Hire a fractional CMO — senior marketing leadership, part-time
A fractional CMO is an experienced marketing executive who owns your strategy, positioning, and demand engine on 1–3 days per week. Get a vetted shortlist in 48 hours.
- • Shortlist in 48 hours
- • No 25–30% placement fee
- • Vetted C-suite and VP operators
- • Fractional, interim, or advisory
When to hire a fractional CMO
Most companies hire a fractional CMO when the founder or existing team can no longer own the marketing function at executive depth. Common triggers:
- Marketing spend is climbing but pipeline is flat
- You have specialists (SEO, paid, content) but no one owning the full funnel
- You are launching a new product, category, or ICP
- The last full-time CMO didn't work and you need a stabilizer
- You need to build the marketing org before hiring a permanent CMO
What a fractional CMO owns
A fractional CMO operates as your accountable Chief Marketing Officer on a part-time basis. Typical scope:
- — Positioning, ICP, and messaging architecture
- — Demand-gen strategy across paid, SEO, content, lifecycle, and events
- — Marketing team build — headcount plan, hiring, agency management
- — Attribution, funnel, and revenue-marketing analytics
- — Product marketing, launches, and category work
- — Board and executive alignment on the marketing plan
Engagement models
Fractional (ongoing)
1–3 days per week on a recurring basis. Best when you need executive judgment in the business every week, but not a full-time hire yet.
Interim (full-time, fixed term)
Full-time coverage for 3–9 months. Best for a vacancy, a fundraise, an M&A event, or a turnaround.
Project / advisory
Scoped engagement (10–40 hours) tied to a specific deliverable — a plan, a system, a hire, a diligence.
How much does a fractional CMO cost?
Frequently asked questions
- What does a fractional CMO do?
- A fractional CMO owns marketing strategy and execution oversight on a part-time basis — typically 1–3 days per week. They set positioning, build the plan, hire and manage the team, and report to the CEO or board.
- How much does a fractional CMO cost?
- Fractional CMO retainers typically range from $8,000 to $22,000 per month or $225–$500 per hour, depending on scope, seniority, and time commitment.
- Fractional CMO vs marketing agency?
- A fractional CMO owns strategy, hiring, and cross-channel accountability inside your company. An agency executes a specific channel. Most companies eventually need both, and the CMO manages the agencies.
- How long does a fractional CMO engagement last?
- Most engagements run 6–18 months. Some convert to full-time, others hand off to a permanent CMO the fractional helped hire.
- How fast can I hire a fractional CMO?
- RecruitFractional delivers a vetted CMO shortlist within 48 hours. First interviews usually happen the same week.
Ready to hire your CMO?
Post your role or request a curated shortlist — most companies get one inside 48 hours.