| Fractional head of product | Digital agency | Full-time hire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Decide what to build and why; lead the team and stakeholders | Design and build what you've decided | Decide, lead and build the organization, every day |
| Best when | You need senior judgment now, or between leaders | The roadmap is clear and you need capacity | Product is permanent, full-week work |
| Time to start | Weeks | Weeks | Months to recruit |
| Cost | Monthly retainer (mine starts at $6,000/mo) | Project or team fees, usually tied to build scope | Salary, bonus, equity and benefits |
| Accountable for | Outcomes: conversion, revenue, retention | Delivery: the scope you agreed | Outcomes and the team, long term |
| Can it also build? | Mine can: Design & Build, scoped per project, using AI tools and trusted partners | Yes, that's the main job | Through the team they hire and run |
| Watch out for | Large, long-running builds still need a team | Builds what you ask for, even if it's the wrong thing | Slow and costly to get wrong |
When I'm the wrong choice
- You need a large team building for years, and the decisions are already made. Hire an agency or build an in-house team; I can help you choose and brief them.
- Product is a full-week job and you're ready to recruit. Hire full-time; I can help you define the role.
- You want a one-off opinion rather than a working roadmap or a leader in the seat.
When I'm the right one
- You're between product leaders, or have never had one, and digital can't wait.
- You have engineering or agency capacity, but nobody deciding what matters most.
- You're about to make a big bet, like a rebuild, a new platform or a loyalty relaunch, and need someone who has done it before.
- You want one senior person who can decide what to build and then design and build the prototype, pilot or feature, instead of briefing an agency.