Guide
How much does a fractional CMO cost?
Published retainers run about $3,000 to $15,000 a month. Scope drives the price.
- $3,000 to $15,000Typical published retainer per month (MarketerHire estimate)
- $4,999Advisor, per month
- $9,999Embedded, per month
In short
- Ranges come mostly from firms that sell the service
- Time, access, and hands-on work drive the price
- Ad spend and software are paid separately
- Ours: Advisor $4,999, Embedded $9,999
The full answer
Published fractional CMO retainers range from about $3,000 to $15,000 a month, and some run higher, depending on how much time, access, and hands-on work is included. Scope drives the price more than the title does. Our two levels are Advisor at $4,999 a month and Embedded at $9,999 a month.
What do published sources say?
There is no independent benchmark for fractional CMO pricing, and most published ranges come from firms that sell the service, so read them as estimates. MarketerHire, for example, puts a typical retainer at roughly $3,000 to $15,000 a month, or $150 to $350 an hour for hourly work. Other vendor guides report higher bands for larger companies, with some quoting $10,000 to $40,000 a month for growth-stage firms in the tens of millions of dollars in revenue.
For a local trade or home-service business, the lower and middle part of those ranges is the relevant one. A retainer far below the bottom of the range tends to buy limited scope; one far above may be closer to paying for a team.
What drives the price?
- Time and access. More live sessions, faster replies, and priority access cost more.
- Advisory versus hands-on. Directing your team is priced differently from shipping the work yourself.
- What is included. A retainer that also covers SEO, AI visibility, or tools built for you is not comparable to advice alone.
- Seniority and track record. Experience in your kind of business matters more than a title.
- Term. Longer commitments can come with better rates; short trial terms may cost more per month.
How does it compare with a full-time hire?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a CMO figure, but its median for marketing managers was $166,790 in May 2025, before benefits and before the team a CMO needs. A fractional retainer converts that to a monthly amount for part time access. See fractional CMO vs full-time CMO.
What does WRD Media charge?
| Level | Monthly | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Advisor | $4,999 | 90-day roadmap refreshed quarterly, two live strategy calls a week, weekly check-in, direct access, direction of your team and vendors, offer and pricing reviews, one deep review a month, monthly report |
| Embedded | $9,999 | Everything in Advisor, plus live working sessions four times a week, same-day priority access, continuous hands-on improvements, the Ascend program run for you, an Envision 3D sales tool in your roadmap, content engine direction, hands-on vendor management |
What should you ask any fractional CMO about price?
- What exactly do I receive each week and each month?
- How many live sessions are included, and how fast do you reply?
- Is any ad spend, software, or vendor cost extra, and who pays for it?
- What happens at the end of the term, and who owns what you built?
How to budget
Plan for the retainer plus the things it does not include. Ad spend goes to the ad platform, software is billed by its vendor, and creative production such as video or photography may be separate unless it is part of the scope. Ask for a clear list of what is and is not covered.
One way to judge value is to compare the monthly fee with what one extra job is worth to your business. If one extra job a quarter would cover the retainer, the question is whether the plan can credibly produce it. Be wary of anyone who promises that it will.
Common questions
What is a normal fractional CMO retainer?
Published ranges run from about $3,000 to $15,000 a month for many small and mid-sized businesses, with higher bands for larger companies. They come mostly from firms that sell the service.
Is there a setup fee at WRD Media?
No. The engagement is the monthly fee for Advisor or Embedded, with a 90-day initial term.
Is ad spend included?
No. Ad spend is paid to the platform and is separate from the retainer.
Can I start smaller?
Advisor is the lower level. Embedded adds the hands-on work.
How is WRD Media priced?
WRD Media works as a fractional CMO. Advisor is $4,999 a month and Embedded is $9,999 a month, with a 90-day initial term and month to month after that. Ascend, Envision, and Architect are included in the engagement and are not sold separately.
Not sure where to start?
Book a 20-minute strategy call. We will look at your biggest marketing opportunity and what Howard would do about it, even if we never work together.