--- title: Fractional CMO & Marketing Director | Linda Sperling description: Hire a PMP-certified fractional marketing director to own your strategy, budget, team and agencies. From $2,500/month. Northern Virginia and remote. --- [Skip to content](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services/fractional-marketing-director#main-content) [![Linda Sperling Consulting logo](https://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LSC_Logo_Stacked_Charcoal_1600px.png?width=1600&height=722&name=LSC_Logo_Stacked_Charcoal_1600px.png)Homepage](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com?hsLang=en) - [About](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/about?hsLang=en) - [Services](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services?hsLang=en) - [Marketing Audit](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services/marketing-audit?hsLang=en) - [Small Business Marketing Manager](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services/small-business-marketing-manager?hsLang=en) - [Fractional Marketing Director](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services/fractional-marketing-director) - [Work Samples](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/work?hsLang=en) - [Contact](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/contact?hsLang=en) [Book a free consultation](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/contact?hsLang=en) - [About](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/about?hsLang=en) - [Services](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services?hsLang=en) - [Marketing Audit](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services/marketing-audit?hsLang=en) - [Small Business Marketing Manager](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services/small-business-marketing-manager?hsLang=en) - [Fractional Marketing Director](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services/fractional-marketing-director) - [Work Samples](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/work?hsLang=en) - [Contact](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/contact?hsLang=en) [Book a free consultation](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/contact?hsLang=en) Lead # Fractional Marketing Director A senior marketing leader on your team, part-time. I own your marketing plan, budget, people and agencies, and I report results to leadership, for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. From $3,000 a month. [Book a free consultation](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/contact?hsLang=en) ![A fractional marketing director leading an in-house marketer, an agency and freelancers, with one plan, team direction and KPI reports for leadership](https://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/hs-fs/hubfs/fractional-marketing-director-team-graphic.png?width=560&height=481&name=fractional-marketing-director-team-graphic.png) ## What does a fractional marketing director do? A fractional marketing director, sometimes called a fractional CMO, is an experienced marketing leader who works with your company part-time on an ongoing basis.   They set the strategy, manage the budget, direct staff, freelancers and agencies, align marketing with sales and are accountable for results, just like a full-time director, without a full-time, six-figure salary and benefits. ## Is a fractional marketing director right for my business? It's usually the right fit when: - You have a junior marketer, freelancers or an agency, but no one senior directing them. - Marketing and sales aren't working from the same plan. - You're preparing for a launch, rebrand, trade show season or expansion. - You need marketing leadership now, and a full-time hire is 12 months away. ## What does a fractional marketing director lead? As your fractional marketing director, I own your marketing the way a full-time director would: the plan, the budget, the people doing the work and the results. Your staff, agencies and freelancers keep doing what they do best. I make sure their work adds up to revenue and stays in step with sales, customer service and finance. ### Strategy and planning An annual marketing plan, quarterly priorities and budget ### Team and vendor management Direction and feedback for staff, freelancers and agencies ### Sales alignment Messaging, sales materials, proposals and lead hand-off ### Campaigns and launches Product launches, trade shows and events, managed with PMP discipline ### Reporting A KPI dashboard and a monthly update for leadership ### Hiring Job descriptions and interviews when you’re ready for a full-time marketer ## Why hire me as your fractional marketing director? I've led marketing and communications programs for North America's largest publicly traded roofing distributor, a global concierge company operating in 19 countries and founder-led firms with no marketing staff. I'm a certified Project Management Professional, so your marketing runs on a plan with dates, owners and a budget, not good intentions. Where I've led marketing Fortune 500 building-materials distributor 600 locations · Beacon Building Products, now QXO Global concierge and loyalty company 19 countries · 12 years at VIPdesk and Aspire Lifestyles