Leadership and fractional roles
Hire a Fractional CMO/Marketing Director | Part-Time CMO
A fractional CMO is a part-time chief marketing officer. I act as the accountable owner of your marketing: I set the growth plan, control the budget, direct your team or agencies, and report results monthly. It suits owner-led and mid-market companies that need senior judgement without a full-time executive salary.
Pricing is scoped to each project. Book a call and I will tell you what yours involves.
- 10 yearsin digital growth
- 4 marketsUK, Australia, USA and Bangladesh
- 30-60-90day plan with a written checkpoint
- 1 callto scope your project
The role
What a fractional CMO is and does
A fractional CMO is a part-time CMO who owns your plan, budget, team and monthly reporting. In my own work I set one north-star metric and a dated growth plan with budget, targets and guardrails and own the channel mix, deciding what to fund, pause or stop each month. I work at senior level: I own the plan, the budget and the result, and I direct the people and tools doing the day-to-day work.
Before
Marketing spend is rising but nobody senior owns the result, or a founder is still approving every campaign personally.
With me as your fractional CMO
- Set one north-star metric and a dated growth plan with budget, targets and guardrails
- Own the channel mix, deciding what to fund, pause or stop each month
- Direct in-house staff, freelancers and agencies against weekly goals
- Publish a monthly CMO report that compares goal with actual
Fit
When to hire a fractional CMO instead of an agency or a full-time hire
Hire a fractional CMO when marketing spend is rising but nobody senior owns the result, or a founder is still approving every campaign personally. A marketing director usually runs a function inside a company; a fractional CMO adds the budget and plan ownership on a part-time basis, and works across the whole commercial picture.
Engagement
Engagement models: fractional, retainer or project
I work as a fractional CMO in three ways: a fixed project, a monthly retainer, or a fractional arrangement of set days each week. How many businesses or brands I would lead usually decides which of the three fits.
- Fractional
I work a set number of days or hours each week as part of your team.
- Retainer
A fixed monthly scope with a review at the end of each month.
- Project
A defined deliverable with a start, an end and agreed checkpoints.
Pricing
How pricing works
The cost of hiring a fractional CMO depends on how many businesses or brands I would lead, how many people and agencies report into the role, the number of channels or platforms involved, the size of the team I work with, how long we work together and how quickly you need results. I scope every engagement to your situation and do not publish rates, so you pay only for the work your business needs.
What changes the scope
How many businesses or brands I would leadHow many people and agencies report into the roleThe number of channels or platformsTeam size and who needs to be managedLength of the engagementHow fast you need results
- Project
A defined piece of fractional CMO work with a start, an end and agreed deliverables.
- Monthly retainer
Ongoing fractional CMO work with a fixed monthly scope, reviewed every month.
- Fractional or part-time
A set number of days or hours each week, with me working inside your team.
Freelancer vs agency vs in-house for fractional CMO work
| Option | Speed | Control | Accountability | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer (me) | Starts within days of agreeing scope | Direct access to the person doing the work | One named person answers for results | Scale up or down by month |
| Agency | Slower to start; account and delivery teams | Work passes through several people | Shared across a team and account manager | Fixed packages and notice periods |
| In-house hire | Slowest: recruiting and onboarding first | Full day-to-day control | Direct line manager, but one person covers many tasks | Long-term commitment, harder to change |
First 90 days
First 90 days: roadmap and deliverables
The first ninety days follow a fixed shape so you can see progress early. Each phase ends with a written checkpoint that we review together before the next one begins.
- Days 1-30
Audit the numbers, the website and every ad account, and agree the north-star metric.
- Days 31-60
Ship the plan with phases, owners and budget, and fix the biggest leaks first.
- Days 61-90
Run the weekly stand-up and first monthly report, then re-forecast the quarter.
How I work
How I work: reporting, KPIs and management
I work at senior level: I own the plan, the budget and the result, and I direct the people and tools doing the day-to-day work. Every month I report on revenue and margin against plan, cost per acquisition by channel and pipeline or bookings sourced by marketing, with the goal beside the actual and a clear next decision.
- Reported every monthRevenue and margin against plan
- Reported every monthCost per acquisition by channel
- Reported every monthPipeline or bookings sourced by marketing
Proof
Case studies with numbers
These are real projects from my own records, with the first number shown exactly as it is reported in the full case study.
Choosing well
How to evaluate a fractional CMO
Use direct questions to judge a candidate. Strong ones answer plainly, give an example, and are comfortable saying what they would not do.
- 01
Ask which businesses they have been accountable for, and for the plan documents they wrote.
- 02
Ask how they decide to stop a channel, and request an example.
Before the call
What to prepare before the call
Bring these to the call so we can scope the work in one conversation.
What to prepare before the call
- Last 12 months of revenue and marketing spend
- Access to analytics and ad accounts (view only is fine)
- The three decisions currently stuck waiting on a senior owner
- Your current team, agencies and who they report to
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on scope, timing and fit. Pricing is always scoped to your project.
What does a fractional CMO do?
As your fractional CMO, I set one north-star metric and a dated growth plan with budget, targets and guardrails, own the channel mix, deciding what to fund, pause or stop each month, direct in-house staff, freelancers and agencies against weekly goals and publish a monthly CMO report that compares goal with actual. I own the plan and the result, and direct the people doing the work.
How much does it cost to hire a fractional CMO?
Cost depends on how many businesses or brands I would lead, how many people and agencies report into the role, the number of channels or platforms, team size, engagement length and how quickly you need results. I scope each project individually instead of quoting a standard rate. Book a Call for a scoped quote and I will tell you exactly what your situation involves.
Freelance fractional CMO vs agency: which is better?
A marketing director usually runs a function inside a company; a fractional CMO adds the budget and plan ownership on a part-time basis, and works across the whole commercial picture. A freelancer gives you direct access and flexible commitment; an agency adds a larger bench. Tell me what you need on a call and I will say honestly which suits you.
When should I hire a fractional CMO?
Hire a fractional CMO when marketing spend is rising but nobody senior owns the result, or a founder is still approving every campaign personally. If that sounds familiar, a short call is enough to confirm whether the role fits or whether something simpler would do.
What should I ask before hiring a fractional CMO?
Ask which businesses they have been accountable for, and for the plan documents they wrote. Ask how they decide to stop a channel, and request an example. Their answers matter less than whether they answer plainly, with specifics you can check. Book a Call and I will answer this for your specific situation.
How long until I see results from a fractional CMO?
Timing depends on your starting point and the channel. In the first 30 days I audit the numbers, the website and every ad account, and agree the north-star metric. By day 60 I ship the plan with phases, owners and budget, and fix the biggest leaks first. By day 90 I run the weekly stand-up and first monthly report, then re-forecast the quarter. We agree these checkpoints before work starts.
Fractional vs full-time: what is the difference?
A full-time hire gives daily presence and one employer's full attention. A fractional arrangement gives you senior experience for a set number of days each week, without a permanent salary or hiring risk. The right choice depends on how much leadership the business can use today and how fast it is growing.
How many hours per week does it take?
Hours depend on how many businesses or brands I would lead and how many people and agencies report into the role. Many engagements start with a few set days or hours a week for planning and review, then adjust once the workload is clear. I agree the weekly time with you at the start and review it every month.
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