Hiring a full-time CMO can get expensive fast – salaries, benefits, taxes and the list goes on. If you’re working with a tighter budget and aren’t ready for a long-term hire, going with a fractional CMO might be just what you need. You can access the same level of marketing expertise without the high cost and full-time obligation.
To help you find the best fractional CMO for your business, we’ve compiled a list of 13 platforms to match your specific needs and budget.
13 Most Trusted Sites To Hire A Fractional CMO
Her are the top 13 sites to hire a fractional CMO:
1. Genius
Genius connects businesses with top-tier marketing talent from the Philippines and Latin America. Through our rigorous vetting process, we focus on finding A+ players for fractional CMO roles and other remote positions.
We make sure that candidates are specifically selected based on your industry and needs, rather than relying on a pre-existing talent pool. This personalized approach guarantees access to high-quality professionals with strong English skills and cultural compatibility, all while keeping costs affordable.
With Genius, you can interview candidates for free, and you don’t have to pay anything if you don’t hire. We also offer a 6-month talent guarantee, giving you peace of mind that if things aren’t a perfect fit, we’ll work to make it right.. Our candidates are flexible with time zones, matching your local hours, whether in EST, PST, or CET.
Employees: 25
Revenue: $1M – $2M
Year Founded: 2019
Time to Hire: 1-2 weeks
Cost: 25% fee of candidate’s first-year salary, one-time
Industry Focus:
- Sales & Marketing
- IT, Data, & Engineering
- Finance & Accounting
Core Services Offered:
- Hire A+ talents
- Market insights
- HR templates (Job descriptions & interview questions generator)
2. Hire Digital
Hire Digital matches you with top-tier marketing and digital talent, including expert fractional CMOs. Their talent network is curated through a rigorous screening process that evaluates technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and communication proficiency.
Hire Digital ensures quality by accepting only the top 3% of applicants into their network. They use AI-based algorithms to match talent to your specific needs. Their talent pool includes multilingual professionals, ensuring language-specific requirements can be met.
Employees: 294
Revenue: $10M – $20M
Year Founded: 2015
Time to Hire: 24-72 hours
Cost: Starts at $6,000/mo
Industry Focus:
- Marketing
- Development
- Communications
Core Services Offered:
- Exclusive CMO network
- Receive curated CMO talent recommendations
- Full-time, part-time, or hourly CMO arrangements
3. CMOx
CMOx offers a proven solution for businesses looking to accelerate growth by hiring a Fractional CMO. Using their proprietary Functional Marketing Framework, CMOx provides high-level marketing leadership on a part-time basis. With a focus on metric-driven decision-making, CMOx’s Fractional CMOs help align your marketing efforts with your business goals for sustainable growth and profitability.
The first 90 days are dedicated to improving your marketing department’s efficiency as they refine systems, processes, and reporting through weekly KPI reviews. CMOx helps you avoid the risks of underqualified marketing leadership by providing a seasoned executive to guide your team, ultimately maximizing both sales and long-term business success.
Employees: 71
Revenue: $1M – $2.5M
Year Founded: 2017
Time to Hire: 3 days
Cost: Starts at $3,000/mo
Industry Focus:
- Startups
- Small businesses
- Established companies aiming to launch new products
Core Service:
- Part-time CMO
- CMO for hire
- CMO coach
4. Career Group Companies
Career Group Companies brings a personalized approach to hiring a fractional CMO. They provide a curated search to find top marketing leadership talent. With their flexible model, you can start with a contract employee for a trial period before deciding whether to convert them to full-time. Career Group assists with the entire interview and onboarding process for a smooth integration into your team.
As a boutique staffing agency recognized by Forbes as one of “America’s Best Recruiting Firms,” Career Group Companies combines personalized service with the resources of a larger firm. They also serve as the Employer of Record for temporary workers, handling payroll and benefits administration.
