Per day, an interim manager costs more than a permanent manager’s salary, and there’s no point sugarcoating it. The gap narrows when you factor in recruitment fees, overhead costs, and the months the role would otherwise sit empty.
The cost of an empty seat doesn’t appear on any invoice, but it’s often the biggest expense of all.
An interim manager is paid a daily rate for days worked, and invoicing occurs once a month. The price is primarily influenced by the role, the complexity of the situation, and the workload. There are no recruitment fees or fixed costs.
A CEO assignment costs more than a project manager. A turnaround, acquisition, or crisis requires a more experienced professional than a calm transition phase. International assignments may also increase the price.
The monthly cost is primarily influenced by workload. A full-time manager works about 20 days per month, while part-time might be 8–12 days, for example. Part-time or in a short assignment, an interim can be cheaper than recruitment. In a long full-time assignment, it’s usually more expensive, and then you’re paying for speed and experience.
Free assessment, approximately half an hour.
2–4 carefully selected candidates with justifications, typically within 48 hours.
The professional’s working days, invoiced once per month. No recruitment fee or fixed costs.
We don’t disappear after the contract is signed. We ensure that the professional gets up to speed quickly.
Compare total cost, not daily rate to monthly salary.
| Cost Item | Recruited Manager | Interim Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Salary or daily rate | Monthly salary | Daily rate × days worked |
| Overhead costs | On top of salary | Included in price |
| Recruitment | Executive search fee | No fee |
| Time before start | 3–9 months, role vacant | Days |
| Commitment | Indefinite | Agreed fixed term |
An empty role costs you in lost sales, delayed deals, or cash flow problems that no one had time to notice. Read the full comparison: interim or recruitment →
A part-time interim CFO working two days a week for four months totals approximately 35 working days. You only pay for those 35 days, not for the full four months.
With recruitment, you pay the executive search fee, the monthly salary with side costs, and for the months the role remains vacant during the search process. This is why you should compare total cost to total cost, rather than comparing a daily rate to a monthly salary.
Tell us about your situation. After an approximately half-hour assessment, you’ll know what kind of professional fits, how many days per week you need them, and what it costs. The assessment is free and doesn’t commit you to anything.
When the situation hits, you only need to remember one name. We take ownership from the first call until the assignment is completed. We don’t disappear after the contract is signed.
Each of our partners has led a company and solved the same challenges you’re facing now. That’s why we understand your situation immediately, and our executives can be thrown straight into the deep end.
You deal directly with the partners handling your search. No middlemen or unnecessary bureaucracy, and you always know where things stand without having to ask.
We don’t sell processes for the sake of the process. We cut out the steps that don’t benefit you and only use your time for what moves the assignment forward.
“Cherry’s flexible interim agreement was an excellent solution for us as a growth company.”
Because it depends on the role, the situation, and the workload. Two days a week at a growth company and a full-time turnaround are different things. We’ll tell you the price after the assessment, once we know what you need.
The daily rate includes costs that you would pay separately in an employment relationship, such as overhead costs and vacation. Additionally, you pay only for the days the professional actually works.
Yes. For example, 2–3 days per week significantly reduces monthly costs and suits a growth company well.
That’s possible. Cherry Pinterim →
Yes. The approximately half-hour assessment doesn’t commit you to anything, and afterward you’ll know which model suits you and what it costs.
A free assessment takes about half an hour. After that, you will know what kind of expert suits your situation, when they can start, and what it will cost.
In a hurry? Call any of us directly.
Ilari Kallio040 070 5050
Petri Kujala040 076 7767
Samppa Seppälä050 568 0533
Sampo Salmi050 386 6565Are you an interim manager yourself? Apply for the Cherry Pool →
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