Canada (CAD)
United States (USD)
Estimate the all-in Canadian-dollar cost of a fractional CTO versus a full-time hire — including SR&ED tax recovery, the part most cost comparisons miss. A Canadian-controlled private corporation can recover up to 35% of qualifying R&D, and the technical lead a fractional CTO fills is exactly who the CRA interviews. Free, no email required — these are estimates, not tax advice.
Your estimate
CAD- Fractional CTO
- $12,000/mo · $144,000/yr
- SR&ED recovery
- − $20,160/yr
- Your net cost
- $10,320/mo · $123,840/yr
- Full-time CTO (loaded)
- $33,333/mo · $400,000/yr
These figures are estimates for planning only — not a binding quote. Actual pricing is scoped to your engagement. SR&ED eligibility depends on your work and CRA review — not tax advice.
A fractional CTO and a developer — for less than one full-time CTO
At a startup or SMB, a full-time CTO often spends roughly 80% of their time on hands-on development and only 20% on strategy — CTO pay for work a developer can do. For less than that single salary, a fractional CTO can own strategy and architecture while a dedicated full-stack developer ships the roadmap: the right person on each job, not one expensive generalist stretched across both.