Fractional CMO Pricing
Fractional Marketing Engagement Rates
Whether you need ongoing strategic leadership or focused project support, our fractional CMO engagements are designed to flex around your business. FlairRepublic offers fractional CMO services from £500 per day or from £2,000 per month on a retained basis. There are no long-term contracts, no recruitment fees, and no employer NI. Engagements can start within one to two weeks and scale up or down as your business needs change.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
No hidden fees. No long-term lock-in. Just the level of support your business actually needs.
Ideal for project-based work, audits, launches, or strategy days where you need senior input without a retainer.
- Marketing strategy & audit sessions
- Go-to-market planning
- Leadership coaching & team support
- Board-level marketing presentations
No minimum commitment
Book a dayOngoing fractional CMO leadership on a retained basis, scaling with your needs as your business grows.
- Dedicated fractional CMO embedded in your team
- Full marketing strategy ownership
- Oversight of agencies, freelancers & in-house staff
- Monthly leadership reviews
No long-term commitment — cancel anytime
Start a retainerFor defined projects with a clear start and end. We scope the work, agree a fixed price, and deliver.
Examples of scoped projects:
Comparison table: FlairRepublic Fractional CMO versus Full-Time CMO, Marketing Agency, Consultant, and Freelancer across cost, commitment, and capability criteria.
Why choose a Fractional CMO?
FlairRepublic vs every other option on the market.
| FlairRepublic Fractional CMO | Full-Time CMO | Marketing Agency | Consultant | Freelancer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | |||||
| Annual cost | From £24k/yr | £150k–£250k+ | £36k–£120k+ | £30k–£80k+ | £20k–£60k |
| Employer NI & pension | None | £25k–£35k | None | None | None |
| Recruitment cost | None | £15k–£30k | None | None | None |
| Commitment | |||||
| Time to start | 1–2 weeks | 3–6 months | 2–4 weeks | 1–2 weeks | 1–2 weeks |
| Contract flexibility | Cancel anytime | Notice period | 3–12 months | Project-based | Variable |
| Scale up or down | Yes — dial days as needed | Fixed headcount | Scope changes needed | Limited | Availability-dependent |
| Capability | |||||
| Senior strategic leadership | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Hands-on execution | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Embedded in your team | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Cross-industry experience | ✓ | ✕ | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Manages agencies & freelancers | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Board-level reporting | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
Why one engagement can cost more than another
Time commitment
One or two days a month will cost less than weekly leadership, but it also gives less room for team management and delivery oversight.
Business stage
A founder-led business may need the first proper plan. A scale-up may need board reporting, multi-channel demand generation and agency governance.
Specialism
Technical markets, complex B2B sales, regulated sectors and international growth often require more senior or sector-specific experience.
Scope of responsibility
Fees rise when the CMO is expected to lead people, manage suppliers, own targets and translate marketing performance into commercial reporting.
Fractional CMO Pricing FAQs
Is a day rate or retainer better?
A day rate works well for a specific task. A retainer is better when you need repeated senior input, regular reporting and someone accountable for direction over time.
Are paid media and tools included?
Usually no. Your CMO will set the strategy, targets and budget logic, but ad spend, marketing software and external production costs are normally separate.
Can a fractional CMO replace an agency?
Sometimes, but often they improve agency performance instead. The CMO decides what needs doing, then manages the right mix of internal and external delivery.
How quickly can work start?
Most engagements begin with a discovery call and a fast audit of goals, current activity and commercial priorities, followed by a practical first-phase plan.
What's included in a scoped project?
Every scoped project is priced against a clear brief. We agree deliverables, timelines and a fixed fee upfront — so there are no surprises and no scope creep.
Do I need to commit long term?
No. All of our engagements are flexible. Whether you start with a single day or a monthly retainer, you can pause, scale or cancel without a lengthy notice period.
How many days per month do most clients use?
Most retainer clients run at 2–4 days per month. That's typically enough for strategic oversight, team guidance and senior input across all live activity.
Can I increase or decrease days as needed?
Yes. Your day allocation can flex month to month. Launching a product or entering a busy period? Dial up. Quieter quarter? Scale back. You're always in control.
Will I always work with the same person?
Yes. You'll have a named fractional CMO dedicated to your account — not a rotating team or account manager. Continuity is core to how we work.
How does billing work?
Retainers are billed monthly in advance. Day rates are invoiced per engagement. Project scopes are typically split between a deposit and a completion payment.
What size businesses do you work with?
We work with businesses at all stages — from funded startups needing their first marketing strategy, to established SMEs that have outgrown their current approach.
Is there a minimum engagement?
There's no minimum for day rate bookings. For retainers, we recommend at least two months to give the strategy enough runway to show real impact.