Fractional Brand Lab
How much does a
fractional CMO cost?
Straight numbers, no games. Here’s what fractional leadership actually costs at the Fractional Brand Lab — and what drives the price up or down.
The short answer
From $4,500 a month.
At the Fractional Brand Lab, fractional engagements start at $4,500/month and creative + marketing leadership starts at $6,500/month. Project-based work typically runs $2,500–$7,500+. That’s the whole pricing philosophy: senior leadership, stated plainly, before you ever get on a call.
What drives it
What moves the number.
Scope of leadership
Brand strategy alone costs less than brand plus marketing direction across a team. The work defines the price.
Depth of involvement
Advisory-level guidance and hands-on creative direction are different engagements — priced accordingly.
Stage of the business
A seed-stage startup and a scaling company need different amounts of senior time. Engagements flex with that.
Length of engagement
Fractional partnerships typically begin with three months, then continue month-to-month with 30 days’ notice. No long lock-ins.
Engagements
Ways to work together.
The Brand Clarity Audit
Fixed scope, two weeks. A six-part diagnostic of your brand — what’s working, what’s leaking, and what to fix first. The smartest way to start.
Fractional partnership
From $4,500/mo. Senior brand leadership across strategy, identity, and campaigns. Typically begins with three months, then continues month-to-month with 30 days’ notice.
Creative + Marketing leadership
From $6,500/mo. Full-funnel creative and marketing direction for growing teams. Month-to-month after the initial engagement, with 30 days’ notice.
Project-based work typically runs $2,500–$7,500+. Billed monthly in advance; out-of-scope work is separately approved and terms are defined in each client agreement.
The comparison
Cheaper than the alternative.
A full-time marketing executive means salary, benefits, equity, recruiting fees, and months of ramp-up — before you know if they’re right. Fractional leadership gives you the senior thinking at a fraction of the commitment, and you can start with a two-week audit instead of a two-year bet.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
How much does a fractional CMO cost?
At the Fractional Brand Lab: fractional engagements start at $4,500/month; creative + marketing leadership starts at $6,500/month. Engagements typically begin with three months, then go month-to-month with 30 days’ notice.
Why is there such a wide range in the market?
Because “fractional CMO” covers everything from a few advisory hours to embedded leadership of a full team. Ask what’s actually included — scope, involvement, and who does the work — before comparing numbers.
Is there a cheaper way to start?
Yes: the Brand Clarity Audit. Fixed scope, two weeks. You get a prioritized read on the brand and a clear sense of how we’d work together — before committing to a monthly engagement.
What’s billed on top of the monthly rate?
Nothing hidden. Billing is monthly in advance; out-of-scope work is separately approved, and terms are defined in each client agreement.
Have a brand problem that needs senior attention?
Let’s talk about where the business is going, what’s in the way, and the smartest place to start.