BUSINESSFor startups, scale-ups and mid-sized companies
Fractional CMO: marketing leadership when you need it.
A fractional CMO is an experienced marketing leader who works for a fixed share of their time in your company. You get strategy, leadership and steering at C-level – without the cost and long commitment of a full-time role.
- 01Weeks 1–3Baseline: numbers, customers, team, channels
- 02Week 4Plan: priorities, budget, metrics
- 03Weeks 5–10Execution: tests, funnel, workflows
- 04Weeks 11–12Review: scale, change or stop
When it pays off
Typical situations.
A good fit if …
- Marketing is becoming business-critical, but a full-time CMO is (still) too big a step
- Your team or agencies work hard, but without a shared direction
- Management makes marketing decisions on the side
- A CMO has left and the gap needs bridging
- You want to introduce AI in marketing and need someone to own it
Probably not a fit if …
- You're only looking for someone to post on social media
- You don't want to share numbers
What you get
Concrete results, not slides.
Every result is written down, usable and tied to a metric.
- Marketing strategy and a prioritized roadmap agreed with management
- Budget planning by channel, with targets per dollar or euro
- Leadership and steering of internal team, freelancers and agencies
- Monthly reporting with a few metrics that support decisions
- AI roadmap for marketing: where it pays off and where it doesn't
- Hiring support when you want to build a permanent marketing lead
How it works.
- 01
Baseline
Numbers, channels, team and offer reviewed in two to three weeks.
- 02
90-day plan
Priorities, budget and metrics – written and agreed.
- 03
Ongoing leadership
Fixed meetings, clear ownership, monthly reviews.
Go deeper
Guides for startups & scale-ups.
Answers to the questions founders and executives actually ask in growth phases.
Guides
Fractional CMO: cost and when it pays off
Fractional CMO for startups and scale-ups: pricing models, what drives the cost, comparison with a full-time CMO and an agency – and five signs it's time.
Learn moreGuides
Your startup's first marketing hire
When startups should make their first marketing hire, which profile fits (generalist, specialist, senior) and why a fractional CMO is often the bridge.
Learn moreFrequently asked questions
How does a fractional CMO compare in cost to a full-time hire?
It depends on the time share. Because you only pay for the agreed share and none of the overhead of a full-time role, a fractional CMO is cheaper than a full-time hire for many companies. I discuss terms individually in the intro call.
How much time is typical?
It depends on your situation: often more at the start, while strategy and structure are built, and less later, when it's mainly about steering. The scope is adjustable.
What's the difference from interim management?
An interim CMO usually works full-time for a transition period. A fractional CMO works part-time and often for longer – part of leadership without being there full-time.
Marketing and AI, in plain words – on LinkedIn.
Follow Manfred “Luigi” Lugmayr for practical takes on strategy, AI tools and growth, without the hype.
Sounds like your situation?
In a no-obligation intro call we'll find out in 30 minutes whether and how I can help.