A fractional CMO — with the team to execute.
Most fractional CMOs hand you a strategy deck and leave the doing to you. Heptism gives you senior marketing leadership plus the specialists who run the ads, SEO, content, design, and AI automation — one flat fee from $1,999/mo USD, no contracts.
- $50M+
- Revenue influenced for clients
- 92%
- Client retention rate
- 2 wks
- To first deliverable
- $1,999
- Starting monthly fee (USD)
What you get
Marketing leadership and the hands to deliver it
Marketing strategy & roadmap
A 90-day plan with owners, milestones, and success metrics in your first two weeks — not a discovery phase that bills for months.
Channel ownership
Paid ads, SEO, email, content, and social — planned by your fractional CMO and executed by the same senior team, under one subscription.
KPI framework & reporting
One dashboard, weekly updates, monthly deep dives. You always know what moved, what didn't, and what we're changing.
Positioning & messaging
Sharpened ICP, category positioning, and messaging hierarchy that sales can actually use.
Team & budget leadership
We direct your in-house marketers, freelancers, and budget like an embedded CMO would — without the $250k salary.
AI & automation leverage
Your CMO comes with an automation team. Reporting, lead routing, and content ops get automated instead of hired for.
The math
Fractional CMO options, compared
| Heptism | Full-Time CMO | Solo Fractional CMO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | From $24k/yr | $250k–$400k+ salary & equity | $60k–$120k/yr |
| Execution included | Yes — full senior team | No — needs a team | No — strategy only |
| Time to start | Same week | 3–6 month search | 2–4 weeks |
| Commitment | Month to month | Permanent + severance | 3–6 month min. typical |
| Coverage | Strategy + ads, SEO, content, AI, design, dev | Depends on hire | One person's bandwidth |
Want the deeper breakdown? Read our guides on fractional marketing leadership or see everything the growth team covers.
Your questions.
Honest answers.
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01What does a fractional CMO actually do?
A fractional CMO owns your marketing strategy, channel plan, KPIs, budget, and team direction on a part-time basis. At Heptism, the difference is execution: the same subscription includes the senior specialists who run the ads, SEO, content, design, and automation the strategy calls for.
02How much does a fractional CMO cost?
Standalone fractional CMOs typically charge $5,000–$15,000/month for strategy only. Heptism starts at $1,999/mo USD, and higher tiers ($3,999–$5,999/mo) include full execution — strategy plus the team that delivers it. No contracts, cancel anytime.
03Fractional CMO vs. marketing agency — which do I need?
A fractional CMO gives you direction; an agency gives you hands. Most companies under $20M ARR need both but can't afford both separately. Our model combines them: senior marketing leadership plus a full delivery team, on one flat monthly fee.
04When should a startup hire a fractional CMO?
When you have product-market fit signals and revenue, but marketing is founder-led, scattered across freelancers, or run by a junior hire without senior direction. If you're deciding between a $250k CMO hire and doing nothing, fractional is the middle path.
05How quickly will we see results?
Strategy and 90-day roadmap land within 2 weeks. Paid channels show signal in 30–60 days; SEO and content compound over 90+ days. You get weekly updates from day one so progress is never a mystery.
06Can you work with our existing marketing team?
Yes — that's the most common setup. Your fractional CMO directs your in-house marketers and fills the gaps with our specialists. We work in your Slack, your tools, your standups.
Ready to grow your business?
Let's talk.
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