Guide
Hire, go fractional, or partner?
3 ways to get AI into your firm, and how to tell which one fits yours.
Built forQopia FinancialJSI Systems
3 ways to get AI capability into a firm
Owners usually ask this once growth has outrun the back office. Decide what the firm must hold itself, and what someone else can carry.
Option 1
Hire an AI lead
Best whenAI is part of what you sell, or there’s a senior role’s worth of work.
- What it costs
- A senior salary, plus the months it takes to find the person.
- Who keeps it running
- Your own team, while that person stays.
Option 2
A fractional AI leader
Best whenYou need direction, and already have people who can build.
- What it costs
- A part-time fee for advice. The building is extra.
- Who keeps it running
- Whoever you find to build and run it.
Where we fit
An operations partner
Best whenYou need it built and kept running, and nobody has time to own it.
- What it costs
- A monthly retainer that covers building and running.
- Who keeps it running
- The partner, with a named owner on your side.
How to choose
3 things to weigh
What breaks if they leave
One hire holds it all in their head. Ask who covers it when they’re on vacation, or gone.
Who actually builds it
A plan nobody builds is the most common outcome. Know who does the building before you buy the plan.
You can change your mind later
Many firms start with a partner, learn what the work is, then hire once there’s a role’s worth of it.
Questions we get asked
What is a fractional chief AI officer?
A senior AI leader who works for several firms part time. They set direction and choose priorities, and usually don’t build.
Should we hire before we know what we need?
It’s hard to hire well for a role you can’t yet describe. Starting with a partner or a fractional leader often makes the eventual hire a better one.
Can a partner work alongside our own people?
Yes. We often build with a firm’s operations lead and hand over what they want to own.
Which is right for a firm of 40 people?
Usually a partner first. There’s rarely a full role’s worth of AI work at that size, and the systems still need someone accountable.
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Your brief · 1 of 3
What brings you here?
See what we’d build first at a firm like yours.
Start with one process.
A working session on how your firm actually runs. You leave knowing the first process worth fixing.