Executive-level operations leadership, without the executive-level hire.
Hire a fractional COO matched to your business in 48 hours. We take you out of the day-to-day, give you full operational clarity in 14 days, and deliver your first measurable win within 30.
Melissa Franks, Founder. Former COO at a Fortune 500 company and a high-growth tech startup.
When to hire a fractional COO
Most founders who call us are not short on vision. They are short on hours, because everything still runs through them.
You are the bottleneck
Every approval, question and fire lands on your desk, so strategy and growth keep getting pushed to next week.
No one is accountable
There are no clear KPIs, scorecards or meeting cadence, so you cannot see who is performing and who is not.
Your team keeps turning over
People issues, unclear roles and constant rehiring are draining time, money and morale.
Growth broke your processes
What worked at $1M does not work at $5M. Handoffs slip, quality dips and margins shrink as you scale.
Right now, nothing moves unless you're in the room.
You know what needs fixing. You just have no time to fix it, because every decision, approval and fire still runs through you. A fractional COO gives you executive operations leadership so the business keeps moving when you step back, without a $250K+ salary, benefits and equity package.
You are not hiring a coach who tells you what to do. You are hiring an operator who builds the plan and implements it alongside your team.
What does a fractional COO do?
Operational Strategy
Builds and executes the plan to improve efficiency, productivity and performance.
Process Optimization
Finds the leaks and streamlines how work actually gets done.
Leadership and Management
Leads your management team, runs 1:1s and mentors staff.
Project Management
Owns critical projects so they land on time and on budget.
Scalability Planning
Builds the systems, SOPs and structure that support growth.
KPIs and Accountability
Sets up scorecards, dashboards and a meeting cadence that drives results.
Interim Leadership
Covers transitions when your COO or ops leader leaves, then hands off cleanly.
AI and Automation
Modernizes your tools and automates the manual work slowing your team down.
Risk Management
Spots operational risks early and puts a mitigation plan in place.
How to hire a fractional COO with On Call COO
Book a free consultation
We learn your goals, your team and where operations are breaking. You leave with clarity whether we work together or not.
Get matched in 48 hours
We pair you with the right COO for your industry and stage within 48 hours. Within 14 days you have full visibility into your operations.
See your first win in 30 days
Your COO starts implementing right away, so you see a measurable result in the first month and steady progress after.
What happens when you hire a fractional COO
"We would recommend them to any firm navigating a similar gap."
Director of Operations, Financial Services
"We were pleased with how quickly Abbie and Alex understood where our issues were."
CEO, E-Commerce
"These resources have created greater consistency and confidence across the business."
Founder, Logistics and Home Services
"They don't just add ideas to your to-do list."
Founder, Travel
A COO firm, not a marketplace
Talent marketplaces send you a shortlist of freelancers, then you vet, contract and manage the person yourself. With On Call COO, you hire a firm that stands behind the work, with COOs and operations managers behind your engagement.
| On Call COOFractional COO firm | Freelancer marketplace | Full-time COO | Business coach or consultant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Advisory from $3K/month | Hourly rate plus platform or placement fees | $250K+ salary plus benefits and equity | Varies |
| Who vets the COO | We do, and match you in 48 hours | You interview a shortlist | You, over 3 to 6 months | You |
| Does the work | Yes, builds and implements | Depends on the person | Yes | No, advises only |
| Manages your team | Yes | Sometimes | Yes | No |
| If it is not a fit | We adjust your COO and support. Zero mismatches in 3 years. | Start the search over | Costly exit and rehire | End the contract |
| Backed by a team | Yes, COOs plus operations managers | No, one freelancer | One person | Usually one person |
How much does it cost to hire a fractional COO?
Every engagement is a fixed monthly retainer, scoped around outcomes, not hours. Here is where most clients start.
COO Advisory
For founders with a capable team who need a seasoned COO to set direction, pressure-test decisions and keep execution on track.
- Scheduled COO strategy calls
- Operational priorities and 90-day plan
- KPI and accountability framework
Hands-On Fractional COO
For businesses that need an operator embedded in the work: running the team, building systems and owning results.
- Dedicated fractional COO plus operations support
- Weekly leadership cadence and team management
- SOPs, dashboards and process builds
Interim COO
When your COO or head of operations leaves, we step in, keep the team running and hand off cleanly to your next hire.
- Immediate operational coverage
- Team cadence and 1:1s
- Clean handoff plan
Matched with your COO in 48 hours. After your first 90 days, you can end your engagement anytime with 30 days' notice, so you stay because it is working, not because a contract says so.
Hands-On Fractional COO and Interim COO engagements are built for businesses with $3M+ in annual revenue and clear growth targets. Under $3M? COO Advisory gives you senior operations leadership at a size that fits where you are today.
The results you will experience
Operational clarity
Within 14 days your COO gets under the hood and gives you clear visibility into what is working and what is not.
Freedom from the day-to-day
Your business runs without everything routing through you, so you can lead, sell and grow.
Accelerated growth
Tested tactics that raise margins, lower costs and build a business that scales.
Hiring a fractional COO: common questions
How do I hire a fractional COO?
Book a free consultation. We learn about your business, recommend the right level of support and match you with a COO who fits your industry and stage. We match you with your COO within 48 hours. After the first 90 days, you can end your engagement anytime with 30 days' notice.
How much does a fractional COO cost?
COO Advisory starts at $3,000 per month, and hands-on fractional COO engagements start at $7,500 per month. Interim COO engagements are scoped to your situation. Every engagement is a fixed monthly retainer with no hourly billing, and we share a recommendation at the end of your consultation. Either way, it is a fraction of a full-time COO salary.
What is the difference between a fractional COO and an interim COO?
A fractional COO works with you part-time on an ongoing basis. An interim COO fills the seat during a transition, such as the gap between full-time COOs. We offer both.
Should I hire a fractional COO or a full-time COO?
If you need senior operations leadership but not 40+ hours a week of it, or you want results before committing $250K+ a year, start fractional. When you are ready for a full-time COO, your fractional COO can build the role and hand off cleanly.
How is On Call COO different from a fractional COO marketplace?
Marketplaces introduce you to freelancers and leave the vetting, contracting and management to you. We are a firm. We match you with the right COO in 48 hours, back them with operations managers, and stay accountable for the results. In 3 years, we have never had a client match that was not a fit.
How do I measure the ROI of a fractional COO?
We set the KPIs with you up front. You get an operational baseline in the first 14 days, a measurable win in the first 30, and a dashboard that tracks progress on cost, capacity, margin and your own time.
Is a fractional COO a business coach?
No. A fractional COO is a working executive who does the work. Depending on scope, your COO may also coach your leaders or manage your team directly.
Can you manage my team?
Yes. Our COOs bring over two decades of management experience leading teams from one person to hundreds.
How much time do you need from me?
Onboarding takes the most time up front. After that, we only pull you in when your input is truly needed.
Is my business too small for a fractional COO?
No. Hands-on fractional COO and interim engagements are built for businesses with $3M+ in annual revenue, and COO Advisory starts at $3,000 per month for businesses that are not there yet. Book a consultation and we will recommend the right fit.
Is this the same as an Online Business Manager?
No. An OBM manages operations. A fractional COO defines the operating strategy with you and then implements it.
Which industries do you support?
We have worked with 50+ businesses across industries including financial services, e-commerce, logistics, home services and travel.
Hope is not a strategy.
Having a team of experts is.
Book your free consultation. In 30 minutes you will know exactly where your operations stand and whether hiring a fractional COO is the right next move.
Book a Free Consultation