Problem 01
The founder is the bottleneck
- Everything comes back to the CEO
- Decisions aren't getting made
- Managers aren't accountable
- The founder spends too much time managing
- There is no operating rhythm
Fractional COO · AI Transformation Partner
Your company has outgrown the way you operate.
I work with founder-led companies as a Fractional COO and AI Transformation Partner, turning operational complexity into a scalable operating system.
- 25+ Years turning ambitious plans into working businesses
- $30M BP contract won after a product recovery
- 250% Operating efficiency increase on an ERP redesign project
The positioning
People + Process + Technology + AI
The problems I solve
Growth has created complexity. It needs an operating system.
Problem 02
The company has outgrown its systems
- Too many spreadsheets
- The CRM isn't being used properly
- Poor reporting and no clear KPIs
- Broken handoffs and meetings everywhere
- Processes live inside people's heads
Problem 03
Everyone is talking about AI, but nobody knows where to use it
- AI experimentation everywhere, and no AI strategy
- Employees using random tools
- No governance
- Lots of talk, little ROI
- Automation opportunities haven't been identified
How I work
The 90-Day Scale-Up Operating System
I don't deliver a strategy document and walk away. I work alongside your leadership team and help execute the plan.
Diagnose
I assess strategy, organization, leadership, processes, technology, revenue operations, KPIs, AI opportunities and founder bottlenecks.
Deliverable
The Scale-Up Diagnostic: what's broken → why → what matters → what to fix first.
Design
I create the 90-day priorities, operating cadence and accountability structure.
- 90-day priorities
- Operating cadence
- KPI dashboard
- Accountability structure
- Process priorities
- Technology priorities
- AI opportunity map
- Leadership responsibilities
Implement
Now I help carry out the plan with your leadership team.
- Weekly leadership meeting and KPI rhythm
- Process redesign
- AI pilots and automation
- Team accountability
- Vendor management and technology decisions
- Hiring and organizational changes
- Strategic initiatives
Case studies
I've been in the room when the stakes were high.
Lighting manufacturing · Crisis leadership
Turning a $3M LED crisis into a $30M growth opportunity
About $3M of LED product destined for client locations was failing, with inventory spread across multiple US warehouses. I hired over 30 people and we completed the recovery in 30 days. A $30M contract with BP followed, and the team earned BP's Supplier of the Year award.
- 30 days Against a 45-day deadline
- ~5,000 Sites deployed worldwide
Manufacturing · ERP transformation
From fragmented operations to an integrated digital manufacturing platform
I redesigned the company's accounting, sales, order entry and manufacturing processes around an integrated Odoo ERP platform. Customers could configure products online and have those orders flow directly into production and billing.
- +250% Operating efficiency
- 2× Throughput
- +25% Profitability
Managed services · New business unit
From $0 to $850K in monthly recurring revenue in under two years
I took responsibility for building an international managed services business unit: the operations, the team and the sales support. It became a multi-award-winning operation.
- $850K Monthly recurring revenue
- 50 People across 6 countries
Engagements
Three ways to work together
I work with a small number of founder-led companies.
Scale-Up Advisory
About 1 day per month
$3,500/month
For founders who need me in the room but don't need embedded execution.
Explore Scale-Up AdvisoryFractional COO
Primary offerAbout 1.5 days per week
$7,500/month
- Weekly leadership meeting
- Operating system and KPI management
- Strategic execution
- Process improvement
- Team accountability
- Founder advisory
- Technology and AI decisions
Fractional COO + AI Transformation
About 2 days per week
$10K–$12.5K/month
Everything in the Fractional COO engagement, plus:
- AI opportunity assessment and implementation
- Workflow automation and AI-enabled processes
- Technology architecture and vendor selection
- AI governance and implementation oversight
Who I work with
Large enough to have money and complexity. Usually too small to justify a full-time COO.
I help founders turn growth-stage chaos into an operating system that works. I align people, processes, technology and AI so the founder can get out of the weeds and back into growth.
See who I work with- Revenue
- $2M–$10M
- Employees
- 15–50
- Founder
- Still deeply involved
- Stage
- Growing, restructuring or preparing to scale
- Systems
- Starting to break down
- AI
- Interested, not yet operationalized
- Geography
- BC and Canada, initially
Why me
A fractional executive, not another consultant
For more than 25 years, I've helped organizations turn ambitious plans into businesses that actually work. I've built companies, created new business units, led major transformations and built international teams.
My work doesn't end with a strategy document. Alongside your leadership team, I learn how the business operates and find what's getting in the way of growth. Then I build a practical plan and help execute it.
A problem that looks like technology may be a process problem. A process problem may be an accountability problem. Sometimes the real problem is that the organization has outgrown the way it operates.
My objective is simple
Make the business easier to run, easier to scale and more valuable.
Sectors worked across
- Technology
- Manufacturing
- Professional services
- Education
- Healthcare
- Entrepreneurial businesses
Frequently asked questions
What does a fractional COO do?
A fractional COO runs the operating side of a company on a part-time basis. That covers leadership meetings, KPIs, process improvement, team accountability, founder advisory and technology decisions. The role turns the founder's priorities into routines that the team can repeat.
How much does a fractional COO cost?
A fractional COO usually costs a monthly retainer tied to time. Wayne Fraser's engagements start at $3,500 per month for approximately 1 day per month. The top tier is $10,000–$12,500 per month for approximately 2 days per week. Other fractional COOs set their own prices.
What is the difference between a fractional COO and a full-time COO?
A fractional COO works a defined share of the week, while a full-time COO works every working week. Both can cover the same operating responsibilities. They differ in time, cost structure, speed of start and how easily the arrangement can change.
When should a founder hire a fractional COO?
A founder should hire a fractional COO when the founder is the operational bottleneck and senior operating leadership is missing. Other signs are systems that have outgrown the company and AI interest that has not become practice. If the workload fills every working week, a full-time COO is the better answer.
What is an AI transformation partner?
An AI transformation partner typically helps a company find where AI fits and puts it to work there. Wayne Fraser describes himself as a Fractional COO and AI Transformation Partner. In his engagement, the AI work is added to the Fractional COO work.
What size company needs a fractional COO?
The size of company that needs a fractional COO depends on complexity, and no single headcount applies. Wayne Fraser's best fit is a founder-led company with $2M–$10M in revenue and 15–50 employees. Other sizes can also need one.
From the insights library
Book a conversation
If your company has outgrown the way it operates, let's talk.
Tell me what's getting in the way of growth right now.
Initially, my focus is founder-led companies in BC and Canada.
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