The rise of fractional employment
Why more professionals are embracing flexible careers
Paige Batcha-Magill, CPA | April/May 2025 Footnote
Editor's note: Updated March 26, 2025
Not too long ago, the career path was simple: Go to college, get a degree, land a full-time job, put in the hours, climb the ladder and, hopefully, retire before your sanity does. But times have changed. Today, more professionals — especially finance professionals — are ditching the 9-to-5 grind in favor of fractional employment.
For the uninitiated, fractional employment means working with multiple companies on a part-time or contract basis, offering high-level expertise without the fulltime commitment.
And no, “fractional” doesn’t mean you only do part of the job — it just means you’re working smarter, not harder.
Why are more professionals going fractional?
The days of measuring success with the hours spent at a desk are long gone. Fractional professionals enjoy the freedom to choose their projects, set their schedules and work in a way that fits their lives. Want to take Fridays off? Go for it. Need to leave early for a soccer game or catch a Peloton ride? Who’s going to stop you?
Beyond flexibility, fractional professionals get to work on projects that actually excite them. One of the biggest complaints in corporate life is getting stuck in the same routine, year after year, slowly morphing into an Excel spreadsheet yourself. The fractional work model allows professionals to focus on meaningful, high-impact work instead of spending half their lives in pointless meetings that could have been emails.
Businesses are also driving this shift. Many small and midsized companies need financial leadership but can’t afford a full-time CFO or finance professional. That’s where “fractionals” come in — they provide the expertise companies need, for just the right amount of time. It’s a win-win: Businesses get strategic financial guidance without the cost of a full-time hire and professionals get to do what they do best.
Another underrated perk? A break from office politics. When you’re not deeply embedded in one company, you can sidestep endless meetings, the occasional workplace drama and the layers of bureaucracy that slow things down. Instead, you get to focus on meaningful work and bring real value to your clients, while enjoying a refreshing variety in your career.
Fractional work is about more than just career flexibility, it’s about life flexibility. Whether you want to spend more time with family, start a side business or two or finally earn that coveted Delta Diamond status, this work model allows professionals to structure their careers around their priorities, rather than sacrificing everything for a job.
Technology has made this shift easier than ever. With cloud accounting, Zoom meetings and collaborative tools, fractional professionals can work from anywhere. Gone are the days of needing to be physically present in an office five days a week. Today, managing books, providing strategic advice and leading teams can all be done from a laptop. I have worked across numerous states and countries, seamlessly staying on track with my clients while traveling the world!
Want to get started as a fractional?
If fractional work sounds appealing, the next question is: Where do you start?
First, define your niche. Businesses looking for fractional professionals want specialists, not generalists. If your expertise is in financial strategy, tax planning or forensic accounting, make sure you position yourself as an expert in that area. For instance, here’s my niche: I am a calmer of chaos within small and midsized organizations positioned for growth while lacking strategic financial vision on how to obtain said growth.
Next, build your brand. Update your LinkedIn, freshen up that old resume and consider creating a simple website showcasing your services. You don’t need to go full influencer, but a solid online presence makes a huge impact.
Speaking of networking, tap into your existing relationships; former colleagues, clients and friends may be a link to your first consulting engagement. Attending industry events, joining organizations aligned with your expertise or interests will begin to build your network.
Set up a clear engagement model once you start getting interest. Decide how you’ll price your services — hourly, project-based or retainer — and outline the scope of work for each engagement. Nobody likes awkward money conversations, so be upfront about fees.
Lastly, embrace the mindset shift. Moving from employee to fractional means thinking like a business owner. You’ll need to manage your own schedule, market your services and — yes —sometimes chase invoices. But in exchange, you get autonomy, variety and the ability to design your career on your terms.
The risks of going fractional
Believe it or not, there are risks to this approach, because nothing is perfect — except maybe compound interest. While fractional work sounds like a dream, it’s not all unicorns and perfectly balanced ledgers. There are some risks to consider before diving in.
- Income stability can be a rollercoaster. Unlike a cushy salaried job, fractional professionals rely on multiple clients for income. Some months will be busier than others, and that’s something you’ll need to plan for; a financial cushion helps smooth out the slow periods.
- Client management can be tricky. Juggling multiple companies means managing different expectations, communication styles and deadlines. Some clients may treat you like a full-time employee (without the benefits), while others may vanish for weeks and then suddenly need everything yesterday. Setting boundaries and clear contracts is key — we are trying to keep our sanity, remember?
- Self-employment responsibilities are real. If you thought corporate paperwork was bad, wait until you have to handle your own invoicing, taxes, health insurance and retirement planning. Even accountants need accountants sometimes!
- Finding clients takes effort. Even if you have an impressive resume, landing your first few fractional gigs requires networking, marketing, patience and persistence. Word-of-mouth referrals are gold, but building a steady client base takes time and hustle. Consider connecting with a third-party agency because they will do the searching for you. I also encourage you to be clear in your desired role, regardless of the source of the contract and do not rely solely on one source.
- Work-life balance isn’t automatic. While fractional work is designed to offer more freedom, some professionals find themselves taking on too many clients or struggling to set boundaries. Just because you can work at all hours doesn’t mean you should. Remember why you embarked on this endeavor in the first place!
Is fractional work right for you?
If you love variety, crave independence and want more control over your career, fractional employment might be your ticket to more fulfilling work. It offers the best of both worlds: the opportunity to do meaningful, strategic work without being tied to a single company.
That said, it’s not for everyone. If you prefer stability, like having a set paycheck or break out in hives at the thought of constantly finding new clients, a traditional full-time role might still be the better fit.
But if you’re ready to take the leap, embrace the fractional lifestyle and finally reclaim your life flexibility, the fractional revolution is here. And, judging by the number of professionals making the switch, it’s not just a trend — it’s the future of work.
So go ahead, take control of your career — but maybe skip the sweats for your first client call, unless they’re stylish and you’re hitting the Peloton after!
Paige Batcha-Magill, CPA, is the founder and owner of PBM Consulting, providing fractional CFO services. With more than 18 years of finance and accounting experience across a vast array of companies and industries, she thrives on bringing financial clarity and support to small to midsized organizations. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
