What Is Fractional CMO?
A part-time Chief Marketing Officer who provides senior marketing strategy and leadership without the full-time salary, typically $300K or more.
Fractional CMO Explained
A fractional CMO is an experienced marketing executive who works with your company on a part-time or retainer basis. Instead of paying $250K to $400K per year for a full-time CMO, you get the same strategic leadership for $5K to $15K per month.
The model works because most growing businesses need executive-level marketing thinking but do not have enough work to justify a full-time hire. A fractional CMO typically works 10 to 20 hours per week, setting strategy, managing agencies, and building marketing infrastructure.
Good fractional CMOs bring pattern recognition from working across multiple companies and industries. They have seen what works, what fails, and where companies waste money. That experience accelerates decision-making.
The arrangement usually lasts 6 to 18 months. The goal is to build the strategy, systems, and team so the company can eventually hire a full-time CMO or promote from within.
Why Fractional CMO Matters
Companies between $3M and $30M in revenue often have a marketing gap. They have outgrown their marketing manager but cannot justify a C-suite salary. A fractional CMO fills that gap with senior leadership at 20-30% of the cost.
Common Mistakes
- 1
Hiring a fractional CMO to execute tactics instead of set strategy
- 2
Expecting results in 30 days when most strategies take 90 to 180 days to show impact
- 3
Confusing a freelance marketer with a fractional CMO. Strategy and execution are different skills.
Related Terms
GTM (Go-to-Market) Strategy
A comprehensive plan for bringing a product or service to market, covering audience, messaging, pricing, channels, and sales approach.
Demand Generation
Marketing programs that create awareness and interest in your product, building sustainable pipeline through content, SEO, paid media, and thought leadership.
Full-Funnel Marketing
A marketing strategy that addresses every stage of the buyer journey: awareness, consideration, decision, and retention, rather than optimizing only one stage.
Revenue Per Employee
Total annual revenue divided by the number of full-time employees, measuring operational efficiency and how effectively a company uses its workforce.
How Attainment Helps
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a fractional CMO cost?
Fractional CMOs typically charge $5,000 to $15,000 per month on retainer, or $200 to $500 per hour. This is 20-30% of what a full-time CMO costs when you factor in salary, benefits, and equity.
When should a company hire a fractional CMO?
When revenue is between $3M and $30M, marketing feels scattered or underperforming, and the founder is spending too much time on marketing decisions. If you need strategy more than execution, a fractional CMO fits.
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