Fractional CMO Services
Senior marketing leadership without a full-time hire.
You need someone who can set the strategy, manage the budget and hold vendors accountable, but a full-time CMO is not in the budget. A fractional CMO gives you that leadership for a fraction of the cost.
What is included
What our Fractional CMO service includes.
Strategy and planning
A clear marketing plan with priorities and an annual roadmap.
Budget allocation
Spend planned across channels and moved to what works.
Vendor management
Agencies, freelancers and in-house staff working from one plan.
Intake review
How leads are answered, followed up and converted.
Executive reporting
Clear numbers for owners and partners.
Leadership meetings
A regular rhythm of planning and review.
Our approach
What the role covers.
What a fractional CMO does
A fractional CMO sets the direction for your marketing. That means deciding which channels to invest in, how much to spend, who does the work and how success is measured. It is a leadership role focused on direction and accountability.
When it makes sense
It usually fits when marketing spend has grown, several vendors are involved, and no one internally has the time or experience to steer it all. It also fits businesses that plan to hire a full-time marketing leader and want a plan in place first.
Working with your team and vendors
We hold regular check-ins with your agencies and staff, review their work against the plan, and make sure everyone reports the same numbers. Vendors stay accountable to results.
Connecting marketing to intake
Marketing does not end when the phone rings. We review how leads are answered, followed up and converted, because that is often where the biggest gains are.
Budget planning
We build a marketing budget around what a new client is worth to your business, then allocate it across channels based on what produces leads. Budgets are reviewed every quarter and moved toward what is working.
Reporting leadership can use
Owners and partners need a few clear numbers they can act on. We set up one monthly view: spend, calls, leads, consultations and new clients by source.
Building the team
When it is time to hire, we define the role, help review candidates and onboard the new person. The team you build will fit the plan.
By industry
Fractional CMO for your industry.
Law firms
Budget planning across practice areas and offices, agency oversight, and intake performance reviews with partners.
Healthcare
Marketing plans across service lines and locations, with vendors coordinated around new patient growth.
Professional services
Positioning, lead generation planning and clear reporting for owners and partners.
Who it is for
Who Fractional CMO is for.
Growing businesses with a marketing team or several outside vendors and no one senior steering it all.
Your first 90 days
Month 1Review
A full review of marketing, vendors, budget, tracking and intake.
Month 2Plan
A written 90-day plan with priorities, budget allocation and reporting standards.
Month 3Lead
The plan in motion, vendors aligned, and the first leadership review against the new numbers.
Common mistakes
Common Fractional CMO mistakes.
Hiring tactics before strategy
Adding vendors without a plan usually adds cost without adding leads.
Too many reports, no answers
When each vendor reports different numbers, decisions become guesswork. One set of metrics fixes that.
Ignoring intake
Spending more on marketing while calls go unanswered makes every lead more expensive.
Hiring a full-time CMO too early
A full-time executive is a large commitment. A fractional role often provides the same direction at a fraction of the cost.
Pricing
Fractional CMO engagements range from $5,000 to $20,000+ per month, based on scope and time.
See all pricingQuestions
Fractional CMO questions, answered.
Don’t see your question? Call 240-820-2196 and ask.
How much time do you spend with us?
It depends on the engagement. We agree on a schedule and meeting rhythm upfront.
Do you replace our agency?
Not necessarily. Often the right move is better direction for the partners you already have.
Can you help hire marketing staff?
Yes. We can define roles, review candidates and onboard new hires.
What is the difference between a fractional CMO and an agency?
An agency does the work. A fractional CMO leads it, sets the plan, and holds agencies and staff accountable.
Do you attend leadership or partner meetings?
Yes. Regular leadership meetings are part of the role.
How long do engagements usually last?
Most run for several months or longer, since strategy and vendor changes take time to show results.
Can you work alongside our marketing manager?
Yes. Many engagements support an in-house marketing manager with strategy, priorities and vendor oversight.
Do you work with businesses outside the legal industry?
Yes. Law firms are the core of our experience, and we also work with healthcare, professional services, home services and education.
Related services
Services that pair well with Fractional CMO.
Let’s talk about your next client.
Book a 30-minute call or reach out directly. You will speak with George, the strategist who does the work.
Gaithersburg, Maryland. Serving clients nationwide.
Tell us about your business