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. A flat $1,000 placement fee instead of a percentage of annualized comp, 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) | One month of retainer (one-time) |
| 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 | Public profile, references, work history |
| 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
Placement
Confirm the hire. A flat $1,000 placement fee is invoiced, due in 30 days.
A full walkthrough lives in how it works and the buyer-side hire a fractional executive cornerstone.
Pricing
A flat monthly subscription. A flat $1,000 placement fee per confirmed hire. No retainer, no percentage of comp. You pay the operator's monthly retainer directly.
A flat $1,000 placement fee per confirmed hire, due within 30 days — plus your monthly subscription while hiring.
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 a flat monthly subscription plus a one-time $1,000 placement fee per confirmed hire — 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 a flat monthly RecruitFractional subscription. There is a flat $1,000 placement fee per confirmed hire, due within 30 days — never a percentage of annualized comp.
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 a flat monthly subscription.
Start your fractional executive search
Post a private mandate and get a vetted shortlist within 48 hours. No retainer, no agency layer, a flat $1,000 placement fee per confirmed hire.