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A growth consultant is an external expert who helps a business grow faster by diagnosing what’s holding back acquisition, activation, retention, referral or revenue, then designing and running experiments to fix it. Businesses typically hire one when they need outside expertise, a fresh perspective, or short-term capacity without a full-time hire.
Hiring a growth consultant can supercharge your business by providing targeted strategies for amplifying growth and increasing profits. Their expertise in analysing market trends and crafting unique marketing plans can give your business the competitive edge it needs. For a comprehensive guide, see our article on where to find the best growth marketing consultant in 2023.
Every modern business should have a growth consultant because they can provide valuable insights and strategies to enhance business performance, increase customer base and drive sustainable economic growth.
Stuart Brameld, Growth Method CEO & Growth Advisor
Growth & growth marketing on the rise
According to Google Trends, worldwide interested in growth marketing has increased substantially over the last 15 years, and continues to grow.
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);The LinkedIn 2023 Jobs on the Rise list examines millions of jobs started by LinkedIn members across the last 5 years. The results reveal the 25 fastest-growing job titles over the past five years, the most in-demand roles and emerging trends defining the future world of work.
Growth and growth marketing related roles were consistently placed in the top 10 fastest-growing roles worldwide, with 2 growth-related roles in the UK’s top 10 fastest-growing jobs.
What is the role of a growth consultant
A growth consultant’s primary responsibility is to help businesses achieve their goals and prosper by focusing on increasing customer acquisition, activation, retention, referral, and revenue. This approach, known as the AARRR framework or the entire customer lifecycle, involves aligning the business model with growth strategies. You can learn more about AARRR on the following page: growthmethod.com/aarrr-framework/. The consultant would devise a unique growth strategy tailored specifically for the business to facilitate its expansion. For further reading on growth strategy, visit: growthmethod.com/growth-marketing-strategy/.
Growth consultants also champion a culture of experimentation, where they run numerous tests to find the best way to promote growth. These activities or tests are part of a tactic called marketing experimentation. This approach means they try various strategies to see which produces the best results. More about marketing experimentation can be found on this link: growthmethod.com/marketing-experimentation/. By applying data-driven decisions and continuous learning, they instill a growth culture within the business — a culture where everyone constantly finds creative and innovative solutions to help the business grow. Find more in our guide to building a culture of experimentation.
Growth consultant vs growth marketing consultant vs fractional CMO vs in-house hire
| Growth consultant | Growth marketing consultant | Fractional CMO | In-house hire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Full customer lifecycle (AARRR) | Marketing channels & campaigns | Marketing strategy & leadership | Whatever the role is scoped to cover |
| Typical cost | £400-£900/day or retainer | £400-£900/day or retainer | £1,000+/day or % of marketing budget | £45k-£80k+/year salary |
| Speed to impact | Fast — brought in to fix a specific problem | Fast — campaign-focused | Medium — often builds a team first | Slow — hiring and ramp-up time |
| Control | Lower — external, part-time | Lower — external, part-time | Medium — senior but often part-time | Highest — full-time, dedicated |
| Best for | Diagnosing and fixing a growth bottleneck | Improving specific marketing channels | Building marketing strategy and a team | Long-term, ongoing growth ownership |
What makes a great growth hire?
A modern growth hire requires a wide base level of knowledge, along with deep expertise in one or two areas well-suited to your business.
The T-Shaped Marketer framework popularised by Buffer illustrates the concept well.
The vertical bar on the T represents the depth of related skills and expertise in a single field, whereas the horizontal bar is the ability to collaborate across disciplines with experts in other areas and to apply knowledge in areas of expertise other than one’s own.
Required skills for a growth consultant
Here are some of the core traits and skills of a good growth consultant.
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Curiosity: Continually seeks out new knowledge and strategies to help their clients flourish.
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Adaptability: Quick to react and adjust to changes in the market and the needs of their clients.
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Data-driven: Relies on metrics and number analyses to guide their strategies and evaluate their effectiveness.
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Technical Knowledge: Adept at using digital tools for marketing like SEO, web analytics and social media platforms.
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Resourcefulness: Finds unique solutions to problems with the resources at hand.
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Excellent Communication Skills: Conveys ideas clearly and listens carefully to their clients’ needs and suggestions.
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Forward Thinking: Always thinking ahead, planning for long-term growth and ready for potential challenges.
How much does a growth consultant cost?
Cost depends heavily on whether you hire a growth consultant full-time, part-time, or on a project basis.
In-house salary. Depending on experience and location, salaries for a skilled growth consultant are typically in the ranges below. For more information you can view active job postings for growth marketing manager roles on LinkedIn here.
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The average growth consultant salary in the UK is £45,000 per year.
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The average growth consultant salary in the US is $80,000 per year.
Freelance and fractional rates. Independent growth consultants typically charge £400-£900 ($500-$1,200) per day, or a monthly retainer of roughly £2,500-£8,000 depending on scope, seniority and whether they’re hands-on or advisory. Compare this against a growth marketing manager or head of growth hire, where you’re paying for full-time capacity rather than focused expertise.
Hiring a growth consultant
Looking to hire a growth consultant? Here are our top 10 job boards for growth and growth marketing related roles.
About Growth Method
Growth Method is the agentic marketing platform for B2B teams — built for the exact discipline a good growth consultant brings in-house: a clear goal, a test-and-learn culture, and a system that turns first-party data into what to do next. If you’re weighing up hiring a growth consultant versus giving your own team that same rigour, our AI agents can plan, launch and analyse campaigns alongside a lean team, so growth becomes something you own rather than something you buy in.
Book a call with Stuart to talk through your growth plan, or apply for early access to try it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What does a growth consultant do?
A growth consultant helps a business grow faster by diagnosing what’s holding back acquisition, activation, retention, referral or revenue, then designing and running experiments to fix it, using frameworks like AARRR to focus on the stage of the customer lifecycle that matters most.
How much does a growth consultant cost?
In-house growth consultant salaries average around £45,000 in the UK and $80,000 in the US. Freelance or fractional growth consultants typically charge £400-£900 ($500-$1,200) per day, or a monthly retainer from around £2,500-£8,000 depending on scope and seniority.
What’s the difference between a growth consultant and a growth marketing consultant?
A growth consultant typically works across the full customer lifecycle, including product, pricing and retention, while a growth marketing consultant focuses specifically on marketing channels and campaigns. In practice the terms overlap heavily, and many consultants use them interchangeably.
When should a business hire a growth consultant?
Businesses typically hire a growth consultant when they need outside expertise, a fresh perspective, or short-term capacity to run experiments without committing to a full-time hire, especially ahead of a funding round, a new market launch, or a stalled growth curve.