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Fractional CTO

A technology choice you can defend

A fractional CTO gives a business senior technical judgment part time, without a full-time hire. I write each technology decision down with its trade-offs, and every account stays in your name.

★★★★★ 5-star rated on Google · 14 years · 300+ Las Vegas businesses

Fractional CTO: GIOSTAR homepage on a desktop screen, a website I built and run for a Henderson clinic

Trusted By

UFC
Caesars
Churchill Downs
Neighborly
Supercuts
City of Las Vegas
SDMI
Switch
Silverton
Panda Express
TAO
Ellie Mental Health
Dollar Loan Center
.Vegas Domains
HFC
Lithion Battery

What a Fractional CTO Does

The senior technical seat, part time

A fractional CTO owns the technology decisions for a company that needs senior judgment but not a full-time officer. That covers the architecture, the vendors, the build plan, the security basics and the question of who can see what.

The seat has decision rights. A fractional CTO who only writes recommendations and watches a vendor do the work is an advisor with a better title. I hold the decisions in writing and check each one against its result.

An owner at work in a modern office

Fractional CTO Services

The technical work I take on

These are the services a fractional CTO seat covers most often. The scope names which ones apply and how many days a month each one needs.

Architecture and vendor review

The system map, the options for each part and a written comparison on the same criteria for every vendor.

Build oversight

A check on the plan, the milestones and the code for anything built by an outside team, with the findings in writing.

Security and access basics

Who holds each account, where the backups live and who can change the domain, the hosting and the data.

Hiring and handoff

The technical brief for a developer or agency, and the handoff notes that let the next person pick up the work.

Why Non-Technical Founders Stall on Technology

Choices made by pitch

A founder who cannot judge a technical proposal ends up choosing on the pitch. The vendor who presents best wins, then holds the code, the accounts and the knowledge of how the system works. Leaving means starting over.

That is the pattern I see most often. The technology was not bad on its own. It was chosen by whoever could explain it most smoothly, with no written record of the other options.

GIOSTAR brand hub, a system I built

Vendor-Neutral Technology Decisions

Options before a vendor

Vendor-neutral means the decision starts with the need and the vendor comes last. Each option is scored on the same written criteria before anyone signs anything.

A business owner reviewing work on a phone
  • The business need, written in one sentence before any product is named
  • At least three options, including doing nothing or using what is already owned
  • The cost to run each option for three years, not only the launch cost
  • Who holds the data, the keys and the exit path for each option
  • The skills the team has, or would need to hire, to keep it working

Architecture Decision Record Sample

The decision, written once

Every significant choice gets one short record. The table shows the format with illustrative rows. These are a format sample, not decisions made for a client.
QuestionOptions comparedWhat decides itDecision and owner
Where customer records liveOwned cloud account, vendor-hosted platform, spreadsheetWho holds the keys, exit cost, access logsOwned cloud account, owner holds the keys
Which website platform to build onCustom build, hosted builder, open-source CMSEditing by staff, data ownership, cost to runOwner's pick after the comparison, recorded here
Who can publish changesOwner only, named editors, agency onlySpeed of changes, audit trailNamed editors, changes logged
How backups are testedVendor promise, owner-held copy, restore drillTime to restore, who runs the drillQuarterly restore drill, owner informed

Choosing a Website Platform

The platform follows the need

I build on the platform that fits the business, and I say when the one you are on is the problem. A brochure site, a booking system and a patient portal have different needs, and the platform choice follows the list of what the site must do.

Custom code is not always the answer. A hosted builder is enough for many small sites, and I will tell you which one applies before any build starts.

GIOSTAR homepage, a website I built

Fractional CTO Cadence

How the seat runs each month

The seat runs on the same rhythm as the other fractional seats I hold: a short weekly call, one decision log and a monthly readout against the plan.

  1. Step 01

    Weekly technical call

    Thirty minutes on open decisions, blockers and vendor questions, each with an owner and a date.

  2. Step 02

    Decision log

    Every architecture and vendor choice written down with the options, the reason and the review date.

