Frequently Asked Questions
Who does OptimizedExecs work with?
We work with companies navigating a meaningful business transition where the current leadership structure is no longer adequate to carry the organization forward.
That includes companies that are:
Scaling faster than their operations can support
Navigating ownership changes, leadership departures, or restructuring
Preparing for succession, a sale, or a new phase of growth
Working through a significant inflection point, even when "growth" isn't the right word for it
What do you mean by "businesses in transition"?
Transition means your company is at an inflection point where the way you've been operating no longer fits where you're headed.
That can look different depending on the business:
A company scaling quickly but struggling to keep execution consistent
A leadership team working through a planned or unexpected departure
An owner preparing the business for sale, succession, or a new partner
A company post-acquisition that needs to stabilize and integrate
A business that is operationally stable but structurally overdue for a leadership refresh
The common thread that connects all these different organizations is change and the recognition that leadership capacity needs to evolve alongside it.
How is OptimizedExecs different from traditional fractional services?
We assess your leadership gaps, match the right operators to your team, and manage the engagement so you don't have to. Our signature FractionalFlex™ model gives you a fixed monthly leadership capacity that adapts as your priorities shift. We bring in the right executives, at the right time, and save you the overhead of bringing on full-time hires.
What does it cost to hire a full-time vs. fractional C-Suite Executive?
Let’s first establish what it costs to hire a full-time COO.
Once you account for:
Salary: $180,000–$250,000
Benefits, equity, overhead: Add 30–40%
Recruiting fees: minimum $50,000
Job search time: 3–6 months
Onboard and on-ramp time: 6 months
You're looking at at least a $300,000 investment and countless hours spent searching, training, and onboarding someone new.
A fractional COO strategically matched to your business by OptimizedExecs, by comparison, works for you 2 or 3 days a week and:
Charges a monthly retainer. Those tend to start at $6,000 and cap out around $15,000.
No benefits, equity, or overhead
Can start in as soon as two weeks
Costs $72,000–$216,000 per year
The same cost structure applies across the fractional leaders we place — CFO, CRO, CMO, and others — making full leadership coverage accessible at a fraction of the full-time equivalent cost.
What questions should I ask before hiring a full-time fractional?
We’ve actually put together a (FREE) guide to help you. You can find our ‘7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Fractional Leader’ guide here.
How does OptimizedExecs maintain continuity across an engagement?
Every engagement is anchored by a dedicated fractional leader who owns accountability and execution from day one. As priorities shift and additional fractional executives are brought in for defined outcomes, your anchor remains constant.
How do you decide which additional fractional leaders are needed?
During the first 30 days, your Fractional Anchor works closely with the CEO to assess priorities and build a leadership plan aligned to company goals. We hand-select additional fractional leaders as we uncover needs and organizational goals.
What is a Fractional COO?
A Fractional COO is an experienced operations executive who embeds into your business part-time to oversee execution, align teams, and act as the operational integrator, without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.
What is COO-Led FractionalFlex™?
With FractionalFlex™ you commit to a fixed number of leadership hours per month, anchored by a Fractional COO. As priorities evolve, additional fractional executives (CFO, CRO, CMO, etc.) are brought in to achieve defined outcomes, then transitioned out when goals are met.
Do you replace my internal team?
No. Our Fractional Leadership teams do not replace your internal team. We work alongside them.
Your hand-picked fractional leadership strengthens leadership structure, clarifies ownership, and helps your team operate more effectively.
For more information, check out our 7-step checklist for hiring a fractional leader.
How many hours per month do we need?
Engagements typically start at a minimum of 20 hours per month for a Dedicated Fractional and engagements vary based on leadership needs and goals. Capacity is fixed monthly, while leadership allocation remains flexible.
Do you use EOS®, Five Facets, or other frameworks?
Yes, when appropriate. Our fractional leaders are certified in proven frameworks such as EOS®, 5 Facets of Business™, and Kolbe. These are tools we use to support execution, not rigid methodologies we sell.
You can view all our offerings on our Services Page.
How do you match the right leader to my business?
We use Kolbe assessments and structured discovery to match execution styles between our fractional leaders and the CEO. We take fit seriously to strengthen working dynamics and improve results.
What happens if our needs change mid-engagement?
That's exactly what we designed FractionalFlex™ for. Your leadership mix can shift as priorities change, without renegotiating contracts or disrupting execution.
What does the assessment process look like?
We start with a short leadership diagnostic: a 12-question assessment that takes about two minutes to complete. It's designed to surface where your leadership structure is strong and where gaps may be limiting execution, clarity, or scale.
The assessment covers four dimensions:
Leadership Capacity: whether your leadership can support growth without creating bottlenecks
Execution Discipline: how consistently your team turns priorities into results
Leadership Structure: clarity in roles, responsibilities, and decision-making
Leadership Coverage: which key leadership functions are present and which are missing
After completing our Assessment, you'll receive a personalized Leadership Leverage report with analysis and recommendations specific to where your business is right now. From there, a discovery call helps us confirm fit and identify the right engagement model.
What's the next step if I'm interested?
Start with our assessment and a discovery call.
We'll confirm fit, leadership needs, and which engagement model makes the most sense for your business.