Why a Fractional Chief of Staff Transforms Startups
In a startup’s early days, every hiring decision makes a massive impact. Every full-time hire comes with a high price tag — and I’m not just talking about their salary. They also require equity, energy, and attention to truly thrive in their new role with your young company.
The Chief of Staff (CoS) is one of the most important roles to consider early on. They’re the right-hand person to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the force multiplier who drives organizational change, and the glue that holds it all together. But what if I told you that a full-time Chief of Staff might not be the right move in the early stages?
The fractional Chief of Staff model is flexible, adaptable, and scalable — it can be a smart approach to balance strategic priorities with the realities of startup budgets.
What Is a Fractional Chief of Staff?
People often confuse the Chief of Staff role with that of an executive assistant (EA). While both roles offer C-suite support, they serve entirely different purposes.
An EA is more tactical. They manage calendars, coordinate logistics, and handle administrative tasks.
A CoS is more strategic. The Chief of Staff supports the CEO on business goals, cross-departmental collaboration, and the company’s big-picture operations.
In today’s startups, fractional resources are becoming more prevalent and accepted. I’ve had multiple guests on my podcast who are fractional Chiefs of Staff, and some job descriptions specifically ask for fractional or part-time help. One of those guests told me he was essentially brought in as “adult supervision” to build an actual business strategy when the company’s young co-founders realized they had built a rocket ship but didn’t know the first thing about flying it.
The rise of fractional strategic leadership isn’t just for Chiefs of Staff either — I’ve seen plenty of other fractional executives, including fractional Chief Financial Officers (CFO), Chief Operating Officers (COO), Chief Technology Officers (CTO), human resources (HR) professionals, and business operations coordinators.
Why Fractional Is the New Full-Time (at Least in the Startup Phase)
Hiring talented senior leaders on a contract basis has steadily become more common and acceptable in startups. A fractional Chief of Staff at a startup still provides the CEO with a fresh perspective, valuable insights, and a trusted sounding board, even on a part-time basis.
Fractional Chief of Staff services give founders access to strategic planning support at a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive, while still providing operational efficiency. Don’t get me wrong — Chiefs of Staff often have high salaries, even in part-time roles. But a fractional CoS will obviously have a lower total cost than one who works full-time.
The Fractional Leadership Model
Much like some people opt for portfolio careers, you, as a founder, can assemble a fractional leadership team. Early-stage companies are intentional about using this organizational structure. As the company grows and the need arises, they can transform those fractional resources into full-time employees. Or, if the fractional system is working and can scale with you, you can stick with it as you expand.
Founders sometimes bring on a fractional Chief of Staff for their network, connections, or strategic guidance. Maybe this isn’t their first rodeo, and they can drive strategic initiatives and special projects with little oversight. The right part-time CoS can also coach the founder, executive team, and junior team members, helping with organizational structure and day-to-day operations.
For more information about how to hire an effective Chief of Staff for your needs — whether fractional or full-time — check out my book, An Insider’s Perspective on the Chief of Staff: Why You Need One and How to Be a Great One.
Key Differences Between Fractional and Full-Time Chiefs of Staff
It’s not just about availability or salary, although these are always important factors. A full-time CoS is a major investment, and the CoS-CEO relationship requires a deep connection and collaborative spirit. Founders often bring on a fractional Chief of Staff to run daily operations while they fundraise or focus on product development.
Many fractional Chiefs of Staff are respected senior executives with direct experience in management consulting, business operations, and navigating C-suite dynamics. They’re not stepping-stone hires — they’re legit strategic leaders who can make an immediate impact on a startup.
That said, there are some potential drawbacks. A part-time Chief of Staff…
May not be as deeply ingrained into your organization
Might not offer the same level of real-time context
Can be less invested (emotionally, financially, or both) than a full-time employee
But, in my experience, the positives often outweigh the negatives. Your fractional CoS can be a big help with specific projects, short-term strategic goals, and long-term objectives.
A fractional CoS can also be great for a trial run before making a long-term commitment. I recently spoke with a Chief of Staff who basically told the founder, “Hire me for 30 days, add me to all of your meetings, and make a call at the end of the month.” The principal ended up hiring him, backpaying him for the 30 days, and saying, “I want to work with you for the next 20 years.”
While some part-time Chiefs of Staff eventually become full-time hires, that’s not always the case. I once spoke with a fractional CoS who was brought in to help launch a company. When she got the company up and running, she worked herself out of a job, which was exactly what the founder expected of her.
In short, a part-time Chief of Staff takes less time to hire, brings less risk, and can ramp their work up or down based on real-time needs.
What Types of Projects Might You Hand Off to a Fractional Chief of Staff?
If you need someone to roll up their sleeves and get things done, here are some key initiatives where a fractional CoS can make an immediate impact…
Handling market research and building a business model
Running point on VC fundraising efforts
Helping with HR policy, employee handbooks, onboarding and offboarding processes, performance reviews, etc.
Overseeing leadership meetings, steering committees, and all-hands meetings
Building out the account management team
Revamping marketing or sales operations
Taking point on strategic partnerships and potential mergers and acquisitions
Helping with project management
Recruiting and hiring for the executive team and company staff
Turning things around if your sales, revenue, or profit are down
Orchestrating executive on-sites
Acting as a “utility infielder” for anything falling between the cracks
If you want to talk to someone about best practices for setting up a fractional Chief of Staff or other executive role (like a fractional COO or fractional CFO), let me know! I probably know someone who can help.
Getting the Most Out of Your Fractional Chief of Staff
If you’re an early-stage founder with a wall of complex challenges in front of you, the support of a fractional Chief of Staff can be your secret weapon. Hiring a full-time Chief of Staff isn’t the right choice for an early-stage, nascent startup, but you can reap the rewards of this critical role, even on a part-time basis.
Every founder needs a coach and a senior-level sounding board — a fractional Chief of Staff can be both. It’s lonely at the top, and it’s incredibly valuable to have a teammate who doesn’t pull any punches.
One way to get the most value out of a fractional CoS is to set clear expectations about the role and its scope — for yourself, your Chief of Staff, and your other team members. You can make it even easier if you draw clean lines in the sand that designate where and how a CoS operates within your organization. For example, one CoS I spoke with only dealt with the CEO, which made it easy to integrate them into the org’s operations.
Do you need help setting up the fractional Chief of Staff position for your startup? I’d be happy to jump on a call and help you talk it through. We can discuss the required steps and envision where the CoS fits within your startup’s organizational structure.
About The Author
Emily Sander is a C-suite executive turned leadership coach. Her corporate career spanned Fortune 500 companies and scrappy start-ups. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach and the author of two books, An Insider’s Perspective on the Chief of Staff and Hacking Executive Leadership.
Emily works with early to senior executives to step into effective leadership with one-on-one coaching. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach.