In-House Hire vs. Fractional CMO Matrix
Compare the true loaded cost of a full-time CMO against a fractional one.
Full-time CMO
$
%
Payroll tax, benefits, tools, space.$
mo
Fractional CMO
$
Senior operator, part-time, no equity.In-house loaded cost / yr
$331,000
Salary + overhead + hiring
Fractional cost / yr
$108,000
Retainer × 12
Annual difference
$223,000
Saved with fractional
Cost of ramp (in-house)
$95,333
4 mo before impact
A fractional CMO runs about $223,000 (67%) less per year — plus you skip the $95,333 ramp and the equity. Best when you need senior strategy, not a full team lead.
This compares cost, not scope. A fractional CMO sets strategy and direction; a full-time hire also owns day-to-day execution and team management.
About this calculator
Weigh a full-time CMO's salary, benefits, overhead and recruiting cost against a fractional retainer to see the real annual difference — and what you actually buy with each.
Everything runs in your browser — nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored. Use it to sanity-check a plan, pressure-test a channel, or brief a team before you commit budget.