Hiring a Fractional Executive: What, When & Why
Thinking of bringing in executive firepower without the full-time hire? Here’s everything you need to know about hiring a fractional executive, based on 20+ years of hands-on leadership across startups and scale-ups.
Working with a Fractional Executive (Remco Livain 2025)
As a fractional executive, I’ve spent the last decade jumping into complex situations—leading marketing, sales, and operational efforts when teams needed experience fast, but not another full-time headcount.
This page brings together the most common questions founders, CEOs, and investors ask when they’re considering fractional leadership. From cost and commitment to culture fit and timing, these are the insights I share with every client before we start.
Whether you’re planning to scale, stabilize, or restructure, this guide will help you decide if fractional leadership is the right move—and what working with someone like me actually looks like.
Fractional Executive FAQ
- What is a fractional executive?
- When should I hire a fractional executive?
- How do I know it’s better than hiring a full-time exec?
- What types of fractional roles exist (CFO, CMO, CIO…)?
- How much does a fractional executive cost?
- What deliverables can I expect from a fractional CXO?
- What’s the typical engagement duration and time commitment?
- How do I choose the right fractional executive for my industry?
- What questions should I ask during the interview?
- How do fractional execs impact company culture and teams?
- Will they be committed if they work with multiple clients?
- What’s the difference between fractional vs interim execs?
- How do fractional execs handle setbacks or challenges?
- What tools and technologies do they use?
- Do fractional execs become full-time later?
- How long does it take to hire a Fractional Executive?
- What if things don’t work out? (Termination, etc.)
- How do employees react to a fractional leader?
- How do they measure success and KPIs?
- Are they motivated or just a side gig?
- Do Fractional Executives offer references and case studies?
- How do I budget for fractional leadership?
- Can fractional execs prepare companies for fundraising, M&A, or sale?
- What legal, insurance, and contractual issues should I consider when hiring a fractional leader?
- How soon can a fractional exec deliver impact?
- Are a Part-Time Executive and a Fractional Executive the Same Thing?
- What does a fractional CMO do?
- Fractional Leadership: Why It’s So Powerful & Why More Companies Should Embrace It