Fractional CTO and IT director
A fractional CTO or IT director is a senior person who owns your IT plan, budget and suppliers for set days each month. Ours costs £1,950 a month for 2 days, or £1,050 for 1 day, excluding VAT, with a 3-month minimum and then 30 days' notice. It suits firms that don't need a full-time technology director.
from £1,050a month for 1 day, excluding VAT. £1,950 a month for 2 days. 3-month minimum.
About three minutes. We reply within 2 business hours, Monday to Friday.
- A fixed monthly price, excluding VAT, with a 3-month minimum and then 30 days' notice
- A written proposal before any work starts. We reply within 2 business hours.
- One named point of contact, the same person each time, reporting in plain English
What it costs
Two retainers, priced by days a month. Extra days are charged at our standard day rate. The IT strategy review is a fixed-price alternative if you want a report before a retainer.
| Service | Price, excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| Fractional CTO or IT director, 2 days a month | £1,950a month, 3-month minimum |
| Fractional CTO or IT director, 1 day a month | £1,050a month, 3-month minimum |
| Extra days | £950a day |
| IT strategy and roadmap review | £3,500fixed, up to 50 people |
One day a month is £1,050. 3-month minimum, then 30 days' notice. Extra days at £950.
This is IT director work for a business that runs on Microsoft 365: your systems, budget, suppliers and security. It is not software or product engineering leadership.
About three minutes. We reply within 2 business hours, Monday to Friday.
What you get each month
Five deliverables, from our price list.
- A set number of days each month, agreed in advance, with the same person each time
- A written IT plan and budget for the year, reviewed with you each quarter
- Suppliers and contracts managed on your behalf: renewals, quotes and escalations
- Management or board reports in plain English: risks, costs and progress
- Oversight of in-house IT staff or an outside provider, where you have them
Who it's for, and who it isn't
Businesses that have outgrown ad-hoc IT decisions but don't need a full-time technology director. You get a set number of days each month from someone who owns the IT plan, the budget and the suppliers.
Common triggers: a customer or insurer asking for Cyber Essentials Plus, or supplier contracts nobody owns. Others: a move or merger, or an IT bill that has grown without a plan.
It isn't for software or product engineering leadership. If you need someone to lead developers or an engineering roadmap, this is not that role.
AI policy and Copilot questions: see the fractional Head of AI, which has the same price structure.
Already have an IT provider? Overseeing an outside provider is part of the service. You don't have to replace them, though our IT support plans are there if you want one invoice.
Start with a review instead
The IT strategy and roadmap is a fixed-price review: £3,500 for up to 50 people, excluding VAT. If you then take the fractional CTO or IT director service, the roadmap becomes its first quarter's plan.
A few weeks from the first conversation to the report is the typical length. You get:
- A review of your current systems, suppliers, contracts and costs
- Conversations with the people who depend on those systems day to day
- A written roadmap: what to fix, replace, keep or stop, in priority order, with a rough cost for each step
- A one-page summary you can share with the other owners, a board or a lender
- A one-hour walkthrough of the findings with you
How it starts
Three steps, the same for every consultancy service.
A short call. You tell us what you're trying to solve. We ask enough to scope the work, and say plainly if it isn't something we do.
A written proposal. What we'll do, what you'll get and when, with a fixed price or a day rate. Nothing starts until you agree it in writing.
Delivery with a named point of contact. One person owns the work from start to finish, keeps you informed in plain English and hands over documentation at the end.
Extra days beyond the agreed number are £950 a day. Project work, such as a Microsoft 365 migration, is quoted separately at a fixed price.
Full details are also on the consultancy page.
Common questions
How much does a fractional CTO cost?
Ours is £1,950 a month for 2 days, or £1,050 a month for 1 day, excluding VAT. Extra days are £950. There is a 3-month minimum, then 30 days' notice.
What does a fractional CTO do?
They own your IT for a set number of days a month. That means a written IT plan and budget, reviewed each quarter, and managing your suppliers and contracts. They also write plain-English reports for owners or the board, and oversee any in-house IT staff or outside provider.
Is this the same as a CTO for a software company?
No. This is IT director work: your systems, budget, suppliers and security. We don't lead software development teams.
Can we start with something smaller?
Yes. The IT strategy and roadmap is £3,500 fixed for up to 50 people. If you then take the fractional service, the roadmap becomes its first quarter's plan.
Do you work with our existing IT provider?
Yes. Overseeing in-house IT staff or an outside provider is part of the service, where you have them.
What is the minimum term?
Three months, then month to month with 30 days' notice.
Guides that go deeper
Plain-English guides on the rules, the costs and the settings behind this service.
Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard or Premium: Which Fits?
Basic suits email and web apps, Standard adds desktop Office, and Premium adds device and sign-in security. See UK prices and which plan fits your team.
Read the guide
Microsoft 365 Security Checklist for Small Businesses (2026)
The 10 Microsoft 365 settings that matter most for a small business: MFA, admin roles, sharing, email security and backup, with where to check each.
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Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus: Who Needs Which?
Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus? See what UK government, MoD, NHS, education, legal and construction rules ask for, with sources and worked examples.
Read the guideWant someone to own your IT?
Tell us what you're trying to solve. We reply within 2 business hours, then a short call and a written proposal before anything starts.
About three minutes. We reply within 2 business hours, Monday to Friday. Or email support@cloud365.io.