What's a fractional CTO?
A part-time head of technology. I decide with you what to build, build it with your team and look after it, without you hiring a full-time executive. For an owner-run business, that usually means your website, your ads and the back office your staff use every day.
Do we own the code and accounts?
Yes. Your code, your data and every account sit in your company's name, not mine. That is part of every handoff. If you ever want a different developer, you hand them the keys and they pick up where I left off.
Can a non-technical team really make changes with Claude?
Yes, for the small changes that come up every week, like a new field, a new report or a tweak to a screen. During the Build, the person who will make changes works next to me. That way they learn the system as it grows. At a Houston-area wholesale distributor, the owner made 55 of the 56 changes in the month after handoff, using Claude.
Is it safe to let staff change our software with AI?
It is when the guardrails are in place, and every handoff includes them. Checks run on every change before it goes live. Every change gets a preview link your team can click through. Changes that touch payments, security or your database come to me before they go live. And every change is on record, with who made it and when.
What happens when something breaks?
When something breaks, you text me and I pick it up. If the cause is in my work, there's no invoice. That's the standing warranty, and it has no end date. If the cause is a later change, an outside service or a new feature, it falls under the support option you picked at handoff.
What if you disappear?
Your software keeps working. The code and accounts are in your name, the runbook and staff guide explain how it fits together, and your team already makes the everyday changes. Any good developer can pick it up from there.
How is this different from an agency, a freelancer or a full-time hire?
An agency builds for you and usually stays the one who can change it. A freelancer builds the piece you ask for. A full-time hire makes sense once there's a full week of work every week. I sit in between: I plan and build the whole system with your team, then hand it over so you don't need me for the small things.
Wouldn't a developer on payroll cost less over time?
Sometimes, once there's steady work for one every week. Many owner-run businesses aren't there yet. They need a burst of building, then small changes. So I build the system in about three months, your team takes over the small changes, and you keep as much of me as you need. If a hire makes sense later, I'll help you make it and hand over to them.
How much of your time do we get?
During the Build, I work on your system every week and you see progress every week. After handoff, it depends on the path you pick: on call when something breaks, pay per fix, or a set share of each month as your fractional CTO. We agree the time in writing before it starts.
What size business is this for?
Owner-run businesses with a team. The daily work lives in spreadsheets, inboxes and tools that don't talk to each other. In 2026 I handed over systems to two of them. One is a Houston meal-prep brand. The other is a Houston-area wholesale distributor. If you're a founder still building a product, see the founders page.
What does Claude cost us after handoff?
Your team pays for Claude directly, at Anthropic's published price. It's a monthly plan for each person who makes changes, and the bill goes to you, not through me. I help you pick the right plan during handoff.
What if Claude changes or goes away?
Your software runs without Claude; Claude is how your team edits it. The code is standard and lives in your accounts, so any developer or another AI tool can work on it. If the tools change, I will help your team switch.
Can we start small?
Yes. Every engagement starts with the Scoping Sprint: a fixed price, about two weeks, and a written plan you keep whether or not we build. If the Build starts within 30 days, the Sprint is credited in full.