Employees: 138
Revenue: $20M – $50M
Year Founded: 1981
Time to Hire: 1 week
Cost: 15%-25% of the candidate’s first-year salary
Industry Focus:
- Accounting
- Administrative
- C-Level Management
Core Service:
- Direct hiring
- Temp hiring
- Executive search
5. Kalungi
Kalungi provides fractional CMO services specifically for B2B SaaS companies. Having served over 70 businesses, they combine strategic marketing leadership with a proven go-to-market playbook (T2D3).
Whether you’re an early-stage startup or an established enterprise, Kalungi’s experienced marketing leaders design and implement complete marketing strategies that drive measurable growth. Kalungi’s certified Google Partner status also enhances its advertising capabilities, ensuring your marketing efforts are optimized for success.
Employees: 72
Revenue: $10M – $20M
Year Founded: 2019
Time to Hire: 4-8 weeks
Cost: Starts at $45,000/mo for a full-service engagement with a fractional CMO and team of specialists.
Industry Focus:
- Marketing
- SaaS
- Tech Startups
Core Service:
- SaaS marketing team
- SaaS CMO coach
- Fractional CMO
6. Toptal
Toptal is a leading marketplace for hiring top-tier marketing experts, consultants, and fractional CMOs. A dedicated marketing director collaborates with you to understand your goals, technical requirements, and team dynamics to find a perfect match. Each engagement begins with a 2-week trial to assess the candidate’s fit before fully committing.
With access to a wide range of freelance marketing specialists skilled in growth marketing, client acquisition, content creation, and more, Toptal provides the talent to execute high-impact marketing strategies. Their global network of 20,000 experts from 140 countries is prepared to tackle advanced challenges, all while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
Employees: 6,155
Revenue: $500M – $1B
Year Founded: 2010
Time to Hire: 48 hours
Cost: $79/mo
Industry Focus:
- Software Development
- Design
- Finance
Core Service:
- Hourly fractional CMOs
- Part-time fractional CMOs
- Full-time fractional CMOs
7. Landed
Landed provides fully managed Philippine-based marketing talent to help ambitious teams unlock growth and savings. Each hire is rigorously trained to deliver high-quality work while seamlessly integrating with your team’s processes. From outlining a placement plan to ongoing check-ins with your dedicated Account Manager, Landed ensures your marketing goals are met with embedded talent tailored to your needs.
Landed takes care of the entire hiring process, from recruiting and payroll to legal compliance and employee retention, allowing you to focus on scaling your business. If a candidate isn’t a perfect match, Landed guarantees a replacement within 2 weeks, ensuring a smooth transition and sustained performance.
Employees: 9
Revenue: $500,000 – $1M
Year Founded: 2021
Time to Hire: 3 weeks
Cost: Starts at $3,000/mo
Industry Focus:
- SEO
- UI/UX Design
- Media (Video)
Core Services Offered:
- 1-2 years experienced fractional CMOs
- 3-4 years experienced fractional CMOs
- 4+ years experienced fractional CMOs
8. MarketerHire
MarketerHire offers exclusive access to a rigorously vetted network of top marketing talent, making it easy to hire a fractional CMO or an entire marketing team in just one week. Each hire comes with a no-risk, 2-week trial to ensure the right fit for your business.
To maintain the highest standards, MarketerHire continuously monitors the candidate’s performance and performs regular check-ins every 2 weeks. With a proactive approach to sourcing talent from trusted channels like Facebook groups, forums, and LinkedIn, MarketerHire guarantees only the best marketers for your team.
Employees: 237
Revenue: $10M – $20M
Year Founded: 2018
Time to Hire: 48 hours
Cost:
- Starter: $5,000/mo
- Pro: $10,000/mo
- Elite: $15,000/mo
Industry Focus:
- eCommerce
- Local Businesses
- Marketing Agencies
Core Services Offered:
- Network of fractional CMOs ready to hire
- Fractionals CMOs from your local market
- Fractional CMO matching
9. Passion Fruit
Passionfruit simplifies the process of finding a fractional CMO who integrates seamlessly with your team. With a global network of vetted marketing specialists, primarily in the UK, Europe, and North America, Passionfruit custom-matches you with the right talent using their in-platform algorithm. You can meet your Specialist within a week, and a dedicated Customer Success team ensures smooth onboarding and ongoing support throughout your project.
