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How we vet every listicle
Every agency featured on Web Tonic passes our 84-point editorial review before a single listicle goes live. This is how we vet each pick:
Verified client outcomes: We require real case studies with measurable KPIs — revenue, ROAS, CPA, retention — tied to the exact category being ranked. No cherry-picked wins, no unverifiable numbers.
Independent reputation: We cross-check Clutch, Google, G2, and Trustpilot ratings, and screen for review-bombing or suspicious patterns. Only operators with a consistent, verifiable track record make the cut.
Beyond that, every listing goes through a quarterly re-audit. We check 84 criteria across 6 pillars to make sure it still holds up — here are some of the checks we run:
A fractional CMO firm places a senior marketing executive in your company part-time: that person sets the strategy and budget, manages staff and agencies, builds the go-to-market plan and reports pipeline to the CEO, usually for 10 to 20 hours a week. Montréal companies in retail, manufacturing, technology and hospitality often need a bilingual marketing leader who can work in French and English across Quebec and the rest of Canada.
To make this list, each of the eight external firms had to sell fractional or outsourced CMO services on its own website. Not all of them have an office in Montreal, so each card names the firm's real base, and clients and prices appear only where published.
Who offers fractional CMO services in Montréal?
Web Tonic plus eight external firms that sell fractional CMO services on their own sites. Five are headquartered in Greater Montréal; the others serve Montreal companies remotely. Five name a client publicly and two publish a price.
1. Web Tonic
About: Web Tonic provides fractional CMO leadership backed by an in-house growth marketing team from our Montreal office, so the plan and the execution sit with one partner. Reporting is built around pipeline, customer acquisition cost and revenue rather than clicks, and the ad accounts, data and tools stay in the client's own name.
Key Services: Growth Marketing, Paid Social, PPC, Meta Ads, SEO, Google Ads, Snapchat Ads, Amazon Ads, Reddit Ads, TikTok Ads, TikTok Shop, GEO-AEO, Webflow Design, Shopify Design, WordPress Design, UGC, Social Media Management, Pay Per Click Management, Marketing Analytics, Analytics Implementation & CDPs, Performance Branding, Performance 360° Audit, Programmatic Ads, OOH Ads, HR Marketing
Industries Served: eCommerce, SaaS, B2B, Construction Professionals, Home Services, SMEs, Health Spa & Wellness, Retail, Legal & Judicial Services, Food & Beverages, Pets, Fitness, Family & Children, Finance & Insurance, Travel, Non-Profits & Organizations, Furniture & Decoration
Notable Clients: WorldRemit, Jack & Jones, Ardene, L’Oréal, Sendwave, Nestlé, Airbnb. Serve Fortune 500 companies and smaller fast-paced startups.
Locations: Local Montreal office, with the main HQ in San Francisco and notable offices in New York, Chicago, Miami, Toronto, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and more. Offices on five continents.
Pricing: Starting at USD $3,000 per month. Flexible and scalable plans at any time according to your enterprise needs. Book a call to learn more.
Great For: Mid-market to enterprise-level businesses requiring ongoing, on-tap growth and performance marketing services.
Website: Web Tonic
2. Adviso
About: Adviso is a Montréal marketing consultancy on Saint-Denis Street with more than 100 specialists in strategy, data, AI, media and SEO. Its CMO fractionnel service places one of its experts inside growing companies that are not yet ready for a full-time CMO.
Key Services: Fractional CMO, Business Strategy, Data and MarTech, Media and AdTech, SEO and AI Search, AI Consulting
Industries Served: Retail, Finance and Insurance, Tourism, B2B, Automotive
Notable Clients: Loto-Québec, Couche-Tard, Aéroport de Montréal, Lassonde, Reitmans
Locations: Montréal, Quebec
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader, Owners juggling several marketing vendors, Companies that want strategy and execution in one place
Website: Adviso
3. Brandid Advisory
About: Brandid Advisory is a strategy and digital agency on Victoria Avenue in Westmount, founded in 2018, that offers fractional CMO leadership to founders and executive teams. Its case studies include a fractional CMO mandate for the multi-brand Donato Group.
