What does it cost to work with you?

It depends. I know "it depends" isn't satisfying, but it's honest: audit, project rescue and fractional CTO have different sizes and timelines. I give you the price in our first call, after I understand what you actually need. What's certain: it's written down before we start, and it's fixed. No quotes that keep growing, no surprises halfway through.

How quickly will I see real results?

Audit: written report in your hands in 2-3 days. Project rescue: first changes live within 1-2 weeks, completion in 2-4 weeks. Fractional CTO: from the first week you have a written technical roadmap and the first decisions made — you don't wait a month to see what's changing.

Do you only work remote or also in person?

Remote, mostly. I come on-site when it actually matters — kick-off, strategic workshops, on-site audits. Veneto, Lombardia and Emilia covered easily; other regions with travel expenses. No theater of mandatory presence.

Do you also work full-time somewhere else?

Yes — I'm a Tech Lead at an enterprise company, and that's exactly where the technical level I bring to your project comes from. That's why I work with very few clients at a time, with clear scope: audit, time-boxed rescue, light monthly retainer. My availability is limited by design, not despite everything. If you need someone full-time every day, you need an in-house dev — and I'll be the first to tell you.

What happens if after the audit we decide not to continue?

Nothing bad. The report is yours, take it home — it contains everything another dev or team needs to act. The initial 30-minute call is free, the audit has a fixed price agreed up front. Zero ambiguity, no hidden clauses.

Do you only work with startups or also with SMBs?

Both. Founders validating an idea, CTOs inheriting a codebase, SMBs with stuck internal software or a developer who stopped replying to emails. I bring value in all these cases — it's not the company size that matters, it's whether you actually need a senior technical reference.

Can I have a fractional CTO while I already have internal developers?

Yes, and it's one of the most common cases. You have devs (internal or external) but no one makes technical decisions or coordinates. That's the role I play: I don't replace the team, I lead it. Direct Slack, weekly call, no disappearances. If there's a promising senior dev, my goal is also to help them grow until they can replace me.

What stacks are you specialized in?

Next.js, TypeScript, Node.js, Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, AWS, Vercel — that's where I'm fastest. But fractional CTO isn't about the stack: it's about picking the right one for your stage and executing. I also work with inherited codebases on other stacks — actually, that happens often. If I think the stack choice is wrong, I'll tell you.

How does invoicing work?

Italian invoice with VAT. Audit and project rescue: 50% upfront, 50% on delivery. Fractional CTO: monthly invoice, renewable quarterly contract (no annual lock-ins). Payment by bank transfer. Clean, invoiced, traceable.

Costs & strategy

What Is a Fractional CTO (and When a Startup or SMB Actually Needs One)

Fractional CTO: what it is, what it does, what it costs, and when it makes sense. The guide to the part-time CTO for startups and SMBs that need senior technical decisions without a full-time hire.

June 10, 20268 min read

Fractional CTOmeans, literally, a "CTO at a fraction": a part-time Chief Technology Officer who puts senior technical expertise at a company's service without being a full-time employee. It's the answer to a very common problem in startups and SMBs: you need high-level technical decisions, but there isn't (yet) the volume — or the budget — for an in-house CTO. Let's look at what it really is, what it does, what it costs, and when you need one.

What a Fractional CTO is

A Fractional CTO is a senior technical professional who takes on the role of head of technology for a company, but with part-time, flexible involvement. Instead of hiring a full-time figure — expensive and hard to find — the company "rents" the skills it needs, for the hours and the period that actually matter.

It's not a consultant who leaves you a report, nor just a developer: it's the person who makes the technical decisions and takes responsibility for them — architecture, stack, roadmap, team coordination — acting as a bridge between whoever leads the company and whoever writes the code.

What a Fractional CTO does

Architecture and stack decisions. Picks the right technologies for the company's stage — no over-engineering, no choices made just because they're fashionable.
Coordinates the developers. In-house or freelance, leads them technically. You don't have to translate between the business and the team.
Defines the technical roadmap aligned with the business goals, with clear priorities.
Acts as the reference for the choices that matter: security, scalability, technical debt, build vs buy.
Talks to investors when needed: during a round, investors want someone who can answer for the stack, the team, and scalability.

Fractional CTO, in-house CTO, or advisor: the differences

These are three different roles, often confused:

In-house CTO: full-time employee. Makes sense when the technical volume justifies (and can sustain) a dedicated full-time person.
Fractional CTO: part-time, monthly retainer. When you have ongoing decisions but not a huge organization.
Technical advisor: board-level, hands-off, a few hours a month. Only at a more mature stage, for strategic decisions without operational involvement.

If you want the full decision framework, I went deeper into it here: Fractional CTO or in-house CTO: how to decide without getting it wrong.

How much a Fractional CTO costs

The typical model is a monthly retainer, a fraction of the cost of an in-house CTO. To give you a sense of scale: a full-time CTO runs roughly 80-150k€/year gross plus equity. A fractional is paid only for the involvement you need, usually on a renewable monthly or quarterly contract — no annual lock-in. The exact cost depends on hours, scope, and stage: the important thing is that it's agreed and written down up front, with no quotes that creep up along the way.

When you need a Fractional CTO

The right moment is when the technical decisions weigh more than the code. Typically:

you've invested time and capital, but the product never reaches production;
you have developers but no one making the technical decisions (well);
you're about to close a round and investors want to talk stack, scalability, and team;
you've inherited a codebase and don't know whether it's solid or where to restart.

In short

A Fractional CTO gives you the senior technical reference you're missing, without the cost and commitment of a full-time hire. For many early-stage startups and SMBs it's the right call: fractional first, in-house later, once the volume justifies it.

Frequently asked questions

What does a Fractional CTO do?

They make the technical decisions that matter for a company — architecture, stack, product choices — coordinate the developers (in-house or external), and act as a bridge between the business and the technology. All part-time, with involvement scaled to the actual need.

How much does a Fractional CTO cost?

Typically a monthly retainer, a fraction of the cost of an in-house CTO (who, full-time, runs roughly 80-150k€/year gross plus equity). You pay only for the involvement you need, usually on a renewable monthly or quarterly contract, with no annual lock-in.

What's the difference between a Fractional CTO and an in-house CTO?

An in-house CTO is a full-time employee: it makes sense when the technical volume justifies a dedicated person. A Fractional CTO is part-time and paid as a fraction: ideal when you have ongoing technical decisions but not an organization large enough to absorb a full-time hire.

Is a Fractional CTO the same as a technical advisor?

No. An advisor is board-level and hands-off: they give strategic direction a few hours a month. A Fractional CTO is operational: they make decisions, coordinate the team, and get their hands dirty on the product, even while not being full-time.

When does a startup or an SMB need a Fractional CTO?

When the technical decisions weigh more than the code: a team that isn't delivering, an inherited codebase to make sense of, a round coming up with investors asking about stack and scalability, or simply nobody acting as the senior technical reference.

Can I have a Fractional CTO if I already have developers?

Yes, it's one of the most common cases. You have devs (in-house or freelance) but no one making the decisions and coordinating them. A Fractional CTO doesn't replace the team: they lead it.

Need a technical reference for your company? See how I work as a Fractional CTO, or let's talk for 30 free minutes. I'll reply within 24 hours.