How much do marketing
consultants charge in 2026?
A senior B2B marketing consultant charges €120–320 ($130–350) per hour. A defined project runs €1,200–6,000 and covers discovery, analysis, a written strategy and a first review. Ongoing advisory sits at €800–4,000 a month. A fractional CMO who owns the function one or two days a week costs €3,000–9,000 a month.
What moves the price. Five things explain almost every quote you will get.
Seniority and track record
Someone who has run marketing at your stage, in your market, costs two to three times a generalist. What you are buying is the mistakes they have already made.
Scope of the question
The cost depends on how much you want answered. One decision takes an hour. A whole strategy, meaning segments, positioning, channels, budget and targets, takes ten to fifteen.
Advisory or execution
Advice on what to do costs far less than having someone do it. A few hours of the right thinking can redirect a whole quarter of work, while execution is priced by volume and keeps billing for as long as it runs. Decide which one you are buying before you compare quotes.
Market and region
Central European rates run roughly 30–50% below UK, DACH and US equivalents for the same seniority.
Shape of the engagement
Hourly is the most expensive per hour and the cheapest to start. A retainer is the cheapest per conversation.
My rates. Start small, scale up if it’s working.
Single session
For one problem you want a second opinion on this week
Mentorship
For companies that want the whole strategy loop run once, properly
Retainer
For teams with the direction set that want a standing sounding board
I mentor alongside a full-time marketing job. Capacity is genuinely low and I take on a small number of people at a time, so if we’re not a fit I will say so on the first call rather than sell you an engagement.
Check availabilityQuestions about cost
Anything else, put it in the form. I answer personally, usually the same day.
How much should you pay a marketing consultant?+
For senior B2B advisory work, expect €120–320 an hour, €1 200–6 000 for a defined project, or €800–4 000 a month on retainer. Pay at the top of that range for someone who has run the function at your stage; pay less if what you actually need is execution help.
How much does a marketing consultant charge per hour?+
Generalists and freelancers charge roughly €60–120. Specialists with a track record in your category charge €120–320. Above €350 you are usually buying a recognised name or a very narrow niche, which is sometimes worth it.
How much does it cost to hire a marketing consultant?+
A one-hour second opinion costs €150–300. A full strategy engagement, meaning discovery, analysis, a written strategy and a first review, costs €1 200–6 000 depending on seniority and how much of the work is analysis. Ongoing advisory after that runs €800–4 000 a month.
How much does a fractional CMO cost, and do you need one?+
A fractional CMO usually costs €3 000–9 000 a month for one to two days a week. That is the right spend when you have budget and people but nobody senior owning marketing, and you need someone accountable for the number. If you already have a capable person owning it, advisory at a fraction of the price is the cheaper correct answer.
How do you hire a marketing consultant?+
Start with one paid session on a real problem instead of a proposal round. A good consultant asks about your numbers and your buyers before pitching anything, declines work that will not help, and leaves written decisions you can act on without them. If the first hour only produces a plan to sell you more hours, stop there.
Start with a free 15 minutes
Start with an introductory call. Tell me what’s going on and we can discuss the next steps.
I reply within one working day with two or three time slots.