If you’re actively researching how to hire a COO or a Director of Operations, you’re probably at a meaningful inflection point in your business. You’ve reached a stage where operational leadership is no longer optional, and you can feel that growth is going to stall unless someone senior is focused on execution, structure, and day-to-day leadership alongside you.
Most founders we speak with start this process the same way. They search “hire a COO,” begin reviewing job descriptions, and quickly see compensation in the $150,000–$250,000 range before benefits, equity, and the time it takes for someone new to fully ramp up. At that point, the decision starts to feel heavier than expected, and many CEOs wonder whether they’re overcommitting too early.
What most people don’t realize at this stage is that there’s another option that often fits seven- and eight-figure businesses far better than a traditional full-time hire: a Fractional COO.
This article is here to help you understand that option, so you can choose the right engagement model for your growth stage rather than defaulting to the most familiar path. At The COO Solution, we specialize in helping founders make this decision with clarity instead of pressure.
If you’d like to talk this through, get in touch with our team using the button below. We’re happy to help.
Operations?
One of the first things to clear up is the confusion around titles. You’ll see roles described as COO, Director of Operations, VP of Operations, or Fractional Director of Operations, and it can feel like you’re comparing fundamentally different positions.
In reality, these titles all point to the same core responsibility: translating vision into execution, leading operations, managing teams, and ensuring the business runs consistently without everything flowing through the founder.
The real distinction isn’t the title. It’s the engagement model. The choice you’re actually making is between a full-time executive hire and a fractional or part-time operational leader.
What About a Director of Operations vs. a COO?
The founder of The COO Solution, Derek Fredrickson, has decades of experience working as a COO and on Wall Street, so he’s seen many different iterations of job titles and duties. Generally speaking, a Director of Operations focuses solely on “operations,” i.e., the delivery side of your business. They make sure what you sell gets delivered efficiently.
A COO, on the other hand, is your air-traffic controller. They sit in the strategic partner seat alongside you as your second-in-command, helping to drive strategy and planning from your vision. But they also provide scope, support, and direction across what we describe as the “horizontal” nature of the business:
Marketing → Sales → Operations → Finance
They drive execution across the board. They own the results across the board. All functions of the business, not just operations.
That’s where a Director of Operations can fall short. A true COO for hire understands:
- The sole purpose of marketing is to generate qualified leads
- The sole purpose of sales is to close those qualified leads into high-paying clients and customers
- The sole purpose of operations is to deliver on what’s been sold
- The sole purpose of finance is to deliver profitable results across marketing, sales, and operations
That’s the powerful impact of a true Fractional COO (Chief Operating Officer).
When Does a Full-Time COO Hire Make Sense?
There are situations where hiring a full-time COO absolutely makes sense.
When a company is well past $10 million in revenue, requires 40 or more hours per week of executive-level operational leadership, and is intentionally building a permanent C-suite, a full-time hire can be the right move.
That investment typically amounts to between $180,000 and $300,000 annually when you factor in salary, benefits, and equity, and it often takes several months for that hire to be fully productive.
However, most seven- to eight-figure businesses aren’t there yet.
They need senior operational leadership, but not at full-time capacity, nor with the risk and rigidity that come with a permanent hire.
When Does Hiring a Fractional COO Make Sense?
This is where a fractional COO or Fractional Director of Operations becomes a strategic alternative rather than a compromise.
A fractional COO provides C-suite operational leadership on a part-time basis, typically ranging from 20 to 80 hours per month, depending on the size, complexity, and growth stage of the business.
This is different from traditional consulting. It’s not advice followed by a list of recommendations you’re expected to implement on your own.
Instead, a fractional COO operates as a true second-in-command. They step into the business, lead execution, manage operations, run meetings, build systems, and guide the team – all while staying aligned with the founder’s vision.
Because the engagement is fractional, you’re paying for the leadership level you actually need, without carrying unused capacity or locking yourself into a long-term employment commitment.
Hiring a Fractional COO is Best For:
- $1M–$10M revenue businesses that are scaling rapidly
- Companies that need expert leadership but not 40 hours per week consistently
- Founders who want flexibility as their needs evolve
- CEOs who value speed and proven systems over building everything from scratch
Why Hiring a Fractional COO Often Delivers Better Results for Growing Businesses
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that fractional leadership is somehow less strategic. But in practice, it’s often more focused.
