--- title: "Fractional CMO Cost in 2026: Market Rates vs. My Prices" description: Fractional CMOs charge $200–$450 an hour or $8,000–$22,000 a month in the US. See 2026 market rates side by side with CMO4SaaS's published prices. image: https://cmo4saas.com/hubfs/cmo4saas-share-site.png --- [![logo (1)](https://cmo4saas.com/hubfs/logo%20(1).png)](https://cmo4saas.com/?hsLang=en) - [SERVICES](https://cmo4saas.com/#services) - [PRICING](https://cmo4saas.com/#pricing) - [RESOURCES](https://cmo4saas.com/blog?hsLang=en) - [ABOUT ME](https://cmo4saas.com/about-me?hsLang=en) [BOOK A CALL](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/lucy-literado) # What a fractional CMO costs in 2026 (and what I charge) **In the US, a senior fractional CMO typically costs $8,000 to $22,000 a month on a retainer, or $200 to $450 an hour.** A full-time CMO costs $270,000 to $320,000 a year once benefits, payroll taxes and recruiting fees are added. I publish my prices: the Growth Audit is a fixed $1,900, the Fractional CMO is $4,900 a month for 40 hours, and the Interim CMO is $10,500 a month for about 3 days a week. My first three clients get a founding rate in exchange for a case study. Below are the market rates with their sources, my prices with what each includes, and the questions to ask any fractional CMO before you sign. [**Book a quick call**](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/lucy-literado) · [Start with a Growth Audit, $950 at the founding rate →](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/lucy-literado) *Last updated 11 October 2026 · By [Lucy Tsotsorina](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-literado), fractional CMO for B2B SaaS* ## Fractional CMO rates in 2026: the market | How you pay | Typical US rate (2026) | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Hourly | $200–$450 an hour | Fractionus; CMOx puts it at $200–$350 | | Day rate | $1,500–$3,500 a day | Fractionus | | Monthly retainer | $8,000–$22,000 a month, most often $12,000–$15,000 | Fractionus | | 40 hours a month at market hourly rates | $8,000–$14,000 a month | $200–$350 × 40 hours (CMOx's range) | | Full-time CMO, all-in | $270,000–$320,000+ a year | Fractionus: $225,908 average base salary (Built In, 2026), plus 28–35% in benefits and payroll taxes (BLS, 2025) and a 20–25% recruiting fee | | Full-time Head of Marketing, base salary | $180,000–$220,000 at seed; $200,000–$250,000 at Series A, plus 0.25–1.5% equity | WithAgility | Sources: [Fractionus, How much does a fractional CMO cost in the US? (2026)](https://fractionus.com/blog/fractional-cmo-cost-us) · [CMOx, Fractional CMO salary](https://cmox.co/fractional-cmo-salary/) · [WithAgility, Head of Marketing compensation guide](https://withagility.com/head-of-marketing-compensation/). Rates are for US companies; most firms don't publish theirs, so these guides are the best public benchmarks. ## My prices #### The Growth Audit ## $1,900 fixed **Founding rate: $950** for my first 3 clients. For founders who need clarity before committing. --- - A deep dive into your funnel, metrics, financials and team structure - A no-fluff findings report with specific leaks and opportunities - Up to 2 hours of calls with your key people, only if needed - A prioritised plan you can act on immediately - Guarantee: at least 3 fixes you'd act on, or you don't pay - Credited against your first month if you continue with the Fractional CMO within 30 days #### The Fractional CMO ## $4,900/month **Founding rate: $3,400/month** for the first 6 months, for my first 3 clients. 40 hours a month. Month to month, 30 days' notice. --- - Weekly strategy sessions with you and key stakeholders - Hands-on execution in your tools (HubSpot, Google Ads and others) - Monthly growth reports on pipeline metrics - Team alignment workshops - A quarterly roadmap based on real performance data - Unused hours carry over one month; extra hours at $123/hour [Book a call](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/lucy-literado) #### The Interim CMO ## $10,500/month About 3 days a week, 6-month engagement. Full ownership of your marketing function while you hire. --- - Running your marketing team (hiring, training, managing) - Board-level reporting and investor readiness - Full ownership and accountability for the marketing function - Handover to your future full-time CMO **One-off work:** $175 an hour, 4-hour minimum, for OKRs for commercial teams, next-year funnel forecasts, or interviewing and testing marketing candidates. **Not included:** ad spend and software subscriptions. Specialists