Fractional Marketing Director | Get Results, Not Recommendations | Able & Howe

What Are Fractional MDS Services?

Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist services provide the leadership and hands-on execution you need. Many companies do not have marketing personnel to both plan and execute a marketing strategy. In fact, often they cannot hire an internal marketing person who has all the skills and knowledge needed. Your Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist fills this gap by providing strategy, upskilling and oversight.

Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist is a flagship service of Able & Howe’s In-source Marketing Model™, and is often paired with Fractional Marketing Execution.

“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”

~ Bill Gates

Able & Howe’s Approach to Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist

Our methodology spans three areas: strategy, system building, and upskilling. First your Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist will audit your business and assist the creation of a marketing plan. The next step is to lead the creation of any required systems and resources to facilitate the plan. Lastly, your Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist directs the execution and provides instructions to your growing internal team or 3rd party vendor.

Why Your Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist Is Worth the Investment

Professional marketing leadership

Companies need marketing leadership to grow and prosper. Your Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist gives you knowledgeable marketing leadership to develop, implement and execute a marketing plan.

Build your internal marketing team

Marketing knowledge should be developed in-house. Your Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist will help select and train the marketing personnel your business needs to execute your marketing plan. Ongoing leadership and direction keeps your business growth on track.

Get access to a team of CMO's

At the core of Able & Howe’s services is knowledge. Each team member has worked on hundreds of marketing campaigns in a variety of industries. In addition, your Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist discusses your account at internal CMO round tables to tap into the expertise and recommendations of the entire group.

Save your time and budget

Not all companies need a full time marketing executive. Our fractional marketing services give you access to executive-level marketing leadership at a cost that fits your budget and for as long as you need it.

Arbutus

“Our work with Able & Howe allowed us to spool up our marketing engine quickly and improve our internal marketing literacy.”

~ Lawrence Buchan, CEO, Arbutus Medical

Hermary

“Able & Howe’s process helped us scale our marketing operations from virtually nothing to an effective marketing machine.”

~ Terry Hermary, CEO, Hermay

“Able & Howe’s guidance and support are unique and far superior in every aspect. We’ve cultivated a collaborative partnership that has allowed us to take our e-commerce business to new heights. This collaboration has helped us build the skills and strengths of our in-house team.”

~ Eduardo Zepeda, E-Commerce Program Specialist, Purdys Chocolatier

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Wondering if a Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist is the right fit for your business? Here are answers to the most common questions we hear.

What is a Fractional Marketing Director?

A Fractional Marketing Director is a senior marketing leader who works with your business on a part-time or contract basis. Instead of hiring a full-time in-house executive, companies gain access to outsourced marketing leadership that provides the same expertise, vision, and accountability at a fraction of the cost. This model is ideal for growing businesses that require strategy and oversight but are not yet ready for a six-figure executive salary.

What does a Marketing Director do?

A marketing director is responsible for setting the direction of a company’s marketing strategy and ensuring it drives measurable growth. They create alignment across teams, develop the marketing plan, delegate projects to the right people, and oversee execution against deadlines. Ultimately, they build the roadmap for brand awareness, customer acquisition, and revenue growth.

What is the role of a Marketing Director?

The role of a marketing director is both strategic and operational in nature. They guide marketing initiatives from vision to execution, ensuring campaigns deliver business impact. Often reporting to the CEO, COO, or CMO, the marketing director serves as the bridge between leadership and execution, setting priorities, optimizing resources, and holding the team accountable for results.

How much does a Fractional Marketing Director cost?

The cost of fractional marketing services is significantly lower than hiring a full-time executive. Our Fractional Marketing Director service retainer starts at $4,000 USD per month, giving your business access to senior-level strategy and leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire. Larger retainers enable deeper engagement, faster execution, and more accelerated results.

Why hire a Fractional Marketing Director?

Hiring a Fractional Marketing Director is the smart choice if your business needs experienced marketing leadership but isn’t ready for a full-time executive. A full-time marketing director typically costs $ 100,000 USD or more annually in salary alone—not including benefits and overhead. By working with a part-time marketing director, you gain access to executive-level expertise, proven strategies, and accountability for growth, all while keeping costs flexible and scalable.