How Do You Hire a Fractional Executive for Your Company?
FRACTIONAL EXECUTIVE STAFFING
What Is Fractional Executive Staffing?
Fractional executive staffing places an experienced C-suite leader in your company part-time, for a set number of hours each month, instead of as a full-time hire. Frontline Source Group places fractional CFOs nationwide today, and when you hire yours full-time, the placement is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty, 20 times the 90-day industry standard.
Frontline has been placing executives since 2004 and has completed 5,619 placements with a 98.94% executive placement retention rate, a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 679 verified reviews, and 32 plus offices across the United States. The firm is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026), Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firms #148 (2026), a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency, and a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA). See the full list on our awards page.
Fractional placements are run by the same executive search team that places full-time C-suite leaders. Shelly Hubble, CSP, Senior Vice President of Operations, leads the practice alongside Founder, President, and CEO Bill Kasko. People. Process. Service.
Which Fractional Executive Does Your Company Need?
Fractional CFO staffing is available now. Dedicated pages for the rest of the fractional C-suite are launching soon. Need one of these leaders today? Request an executive and our team will talk through your search.
Fractional CFO
Chief Financial Officer
Part-time CFO leadership for cash flow, forecasting, reporting, capital raising, and transactions, typically 10 to 60 hours a month.
Fractional CEO
Chief Executive Officer
Part-time chief executive leadership for founder transitions, turnarounds, and growth stages that need a seasoned operator at the top.
Fractional COO
Chief Operating Officer
Operations leadership to build processes, scale teams, and turn strategy into consistent day-to-day execution.
Fractional CLO
Chief Legal Officer
Senior legal leadership for contracts, compliance, risk management, and transactions without a full-time general counsel.
Fractional CHRO
Chief Human Resources Officer
People strategy, HR compliance, compensation planning, and culture building for companies outgrowing a generalist HR function.
Fractional COS
Chief of Staff
A strategic right hand for the CEO who drives priorities, runs cross-functional projects, and keeps leadership aligned.
Fractional CIO
Chief Information Officer
IT strategy, systems, vendors, and infrastructure planning that keep the business running as it grows.
Fractional CTO
Chief Technology Officer
Technology and product engineering leadership for architecture decisions, development teams, and product roadmaps.
Fractional CISO
Chief Information Security Officer
Security program leadership, risk assessments, and compliance framework readiness for growing organizations.
Fractional CRO
Chief Revenue Officer
Revenue leadership that aligns sales, marketing, and customer success around a predictable growth engine.
Fractional CMO
Chief Marketing Officer
Marketing strategy, brand positioning, and demand generation leadership without a full-time executive salary.
SIGNS YOU NEED ONE
When Should a Company Hire a Fractional Executive?
Most companies bring in a fractional executive when a function has outgrown the people running it, but the business is not ready to carry another full-time C-suite salary. These are the situations we hear about most often from owners, boards, and private equity sponsors.
Growth Has Outpaced Your Leadership Team
Revenue, headcount, or locations have grown ahead of the systems behind them. A fractional leader brings structure to finance, operations, people, or technology before the cracks start to cost money.
A Senior Leader Just Left
When a CFO, COO, or other executive departs, a fractional or interim leader keeps decisions moving and the team steady while you run a permanent search.
A Capital Raise, Acquisition, or Sale Is Coming
Lenders, investors, and buyers expect executive-level reporting and preparation. A fractional executive can own that work for the life of the project.
You Need the Expertise, Not Another Full-Time Salary
Smaller and mid-sized companies often need senior judgment a few days a month, not forty hours a week. Fractional leadership matches the hours to the need.
THE COST QUESTION
How Much Does a Full-Time Executive Cost Compared With a Fractional Leader?
A full-time C-suite hire is one of the largest fixed costs a growing company takes on. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the May 2025 median annual wage was 213,990 dollars for chief executives, 175,140 dollars for computer and information systems managers, 166,790 dollars for marketing managers, 166,570 dollars for financial managers, 149,280 dollars for human resources managers, and 105,770 dollars for general and operations managers. Those figures are base wages only, before bonuses, equity, benefits, and payroll taxes.
A fractional executive is engaged for the hours your company actually needs, so you get senior leadership without carrying a full-time executive salary. What a fractional engagement costs depends on the role, the hours, and the scope of work. Frontline scopes each engagement with you, sends a written proposal, and publishes its placement fees on our pricing page. For fractional CFO pricing specifically, see our fractional CFO services page.
ENGAGEMENT MODELS
What Is the Difference Between Fractional, Interim, and Full-Time Executives?
Fractional Executive
Works part-time on an ongoing basis, usually a set number of hours each month. Best when you need senior leadership consistently but not full-time.
Interim Executive
Works full-time for a set period, usually to cover a vacancy, leave, or turnaround while the company searches for a permanent leader.
Full-Time Executive Hire
A permanent member of your leadership team. Frontline places full-time executives through executive search, and when a fractional executive converts to full-time, the hire is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty.
HOW IT WORKS
How Does Frontline Source Group Place a Fractional Executive?
Every fractional search follows the same process our executive search team uses for full-time C-suite placements.
- Scope the engagement. We learn what the role needs to own, how many hours a month it takes, whether the work is remote, on-site, or hybrid, and what budget fits.
- Meet a short slate of screened executives. You interview candidates our team has already vetted for leadership track record and fit, and you choose the one you want.
