Fractional COO for founder-led businesses
Executive operational leadership for part of the week. We turn daily firefighting into clear priorities, accountable teams and a business that runs without everything depending on you.
Signs you need a fractional COO
- You are the bottleneck: decisions wait for you.
- Your team needs chasing, and accountability is unclear.
- There are no clear KPIs, so progress is hard to see.
- Everyone is busy, but projects stall or never finish.
- The same mistakes keep happening.
- Growth is making the business more chaotic, not more profitable.
- You cannot take a proper holiday.
Not ready for a full-time COO?
Get executive operational leadership for a fraction of the cost. Your fractional COO works alongside you and your Operations Manager, setting the operating rhythm and holding the business to it.
Already have a COO? We can be the glue that drives priorities, results and accountability across the team.
Step out of the day-to-day, without things falling over
Before, 7 jobs land on you every week. After, you carry 2.
Before
Everything runs through you- Setting priorities for everyone
- Chasing the team for updates
- Firefighting the issue of the day
- Pulling together the numbers
- Running every meeting
- Deciding every process question
- Making the final call
After
Michélle and her team take the weightWe handle- Your 90-day operating plan
- Weekly KPIs and scorecards
- The accountability rhythm
- Process maps with clear owners
- Coaching your operations lead
- Vision and the big decisions
- Leading your people
What your fractional COO does
Practical, hands-on leadership focused on how your business actually runs day to day.
Priorities and plan
- A clear, prioritised 90-day operating plan
- Quarterly goals linked to what matters most
- Decisions made on evidence, not gut feel
KPIs and accountability
- The handful of KPIs that run your business
- A weekly or fortnightly accountability rhythm
- Visible progress so nothing falls through the cracks
Processes and people
- Documented processes and clear ownership
- Roles and responsibilities everyone understands
- Support and coaching for your Operations Manager
Systems that support the work
- Connected systems that cut manual work
- Inventory, purchasing and workflow visibility
- Reporting the team can trust
How it works
Your fractional COO
Michélle leads our fractional COO work. On your discovery call, we will confirm she is the right fit for your priorities, or introduce you to the right person from the team.
Michélle Janse van Rensburg
16+ years moving founder-led businesses from firefighting to scalable, profitable operations, with 400+ implementations across 17 countries. Michélle has also served as an outsourced CFO and board member through business turnarounds.
What this looks like in practice
Every business is different, and results depend on your starting point and how you implement the plan.
What clients and colleagues say
“Michelle is a rare combination of dreamer and realist. She is a natural entrepreneur with the ability to implement practical and high-impact solutions… With Michelle on your team, you should prepare for your business or project to be taken to the next level.”Stefan BothaCEO, Optimi Group · MentorRecommendation on LinkedIn
“Michelle demonstrated exceptional professionalism, technical expertise, and a genuine commitment to delivering the best outcome. She kept communication clear and consistent throughout the project, making even the most complex challenges feel manageable. Michelle and her team have become our go-to experts for anything tech-related.”Ashley GrinhamOperations Director, Bespoke 77 Ltd · ClientRecommendation on LinkedIn
Plans and pricing
Senior leadership sized to your business, from US$3,500 to US$8,000 a month. No long-term contract.
Starter
Up to 1 leadership session a month
- KPIs and accountability
- Systems and process guidance
- WorkflowMax operating platform
- Digital transformation oversight
- Email support
Growth
Up to 2 leadership sessions a month
- Everything in Starter
- Ongoing operational leadership
- Process improvement and automation
- Team accountability
Scale
Up to 4 leadership sessions a month
- Everything in Growth
- Embedded operational leadership
- Strategic execution
- Priority support
Sessions are with your fractional COO, CFO or a specialist from the team, delivered remotely by video call. Optional on-site strategy days are charged separately. We confirm the right plan with you after your discovery call.
Frequently asked questions
What does a fractional COO do?
A fractional COO is a part-time chief operating officer. They set operational priorities, build KPIs and accountability, improve processes, and make sure the business runs smoothly without the founder handling every decision.
What is the difference between a fractional COO and a full-time COO?
A fractional COO gives you the same senior experience for part of the week or month, at a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive. It suits growing businesses that need executive operational leadership but cannot justify a full-time hire yet.
We already have a COO or Operations Manager. Is this still for us?
Yes. We work alongside your existing team, acting as the glue that keeps priorities clear and drives results and accountability. We support your Operations Manager rather than replace them.
How quickly will we see progress?
We agree your priorities early and review progress against your KPIs every month, so you can see what is moving. Timescales depend on your starting point and how quickly the team can act on the plan.
Do you work with businesses internationally?
Yes. We work with founder-led businesses around the world, and schedule sessions to suit your time zone.
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Ready to stop being the bottleneck?
Book a free discovery call. We’ll find your biggest operational bottleneck and show you where a fractional COO would start.
Book a free discovery call