What is a fractional CMO?

A fractional CMO is an experienced marketing leader who works with a company part-time — usually two to three days a week — for a fixed monthly fee, instead of being a full-time employee. They take ownership of marketing and growth strategy, team building and reporting, giving a mid-market company senior leadership at a fraction of a full-time cost.

How much does a fractional CMO cost?

Brand Vibe's fractional CMO engagements start at ₹1.5L / $3,000 per month, against $60,000 to $125,000 a year for an equivalent full-time hire. The exact fee depends on the number of days per week and the scope. Retainers are billed monthly in advance with a six-month minimum term.

How is a fractional CMO different from a marketing agency?

An agency executes campaigns for a fee and owns delivery of those campaigns. A fractional CMO sits on your side of the table: they own the growth number, set the strategy, decide the budget, hire the team and manage the agencies. One is execution capacity; the other is accountable leadership.

How many days a week will you work with us?

Typically two to three days a week, embedded with your team. That is enough to run the plan, chair the reviews and manage delivery without the cost or commitment of a full-time executive. The exact cadence is agreed up front and can flex as priorities change.

What size of company is a fractional CMO right for?

mid-market companies with roughly $1M to $60M in revenue that have a real growth problem but cannot yet justify a $60K–$125K full-time CMO. Below that band the role is usually part-time execution; above it, a full-time hire is warranted.

How quickly can you start adding value?

From week one. A fractional CMO brings two decades of pattern recognition rather than a three-to-six-month hiring and ramp cycle. The first two weeks are a written diagnosis; by the second month the agreed plan is being executed with your team.

Growth practice

Fractional CMO & Chief Growth Officer Services

Board-level marketing and growth leadership, embedded in your business two to three days a week.

A fractional CMO is an experienced marketing leader who works with a company part-time, typically two to three days a week, for a fixed monthly fee. Brand Vibe provides fractional CMO and Chief Growth Officer leadership to mid-market companies that need senior commercial judgement but cannot justify a full-time hire at $60,000 to $125,000 a year.

Book a Growth Audit See what we’ve shipped

Key facts

What it is: Part-time senior marketing and growth leadership, embedded in your team
Who it's for: Companies with $1M–$60M revenue and no senior marketing leader
Timeline: 6-month minimum, 2–3 days a week
Starting at: ₹1.5L / $3,000 per month
Engagement: Monthly retainer, 30-day exit either side after month six

01 · Who this is for

You’ll get the most from this if…

You have $1M–$60M in revenue and no senior marketing or growth leader on the executive team.
Marketing currently reports into a founder or CEO already stretched across three other functions.
You need someone accountable for the growth number — not another vendor executing tasks.
You want C-suite judgement in the room for budgets, hiring and board reviews, without a $60K–$125K full-time cost.

02 · Where we’re not the fit

This isn’t for you if…

You need a leader in the building five days a week — then hire full-time, don't fractionalise.
You want junior hands to run campaigns and post on social. This is leadership, not execution capacity.
You want a strategy deck handed over with no involvement in delivery.

03 · What you get

The deliverables, spelled out.

01A written 12-month marketing and growth strategy, reviewed quarterly
02Weekly working sessions with your commercial team
03Marketing team structure, hiring briefs and interview support
04Agency and vendor selection, contracting and performance management
05A board-ready reporting pack with defined KPIs, delivered monthly
06Budget allocation and channel-mix decisions, with the reasoning written down

04 · How it works

A defined path, not an open-ended retainer.

Onboarding
Weeks 1–2 · Diagnose
A full review of your commercial model, funnel, team, competitive position and numbers. You leave with a written diagnosis and the 90-day priorities — before any spend changes.
Strategy
Weeks 3–4 · Plan
A written 12-month marketing and growth plan: targets, budget, channel mix and the reasoning behind each call. Agreed with you and the board before execution begins.
Execution
Month 2 onward · Embed
Two to three days a week embedded with your team — running the plan, chairing reviews, managing agencies and building the function, not presenting to it from outside.
Governance
Quarterly · Report
A board-ready pack against the KPIs we set on day one. Outcomes, not activity — and an honest read on what is and isn't working.

05 · Pricing

Starts at ₹1.5L / $3,000 per month.

Monthly retainer, 30-day exit either side after month six. Every engagement is fixed in scope and price before it begins — no open-ended retainers billed as discovery.