Key Services: Fractional CMO, Brand and Marketing Strategy, Web Development, Digital Performance, Strategic Consulting, Digital Strategy
Industries Served: Hospitality, Spas and Wellness, Healthcare, Retail, Ecommerce
Notable Clients: Donato Group, Clinique K, Spa St James, Netpak
Locations: Westmount, Quebec
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader, Owners juggling several marketing vendors, Companies that want strategy and execution in one place
Website: Brandid Advisory
4. Nobrainer
About: Nobrainer is a strategy and performance marketing firm on de la Commune Street in Old Montréal, with a second office in New York. Its integrated fractional partner model puts an executive in marketing, growth or revenue roles beside the leadership team.
Key Services: Fractional CMO, Brand Strategy, Go-to-Market, Demand Generation, Automation and AI, Integrated Campaigns
Industries Served: Construction and Real Estate, Food and Beverage, Retail and Distribution, Education and Culture, Digital Assets
Notable Clients: Slice Soda, Sollum Technologies, Éco Entreprises Québec, Corbeil
Locations: Montréal, Quebec, New York, New York
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader, Owners juggling several marketing vendors, Companies that want strategy and execution in one place
Website: Nobrainer
5. Agence 3A
About: Agence 3A is a growth agency on Curé-Labelle Boulevard in Laval that offers bilingual fractional CMO leadership to Quebec SMBs. It publishes a marketing diagnostic from CAD $3,000 and monthly fractional CMO engagements of CAD $2,500 to $6,000.
Key Services: Fractional CMO, Marketing Diagnostic, AI Content Creation, AI Search Visibility, CRM Deployment, Sales Infrastructure
Industries Served: Construction, Industrial Services, Professional Services, Healthcare, Pharmacy
Notable Clients: Finmetrix, Immolean, JPR Rénovations
Locations: Laval, Quebec
Pricing: CAD $2,500-$6,000/month fractional CMO; CAD $3,000 diagnostic
Great For: Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader, Owners juggling several marketing vendors, Companies that want strategy and execution in one place
Website: Agence 3A
6. Karbur
About: Karbur is a digital marketing agency in Joliette, north of Montréal, that sells CMO sur demande along with interim VP and director of marketing roles. It serves companies across Quebec, including Montréal, Québec City and Sherbrooke.
Key Services: Fractional CMO, Interim VP Marketing, Interim Marketing Director, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Consulting, Development Plans
Industries Served: Manufacturing, Retail, Services, Technology, Small and Mid-size Businesses
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: Joliette, Quebec, Serves Montréal, Québec City, Trois-Rivières and Sherbrooke
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: B2B and industrial companies with long sales cycles, Owners who need marketing and sales aligned, Firms replacing a departed marketing head
Website: Karbur
7. Pür7 Marketing
About: Pür7 Marketing is a Montréal firm founded in 2017 and led by Martine Warda, with a second office in Fort Lauderdale. It provides fractional CMO leadership and marketing plans tailored to the budget of SMBs and early-stage companies.
Key Services: Fractional CMO, Marketing Plans, Business Strategy, Brand Strategy, Digital Campaigns, Executive Marketing Leadership
Industries Served: SMBs, Early-stage Companies, Retail, Optics, B2B Services
Notable Clients: Montlab Optik
Locations: Montréal, Quebec, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader, Owners juggling several marketing vendors, Companies that want strategy and execution in one place
Website: Pür7 Marketing
8. Xactly Design & Advertising
About: Xactly Design & Advertising is a design and advertising agency with its head office on Richmond Road in Ottawa and a second office in Toronto. It provides fractional CMO services to small and mid-sized businesses alongside campaign strategy, creative and websites.
Key Services: Fractional CMO, Campaign Strategy, Graphic Design, Website Development, Copywriting, Social Media
Industries Served: Small Businesses, Mid-size Businesses, Professional Services, Retail, Nonprofits
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: Ottawa, Ontario (head office), Toronto, Ontario
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader, Owners juggling several marketing vendors, Companies that want strategy and execution in one place
Website: Xactly Design & Advertising
9. Cresivo
About: Cresivo is a Toronto-based fractional CMO and growth marketing firm for Canadian startups that can work on site anywhere in the GTA one day a week. It publishes an hourly rate of CAD $180 and a monthly embedded engagement at CAD $8,400.
