Key Takeaways
-
Full-Time Marketing Hires Come With Hidden Costs
-
6+ months to recruit, onboard, and ramp up.
-
High overhead: salary, equity, benefits, and sunk onboarding costs.
-
Risk of early churn, many leave within 24 months.
-
Limited perspective from a single individual.
-
-
Delays = Lost Revenue and Momentum
-
The longer it takes to get leadership in place, the more growth opportunities slip by.
-
Time lost during hiring is rarely accounted for, but always expensive.
-
-
Fractional CMOs Offer Senior-Level Strategy Without Full-Time Commitment
-
Ready to deliver from day one, no learning curve.
-
Executive-level insight, cross-functional experience, and wide network access.
-
Can flex with business needs, no long-term contracts or fixed overhead.
-
-
Fractional = Smarter Spend
-
You pay for outcomes, not office presence.
-
No benefits packages, equity dilution, or infrastructure investment.
-
-
Hiring Smarter Drives Faster Growth
-
Businesses that opt for fractional leadership often see quicker traction and more focused execution.
-
It’s not just a budget decision, it’s a velocity play.
-
-
You Don’t Have to Guess – Run the Numbers
-
A cost comparison calculator lets decision-makers objectively evaluate FTE vs. Fractional CMO models.
-
-
Modern Companies Are Rewriting the Hiring Playbook
-
Fractional leadership is becoming a go-to strategy for lean, fast-moving organizations.
-
What used to be seen as “interim” is now “advantageous.”
-
-
The Bottom Line:
-
If speed, strategy, and flexibility are critical to your next stage of growth, a Fractional CMO may be the best hire you don’t make.
-
Full-Time or Fractional Marketing Leadership? The Decision That Could Change Your Growth Trajectory
Picture this: You’re gearing up for your next phase of growth. You need marketing firepower…fast. The default move? Hire a full-time CMO or VP of Marketing. It feels like the responsible, strategic decision. But what if it’s actually costing you more and slowing you down?
Let’s flip the script.
The Full-Time Fallacy: Why “Safe” Can Be Costly
Hiring a full-time executive is often seen as a milestone. But it comes with hidden baggage.
Here’s the fine print no one talks about:
-
Hiring Takes Forever: Six months (or more) to recruit, interview, onboard, and hope they work out.
-
You Pay for Potential, Not Performance: Salary, equity, benefits, onboarding, and… time. Lots of it.
-
High Churn, Low ROI: Many FTEs bounce within 24 months. That’s a big bet for uncertain returns.
-
Limited Perspective: You get one person, one background, one network. What happens when you need range?
And while you’re waiting for that FTE to hit their stride? Opportunities slip through the cracks. Revenue gets left on the table. Your team is left spinning its wheels.
Enter the Fractional CMO: Leadership Without the Lag
A Fractional CMO is not a compromise. It’s a catalyst.
Instead of locking yourself into a long-term overhead-heavy commitment, you get:
-
Immediate Strategy + Execution: No “getting up to speed.” They’re already moving.
-
Cross-Industry Perspective: Fresh insights from multiple markets and business models.
-
Scalable Engagements: Need 10 hours this month and 30 next? Done. No sunk costs.
-
Executive-Level Thinking Without the Salary Drain: You get seniority, without paying for office snacks and 401(k) matching.
It’s like hiring the expert you wish you had on your exec team, without the red tape.
Still Unsure? Let’s Talk Numbers
We’ve built a Cost Comparison Calculator to help you compare the total cost of a full-time hire versus a Fractional CMO. Spoiler alert: one of them is significantly more flexible, faster, and financially savvy.
👉 See the Cost Comparison Calculator Here
The New Growth Playbook Is Lean, Fast, and Smart
Fractional marketing leadership is no longer a fringe concept. It’s the secret weapon behind today’s fastest-growing companies.
So ask yourself:
-
Do you want to spend time and money, or gain momentum?
-
Do you need marketing leadership that fits a job description, or your current reality?
If the answer leans toward speed, strategy, and smarter investment, a Fractional CMO might be the most powerful hire you don’t make.
If you’re ready to grow without dragging your feet (or draining your budget), let’s chat. Schedule a call or email Lori at lberson@BersonDeanStevens.com to explore how fractional leadership could unlock serious results for your business.
BersonDeanStevens (BDS) has been developing creative, results-driven marketing strategies, content, campaigns, and programs for over 25 years. And, we bring the knowledge and expertise to incorporate AI when necessary to gain efficiencies and help boost results. Whether you’re looking for a fractional CMO, need assistance when your internal workforce is overloaded, or need consulting from time to time, BDS is the perfect go-to resource. Client list.