Sakativa vs. other agencies.
Not all marketing partners are built the same. Here's how we compare to traditional agencies, freelancers, and fractional CMOs.
- A plan built for you
- One professional team
- Your accounts stay yours
How the alternatives are actually structured
Most marketing partners are built around one of three models: a traditional agency selling retainers and account managers, a freelance specialist selling labor by the channel, or a fractional CMO selling strategy without execution. Each works for a specific situation. None of them are built to be the marketing department for a growing business. Sakativa is.
| Traditional agency | Freelancers | Fractional CMO | Sakativa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $5–15k | $4–8k | $6–12k | Custom |
| Channels covered | 1–3 | Per person | Strategy only | All 8 |
| Strategy + execution | Split teams | Just execution | Just strategy | Both |
| Contract | 6–12 mo | Project | Retainer | Month-to-month |
| Senior on the account | Sometimes | Yes | Yes | Always |
| Time to ramp | 30–60 days | Per person | 2–4 weeks | 14 days |
| Software included | No | No | No | $1,200/mo value |
Where traditional agencies still win
- Six-figure ad budgets on a single channel where specialization matters
- Brand, creative, and identity work that needs a deep creative bench
- Multi-market launches with dozens of stakeholders
Where freelancers still win
- Project work with a defined start and end (website rebuild, one-time campaign)
- Augmenting a fully-staffed in-house team with a deep specialist
- Test-and-learn experiments outside your core stack
Common questions
Why is Sakativa so much less expensive?+
Because we don't carry the cost structure of a traditional agency: no junior account managers, no creative leads chasing pitches, no office. The savings get passed to you as a tailored plan.
How can you be cheaper AND senior?+
Small team, no overhead, no account-management layer. Every dollar goes to senior operators doing the work — not the people managing the people doing the work.
What about a fractional CMO who also has an execution team?+
Some fractional CMOs build a small execution layer. The math still rarely works under $8k/mo because you're paying CMO rates for strategy you only use a few hours a week. Sakativa includes the strategy as part of your agreed scope.
Let’s make it happen
Your next chapter starts here.
Your marketing department, handled by professionals. Let’s build a focused plan for your business.
- A tailored proposal
- Clear scope and reporting
- Your accounts stay yours