Book a Growth Audit

06 · How we compare

Fractional CMO / CGO, versus the alternatives.

Brand Vibe compared with the alternatives
	Brand Vibe	Full-time CMO	Marketing agency	Freelance marketer
Cost	₹1.5L–₹4L / $3,000–$8,000 / month	$60K–$125K / year + equity	$3.8K–$12.5K / month retainer	$940–$2,500 / month
Seniority	20+ years, ex-CMO/CGO, board-level	Varies; often a first CMO role	Account team, mixed seniority	One person, one skill set
Accountable for	The growth number	The growth number	Campaign delivery	Assigned tasks
Commitment	2–3 days/week · 6-mo min · 30-day exit	Full-time · 3–6 mo notice	Monthly retainer	Project or hourly
Time to contribute	Week one	3–6 month hire + ramp	Weeks to onboard	Days

Cost

Brand Vibe: ₹1.5L–₹4L / $3,000–$8,000 / month
Full-time CMO: $60K–$125K / year + equity
Marketing agency: $3.8K–$12.5K / month retainer
Freelance marketer: $940–$2,500 / month

Seniority

Brand Vibe: 20+ years, ex-CMO/CGO, board-level
Full-time CMO: Varies; often a first CMO role
Marketing agency: Account team, mixed seniority
Freelance marketer: One person, one skill set

Accountable for

Brand Vibe: The growth number
Full-time CMO: The growth number
Marketing agency: Campaign delivery
Freelance marketer: Assigned tasks

Commitment

Brand Vibe: 2–3 days/week · 6-mo min · 30-day exit
Full-time CMO: Full-time · 3–6 mo notice
Marketing agency: Monthly retainer
Freelance marketer: Project or hourly

Time to contribute

Brand Vibe: Week one
Full-time CMO: 3–6 month hire + ramp
Marketing agency: Weeks to onboard
Freelance marketer: Days

“Bithin comes with very 'earthy' business skills. He creates value by understanding client problems and developing solutions. His ability to blend strategic thinking with practical AI implementation is exceptional.”
Prashant Panday·Former CEO & Managing Director, Radio Mirchi (ENIL)

07 · Fractional CMO / CGO

Questions we’re asked.

What is a fractional CMO?: A fractional CMO is an experienced marketing leader who works with a company part-time — usually two to three days a week — for a fixed monthly fee, instead of being a full-time employee. They take ownership of marketing and growth strategy, team building and reporting, giving a mid-market company senior leadership at a fraction of a full-time cost.
How much does a fractional CMO cost?: Brand Vibe's fractional CMO engagements start at ₹1.5L / $3,000 per month, against $60,000 to $125,000 a year for an equivalent full-time hire. The exact fee depends on the number of days per week and the scope. Retainers are billed monthly in advance with a six-month minimum term.
How is a fractional CMO different from a marketing agency?: An agency executes campaigns for a fee and owns delivery of those campaigns. A fractional CMO sits on your side of the table: they own the growth number, set the strategy, decide the budget, hire the team and manage the agencies. One is execution capacity; the other is accountable leadership.
How many days a week will you work with us?: Typically two to three days a week, embedded with your team. That is enough to run the plan, chair the reviews and manage delivery without the cost or commitment of a full-time executive. The exact cadence is agreed up front and can flex as priorities change.
What size of company is a fractional CMO right for?: mid-market companies with roughly $1M to $60M in revenue that have a real growth problem but cannot yet justify a $60K–$125K full-time CMO. Below that band the role is usually part-time execution; above it, a full-time hire is warranted.
How quickly can you start adding value?: From week one. A fractional CMO brings two decades of pattern recognition rather than a three-to-six-month hiring and ramp cycle. The first two weeks are a written diagnosis; by the second month the agreed plan is being executed with your team.

08 · Keep exploring

The other four ways we’re engaged.

Start with a free 45-minute growth audit. You leave with a written view of the bottleneck, whether or not you engage Brand Vibe.

All services Book a Growth Audit

Fractional CMO & Chief Growth Officer Services

You’ll get the most from this if…

This isn’t for you if…

The deliverables, spelled out.

A defined path, not an open-ended retainer.

Weeks 1–2 · Diagnose

Weeks 3–4 · Plan

Month 2 onward · Embed

Quarterly · Report

Fractional CMO / CGO, versus the alternatives.

Questions we’re asked.

The other four ways we’re engaged.