Passionfruit’s 3-stage vetting process, which includes reference checks, interviews, and case study analysis, guarantees that you receive only the highest quality talent. You’ll work directly with your specialist on the day-to-day tasks, while Passionfruit’s team provides added value with onboarding assistance, feedback sessions, and marketing reports.
Employees: 51
Revenue: $2.5M – $5M
Year Founded: 2021
Time to Hire: 72 hours
Cost: Starts at $1,650/mo
Industry Focus:
- Bank
- Clothing
- Creative Design
Core Services Offered:
- SaaS fractional CMO
- B2B fractional CMO
- B2C fractional CMO
10. Dynamite Jobs
Dynamite Jobs connects you with top remote talent worldwide, including fractional CMOs. With a database of over 250,000 candidates, your job post can attract applications within 24 hours, and the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) helps increase qualified candidates by 25% while blocking spam. You can easily track applications, message candidates, and collaborate with your team—all without seat limits.
To increase visibility, Dynamite Jobs offers LinkedIn ad campaigns to target candidates with the right skills and backgrounds. With best practices for job descriptions, interviews, and scorecards, along with direct recruiter support and Slack integration, Dynamite Jobs ensures a seamless hiring process to meet your marketing leadership needs.
Employees: 40
Revenue: $2.5M – $5M
Year Founded: 2007
Time to Hire: 1-2 weeks
Cost:
- 30-Day Job Post: $399
- Remote Recruiting: $6,500
Industry Focus:
- Sales
- Marketing
- Engineering
Core Services Offered:
- Fractional CMOs from the database of 250k+ Job Seekers
- CMO job ad marketing campaign
- Fractional CMO careers page integration
11. Hirewell
Hirewell helps you build marketing teams quickly and efficiently, whether you need a fractional CMO or an entire department. With a future-forward strategy, Hirewell’s expert recruiters take a deep dive into your business, people, and culture to place top marketing leaders and creatives who align with your goals.
From recruiting process design to compensation benchmarking, Hirewell makes every step tailored to where your business is headed. It uses a large talent network and social media campaigns to source the best active and passive candidates. Your dedicated Account Manager will handle the entire hiring process, from candidate screening to onboarding, keeping you informed at every step.
Employees: 120
Revenue: $20M – $50M
Year Founded: 2001
Time to Hire: 2-6 weeks
Cost: Starts at $5,000 per engagement
Industry Focus:
- Technology
- Marketing
- Sales
Core Services Offered:
- Managed and OnDemand recruiting
- Sourcing automation
- SaaS sales talent marketplace
12. Cemoh
Cemoh connects you with Australia’s top marketing talent. They offer fully vetted fractional CMOs and marketing consultants to support your business. Whether you need someone for a few days, a month, or on a longer-term basis, Cemoh’s flexible model lets you hire freelance, part-time, or full-time professionals.
They can seamlessly integrate with your existing team or work independently, ensuring your marketing goals are their top priority.
Cemoh’s consultants are trained, coached, and monitored to deliver results, and with no long-term contracts, you can scale your marketing efforts as needed. With Cemoh’s flexible model, you can add or remove days, try before you commit, and bring in specific skills when needed.
Employees: 13
Revenue: $1M – $2.5M
Year Founded: 2020
Time to Hire: 4 weeks
Cost: Starts at $90/hr
Industry Focus:
- Automotive
- Healthcare
- Retail
Core Services Offered:
- Fractional CMO expert in strategic planning
- Fractional CMO expert in marketing campaign development
- Fractional CMO expert in branding & positioning
13. Pangian
Pangian is a global talent platform that connects you with top-tier remote professionals from over 150 countries. Whether you’re looking to hire a fractional CMO or other skilled professionals, Pangian offers access to a diverse community of marketing experts, project managers, and developers.
When you post your job on Pangian, you’ll tap into a dynamic network of go-getters who drive productivity, innovation, and collaboration across borders, delivering exceptional value to your company.
