Signs That You Need a Fractional COO
When Is the Right Time to Hire a COO? (Hint: It’s Sooner Than You Think)
The right time to hire a Chief Operating Officer (COO) is before the wheels start wobbling.
Unfortunately, most business owners wait until the fire’s already burning to bring in help.
We’ve all heard the phrase: Hindsight is 20/20. And in business, that hindsight usually comes with a cost such as lost revenue, burnout, high turnover, and missed opportunities.
So how do you know it’s time to hire a COO?
Let’s break it down.
4 Signs You Need a COO Sooner Rather Than Later
Imagine this…
• You’re constantly putting out fires in your business, leaving no time to build it.
• You feel overwhelmed and stuck in what we call “uphill, loose gravel mode” where every step forward is exhausting.
• Your leadership team lacks structure or accountability.
• You know you need to scale, but the operations just can’t support it yet.
If any of these sound familiar, you’re likely overdue for operational help.
What a COO Actually Does for You
The CEO is the visionary. The big ideas, strategic relationships, and long-term planning are your zone of genius.
But without a COO, those ideas never make it off the whiteboard.
Instead of focusing on growth, you’re buried in:
• Systems issues
• Hiring fires
• Process breakdowns
• Client delivery gaps
That’s when businesses start to plateau or worse, decline.
Not Ready for a Full-Time COO? Consider a Fractional One.
Enter the Fractional COO.
A Fractional Chief Operating Officer brings high-level operational expertise to your business without the full-time salary or commitment.
They typically work:
• Part-time or on a retainer basis
• Remotely, with flexible engagement terms
• With a clear mission: to build systems, lead operations, and prepare your team to scale
We go deeper into this topic in our post What Exactly Is a Fractional COO? so check it out after this one.
Why a Fractional COO Is the Smart First Step
Hiring a fractional COO is like test-driving executive leadership without the risks of a full-time hire. Here’s why it works:
Cost-Effective
No six-figure salary, no executive benefit packages, just results.
Scalable & Flexible
Work with them for a few months or a year, depending on your growth stage.
Built-In Exit Plan
A great fractional COO works themselves out of a job. They’ll build the foundation, hire their full-time replacement, and even train your internal team.
Minimal HR Headache
No lengthy onboarding. No executive search drama. Just immediate impact.
Don’t Wait for the Pain to Get Worse
If your gut is telling you it’s time for operational help, you’re probably already behind. The most successful founders don’t wait for things to break. They bring in the right support before it gets costly.
Let ATLATL Business Solutions help you stop firefighting and start scaling.
Book a free discovery call today → Contact Us
