Fractional CMO

Strategic Marketing Leadership
Without the Overhead.

Get CMO-level strategy and execution for a fraction of the cost. We own your GTM architecture, lead your team, and deliver results.

Our Approach

Strategic Ownership, Built-In Accountability

New to the model? Start with What is a fractional CMO for the full primer, or jump to cost benchmarks and timing guidance.

GTM Architecture and Strategy

We audit your current positioning, competitive landscape, and revenue model. Then design a scalable, AI-native GTM framework aligned to your business goals. This includes ICP definition, channel prioritization, messaging hierarchy, and a 90-day execution roadmap your team can run from day one.

Team Leadership and Alignment

We work embedded with your marketing, sales, and product teams. We set KPIs, run weekly syncs, and keep everyone aligned to the plan. For teams without a dedicated marketing director, we serve as the direct manager for content, demand gen, and product marketing staff, handling hiring briefs, performance reviews, and agency oversight.

Campaign Execution and Optimization

We oversee campaign launches, track conversion metrics, optimize based on data, and iterate. You see traction within weeks, not quarters. Typical deliverables include a live ABM campaign, SEO content calendar, email nurture sequence, and paid channel testing framework, all built in the first 60 days.

Scope and pricing

Retainer, scoped to fit.

The Fractional CMO engagement is priced as a flat monthly retainer with a 90-day minimum. There is no public rate card, because the range from a light advisory relationship to a full interim CMO is too wide to price with one number. Every engagement is scoped on a 30-minute strategy call and quoted before you commit to anything.

Anchor: most engagements land between what the Embedded subscription costs and what a full-time CMO would cost. The retainer covers Bill's time, the tooling that runs the engine, and management of any doers on your team.

What shapes the retainer
  • · Hours per week of Bill's time (typical: 8 to 20)
  • · Whether we lead an existing team or build a new one
  • · Whether execution is done by your team, our team, or a mix
  • · Reporting and board-level cadence you need us to own
How It Compares

Fractional CMO vs. Full-Time vs. Agency

Three common options for B2B marketing leadership. Each has a place, but fractional CMO closes the gap between underpowered agency retainers and the cost and timeline of a full-time hire.

Factor Fractional CMO Full-Time CMO Marketing Agency
Cost model Custom monthly retainer Full salary + equity + benefits Monthly retainer, project fees
Time to start 1 to 2 weeks 3 to 6 months (search + notice) 2 to 4 weeks
Strategic ownership Full ownership Full ownership Executes, does not own strategy
Manages your team Yes Yes No
GTM architecture Core deliverable Depends on background Rarely included
AI-native tooling Built in Varies by hire Varies by agency
Equity / benefits cost None 0.25% to 1.5% equity + full benefits None
Flexibility to scale hours Yes, month to month Fixed salary regardless of need Scope change process required
Advantages

Why Smart Growth Companies Choose Fractional CMOs

Senior leadership, custom fit

A proven CMO on your terms. Retainer scoped to the hours and outcomes you actually need. No salary and equity commitment for a role you may not need at full-time in a year.

Expert Strategy

You get battle-tested GTM frameworks from someone who's scaled multiple B2B revenue engines. No ramp-up time, immediate impact.

Flexibility

Increase hours during product launches or campaigns. Scale back once the system is running. No long-term overhead commitment.

Ideal Clients

The Fractional CMO Model Works Best For...

$5M to $50M Revenue Stage

Product-market fit is proven. Sales is strong. You need CMO-level marketing strategy to accelerate growth without adding fixed cost.

Rapid Scale-Up

You're hiring fast and need a strategic voice in the room. Fractional CMO provides direction without the VP salary expense at this stage.

New Market or Vertical

Entering a new segment, new geo, or new use case. You need GTM architecture fast. We architect it, your team executes it.

AI Advantage

AI-Powered Marketing at Scale

We architect your GTM around AI tooling: Claude for content, lead scoring, and sales playbooks. This reduces campaign cycle time, improves targeting precision, and scales your team's output without adding headcount.

Lead Intelligence

AI-powered lead scoring and account mapping. Know who to target before you spend on ads.

Campaign Automation

AI generates copy, subject lines, and landing page variations. Test at scale with minimal manual effort.

Quick Assessment

Is Fractional CMO Right for You?

Answer these quick questions to see if fractional CMO leadership is the right next step for your team.

  • You have product-market fit and paying customers
  • Sales is strong, but marketing needs strategic direction
  • You want expert leadership without full-time cost
  • You're ready to invest in GTM strategy this quarter

If you checked 3 or more, let's talk.

Book a Strategy Call
More from Treetop
The full ladder
Diagnose, Run, Lead
Every way to work with Treetop, grouped by the phase of the engine it installs.
Revenue Engine Audit
$1,500 · 5 days
Written diagnosis of your current engine, credited toward the retainer.
The Revenue Engine Method
Memory, Intelligence, Motion
The three phases every engagement runs through, in this order.
Next step

Ready to scope an engagement?

Book a 30-minute call with Bill to walk through your situation and what a fractional engagement would look like. Or start with the $1,500 AI Audit for a written roadmap.

No hourly billing. No discovery calls. Just a specific, actionable report based on your real competitive data. Real outcome: How a fractional CMO scaled this startup from $4M to $9M →
Book a 30-min call → See what's included →

Start the Conversation

Thirty minutes, no pitch deck. We'll look at where your revenue motion stands today and map what an AI-native overhaul would realistically involve.

Schedule a Discovery Call Send a Note

30-minute call · No pitch deck · An honest look at your revenue motion

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