Your startup is growing. Your operations aren't.

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You're hitting milestones, closing deals, and scaling fast. But behind the scenes? Total chaos. Projects slip through cracks. Teams work in silos. Simple tasks take forever because nobody owns the process. You're building a house of cards, and it's starting to wobble.

You need operational muscle, but hiring a full-time COO feels premature (and expensive). Enter fractional COOs: operators who've scaled startups from 10 to 1,000 people, available exactly when you need them.

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What a Fractional COO Actually Does

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Our fractional COOs aren't process police or meeting multipliers. They're strategic operators who:

• Build systems that scale beyond your current team size
• Design operational workflows that eliminate bottlenecks
• Implement project management that actually works for startups
• Create cross-functional alignment so teams stop working against each other
• Establish KPIs and reporting that show what's actually happening
• Manage strategic initiatives while founders focus on vision
• Optimise resource allocation to maximise team productivity
• Handle vendor management and partnership negotiations
• Scale hiring and onboarding processes for rapid growth
• Build culture and communication frameworks that survive hyper-growth

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When You Actually Need a Fractional COO

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You're ready if:

• You're growing fast but everything feels increasingly chaotic
• Founders are drowning in operational tasks
• Teams are working in silos with no clear processes
• Projects consistently miss deadlines with no clear ownership
• You're scaling beyond 20-30 people and losing control
• Board meetings focus more on execution problems than strategy

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You're not ready if:

• You're still figuring out product-market fit
• Your team is under 10 people and founders can manage everything
• Your biggest problem is finding customers, not serving them
• You haven't established basic business processes yet

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What This Actually Costs

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• ‍Typical Engagement: 2-3 days per week, $1,500-$2,500/day depending on experience
• ‍Sweet Spot: $6K-15K monthly vs. $30K+ for a full-time COO
• ‍ROI Timeline: Operational improvements visible within 30-60 days
• vs FTE: Compare that to a full-time COO salary ($200K-350K+ plus equity) and the choice becomes obvious.

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Real Problems Fractional COOs Solve

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• ‍"We keep missing deadlines and nobody knows why" A fractional COO implements project management systems, clear ownership, and accountability frameworks that keep everyone on track.‍
• "Our teams don't talk to each other" They design cross-functional workflows, communication protocols, and regular sync processes that break down silos.‍
• "Everything requires founder approval" They establish decision-making frameworks, delegate authority properly, and create systems that work without constant oversight.‍
• "We're scaling but our processes are breaking" They redesign operational workflows to handle 3x-10x current volume without adding chaos.

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Common Engagement Types

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• ‍The Scaling Crisis (6-12 months): Rapid growth is breaking your operations. They implement systems, processes, and structure to handle current scale plus future growth.‍
• The Efficiency Overhaul (3-6 months): Your team is working hard but not smart. They optimise workflows, eliminate waste, and dramatically improve productivity.‍
• The Strategic Project Manager (6-18 months): You have big initiatives but no bandwidth to manage them. They own execution while founders focus on strategy.‍
• The Pre-IPO Cleanup (12+ months): You're preparing for major funding or exit. They professionalize operations, implement enterprise processes, and prepare for due diligence.

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Why Shepherd COOs Get Results

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• ‍They're execution specialists: Our COOs have taken companies through hypergrowth phases and know which processes matter (and which don't).
• ‍They understand startup reality: They build lightweight systems that work for startups, not corporate bureaucracy that kills speed.
• ‍They're culture builders: They know how to implement structure without destroying the scrappy startup spirit that got you here.
• ‍They deliver fast wins: They identify quick operational improvements that show immediate ROI while building long-term systems.

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Typical Engagement Timeline

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Most engagements run 6-18 months, with many transitioning to ongoing strategic advisory roles. Here's what a typical engagement looks like: 

• ‍Month 1: Operational audit and quick wins
• ‍Month 2-3: System implementation and process design
• ‍Month 3-6: Team training and workflow optimisation
• Month 6+: Strategic project management and scale preparation

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