1
CMOx Editor's pick
3 named clients Serves US, Canada
$3,000 per month, 6 month minimum
Best fractional CMOs: firms and solo practitioners
A fractional CMO takes ownership of marketing for a company that has outgrown founder-led growth but cannot yet justify a $250,000 marketing executive. In the first 90 days that means an audit of every channel and agency, a cost per acquisition the CEO can trust, a positioning decision and a plan with a budget. After that it means running the agencies and the in-house marketers against that plan, with one person accountable for the number. The typical buyer is a $2M to $20M company in B2B services, SaaS or ecommerce. Retainers run about $4,000 to $15,000 a month, with $6,000 to $10,000 common, and ad spend and agency fees sit on top, so budget for both. The firms on this page range from national networks of fractional CMOs to solo marketers with one industry. Rows show the revenue bands and industries each firm names, a published minimum where there is one, and whether the firm also coaches in-house marketing leaders.
49 firms and practitioners on this page offer fractional CMO work. That is 31 firms, 9 marketplaces, 7 solo practitioners and 2 collectives. Editor's picks here are CMOx, 310 Creative, Authentic and Chief Outsiders. 14 publish a monthly fee, from $2,000 to $10,000 a month. The other 35 quote.
A fractional CMO typically works 8 to 20 hours a week, more in the first 90 days while strategy and the agency roster are set. Minimums of three to six months are common, because the first quarter is mostly diagnosis and the results show in the second.
2
310 Creative Editor's pick
6 named clients Founded 2003, 2 to 9 people
Fee on request
3
Authentic Editor's pick
6 named clients Founded 2017
Fee on request monthly retainer
4
Chief Outsiders Editor's pick
6 named clients Founded 2009, 120+ people
Fee on request monthly retainer
5
NoGood Editor's pick
6 named clients 70+ people
Fee on request monthly retainer
6
TechCXO Editor's pick
6 named clients Founded 2003, 245+ people
Fee on request
7
Serves US
$2,200 per month
8
Serves Canada
$4,380 per month, no minimum
9
4 named clients Serves US
$7,000 per month
10
Founded 2020Serves US
$5,000 per month, no minimum
11
6 named clients Serves US
$2,000 per month, 12 month minimum
12
4 named clients Serves US
$3,000 per month, 3 month minimum
13
Serves US
$3,500 per month
14
70+ peopleServes UK
$2,280 per month, no minimum
15
4 named clients Serves Australia
$3,300 per month, 6 month minimum
16
6 named clients Founded 2004
$7,500 per month, 6 month minimum
17
5 named clients Serves US
$3,500 per month, 3 month minimum
18
1 named client Serves Global
$10,000 per month, 3 month minimum
19
4 named clients Serves US
$5,700 per month
20
4 named clients Founded 2017
Fee on request
21
1 named client Serves US
Fee on request
22
Serves US
Fee on request
23
Founded 2020Serves US
Fee on request
24
6 named clients Serves US
Fee on request
25
6 named clients Founded 2012
Fee on request monthly retainer
26
6 named clients Founded 2021
Fee on request
27
Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer
28
3 named clients Founded 2013
Fee on request day or hourly rate
29
Serves US
Fee on request
30
6 named clients Founded 2009, 51 to 100 people
Fee on request
31
Serves US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada
Fee on request monthly retainer
32
4 named clients Serves US, UK, EU, Australia
Fee on request no minimum
33
Serves UK
Fee on request
34
5 named clients Serves US
Fee on request no minimum
35
6 named clients Serves Global
Fee on request
36
1 named client Founded 2019, 1 person
Fee on request day or hourly rate
37
6 named clients Founded 2018, 51 to 200 people
Fee on request
38
Serves Global
Fee on request
39
6 named clients Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer
40
6 named clients Serves Global
Fee on request fixed project fee, 4 month minimum
41
Founded 2017Serves US, Canada
Fee on request
42
145+ peopleServes US, EU, Canada
Fee on request
43
3 named clients 50 people
Fee on request fixed project fee
44
6 named clients Serves US, Global
Fee on request monthly retainer
45
1 named client Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer, no minimum
46
6 named clients Founded 2011, 100+ people
Fee on request day or hourly rate, no minimum
47
3 named clients Serves Global
Fee on request
48
Serves Global
Fee on request
49
4 named clients Founded 2016, 23 people
Fee on request
How this list is built. Every firm and practitioner here offers fractional CMO work on its own site. Order is editor's pick, then a published fee, then name. Nobody pays to appear or to move up. Full methodology.
CMO guides
- What is a fractional CMOA fractional CMO owns marketing strategy, budget and agencies for a company that cannot yet justify a full-time CMO. Scope, hours, fees and when to hire.
- How much a fractional CMO costsFractional CMO retainers run about $4,000 to $15,000 a month before ad spend. Price drivers, day rates, project fees, performance deals and how to read a quote.
- Fractional CMO vs interim CMOAn interim CMO fills a vacancy full-time for months; a fractional CMO leads marketing part-time for as long as it works. Fit, cost and the PE and exit cases.
- Fractional CMO vs full-time CMOA full-time CMO costs $250,000 to $450,000 a year all-in; a fractional CMO $50,000 to $180,000. The math, the revenue threshold and what fractional gives up.
- Fractional CMO vs consultantA marketing consultant delivers a strategy or audit; a fractional CMO owns the plan, the budget and the agencies every month. How to tell which you need.
- Fractional CMO vs coachingWhen a $1M to $5M founder should hire a fractional CMO, when marketing coaching is the better buy, and when to combine them. Costs and signs for each.
- How to become a fractional CMOThe path from marketing leader to fractional CMO: a niche, retainers of $4,000 to $10,000, contracts and insurance, first clients, agency partners and a pipeline.
Questions founders ask
How much does a fractional CMO cost?
Fractional CMO retainers run about $4,000 to $15,000 a month, with $6,000 to $10,000 common for a $2M to $20M company; ad spend and agency fees sit on top. 14 firms and practitioners on this page publish a monthly fee, from $2,000 to $10,000 a month. The other 35 quote.
How many hours a week does a fractional CMO work?
A fractional CMO typically works 8 to 20 hours a week, more in the first 90 days while strategy and the agency roster are set.
What is the difference between a fractional and an interim CMO?
An interim CMO works full time for a fixed period, usually while the company hires a permanent one. A fractional CMO works part of the week, often for two to four companies at once, and can stay for years.
How long do fractional CMO engagements last?
Minimums of three to six months are common, because the first quarter is mostly diagnosis and the results show in the second. 15 firms on this page publish a minimum term; the longest is 12 months.
Do fractional CMOs take equity?
Some do, mostly with venture-backed startups. No firm on this page publishes an equity plus cash model, so ask on the first call.