Guide
What a Fractional CRO Actually Costs
Most consultants hide the number, hand you a deck, and disappear. I am an operator who still sells, I bill monthly with no contract, and here is exactly what a fractional CRO costs, in plain figures.
The short answer
A full-time CRO runs $250,000 and up all in, once you add base, equity, bonus, severance risk and a months-long hiring cycle. A fractional CRO gives you the same senior ownership for a monthly fee, and you only pay for the level of involvement your stage actually needs.
The three levels
- Starter, $6,000 a month. A full diagnosis of where revenue leaks, a sales strategy, a real forecast, an executable playbook, CRM and pipeline structure, and training for your SDRs and AEs.
- Growth, $12,000 a month. Everything in Starter, plus hands-on management of your sales team, week-to-week ownership of the motion, hiring and performance management, and a living plan that I drive.
- CRO Ownership, $22,000 a month. Full CRO-level ownership of revenue across sales, marketing and go-to-market, including B2G, distributor networks and complex contract negotiation, and total accountability for the number.
Why it is cheaper than a full-time hire
- No $250K base, equity, bonus or severance risk
- No three-month hiring search and no two-quarter ramp
- Monthly billing, no contract, no lock-in, no exit fines: do not like it, we are done at the end of the month
- Results in week one, not month six
You are hiring an operator, not an advisor
Most consultants hand you a deck and disappear. They have never carried a number. I am an ex VP of Global Sales and CRO, and I still do the selling myself, in the pipeline and in the deals. And I bill monthly with no contract, so I keep the work by being good at it, not by trapping you in one.
When a fractional CRO is the wrong call
If your sales motion is already proven and the work is genuinely a full week every week, hire full-time. Fractional wins when the motion is not yet proven, the volume is not yet a full week, or you need results before committing to a permanent hire.
Common questions
How much does a fractional CRO cost?
My engagements run $6,000 to $22,000 a month depending on the level of involvement, versus $250,000 and up for a full-time CRO once you include equity, bonus and severance.
Is a fractional CRO cheaper than a full-time CRO?
Yes. You get the same senior ownership without the base salary, equity, bonus, severance risk, hiring cycle or long ramp, and without a long-term lock-in.
What is included?
Depending on the tier: a revenue diagnosis, a sales strategy and forecast, a playbook, CRM and pipeline structure, team training, hands-on management of the motion, hiring and performance calls, and full CRO-level ownership across sales, marketing and go-to-market.
How long are fractional CRO engagements?
There is no long-term lock-in. You scale the involvement up as you grow, or hand the function off once it is built.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. I bill monthly with no contract and no exit fines. If you do not like what I deliver, we are done at the end of the month and you owe nothing more.
Tell me where revenue stalled. I'll tell you why.
A 15-minute call, no pitch. You will leave with at least one concrete thing to fix, whether or not we work together.
Book a 15-Minute Call