Free ROI Calculator
Hire vs. Contract a CDO
The real Year 1 cost difference between bringing on a full-time Chief Data Officer and engaging a fractional CDO — live, with your numbers.
Built for mid-market CEOs. No sign-up required.
Your Company
Adjust the sliders — results update instantly.
$15.0M
$1.0M$100.0M
$80K
$0$500K
75
10500
$220,000
$150,000$350,000
15 hrs
5 hrs40 hrs
Fractional saves you $187,650 in Year 1. Start there.
Year 1 Savings with Fractional
+$187,650
Breakeven: fractional makes sense until you need 17 hrs/week consistently
Full-Time CDO
$385,000
Year 1 total
Base salary
$220,000Benefits + payroll tax(30%)
$66,000Recruiting fee(20% of salary)
$44,000Onboarding ramp(6 mo @ 50% productivity)
$55,000Fractional CDO
$197,350
Year 1 total
Monthly retainer(15 hrs/wk × $250/hr)
$16,238Setup / discovery(one-time)
$2,500Annual: $194,850 + $2,500 setup
Risk Comparison
| Factor | Full-Time | Fractional |
|---|---|---|
| Time to productive | 6–12 months | 2–4 weeks |
| Exit cost if not a fit | 6 months severance | 30-day notice |
| Scales with your needs | No | Yes |
| Access to current AI tools | Varies | Always current |
Ready to see what a fractional CDO engagement would actually look like for your company?
Schedule a Free Strategy Call with JoshJosh Elberg · Fractional CDO & AI Strategy · Palavir LLC