Fractional, part time or freelance?
Fractional, part time and freelance sound alike. Here is what each one means on Deftridge and which fits you.
By Daniel Okafor, Chief Recruiting Officer · Edited by Helena Voss · Published
Fractional
A senior role filled part time, such as a fractional CFO or CMO, usually a standing engagement of a few hours a week.
Part time
A defined number of hours alongside another job. Most Deftridge tasks are part time: about five hours a week.
Freelance
Work sold task by task. A one-off task on Deftridge is close to freelance, with a recruiter handling the brief, the contract and the payment.
What the difference is worth
Fractional roles carry leadership responsibility, so they are priced at director or executive level. The table compares the typical rate for three fractional roles with a related specialist role, per hour, from our October 2026 tables.
| Pair | Market | Fractional | Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional CFO vs FP&A Analyst | US | $230 | $90 |
| Fractional CFO vs FP&A Analyst | Canada | CA$160 | CA$65 |
| Fractional CFO vs FP&A Analyst | UK | £100 | £40 |
| Fractional Controller vs Bookkeeper | US | $155 | $35 |
| Fractional Controller vs Bookkeeper | Canada | CA$105 | CA$45 |
| Fractional Controller vs Bookkeeper | UK | £70 | £23 |
| Fractional CMO vs SEO Specialist | US | $205 | $70 |
| Fractional CMO vs SEO Specialist | Canada | CA$140 | CA$65 |
| Fractional CMO vs SEO Specialist | UK | £95 | £30 |