How much does a fractional CMO cost?

A full-time marketing director in Poland costs a median of 21,470 zł gross a month in salary alone, and once you add employer social security, benefits and equipment, the real total cost lands at 27,000 to 35,000 zł a month. A B2B marketing agency retainer typically runs 6,000 to 20,000 zł a month for execution only, without anyone owning the strategy or the result. A fractional CMO in the dabrowskimedia model starts at 8,000 zł net a month for strategy and execution in one person, plus a separate operational budget from 5,000 zł net. Below I break each option down so you can work out what actually pays off at your company’s scale.

Full-time: full availability, full price

A good full-time marketing director usually costs 15,000 to 30,300 zł gross in salary, depending on experience and city. On top of that comes employer social security (roughly 20 percent), benefits, equipment, sometimes a company car, and the cost of recruiting itself, which can drag on for months. You get one person, fully dedicated, but you also carry all the risk: if the hire turns out wrong, you lose time and money before you can fix it.

A full-time hire makes sense when there is enough marketing work to fill 160 hours a month and you can afford the full rate without any downtime.

Agency: execution power, nobody owns the result

Working with a B2B agency typically costs 6,000 to 20,000 zł a month for a defined scope: SEO, campaigns, social media or content production. The issue is rarely the price, it is ownership. An agency executes what you brief it to do, but rarely takes on the whole strategy and the business result. You usually still need someone in-house to direct it.

Fractional CMO: in between

A fractional CMO, in Polish “Zewnętrzny Dyrektor Marketingu”, is a model where one experienced person runs a company’s whole marketing: strategy, campaigns and content production, without a full-time hire and without an agency. At dabrowskimedia, that engagement starts at 8,000 zł net a month for the strategic work, plus an operational budget from 5,000 zł net for execution. That is less than a full-time director and less fragmented than an agency, because one person owns the entire result.

This model has stopped being a niche. According to data compiled by gofractional.com from HubSpot’s CMO Outlook report, 47 percent of startups now rely on fractional marketing leadership instead of a full-time hire. It is no longer an experiment, it sits alongside full-time and agency as a standard option.

What it actually costs: comparison table

Model	Monthly cost	What you get
Full-time	27,000 to 35,000 zł (total cost)	Full availability, one person, recruitment risk is yours
Agency	6,000 to 20,000 zł (execution only)	Production power in one channel, nobody owns the strategy
Fractional CMO	from 8,000 zł net + operational budget from 5,000 zł net	Strategy and execution in one person, one invoice, one owner of the result

What drives the price

• Scope. Strategy alone is priced differently from a full takeover of marketing with content production.
• Pace. More campaigns and materials per month mean a bigger operational budget, whatever the model.
• Industry. Manufacturing and industrial clients usually add shop-floor films and technical materials, which raises the operational budget but also shortens the path to an enquiry.

I always confirm the exact price after a first, free call. Full ranges are on the pricing page, and the scope of the work is on the Fractional CMO page.

How much does a fractional CMO cost?

Engagements in the Fractional CMO model start at 8,000 zł net a month for the strategic work, plus an operational budget from 5,000 zł net. The exact number is set after a free call, since it depends on scope and pace. Full ranges are on the pricing page.

Is a fractional CMO cheaper than an agency?

Usually yes, if you count the whole picture: an agency bills for execution, not for strategy and the result. A fractional CMO combines both roles in one person and one invoice, so you are not paying separately for someone to direct the agency.

What is included in a fractional CMO’s fee?

The fixed fee covers strategy, planning and my ownership of the result. A separate operational budget covers content production, films and campaigns. Both are agreed clearly upfront, with no hidden costs.

How much does a full-time marketing director cost beyond the salary?

On top of the salary (median 21,470 zł gross) you add employer social security, benefits, equipment and the cost of recruiting, which can take months. The real total cost usually lands at 27,000 to 35,000 zł a month.

If you want to work out what pays off in your situation, book a free call.