Fractional CMO
A fractional CMO gives your business senior marketing strategy and execution oversight at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. Jashughatt Media's Fractional CMO engagement is built for SA SMEs in the $250K to $5M revenue range, operating from Johannesburg.
67%
Customer acquisition cost reduction
62%
Cost per install reduction
27x
GMV growth across the engagement
Yassir engagement, 2023-2026.
The model
A fractional CMO is a senior marketing executive who works with a business on a part-time or fixed-term basis. They own the marketing strategy, manage execution, and report to the founder or CEO without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire. Common in the US and UK for a decade, the model is gaining traction in South Africa as SMEs recognise that marketing leadership, not just marketing activity, is what drives growth.
The distinction matters. A marketing manager executes tasks. A CMO owns the strategy, the budget allocation, the channel mix, and the commercial outcome. Most SA SMEs in the $250K to $5M range cannot justify a R120,000 to R180,000/month full-time CMO salary. A fractional engagement delivers the same strategic leadership at R50,000 to R100,000/month, scoped to the business's actual needs.
The Jashughatt Media model goes further. The Fractional CMO engagement is not a solo consultant with a slide deck. It comes with an AI-augmented execution layer: copy, reporting, audience modelling, and campaign iteration. The strategy does not sit in a document waiting for an agency to implement it.
Scope
Pricing
Fractional CMO pricing in South Africa varies depending on scope, seniority, and whether the engagement includes execution support or strategy only. Jashughatt Media publishes its ranges.
Fractional CMO
R50,000-R75,000/month
Part-time strategic leadership. Equivalent to 2-3 days per week. Strategy, oversight, and reporting. Execution managed by your internal team or existing agency.
Best for: businesses with an existing marketing team that needs senior direction.
Fractional CMO + Execution
R75,000-R100,000/month
Strategic leadership plus AI-augmented execution. Campaigns, content, and paid media run by Jashughatt Media. Weekly reporting. Monthly strategy review.
Best for: businesses with no internal marketing team who need leadership and output.
Full-Stack Retainer
From R75,000/month
Strategy, sales system, and full marketing execution. The complete growth function for businesses ready to treat marketing as a revenue line, not a cost centre.
Comparison
| Full-time CMO | Solo consultant | Jashughatt Fractional CMO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | R120,000-R180,000 plus benefits | R30,000-R60,000 | R50,000-R100,000 |
| Execution included | No | No | Yes, AI-augmented |
| Strategic depth | High | Variable | High |
| Commitment | Permanent hire | Project-by-project | 3-month minimum, rolling |
| SA market experience | Depends on hire | Depends on consultant | SA SME ICP, Johannesburg-based |
Proof
From 2023 to 2026, Jashughatt Media ran the marketing function for a $1.4B North African tech company operating in South Africa. The engagement covered strategy, paid acquisition, sales system setup, and weekly performance reporting. Customer acquisition cost dropped 67%. Cost per install fell 62%. Gross merchandise value grew 27x across the engagement.
67%
Customer acquisition cost reduction
62%
Cost per install reduction
27x
GMV growth across the engagement
Fit
For
Not for
FAQ
A fractional CMO is a senior marketing executive who works with a business part-time or on a fixed term. They own the marketing strategy, manage execution, and report directly to the founder or CEO, without the cost of a full-time hire.
Fractional CMO pricing in South Africa ranges from R30,000 to R100,000 per month depending on scope and whether execution is included. Jashughatt Media's Fractional CMO engagement runs R50,000 to R100,000/month, with execution support included in the upper tier.
A consultant typically delivers a strategy document or a specific project output. A fractional CMO owns the ongoing marketing function, manages execution, holds the budget, and is accountable for commercial outcomes. The accountability and continuity are different.
Not necessarily. A fractional CMO can lead an existing team, replace a departing head of marketing, or operate as the entire marketing function for a business with no internal team. The scope is agreed at the start of the engagement.
Jashughatt Media's minimum engagement is three months. Most clients run six to twelve months. The engagement is reviewed quarterly and can be scaled up, down, or converted to a full-stack retainer based on commercial progress.
It depends on the growth rate and margin profile. Jashughatt Media's ICP is $250K to $5M annual revenue. Below $250K, the margin is typically too thin to absorb the fee and still generate meaningful ROI from the resulting campaigns.
Yes. Jashughatt Media is Johannesburg-based but works with SA businesses remotely. All reporting, strategy reviews, and campaign management run on an async-first, written-delivery model. Physical presence is not required.
The entry point is a 30-minute discovery call to confirm fit on scope, budget, and timeline. If the engagement makes commercial sense, the next step is a Business Audit to establish the baseline before strategy work begins. Book at jashughatt.co.za/contact.
A discovery call takes 30 minutes and confirms whether the engagement makes commercial sense before either side commits.
