What Is a Fractional CMO (And Do I Need One)?

If you’ve found yourself tapping “how to market my business without losing my mind” into your GPT at o’dark hundred, this one’s for you.

You’re sitting in an awkward middle. Bringing in $500K to $3M in revenue, you’re too big and the stakes are too high to keep winging or piecing your marketing program together on your own… but you don’t have the margin (or maybe the stomach) for a six-figure salaried Chief Marketing Officer.

Resonating? You may be a prime candidate for a fractional CMO.

Let’s break down what a fractional CMO actually does, how to know if your business is ready, and what this stopgap solution might look like for you.

What Is a Fractional CMO?

A fractional CMO is exactly what it sounds like — a senior-level marketing leader you rent instead of hire full-time.

Here’s the difference:

• Not just an agency. Agencies execute. They take orders. A CMO sets the menu.

• Not just a freelancer. Freelancers handle tasks. A CMO drives strategy.

• Fractional = flexible. You get leadership, clarity, and execution support at the scale you actually need.
  

Think of it as one place, one person for all the moving parts. I’m the sounding board in your corner, the “adult in the room,” and the how-brain that maps your why into a plan we can actually run with.

Am I Ready for a Fractional CMO?

If your business is clearing $500K to $3M in annual revenue, you’re in the sweet spot. Big enough that brand and marketing decisions matter, small enough that a full-time CMO may not be realistic.

If you’re nodding along to any of these, you might be ready:

• The Overwhelmed: You’re spiraling. Overworked, burnt out, and tired of duct-taping marketing together. You need clarity and calm.

• The Emerging: You’re standing on the edge of growth, excited and scared in equal measure. Big decisions are looming — investments, hires, platforms — and you need someone to help guide you on which levers to pull and when.

• The Seasoned Starter: This isn’t your first business. You know you don’t want to cobble it together with bubblegum and paperclips. You want it done right, from the jump.

• The Main Character: Your personal brand is part of the picture — either you want to weave it into a new venture or figure out how to step back without the business losing momentum.
  

Ask yourself:

• Am I making decisions alone that I don’t feel qualified to make?

• Am I pouring money into piecemeal marketing without a clear plan or grasp on the whole picture?

• Do I need relief, clarity, or someone steady to help me think?
  

If the answer is yes, you’re probably ready to deepen the bench.

What Might a Fractional CMO Help Me Do?

Every engagement looks a little different, but here are a few of the most common ways I support business owners as a fractional CMO:

• Build or revamp your brand so it reflects where you are now — not just where you started.

• Design launch campaigns for new products, services, or ventures.

• Clarify priorities and cut through the noise of a million and five possible marketing levers.

• Protect your reputation as you scale, so growth doesn’t come at the cost of credibility.

• Lay the foundation for your first full-time CMO by defining what you really need and putting a starting program in place for a smooth handoff.

• Navigate exits or acquisitions. From transitioning brand assets to PR strategies, I’ve helped owners turn the page on their next chapter on their terms.
  

Sometimes I’m with you for a good time, not a long time — like one high-value campaign. Other times it’s a longer engagement where I step in as your right hand for 6–12 months.

What It Looks Like to Work With Me

I run Front & Center, my Charleston-based consultancy for small business owners at growth points and pivots. I’ve been at this for nearly a decade, with 15+ years of branding and PR under my belt.

The way I work is simple:

• Assuring. I’m your sounding board. Another adult in the room. I’m here to listen and calm you down when things feel chaotic.

• Pragmatic. I’m not a jargon machine that repackages problems into pretty decks. I’m solution-oriented and wired to be the how to meet your why.

• Effective. I give you a clear, feasible plan on how to get from A to D. Then I put that plan into motion.
  

And when it comes time to execute, I plug you straight into The Cohort Collaborative — our full-service sister firm that can actually move dirt on the work.

I’ve helped clients like Erin Bailey grow her Georgetown law firm into a community cornerstone — increasing revenue by more than 50% in the first year of our work together and repositioning her to attract higher-value cases on her terms.

And I’ve been with Robin of Charleston Island Rentals from day one, helping her launch a boutique property management firm that earned a reputation for excellence and consistent growth year over year. When the time was right, she sold the business to a respected regional firm for a well-earned payday — the kind of exit every small business owner dreams of.

No one will love your business as much as you do — but I get pretty damn close.

How to Know If Now’s the Time

• You’re losing sleep over growth decisions.

• You’re wasting money on disconnected marketing tactics.

• You’re tired of being the only one in the room who cares about brand and strategy.
  

If that sounds like you, it’s time for a conversation.

I serve clients coast to coast, but if you’re a small business owner here in Charleston or the Southeast, you’re in my backyard.

Book a discovery call and let’s figure out if fractional CMO support is what your business needs next.

Quick FAQ

Q: Is a fractional CMO just consulting? A: No. Consulting is advice. A fractional CMO blends strategy and execution.

Q: How long do people usually work with you? A: Anywhere from one-off sprints (90 days) to 12-month retainers. Depends on your goals.

Q: What if I want to hire a full-time CMO later? A: Perfect. I’ll help you define the role, lay the groundwork, and make the handoff clean.

Q: What do engagements cost? A: Every engagement is different, but most fractional CMO sprints start around $3.5K/month. Full-service retainers — where strategy is backed by our execution team at The Cohort — average $7.5K–$10K/month depending on scope.

Closing

Fractional CMO support is about having an experienced partner in your corner when you’re in that uncomfortable middle — too big to keep winging it, not ready for a full-time hire.

If you’re ready for clarity, calm, and a plan that makes sense, let’s talk.