The UK fractional day-rate index, May 2026.
Median day rates across the C-suite, drawn from 2,400+ UK fractional placements over a 24-month rolling window. Updated monthly, methodology open at the bottom — so you can argue with us, not just trust us.
01UK day-rate medians by role
The headline numbers haven't moved as much as the noise around fractional suggests. CFO and CTO rates have firmed up over the last twelve months; CMO is roughly flat; advisory-tier rates are widening at the bottom as more senior operators enter the market part-time.
| Role | Median | P25 — P75 distribution | 12-mo Δ | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CFO Fractional CFO Finance leadership · ICAEW/ACCA | £1,500PER DAY | £1,200–£1,800 | +6.4% | 312PLACEMENTS |
CTO Fractional CTO Engineering · scale-up infra | £1,300PER DAY | £1,000–£1,600 | +9.1% | 274PLACEMENTS |
CMO Fractional CMO Marketing & growth | £1,150PER DAY | £900–£1,400 | +3% | 218PLACEMENTS |
COO Fractional COO Operations & delivery | £1,200PER DAY | £900–£1,500 | +4.2% | 186PLACEMENTS |
CPO Fractional CPO Product leadership | £1,200PER DAY | £1,000–£1,400 | +5.6% | 142PLACEMENTS |
02Regional variation
London still commands a premium, but it's not as wide as it was pre-pandemic. Manchester and Edinburgh have both seen strong growth, particularly in fintech and AI infrastructure roles.
03Fractional vs full-time
The total cost comparison depends heavily on tenure and ramp-up time. Most fractional engagements hit full productivity within 4-6 weeks; permanent hires often take 6+ months.
Fractional CFO · 2d/week
- Day rate£1,500
- Days per year104
- Employer NI£0
- Total cost£156k
Permanent CFO · full-time
- Base salary£180k
- Bonus (25%)£45k
- Employer NI (15%)£34k
- Pension, benefits£25k
- Total cost£284k
04Methodology & sources
Data collection
Rate data collected from 2,403 fractional executive placements between May 2024 and April 2026. Roles include CFO, CTO, CMO, COO, and CPO at companies with £5m+ revenue or Series A+ funding. All rates are day-rate equivalent and exclude VAT.
Regional data weighted by placement volume. London rates include Greater London; Manchester includes Greater Manchester; Edinburgh includes Edinburgh and Glasgow metro areas.
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