Pricing guide
How much does a fractional Chief Growth Officer cost?
My fractional Chief Growth Officer engagements start at $15,000 per month, usually for 6 to 12 months, with equity or performance upside depending on stage. Most start with a free 14-day growth audit, so the scope is set by what we find.
Fractional vs. full-time
| Attribute | Full-time CGO | Fractional CGO (my engagements) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash cost | $225K to $500K+ base salary, plus bonus, benefits, and equity | From $180K per year ($15K per month) |
| Time to hire | Months to recruit, onboard, and ramp | Working inside the first 30 days |
| Recruiting fee | Often charged by search firms | None |
| Commitment | Permanent hire, with severance risk if the fit is wrong | 6 to 12 months, scaled up or down as the business changes |
| Time in the business | Full-time | Usually 2 to 3 days a week |
Full-time range: Salary.com reports a US average base of about $224,500 for Chief Growth Officers; Glassdoor reports about $505,800. The title isn't standardized, so published figures vary widely.
What drives the price
- Scope. Owning acquisition, retention, and the agency stack costs more than advising on one channel.
- Time. Two days a week and three days a week are different engagements.
- Upside. Some brands trade a lower retainer for equity or a performance component.
- Stage and complexity. Multiple channels (DTC, Amazon, retail) and multiple agencies add work.
What $15,000 per month buys
- An operator who owns blended CAC, payback, retention, and contribution margin
- Direct management of your agencies and growth team
- A 90-day plan with the highest-leverage fixes, then the execution
- Hiring plans so the growth function outlasts the engagement
When fractional is the wrong choice
If growth is a full-time, every-day mandate and you can keep a senior leader busy five days a week, hire full-time. I'll tell you when you've reached that point, and help you hire my replacement.
FAQ
A focused advisory engagement is possible for founders who need senior pressure-testing without a full retainer. Ask on the intro call.
Nothing, for qualified brands at $5M+ in revenue.
Sometimes, alongside a retainer, depending on stage.