Side by side
| Fractional CHRO | Full-time CHRO / VP People | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | FlexHR from $8,000/mo (Head of People from $4,000/mo) | Full salary, equity, benefits, recruiting fees |
| Time to start | 1–2 weeks | Typically months of search |
| Hours | About 1–2 days a week | Full-time |
| Commitment | Month-to-month, 30 days' notice | Long-term hire; costly to unwind |
| Best when | 15–150 employees, building the system | 150+ employees or a large People team to lead |
A common path
Use a fractional CHRO to build the foundations (comp, leveling, performance, policies, hiring engine), then hire a full-time People leader who inherits a working system. The fractional leader can run the search and onboard the hire. Mona Dhillon has run executive searches with Boards, including a CEO search closed in under three months.
Frequently asked questions
At what size should a startup hire a full-time CHRO?
Often between 150 and 250 employees, or earlier when there is a sizable HR team to lead, heavy M&A activity or complex international operations.