Registered investment advisor $1 billion in client assets Founder-led firms The sole marketer, with no marketing staff PMP CERTIFIED ## Fractional marketing director pricing Senior marketing leadership at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. Every price is published, so you can budget before we talk. ### Advisor Ideal for businesses with an in-house marketer or agency that need senior guidance and direction. $3,000 /month What's included - About 15 hours a month - 2 working sessions a month - Plan and priorities review - Guidance for your staff or agency - Monthly summary report [Get started](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/contact?hsLang=en) ### Part-Time Ideal for companies ready to hand ownership of their marketing to a senior leader. $5,500 /month What's included - Everything in Advisor - About 30 hours (1 day a week) - Annual plan and budget - Team and vendor management - Weekly leadership meetings and KPI dashboard [Get started](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/contact?hsLang=en) ### Embedded Tailored for companies taking on a launch, rebrand or growth push that need hands-on leadership. $8,500 /month What's included - Everything in Part-Time - About 55 hours (2 days a week) - Launch and event management - Sales and marketing alignment - Quarterly business review [Get started](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/contact?hsLang=en) Three-month minimum. Additional work is billed at $150/hour, and only with your approval. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does a fractional marketing director cost? My retainers are $3,000, $5,500 and $8,500 a month. Industry surveys put the average fractional CMO retainer near $12,000 a month, so this is senior leadership priced for small and mid-sized firms. ### What's the difference between this and the Small Business Marketing Manager? As your small business marketing manager, I do the work myself. As your fractional marketing director, I lead the people already handling your marketing: your staff, agencies and freelancers. ### Do you work on-site? Yes, for clients in Northern Virginia and the D.C. area, when it adds value. Most work is remote. ### Can you manage our existing agency? Yes. Directing agencies so you get more from what you already spend is one of the most common reasons clients hire me. ## Add a senior marketing leader to your team   [Book a free consultation→](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/contact?hsLang=en) Get one useful marketing idea a month Practical tips on strategy, Google and AI search, and getting more from your marketing budget. No spam; unsubscribe anytime. --- [![LSC\_Logo\_Stacked\_White](https://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/hubfs/LSC_Logo_Stacked_White.svg "LSC_Logo_Stacked_White")](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com?hsLang=en) Marketing strategy and management for growing businesses. Build the plan. Tell the story. Get it done. SERVICES [Marketing Audit & Growth Plan](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services/marketing-audit?hsLang=en) [Small Business Marketing Manager](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services/small-business-marketing-manager?hsLang=en) [Fractional Marketing Director](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services/fractional-marketing-director?hsLang=en) [All services and pricing](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/services?hsLang=en) COMPANY [About](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/about?hsLang=en) [Work Samples](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/work?hsLang=en) [Serving Northern Virginia](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/northern-virginia-marketing-consultant?hsLang=en) [Contact](http://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/contact?hsLang=en) CONTACT [(703) 606-2518](tel:+17036062518) [Linda@LindaSperlingConsulting.com](mailto:Linda@LindaSperlingConsulting.com) Clifton, Virginia © 2026 Linda Sperling Consulting Privacy Policy   ·   Cookie Settings ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/#business", "@type" : "ProfessionalService", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Clifton", "addressRegion" : "VA", "postalCode" : "20124" }, "areaServed" : [ { "@type" : "AdministrativeArea", "name" : "Fairfax County, VA" }, { "@type" : "AdministrativeArea", "name" : "Loudoun County, VA" }, { "@type" : "AdministrativeArea", "name" : "Arlington County, VA" }, { "@type" : "AdministrativeArea", "name" : "Prince William County, VA" }, { "@type" : "City", "name" : "Washington, DC" }, { "@type" : "Country", "name" : "United States" } ], "description" : "Marketing strategy and management for small and mid-sized businesses: marketing audits, small business marketing management and fractional marketing director services.", "email" : "Linda@LindaSperlingConsulting.com", "founder" : { "@id" : "https://www.lindasperlingconsulting.com/#linda" }, "legalName" : "Linda Sperling Consulting", "name" : "Linda Sperling Consulting", "priceRange" : "$1,750–$8,500", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindasperling" ], "slogan" : "Build the plan. 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