  3. Step 03

    Monthly readout

    What shipped, what broke, what it cost to run and what I would change. Each line can be checked against the invoices.

How a Build Review Runs

A review in four steps

A build review is a fixed scope with a written end. It answers one question: is the work on track, and what must change first?

  1. Step 01

    Read the scope

    Compare what was promised with what the plan says is being built, and note every gap.

  2. Step 02

    Review the code and accounts

    Check the repositories, the hosting, the domain and the access list for anything the owner cannot reach.

  3. Step 03

    Write the findings

    Each finding gets a severity, an owner and the decision it changes, in one document the owner can read.

  4. Step 04

    Agree the fixes

    The owner chooses which fixes happen now, which wait and which the builder must redo before payment.

Fractional CTO Portfolio

Builds I can show, and what each was

Five builds, and each card says what it was and whether it is live. The closest build to this page is GIOSTAR, a clinic website with online booking and lead tracking that I built and still run.
GIOSTAR services page at giostarwellness.com, a website I built for a Henderson clinic

Website build · Henderson

GIOSTAR: the clinic website, booking and lead tracking

I built and run giostarwellness.com for a regenerative medicine and wellness clinic in Henderson: every service page, online booking, financing and a blog. A website lead is tracked end to end, from the form to a booked consult to an active patient, with no manual steps. I also built its live brand hub, so every page, post and print piece pulls the same colours, type and rules.

See the live site

Portfolio Examples

More of the work

The rest of the range, with what each one was and a link wherever the work is live.
WebVegas homepage at webvegas.io with its four-step booking form

Website build · Las Vegas

WebVegas: a Las Vegas web design brand and its booking funnel

See the live site

Desert Inn Oasis logo lockup with a palm and serif lettering

Brand mark · Event venue

Desert Inn Oasis: the refined mark and the plan for the new site

Site in build

Mili Pharma horizontal logo lockup with the butterfly mark

Brand identity · Pharma

Mili Pharma: the butterfly mark and the lockups

Site in build

Three Quotible social posts built from customer testimonials

Social content system

Quotible: a testimonial-led social series

Content system

Fractional CTO Reviews

What clients say, quoted as written

Every review below is quoted as written, including the four-star one. Clients describe the habit this seat depends on: plain explanations and no overcomplicated answers. Also rated five stars by Cyndee M., Angela M., Dan H.. Read them on Google
  • ★★★★★
    After going back and forth on whether to bring in outside help, we ended up working with Justin for some AI consulting on how to structure our operations. He laid out a clear plan, didn't overcomplicate it, and we've been running smoother since. Good fit for a service business. He knows Las Vegas and he knows this stuff.

    Kristen S. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Justin joined our team a few months before opening to replace a marketing agency that wasn’t performing. He stepped up fast. Within weeks he launched a fully redesigned website with new brand guidelines, built and delivered our marketing plan and AI strategy, and helped implement our system architecture so we could open on time. Since then, he’s made several critical enhancements to the site that helped us generate revenue in our first month. His engagement was supposed to end at opening, but he became such an integral part of our leadership team that we kept him on to help evolve our marketing and tech strategy as we grow. He’s easy to work with, pushes back when it matters, and moves easily between strategy, delivery, and operations depending on what’s needed. If you’re looking for a deeply experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated marketing, AI, or technology consultant, I highly recommend Justin Harris AI Consulting.

    Devin R. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Justin has been a true Gem to have as part of our company. His professionalism, immediate attention to branding and extensive details in marketing has made so much improvement on our business. We are forever grateful to have such and amazing marketing asset and cannot thank you enough Justin!

    Desi W. · Google

  • ★★★★
    Justin Harris was very helpful in resolving some issues we had with our Webflow website.

    Kristy F. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    I had the pleasure of working alongside Justin and consistently saw firsthand the level of dedication and professionalism he brings to his work. He was always the first one in the office, setting the tone with his strong work ethic and commitment to excellence. What stood out most was how deeply he cared about every client. He approached each project with thoughtfulness, expertise, and a genuine drive to deliver meaningful results. He combines sharp technical knowledge with a practical, solutions-oriented mindset, which makes him especially effective in the AI space. Any organization looking for thoughtful, reliable, and highly skilled AI consulting support would be in great hands working with him!

