Fractional CMO

Senior marketing leadership. Without the full-time cost

Your business needs a marketing leader who can build the strategy, hire the team, and own the results. You don't need to pay $300K+ a year to get one.

Leadership

What is a Fractional CMO?

A fractional CMO is a senior marketing executive who works with your company part-time — typically 10-20 hours per week — providing the same strategic leadership as a full-time CMO at a fraction of the cost.

Unlike agencies that execute tactics or consultants who deliver slide decks, a fractional CMO embeds into your leadership team. They build your marketing strategy, manage your people, select your tools, and are accountable for revenue — not just activity.

At South Summit Partners, our fractional CMO engagement goes further. We bring AI automation capabilities to every strategy we build, ensuring your marketing infrastructure is built for 2026 and beyond — not last year's playbook.

Math

The numbers tell it

Fractional leadership costs less and delivers faster

Fractional CMO
Monthly investment
Salary and benefits
$8K-$15K
Time to Onboard
2 Weeks
Commitment
Flexible Retainer
Contract flexibility
Full
Strategy and execution included
Immediate accountability
No hiring risk
Scales with your business
Full-Time CMO
Annual cost
Salary and benefits
$250K-$570K
Time to Onboard
3-4 months recruiting
Commitment
Months
Contract flexibility
Limited
Hiring and onboarding required
Longer time to impact
Significant hiring risk
Fixed cost regardless of growth

Marketing Strategy & Roadmap

A complete go-to-market plan aligned to revenue goals — not vanity metrics. We build the strategy and the timeline to execute it.

Tech Stack & AI Integration

We select, implement, and connect your marketing tools. HubSpot, Salesforce, AI content engines, automation workflows — built to work together.

Team Building & Management

We hire, train, and lead your marketing team — or optimize the one you have. We know when to build internal and when to outsource.

Reporting & Attribution

You'll know exactly what's working and what isn't. We build dashboards and reporting that connect marketing activity to revenue.

Questions

What you need to know about fractional CMO engagements.

How much does a fractional CMO cost?

Our fractional CMO engagements typically range from $5,000 to $15,000 per month depending on scope, hours, and complexity. Most clients start with a Revenue Intelligence Audit to determine the right engagement level. Compared to a full-time CMO hire ($250K–$570K annually plus benefits), a fractional engagement delivers senior leadership at 60–80% lower cost.

How is a fractional CMO different from a marketing agency?

An agency executes campaigns. A fractional CMO leads your marketing function. We sit on your leadership team, build strategy, manage teams and vendors, and are accountable for revenue outcomes — not deliverables. We often manage agencies as part of the broader system.

How many hours per week does a fractional CMO work?

Most engagements are 10–20 hours per week, though this varies. The key isn't hours — it's outcomes. A senior operator working 15 focused hours per week will outperform a junior in-house hire working 50.

What industries do you work with?

We work across healthcare, technology, construction, food/CPG, legal, and outdoor recreation. Our systems-first approach translates across industries — the principles of revenue architecture are universal, even though tactics vary.

Do you serve clients outside of Athens and Atlanta?

Yes. While we're based in Athens, GA and serve the Atlanta metro and Southeast extensively, we work with clients nationally. Fractional engagements work well remotely, with periodic in-person strategy sessions as needed.

Ready to talk?

Let's discuss your specific situation.

Your marketing needs a leader. Not another vendor.

Book a free strategy call and we'll show you exactly where your marketing is leaking revenue — and how to fix it.

Not sure if you're ready?

Take our revenue readiness assessment to identify gaps and opportunities.