fit your requirements. Start conversations within 48 hours.
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