The five-axis comparison
| Axis | Fractional CTO | Full-time CTO |
|---|---|---|
| Commitment | 2–4 days/week | 5 days/week |
| Tenure | 6–12 months | 3–5 years |
| Compensation | €120k–€220k/year cash | €180k–€280k base + 1–3% equity |
| Authority scope | Architecture, hiring, board | Everything above + org design, culture |
| Exit clause | 30-day notice | Severance + vesting cliff implications |
When fractional wins
- Team under 8 engineers
- Pre-Series A or early Series A
- CEO needs an interim authority while recruiting the permanent CTO
- Specific bounded mandate (data room, re-architecture, hiring sprint)
When full-time wins
- Team above 8 engineers
- Series B+ with multi-year roadmap
- Heavy long-term organisational design needs
- Equity story is central to retention
The hybrid path
A common pattern: hire a fractional CTO for 6–9 months while running a full-time search in parallel. The fractional operator often participates in the final-round panel of full-time candidates, increasing the probability the permanent hire fits. HighCircl runs roughly 30 percent of engagements as "fractional-to-permanent recruit," where the operator hands off to the full-time successor they helped select.
Total cost comparison
6-month fractional CTO: ~€90,000. 6-month full-time CTO (loaded cost): ~€140,000 base prorated + €40,000 equity vest + €15,000 benefits + €25,000 recruiting fee = ~€220,000. Fractional saves roughly €130,000 in the first 6 months, with the trade-off of less long-term ownership.
