Fractional marketing jobs
More companies want senior marketers for two days a week instead of five. Here's how fractional, freelance and contract marketing work, how to price it, and how to get found for it.
Four ways to work flexibly
- Fractional
- An ongoing part-time role, usually one to three days a week on a monthly retainer. You lead a function (often as fractional CMO, head of growth or head of content) and work with the team between sessions.
- Freelance
- Project work with a defined output: a site migration, a launch, a content series, a paid account rebuild. Priced per project or per day, and it ends when the work is done.
- Contract
- A full-time or near full-time role for a fixed period, often covering parental leave or a big push. Usually paid hourly through the company or an agency.
- Part-time
- A regular employee role with fewer hours. Less common in marketing, but useful if you want benefits and a single team.
What fractional engagements look like
Most fractional roles are leadership roles: a fractional CMO, VP or head of marketing, or a head of a single channel like growth, content or lifecycle. Companies hire for them when they're too early for a full-time executive, between leaders, or need a senior person to set strategy and coach a junior team.
- A set number of days or hours a week, agreed up front, with a monthly retainer
- A minimum commitment of around three months, so there's time to show results
- A weekly session with the team and a regular check-in with the CEO
- Two to four clients at a time for most full-time fractional marketers
Want the leadership version in depth? Read the fractional CMO guide.
How to price fractional work
- Start from the full-time equivalent. Take the salary for the same level of role and divide by about 250 working days. A $200k role is about $800 a day.
- Add what employment would have covered. Benefits, payroll taxes, equipment, paid holidays and the weeks between clients. Fractional rates usually land well above the salary-equivalent day rate for this reason.
- Price the commitment, not the hours. Sell a monthly retainer for a number of days a week. It's easier to budget for, and it keeps you out of timesheet arguments.
- Raise rates on new clients first. Your best signal that you're too cheap is that every proposal gets a yes.
Use our marketing salary guides for the full-time pay to start from.
Open fractional, freelance and contract roles
- Marketing Operations Associate (Contract) - NY · NerdWalletContract · Remote
- Product Marketing Lead, Temporary · FaireContract
- Field Marketer - Middle East (Freelance) · ElevenLabsFreelance · Remote
- International Growth Marketing Manager (Contract) · LaunchDarklyContract
- Senior PR and Communications Manager (12 month fixed-term contract) · MonzoContract · Remote
- Recruitment Marketing Specialist - Remote (Contract) · Micro1 PartnerContract · Remote
- Recruitment Marketing Specialist - Remote (Contract) · Micro1 PartnerContract · Remote
- Community Manager, French Speaking (Contract) · RedditContract · Remote
- Community Manager, Dutch Speaking (Contract) · RedditContract · Remote
- Email Marketing Lead, Lifecycle Marketing - EMEA (12 month FTC) · KlaviyoContract
- Marketing Coordinators, AMER (Fixed Term) · ElasticContract
- Marketing Operations Associate (Contract) · NerdWalletContract · Remote
Fractional marketing jobsFreelance marketing jobsContract marketing jobsPart-time marketing jobs
Questions
What is a fractional marketer?
A fractional marketer is an experienced marketer who works part-time for several companies at once, usually on a monthly retainer for a set number of days or hours. Companies hire one when they need senior skills but not a full-time hire.
How much should I charge as a fractional marketer?
Start from the full-time salary for the same level, convert it to a day rate, then add a premium for benefits, taxes, unpaid time between clients and the flexibility the company gets. For example, $200k a year is about $800 a day over 250 working days. Fractional rates are usually well above that equivalent.
How do fractional marketers find clients?
Mostly through their network, referrals from past clients and founders, and being visible for a clear niche. A profile that says exactly what you do and for which kind of company makes referrals easier, and lets companies searching for fractional help find you.
What's the difference between fractional and freelance?
Fractional is an ongoing leadership or ownership role for part of the week. Freelance is project work with a defined end. Many marketers do both.
Can I find fractional work on HeyMarketers?
Yes. Add a fractional or freelance engagement to your profile with your minimum retainer or rate. Companies searching for flexible help can find you, our AI Talent Agent matches you to roles, and our recruiters place fractional marketers through Concierge.