Employees: 13
Revenue: $1M – $2.5M
Year Founded: 2019
Time to Hire: 1-2 weeks
Cost: Starts at $199 for job post
Industry Focus:
- IT
- Marketing
- Sales
Core Services Offered:
- Post fractional CMO job ads
- Pangian remote global network of fractional CMOs
- Free remote fractional CMO work training & blogs
When Do You Need A Fractional CMO?
Here are some scenarios where bringing on a fractional CMO can be the perfect solution for your business needs:
I. Rapid growth but not ready for a full-time CMO
If your company is experiencing rapid growth but isn’t quite ready to commit to a full-time CMO, a fractional CMO could be the solution. For example, startups can’t afford a full-time CMO’s $150,000 to $250,000 annual salary but still need expert marketing leadership to manage strategies and customer acquisition.
A fractional CMO provides this leadership on a part-time or project basis, helping you scale efficiently without a long-term financial commitment.
II. Launching a new product, need expert strategy
If your company is gearing up to launch a new product, but you lack the internal marketing expertise to develop a strategic go-to-market plan, hiring a fractional CMO can be a game-changer.
Imagine you’re planning to introduce a product within the next 6 months, and your team is unsure how to align marketing efforts with sales goals. A fractional CMO can step in to oversee product positioning, messaging, and launch campaigns, ensuring everything from SEO to email marketing is working in sync.
Their experience can help you avoid costly mistakes, optimize your marketing budget, and ensure the product launch is successful without committing to a long-term executive hire.
III. Your marketing team lacks leadership
If your marketing team has talented individuals but lacks strong leadership, a fractional CMO can provide the strategic direction needed to maximize their potential. For instance, if you have a team of content creators, social media managers, or digital marketers who are good at execution but struggle with setting long-term goals, a fractional CMO can step in to guide them.
In this scenario, a fractional CMO can set measurable goals, create structured marketing strategies, and establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track success.
IV. Need to scale marketing but can’t afford a full-time exec
If your business is at a point where you need to scale your marketing efforts but don’t have the budget for a full-time CMO, a fractional CMO can offer a cost-effective solution. For example, if your business is launching new products, you might need someone to steer these efforts strategically. A fractional CMO can provide the expertise needed to scale without the financial burden of a full-time hire.
V. Marketing isn’t working, need fresh expert advice
If your marketing efforts are consistently underperforming despite your team’s efforts, hiring a fractional CMO can provide the fresh perspective and expert guidance you need. For example, if you’ve invested in digital ads, content marketing, or social media without seeing a meaningful return on investment (ROI), it may indicate that your current strategy isn’t aligned with market demands or that adjustments are needed.
In this scenario, a fractional CMO brings external expertise to review your current marketing metrics, optimize underperforming areas, and implement new strategies that drive results. They can overhaul your customer acquisition tactics, improve lead generation, or refine your brand messaging to better resonate with your target audience.
VI. Expanding into new markets, need strategic guidance
When expanding into new markets, your company may face challenges like unfamiliar customer behaviors, new competitive landscapes, and different regulatory environments. A fractional CMO can provide the strategic guidance necessary to navigate these complexities.
For example, if you’re a US-based company planning to enter the European or Latin American markets, you’ll need tailored marketing strategies that consider local preferences, cultural nuances, and legal regulations.
A fractional CMO can direct market research, define your go-to-market strategy, and localize your marketing efforts to resonate with new audiences. This lets your business expand confidently into new territories without committing to a full-time executive hire, saving both time and resources while ensuring a successful market entry.
How To Get Started With Your Fractional CMO
To get started with your fractional CMO, follow these simple steps for a smooth and strategic integration into your business:
Step 1: Define Your Marketing Needs
Before hiring a fractional CMO, clearly define your marketing needs to bring in the right expertise. Review your current marketing efforts—what’s working, and what isn’t. Are you struggling with customer acquisition, brand positioning, or scaling your digital marketing channels?
When you identify these gaps, you’ll have a clear understanding of the specific areas where a fractional CMO can add the most value.
