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 |
Positive Return Guarantee
If we have not achieved a Positive Return by Day 90, we continue working for up to 90 more days, ending at Day 180. If we still have not achieved a Positive Return by Day 180, we refund everything you paid Stoddard during the initial 90-day period.
*Pass-through costs are excluded.
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.
