Free tool · Australia
Fractional vs full-time executive cost calculator
Put in your own numbers to compare a full-time C-suite hire with a fractional executive. Figures are in AUD, excluding GST.
How it's calculated
The method, and a worked example
Full-time: salary plus on-costs for the period, plus a one-off recruitment fee. Fractional: the monthly fee times the number of months. Cost per day divides each total by the days actually worked: five a week full-time, or your chosen days for fractional, over about 46 working weeks a year.
| Year one, ex GST | Full-time | Fractional |
|---|---|---|
| Salary or fees | A$235,000 | A$144,000 (12 × A$12,000) |
| On-costs at 30% | A$70,500 | Nil if invoiced through a company |
| Recruitment at 20% | A$47,000 | Nil |
| Total | A$352,500 | A$144,000 |
| Days worked | About 230 | About 46 (one day a week) |
So the fractional option costs about A$208,500 less in year one, but at a higher rate per day worked. Past about two to three days a week, a full-time or interim hire usually becomes better value.
Reading the result
Cheaper isn't the whole question
A fractional executive costs more per day and far less per year. The real question is whether you need five days a week of a senior operator yet, or one or two days of someone who has done the job before.
If the role needs full-time ownership for a fixed period, look at interim cover instead. If you're not sure what the problem is, start with a two-week diagnostic before committing to either.
Full cost guide Fractional vs interim How I work and pricing
Want to sense-check your numbers?
Thirty minutes on what the role needs to deliver, and whether fractional, interim or a full-time hire fits best.