Fractional CGO
A fractional CGO (Chief Growth Officer) is a senior growth executive who works with your company on a part-time or project basis — typically 2-4 days per week for 3-6 months. Unlike consultants who advise, a fractional CGO embeds with your team, owns outcomes, and builds systems that outlast the engagement.
In B2B Product Bookings
Launched from zero as fractional growth leadership
Why Fractional CGO Matters for SaaS Companies
Most Seed to Series B companies need experienced growth leadership but cannot justify or afford a $250-400K full-time CGO. A fractional CGO gives you that strategic and operational capability at a fraction of the cost, starting immediately instead of after a 3-6 month hiring process. The model works because growth leadership at this stage is about building the right systems and making the right decisions — not about filling 40 hours a week with tasks.
An Operator's Take
Having been a full-time CGO at a Series A SaaS and now working as a fractional, I can tell you the biggest difference is speed. A full-time hire takes 3-6 months to find, 3 months to onboard, and another 3 months to start producing results. That is nearly a year of runway burned before impact. As a fractional, I am productive in week one because I have done this before — I recognize the patterns. At BatchService, we identified $1.43M in recoverable churn revenue within the first two weeks of the engagement. A new full-time hire would still be learning where the bathroom is.
Common Mistakes
What I see go wrong at Seed to Series B companies.
Treating a fractional CGO like a consultant who delivers recommendations. The value is in execution and systems-building, not slide decks.
Hiring for the title instead of the track record. Ask for specific outcomes at previous companies, not general experience descriptions.
Not giving the fractional CGO access to data, tools, and team members. Embedding means they need to be treated as part of the team, not an outsider.
Expecting a fractional to solve problems that require full organizational change. A fractional excels at building specific systems and capabilities, not restructuring entire companies.
Comparing fractional CGO cost per hour to a marketing agency retainer. The comparison should be total cost vs. total value delivered, including speed to results.
What to Do This Week
Concrete steps you can take right now.
Define 2-3 specific outcomes you need in the next 90 days. A good fractional engagement starts with clear objectives, not a vague 'help us grow.'
Audit your current growth stack: what systems exist, what data do you have, where are the gaps? This gives a fractional CGO a running start.
Talk to references from the fractional's previous engagements. Ask specifically about what got built, what results were measured, and what remained after the engagement ended.
Read the comparison guides to understand how a fractional CGO differs from a full-time hire, agency, or management consultant.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does a fractional CGO do?
A fractional CGO provides senior growth leadership on a part-time basis. This typically includes diagnosing growth bottlenecks, building revenue infrastructure (churn recovery systems, billing automation, SEO engines), leading growth experiments, and training internal team members. Unlike advisors or consultants, a fractional CGO embeds with the team and is accountable for measurable outcomes.
How much does a fractional CGO cost?
Fractional CGO engagements typically range from $10,000 to $25,000 per month for 2-4 days per week. This is significantly less than a full-time CGO ($250-400K salary plus equity and benefits) while providing similar strategic and operational capability. The engagement usually runs 3-6 months with specific outcome targets.
When should a company hire a fractional CGO?
Consider a fractional CGO when: growth has plateaued despite product improvements, churn is a known problem but no one owns it, you need senior growth leadership but are not ready for a full-time hire, or you have time-sensitive opportunities (fundraise, launch) that need experienced execution. Companies at Seed to Series B with $1-10M ARR are typically the best fit.
What is the difference between a fractional CGO and a growth consultant?
A growth consultant typically advises on strategy and delivers recommendations. A fractional CGO embeds with your team and executes — building systems, running experiments, and owning outcomes. The consultant leaves you with a plan. The fractional leaves you with working infrastructure and a team that knows how to run it.
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