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 charge high retainers to cover office rent, account managers, and junior staff learning curves. A Fractional Director provides senior-level strategy and execution directly — eliminating the overhead and saving an estimated £98,000 per year versus a comparable agency roster.
Is a Fractional Director cheaper than hiring full-time?
Yes. A full-time Head of Ecommerce plus a Senior Developer typically costs over £140,000 per year including salary, National Insurance, pension, and benefits. Atherstone Digital’s fractional model starts from £36,000/year (£3,000/month) for equivalent output — versus £140,000+ all-in for a comparable full-time team.
What is the minimum commitment?
Atherstone Digital operates on a rolling monthly retainer. There is no minimum term. You can scale up during Q4 peak periods or pause during quiet months — unlike a full-time employee.
Can I use a Fractional Director alongside my existing agency?
Yes. A fractional director can manage your existing agency relationships, brief creative suppliers, and audit their output. Many partners find they can replace one or more agencies entirely once the fractional model is in place.
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: 2/3