The cost of fractional CTO support depends on the technical work and responsibility involved. A review of a supplier proposal has a different brief from ongoing technology leadership. Seadogs starts with your business, the decisions in front of you and the outcome you want, then prepares a tailored proposal.
Start with the technical decisions you need help with
Describe what is creating uncertainty. You may be comparing suppliers, planning a platform change, reviewing technical risk or deciding what to hire for. The brief should explain the business consequence as well as the technical question.
You do not need a technical specification to begin the conversation. A description of the current setup, the people involved and the decision you need to make is a useful starting point.
What shapes the scope
The scope depends on the systems, suppliers and responsibilities involved. Reviewing a defined option is different from guiding delivery across several teams or taking ongoing responsibility for technology decisions.
- The platforms, integrations and technical questions involved
- The quality of the existing documentation and access available
- The supplier relationships and decisions that need support
- The responsibilities Nick would take on alongside your team
- The implementation, review and handover needed
Agree the outputs and responsibilities
A useful proposal names what the work will produce. Depending on the brief, that might include a technical review, an options assessment, a supplier brief, an implementation plan or a clearer definition of the next technical role.
It should explain what is included, what depends on your team or suppliers, and where responsibility sits. Assumptions, exclusions, review points and commercial terms belong in the proposal too. Changes to the scope should be discussed before they are added.
Choose the support that fits the problem
A focused review can suit an immediate decision. Ongoing fractional support can suit a continuing need for technical direction. A permanent CTO may be more appropriate when the business needs a full-time leader with lasting internal ownership.
Compare proposals against the decisions, responsibilities and outputs you need. A technology title alone tells you little about what an engagement will cover.
Get a proposal for your business
Share what the business is building or running, what feels uncertain, who is involved and any timing or budget constraints. Nick can use that conversation to clarify the scope and provide a tailored quote.
For the process, read Working together. If you already have a brief, send Nick a note.