Three retainer shapes. One operating model — the senior partner, the boutique price.
Every tier ships a working AI tool in week one, governance from day one, and a written 90-day ROI target. The shape changes with how big the surface area gets. Prices are published; we share a candid fit read after a 30-minute working session.
Want details on what each pod covers? See the services page → Still framing the engagement? Get the readiness guide → or see how this compares to a Big Four engagement →
We walk away with a first-cut scope and a candidate pilot. You walk away with a written follow-up whether or not you hire us — and a candid read on which tier fits.
Pick a working-session slotMatch the retainer to the surface area — not the budget.
The Growth tier is the mid-market default — most operators land here. Starter fits a single-stakeholder pilot. Senior is reserved for regulated, multi-BU, or PE-backed engagements.
A senior fractional CAIO embedded with one leadership team.
- Working tool in week one
- PII guardrails + audit log
- Kill switch on every rollout
- Monthly QBR + written ROI update
- Leadership workshop in month one
The mid-market default — multi-stakeholder, faster cadence.
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Vendor shortlist + procurement help
- Multi-BU reporting + dashboarding
- QBR cadence with a written read-out
- Two scoped builds in parallel after week 4
Regulated, multi-BU, or PE-backed — board-ready deliverables.
- Everything in Growth, plus:
- Board-level deliverables + read-outs
- Regulated-industry posture (HIPAA/FINRA/SOX)
- Multi-BU governance + cross-portfolio review
- Dedicated senior hours, named operator
What you get on day one, and what each tier adds.
Every row mirrors something we already promise on the home page. The ladder is additive — moving up keeps what you already had.
| Feature | $3,500/moStarter fCAIO | $8,000/moGrowth fCAIO | $20,000+/moSenior / Executive fCAIO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working tool in week one | |||
| PII guardrails + audit log | |||
| Kill switch for agent rollouts | |||
| Leadership AI workshop | |||
| Monthly QBR cadence | |||
| ROI target in writing | |||
| Vendor shortlist + procurement | |||
| Multi-BU reporting | |||
| Board-level deliverables | Add-on | ||
| Regulated-industry posture | Add-on | Add-on |
Need something between tiers? Most engagements end up scoped — talk to us about a custom mix.
Pick an objection on the left to see the grounded answer here. For a more specific version, ask below.
Senior judgment that earns its place in the operating rhythm.
A few founder-style reads on what changes when the first tool, guardrails, and ROI target arrive together.
Not sure which tier fits? Start with a session.
Thirty minutes on a video call with a senior operator. We leave with a first-cut scope, a candidate pilot, and a candid read on tier fit. You leave with a written follow-up regardless of whether you hire us.