Key Services: Fractional CMO, Market Research, ICP and Value Proposition, Demand Generation, Lifecycle Marketing, Attribution and Analytics
Industries Served: Fintech, SaaS, Martech, Healthtech, Ecommerce
Notable Clients: Not named on the pages we checked
Locations: Toronto, Ontario (on-site across the GTA)
Pricing: CAD $180/hour; CAD $8,400/month embedded
Great For: Startups and SaaS companies without a marketing leader, Founders handing marketing off for the first time, Teams preparing a launch or funding round
Website: Cresivo
Quick Comparison Table
| Agency | Key Specialty | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Web Tonic | Full-Service Performance Marketing | USD $3,000/mo | Mid-market to Enterprise (local Montreal office) |
| 2. Adviso | Large-team fractional CMO in Montréal | Quote-based | Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader |
| 3. Brandid Advisory | Fractional CMO for founder-led brands | Quote-based | Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader |
| 4. Nobrainer | Fractional executive partner in Montréal | Quote-based | Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader |
| 5. Agence 3A | Bilingual priced fractional CMO | CAD $2,500-$6,000/month fractional CMO; CAD $3,000 diagnostic | Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader |
| 6. Karbur | Quebec CMO-on-demand and interim roles | Quote-based | B2B and industrial companies with long sales cycles |
| 7. Pür7 Marketing | Founder-led fractional CMO | Quote-based | Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader |
| 8. Xactly Design & Advertising | Agency-backed fractional CMO | Quote-based | Small and mid-size businesses without a marketing leader |
| 9. Cresivo | Priced fractional CMO for Canadian startups | CAD $180/hour; CAD $8,400/month embedded | Startups and SaaS companies without a marketing leader |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a fractional CMO firm in Montreal?
Start with the problem you need solved: no marketing strategy, a team without a leader, or agencies nobody manages. Then check proof: a named client you can call, the seniority of the person who will actually show up and the hours included each week. Five of these eight firms name a client on their own site (Loto-Québec and Donato Group among them). Finally, ask how they report, meaning pipeline, customer acquisition cost and revenue by channel rather than activity.
How much does a fractional CMO cost in Montreal?
Two of the eight external firms publish a figure (Agence 3A lists CAD $2,500-$6,000/month fractional CMO; Cresivo lists CAD $180/hour). The rest quote per scope, which is normal because fees depend on hours per week, whether the firm also executes the work and the contract length. Ask what a month includes, whether ad spend and agency fees sit on top, and what the notice period is before you sign.
What is the difference between a fractional CMO and a marketing agency?
A fractional CMO is a part-time executive who owns the marketing plan, budget and team, while an agency executes campaigns. Some firms here sell leadership only and expect your staff or vendors to do the work; others bundle a CMO with their own SEO, paid media or web teams. Leadership-only firms keep incentives cleaner, and bundled firms usually move faster. Decide which one you need before you compare fees.
How long does a fractional CMO take to show results?
Most engagements start with a 30 to 90 day assessment: an audit of channels, positioning, tracking and team, then a budget and a quarterly roadmap. Quick wins such as fixing tracking or cutting wasted ad spend can show in the first quarter, while pipeline and brand results usually take six to twelve months in a market like Montreal. Many firms ask for a three to six month minimum, so check that before you sign.
Should a Montreal company hire a local fractional CMO or a remote one?
Five of the eight external firms are headquartered in Greater Montréal; the others work remotely from bases such as Joliette, Ottawa and Toronto. Brandid Advisory works from Westmount and Agence 3A from Laval. A local executive helps when you want them in the room for leadership meetings or board sessions, but most fractional CMO work runs through weekly calls and shared dashboards. Experience with your business model and stage matters more than the address.
Choosing a Fractional CMO Firm in Montreal
Start with your own numbers. Know your revenue target, current marketing budget, sales cycle and how many hours of senior leadership you can use each week. A fractional CMO can only plan around targets it has been told about.
Check experience you can verify. Five of the eight external firms name a client on their own site and two publish a price. Ask the rest for a reference you can call, and see how our fractional CMO service is scoped.
Agree how you will work together. Settle the hours per week, who owns the ad accounts, tools and data, how often you meet and which single number month three is judged on. Our growth marketing team can execute the plan once it is set.
Never skip the consultation. Book calls with two or three firms from this list, bring the same brief to each and compare the questions they ask about your business. If you want a team in the city, meet our Montreal office.
