Fractional CTO cost calculator
Estimate what a part-time fractional CTO would cost your business each year – and how that compares with the fully-loaded cost of a full-time CTO hire. Adjust the sliders to match your situation.
Your inputs
Employer National Insurance, pension, benefits, recruitment and equity – typically 25–40% on top of base salary.
Estimated annual cost
Fractional CTO (per year)
£45,600
4 days/month × 12 × £950/day
Full-time CTO (fully loaded)
£175,500
£135,000 salary + 30% on-costs
Estimated annual saving
£129,900
About 74% less than a full-time hire
How this is calculated
Figures are illustrative and fully adjustable. Fractional cost is simply your chosen day rate × days per month × 12. Full-time cost adds employer on-costs – National Insurance, pension, benefits, recruitment and equity – to base salary, because the headline salary is never the true cost of an executive hire. The calculator does not constitute a quote; your actual figures will depend on scope, sector and seniority.
Fractional CTO cost – FAQs
How much does a fractional CTO cost in the UK?
A fractional CTO is typically engaged on a day rate – commonly £700–£1,400 per day depending on seniority and sector – for an agreed number of days each month. Because you only pay for the days you use, annual cost is usually a fraction of a full-time CTO salary plus employment on-costs. Use the calculator on this page to model your own numbers.
Is a fractional CTO cheaper than hiring a full-time CTO?
For most SMEs that do not yet need full-time technology leadership, yes. A full-time CTO costs their base salary plus employer National Insurance, pension, benefits, recruitment and often equity – frequently 25–40% on top of salary. A fractional CTO delivers senior leadership for a few days a month with none of those on-costs, so the total is usually far lower until the workload genuinely justifies a full-time hire.
What is a fractional CTO?
A fractional CTO is an experienced Chief Technology Officer who works with your business part-time – setting technology strategy, leading engineering, governing security and risk, managing suppliers, and reporting to the board – without the cost or commitment of a full-time executive hire.
When should I switch from a fractional CTO to a full-time one?
When the technology workload consistently exceeds the fractional days you are buying, when you need day-to-day leadership of a growing in-house team, or when technology becomes core enough to your strategy to warrant a permanent seat. A good fractional CTO will tell you when that point is coming and help you hire their replacement.
Thinking about fractional technology leadership?
We provide experienced fractional CTO and CIO leadership to SMEs across the South West, London and beyond – strategy, security, delivery and board-level reporting.