Fractional CMO Leadership—Without the Full-Time Price Tag
Many contractors and multi-location brands have outgrown “DIY marketing” but aren’t ready—or willing—to add a $300 K-plus C-suite salary to payroll. A Fractional Chief Marketing Officer gives you enterprise-level strategy, vendor management, and KPI ownership at a fraction of the cost, while our in-house execution team turns that strategy into measurable growth.
Key Point
What Exactly Is a Fractional CMO?
A Fractional CMO is a part-time or retainer-based marketing executive who sets strategy, oversees teams and vendors, and is accountable for revenue growth. Unlike consultants who hand you a slide deck and disappear, a Fractional CMO owns implementation and results.
Why Companies Prefer the Fractional Model
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Cost control | A full-time U.S. CMO now averages $316 K / year before bonus and benefits (Salary.com). Fractional engagement starts at roughly a tenth of that. |
| Flexibility | Scale hours—and spend—up or down as seasons, territories, or campaigns dictate. |
| Faster impact | Skip the months-long executive search; plug in proven leadership next quarter. |
| No “tool bias” | We select channels based on your audience, not on a technician’s narrow specialty. |
How Our Fractional CMO Engagement Works
1 Start with Strategy First™
Every client invests $7,500 in a 30- to 45-day Strategy First™ Marketing Plan—a living roadmap covering brand, ideal-client research, “hub-page” SEO, 12-month execution calendar, and quarterly rocks. The plan is yours to keep whether you retain us or not.
2 Choose an Oversight Level
| Package | Typical Commitment | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Engaged Fractional CMO | 10 hours/week · 3-month minimum · $10 K/mo | Contractors $1 M–$50 M needing full marketing leadership |
| Half-Day CMO Intensive | One week prep + 4-hour workshop · $7,500 | Rapid audit & punch-list for teams that can self-implement |
| Advisor/Equity Options | Custom retainer or performance share | Long-term partners scaling into multiple markets |
Fractional CMO Guarantee:
Follow our complete plan and do everything we say for 90 days; if you see zero ROI, we refund fees and pay you $2,000 for the trouble.
Company Guarantee:
Unbeatable Customer Service and No-Ghosting, with a six-month results promise. If we don’t elevate your leads and conversions within six months, we work for free until we do.*
*Results, as defined for this guarantee, are based on industry-accepted marketing KPIs measurable through leads, prospects, traffic, and conversion rates. The Stoddard Agency is not responsible for sales performance, the client’s ability to follow up and close leads, or any factors beyond our control that could impact results. Any free or discounted services resulting from this guarantee are limited to 6 months.
Results Our Clients See
- Crawl-space Insulation Contractor (Clean Crawls): $13.8 M → $17.8 M in 12 months
- Attic & Crawl Renovation (Attic Projects): $11 M → $16 M in nine months
These wins began with a Marketing plan (an earlier version of Strategy First) and continued under our Fractional CMO leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fractional CMO a substitute for Strategy First?
No. Strategy First is the diagnostic and blueprint; Fractional CMO is the driver who keeps the plan on track.
What if we already employ a marketing manager?
Great—your Fractional CMO becomes that manager’s mentor and KPI watchdog.
How long before I see ROI?
Most clients experience lead-flow upticks inside 90 days once initial rocks are executed.
Next Step: Marketing Clarity Call
Schedule a 15-minute call to confirm fit, budget, and timeline. If we’re not a match, we’ll still give you actionable ideas.
