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/ 02 — Definition
What is a fractional CEO?
A fractional CEO is a chief executive officer who works part-time, on an ongoing basis, embedded inside one or two companies at a time. Real authority, real cadence, real accountability.
Topic: fractional CEO, fractional chief executive officer, part-time CEO
/01Answer-first
So what is a fractional CEO, in one line?
A part-time, embedded chief executive who owns at least one P&L and the operating cadence, typically 1 to 3 days a week for 6 to 18 months.
A fractional CEO is not an advisor and not an interim. The role is ongoing and part-time, with the same decision authority a full-time CEO would have inside their scope. The company keeps its founder or owner in their role; the fractional CEO runs the operating system.
How is it different from a full-time CEO?
Same authority, fewer days, lower cost. The trade-off is focus: a fractional CEO covers what matters most, not everything.
Expect 8 to 24 working days a month, not 20+. The first 30 days set the priority list. Anything outside it gets delegated or deferred. A fractional CEO works on the business, not in every meeting.
Is a fractional CEO the same as an outsourced CEO or on-demand CEO?
Yes — fractional CEO, outsourced CEO, on-demand CEO and part-time CEO refer to the same model.
Terminology varies by market. In Italy and continental Europe the term "frazionale" is becoming standard. In the US, "fractional" is most common. The model is identical: ongoing part-time chief executive leadership inside a single company.
/02Variants
The model in one paragraph.
/Time
1 to 3 days a week
8 to 24 days a month. Cadence agreed in week one. Calendar published.
/Length
6 to 18 months
Long enough to land structure. Short enough to enforce exit discipline.
/Scope
One P&L, one cadence
Owns at least one P&L line and the weekly operating cadence. Hires, fires, decides.