Fractional executive search, without the retainer.
Fractional executive search is how modern operators hire senior leadership: a vetted shortlist of fractional or interim C-suite and VP-level executives in 48 hours, engaged part-time on a monthly retainer. No placement fee or percentage of annualized compensation, no 8 to 14 week retained search, no agency layer between you and the operator.
What is fractional executive search?
Fractional executive search is the process of sourcing and placing a part-time C-suite or VP-level operator into a company on a recurring engagement — usually one to three days per week. Unlike retained search, it does not target a full-time hire, does not carry a fee on first-year compensation, and does not run for months before a shortlist lands.
It is the standard hiring motion for seed through Series C companies, PE portfolio ops, board-mandated turnarounds, and any team that needs executive judgment inside the business this quarter — but not a full-time seat yet.
Retained executive search vs. RecruitFractional
Retained search was built for permanent, full-time hires. Fractional executive search is built for the way operators actually staff senior functions today.
| Attribute | Retained search firm | RecruitFractional |
|---|---|---|
| Shortlist timeline | 6 to 10 weeks | 48 hours |
| Time to hire | 4 to 6 months | 2 weeks (average) |
| Fee model | 25 to 33% of first-year comp ($60k–$120k) | Free posting; optional plans; no placement fee |
| Engagement type | Full-time employee | Fractional, interim, or advisory |
| Commitment | 12-month contract | Paid 30-day trial, then 6–12 months |
| Vetting | Firm-managed, opaque | Manual review; optional approved checks shown |
| Roles covered | 1 exclusive per firm | 10 C-suite functions in one network |
Who fractional executive search is for
Fractional executive search is the right motion whenever you need senior operating judgment on a repeatable cadence, but a full-time hire is either too early or too slow.
Seed to Series C founders
You have product-market fit or the start of it, but no CFO, CMO, or CRO yet. A fractional leader installs the operating system without burning 18 months of runway on a full-time hire.
PE and VC portfolio operators
You need consistent finance, GTM, or ops leadership across 6 to 20 portfolio companies. Fractional executives plug in fast and share pattern recognition across the portfolio.
Interim vacancies and turnarounds
A departing CFO, a stalled GTM motion, a botched integration. Interim fractional leadership stabilizes the seat in weeks, not quarters.
Board-mandated milestones
Fundraise, M&A, audit readiness, GTM reset. A fractional executive owns the milestone end to end, then hands off to a full-time hire when the timing is right.
Roles we place
Every C-suite function is supported by a dedicated hub with scope, cost bands, and vetted operators.
How the search works
Fractional executive search on RecruitFractional runs in four steps, from intake to placement.
- Step 1
Intake
Post a private mandate with outcomes, hours, and budget. Takes about 8 minutes.
- Step 2
48-hour shortlist
Receive a vetted shortlist of 3 to 5 operators matched to your mandate.
- Step 3
Intros and trial
Meet the shortlist, choose one, run a paid 30-day trial with named deliverables.
- Step 4
Engagement
Confirm the engagement for history, reviews, and structured check-ins. No placement fee.
A full walkthrough lives in how it works and the buyer-side hire a fractional executive cornerstone.
Pricing
Free to post a role, optional Search plans or a $3,000 Concierge search, and no placement fee or percentage of compensation. You pay the operator's monthly retainer directly.
No placement fee or percentage of compensation—just a Search plan or Concierge search if you choose one.
25 to 33 percent of first-year total comp, paid across the retained search cycle.
Full breakdown on the pricing page. See also fractional vs. full-time executive and fractional vs. interim vs. consultant.
FAQ
What is fractional executive search?
Fractional executive search is the process of sourcing, vetting, and placing a part-time C-suite or VP-level operator into a company on a recurring engagement — typically one to three days per week — instead of running a retained full-time search. RecruitFractional runs this as a marketplace with a pre-vetted network so shortlists arrive in 48 hours, not 6 to 10 weeks.
How is this different from a retained executive search firm?
Retained search firms charge 25 to 33 percent of first-year base salary (typically $60k to $120k) and take 8 to 14 weeks to deliver a shortlist for a full-time hire. RecruitFractional charges no placement fee: posting a role is free, Search plans start at $149 a month, and Concierge is a flat $3,000, delivers a shortlist within 48 hours, and places fractional or interim operators — not full-time employees.
How fast can we hire through fractional executive search?
Post a mandate and receive a vetted shortlist within 48 hours. Most engagements start within two weeks after intro calls and a paid 30-day trial. Traditional retained search runs 8 to 14 weeks to shortlist and 4 to 6 months to close.
What does a fractional executive search engagement cost?
You pay the operator's monthly retainer directly — typically $6k to $22k depending on function and scope — plus an optional RecruitFractional Search plan from $149 a month (posting a role is free). There is no placement fee or percentage of annualized compensation.
Which roles do you place through fractional executive search?
CFO, CMO, CTO, COO, CRO, CHRO, CPO, CCO, CSO, and CISO. Each function has a dedicated hub with scope, cost bands, and vetted operators. Advisory, fractional, and interim engagement shapes are all supported.
Is RecruitFractional a staffing agency or a recruiter?
Neither. RecruitFractional is a curated marketplace of vetted fractional executives. There is no agency layer, no exclusive representation, and no markup on rates. Companies contract directly with the operator; we facilitate the match and charge only for job-board extras, Search plans, or a one-time Concierge search — never on hire.
Start your fractional executive search
Post a private mandate and get a vetted shortlist within 48 hours. No retainer, no agency layer, placement fee, or percentage of compensation.