Fractional CMO vs Marketing Agency: Which is Right for You?

When you need marketing expertise, you have two main options: hire a fractional CMO or engage a marketing agency. Let's explore the differences.

Fractional CMO

What You Get

• Strategic marketing leadership
• Part of your team
• Long-term relationship
• Aligned with your vision

Best For

• Companies needing strategic guidance
• Building internal marketing capability
• Long-term transformation
• Leadership gap filling

Typical Engagement

• 10-20 hours per month
• 6-12 month minimum
• $5,000-$15,000/month

Marketing Agency

What You Get

• Execution expertise
• Specialized capabilities
• Project-based work
• Multiple team members

Best For

• Specific campaign execution
• Specialized skills (SEO, PPC, design)
• Short-term projects
• Overflow capacity

Typical Engagement

• Project or retainer based
• Variable duration
• $3,000-$50,000+/month

The Hybrid Approach

Many companies find success combining both:

• Fractional CMO for strategy
• Agency for specialized execution

This approach gives you strategic leadership with execution power, without the overhead of building a full in-house team.

How to Decide

Ask yourself:

• Do you need strategy or execution (or both)?
• What's your budget and timeline?
• Do you need someone embedded in your team?
• What specific skills do you lack?

Not sure which is right for you? Let's have a conversation about your specific needs and goals.