from my network are quoted separately when a project needs them. ## Founding-client rate: 3 of 3 places open I'm building my first case studies on this site. My first three clients get: - **The Growth Audit for $950** instead of $1,900, with the same guarantee, or - **The Fractional CMO for $3,400 a month** for the first 6 months, instead of $4,900. In return I ask for a named case study with real numbers once there are results (anonymised if you can't be named), a short testimonial, and, if you're happy with the work, an introduction to one other founder. The offer ends when the three places are taken, or on 31 March 2027 at the latest. ## How that compares - **Against the market retainer:** 40 hours a month at market hourly rates costs $8,000–$14,000. The Fractional CMO plan is $4,900 for the same 40 hours, 39–65% less. - **Against a full-time hire:** a year of the Fractional CMO plan is $58,800. A full-time CMO costs $270,000 or more in the first year, before equity. - **Against an audit from a large firm:** most firms don't publish audit prices, so compare the Growth Audit on scope and risk: a findings report and a prioritised plan from the person who would run the work, for a fixed $1,900, and you don't pay if it doesn't give you 3 fixes you'd act on. ## Why my prices are lower than the market range Fair question: when a price looks low, you should wonder what's missing. Here is where the difference comes from: - **No agency layers.** You work with me directly. There are no account managers, junior staff or mark-ups between us, which is where much of an agency's price goes. - **Based in Ukraine.** My costs are lower than a US firm's, and I pass that on. My working day overlaps with UK hours and US East Coast mornings. - **A small number of clients at a time.** I take on few clients so each one gets the hours they pay for, not a share of a calendar. - **Published prices, no negotiation theatre.** Most fractional CMO firms don't publish their prices; I'd rather you know before the first call. What doesn't change is the seniority: 18+ years in B2B marketing, 10+ of them in leadership roles, most as the first marketing hire who built the team. ## Which option fits your situation | If this sounds like you | Start with | Cost | | --- | --- | --- | | "Something's broken, but I don't know what." You're the de facto CMO and want clarity before committing to anyone. | The Growth Audit | **$1,900** $950 at the founding rate | | You need CMO-level strategy and someone who also does the work, with a small team or contractors to lead. | The Fractional CMO | **$4,900/month** $3,400 at the founding rate | | Your Head of Marketing just left and you need cover now, not in 3 months of hiring. | The Fractional CMO, or the Interim CMO if the team needs daily management | **$4,900–$10,500/month** | | You're preparing for Series B or C and need investor-grade marketing, forecasts and a team built on data. | The Interim CMO | **$10,500/month** | | You need one thing done: OKRs, a forecast, or help hiring a marketer. | One-off work | **$175/hour** 4-hour minimum | ## What drives the price of a fractional CMO 1. **Hours per month.** The biggest factor. Ask for a number, not "as needed". 2. **Advice or execution.** Advisory-only engagements cost less per month but leave the work to your team. Hands-on CMOs who work in your tools save you a hire. 3. **Team leadership.** Managing people, hiring and board reporting take more hours and justify interim pricing. 4. **Your stage and complexity.** More products, markets and channels mean more work. 5. **Who you buy from.** Marketplaces and agencies add their margin to the CMO's rate. ## Questions to ask any fractional CMO before you sign - How many hours a month are guaranteed, and what happens to unused hours? - Who does the work: you, or a team behind you? - Do you execute in our tools, or advise only? - What's the minimum term and the notice period? - What will you report each month, and against which numbers? - What is your rate for work beyond the agreed hours? My answers: 40 guaranteed hours a month on the Fractional CMO plan, and unused hours carry over one month. I do the work myself, with specialists only when you need them, and I work hands-on in your tools. There's no minimum term: it's month to month with 30 days' notice. You get a monthly report on pipeline metrics. Extra hours are billed at $123 an hour, the plan's own hourly rate. FAQ ## What founders ask about fractional CMO costs ### How much does a fractional CMO cost per month? In the US, most fractional CMO retainers run $8,000 to $22,000 a month, with $12,000 to $15,000 the most common range (Fractionus, 2026). My Fractional CMO plan is $4,900 a month for 40 hours, or $3,400 a month for the first 6 months for my first three clients. ### What is a fractional CMO's hourly rate? Senior fractional CMOs charge $200 to $450 an hour when they bill hourly (Fractionus; CMOx gives $200 to $350). My rate for one-off work is $175 an hour with a 4-hour minimum. ### Is a fractional CMO cheaper than hiring a full-time CMO? Yes, for most early-stage SaaS companies. A full-time CMO costs $270,000 to $320,000 or more a year with benefits, payroll taxes and recruiting fees, before equity. A year of my Fractional CMO plan costs $58,800. ### What's the difference between a fractional and an interim CMO? A fractional CMO works a set number of hours a month, usually alongside a small team. An interim CMO fills the full role for a fixed period, typically while you hire, and runs the team day to day. My Interim CMO plan is $10,500 a month for about 3 days a week, usually over 6 months. ### How much does a marketing or growth audit cost? My Growth Audit is a fixed $1,900, or $950 for my first three clients. You get a findings report on your funnel, metrics, financials and team, and a prioritised plan you can act on immediately. If it doesn't give you at least 3 fixes you'd act on, you don't pay, and if you continue with the Fractional CMO within 30 days, the audit price is credited against your first month. ### Why are your prices lower than other fractional CMOs? You work with me directly, with no agency layers or account managers, and I'm based in Ukraine, so my costs are lower than a US firm's. The seniority is the same: 18+ years in B2B marketing, 10+ in leadership roles. ## Find out which option fits in one call Tell me where your marketing stands and I'll tell you which option makes sense, or whether you need a fractional CMO at all. [BOOK A QUICK CALL](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/lucy-literado) ![Logo (3)](https://cmo4saas.com/hubfs/Logo%20(3).png) CMO 4 SaaS Mykolaiv, 54006 Ukraine ### Service - Overview - Pricing - Case Studies - Resources ### Resources - Blog - Podcast - Templates - Newsletter - Help center © 2026 CMO4SAAS All rights reserved Privacy Policy [Powered by Atlas - a B2B SaaS HubSpot theme](https://www.kalungi.com/atlas-hubspot-theme-for-b2b-saas-software) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Article", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "jobTitle" : "Fractional CMO", "name" : "Lucy Tsotsorina", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-literado" ] }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-11", "datePublished" : "2026-10-11", "headline" : "What a fractional CMO costs in 2026 (and what I charge)", "image" : "https://cmo4saas.com/hubfs/logo%20(1).png", "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://cmo4saas.com/fractional-cmo-cost", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cmo4saas.com/hubfs/logo%20(1).png" }, "name" : "CMO4SaaS", "url" : "https://cmo4saas.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "description" : "Fractional and interim CMO for B2B SaaS founders.", "founder" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lucy Tsotsorina", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-literado" ] }, "logo" : "https://cmo4saas.com/hubfs/logo%20(1).png", "makesOffer" : [ { "@type" : "Offer", "description" : "Fixed-price review of funnel, metrics, financials and team with a prioritised plan.", "name" : "The Growth Audit", "price" : "1900", "priceCurrency" : "USD" }, { "@type" : "Offer", "description" : "40 hours a month of strategy and hands-on execution.", "name" : "The Fractional CMO", "price" : "4900", "priceCurrency" : "USD", "priceSpecification" : { "@type" : "UnitPriceSpecification", "price" : "4900", "priceCurrency" : "USD", "unitText" : "month" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "description" : "About 3 days a week, usually for a 6-month engagement.", "name" : "The Interim CMO", "price" : "10500", "priceCurrency" : "USD", "priceSpecification" : { "@type" : "UnitPriceSpecification", "price" : "10500", "priceCurrency" : "USD", "unitText" : "month" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "description" : "OKRs, forecasts, hiring help. 4-hour minimum.", "name" : "One-off work", "priceCurrency" : "USD", "priceSpecification" : { "@type" : "UnitPriceSpecification", "price" : "175", "priceCurrency" : "USD", "unitText" : "hour" } } ], "name" : "CMO4SaaS", "url" : "https://cmo4saas.com" } ```