Fractional COO vs Management Consultant
The difference between recommendations and results
Consultants tell you what to do and leave. A fractional COO does the work and stays until it's working. Most small businesses need implementation, not another deck.
The Consultant Problem
Pay $50K+ for a strategy engagement
Get a beautiful 100-page report
Consultant leaves
Report sits on a shelf because no one has time to implement it
A fractional COO skips to implementation. Less analysis, more action, better results.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Fractional COO | Management Consultant |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Output | Working systems & processes ✓ | Reports & recommendations |
| Monthly Cost | $2,500-$7,500 ongoing ✓ | $10K-$50K+ per project |
| Engagement Style | Part of your team, ongoing ✓ | External advisor, project-based |
| Who Implements | The fractional COO ✓ | You (or another hire) |
| Strategic Analysis | Practical, focused on execution | Comprehensive, often academic |
| Industry Benchmarking | Limited | Extensive research capabilities ✓ |
| Team Training | Hands-on, learns alongside team | Formal training programs |
| Accountability | Owns outcomes, not just advice ✓ | Advisory only |
Choose Fractional COO When...
- You need someone to DO the work, not just advise
- Implementation has been your bottleneck
- You want ongoing operational leadership
- Previous consulting projects gathered dust
- Your budget can't support $50K+ project fees
- You need results, not reports
Choose Consultant When...
- You need extensive industry benchmarking
- The board wants external validation
- You have strong internal execution capability
- It's a one-time specialized analysis
- You need political cover for hard decisions
- Academic rigor matters more than speed
The Numbers Reality
of consulting recommendations never get implemented
typical cost for Big 4 operational assessment
annual cost for fractional COO including implementation
Common Questions
Why are consulting projects so expensive?
Large consulting firms have massive overhead (offices, research teams, partner profits). They also price based on perceived strategic value, not hours worked. A fractional COO has minimal overhead and prices for ongoing partnership, not one-time project fees.
What happens after a consulting engagement ends?
You get a report (often impressive) and recommendations. Then the consultant leaves. Implementation falls to you or your team. This is where most consulting projects fail — not because the advice was wrong, but because execution never happened.
When does a consultant make sense?
Consultants shine when you need: (1) deep industry benchmarking, (2) an external perspective for board presentations, (3) specialized expertise you'll only need once, or (4) political cover for difficult decisions. If execution is your bottleneck, a consultant probably isn't the answer.
Can a fractional COO do strategy work?
Yes, but differently. A fractional COO does strategy through implementation — figuring out what works by actually doing it, then refining. It's more iterative and practical than a consultant's approach, which tends to be front-loaded analysis.
Get Implementation, Not Just Recommendations
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