There’s no long ramp-up period, no guessing how to operate at this level, and no need to reinvent processes that already work elsewhere.
At The COO Solution, we use a proven 30-60-90 day methodology that creates momentum quickly:
- First 30 days: Stabilizing the business and relieving immediate pressure on the CEO
- Next 30 days: Building structure, clarifying roles, implementing systems, and establishing accountability
- Final 30 days: Optimizing for strategic planning and ensuring the CEO is fully back in their highest-value role
Because we operate as a team rather than a solo practitioner, each COO is supported by other experienced operators. This gives our clients more capacity, more perspective, and more continuity than a single full-time hire typically provides.
Real Results From Hiring a Fractional COO
We’ve seen this model drive meaningful results:
Rocky Anderson came to us when his company was generating around $65,000 per month, and he was working 70-hour weeks while remaining deeply involved in daily operations. With fractional COO support, revenue grew to over $350,000 per month, his operational involvement dropped by more than 60%, and he regained the ability to take real time off.
Dr. Jessica Drummond experienced a 30% increase in revenue while also regaining work-life balance. As she described it, our COO “seamlessly integrated into our team, offering strategic insights that led to real, tangible growth. Our team now operates more cohesively, our processes are optimized, and we’re better positioned for continued expansion.”
Amy Anderson described the change as feeling her shoulders physically drop once she no longer had to carry everything herself.
In each case, fractional leadership wasn’t a temporary fix. It was the right fit for where the business was at that moment. Read more of our real-life success stories.
As was recently reported in Forbes, fractional leadership is exploding as companies recognize they can access senior-level expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire, whilst enjoying delivering faster results and greater flexibility[1].
Which COO Hiring Model is Right for Your Business?
The answer usually comes down to a few honest questions:
- How many hours per week of true C-suite operational leadership does your business require right now?
- Do you want flexibility as your needs evolve, or are you ready for a permanent executive hire?
- Do you value speed and proven systems over building everything from scratch?
- Are you comfortable testing fit and impact before making a long-term commitment?
We’re always transparent about this. Some businesses do need a full-time COO, and when that’s the case, we say so.
But most seven- and eight-figure companies scale faster and with less risk by starting with strategic fractional leadership.
Not sure where you stand? Our simple assessment helps you understand whether you’re ready for operational leadership and which model makes the most sense for your business stage.
Your Next Steps to Hire a COO with The COO Solution
If you’re considering hiring a COO, the next step with us is straightforward.
We begin with a discovery conversation to understand where you’re stuck, what your goals are, and what level of support actually makes sense.
From there, you’re assigned a fractional COO based on your business, your team, and your priorities. You meet them before making any decision, and we start with a 90-day engagement designed to deliver results quickly.
After that, everything is month-to-month. We earn trust through outcomes, not contracts.
Want to learn more about how our fractional COO services work for growing businesses? We’ve helped dozens of founders move from overwhelm to sustainable growth.
Or if you’re still exploring your options, read our guide on finding the best outsourced COO for your business.
Questions We’re Asked About Hiring a COO vs. a Fractional Director of Operations
How do I know if I need a full-time COO or a fractional COO?
It comes down to capacity and stage. If your business consistently requires 40+ hours per week of C-suite operational leadership, you’re past $10 million in revenue, and you’re building a permanent executive team, full-time makes sense.
But if you’re in the $1M–$10M range, need expert leadership without full-time overhead, and want flexibility as you scale, fractional is often the smarter choice. Most seven- and eight-figure businesses fall into the latter category.
Is a fractional COO really as committed as a full-time hire?
Absolutely. The difference is about structure rather than commitment. A fractional COO dedicates their retainer hours exclusively to running your day-to-day operations, leading your team, and driving execution.
At The COO Solution, our COOs are backed by a team of experienced operators, which often provides more capacity and continuity than a single full-time hire. We’re invested in your success because we earn trust through results, not contracts.
What does the first 90 days with a fractional COO look like?
We use a proven 30-60-90 day methodology:
- The first 30 days focus on stabilizing operations and relieving immediate CEO pressure.
- The next 30 days build structure, clarify roles, implement systems, and establish accountability.
- The final 30 days optimize for strategic growth and position you to lead from your highest-value role.
- By day 90, most clients have clear systems, aligned teams, and momentum toward sustainable scaling.
