How do fractional rates compare to full-time salaries?

Fractional day rates translate to higher daily equivalent than full-time roles, but with lower annual earnings due to utilization. A £1,000/day fractional working 150 days earns £150,000 vs a full-time equivalent earning £200,000+ with benefits. The trade-off is flexibility and variety.

Should I charge day rates or retainers?

Both work. Day rates provide transparency and flexibility. Retainers provide income predictability and can include small overage allowances. Many fractional executives use retainers for ongoing clients and day rates for new or project-based work.

How do I increase my rates?

Rate increases come from: specialization (niche expertise commands premium), track record (demonstrable results), positioning (thought leadership, brand), and demand (strong network, referrals). Most fractional executives increase rates 5-15% annually.

Salary Guide

Fractional Executive Day Rates UK 2025

Complete guide to fractional executive compensation

Overview

UK Fractional Executive Rate Guide

Understanding market rates is essential whether you are hiring a fractional executive or building your own fractional practice. This guide provides comprehensive day rate benchmarks for all major fractional roles in the UK market for 2025. Rates vary by role, seniority, sector, and location.

Rate Guide

Day Rates by Role

Role	Day Rate Range	Median	Notes
Fractional CEO	£1,200-£2,000	£1,500	Highest rates for PE portfolio and turnaround work
Fractional CFO	£900-£1,400	£1,100	Higher for FinTech and fundraising specialists
Fractional CTO	£900-£1,400	£1,100	AI/ML specialists at premium end
Fractional CMO	£800-£1,300	£1,000	B2B SaaS and D2C at higher end
Fractional COO	£900-£1,400	£1,100	PE integration work commands premium
Fractional CHRO	£600-£1,200	£900	Scale-up specialists at higher end
Fractional CISO	£1,000-£1,600	£1,200	FinTech and regulated sectors at premium
Fractional CPO	£850-£1,300	£1,050	Consumer and B2B SaaS highest
Finance Director	£600-£1,100	£800	Entry to fractional finance leadership
VP Engineering	£800-£1,200	£950	Scale-up experience valued
VP Sales	£800-£1,300	£1,000	Enterprise sales at premium

Location Factors

Location Rate Factors

Location	Rate Factor	Notes
London	+15-25%	Premium for City, FinTech, VC-backed
South East	+5-10%	Tech corridors command premium
Manchester	Base rate	Strong market, competitive rates
Edinburgh	Base rate to +5%	Financial services premium
Other Regions	-5-10%	Lower cost, fewer opportunities

Sector Premiums

Sector Rate Premiums

FinTech

+15-25%

Regulatory expertise, security requirements

Private Equity

+10-20%

Value creation pressure, deal intensity

AI/ML

+10-20%

Scarce expertise, high demand

SaaS

Base to +10%

Large market, competitive rates

Healthcare

+5-15%

Regulatory complexity, long sales cycles

Earning Potential

Annual Earning Potential

Fractional executives working 3-4 days per week across 2-4 clients can earn £150,000-£400,000+ annually. Top performers with strong networks and premium positioning exceed £500,000. The key factors are: rate level, utilization (billable days), and client retention.

Mid-level fractional CFO

£150,000

£1,000/day × 150 days/year

Senior fractional CTO

£216,000

£1,200/day × 180 days/year

Premium fractional CEO

£300,000

£1,500/day × 200 days/year

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

The average UK fractional executive day rate is £900-£1,200 depending on role. CFOs, CTOs, and COOs cluster around £1,000-£1,150. CMOs and CHROs are typically £850-£1,000. CISOs and CEOs command premiums of £1,200-£1,600+.

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