MARC−91%
I fixed the phones across 14 offices. Missed calls fell 91% while answered calls grew 72%.
14-office dental group · Head of Marketing
FRACTIONAL CMO SERVICES
Fractional CMO.
Full-time impact.
Get a seasoned chief marketing officer who owns your strategy, your team and your numbers, a few days a month. No full-time salary. No agency spin. One accountable leader who makes marketing move the whole company.
THE SHORT ANSWER
What is a fractional CMO?
A fractional CMO is a senior marketing executive who works with your company part time, usually a set number of days each month. You get the strategy, leadership and accountability of a chief marketing officer for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
1
Strategy
Who you serve, why you win and where the money should go. One plan the whole leadership team can get behind.
2
Team
I lead your marketers and agencies, fill the gaps and get everyone working on the few things that move revenue.
3
Revenue engine
Demand, sales alignment, CRM and follow-up. I connect marketing to the pipeline so leads turn into customers.
4
Numbers
Dashboards and ROI you can take to the board. We keep what works and cut what doesn’t.
WHO IT’S FOR
Built for leaders who need a CMO now.
CEOs and founders
You’ve outgrown “marketing by committee” but you’re not ready for a full-time CMO. You need a senior partner who can set the plan and run it.
Private equity operating partners
Your portfolio company needs a growth plan, clean reporting and a stronger team, fast. I bring the playbook and the discipline.
Companies in transition
Your CMO just left, you closed an acquisition or a big launch is coming. Need someone full speed right away? See interim CMO.
COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS
Fractional CMO vs. full-time CMO vs. agency
All three can help. They solve different problems. Here’s the honest side-by-side.
| Fractional CMO | Full-time CMO | Marketing agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owns strategy and results | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | Usually tactical |
| Leads your team and agencies | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — |
| Seat at the leadership table | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — |
| Time to get started | Weeks | Months to recruit | Weeks |
| Cost | A fraction of full time | Full salary, bonus and benefits | Retainer plus media |
| Easy to scale up or down | ✓ Yes | — | ✓ Yes |
Read: How to hire a CMO, and when fractional makes more sense →
CLEARING UP THE TERMS
Outsourced, part-time or interim CMO?
Outsourced CMO
Another name for a fractional CMO. You bring in senior marketing leadership from outside instead of hiring an employee. Same role, same accountability.
Part-time CMO
A CMO who works a set part of the week. That’s how most fractional engagements run, often one to two days a week, adjusted as you grow.
Interim CMO
A full-speed leader for a defined stretch, usually during a transition. I stabilize the team, fix what’s broken and hand off to your permanent hire. More on interim CMO →
HOW IT WORKS
Your first 90 days.
- 1Weeks 1 to 2
Listen
Meet the team, customers and partners. Learn how you really win today.
- 2Weeks 3 to 4
Diagnose
Audit the data, spend, funnel and tools. Find the leaks and the quick wins.
- 3Month 2
Plan
One clear 90-day plan with owners, budget and the numbers we’ll track.
- 4Months 2 to 3
Build
Fix the team, the systems and the campaigns. Ship the quick wins.
- 5Month 3 on
Run and measure
Monthly reporting to leadership. Keep what works, cut what doesn’t.
PROOF, NOT PROMISES
What this looks like in practice.
7x
I rebuilt the website and lead flow. Web quotes went from closing 2.2% of the time to 16.6%.
Rahn Industries · Marketing leadership
#1 in all 5
Lochinvar was the top boiler brand in every commercial market we studied.
Lochinvar · Director of Marketing
QUESTIONS CEOS ASK
Fractional CMO, answered plainly.
What does a fractional CMO do?
A fractional CMO owns your marketing the way a full-time chief marketing officer would: the strategy, the plan, the team and the results. The difference is time. I work with you a set number of days each month, so you get senior leadership without a full-time salary.
How much does a fractional CMO cost?
Less than a full-time CMO, because you only pay for the time you need and there are no benefits, bonus or recruiting fees. Most engagements run on a monthly retainer tied to a set number of days. I scope it on our first call, based on your goals, your team and how fast you want to move.
How much time does a fractional CMO spend with my company?
It depends on your stage and what needs fixing. Most companies start with one to two days a week, then scale up or down. You get a steady leader who shows up in your meetings, leads your team and stays on the numbers.
When should we hire a fractional CMO instead of a full-time CMO?
Go fractional when you need senior strategy and leadership now, but a full-time CMO isn’t in the budget yet, or you aren’t sure what the full-time role should look like. It’s also a smart move between CMOs, after an acquisition, or before a big launch.
What’s the difference between a fractional CMO and a marketing agency?
An agency sells execution, usually ads, content or design. A fractional CMO sits on your side of the table. I set the strategy, hold agencies accountable, lead your team and answer to you for revenue, not activity.
Can a fractional CMO work with our existing team and agencies?
Yes, and that’s usually the point. I lead the people and partners you already have, fill gaps where needed, and make sure everyone is working on the few things that move revenue.
Do you work with companies outside dental and healthcare?
Yes. Most of my career has been in manufacturing, consumer products and B2B, including Moen, Schlage, Navien, Lochinvar and Wilbur Curtis. Healthcare and dental groups are one part of the mix, not the whole story.
Can a fractional CMO help us hire a full-time CMO later?
Absolutely. I can define the role, build the scorecard, help you interview and hand off a documented plan, so your full-time leader starts fast.
How do we get started?
Book a 30-minute call. We’ll talk about where you are, where you want to go and whether a fractional CMO is the right fit. If it is, I’ll send a simple plan for the first 90 days.
Ready for a CMO who owns the result?
Tell me where you are and where you want to go. In 30 minutes we’ll know if a fractional CMO is the right fit.