What does a fractional CTO do?
A fractional CTO is a senior engineering leader (former CTO or VP Engineering) working part-time to own technical strategy, architecture, hiring, security, and vendor selection. Cost: $6,000 to $20,000 per month for 15 to 40 hours.
Definition
A fractional CTO is a senior technology executive engaged part-time — typically 15 to 40 hours per month — to own the technical function of a company. They set architecture, hire engineers, choose vendors, own security posture, and represent the company technically to customers, board, and investors.
Core responsibilities
Architecture and technical roadmap. Hiring and management of the engineering team (usually first 3 to 15 engineers). Vendor selection (cloud, tooling, security). Security and compliance posture (SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR where applicable). Investor and customer technical diligence. Coaching the founding engineer or first VP Engineering.
Get 3 vetted fractional CTO candidates in 72 hours.
Post a private mandate with your scope and budget. You contract directly with the operator, and there is a flat $1,000 placement fee per confirmed hire.
What a fractional CTO does not do
They do not write production code full-time. They do not run daily standups. They do not do individual contributor work at scale. If you need production code shipped, you need either a full-time engineer or a fractional VP Engineering plus contractors — not a fractional CTO.
When to hire
Three trigger moments. Non-technical founder: hire on day one, at 10 to 15 hours per month, to prevent architectural mistakes that cost six figures to unwind. Post-MVP with 5 to 20 engineers: hire at 20 to 30 hours per month to install engineering process. Pre-Series A or B: hire at 30 to 40 hours per month to lead investor technical diligence and hire the full-time CTO.
Cost
Advisory (10 hours): $3,000 to $5,000. Standard (20 to 30 hours): $8,000 to $14,000. Deep (30 to 40 hours): $15,000 to $22,000. Day rate: $1,500 to $3,000. Equity 0.25% to 1.00% at pre-seed / seed is common in exchange for a discounted rate.
Common mistakes
Hiring a fractional CTO to write code — misuse of the role. Confusing 'fractional CTO' with 'technical advisor' — advisors are hourly and passive; fractional CTOs own outcomes. Failing to give the fractional CTO authority over vendor and architecture decisions.
How to hire
Filter for stage and stack. Require two prior fractional client references. Ask for one recent technical diligence memo they wrote. Run a paid two-week trial focused on an architecture review or hiring loop. Commit to 6 months if the trial produces the deliverables.
Hire a vetted fractional CTO.
Post a private mandate on RecruitFractional and receive a shortlist of reference-verified fractional CTOs within 72 hours. Start with a paid 30-day trial.
- Every operator has held a full-time C-suite or VP title
- Reference-verified, with prior-client reviews on profile
- Shortlist within 72 hours
- Flat $1,000 placement fee per hire — you contract directly with the operator
Frequently asked questions
Does a fractional CTO write code?
Rarely, and never as their main output. They may prototype, review PRs, or fix a critical bug, but their value is in strategy, hiring, and architecture.
How much does a fractional CTO cost?
$3,000 to $22,000 per month depending on hours; most engagements land at $8,000 to $14,000.
Fractional CTO vs technical co-founder?
A technical co-founder has equity, decision authority, and long-term commitment. A fractional CTO is a paid executive with a defined engagement. Both are valid; they solve different problems.