A fractional CMO costs a fraction of a full-time hire while still providing senior strategic leadership, typically at 10–20 hours a week instead of 40+. A full-time CMO in most markets commands a six-figure salary plus benefits and equity, and often takes months to recruit. A fractional arrangement gives you that same caliber of leadership on a flexible schedule, with no recruiting cycle, no severance risk, and the ability to scale time up or down as your needs change.

A fractional CMO provides ongoing strategic leadership and accountability, while agencies and consultants typically execute a defined scope of work. Agencies are great at specific deliverables — running ad campaigns, building a website, producing content — but someone still needs to set the strategy, prioritize where marketing dollars go, and manage those agencies day to day. That's the role a fractional CMO fills. In many cases, I work alongside your existing agencies and freelancers, directing their work rather than replacing it.

I work primarily with small-to-midsize companies that have outgrown founder-led marketing but aren't yet ready for a full-time executive hire. This often means businesses with an existing product-market fit, some marketing spend already in motion, and a need for someone to bring structure, strategy, and measurable results to that spend. If you're unsure whether your company is the right fit, reach out — the first conversation is free and I'll tell you honestly if fractional leadership makes sense for where you are.

Fractional CMO engagements are typically priced monthly based on scope and hours, and cost significantly less than a full-time executive salary. Exact pricing depends on how many hours a week your business needs and what's included (strategy only, versus strategy plus hands-on execution and team management). I provide a specific quote after an initial conversation about your goals — there's no one-size-fits-all package, because no two companies' marketing needs look the same.

Most engagements run 10–20 hours per week, though this is tailored to each client's stage and needs. Early-stage companies building a marketing function from scratch sometimes need more hands-on time upfront; more established teams that just need strategic direction and oversight may need less. We agree on scope at the outset and revisit it as your business evolves.

Yes — in most engagements, I lead and mentor your existing marketing staff and coordinate any outside agencies or freelancers rather than replacing them. If you don't have an internal marketing team yet, part of my role is helping you figure out when and who to hire as you grow, so you're not stuck relying on fractional leadership indefinitely if a full-time hire eventually makes more sense.

Engagements range from a few months for a specific project to ongoing multi-year partnerships, depending on the company's needs. Some clients bring me in for a defined initiative — a go-to-market launch or a strategic reset — and wrap up once that's complete. Others keep a fractional CMO on an ongoing basis as a permanent part of their leadership team. There's no minimum commitment required to start.

Getting started begins with a free introductory call to discuss your business, current marketing challenges, and goals. From there, if it looks like a good fit, I'll put together a proposed scope and pricing tailored to your situation. There's no pressure and no obligation — the goal of that first call is simply to figure out, together, whether fractional marketing leadership is the right move for your business right now. Contact me to schedule a time to talk.