Enter your stage and what you need. We'll show side-by-side 12-month costs across all three options, plus what each one actually delivers.
| Capability | Fractional CMO | Marketing Agency | Full-Time CMO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy ownership | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Hands-on execution | Yes | Yes | Limited (delegates) |
| Team management | Yes | No | Yes |
| Board reporting / exec presence | Yes | No | Yes |
| Vendor independence | Yes | Conflicted | Yes |
| Scale of execution arms | Brings preferred vendors | Built-in team | Hires team |
| Time to start producing | 2–4 weeks | 2–6 weeks | 3–6 months (search + ramp) |
| Long-term institutional knowledge | During engagement | Owned by agency | Permanent |
| Annual loaded cost (typical mid-market) | $96K–$300K | $120K–$480K | $300K–$500K+ |
| Termination flexibility | 30-day notice typical | 30–90 day notice | Severance + ramp loss |
Fractional CMO: $200–$350/hour effective rate. Assumes a senior operator (10+ years CMO/VP), not a part-time generalist. Includes monthly retainer model commonly used in B2B mid-market.
Marketing agency: $175–$300/hour blended. Includes strategist time (small portion) plus execution (most of the hours). Excludes media spend.
Full-time CMO: $250K–$400K base + 25% benefits/payroll burden + ~15% equity dilution amortized. Includes recruiting cost (~25% of first-year base) amortized over expected tenure (3 years).
All numbers are 12-month estimates for senior-level marketing leadership in US mid-market B2B. Your actual range will vary by geography, scope, and negotiating leverage.
Treetop offers fractional CMO services for B2B mid-market companies ($5M–$50M ARR). Engagements typically run 12–18 months with a defined weekly cadence. See the full engagement model →