Question 1

How much does a fractional CMO cost?

Accepted Answer

Fractional CMO pricing varies based on scope, engagement type, and time commitment. Advisory engagements are typically less than embedded leadership roles, and both cost significantly less than a full-time CMO hire. The right investment depends on your company's stage, the complexity of the GTM challenge, and whether you need strategic guidance or hands-on leadership. Contact Dan directly to discuss pricing for your specific situation.

Question 2

How does a fractional CMO engagement work?

Accepted Answer

Engagements follow three phases. Foundation (4-6 weeks): diagnose the current state, establish category positioning, build the narrative framework, and design the GTM architecture. Build and execute (8-16 weeks): launch programs, hire team members, deploy campaigns, and build operating systems. Transition (final month): document everything, train the team, and ensure systems run independently. Throughout, there are weekly syncs, monthly reviews against KPIs, and regular leadership alignment sessions.

Question 3

How long is a typical fractional CMO engagement?

Accepted Answer

Most fractional CMO engagements run 3-6 months. Strategic advisory can be shorter or longer. Embedded leadership (interim CMO) typically runs 6-12 months. The timeline depends on the complexity of the GTM challenge, the company's stage, and whether we're building from scratch or realigning existing systems. Engagements are structured to create independence, not dependency.

Question 4

What's the difference between strategic advisory and embedded leadership?

Accepted Answer

Strategic advisory is an ongoing partnership providing senior counsel through monthly strategy sessions, framework development, and async support. You and your team execute. Embedded leadership is a structured 3-6 month engagement where Dan steps in as your interim Head of Marketing or CMO, working hands-on with the team daily, including hiring, managing, and establishing operating rhythms.

Question 5

What results should I expect from a fractional CMO engagement?

Accepted Answer

For companies building from scratch, typical 90-day outcomes include clear category positioning, demand architecture with initial programs launched, first marketing hires in place, and pipeline generation underway. For companies realigning, typical outcomes include diagnosed root causes of the growth stall, repositioned messaging, restructured demand programs, and marketing-sales alignment restored. The most important outcome is structural: a GTM system your team can operate independently.

Question 6

Can I hire Dan for a one-time project instead of an ongoing engagement?

Accepted Answer

Dan's primary focus is fractional CMO and advisory engagements. GTM challenges are typically systemic, not isolated, and solving them requires ongoing involvement. That said, if you have a well-defined need like a category positioning sprint or GTM audit, scoped engagements are possible. Book a 30-minute intro call to discuss the right engagement model.