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Best Fractional COOs for Small Businesses
Fractional COO Services for Small Businesses
In cities around the world, small businesses form the backbone of local economies. From boutique shops to tech startups, every small enterprise needs operational clarity to scale efficiently. Enter the Fractional COO, a flexible operations leader who brings executive-level strategy, process optimization, and leadership guidance without the cost of a full-time hire.
At Digital Reference, we’ve curated a global list of the best Fractional COOs for small businesses, carefully selecting professionals through a rigorous methodology:
- Extensive research: We comb through LinkedIn, company websites, and client testimonials.
- Evaluation of operational impact: How have they helped small businesses scale, improve efficiency, or navigate HR and workforce challenges?
- Global reach: Our list includes freelancers, solo operators, and firm-based COOs from any location who demonstrate measurable success.
If you’re exploring how fractional leadership transforms operations, you may also want to check out How Fractional Executives Transform Small Business Operations and Operational Strategy for Growing Teams.
Let’s meet the Fractional COOs who are helping small businesses thrive, one streamlined process at a time.
🌟 Meet Fractional COO for Small Businesses Making things Happen
🟢 Jeff Gray
Fractional COO | Independent Consultant
Jeff Gray has over 20 years of experience helping small businesses optimize operations and scale effectively. He specializes in cross-functional process improvements, HR integration, and building operational frameworks that give CEOs more time to focus on growth. Jeff has worked with clients across retail, professional services, and tech startups, providing tailored solutions to each business's unique challenges.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Operational strategy and process design
🥝 Team management and HR alignment
🍋 Cost reduction without compromising growth
🍎 KPI development and monitoring
🟢 Kate Sapsford
Founder & COO | Founder and Principal at Build The Framework
Kate Sapsford focuses on framework-driven operational efficiency. Through her company, Build The Framework, she helps small businesses structure operations so they scale sustainably. Her experience ranges from developing operational playbooks to aligning teams with organizational goals. Clients value her ability to simplify complex operations while maintaining a focus on culture and employee engagement.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Operational playbook creation
🥝 Process optimization and workflow alignment
🍋 Employee engagement and team culture
🍎 Strategic growth planning
🟢 Stacey Neathery
Fractional COO | Independent Consultant
Stacey Neathery is known for helping small businesses refine operational structures to improve efficiency and profitability. She combines deep knowledge of operations with a focus on team development and HR practices, ensuring small teams work smarter, not harder. Stacey’s approach often includes technology adoption to automate repetitive tasks and enhance operational visibility.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Operational efficiency and workflow automation
🥝 HR integration and team coaching
🍋 Resource allocation and cost management
🍎 Technology adoption for small businesses
🟢 Mandy Poston
Fractional COO | Independent Consultant
Mandy Poston brings strategic operational leadership to small businesses looking to scale. Her specialty lies in aligning operational processes with business goals, including financial oversight, HR alignment, and workflow automation. Mandy has a track record of helping businesses streamline their operations while building strong leadership pipelines.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Business process alignment
🥝 Team development and HR strategy
🍋 Cost management and operational KPIs
🍎 Scalable workflow implementation
🟢 Kendall Crocker
Fractional COO for early stage startups at Sliced Bread Ventures
Kendall Crocker focuses on helping small businesses optimize operational structures for growth. He has experience implementing metrics-driven strategies and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Kendall is particularly skilled in helping businesses identify operational bottlenecks and establish systems to increase productivity.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Metrics-driven operational planning
🥝 Cross-functional team leadership
🍋 Process bottleneck resolution
🍎 Performance monitoring and KPIs
🟢 Jennifer Mitchell
Founder & COO | Wren Insight Group
Jennifer Mitchell is passionate about helping small businesses run smarter. Through Wren Insight Group, she provides hands-on operational support, including HR strategy, project management, and team optimization. Her clients praise her ability to translate operational data into actionable strategies that improve efficiency and profitability.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Operational analysis and improvement
🥝 HR strategy and leadership coaching
🍋 Project management optimization
🍎 Business performance reporting
🟢 Robert Cosentino, CPA, CA
Fractional COO & Financial Operations Advisor
Robert Cosentino combines financial expertise with operational leadership, helping small businesses align their operational decisions with fiscal goals. He works extensively with startups and growing businesses to implement scalable operational systems, budget controls, and performance tracking mechanisms.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Financial operations alignment
🥝 Scalable process implementation
🍋 Budget and resource management
🍎 Performance and KPI tracking
🟢 Scott Anderson
Fractional COO | Independent Consultant
