Are You Ready for a £100k+ Salary in Your Business? There Might Be Another Way.

At some point in every growing business, the same thought pops up:

 

“We need someone more senior now.”

 

Maybe it’s finance.
Maybe it’s marketing.
Maybe it’s operations.

 

You’ve outgrown winging it, and you know better leadership would unlock the next level.

 

So naturally, you start looking at hiring.

 

And suddenly, you’re staring at salaries of £70k, £80k, £90k… even £100k+.

 

Plus pensions.
Plus NI.
Plus recruitment fees.
Plus everything else.

 

Before you know it, you’re committing to a six-figure decision.

 

But here’s the question most business owners never stop to ask:

 

Do you actually need that person full-time yet?

 

 

What Is a Fractional Executive?

A fractional executive is an experienced, senior leader — a CFO, CMO, COO, or similar — who works with your business on a part-time or retained basis.

 

You get the experience.
You get the strategic thinking.
You get hands-on support.

 

Just without putting them on payroll full-time.

 

Think of it as bringing board-level expertise into your business without board-level cost.

 

The Real Cost of “Just Hiring Someone”

 

Let’s talk honestly about employment costs.

 

A “cheap” hire on minimum wage isn’t cheap.

 

Once you factor in:
– Employer National Insurance
– Pension contributions
– Holiday and sick pay
– Recruitment and onboarding
– Training and management time
– Software, equipment, and workspace

 

That role is costing you a minimum £26k–£30k+ per year.

 

And that’s at the lower end.

 

For senior hires, you’re easily looking at £80k–£120k+ all in.

 

And here’s the real risk…

 

You’re paying that before you know if they’ll deliver.

 

 

What Fractional Leadership Looks Like in Practice

Many growing businesses can access a high-quality fractional executive for around £3,000 per month.

 

For that, you typically get:

– Strategic leadership

– Practical, hands-on input

– Experience from multiple businesses

– Faster, clearer decision-making

– No long-term contracts

– No recruitment fees

 

You’re not paying for “bums on seats”.

 

You’re paying for outcomes.

 

In many cases, that works out cheaper than employing someone on minimum wage while delivering far greater value.

 

Why Fractional Is Growing So Fast?

Markets are uncertain.
Costs are rising.
Margins are under pressure.

 

Business owners don’t want more risk — they want smarter decisions.

 

Fractional leadership gives you:

– Flexibility when things change

– Speed when opportunities appear

– Experience without overcommitment

 

You can scale support up or down.

Test before you invest.

And only go full-time when it genuinely makes sense.

 

No guessing. No expensive mistakes.

 

 

The Bigger Question

Before you commit to another £70k–£100k+ salary in your business, it’s worth asking:

 

“Could I get better results for a fraction of the cost?”

 

For many businesses, the answer is yes.

 

Fractional leadership isn’t a stop-gap.

It’s a smart, modern way to grow.

 

And when used properly, it can save tens of thousands of pounds while helping you scale faster and more sustainably.

 

 

Final Thought

Hiring full-time will always have its place.

 

But it shouldn’t be your first move.

 

It should be your final one — once the role is proven, the return is clear, and the timing is right.

 

Until then, there is another way.

 

And it’s helping smart business owners grow without gambling their cash.