What is a Fractional CMO?

Key Takeaways

• A Fractional CMO delivers C‑level marketing leadership on a part‑time basis. They collaborate with founders or CEOs to develop and execute strategic marketing plan, offering deep expertise without the cost of a full-time executive. 

• Get strategic direction, tactical execution, and cost-efficiency in one role. Fractional CMOs offer external perspective, lead execution, and project management, all at a lower price than a full-time CMO or VP of marketing.

• Ideal for education companies and colleges with small marketing teams and budget constraints. They help align marketing to institutional goals, improving revenue and brand positioning, bringing measurable results without long-term staff commitments.

---

Are you a business owner wondering, "what is a fractional CMO?" A fractional CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) is a strategic partner for leaders of organizations who want to elevate their marketing. He/She works collaboratively with a founder, director, or CEO to develop strategic marketing plans that align with an organization's goals, join meetings remotely, and working collaboratively as an extension of the team. The fractional CMO then executes the marketing plan, sometimes working with the existing marketing resources or bringing in specialists while measuring and optimizing marketing tactics over time.

A fractional CMO combines experience as a strategic marketer and a project manager to develop and execute a marketing plan at a lower cost than hiring a full-time Chief Marketing Officer or VP of Marketing. In Boston, the average salary of a CMO is $211,000, according to PayScale. A fractional CMO costs much less than that.

Compare Marketing Leadership Options

There are multiple options for who can help an organization develop marketing strategies, including a fractional CMO, hiring a full-time CMO, training existing marketing staff, or hiring a marketing consultant. The right choice depends on the organization's priorities.

	Fractional CMO	Full-Time CMO	Existing Staff	Marketing Consultant	Marketing Agency
Deep Knowledge of Your Organization	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Experienced Strategic Leader	yes	yes	no	yes	yes
Outside Perspective	yes	no	no	yes	yes
Executes Recommendations	yes	yes	yes	no	yes
Part-Time Commitment	yes	no	no	yes	yes
Low Cost	yes	no	no	yes	yes

If you're interested in finding out how a fractional CMO can help your education company or college, reach out to us for a free 30-minute consultation!