Fractional vs. Interim vs. Consultant: What are the Key Differences?

A fractional executive is a part-time, long-term member of your leadership team. They typically work 1-3 days per week for extended periods (6+ months), joining executive meetings, managing teams, and making strategic decisions with full authority in their domain.

During my time as a fractional CMO for a SaaS company in the commercial real estate space, I didn’t just advise—I owned the marketing function, accountable for results just like any C-suite leader.

Interim executives step in full-time to fill leadership gaps during transitions. They typically serve for 3-9 months while you search for a permanent hire or navigate a significant change.

Unlike fractional leaders, interims work exclusively with your company during their engagement. Their focus is maintaining stability and sometimes preparing for their replacement

Consultants analyze specific issues and provide recommendations without implementation responsibility. They remain external to your organization, offer advice rather than make decisions, and typically work on defined projects with clear deliverables.

When I worked with JP Morgan Chase and Deutsche Bank earlier in my career, I saw consultants brought in to solve specific challenges without becoming part of the leadership structure.

Authority Level

• Fractional: Acts as a true executive with decision-making authority
• Interim: Full decision-making authority, but temporary
• Consultant: Advisory capacity only, without direct authority

Integration with Your Team

• Fractional: Becomes part of your leadership team
• Interim: Fully embedded but clearly temporary
• Consultant: Remains external to organizational structure

Accountability for Outcomes

• Fractional: Directly accountable for business results
• Interim: Accountable during their tenure
• Consultant: Accountable for recommendations, not results

Time Commitment

• Fractional: Regular part-time schedule over extended period
• Interim: Full-time but short-term
• Consultant: Variable, usually project-based

Your business needs should determine which model works best:

• Choose fractional when you need ongoing strategic leadership without a full-time resource
• Choose interim during leadership transitions or organizational changes
• Choose consulting for specific projects or problems requiring specialized expertise

My experience building and scaling a marketing agency from 2 to 54 staff taught me that the right leadership structure at the right time is critical to business success. The fractional model offers a unique middle ground—strategic leadership with flexibility—that many growing businesses find invaluable.

Not sure which model best fits your current business challenges? I’d be happy to discuss your specific situation.