Fractional CMO vs. Full-Time Hire: Cost Comparison Calculator
Considering a marketing hire? Run the numbers first.
Most companies underestimate what a full-time CMO or senior marketing hire actually costs. Salary is just the starting point. Add employer taxes, benefits, recruiting fees (typically 20–30% of first-year salary), and the 3–6 months it takes to recruit, onboard, and ramp up, and the real first-year cost is often 1.5–2x the base salary.
A fractional CMO starts faster, costs less, and often brings broader strategic experience.
Before you commit to hiring a full-time marketing hire, ask yourself:
- What’s the real cost of going In-House?
- Could a Fractional Hire be a smarter investment?
To see the difference in real dollars, use the Cost Comparison Calculator below to compare your specific numbers.
In-House Marketing FTE
Fractional Hire
💰 You could save $0 in Year 1 with a Fractional CMO!
In-House Marketing FTE
$0
Total Cost (Doesn't include missed revenue and slowed momentum from longer hiring and onboarding cycles.)
Fractional Hire
$0
Total Cost
What the Numbers Don’t Show
The calculator captures hard costs. It doesn’t capture:
- Opportunity cost. Every month without senior marketing leadership is a month of pipeline you’re not building.
- Ramp-up risk. Full-time hires take 3–6 months to reach full productivity; fractional CMOs are operational in days.
- Turnover risk. Average CMO tenure is under 4 years; a fractional engagement scales up or down as your needs change.
- Breadth of experience. A fractional CMO has led marketing across multiple companies and industries.