What fractional sales leadership solves
Fractional leadership gives a company senior judgment — on pipeline, forecasting, hiring, and structure — without the full-time cost or the multi-month executive search. It's well suited to companies that need the thinking of a senior leader but not yet the full org-building scope of the role.
What only a full-time hire solves
Some things genuinely need someone in the seat full-time: building and managing a growing sales org day-to-day, being available for every deal escalation, and being a permanent, dedicated face to the board and to the sales team. Fractional leadership isn't a substitute for that once a company reaches that scale.
Cost and commitment differences
A full-time VP of Sales hire typically runs well into six figures in base compensation alone, plus a multi-month search and onboarding runway. Fractional engagements are structured monthly, without the long-term compensation and equity commitment of a permanent executive hire.
A practical way to decide
If the honest answer to 'do we need someone in this seat five days a week, permanently, right now' is no — but the team still needs senior sales leadership — fractional is usually the better first step, with the option to convert to full-time once the company's stage justifies it.
Not sure where you stand?
The Floor Check is a one-week diagnosis of your team, pipeline and management gap — $1,500, with a specific 30-day action plan.