The principle
A fractional right-hand is an independent professional who supports the owner a few hours a week or a month, usually over several months. They're not an employee and generally support several owners in parallel.
You'll also hear fractional chief of staff, fractional executive or part-time interim leader. The words vary, the idea is the same: share the load of leadership with someone experienced, without the cost of a full-time role.
Rhythm and format
- A regular session, usually one to three hours, weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
- Exchanges between sessions when something urgent comes up.
- A duration from a few months to several years. The first months usually lay foundations; later ones focus on steering.
- Remote or on site, depending on the topics and distance.
What you can hand over
- Clarifying strategy and priorities.
- Rethinking the organisation: roles, responsibilities, who decides what.
- Preparing a heavy decision: a hire, a new offer, a price change, a disagreement between partners.
- Setting up steering rituals and tracking goals.
- Supporting a stage: fast growth, succession, fundraising, a difficult period.
What it doesn't do. It doesn't replace the owner or decide for them. Nor does it run day-to-day operations: to run a function (operations, finance), a fractional COO or CFO is a better fit. See which one to choose.
How pricing works
Fractional right-hands usually charge per session or a monthly retainer, depending on the rhythm. The price depends on their experience, the time spent between sessions and the length of the commitment.
Before comparing prices, compare what's included: time between sessions, availability for emergencies, written follow-up of decisions. And compare it with the cost of a hire: hire or outsource lays it out.
Pros and limits
| Pros | Limits |
|---|---|
| A leadership perspective without a hire | Limited presence |
| Experience drawn from many businesses | Less familiar with daily operations than an employee |
| A rhythm that moves topics forward | Everything depends on what's held between sessions |
| An adjustable commitment | Trust takes a little time to build |
The main limit, what happens between sessions, is solved by writing decisions down in a place the owner, the team and the right-hand all share.
How to get started
- List the three topics weighing on you most right now.
- Book a no-commitment first meeting to check the relationship.
- Agree on a rhythm and a trial period, for example three months.
- Decide where decisions and actions will be written down.
For the first weeks: working with a right-hand, the first 90 days. For the big picture: the right-hand guide.