Step 2: Set Your Budget & Scope
A clear budget and scope help you allocate resources effectively without overspending. Determine how much your business can afford to invest in a fractional CMO based on your overall marketing budget.
Consider the complexity and duration of the work needed—whether it’s for a one-time project, like launching a product, or ongoing part-time support to refine your marketing strategy over several months. This will help you set a realistic financial framework.
To get started, decide if you need the fractional CMO for a specific project or broader marketing leadership. You might engage them for 10-20 hours per week, or on a project basis, depending on your needs and budget.
Compare the cost of a fractional CMO to a full-time hire (which can be much more expensive) and prioritize the most urgent tasks that align with your business goals. Setting clear expectations for the scope of work helps avoid scope creep and keeps your marketing efforts focused on achieving measurable outcomes.
Here are different pricing models that fit different budgets:
- Hourly rate: Pay the fractional CMO for the specific hours they work. It’s ideal for businesses with smaller budgets or those requiring limited, flexible support.
- Monthly retainer: For ongoing support, pay a set monthly fee for a predetermined number of hours or scope of work.
- Project-based pricing: If you have a clearly defined project, project-based pricing might be suitable. This one-time fee structure ensures a focused effort on a single goal.
- Performance-based pricing: Some fractional CMOs may agree to a performance-based model, where their compensation is tied to specific outcomes like lead generation or revenue growth. This model can reduce upfront costs, but you’ll need to clearly define metrics.
Step 3: Search For The Right Fractional CMO
The right fractional CMO aligns with your business goals and has the expertise you need. Look for candidates who specialize in your industry and have a proven track record of success. You can search through the reputable platforms mentioned earlier. Ask for a brief portfolio to see their style, campaigns, and outcomes to see if they align with your vision and needs.
Narrow down candidates who have a strong track record in your sector, so they bring relevant insights and strategies to the table. Prioritize candidates who share specific examples or case studies showcasing measurable outcomes similar to your goals.
Step 4: Conduct Initial Interviews
Conduct initial interviews with potential fractional CMOs to assess their suitability for your business. These interviews help you gauge their expertise, cultural fit, and ability to align with your marketing goals. During the interview, focus on their previous experience with companies of similar size or in your industry.
Ask specific questions about how they have driven results, like increasing lead generation or improving conversion rates. Understand their approach to creating and executing marketing strategies and how they measure success.
To get the most out of these interviews, prepare a set of key questions that focus on both tactical and strategic marketing capabilities. Here are questions you can use:
- Can you describe a past project where you significantly improved lead generation or sales for a company similar to ours?
- What is your approach to developing and executing a marketing strategy that aligns with overall business goals?
- Have you worked with businesses in our industry before? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
- What specific industry trends do you see affecting our market, and how would you address them?
- How do you measure the success of your marketing strategies? What key performance indicators (KPIs) do you focus on?
- Can you share an example where you successfully optimized a marketing campaign based on performance metrics?
- How do you typically work with internal marketing teams, and how do you ensure alignment between marketing and sales?
- Can you give an example of how you’ve improved team performance or streamlined processes within a marketing department?
- What kind of time commitment do you typically offer, and how do you prioritize tasks across multiple clients?
- How do you handle working with companies across different time zones, if needed?
Step 5: Align Goals & Expectations
Aligning goals and expectations with your fractional CMO ensures their work delivers measurable results that align with your business objectives. Once you’ve selected your fractional CMO, both parties should have a clear understanding of what success looks like.
This includes setting KPIs, timelines, and deliverables. Defining these parameters upfront ensures that the CMO’s efforts are focused on achieving your marketing goals like increasing leads, boosting conversions, or launching a new campaign.
To do this effectively, schedule a detailed kickoff meeting where you discuss the specific outcomes you expect and how progress will be tracked. Here are KPIs you can use:
- Lead generation: Track the number of new leads generated each month and measure the quality of those leads based on conversion rates.
- Conversion rate: Monitor how well your marketing efforts are converting prospects into paying customers, focusing on specific channels like email campaigns or paid ads.
- Customer acquisition cost (CAC): Assess how much you’re spending to acquire a new customer, ensuring that marketing efforts are cost-effective.
