Fractional CTO
Can a fractional CTO replace a full-time CTO?
For most companies under 200 employees with fewer than eight engineers, yes. Above that scale a fractional CTO usually becomes a bridge, and part of the job is writing the job spec and helping run the search.
Related questions
- What is a fractional CTO?
A fractional CTO is a senior technology executive who works with a company part time on an ongoing basis while holding full CTO responsibility: strategy, architecture, vendor decisions, team structure, and board communication. The difference from a full-time CTO is cost and time to onboard, not seniority or scope of authority.
- How much does a fractional CTO cost?
Fractional CTO engagements generally range from $5,000 to $25,000 per month depending on seniority and time commitment. PrecisionLogic engagements run $12,000 to $15,000 per month. For comparison, a full-time CTO at equivalent seniority costs $350,000 to $500,000 loaded and takes four to six months to hire.
- When should a company hire a fractional CTO?
When technology decisions are becoming expensive to reverse and nobody senior owns them. Common triggers are an ATS or ERP replatform, an AI vendor evaluation, a board or PE sponsor asking about technology strategy, or growth that has outpaced the systems.
Let's talk
If the answer you need is not here, ask directly. A 30-minute discovery call covers your situation specifically, and you leave with a point of view whether or not we work together.
Last updated: August 2026