What is a fractional AI advisor?
You get someone who’s done this work inside their own operation — one to two days a week, embedded in yours. I prioritize what to build, evaluate vendors before you sign anything, and make sure your team can run what we ship. Not someone reading from a framework. Someone who’s built the tools, made the vendor calls, and cleaned up the messes that come from moving too fast or too slow.
How it works
A fractional engagement is monthly, with a three-month minimum. Each quarter has a defined outcome we agree on in advance — usually one to three workflows shipped, plus ongoing support on whatever else comes up.
The retainer runs $3,000–$7,500 per month depending on scope. A lighter tier is one working session a week plus async support. A heavier tier is multiple sessions, deeper build time, and faster response on incidents.
Month 1 — Audit and prioritize
If we haven’t already done a Foundation Audit, this is where it starts. I look at what you have, what’s working, what’s not, and where the real opportunities are. By the end of month one, you have a ranked list and a plan for the quarter — not a slide deck, a working document we’ll actually use.
Month 2 — Build the first thing that matters
We ship something real. One workflow, one tool, one automation — whatever scored highest on the priority list. This is where most of the build time goes. The greenhouse quoting tool is a good example of what a single focused build can do for an operation.
Month 3+ — Expand what works, kill what doesn’t
By month three, we know what landed. We double down on what’s working. We cut what isn’t — honestly, not everything works on the first pass, and that’s fine. The quarterly review resets priorities and scopes the next round.
Most clients stay six to twelve months. Some longer. The engagement ends when you’ve either built enough internal capability to run without me, or when the roadmap runs out. Both are good outcomes.
Why fractional instead of full-time?
The honest answer: most manufacturing companies between $5M and $100M in revenue don’t need a full-time AI leader yet. They need one for eight to sixteen hours a month.
A full-time Chief AI Officer runs $250K–$400K per year in salary alone — before benefits, equity, and the management overhead of another senior hire. A fractional advisor gives you the same prioritization and build oversight at a fraction of that cost, without the twelve-month commitment of a full-time role.
The tradeoff is real, though. A fractional advisor isn’t sitting in your office five days a week. They’re not managing a team of engineers. If you need that level of presence, you need a full-time hire — and I’ll tell you that directly.
For most operators I work with, the math works like this: fractional engagement for six to twelve months, build the roadmap, ship the high-value work, then decide whether to hire full-time once you actually know what the role needs to look like.
What this isn’t
It isn’t an open-ended “AI strategy” retainer where nothing measurable happens. It isn’t substitute headcount for a full-time engineer or CTO. It isn’t a way to outsource your operation.
It is a way to keep building, steadily, without hiring before you’re ready — with someone in the seat who’s done it inside their own company first.
Honest fit check
If you found me through this site and you’re not sure whether you need a fractional engagement, you probably don’t yet. Start with a Foundation Audit or an Implementation Sprint. Most fractional clients get there after working with me on something defined first.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a fractional AI advisor and a consultant?
A consultant gives you recommendations and leaves. A fractional advisor implements them alongside you. I’m in the working sessions. I’m reviewing the builds. I’m on the call when the vendor pitch doesn’t add up. The accountability runs both directions — I have quarterly outcomes to hit, same as you.
How many hours per month?
Eight to sixteen hours depending on the tier. That covers weekly working sessions plus async support between them. The pricing page breaks down the tiers in detail.
Can this work remotely?
Yes. Most sessions are remote — video call, shared screen, working through real problems in real time. On-site visits happen for audits and critical builds, but the week-to-week rhythm is remote and it works well.
How long does a typical engagement last?
Three-month minimum. Most clients stay six to twelve months — long enough to work through a full roadmap cycle. Some stay longer if the operation keeps growing. The engagement should end when you don’t need it anymore, not when a contract says so.