What does a fractional COO do for a consumer products brand?
A fractional COO runs a consumer brand’s operations part time, usually one to two days a week: inventory and cash, sourcing and production, 3PL and freight, the systems that hold orders and stock, and the operating plan the CEO and CFO run against. Unlike a consultant, they own the outcome and manage the people and vendors.
| Area | What they actually do |
|---|---|
| Inventory and cash | Reorder points, open-to-buy, aged stock cleanup, and the cash plan behind the next purchase order. |
| Sourcing and production | Factory selection and onboarding, cost negotiation to a margin target, and a time-and-action calendar per style. |
| 3PL and freight | Selection and moves, carrier contracts, ship-window performance, and cost per order. |
| Retail and wholesale | Forecasts by account, retailer compliance, EDI, and chargeback control. |
| Systems | An ERP or inventory platform connected to Shopify, Amazon, and wholesale, so finance and ops read the same numbers. |
| Team and plan | Operating plan, KPI reporting, hiring plan, and who owns what when they step back. |
What the first quarter looks like.
- Weeks 1 to 3
Audit
Find where cash and margin leak, ranked in dollars.
- Month 1
Stabilize
Stop stockouts, missed ship dates, and surprise freight bills.
- Months 2 to 3
Build
Reorder points, 3PL terms, system workflows, KPI reporting.
- After
Hand off
The team runs the cadence. The COO steps back to advisory or out.
Related questions.
Is a fractional COO the same as an operations consultant?
No. A consultant delivers recommendations and leaves. A fractional COO runs the weekly meeting, manages the team and vendors, and stays through the fix.
How is it different from an EOS integrator?
An integrator runs a meeting rhythm and accountability across the whole company. A fractional COO for a consumer brand is hands-on in supply chain, inventory, and retail execution.
What size brand needs one?
Usually $2M to $30M in revenue, where operations are too complex for the founder and too small for a full-time COO.