Your product is ready, your growth is critical, and the clock is ticking. You’ve secured funding, your team is scaling, and you’re ready to take your business to the next level. Growth is no longer optional—it’s expected.
But where do you start with marketing?
Hiring a full-time marketing lead might seem like the obvious next step, but it’s also a big risk. What if they’re not the right fit? What if they’re brilliant but you lack the resources to execute? What if they’re stretched too thin trying to do everything? (Let’s be honest—do you really want a CMO writing BDR email copy instead of focusing on high-level strategy?)
Here’s why your first marketing “hire” should actually be an agency with a fractional CMO leading the charge.
What’s a Fractional CMO Agency Model and Why Does It Work?
A fractional CMO is a senior marketing leader who works with your company on a part-time basis. This model provides the high-level strategic thinking and hands-on expertise your business needs to grow. And because the agency comes with its very own execution team, you also get the technology and personnel to actually get the work done, too.
Here’s why this approach makes sense:
You get the expertise without the overhead. Hiring a senior marketer full time is difficult and expensive. It can take months to find the right person, and when you do, you commit to a six-figure salary and a whole host of benefits, too. In contrast, a fractional CMO provides immediate access to a seasoned expert without the hefty cost or time commitment. Plus, with an agency, you’re not just hiring one person—you’re hiring a whole team of specialists (writers, designers, analysts, and paid media experts) ready to execute.
Your CMO focuses on the right stuff for the role. A CMO’s value lies in strategy—setting your vision, defining your brand, and creating a plan to drive growth. But too often, early hires in marketing get bogged down in tactical execution. When you can’t afford to flesh out the rest of the team, high-level executives end up writing social media posts and tweaking landing page copy. It’s not the most strategic use of their time. With an agency, execution is handled by their experts, so your fractional CMO can focus on what they do best: leading.
You get flexibility to scale. Your needs today might look very different than your needs six months from now. A fractional CMO at an agency can scale resources up or down as your business evolves. Need more content for a launch? More of the team gets involved. Want to slim down for a slower season? They’re assigned to other work. The point is, you’re not locked into overhead that doesn’t align with your growth stage. You always have the right size team.
What to Look for in a Marketing Agency
The right marketing agency understands your business, works the way you do, and delivers results. Here’s what to look for:
Startup Experience: Agencies that know the startup or SaaS world can hit the ground running. They understand fast growth, tight budgets, and constant pivots—thriving in shifting conditions without missing a beat.
A Fractional CMO Option: A fractional CMO brings senior-level strategy without the full-time cost. This works best if they truly understand your business model and growth goals.
Proven Results: Look for case studies and measurable outcomes. An agency should be able to show real impact, not just talk about it.
Culture Fit: Your agency should feel like part of your team. They need to adapt to your tools, your timezone, and how you like to communicate.
Built-In Tech Stack: Agencies with their own tools save you time and money. Plus, they already know how to use them effectively.
A Team That Works Well Together: A team that’s already working smoothly together can move faster and deliver results more efficiently. And adaptability is key—your agency should be ready to pivot when needed.
Leadership in Key Areas: Specialists in design, content, PR, or other critical areas bring focus and expertise. Generalists can’t deliver at the same level.
The Bottom Line
Your first marketing hire doesn’t need to be an internal one.
The right agency, with fractional CMO services and an execution team at the ready, can help you build a foundation for sustainable growth—without the long-term risk or cost of a traditional hire.
Are you ready to take flight? Let’s talk.
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