CMOx, Chief Outsiders and Authentic are three frequently shortlisted fractional CMO firms in the US, built on three different theories of what makes a marketing leader work: a codified method (CMOx), a deep executive bench (Chief Outsiders), and an alignment-first operating system (Authentic). If you understand which theory matches your company’s actual problem, the shortlist usually picks itself.
Disclosure: I’m Andrii Byzov, an independent AI-native fractional CMO for B2B tech, which makes me an alternative to all three. Facts below are sourced and dated; opinions are flagged as mine.
Key takeaways
- Chief Outsiders is the scale play: 120+ former VP and Fortune 500 executives, 2,000+ clients since 2009, strongest with mid-market and PE-backed companies.
- CMOx is the method play: founder Casey Stanton codified the Functional Marketing framework and wrote The Fractional CMO Method; the firm both serves clients and trains fractional CMOs.
- Authentic is the alignment play: Jennifer Zick’s Minneapolis firm runs the Authentic Growth methodology, an operating system aimed at ending “random acts of marketing”; Inc. 5000 listed in 2024.
- Pricing transparency varies: published figures show Chief Outsiders at ~$1,500-$30,000+/month and Authentic around $200-$375/hour; CMOx publishes no fixed pricing (June 2026).
- None is SaaS-only. For deep SaaS specialization, also compare Kalungi and SaaS-focused independents before signing anything.
Three firms, three theories
Chief Outsiders bets on seniority at scale. Founded in 2009 by Art Saxby, it fields more than 120 fractional CMOs and CSOs with VP-or-higher backgrounds and reports over 2,000 mid-sized clients plus around 300 private equity firms. The pitch: whatever your industry, there is a vetted executive on the bench who has seen your movie before, and peer review puts more than one senior brain on your strategy. I covered the model in depth in the Chief Outsiders review.
CMOx bets on process. Founder Casey Stanton wrote The Fractional CMO Method and built the firm around his Functional Marketing framework, which aims at repeatable, revenue-focused marketing systems. A distinctive feature worth knowing: alongside client services, Stanton’s book and related programs teach marketers how to become fractional CMOs themselves. The upside of that dual identity is a method documented well enough to inspect before buying; my read, as a competitor, is that part of the brand’s focus is the profession itself, not only client work.
Authentic bets on alignment. Founded by Jennifer Zick in Minneapolis, the firm deploys its Authentic Growth methodology, positioned as a full marketing operating system whose stated enemy is “random acts of marketing”: scattered tactics with no system underneath. The firm landed on the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies list in 2024. Published hourly averages sit around $200-$375.
Side by side
| Dimension | Chief Outsiders | CMOx | Authentic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core asset | Bench of 120+ senior executives | Codified Functional Marketing framework | Authentic Growth operating system |
| Founded / founder | 2009, Art Saxby | Casey Stanton | Jennifer Zick |
| Published pricing (June 2026) | ~$1,500-$30,000+/mo (source) | No fixed published pricing | ~$200-$375/hr averages (source) |
| Strongest with | Mid-market, PE portfolios | Companies that want a documented method | Entrepreneurial businesses needing alignment |
| Industry focus | Broad, all industries | Broad, with vertical content (tech, franchises, home services) | Broad, entrepreneurial and growth-stage |
| Trade-off to weigh | Generalist bench vs specialist needs | Dual focus: client services plus a training arm | Methodology-first can front-load process |
All three scope engagements individually; treat published numbers as orientation, not quotes. Wider market pricing context is in the fractional CMO rates report.
How to choose between them
My read, as a competitor who talks to companies after they have shopped this category:
- Pick Chief Outsiders when seniority and industry coverage dominate: you are PE-backed, mid-market, possibly outside tech, and want institutional structure with the option to swap executives.
- Pick CMOx when your team responds to systems: you want the marketing function run from a documented playbook, and you like that the method is published enough to inspect before buying.
- Pick Authentic when the diagnosis is internal chaos: marketing has been a series of disconnected tactics, leadership is not aligned on priorities, and you need an operating system more than a hero hire.
And honestly: pick none of them when your problem is SaaS-specific growth mechanics on a $6K-$12K monthly budget. In my experience a SaaS-specialist firm (Kalungi comparison) or a vetted independent gets closer to your motion at lower cost; the hiring guide and interview questions work for all of these routes. If you want a second pair of eyes on a shortlist, I’m reachable on LinkedIn.
FAQ
What is the difference between CMOx, Chief Outsiders and Authentic?
They represent three philosophies of fractional CMO services. Chief Outsiders is the scale player with 120+ vetted former VP and Fortune 500 executives. CMOx, founded by Casey Stanton, runs on a codified Functional Marketing framework and also trains fractional CMOs. Authentic, founded by Jennifer Zick in Minneapolis, deploys its Authentic Growth methodology with a focus on internal alignment.
What is CMOx and the Functional Marketing framework?
CMOx is the fractional CMO company founded by marketing strategist Casey Stanton, author of The Fractional CMO Method. Its Functional Marketing framework aims to build repeatable, revenue-focused marketing systems. CMOx does not publish fixed pricing; engagements are scoped individually.
What is Authentic and the Authentic Growth methodology?
Authentic is a Minneapolis-based fractional CMO firm founded by Jennifer Zick. Its Authentic Growth methodology is a marketing operating system designed to help leadership teams replace scattered marketing efforts with structured growth, and the firm appeared on the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list in 2024.
Which fractional CMO firm is best for B2B SaaS?
None of the three is SaaS-only. Chief Outsiders has the largest bench of the three, CMOx codifies process strongly, and Authentic emphasizes alignment for entrepreneurial businesses. A SaaS company wanting deep SaaS pattern recognition should also compare SaaS-specialist firms like Kalungi and SaaS-focused independents before deciding.
How much do these fractional CMO firms cost?
As of June 2026, published figures put Chief Outsiders retainers at roughly $1,500 to $30,000+ per month, Authentic’s cited hourly averages at $200 to $375, and CMOx does not publish fixed pricing. All three scope engagements individually, so treat published numbers as orientation.