Managed
A fractional sales director,without the exec salary.
For UK founders scaling past £500k ARR who need a head of sales, not another closer. Own the number, run the team, hand the founder their calendar back.
The remit
- Own the sales number end to end — pipeline, conversion, cash collected
- Design and enforce the sales framework across setters and closers
- Weekly tape review, scorecards and 1:1s with each rep
- Hiring plan — who to add, when, and against what benchmark
- Founder handover — you get your calendar back
Engagement shape
From £4,000/month
Typically 1-2 days per week over a 3-6 month engagement, with clear exit criteria. Retainer plus a performance component tied to cash collected. Typically 1-2 days per week. 3-month minimum term. Starts with a Sales Audit so both sides know exactly what they're fixing.
What this looks like in practice
At Trade Algorithm, our founder Chris Bull joined as Head of Sales, rebuilt the sales infrastructure and setter qualification process, trained the appointment-setting team, and closed the largest deal in the company's history — an £8,000 client — within six weeks of joining. That is the same remit described above, run by the person who designed it.
Related: Outsourced Sales, Sales Audit, Outsourced Sales Team.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
- How much does a fractional sales director cost?
- Fractional Sales Director engagements start from £4,000/month, with a 3-month minimum term. That is a retainer plus a performance component tied to cash collected, so our upside is aligned with yours. The exact figure depends on team size, deal complexity and how much of the sales function you want owned rather than advised on.
- How long is a typical engagement?
- Typically 1-2 days per week across 3-6 months, with written exit criteria agreed at kickoff. The intent is to leave behind a working sales function and a capable team — not to become a permanent line item. Some founders extend once revenue justifies a full-time hire, and we then help recruit and hand over to that person.
- What's actually included?
- Ownership of the sales number end to end — pipeline, conversion and cash collected; the sales framework designed and enforced across setters and closers; weekly tape review, scorecards and 1:1s with each rep; a hiring plan covering who to add, when, and against what benchmark; and a structured founder handover so you stop running sales day to day.
- How is this different from Managed Placement?
- Managed Placement (£2,000 + 15% cash collected) puts a vetted closer in a seat and oversees them. A Fractional Sales Director sits above the seats: they own the number, the framework, the scorecards and the hiring plan. If you need a person selling, choose Managed Placement. If you need someone running the people who sell, choose fractional leadership.
- How is it different from Done-For-You Closing?
- Done-For-You Closing is a full outsourced sales function — we rebuild the process and staff it with our own placed closers. Fractional leadership keeps your team yours; we lead it. Founders who already have reps but no sales manager pick fractional. Founders with neither process nor people pick Done For You.
- Who is this right for?
- UK founders scaling past roughly £500k ARR with at least one or two reps already selling, an offer above £2,000, and consistent lead flow — but no senior sales leader. If you're pre-revenue or have no reps yet, start with a Sales Audit or a placement instead.
We run the sales function
Done For You — People, process, management and reporting — the sales operation, not another CV.
Founders who want sales off their plate, or a team that needs rebuilding rather than expanding.
Bespoke scoped on a call
Done For You Sales is priced bespoke and scoped on a call. It does not carry the self-serve or Managed Placement replacement guarantee — service levels and terms are agreed individually in your engagement agreement.
Discuss Done-For-You SalesWe find them and stay involved
Managed Placement
We place the closer, then stay accountable for how the seat performs.
£2,000 + 15% cash collected
Discuss Managed Placement