You started your business with a vision – to change the world, solve a problem, or provide for your family. But now instead of owning your business, you find yourself being owned by your business. You feel out of control; like nothing is working, You’ve hit the metaphorical ceiling and you are not making the profit (or the income) you desire. You know you need the help of an experienced manager. Perhaps you tried a business coach, but getting advice didn’t change things. You need a second-in-command. You need a COO or Integrator. When you need a COO, you are looking for someone typically with years of experience and education — much more than most companies can afford for their first COO. If you cannot afford the likes of what your company needs, then how do you move forward? You cannot keep struggling in your Visionary role while being the full-time Integrator. Consider A Fractional COO • Typically, a Fractional COO works remotely with your company. This saves you from creating a separate executive office. • Fractional COOs do not require an elaborate executive hiring process — thus, you do not have to build separate HR processes for just one position. • Being a contract employee, the Fractional COO does not require executive benefits, bonuses, or perks. • A Fractional COO creates a try-it-before-you-buy-it experience, allowing you to kick the tires and determine what you need from a full-time COO. • The Fractional COO is there to work themselves out of a job — they focus on building your company so you can truly afford a full-time COO in the future, and they can even help you find and hire their replacement. • If the Fractional COO does not work out, let them go — firing an executive can be a grueling situation fraught with cost and legal dangers, but letting a contract employee go is relatively easy. When it comes to hiring your first COO, do not wait. However, consider whether a Fractional COO or Integrator is right for your business.