The Maths
Just Makes Sense.
Why pay for a traditional agency's office rent, account managers, and junior learning curves? The Fractional model is engineered for ROI.
| Traditional Agency | Full-Time Director | Atherstone Digital | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | £5,000–£10,000 | £7,000–£10,000 | From £3,000 |
| Annual cost | £60k–£120k | £85k–£120k + NI/pension | From £36k |
| Seniority level | Junior execution | Varies | Director-level only |
| Time to start | 4–6 weeks | 3–6 months to hire | Week 1 |
| P&L ownership | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tech execution | Separate dev cost | ✗ (strategy only) | ✓ Built-in |
| Flexibility | Fixed contract | Fixed salary | Monthly rolling |
| Get Started |
The Agency Trap
High Overhead • Slow
- ×Bloated RetainersYou pay for their posh office and snacks, not just the work.
- ×GatekeepersAccount managers block you from talking to the talent.
- ×Junior ExecutionSenior partners pitch you; interns do the work.
The Full-Time Risk
Fixed Cost • Inflexible
- !Fixed Liability£85k+ salary + NI + pension regardless of performance.
- !Recruitment Lag3–6 months to find, hire, and onboard a Head of Ecom.
- !Single SkillsetA Director creates strategy but rarely writes code. You still need a dev.
The Fractional Edge
Agile • Senior • ROI-First
- ✓Senior Talent OnlyYou work directly with Dan. No juniors, no delegation.
- ✓Instant ImpactI audit and execute from Week 1. Zero onboarding lag.
- ✓Full StackStrategy, Dev, and Growth in one retainer. I build what I plan.
Common Questions
Why choose a Fractional Ecommerce Director over an Agency?
Agencies often charge high retainers to cover overheads like office rent and account managers. A Fractional Director provides senior-level strategy and execution directly, eliminating bloat and saving ~£98k/year.
Is a Fractional Director cheaper than a full-time hire?
Yes. A full-time Head of Ecommerce and Senior Developer typically costs over £140k/year including benefits. Atherstone Digital's fractional model starts from £42k/year for the same output.
What is the commitment level?
We operate on a flexible monthly retainer. You can scale up for Q4 or scale down during quiet periods, unlike full-time employees.
Stop paying for overhead.
Allocate your budget to execution and growth, not office snacks and account management layers.
Apply for the WaitlistPartner Application.
I only work with 3 partners at a time to ensure maximum focus. Complete this application to see if we're a fit.
- Direct access to Dan (Founder)
- Full tech stack audit
- Custom AI agent deployment
Current Capacity: 1/3