The operator who turns the plan into a running system
For $2M to $50M companies where strategy is clear but execution keeps stalling. Embedded COO leadership at a 2 to 4 day per month cadence, month-to-month, with standing operating reviews and cross-functional accountability.
The Challenge
You have the strategy. The quarterly plan is written. The OKRs are posted in Notion. Leadership agrees on where the business is going. But sales, operations, and finance are each running their own version of the week, and nothing lands on the date it was supposed to land on. Every status update is a different story. The CEO is spending 60 percent of their time resolving cross-functional fights that should never have reached them. You do not have a strategy problem. You have an execution problem.
What a COO actually does in a $2M to $50M company is install the operating cadence: the weekly leadership rhythm, the metric reviews, the accountability structure, the cross-functional decision-making process. Most companies at this stage try to get there with a strong head of operations or a chief of staff. That works until it does not, usually right around the point where headcount crosses 25, or revenue crosses $10M, or a second product line launches. At that point you need an executive seat, not a coordination layer.
Our Approach
We embed at a 2 to 4 day per month cadence and install the operating cadence in the first 30 days. That means a standing weekly leadership rhythm with a defined agenda and decision log. A quarterly planning process tied to the financial model, not parallel to it. Cross-functional accountability through a metrics-review cadence, not through meetings that generate more meetings. And a single source of truth on the operating plan so sales, ops, and finance are working from the same numbers.
The CFO and COO double-seat is what makes this different. Brian holds both seats when a company needs them, which means the operating plan and the financial model are the same artifact, not two documents that diverge the moment they leave the leadership meeting. Engagements are month-to-month with 30-day notice. Brian holds the seat directly. If the operating rhythm is healthy and the business does not need the seat anymore, we say so first.
What You Get
- Standing weekly leadership rhythm with agenda, decision log, and metric review
- Quarterly planning process tied directly to the financial model
- Cross-functional accountability structure with named owners and weekly tracking
- Metrics dashboard covering sales, operations, and finance on one view
- Operating cadence documented so it runs without the COO in the room
- Executive coaching for function heads who are filling senior seats for the first time
- Hiring plan and org design aligned to the 12 to 24 month operating plan
- Recruiting and handoff support when a full-time COO makes sense
Engagement Model
2 to 4 days per month, month-to-month with 30-day notice. Brian holds the seat directly. Can run as a standalone COO engagement or paired with Fractional CFO as a double-seat engagement at a combined rate below the sum of the two services. Scope changes are surfaced in writing and approved before billing.
Who It's For
Built for $2M to $50M companies past the coordination-layer point, where execution keeps stalling despite strategy being clear. Typical triggers are headcount crossing 25, revenue crossing $10M, a second product line launching, or a CEO spending more than half their time on cross-functional fights. We are not the right fit for companies under 15 employees or where the CEO is still the product leader. Those businesses usually need a Head of Operations or a Chief of Staff, not a COO.
See Fractional COO in Action
Real results from client engagements using this service.
Related Services
Fractional CFO
Embedded CFO leadership 2 to 4 days per month. Board-grade reporting and capital strategy without a $300K salary on the cap table.
Learn more →Interim COO
Full COO coverage for 3 to 9 months when operations is on fire. Stabilize the leadership cadence and hand off cleanly to the permanent hire.
Learn more →KPI & Reporting Dashboards
One dashboard with three views tied to the operating cadence: weekly operating, monthly leadership, and quarterly board.
Learn more →Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Get Started with Fractional COO?
Schedule a complimentary consultation and we will map out a practical financial plan tailored to your goals.