FractionalQuest

Top fractional executive search firms,
vetted in 48 hours.

The UK's only fractional executive platform that grades every match on rate, demand and IR35 structure. Brief us today — meet 3–5 vetted operators within 48 hours. Nationwide.

Submit a brief →Try the calculator
48-hour shortlistOutside IR35 by default10–15% fee
~/matching-enginelive
scanning 247 missions…
avg match time48h
340%
Growth since 2019
Vendux 2026
78%
UK scale-ups using fractional
Vendux 2026
£800–1,500
Typical day rates
Vendux 2026
45%
London market share
Viney 2026
01 / how it works

How fractional executive search firms work: 4 steps.

No 200-CV inbox. No three-month retained search. You give us the shape of the role; we return a graded shortlist — fast.

01

You brief us

Shape of role, stage, budget — not a 47-page JD

15 mins
02

We grade matches

Rate, demand, IR35 structure — every match analyzed

24–48h
03

You meet 3–5

Pre-vetted operators who have built at your stage

1 week
04

Start working

Simple MSA, outside IR35, no recruitment fee drama

2 weeks
02 / our edge

We analyse every match. Others just send CVs.

Before any operator reaches your shortlist we grade them on three signals — and show you the working.

Why choose fractional executive search firms like us

⌗
01 / RATE

Benchmarked day rate

Every rate positioned against market benchmarks — so you never over- or under-pay.

$ fq rate --role=CFO
› £1,500/day = 72nd pctile
band £1,200–£1,800
◎
02 / DEMAND

Applicant pressure & ETA

A live read on how many operators are circling and how fast comparable roles filled.

$ fq demand --id=CTO-LON
› 14 operators · ETA 11d
signal: HIGH-INTENT
⛨
03 / STRUCTURE

IR35 pre-checked

Every brief carries an outside-IR35-ready scope, vetted before posting.

$ fq ir35 --id=CTO-LON
› outside · pre-vetted
CEST: pass
03 / interactive

What could you save?

Drag the sliders. Every number updates live — benchmarked against UK market data.

Your inputs

Day rate£1,500 /day
£600£2,200
Days per week2 days
15
Weeks engaged / year46 weeks
3048
Your £1,500/day sits at the 58th percentile for UK CFOs (£1,200–£1,800 band).

Your cost

Fractional executive search firms pricing breakdown
Total year-1 cost
£154,560
Total year-1 cost · 2 days/week · incl. our 12% fee
Fractional (this setup)£154,560
Full-time equivalent, loaded£288,000
Year-1 saving£133,440 · 46%
Submit a brief →See the rates
Indicative. Full-time loaded cost = base + 25% recruitment + 15% employer NI + 20% benefits/equity.
04 / rate distributions

What fractional executives charge

Pick a role. See the rate distribution, regional variance, and growth trend — sourced from UK market data, 2021–2024.

Fractional CFO

median £1,500/day
£1,200 – £1,800·+6.4%·312 data points
£600£1,200£1,800£2,400
Median £1,500P25 £1,200P75 £1,800
Full CFO guide →

Fractional executive search firms: regional medians

London£1,500
Edinburgh£1,400
Manchester£1,300
Bristol£1,275
Remote£1,200
05 / the firms

Who places fractional executives?

The landscape: Big Five retained search giants, fractional-native boutiques, and everyone in between. Flip each card for our scorecard — scores are Fractional Quest's editorial assessment of each firm's fit for fractionalbriefs, not the firms' own figures. Firms listed are not partners or clients.

Spencer Stuart
BIG FIVE
Chicago HQ · London office
Founded 1956 · 60+ offices
One of the original Big Five retained search firms. Deep, exclusive shortlists for senior permanent C-suite and board work — but not built for true fractional engagements.
Best: FTSE / board⟳ flip for scorecard
~/scorecard · Spencer Stuart
Speed6.2
Fee transparency4.5
Verification9.2
UK coverage7.8
weighted overall8.7 / 10
Odgers Interim
INTERIM SPECIALIST
London HQ · UK, Canada & US
Launched 1999 · Odgers Berndtson group
The interim-management arm of executive search firm Odgers Berndtson. Strong public-sector and corporate interim bench — built for full-time interim cover rather than 1–3 day/week fractional mandates.
Best: interim cover⟳ flip for scorecard
~/scorecard · Odgers Interim
Speed7.4
Fee transparency5.8
Verification8.8
UK coverage8.5
weighted overall7.8 / 10
FD Capital
CFO SPECIALIST
London HQ · UK-wide
Founded 2018 · PE/VC focus
UK CFO and FD specialist with strong PE/VC-backed company focus. Published day-rate data and a 3–7 working day shortlist. London-centric network.
Best: CFO / FD⟳ flip for scorecard
~/scorecard · FD Capital
Speed7.0
Fee transparency7.5
Verification8.0
UK coverage6.0
weighted overall7.3 / 10
07 / the shift

Fractional is the new operating model.

Experienced operators are choosing portfolio careers; smart companies buy senior expertise by the day.

UK roles tagged "fractional" · indexed to 2022+400%
20222023202420252026
1.1m
UK workers who left a job over lack of flexibility
CIPD 2025
14%
Annual growth in the global fractional market
Fractionus 2025
82%
Of operators work with 2+ clients at once
Quest survey
08 / questions

Frequently asked

The common questions from companies hiring fractional executives.

Common questions about fractional executive search firms
How fast can you really deliver a shortlist?▼
Our average brief-to-shortlist is 48 hours. Because we match against an existing, pre-vetted network — rather than starting a search from scratch — we skip the 6–12 week sourcing phase traditional retained search requires.
What does it cost to hire through Quest?▼
We charge 10–15% of estimated annual billings — versus the 25–30% of first-year salary traditional executive search charges. Day rates are published per role; we never add a hidden margin.
Are your fractional executives genuinely outside IR35?▼
Every role is structured outside IR35 by default. Our contract template was reviewed by employment-tax specialists and passes HMRC's CEST tool when the arrangement matches the contract.
Do you only cover London?▼
No. We place nationwide — London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds and fully remote. Our operators know local board culture, not just the M25.
What if the first match isn't right?▼
You get a free re-shortlist and a replacement guarantee within the first 90 days, plus structured 30 and 90-day check-ins to catch scope drift early.
09 / next step

Ready to move?

Two paths. Choose yours.

FOR COMPANIES

Hire a fractional executive

Submit your brief. Get a graded shortlist in 48 hours. Outside IR35, proven operators, transparent fees.

Submit a brief →
FOR OPERATORS

Become a fractional operator

Join our network. Get matched with pre-qualified opportunities. Your rate, your terms, no fees to you.

Browse missions →
Fractional executive search firms - leadership team planning strategy

Fractional executive search firms connect companies with senior leaders for part-time engagements.

Top fractional executive search firms — Fractional Quest

The top fractional executive search firms, compared

Top fractional executive search firms place experienced C-suite leaders into part-time, ongoing roles rather than permanent hires. This guide ranks the top fractional executive search firms in the UK on process, fees and placement speed, so you can shortlist the right partner. Unlike traditional retained search, the top fractional executive search firms match against a pre-vetted network and structure engagements outside IR35 — a graded shortlist in 48 hours, not a three-month search.

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