In this episode, Melissa dives deep into one of the most common (and crucial) questions she gets asked:

How do I know when it's time to hire a fractional COO?

From being the bottleneck in your business to feeling scared to scale, Melissa shares the top 8 signs that signal it's time to bring in experienced operational leadership — and what to look for when vetting a fractional executive.

You’ll learn:

• What a fractional COO actually does (and doesn’t do)
• Why seasoned operations support is different from hiring a VA or DOO
• How business size, structure, and growth stage factor into COO readiness
• The difference between strategy-only support and strategy + execution
• How to evaluate if someone is truly a “real-deal” operations executive
• Why past experience and credentials matter more than titles

Plus, Melissa shares personal insight into how On Call COO matches experienced operators with the right businesses—and the red flags to avoid when searching for one.

Whether you’ve tried hiring operations support before or you’re just starting to explore the idea, this episode will help you determine the right time, the right role, and the right fit to help your business thrive.

💡 Mentioned in the episode:

→ Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Melissa and the team at On Call COO: www.melissafranks.com/fractionalcooservices

Listen if you’re:

✅ A founder overwhelmed by growth

✅ A CEO with big vision but no roadmap

✅ Tired of hiring people who need constant direction

✅ Wondering if operations help could actually change your life

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if this episode hit home!