How much does a Fractional CMO cost in the UK?

In two sentences

In the UK, retainers for a Fractional CMO typically range from £2,000–£3,000 per month for part-time leadership. Project-based support may start from £1,000, while deeper, multi-day involvement can rise toward £5,000.

Deep dive

Hiring a full-time marketing director in the UK usually costs £80,000–£120,000 per year plus benefits. For most small to medium-sized businesses, that’s not realistic—yet marketing still needs direction and accountability.

A Fractional CMO solves this by providing part-time leadership: senior strategy, campaign oversight, and alignment between sales and marketing. Costs vary with time commitment (a few hours a week vs. 1–2 days), scope (strategy only vs. strategy + team execution), and sector/growth goals.

• £1,000+ per project — audits, strategy roadmaps, or a 90-day plan.
• £1,500–£3,000/month — ongoing support, typically ~1 day/week.
• £4,000–£5,000/month — deeper involvement, 2+ days/week.

Compared with agencies, you’re buying leadership and accountability—not just services. The ROI often appears by reducing wasted ad spend and unlocking compounding growth from better positioning, offers, and execution.

Want to explore Fractional CMOs in more detail? Read about our Fractional CMO service and how it plugs into SMEs without the cost of a full-time hire.