1
TechCXO Editor's pick
6 named clients Founded 2003, 245+ people
Fee on request
Best fractional COOs: firms and solo practitioners
A fractional COO turns a founder's to-do list into an operating rhythm. The work is unglamorous and specific: an accountability chart with one owner per function, a weekly leadership meeting that ends with decisions, a scorecard of the numbers that matter, and the handful of processes that still route every question through the founder. Many fractional COOs work as EOS integrators, so if you already run EOS or plan to, look for that on the row. Buyers are usually 20 to 100 employees and $3M to $30M in revenue, and the reason is almost always the same: the founder has become the bottleneck. Published retainers run $3,500 to $15,000 a month, with one day a week typically $5,000 to $10,000. Rows on this page show the revenue bands each firm serves, its stated minimum term and fee where published, and whether it also coaches integrators and second-in-command leaders.
32 firms and practitioners on this page offer fractional COO work. That is 11 firms, 10 marketplaces, 9 solo practitioners and 2 collectives. TechCXO is the editor's pick. 9 publish a monthly fee, from $2,200 to $10,950 a month. The other 23 quote.
A fractional COO usually works one to two days a week, with a fixed weekly leadership meeting and a quarterly planning session. Three months is the common minimum, and integrator-style engagements often run 6 to 24 months while the operating system takes hold.
2
Serves US
$2,200 per month
3
Serves US
$3,500 per month
4
70+ peopleServes UK
$2,280 per month, no minimum
5
Serves US, UK
$8,255 per month
6
4 named clients 12 people
$5,000 per month, 3 month minimum
7
2 named clients Serves US, UK
$5,000 per month, no minimum
8
Serves US, UK, Australia, Canada
$6,000 per month, 6 month minimum
9
Serves Canada
$10,950 per month, no minimum
10
Serves US
$8,000 per month
11
Serves US, Canada
Fee on request
12
1 named client Serves US
Fee on request
13
3 named clients Serves Global
Fee on request
14
1 to 10 peopleServes US
Fee on request
15
Serves US
Fee on request
16
Founded 2020Serves US
Fee on request
17
Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer
18
Serves Australia
Fee on request monthly retainer
19
3 named clients Founded 2013
Fee on request day or hourly rate
20
1 named client Serves Australia
Fee on request fixed project fee, 3 month minimum
21
Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer
22
Serves US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada
Fee on request monthly retainer
23
4 named clients Serves US, UK, EU, Australia
Fee on request no minimum
24
2 named clients Serves US
Fee on request
25
5 named clients Serves US
Fee on request no minimum
26
Serves Global
Fee on request
27
Serves US, UK, EU, Australia
Fee on request monthly retainer
28
Serves US
Fee on request day or hourly rate, no minimum
29
Serves US
Fee on request
30
3 named clients Serves Global
Fee on request
31
Serves Global
Fee on request
32
4 named clients Serves US, Australia, Global
Fee on request
How this list is built. Every firm and practitioner here offers fractional COO work on its own site. Order is editor's pick, then a published fee, then name. Nobody pays to appear or to move up. Full methodology.
COO guides
- What is a fractional COOA fractional COO runs a company's operating rhythm one or two days a week: owners, meetings, scorecards and processes. Scope, fees, the EOS link and when to hire.
- How much a fractional COO costsFractional COO retainers run $3,500 to $15,000 a month, with one day a week at $5,000 to $10,000. Price drivers, EOS integrator fees, day rates and quotes.
- Fractional COO vs interim COOAn interim COO runs operations full-time through a gap or a crisis; a fractional COO runs the operating rhythm part-time for years. Fit, cost, PE and exit cases.
- Fractional COO vs full-time COOA full-time COO costs $250,000 to $450,000 in year one; a fractional COO $40,000 to $180,000 a year. The math, the headcount threshold and what you give up.
- Fractional COO vs consultantAn operations consultant or EOS implementer advises and facilitates; a fractional COO runs the business between sessions. Scope, pricing and who decides.
- Fractional COO vs coachingWhen a $1M to $5M founder should hire a fractional COO, when operations or EOS coaching is enough, and when to combine them. Signs, costs and a test.
- How to become a fractional COOThe path from operations leader to fractional COO or integrator: a niche, an operating method, pricing at $3,500 to $10,000 a month, contracts and a pipeline.
Questions founders ask
How much does a fractional COO cost?
Published fractional COO retainers run $3,500 to $15,000 a month, with $5,000 to $10,000 typical for one day a week at a $3M to $30M company. 9 firms and practitioners on this page publish a monthly fee, from $2,200 to $10,950 a month. The other 23 quote.
How many hours a week does a fractional COO work?
A fractional COO usually works one to two days a week, with a fixed weekly leadership meeting and a quarterly planning session.
What is the difference between a fractional and an interim COO?
An interim COO works full time for a fixed period, usually while the company hires a permanent one. A fractional COO works part of the week, often for two to four companies at once, and can stay for years.
How long do fractional COO engagements last?
Three months is the common minimum, and integrator-style engagements often run 6 to 24 months while the operating system takes hold. 9 firms on this page publish a minimum term; the longest is 6 months.
Do fractional COOs take equity?
Some do, mostly with venture-backed startups. No firm on this page publishes an equity plus cash model, so ask on the first call.