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Steph Birch

Birch Strategic Services | Blog

By Steph Birch, Founder & Transformation Catalyst

Revolutionising Business: The Fractional COO Solution

Steph Birch

CREATED BY STEPH BIRCH

Published: 23/09/2025 @ 09:00AM

#FractionalCOO #Operations #ScaleUp #Leadership #BusinessTransformation #Strategy

How can a Fractional COO transform operations for scaling organisations? In this blog post, I'll explain how they can help leaders gain a pragmatic roadmap for their business ...

Fractional COO-ing, Defining the issues, Improving the business

Fractional COO-ing, Defining the issues, Improving the business

In volatile markets, leaders need executional firepower without bloated overheads; a Fractional COO such as myself delivers senior operational leadership on a flexible, outcomes-driven basis, aligning strategy with execution while controlling cost and risk.

Any business looking to scale needs an experienced
operator engaged part-time or for a defined term!

They can architect processes, lead delivery, and build capability - typically owning OKRs, cross-functional cadence, and scaling playbooks - without the permanence or full-time cost of a traditional appointment.

A Fractional COO creates leverage fast, compressing months of trial-and-error into weeks, by installing clarity, cadence, and accountability.

What else can they do?

  • Align strategy to execution through precise operating rhythms, roles, and KPIs.
  • Reduce cost-to-operate by rightsizing teams, renegotiating suppliers, and eliminating waste.
  • Accelerate scale with standardised processes, automation, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Stabilise delivery during rapid growth, M&A integration, or post-investment transformation.
  • Increase investor confidence via transparent reporting and predictable performance.
  • Build internal leaders, ensuring capability remains after the engagement.

Engage a Fractional COO when growth outpaces operational maturity, execution stalls despite strong demand, or a full-time executive is premature, unavailable, or unnecessary for the stage and budget.

So who would need a Fractional COO right now?

  • Seed to Series B firms that need a structured approach before hiring a permanent operator.
  • PE-backed roll-ups that require rapid integration within strict timelines.
  • Family businesses seeking to enhance their governance without disrupting their culture.
  • Turnarounds demanding decisive stabilisation before strategic repositioning. Operating Model and Implementation

To realise value quickly, define scope, authority, and success metrics upfront; the Fractional COO should own a concrete fixed-termvalue plan(90 days, 180 days or more) with measurable outcomes.

For organisations seeking speed, discipline, and scalable systems without overcommitting headcount, a Fractional COO offers a precise, high-ROI intervention and delivers operational excellence.

And that will leave a stronger, self-sustaining business for tomorrow.

Until next time ...

STEPH BIRCH
Founder & Transformation Catalyst

Would you like to know more?

If anything I've written in my blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more of my thoughts about Fractional coo revolutionises business then do feel free to connect with me on Linkedin or call me on 07772 588024 and let's see how I can help you.

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#FractionalCOO #Operations #ScaleUp #Leadership #BusinessTransformation #Strategy

About Steph Birch ...

Steph Birch 

With over 17 years of hands-on experience, Steph is that rare unicorn who’s done it all - and done it brilliantly. From transforming scrappy contact centres into high-performing hubs, to leading full-scale functions across finance, tech, product, data, compliance, sales and more - she’s scaled it, fixed it, or rebuilt it from the ground up.

Steph’s superpower? Blending big-picture strategy with sleeves-up execution. She’s led operational strategy at board level in industries like Insurance, SaaS, Tech and BPOs — and knows how to drive results whether she’s supporting a scrappy founder or steering a complex enterprise. She’s passionate about people, powered by data, and obsessed with making operations smoother, smarter, and future-ready. 

Are you ready to go from firefighting to future-focused, without losing the heart of your business?

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