Most businesses under $100M don’t need a COO

Most businesses under $100 million don’t need a COO.

In fact, in many, if not most, cases a COO would slow down decision-making, add unnecessary cost, confuse reporting lines, and generally be a drag on the business.

But a Fractional or Interim COO like me, that’s a different story. 

I’m busy, and getting busier, because this is the role many companies need, whether they’re doing $5M or $150M in revenue. Founders, CEOs, and PE firms bring fractional COOs when they hit a complex manufacturing challenge that exceeds the internal knowhow, reach an inflection point for their brand, or need to set up the tools and processes to carry them to the next milestone. Almost always this happens when the company has achieved rapid growth, or hit a wall. I’ve heard founders say “We’re all working so hard, but nothing seems to be working.” The ideal fractional COO brings urgency, diverse skills, focus, and structure, without long-term overhead on the payroll.

Of course not all fractionals are alike. Some operate with the mindset ingrained from years at a Fortune 1000 enterprise. Like peace-time generals, they’re leaders, but not doers. Others are more like wartime generals and they bring a different approach: focused on moving in the right direction with urgency. They don’t pretend to be the long-term solution, don’t expect big budgets or support teams, and that’s exactly why they’re effective. They’re scrappy.

So why hire a fractional COO? 

Because most sub-$100M companies need is someone who can:

✔️ Unlock profitability through improved manufacturing

✔️ Tighten up operations so growth doesn’t break the business

✔️ Build systems that scale with demand

✔️ Support leadership across any function—marketing, finance, HR, or elsewhere

Then leave.