Scott Anderson specializes in operational leadership for small businesses seeking growth without sacrificing efficiency. His work often involves streamlining team operations, integrating new technology, and ensuring alignment between business strategy and day-to-day processes.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Team operations and workflow design
🥝 Tech integration and automation
🍋 Strategic process improvement
🍎 Operational reporting and oversight
🟢 Faye (Cawthra) Williams
Fractional COO | Independent Consultant
Faye Williams has a rich background in small business operations and leadership coaching. She specializes in helping teams streamline workflows, optimize HR practices, and implement scalable processes. Faye’s approach blends operational strategy with hands-on support, making her a trusted partner for small business founders who want to focus on growth without getting bogged down by day-to-day operational challenges.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Workflow optimization
🥝 HR strategy and team alignment
🍋 Process scalability
🍎 Leadership coaching
🟢 Marci Goodman-Dobrow
Fractional COO | Independent Consultant
Marci Goodman-Dobrow brings a strategic and analytical lens to small business operations. She has extensive experience implementing operational systems that increase efficiency while improving team productivity. Marci is recognized for her ability to integrate operations with HR strategy, helping small businesses maintain a strong culture as they scale.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Operational system design
🥝 Team productivity enhancement
🍋 HR and operations alignment
🍎 Data-driven process improvements
🟢 Jack Browning
Fractional COO | Independent Consultant
Jack Browning focuses on turning operational chaos into structured growth. His expertise lies in process optimization, resource allocation, and integrating operations with financial strategy. Jack is highly skilled at identifying inefficiencies and building repeatable systems that allow small businesses to scale confidently.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Process optimization and workflow management
🥝 Resource planning and allocation
🍋 Operational efficiency strategies
🍎 Performance monitoring
🟢 Aimee Costello
Fractional COO | Independent Consultant
Aimee Costello is known for helping small businesses align operational practices with growth goals. She brings expertise in team management, operational systems, and HR integration, ensuring that scaling doesn’t compromise company culture or efficiency. Aimee is particularly valued for her collaborative style and hands-on approach.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Operational alignment with strategic goals
🥝 HR integration and team leadership
🍋 Process efficiency and system design
🍎 Scalable operational frameworks
🟢 Darren Lim
Fractional COO | Independent Consultant
Darren Lim specializes in optimizing small business operations for growth and scalability. He has a background in project management and process improvement, helping small teams streamline their workflows while implementing performance tracking systems. Darren’s ability to connect operations with HR and team productivity makes him a valuable partner for small business leaders.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Process optimization and project management
🥝 Performance tracking systems
🍋 Operational workflow streamlining
🍎 Team productivity improvement
🟢 Nick Gray
Founder & COO | MapMind
Nick Gray is the driving force behind MapMind, where he helps small businesses implement structured operational systems. Nick combines strategic foresight with hands-on operational execution, ensuring that small businesses can scale efficiently while maintaining a strong organizational culture.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Operational system design
🥝 Team management and HR alignment
🍋 Process scalability and efficiency
🍎 Strategic planning for small businesses
🟢 Laura Allen
Founder & COO | The Fractional Agency
Laura Allen leads The Fractional Agency, specializing in providing executive operational leadership to small businesses. Laura’s expertise lies in aligning operations with strategic business objectives, optimizing workflows, and integrating HR processes to support scaling. She is praised for her hands-on coaching style and ability to implement systems that deliver measurable results.
💡 Key strengths:
🍒 Strategic operational leadership
🥝 Workflow optimization and HR integration
🍋 Scaling operations efficiently
🍎 Coaching and mentoring leadership teams
Wrapping Up: Fractional COOs Driving Small Business Success
Each of the professionals featured in this list brings a unique approach to operational leadership. From workflow optimization and HR integration to process scalability and financial alignment, these Fractional COOs provide the guidance small businesses need to grow without growing pains.
By hiring a Fractional COO, small business leaders gain executive-level expertise that ensures:
- Smooth daily operations and process efficiency
- Scalable systems to handle growth
- Strong HR integration and team development
- Data-driven decision-making
At Digital Reference, we don’t just list consultants; we curate professionals who shape industries. From Fractional COOs to CFOs, CMOs, and HR experts, our platform ensures small businesses can connect with the right leaders to scale smarter, faster, and with confidence.
For more insights, discover more from Digital Reference:
♦️ Best Fractional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Services in Canada
♦️Best Fractional COOs in London
♦️ Best Fractional COOs in Los Angeles
Operational growth isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about strategy, culture, and clarity. With the guidance of a Fractional COO, small businesses can navigate growth successfully while staying aligned with their mission and vision.
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