- Website traffic: Track increases in website visits, particularly from targeted channels like organic search, paid ads, or social media.
- Return on ad spend (ROAS): Measure the effectiveness of paid advertising by comparing revenue generated to the amount spent on ads.
- Brand awareness: Use metrics like social media engagement, mentions, and shares to assess the growth of your brand’s visibility.
Step 6: Start With A Trial Period
A trial period tests the fractional CMO’s fit and effectiveness before committing to a long-term engagement. It lasts 30 to 90 days, providing both you and the CMO a chance to evaluate how well their strategies align with your business goals and whether they can deliver measurable results.
To make the most of this trial period, set clear expectations at the outset, including specific objectives and milestones. Schedule regular check-ins to review progress and make adjustments as needed.
At the end of the trial, assess whether the CMO’s contributions have met your expectations and if their working style fits well with your team. This gives you the flexibility to move forward with confidence or explore other options if the results aren’t as expected.
Step 7: Review Performance Regularly
Conduct performance reviews every month or quarter to evaluate progress on key metrics like lead generation, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI). These reviews let you assess whether the CMO’s strategies are effective and if any adjustments need to be made. It also ensures that their work continues to support your evolving business objectives.
To conduct effective performance reviews, schedule consistent check-ins where you both review the agreed-upon key performance indicators (KPIs). Use this time to discuss successes, challenges, and potential areas for improvement.
Be open to feedback and make adjustments to your strategy if necessary. This ongoing evaluation helps maintain accountability and ensures that your fractional CMO remains focused on delivering value to your business.
Step 8: Make Long-Term Decisions
After the trial period and regular performance reviews, it’s time to make a long-term decision about your fractional CMO. Based on the outcomes and the value they’ve brought to your business, assess whether continuing the relationship makes sense.
If their strategies have positively impacted key metrics and overall marketing efficiency, you can extend the contract, either keeping them on a part-time basis or increasing their hours as needed.
To make an informed decision, consider the business’s long-term goals and whether the CMO’s expertise aligns with future growth plans. If the results have been subpar, or your needs have changed, it may be time to explore other options.
Whichever route you choose, make sure the transition is smooth, whether by formalizing the CMO’s role or bringing in new talent. Having a clear understanding of what worked and what didn’t during the engagement will help you make the best decision for your company’s marketing success moving forward.
Conclusion
A fractional CMO can make a big impact on your business strategy, but you need to find the right one for your company’s needs. Take a look at your current marketing gaps and see which of the platforms above offers the services that match.
You can partner with Genius to hire part-time CMOs. Leveraging our large network of marketing experts from the Philippines and Latin America, we offer vetted candidates who are highly skilled in driving growth and seamlessly integrating with your team. With our on-the-ground sourcing, you get the right expert who fits your company’s unique needs. Join us now.
FAQs
What is the difference between a CMO and a fractional CMO?
A CMO is a full-time executive responsible for overseeing all of a company’s marketing strategies and initiatives, while a fractional CMO works part-time or on a project basis, providing the same level of expertise but without the long-term commitment or cost. Fractional CMOs are ideal for businesses that need high-level marketing leadership but can’t afford or don’t require a full-time CMO.
What is the difference between a marketing consultant and a fractional CMO?
A marketing consultant provides advice and guidance on specific marketing issues or projects, often in a limited, advisory capacity. A fractional CMO, on the other hand, takes on a more hands-on leadership role within the business, managing the marketing strategy and execution, similar to a full-time CMO but on a part-time or interim basis.
Is a fractional CFO worth it?
Yes, a fractional CFO is worth it for businesses that need financial leadership but can’t justify the cost of a full-time CFO. They provide expertise in areas like financial planning, budgeting, and growth strategies at a fraction of the cost, making them a flexible solution for small or growing companies.
How many hours does a fractional CMO work?
The number of hours a fractional CMO works can vary depending on the company’s needs, but they work anywhere from 10 to 20 hours per week. Some may work on a project or retainer basis, adjusting their hours as required by the scope of work.
