When a fractional CTO is the right call
Most established companies do not need a full-time chief technology officer. They need the decisions a CTO makes: what to build, what to buy, which vendor to trust, and what to fix first. A fractional CTO gives you those decisions from a senior person, for the days each month the business actually needs.
It usually fits when:
- Revenue is healthy, but there is no plan for how the company grows from here, or what the technology has to do to get it there.
- Growth has outrun the systems, and data lives in tools that do not agree.
- Developers or agencies are busy, but nobody owns the architecture.
- A big decision is coming: a platform rebuild, an acquisition, an AI rollout.
- You are not ready to carry a full-time executive salary and equity.
What you get
- A technology roadmap tied to the business plan, in plain language.
- One owner for architecture, security, vendors and the people doing the work.
- Hands-on building when it is faster for me to build the core than to explain it.
- Regular reporting to you and your leadership team.
More detail is on the fractional CTO service page.
Proof from Arizona companies
- Epic Golf Club: three databases that never agreed became one platform serving more than 1,000 members on web, iOS and Android, with more than 120 production automations behind it.
- Mr Target: a Tempe manufacturer and retailer running on a fourth-generation custom platform, with the website and Amazon feeding one system.
- SottoPelle Therapy: more than ten offices moved from paper charts and isolated networks to one managed operation and a custom medical records platform.
What it costs
Less than a full-time CTO, and you can see the comparison before we talk: CTO salary versus fractional CTO cost in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many days a month is a fractional CTO?
It depends on the stage of the work. Engagements start with a set number of days each month and change as the roadmap moves from planning to building to running.
Do you work on site in Phoenix and Scottsdale?
Yes. I am based in Scottsdale and work on site when it helps: leadership meetings, vendor reviews, network and office work. Most day-to-day work happens remotely.
Can you work with our existing developers or IT provider?
Yes. In most engagements I direct the people you already have, and bring in others only where there is a gap. See fractional CTO versus agency, MSP and dev shop.
What if we need a full-time CTO later?
Then I help you hire one and hand over a documented system. See when is the right time to hire a CTO.