Use the expertise you need.
One day a week, a few days each month, for a defined project or during a particular stage of growth.
Build the management capability you need — without filling every seat full-time.
A Fractional Partner brings experienced leadership into your business for the amount of time you actually need it.
What is Fractional Management?
Fractional management is a flexible way for a growing business to bring experienced senior people into the management team without employing every specialist on a full-time basis.
As a business grows, the owner can reach a point where finance needs stronger oversight, sales needs leadership, marketing needs direction, people issues become more complex and major projects require dedicated management. The business needs more capability — but it may not need, or be ready for, five additional full-time executives.
A Fractional Partner fills that capability gap. They bring senior experience into the business for the amount of time actually required and work alongside the owner, management team and staff to make progress.
Bring senior capability in earlier.
Access people who have led the function before, without waiting until a full-time executive salary makes sense.
Work alongside the business.
A Fractional Partner does more than offer advice. They help create priorities, make decisions, build capability and move work forward.
A GROWING BUSINESS
One business. Several areas where senior expertise matters.
Instead of expecting the owner or one general manager to cover everything, a business can assemble a management team around what it actually needs.
The mix can change as the business changes. That is one of the strengths of the fractional model.
Fractional Growth Manager1 day per week
Fractional CFO1–2 days per month
Fractional Marketing Manager2 days per month
Fractional HR / People ManagerAs required
WHY FRACTIONAL PARTNERS?
More than advice.
A consultant may analyse a problem and recommend what to do. A Fractional Partner typically becomes part of the working management rhythm of the business.
They may lead meetings, build processes, coach team members, create reporting, manage suppliers, help recruit people, oversee projects or take ownership of an agreed business function.
They aren't standing on the sidelines. They're helping the business do the work.
WHEN DOES IT MAKE SENSE?
Fractional management can fit many stages of growth.
The owner is carrying too much.
Important management functions keep falling back onto the owner because nobody else has the experience or authority to lead them.
The business is growing quickly.
Revenue, team size and complexity are increasing faster than the management structure around them.
A capability gap is holding growth back.
The business needs stronger finance, sales, marketing, people, technology or project leadership, but not necessarily five days a week.
A major change needs experienced leadership.
A new market, system, restructure, acquisition, funding round or growth plan needs someone who has successfully navigated similar work before.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about Fractional Management
Clear answers to some of the questions business owners commonly ask when considering fractional leadership.
What is fractional management?
Fractional management is a way for a business to access experienced senior leadership for part of the week, month or for a defined period, rather than employing every management specialist full-time.
How is a Fractional Partner different from a consultant?
A consultant will often diagnose a problem and recommend a course of action. A Fractional Partner typically works inside the business alongside the owner and team, taking practical responsibility for helping deliver results in their area of expertise.
What types of fractional managers can a business use?
Businesses can use fractional expertise across growth, sales, marketing, finance, HR and people, strategy, legal, technology and project management. The right mix depends on the stage of the business and the problems it needs to solve.
How much time does a Fractional Partner work in a business?
There is no single model. A Fractional Partner may work one day a week, several days a month, during a particular project, or for a defined growth stage. The engagement should reflect the level of expertise and support the business actually needs.
When should a business consider fractional management?
Fractional management can suit a business that is growing, facing more complex decisions, missing senior capability in a key function, or needing experienced leadership before a full-time executive hire is justified.
Can a business use more than one Fractional Partner?
Yes. A growing business might use a Fractional CFO for financial leadership, a Fractional Sales Manager to improve sales performance and a Fractional Marketing Manager to lead marketing, while keeping each engagement proportionate to what the business needs.
FIND THE RIGHT EXPERTISE
Build the management team your business needs now.
Explore Fractionality by area of expertise, or tell us what is happening in your business and we can help you work out where to start.