Hire a fractional CIO — IT and systems leadership, part-time
A fractional CIO owns internal IT strategy, enterprise systems, and the tech that runs the business — CRM, ERP, identity, endpoints, and vendor management — on 1–2 days per week.
A fractional CIO costs $10k–$22k/mo ($225–$500/hr), typically works 1–3 days per week, and can be hired in about 48 hours through RecruitFractional — with no placement fee or percentage of compensation. Engagements run fractional, interim, or advisory.
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- • Shortlist in 48 hours
- • No placement fee or percentage of compensation
- • Vetted C-suite and VP operators
- • Fractional, interim, or advisory
When to hire a fractional CIO
Most companies hire a fractional CIO when the founder or existing team can no longer own the engineering function at executive depth. Common triggers:
- Internal tools are a patchwork: multiple CRMs, disconnected data, manual reporting
- You need to select or implement an ERP, HRIS, or CRM
- Enterprise customers are asking for SOC 2 controls on IT and identity
- IT spend is growing but no one owns the roadmap
- You are integrating systems after an acquisition
What a fractional CIO owns
A fractional CIO operates as your accountable Chief Information Officer on a part-time basis. Typical scope:
- — IT strategy, enterprise systems roadmap, and architecture
- — ERP, CRM, HRIS, and identity platform selection
- — IT operating model, service desk, and vendor management
- — IT security controls, endpoint, and identity governance
- — M&A systems integration
- — IT budget, hiring plan, and org design
Engagement models
Fractional (ongoing)
1–3 days per week on a recurring basis. Best when you need executive judgment in the business every week, but not a full-time hire yet.
Interim (full-time, fixed term)
Full-time coverage for 3–9 months. Best for a vacancy, a fundraise, an M&A event, or a turnaround.
Project / advisory
Scoped engagement (10–40 hours) tied to a specific deliverable — a plan, a system, a hire, a diligence.
How much does a fractional CIO cost?
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Frequently asked questions
- What does a fractional CIO do?
- A fractional CIO owns internal IT and enterprise systems — CRM, ERP, HRIS, identity, and IT security — on a part-time basis, typically 1–2 days per week.
- How much does a fractional CIO cost?
- Fractional CIO retainers typically run $10,000–$22,000 per month, or $225–$500 per hour.
- Fractional CIO vs fractional CTO?
- A CTO owns the product's engineering. A CIO owns the systems that run the business — CRM, ERP, IT, identity. Growing companies often need both.
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