    Jenevine Y. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Hired him to manage our AI systems and it's been pretty smooth. He knew what needed to be done and got it handled without a lot of back and forth. Good experience for our service business.

    BC G. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    I follow Justin on social media and read about his work and his contributions to the AI industry. He really knows how to use the technology in creating a system that allows you to make your business work more efficiently and effectively.

    Ana J. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Justin was the person I would go to for advice about AI automation for my workload. He knew the subject well and didn't overcomplicate it. For anyone in Las Vegas running a service business and wondering if AI systems are worth looking into, talking to him first is a great move!

    Yaneliz M. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Working with Justin is always a pleasure. He is professional, trustworthy, and consistently delivers outstanding results. As a longtime Las Vegas local, he has an exceptional knowledge of the territory and truly understands the market. I highly recommend his services to anyone who is serious about growing their business!

    k C. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    From what I've seen, Justin knows the AI automation space better than most people I've come across in Las Vegas. He's the kind of person who actually understands the technical side and can explain it without making you feel lost. Good guy, good reputation.

    Afaryn F. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    I've Known Justin for a while now and he really knows his stuff when it comes to AI consulting. If people in Las Vegas were to ask me for recommendations in this space, he's the best guy for the job, hands down.

    Mickey S. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    After going back and forth on whether to bring in outside help, we reached out to Justin for some AI consulting advice on where our service business could actually use automation. He was straightforward about what made sense and what didn't. Ended up being a useful conversation. Las Vegas has no shortage of people claiming to be experts, and he's one of the few who could back it up.

    Vincent M. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Known Justin for a few years now and the guy actually knows his stuff when it comes to AI automation. Friends in the Las Vegas service business space keep asking me who to call and I always point them his way.

    Chris M. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Justin is one of those guys who actually knows what he's talking about and doesn't cut any corners. Will definitely be working with him again.

    David S. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Justin knows what he's doing highly recommend using his service he will treat you right and give you tremendous value !👍

    Gregory J. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Known Justin for a many years and the guy actually knows what he's talking about when it comes to AI and automation. Not the type to just throw buzzwords around. Based in Las Vegas and well connected in the space. …

    cindy D. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Known Justin for a few years now. Guy knows the AI space better than most people I've come across, especially here in Las Vegas where there's no shortage of people claiming to be experts. He actually understands how AI automation works at a practical level, not just the theory. The kind of person who gives you a straight answer with kindness and patience

    Katelyn H. · Google

  • ★★★★★
    Knew Justin before he started building AI systems for businesses, and watching what he's put together is genuinely impressive. He built out an AI automation setup for my website in Las Vegas and it changed how we handle leads completely. The guy actually runs this stuff himself, so he knows what works.

    Justin E. · Google

Technology Ownership for Business Owners

Who holds the keys

Ownership is the first decision on every technology seat. An owner should be able to end the seat tomorrow and keep the business running.

A storefront street in the Valley
  • Domains registered in the owner's name, with the login held by the owner
  • Hosting and code repositories in accounts the owner controls
  • A written list of every account, who holds it and how it is recovered
  • Backups kept in a place the owner can reach without a vendor
  • Access reviewed each month, with removed staff taken off the list the same week

Fractional CTO Scope and Cost

What sets the seat's days

I quote a fixed price for a written scope. A seat that reviews one vendor is a different job from a seat that oversees a build across three teams, so a rate would mislead in both directions.

WebVegas homepage, a website I built
  • How many systems the seat reviews and how many vendors it compares
  • Whether an outside team is building, and how many milestones remain
  • How many days a month the seat needs in the business
  • Security and access work the scope includes, such as an access audit
  • Migration of existing accounts, domains or data

Fractional CTO Questions

Questions founders ask first

Straight answers to what owners ask me before they hire me. If yours is not here, ask it on a call.

Get a Fractional CTO Review

Start with the open decision

Send me the technology decision you cannot judge alone, and I will reply with the options I would compare and the seat I would fill.