The short version
A fractional head of sales in Australia typically costs between $1,250 and $2,000 a day, or roughly $3,500 to $17,000 a month on retainer, depending on seniority and time commitment. That’s a fraction of the $250,000+ a full-time sales leader often costs once salary, super, bonus and recruitment are included.
What the market charges
Published 2026 benchmarks give a useful guide:
- Fractional CROs in Australia average around $1,490 a day, with a median of about $1,250 (Fractionus)
- Senior fractional executives charge $2,000 to $4,000 a day for project work, and fractional CRO retainers run around $9,000 to $17,000 a month (Fractionus)
Rates vary widely, so treat these as a starting point rather than a fixed price.
Understand the pricing models
| Model | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Day rate | Pay for days worked | Short, defined projects |
| Monthly retainer | Fixed fee for set days each week or month | Ongoing sales leadership |
| Fixed-fee project | One price for a defined outcome | Audits, market entry, playbook builds |
| Retainer plus performance | Lower base plus a bonus tied to results | Leaders who can directly move revenue |
Know what drives the price
- Seniority: a fractional CRO costs more than a sales manager
- Time commitment: half a day a week versus two days a week
- Scope: strategy only, or strategy plus team leadership and hiring
- Complexity: multiple markets, products or a large team
- Industry expertise: specialist sector knowledge commands a premium
Compare it properly against a full-time hire
| Fractional | Full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | From around $3,500 a month | Often $250,000+ a year all-in |
| Time to start | One to two weeks | Three to six months to recruit |
| Commitment | Scale up or down | Permanent role |
| Risk of a mis-hire | Low, easy to change | High and costly |
Budget for a realistic engagement
Most businesses start with a fixed-fee audit, then move to a retainer of half a day to one day a week for six to twelve months. Allow at least three months before judging results, since that’s how long it takes for pipeline changes to show.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What results have you delivered for businesses like ours?
- How many days a month will you commit, and how flexible is that?
- How will we measure success?
- What happens when the engagement ends?
Our pricing
At The Fractional Revenue Group, audits start from $6,000 and retainers from $3,500 a month. Every engagement is quoted to fit after a free discovery call.
Put it into action
Your playbook checklist
- Decide what you need: strategy, leadership, or both
- Set a realistic monthly budget
- Compare the true cost against a full-time hire
- Agree success measures before you start
Written by Amelia Howell
Founder of The Fractional Revenue Group, with experience scaling B2B businesses to $1M, $10M or $100M in revenue.