What is a typical board fee in an SME?

For an ordinary board member in a Danish SME with DKK 10-50m in revenue, the fee is typically between DKK 35,000 and 75,000 per year with a median of DKK 50,000-60,000. In companies under DKK 10m the median is DKK 30,000. The level rises with the company's revenue and with the member's experience and workload. The figures come from BoardPartner's Bestyrelsesrapporten 2026 (1,446 responses) and the board network Asnet.

How much is a board chair paid?

A board chair is typically paid around twice an ordinary member because of a greater workload and responsibility — in the SME segment that corresponds to a median of around DKK 100,000 per year. A deputy chair, where one exists, typically receives the ordinary member fee plus a premium of up to 50%.

What does an advisory board cost?

An advisory board is cheaper and less binding than a formal board. A typical fee for an advisory board member is between DKK 25,000 and 50,000 per year. Many smaller and newer companies start with an advisory board before establishing a formal board.

Should a board fee be invoiced or paid as salary?

Under Danish tax rules a board fee should generally be paid as salary income (A-indkomst), not invoiced from the board member's own company. This applies even though part of the fee is invoiced in practice. Seek specific advice from an accountant on the correct treatment.

Board fee calculator

What does a board cost in an SME? Estimate an indicative fee level from your company's size and the composition of the board. The figures are based on public Danish remuneration surveys — sources are at the bottom.

Company size (annual revenue)

Number of ordinary board members

Board chair

Deputy chair

Advisory board members

Indicative fee

Chair70,000 kr. – 150,000 kr.per person /year

Ordinary member × 335,000 kr. – 75,000 kr.per person /year

Total annual board fee

175,000 kr. – 375,000 kr. /year

Indicative estimate — not an agreement. The actual fee is agreed individually and depends on workload, experience, sector and revenue. Fees are paid as salary income under Danish tax rules; talk to your accountant.

What is behind the figures?

The figures are based on BoardPartner's Bestyrelsesrapporten 2026 — 1,446 board-seat responses covering 4,598 Danish boards. For an ordinary board member in a company with DKK 10–50m in revenue, the fee is typically between DKK 35,000 and 75,000 per year with a median of DKK 50,000–60,000. In smaller companies (under DKK 10m) the median is DKK 30,000, and in larger ones (DKK 50–250m) DKK 60,000–80,000.

A board chair is typically paid around twice an ordinary member because of greater workload and responsibility — in the 2026 report, 21% of chairs receive exactly twice the ordinary fee and 41% receive more than that. A deputy chair, where one exists, typically receives the ordinary fee plus a premium of up to 50%.

An advisory board is cheaper and less binding; a typical fee here is between DKK 25,000 and 50,000 per year per member. Many smaller companies start there before establishing a formal board.

Worth knowing when negotiating the fee: fee levels have been flat since 2024 even though boards report spending more time — and about one in three board members feels the fee does not match the workload.

The fee is only one side

What matters is not only what the board costs, but what it is worth. A board that spots problems early and sharpens decisions earns its fee back many times over. BoardReady helps you get more out of that investment — with better preparation, the questions a board predictably asks, and systematic follow-up between meetings.

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Board fee calculator

Indicative fee

What is behind the figures?

The fee is only one side

Sources