Marketing Consultant in Ireland
A marketing consultant gives a B2B or SaaS business senior, independent thinking without adding a permanent salary to the payroll. This guide covers how consultancy is bought in Ireland, what the salaried alternative costs according to published salary data, how the consultant model compares with an agency retainer or an in-house hire, and which situations each one suits.
In short. A marketing consultant is an independent senior specialist who diagnoses why marketing is not producing commercial results and writes the plan to fix it, usually working in days rather than on a full-time contract. Work is bought either as a fixed-scope diagnostic with a written output, or as a set number of days each month, and fees are quoted after a first conversation because scope drives them. The comparison point is the salaried alternative, where Excel Recruitment's 2026 Sales and Marketing Salary Guide puts a head of marketing in Ireland at €85,000 to €120,000 base. It suits founder-led B2B and SaaS companies that need direction and a credible plan before they commit to an agency retainer or a full-time marketing hire.
How Marketing Consultancy Is Bought, and What to Compare It Against
Consultancy is bought either as a fixed-scope piece of work with a defined written output, or as an ongoing commitment of a set number of days each month. Bluerock does not publish fees, because scope, research depth and the number of segments involved change the answer, so a figure is quoted after a first conversation against a written scope. The number worth comparing against is published. Excel Recruitment's 2026 Sales and Marketing Salary Guide puts a marketing manager in Ireland at €60,000 to €80,000 and a head of marketing at €85,000 to €120,000 base, landing at €120,000 or more a year all in once employer PRSI, pension auto-enrolment and recruitment fees are added.
Consultant, Agency or In-House Hire
A consultant supplies independent direction with no delivery revenue attached to the recommendation. An agency supplies capacity against a brief that already exists. An in-house hire builds a permanent function and carries salary, PRSI, pension and a three to six month ramp. In short, buy a consultant when direction is unresolved, an agency when the plan is settled, and a hire when the remit is permanent.
Who a Marketing Consultant Is For
Founder-led B2B companies where sales has hit a ceiling, VC-backed SaaS after a raise, SMEs scaling without a marketing hire, and businesses whose spend rose without commercial movement.
Marketing Consultant Questions Answered
What does a marketing consultant do?
A marketing consultant diagnoses why marketing is not producing commercial results, then writes a plan that names the priorities, the owners and the metrics. The role is advisory and senior, so it covers positioning, audience, channel choice and measurement rather than day to day campaign execution.
How much does a marketing consultant cost in Ireland?
Bluerock does not publish fees, because scope and the number of days involved change the answer, so a figure is quoted after a first conversation against a written scope. The published comparison point is the salaried alternative, where Excel Recruitment's 2026 Sales and Marketing Salary Guide puts a head of marketing in Ireland at €85,000 to €120,000 base, landing at €120,000 or more all in with employer PRSI, pension auto-enrolment and recruitment fees.
Is a marketing consultant better than an agency?
They solve different problems. A consultant is better when you need direction, positioning and a plan you can hold people to, and an agency is better when the plan already exists and you need capacity to deliver it. Appointing an agency without a settled brief is the most common reason retainers disappoint.
How long should a marketing consultancy engagement last?
A diagnostic engagement usually runs three to six weeks and ends with a written plan. Where ongoing input is needed, six to twelve months is realistic, because that is long enough to build systems and reporting that keep working after the consultant leaves.
Growth marketing · B2B marketing strategy · Interim CMO · Our services · Contact · Book a free call