When to hire a full-time CTO vs. use advisory

Consider a full-time CTO when: - Technology is core to your product (you're a tech company) - You have 10+ engineers to lead and develop - You need someone in every leadership meeting daily **Advisory/retainer works when:** - You're a non-tech company making tech decisions - You need senior judgment, not daily management - You want independence from internal politics Many companies start with advisory and hire full-time when the scope outgrows part-time.