For small to medium-sized businesses and startups seeking strategic and specialized marketing leadership without the cost of a full-time executive, fractional chief marketing officers (CMOs) provide an attractive option. But how do these on-demand marketing leaders determine their fees?
Fractional CMOs typically charge monthly retainers ranging from $3,000 to $20,000 based on the scope of services. Most fractional CMOs work with clients part-time, dedicating anywhere from 1 to 30 hours per week to strategic planning, campaign management, and developing cohesive branding across digital and traditional channels.
Pricing is usually customized based on each client’s unique needs and growth goals. “I talk with the CEO to discuss his or her marketing goals for the next 3, 6, and 12 months,” says Peter Geisheker, founder of The Geisheker Group, Inc., a fractional CMO services company for the B2B SaaS industry. “Then I propose a monthly retainer based on the amount of time I will need to spend to help the company achieve its goals.”
The most commonly used pricing model is an hourly rate billed monthly. Hourly rates for fractional CMO services span $150 to $1,000 per hour. The rate reflects the CMO’s specialized expertise and the value clients gain from on-demand guidance versus learning through trial-and-error or hiring a junior staffer. Monthly charges are typically capped at maximum hours so companies can control costs upfront.
Some fractional CMOs offer retainer packages at flat monthly rates for smaller companies. For example, a 10-hour per month retainer might cost $3,500 monthly. Flat rates allow small companies and startups to budget for marketing while accessing C-level skills reliably.
Fractional CMOs with longer tenures or deeper client relationships may use value-based pricing. This model ties retainers directly to key performance indicators such as new customer acquisition costs or the percentage increase in qualified web traffic month-over-month. For example, a fractional CMO might charge $10,000 per month with an agreement to increase that retainer fee by $500 for every percentage point increase above 20% growth in lead conversion rate.
Hybrid fee arrangements are also popular. For example, a startup may pay a flat $3,500 retainer for 10 hours of general marketing guidance plus an hourly overage rate. Or a fractional CMO may charge $350 per hour for most services capped at 40 hours per month but use value-based pricing for specific objectives like email campaign creation or branding guide development.
No matter the pricing model, fractional CMOs allow small and medium-sized companies to afford senior-level expertise. Carefully pairing service hours and objectives to monthly retainers gives smaller companies and startups a maximum return on their marketing investment.
If You Need a Fractional CMO We May Be Able To Help
If your company needs B2B SaaS Fractional CMO Services, consider working with Peter Geisheker, CEO of The Geisheker Group. Peter has been providing Fractional CMO services for over 20 years. His specialty is B2B lead generation, and in particular, B2B lead generation for SaaS companies.