This is the short version of the full fractional head of growth guide, the definitional answer for anyone Googling the term.
A fractional head of growth is a senior growth operator (8 to 15+ years of experience) embedded part-time with a company to architect and run their growth motion. Typical engagement: $8K to $20K/month, 1 to 2 days/week, 12-month commitment. Best fit for $1M to $20M ARR companies with product-market fit whose growth has plateaued.
A fractional head of growth is a part-time VP of Growth. They bring 8 to 15+ years of experience designing and running growth motions, but instead of working full-time at one company, they work 1 to 2 days per week with multiple companies on a retainer basis.
The role focuses specifically on the growth function: acquisition (paid, organic, partnerships, content), activation (onboarding, time-to-value), retention (churn reduction, expansion), and the experimentation infrastructure that makes the function compound over time.
Same level of seniority, different scope.
A fractional CMO owns all of marketing: brand, positioning, demand gen, content, PR, team leadership, board credibility.
A fractional head of growth owns growth specifically: acquisition channels, activation flows, retention programs, experimentation velocity. Often more quantitative, often closer to product.
Different functions entirely.
A fractional CRO owns revenue: sales motion design, sales ops, customer success, comp plans, pipeline forecasting.
A fractional head of growth owns growth: acquisition and activation mechanics.
Three typical buyer profiles:
1. Post-PMF startups ($1M to $10M ARR) where founder-led growth has hit its limits
2. Scale-up companies ($10M to $20M ARR) between full-time heads of growth
3. PE-backed mid-market companies that need senior growth expertise without a $400K full-time hire
$8K to $20K/month for 1 to 2 days/week. Compare to full-time VP Growth at $350K to $500K all-in annually. Fractional is 30 to 50% of full-time cost for senior-level work.
For the full breakdown including pricing, scope, and what to expect in the first 90 days: the full guide. For the comparison to a fractional CMO: fractional head of growth vs fractional CMO.
What does a fractional head of growth do?
They design and run a company's growth motion part-time. Work covers acquisition (paid, organic, partnerships, content), activation (onboarding and time-to-value), retention (churn reduction and expansion), and the experimentation infrastructure that compounds results over time. They work 1 to 2 days per week, typically on a 12-month retainer.
Is a fractional head of growth the same as a VP of Growth?
Essentially yes, but part-time. A fractional head of growth brings the same seniority (8 to 15 years of experience) and does the same strategic and operational work, just across multiple companies on a retainer basis. The key trade-off: senior judgment without a $400,000 annual full-time hire.
What is the difference between a fractional head of growth and a fractional CMO?
A fractional CMO owns all of marketing: brand, positioning, demand gen, content, PR, and team leadership. A fractional head of growth owns growth specifically: acquisition channels, activation flows, retention programs, and experimentation velocity. The head of growth role is narrower and more quantitative, best suited for companies with a specific growth plateau to solve.
What company stage benefits most from a fractional head of growth?
$1M to $20M ARR companies with product-market fit whose growth has plateaued. Below PMF, you need product iteration more than growth optimization. Below $1M ARR, there is not enough volume for meaningful experimentation. Above $20M ARR, you typically need a full-time hire who can build deep institutional knowledge.
How much does a fractional head of growth cost per month?
$8,000 to $20,000 per month for 1 to 2 days per week is the standard range in 2026. Earlier-stage companies ($1M to $5M ARR) typically pay $8,000 to $12,000 monthly. Growth-stage companies ($10M to $20M ARR) typically pay $14,000 to $20,000 monthly.