[ Triggers ]
When to hire a fractional COO.
Six signals. If two or more are true, the seat is open.
[ 01 ]
Signals
The six triggers.
[ 01 ]
Founder stuck in operations
If the founder spent the last week unblocking ops instead of selling, building or raising. It is time.
TEST // Is this true last 30 days? Yes or no.
[ 02 ]
Scaling chaos
Headcount doubled. Process did not. Things are slipping. Slack is the system of record.
TEST // Is this true last 30 days? Yes or no.
[ 03 ]
Post-raise
Capital is in. The deck promised scale. The operating model is still the one that got you to the round.
TEST // Is this true last 30 days? Yes or no.
[ 04 ]
Integration / post-M&A
Two companies. One playbook. Nobody owns the merge.
TEST // Is this true last 30 days? Yes or no.
[ 05 ]
Turnaround
Revenue is flat or falling. Cost is up. Leadership team needs a structure adult.
TEST // Is this true last 30 days? Yes or no.
[ 06 ]
Value creation clock
PE bought it. Hold period is set. KPIs are committed. Nobody between CEO and the line.
TEST // Is this true last 30 days? Yes or no.
[ 02 ]
What to do
If two are true.
Book the call. 30 minutes. We map the bottleneck and decide if the right move is to hire a fractional COO. If it is not, I will say so on the call.
Most founders spend weeks trying to find a fractional COO through cold outreach and referrals. Skip the search. One call tells you if this seat fits your company.
[ Next step ]
Two or more triggers true?
The seat is open. Let's talk.
[ 03 ]
Q&A
Timing questions.
[ 01 ]
How urgent is urgent?
+
[ 01 ]
How urgent is urgent?
If two triggers were true last week and one of them cost you a customer or a hire, kickoff should be inside 14 days. If it is slow-burn, next month is fine.
[ 02 ]
Can I hire a fractional COO before Series A?
+
[ 02 ]
Can I hire a fractional COO before Series A?
Yes if revenue is over €2M and the founder is unblocking ops daily. Below that, an ops manager is usually the right hire. One call and I will tell you which.
[ 03 ]
What if I already have a COO?
+
[ 03 ]
What if I already have a COO?
Then you do not need a fractional COO. You need someone to unblock the COO or coach them. That is a different engagement, closer to an ops advisor. I do not take those.
[ 04 ]
We just closed a round. Should we hire full-time or fractional first?
+
[ 04 ]
We just closed a round. Should we hire full-time or fractional first?
Fractional first. Six to nine months of embedded operator lets you write a hiring brief grounded in reality, not on the deck. Saves one bad full-time hire.
[ 05 ]
Is it too early if we are only 15 people?
+
[ 05 ]
Is it too early if we are only 15 people?
Usually yes. Under 20 people the founder can still hold operations. The seat opens between 25 and 50 heads, when the leadership team stops fitting in one room.