when you're ready to
Outsource Your Operations
Emerge, scale, and advance without breaking the budget.
Companies who outsource
benefit from a clear path
Allowing you and your team to do more of your most important work with less strain and stress.
CEOs of growing organizations often find themselves pulled in too many directions and no one to hand things off to... until now.
the coo value
The Outsourced COO is a customized (and budget savvy) solution to overwhelmed entrepreneurs who are exceeding their capacity and in need of support for themselves, their employees, and a growing business.
what is Outsourcing your operations?
Outsourcing your operations is a quarterly retainer service where business operations & strategy specialist, Katie Taylor, detects the needs of your organization based on your existing infrastructure and goals. She fills the COO position, as long as necessary, anywhere from 2-20 hours per week depending on your budget & priorities.
She works within your organization using her role to deliver creativity, insight, and wisdom through an analytically-skilled and empathetic leadership lens to calm the chaos and swap out futile hustle for highly effective help.
the coo job description
Does this sound like a position your team would benefit from?
Review efforts & outputs to optimize workflows and improve productivity.
Understand and analyze all departments and company mission to identify and plan for areas of opportunity.
Strong and unique leadership style representing all teams' interest with empathy, responsibility, and self-awareness.
Increase sales, reduce costs, monitor progress updates, identify and help resolve corrective areas that arise.
Develop, communicate, and implement systems and processes for profitability and performance.
wait, there's more!
Here's what else Katie brings to your continued efforts & success:
Strong analytical skills with ability to creatively approach ideas, problems and opportunities.
Masterful organization of details and operations with ability to clearly communicate to and on behalf of many parties.
Unique ability to take big picture vision and integrate it into daily tasks and break down complex ideas into easy to understand, action oriented conversations and decisions.
Maintain focus of company brand plans and goals while facilitating a comfortable environment that allows all voices to be heard, validated, and supported.
As a CEO, small business owner, or industry thought leader who has successfully transformed your expertise into an in-demand organization, you know how valuable it is to:
Feel heard, validated, and energized about your opportunities, aspirations and business goals
Have a mindset that turns the natural struggles of business into evolution & growth with meaning and purpose
Provide direction through trust & collaboration rather than lording power and authority over others
Make things happen quickly with the available resources so as not to get bogged down in the details or caught in decision paralysis
Make things happen quickly with the available resources so as not to get bogged down in the details or caught in decision paralysis
Have deep connection and support where it’s okay to not “always have it together” as the one everyone looks to for answers
Have deep connection and support knowing it’s okay to not “always have it together” as the one everyone looks to for answers
Truly understand the wants and needs of your customers to serve them in the most fulfilling and impactful ways
Truly understand the wants and needs of your customers to serve them in the most fulfilling and impactful ways
Know and honor your convictions while being open to new ways of thinking and approaching your ideas
Know and honor your convictions while being open to new ways of thinking and approaching your ideas
Figure out and be confident in what you do and don’t want for your life and business
Figure out and be confident in what you do and don’t want for your life and business
About
Entrepreneurs come to me for one of two reasons. Either things aren’t working as well as they once were or aren’t working as well as they could. They know they’re beyond their “zone of genius”, but can’t always identify what to offload, and are unclear about what decisions need to be made.
You are a go-getter, who generally doesn’t need a 52-step development plan to make big things happen. Instead, you need a partner who uses their thinking to respond and inform others in ways that inspire and empower.
Deepening your leadership this way allows for a sensing and strengthening of your organization's greatest skills and potential so that you can continue forward with your growing business instead of outgrowing it.
You’ll gain the advantage of my 15 years experience in organizational leadership, development, entrepreneurship, marketing, website and brand design, business strategy, and non-profit event director roles. As well as my experience with additional tools used in my own professional practice including The Enneagram, Trauma-Informed Entrepreneurship, and Clifton Strengths.
retainer details
it's not a you problem, it's a time & energy limitation.
Some of the most commonly misguided approaches to the CEO capacity dilemma
Leadership programs Yes. Wonderful for growing certain skills or performance but doesn’t give you more hours in a day. A full plate is a full plate, no matter how excellent your leadership. At some point the needs exceed your excellence and efficiency.
