How Much Does a Fractional CTO Cost? [2026 Pricing Guide]
A fractional CTO costs $2,500–$5,000/month compared to $250,000–$400,000/year for a full-time hire. Here's what you actually get at each price point—and whether you need one at all.
Standard Partnership
For founders who need consistent technical momentum
- Hands-on development — I write code, not just advice
- Architecture & strategy — Technical decisions that scale
- Code reviews — Keep your team on track
- Async communication — Slack/email, 24-48hr response
- Weekly syncs — Stay aligned on priorities
Priority Partnership
For founders who need to move fast
- Everything in Standard
- Higher velocity — More hours, faster shipping
- Priority response — Same-day for urgent issues
- Direct access — Slack DMs, quick calls when needed
- Flexible scope — New features, firefighting, whatever you need
Do You Actually Need a Fractional CTO?
If you're a bootstrapped founder doing under $100K MRR, you might not need a part-time executive. You need someone who builds with you—a technical partner who writes code, makes architecture decisions, and ships features alongside your team.
Fractional CTO
Board meetings, strategy decks, hiring plans. Good for funded startups with teams.
Technical Partner
Hands-on coding, architecture, shipping. Good for bootstrapped founders who need velocity.
What I Do
Both—but I focus on founders who need someone in the trenches, not the boardroom.
Full-Time CTO vs Fractional CTO: The Real Cost Comparison
| Metric | Full-Time CTO | Fractional CTO |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | ~$310,000 | $30,000-$60,000 |
| Equity Required | 1-5% | 0% |
| Availability | 40+ hours/week | 10-30 hours/month |
| Experience Level | Varies widely | Senior (10+ years) |
| Hiring Time | 3-6 months | 1-2 weeks |
| Risk | High (cultural fit, performance) | Low (short-term contracts) |
Bottom line: A fractional CTO delivers 80% of the value at 20% of the cost. Perfect for startups that need technical leadership but aren't ready for a full-time hire.
Is a Fractional CTO Right for You?
Good Fit
- • Non-technical founder who needs a technical brain
- • Bootstrapped at under $100K MRR, need to move fast
- • Have developers but no technical leadership
- • Building custom SaaS, not a landing page
- • Want someone who codes, not just advises
Not a Fit
- • Need someone 40+ hours/week
- • Want a co-founder with equity stake
- • Just need a one-time project built
- • Looking for the cheapest option
- • Need enterprise/compliance expertise
Frequently Asked Questions
Fractional CTOs typically don't charge hourly rates. Monthly partnerships ($2,500-$5,000) provide better value than hourly consulting ($150-$300/hour) because they include strategic planning time and ongoing availability.
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Book a free 30-minute call. No pitch, no pressure—just a conversation about whether working together makes sense.
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