Fractional CTO
Senior technical leadership, part-time
A part-time CTO who sets architecture, vets vendors and hires, owns the roadmap, reviews code, and reports to you every month — without the full-time executive salary.
By Eliran YihyeUpdated
From $2,500/mo, month-to-month
What it costs
| Tier | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Light | $2,500–$4,000/mo | Roughly 1 day/week: architecture, vendor and hire vetting, roadmap, code review, monthly executive report. |
| Standard | $6,000–$9,000/mo | 2–3 days/week: hands-on technical lead, team management, everything in Light. |
| South Florida firms (Clutch) | Median hourly band $100-$149/hr across 17 software and web firms. Clutch bands are hourly; this retainer is monthly. As of September 26, 2026. | |
Month-to-month, 30-day notice.
Market figures quoted on this page: GoFractional: fractional CTO rates, South Florida software firm rates on Clutch, 2026 census.
How much does a fractional CTO cost?
At Cuanto Labs, Light is $2,500 to $4,000 a month at roughly one day a week, and Standard is $6,000 to $9,000 a month at 2–3 days a week. GoFractional's research puts a typical fractional CTO retainer at $10,500 to $15,000 a month, based on about 15 hours a week at $175 to $250 an hour.
What does a fractional CTO actually do?
A fractional CTO sets architecture and technical strategy, vets vendors and hires, owns the roadmap, reviews code, and delivers a monthly executive report on what shipped, what changed and what is next. Standard adds a hands-on technical lead role and team management on top of everything in Light.
What is the hourly rate for a fractional CTO?
GoFractional reports that fractional CTOs average $215 an hour across the market, with a 25th to 75th percentile band of $175 to $250. Cuanto Labs prices by tier instead of by the hour: Light at $2,500 to $4,000 a month and Standard at $6,000 to $9,000, month-to-month.
Should I pick the Light or the Standard tier?
Light, roughly one day a week, fits a team that needs architecture direction, vendor and hire vetting, a roadmap, code review and a monthly executive report. Standard, at 2–3 days a week, adds a hands-on technical lead and team management. You agree the tier in writing before the first billing cycle.
How does a fractional CTO engagement start?
With a thirty-minute discovery call on where your team and roadmap stand today. Then Light or Standard is agreed in writing, and the work begins: architecture, vendor and hire vetting, roadmap and code review, with a monthly executive report. Either side can end it with 30 days' notice.
How does Cuanto Labs' fractional CTO price compare with South Florida firms?
Cuanto Labs bills fractional CTO work month-to-month, from $2,500/mo, not hourly. South Florida software and web firms on Clutch list a median hourly band of $100-$149/hr, across 17 firms that publish one. Clutch bands are hourly, so compare what each covers, not the headline number. Data as of September 26, 2026.
What is included
- Architecture & technical strategy
- Vendor and hire vetting
- Roadmap ownership
- Code review
- Monthly executive report
How it runs
- 1. Discovery call. Thirty minutes on where the team and the roadmap stand today.
- 2. Tier and terms in writing. Light or Standard, agreed before the first billing cycle.
- 3. Ongoing work. Architecture, vendor and hire vetting, roadmap, code review.
- 4. Monthly executive report. What shipped, what changed, what is next.
- 5. Month-to-month. Either side can end it with 30 days’ notice.
Industries we build this for
More questions
How is this different from hiring a CTO?
A full-time CTO is a salaried executive hire. This is the same technical leadership — architecture, hiring decisions, roadmap, code review — on a part-time, month-to-month retainer, at a fraction of the cost and with no severance or recruiting cycle if your needs change.
Can you work with my existing developers?
Yes. Most of this engagement is architecture guidance, code review, and roadmap direction for a team you already have — not a replacement for your developers, oversight for them.
What's the minimum commitment?
Month-to-month with 30-day notice on either side. No annual contract.
Pick a time to talk it through
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