What is a fractional CRO?

A fractional Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) is a senior commercial leader who helps B2B startups drive sales and revenue growth – but on a part-time or project basis rather than as a permanent, full-time hire.

What they own

• Sales strategy and planning

• Pipeline structure and discipline

• Revenue forecast and reporting

What they do not own

• Hands-on delivery of every deal

• Full-time team management

• All marketing or product decisions

Fractional vs interim vs full-time CRO

An interim CRO is usually covering maternity/parental leave or a vacancy. A full-time CRO is a permanent hire running the whole commercial operation. A fractional CRO plugs your sales leadership gap, flexibly, as you scale.

When to hire one

• You’ve raised funding but struggle to build repeatable revenue

• Your founder-led sales need process and pipeline

• You’re not ready for a £150k+ commercial leader yet, but need senior input

What it costs

Fractional CRO rates depend on their experience, involvement and your needs – typically £3-10k/month, much less than hiring a full-time leader.

What to ask before hiring

• What commercial outcomes have they delivered for startups like yours?

• How much time will they commit, and who will own what?

• How do they transfer knowledge so your team grows?

Interested in practical, founder-focused support? Learn more about Fractional CRO for startups.