Fractional CMO
Get executive-level strategic direction to align product, marketing, and sales for sustainable ARR expansion — a growth executive embedded in your leadership team without the full-time-hire timeline or cost.
The Problem
Why this keeps stalling internally
Between $10k and $250k MRR, most founders are making pricing, retention, and channel decisions by gut feel because a full-time CMO hire is too expensive and too slow to vet. Product, marketing, and sales end up optimizing for different, sometimes conflicting, goals — and nobody owns the growth number end-to-end.
How It Works
A four-step fcmo for software engine, not a one-off project.
- 1
GTM Motion Audit
We review your current PLG/SLG blend, pricing, and channel mix to find the single highest-leverage lever holding ARR growth back.
- 2
Strategy & Pricing Design
We design the hybrid PLG/SLG roadmap and a pricing and packaging model benchmarked against category competitors and your actual usage data.
- 3
Cross-Functional Alignment
We align product, marketing, and sales leadership around one shared revenue number, with sales-assist triggers defined from real product usage signals.
- 4
Monthly Executive Review
A recurring executive growth review with cohort retention data and a prioritized action plan keeps every function accountable to the same roadmap.
What's Included
Everything shipped as part of FCMO for Software.
Hybrid PLG / SLG Strategy
Seamlessly combine bottom-up self-serve signups with top-down sales outreach.
- GTM motion audit and hybrid PLG/SLG roadmap
- Sales-assist triggers defined from product usage signals
- Cross-functional alignment across product, marketing, and sales leadership
Pricing & Tier Structuring
Optimize tier monetization, seats, and usage-based pricing models.
- Pricing and packaging audit benchmarked against category competitors
- Seat, usage-based, or hybrid monetization model design
- Expansion revenue (upsell/cross-sell) playbook for existing accounts
Cohort & Retention Analytics
Deep analytical overhauls to repair leaky funnels and improve Net Revenue Retention (NRR).
- Cohort retention and revenue dashboard built on your product/billing data
- Funnel diagnosis from signup through renewal, with leak points ranked by impact
- Monthly executive growth review with prioritized action plan
Ideal for
Founders scaling past $10k-$250k MRR who need senior growth leadership before they can justify a full-time CMO hire.
Expected outcome
A unified growth strategy across product, marketing, and sales — with pricing, retention, and channel decisions made by one accountable owner.
FCMO for Software — Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours per week does a Fractional CMO commit?
Engagements typically run 10-20 hours/week depending on stage and scope, structured around weekly leadership syncs plus async strategy and review work.
Will this replace our existing marketing team?
No. A Fractional CMO directs strategy and sits with your leadership team — your existing marketing, growth, or sales hires execute day-to-day under that direction.
How is success measured?
Against the specific ARR, NRR, and CAC payback targets set in the GTM Motion Audit — reviewed and reported monthly, not left to a vague 'brand awareness' metric.
Can this convert into a full-time CMO hire later?
Yes — many engagements are structured explicitly as a bridge, with the fractional CMO helping scope and interview for the eventual full-time hire when the stage justifies it.
Pair It With
Other disciplines in the growth engine.
Free Growth Audit
Ready to put FCMO for Software to work?
Every engagement starts with a Growth Audit mapping your funnel, product data, and current channels against the highest-leverage bottleneck.