Fractional CMO vs. Marketing Consultant vs. Ops Consultant: Which Do You Need?
Compare fractional CMOs, marketing consultants, and marketing operations consultants. Learn which role fits your team, budget, and growth stage.
What is a Fractional CMO?
A fractional CMO embeds into your team part-time as an ongoing marketing leader, setting strategy and managing execution.
What is a Marketing Consultant?
A marketing consultant scopes a defined project, delivers recommendations or a plan, and exits when the engagement ends.
What is a Marketing Operations Consultant?
A marketing operations consultant audits and improves your marketing technology stack, data flows, reporting, and workflows.
Quick Comparison
| Dimension | Fractional CMO | Marketing Consultant | Ops Consultant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engagement | Ongoing, part-time | Project-based | Project or retainer |
| Focus | Strategy + leadership | Expertise + deliverables | Systems + data |