Virtual CTO and Fractional CTO Services
Most growing firms do not have a CTO. They have a stack of vendors, one IT person who is buried, and a CEO calling tech shots on gut feel. The Virtual CTO retainer (also called Fractional CTO) fixes that.
The gap in your tech leadership
Growing firms hit a wall. Tech calls start to pile up faster than the leadership in the room can make them. The right fix is rarely a $300K full-time hire. It is a senior tech advisor who owns the plan, holds vendors to the deal, and shows up at the table when it counts.
What we do
Four jobs we own as your fractional senior tech leader.
Vendor oversight
We read each vendor pitch, deal, and renewal on our own. We have no kickbacks on what you buy.
Technology strategy
A ranked plan tied to your firm's goals. Not a list of tech jobs that no one asked for.
Leadership communication
Tech calls put in plain words. For your board, your backers, and your senior team.
Risk and compliance
Security posture, SOC 2 prep, and cyber insurance work owned at the senior table. Not pushed down to your IT vendor.
Built for firms that have grown past their current setup
Making tech calls with no tech advisor at the table.
Riding herd on IT vendors with no way to push back on what they say.
Asking tech questions no one on the senior team can answer.
Virtual CTO, Fractional CTO, vCTO -- Same Thing, Different Words
If you've seen "fractional CTO" in your search results and wondered whether that's different from a virtual CTO, it isn't. The terms are used interchangeably across the industry. Some firms prefer "virtual" because the work is done remotely. Others use "fractional" to emphasize the part-time engagement model. A few use "vCTO" as shorthand for either.
What matters is the work, not the label. You get a senior technology executive who understands your business, holds your vendors accountable, and helps you make better decisions about technology. Whether you call that virtual, fractional, or part-time, the engagement looks the same at DoubleChecked.
Pick your engagement
Three tiers. No long deal. Month-to-month.
| Feature | AdvisoryStarting at $2,500/month4 hrs/month | Most PopularEmbeddedStarting at $6,500/month8 hrs/month | StrategicStarting at $12,500/monthDedicated engagement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly strategy call | |||
| Written call summary & action items | |||
| Async decision support | |||
| New software & tool evaluationsIndependent assessment of any software tool or platform you are considering. Written recommendation included. | 2/quarter | As needed | Unlimited |
| Vendor contract & proposal review | 1/quarter | As needed | Unlimited |
| MSP or IT vendor invoice reviewLine-by-line review of your IT invoices to flag billing anomalies, duplicate charges, or services billed but not delivered. | 1/quarter | Quarterly | Ongoing |
| Annual technology environment reviewOnce-per-year written assessment of your full technology environment. Current state, gaps, and priorities. | |||
| Priority response access | |||
| Quarterly technology health summary | |||
| Quarterly technology budget review | |||
| Active vendor oversight & communicationWe communicate directly with your IT vendors on your behalf. Holds them accountable without requiring your involvement. | |||
| Security posture check-inReview of your current security controls, access management, and backup status. Written summary delivered after each check-in. | 2x/year | Ongoing | |
| Incident escalation pointFor active incidents affecting your business, you have a direct line to escalate and get independent guidance in real time. | Same business day | Immediate | |
| Attends leadership or board meetings | Quarterly | All relevant | |
| Owns technology agenda end-to-end | |||
| Weekly check-in cadence | |||
| SOC 2 & compliance program oversight | |||
| Technology roadmap ownership | |||
| Board-ready quarterly reporting | |||
| Primary CTO contact for board & investorsAvailable to communicate directly with your board, investors, or advisors on technology matters. Eliminates the translation layer between your leadership and your technology function. | |||
| Active vendor contract negotiationWe negotiate on your behalf, not just review. Covers new contracts, renewals, and mid-term renegotiations. | |||
| Hours per month | 4 hrs | 8 hrs | Dedicated |
This is not a hands-off advice retainer. This is real, part-time ownership of your tech function.
A full-time CTO runs $200,000 to $350,000 a year fully loaded. That is before benefits, equity, or the cost of a bad hire. The Embedded tier gives you steady part-time tech leadership starting at $78,000 a year. The Strategic tier gives you full part-time ownership of your tech function. No long deal. No hiring risk.
All plans are month-to-month. Cancel any time.
* Search for CTO, VP Engineering, and IT Director roles is a separate retained job. It is not part of any tier. See Executive Search for the full picture.
** M&A tech due diligence is a separate, project-based job scoped to the deal. Contact us to walk through scope and timing before you book.
How jobs start
Discovery call
30 minutes. You walk us through what is going on. We tell you straight if it is a fit and which tier makes sense.
Diagnostic
We look at your vendors, deals, and tech setup. You get a clear picture of where you stand in 30 days.
Ongoing advisory
Monthly beat. Written reports. Full ownership. Month-to-month. No long deal needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore Related Services
Technology Strategy & Roadmaps
Plain plans to fix what's old and grow with no surprises.
Risk, Security & Governance
Security leadership that guards the firm but does not slow it down.
Operational Optimization
Tools and process tweaks that make your stack work for your team.
AI Advisory
Many CTO retainer clients want help thinking through AI adoption, governance, and vendor selection. We run that work as a separate engagement when it doesn't fit the cadence of an ongoing retainer.
CTO-led executive search
Need to hire a real tech lead rather than fill the seat part-time? DoubleChecked runs retained search for CTO, VP Engineering, and IT Director roles. A working tech leader grades each candidate before you meet them.
CTO Warning Signs
5 Signs Your Company Has Outgrown Its Current Tech Setup
5 Signs Your Company Has Outgrown Its Current Tech Setup
A practical checklist for CEOs and founders managing technology without a dedicated executive.
- Technology decisions are made by gut feel, not by someone who owns the outcome
- Your IT spend is growing but nobody can explain where it goes
- A vendor, investor, or client has asked a technology question nobody could answer
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