Full-time, agency,
or fractional?
Here's the honest version — including when the answer isn't me. If technology is the whole company and you've got a dozen engineers, you need a full-time CTO. I'll tell you that on the first call.
Fractional CTO vs full-time CTO vs agency — which do you need?
Hire a fractional CTO ($6k–$18k/month, no equity, start in days) when you're pre-seed to ~Series A and need senior judgment more than headcount. Hire a full-time CTO ($300k–$500k+ and 1–5% equity) when you have 12+ engineers and technology is the company. Use a dev agency when someone senior is already steering and you just need hands. See the full pricing, learn how it works, or book a fit call to decide together.
| Fractional CTO (me) | Full-time CTO | Dev agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-in annual cost | ~$72k–$216k | $300k–$500k+ | Varies — often more than it looks |
| Time to start | Days | 2–4 months | Weeks |
| Owns decisions? | Yes | Yes | No — takes orders |
| Tells you when you're wrong? | Yes | Yes | Rarely |
| Equity / lock-in | None | 1–5% + contract | Contract |
| Right when… | You're pre-seed to ~Series A and need judgment more than headcount | You have 12+ engineers and technology is the company | You have clear specs and senior oversight already |
When technology is the business
If technology is the core of your business and you've got more than a dozen engineers, you need a full-time CTO in the building. Hiring fractional at that stage is false economy — and I'll tell you this on the first call rather than take a fee I shouldn't.
When you already have someone steering
If you've got someone senior steering and you just need hands to build a well-defined thing, an agency is the cheaper tool. The trouble starts when there's no one steering — which is the exact gap I fill.
What's the difference between a fractional CTO and a full-time CTO?
A fractional CTO gives you senior leadership part-time on a month-to-month retainer ($6k–$18k/month, no equity); a full-time CTO is a permanent $300k–$500k+ hire with equity and a 2–4 month search. More on choosing in CTO vs VP of Engineering and on cost in fractional vs full-time cost.
Should I hire a fractional CTO or a dev agency?
An agency is the cheaper tool when you already have someone senior steering and just need hands to build a well-defined spec. A fractional CTO owns the decisions and tells you when you're wrong — see how the engagement works.
When is a fractional CTO the wrong choice?
When technology is the core of your business and you have more than a dozen engineers — at that point you need a full-time CTO in the building. There's also a point where you outgrow a fractional CTO, and a good one will flag it.
How much does each option cost?
A fractional CTO runs ~$72k–$216k/year ($6k–$18k/month, no equity); a full-time CTO is $300k–$500k+ all-in plus 1–5% equity; agency cost varies. See the full pricing, or start with a fixed-fee Tech Teardown to get a verdict before you commit.
Not sure which you need?
Book a 20-minute fit call — if technology is the whole company and you've got a dozen engineers, I'll tell you to hire full-time rather than take a fee I shouldn't.