- Frontline manages the engagement. We handle the engagement agreement, billing, and regular check-ins so you can focus on the work.
- Review, replace, or convert. If the fit is not right, we find a replacement. If you want the executive full-time, we convert the engagement into a direct hire placement.
FRACTIONAL TO FULL-TIME
What Happens When You Hire Your Fractional Executive Full-Time?
Many companies start fractional and realize they want the same leader every day. When that happens, Frontline handles the transition as a direct hire placement. The hire is covered by the 5-Year Placement Warranty, which is 20 times longer than the 90-day guarantee that is standard in the staffing industry. You keep a leader who already knows your business, with the warranty backing the decision.
WHAT DO CLIENTS SAY ABOUT FRONTLINE SOURCE GROUP?
5.0 Trustpilot Rating Across 679+ Verified Reviews
Read more on our testimonials page.
TRUSTPILOT RANKINGS
OUR EXECUTIVE SEARCH TEAM
Who Is on the Frontline Executive Search Team?
Bill Kasko
Shelly Hubble
Jessica Payne
Lindsey Davidson
Cassidy Jacobs
Mike Cook
Brittany Kasko
Kathy Granger
Rebecca Keathley
Julia Hyun
Euan Gomez
Shankar Ganesh
Joy Lee
Lexi Reed
Melanie West
FULL-TIME LEADERSHIP
Does Frontline Also Place Full-Time C-Suite Executives?
Yes. When the right answer is a permanent leader, Frontline runs a full C-suite executive search. Our practices include accounting and finance executive search for CFOs and Controllers, marketing executive search, cybersecurity executive search, and legal executive search. Every direct hire is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty.
Are You an Executive Interested in Fractional Work?
Frontline is building a national network of CFOs and other C-suite leaders who want fractional, interim, or project engagements. If you have run a function at the executive level and want to put that experience to work with more than one company, apply to join our executive network.
COMMON QUESTIONS
What Do Companies Ask Most About Fractional Executive Staffing?
What is a fractional executive?
A fractional executive is an experienced C-suite leader who works for your company part-time, usually a set number of hours each month, instead of as a full-time employee. Companies use fractional executives to get senior leadership in finance, operations, technology, people, legal, or growth without the cost of a full-time hire.
What is fractional executive staffing?
Fractional executive staffing is the recruiting and placement of part-time C-suite leaders. A staffing firm such as Frontline Source Group finds, screens, and places the executive, manages the engagement, and can convert the leader to a full-time hire. Frontline places fractional CFOs today, and conversions to full-time are backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty.
What is the difference between a fractional and an interim executive?
A fractional executive works part-time on an ongoing basis. An interim executive works full-time for a set period, usually to cover a vacancy, leave, or turnaround while the company searches for a permanent leader.
Which fractional executive roles does Frontline place?
Frontline places fractional CFOs today. Dedicated fractional CEO, COO, CLO, CHRO, Chief of Staff, CIO, CTO, CISO, CRO, and CMO staffing pages are coming soon. If you need one of these leaders now, request an executive at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html and our executive search team will discuss your needs.
When should a company hire a fractional executive?
Companies usually hire a fractional executive when a function has outgrown the people running it but a full-time C-suite salary is not yet justified. Common triggers include fast growth, a senior leader leaving, an upcoming capital raise, acquisition, or sale, and the need for executive expertise a few days a month instead of full-time.
How many hours does a fractional executive work?
A fractional executive works a set number of hours each month, agreed in advance and adjusted as the business changes. Fractional CFOs placed by Frontline typically work 10 to 60 hours a month. Engagements can be remote, on-site, or hybrid.
How much does a fractional executive cost?
The cost depends on the role, the number of hours, and the scope of work. Frontline scopes each engagement with you and sends a written proposal, and its placement fees are published at frontlinesourcegroup.com/pricing.html. For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 median annual wage of 213,990 dollars for chief executives and 166,570 dollars for financial managers, before bonuses and benefits.
Can I hire a fractional executive full-time?
Yes. You can convert your fractional executive to a permanent, full-time hire. Frontline handles the transition as a direct hire placement, and the hire is covered by the 5-Year Placement Warranty, which is 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard. Details are at frontlinesourcegroup.com/5year-placement-guarantee.html.
How does Frontline find and vet fractional executives?
Fractional executives are recruited and screened by the same executive search team that places full-time C-suite leaders at Frontline. After scoping the role, the team presents a short slate of screened executives, you interview them, and you choose the leader you want to engage.
Does Frontline place fractional executives nationwide?
Yes. Frontline Source Group places fractional executives with companies across the United States from 32 plus offices nationwide. Engagements can be remote, on-site, or hybrid, depending on what the role requires.
Who leads Frontline's fractional executive practice?
Shelly Hubble, CSP, Senior Vice President of Operations, leads Frontline's fractional executive placements alongside Founder, President, and CEO Bill Kasko, who founded Frontline Source Group in Dallas in 2004. Their bios are at frontlinesourcegroup.com/shelly-hubble-staffing-services.html and frontlinesourcegroup.com/bill-kasko-staffing-services.html.
How do I join Frontline's fractional executive network?
Executives interested in fractional, interim, or project work can apply at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html. Frontline never charges candidates any fees.
Ready to Add a Fractional Executive to Your Team?
Talk with a Frontline executive search recruiter about the leadership you need and the hours that fit your budget.