Coaching Again, the type of service where you bear the burden of its outcome. Someone with a specific scope of expertise tells you what to do, not to do, how and why from their perspective and then steps away for you to do certain things as discussed. This doesn’t solve the deeper issue or free you from your already very taxing workload.
Hiring or restructuring is not totally out of the question, but at this point, that’s more like performing surgery without knowing if you need to fix a bone or remove an organ. A very dramatic and costly response to a mysterious ailment. There’s a good bit of pre-work that will benefit this decision-making process.
According to one study published in Harvard Business Review, 72% of a CEO’s time is spent in meetings and is most often divided between people & relationships (25%), organization and culture (16%), strategy (21%), operating plans (4%), and crisis management (1%).
“We found that, indeed, time is the scarcest resource for CEOs.”
-Michael Porter, Harvard professor/researcher behind the study
Areas of Service Expertise as Your Fractional COO
develop, oversee, manage, improve the following:
- organic marketing
- brand messaging
- paid advertising opportunities
- social media marketing strategy
- website design, strategy, & SEO
- consistent brand identity and visual brand presence
- new offers
- market analysis & company positioning in the marketplace
- regular team communication
- liaison between team, contractors, and other stakeholders
- daily operations
- process development & implementation
- conflict resolution
- meeting management
- identify areas to organize and streamline to improve productivity efficiency
- assess, analyze & report on profitability options
- budget Operating Needs & reporting
- offers and profit infrastructure
- standard operating procedures
- target market tracking
- email marketing strategy
- client awareness opportunities (lead magnets, sales pages, etc.)
- identify & support new idea opportunities
- Tech Innovation & use of systems, software, & tools
- ensure excellence in customer care (onboarding, service delivery, post-service, offboarding, and feedback opportunities)
- organization internal & external communication
- Processes for effective word of mouth & referral based marketing and lead gen
- effective community engagement strategies
- KPIs based on organizational goals and growth plan
- organizational chart, role descriptions & responsibilities
- identify hiring needs
- establish and promote company policies to support team wellbeing and a healthy team culture
- lead employees and evaluate individual and organizational performance
- effective, human-first sales processes that lead with value, connection, and service
- Plus... access to Katie’s wide network of providers & industry experts
The biggest benefit of The Outsourced COO is more time freedom, so you can focus on:
1
expertise
Expertise related work that keeps you connected to the passion & purpose behind your business dreams.
2
opportunity
Networking, engagement, and pursuing new and exciting opportunities for your organization.
3
talent
Team talent, hiring & onboarding, ongoing development, training, satisfaction, & retention.
4
well-being
Resting, recharging and enjoying more non-work related relationships and hobbies.
your priorities, opportunities, & budget = your options:
budget
Work within a set budget to receive the biggest impact from your outsourced hours.
needs
Use your organizational needs to determine an ideal set of hours to fulfill this role.
Understanding Your Investment: Our clients typically spend an average of $2,000 - $5,700 monthly over a 3-9+ month period to successfully accomplish their operational objectives. Our most budget-friendly option begins at $800/mo.
HOURS PER WEEK + PRICING
2 or 5 HOURS
i.e. essential work
10 or 15 HOURS
i.e. part-time support
20+ HOURS
i.e. full-time attention
how it works
set your retainer
Use our free quote & consultation process to determine your retainer needs.
onboard & begin
Secure your desired start date with a one-time activation fee that will be applied toward your first invoice.
quarterly agreement
Pay monthly. Cancel anytime- no cancelation penalties, ever. It's that easy!
Cancel anytime within the first 30 days, for any reason, and only pay for the hours received.
No hidden fees. No long term contracts. Increase or decrease your hours quarterly as needed. Hourly rate doesn't increase if you exceed your hours. Additional hour availability cannot be guaranteed.
a successful hire starting day one
If figuring out where to start isn't the hardest part, I don't know what is. That's why, if you prefer we have a plan in place before my first day, ask about an Integrative 360 Business Assessment. Usually about 2-3 hours, we walk through the data & details that help us decide where I'll put my attention starting on day one and what that will look like.
Investment: $495 - 1,155.
when you choose the outsourced coo
No hiring risk or long-term contracts
No HR overhead waste or high recruiter fees
Easily add or decrease hours anytime you need
You get the best fit for the job, regardless of yours or my location
you won't have to worry about...
The expense of a full-time salary
Signing bonus and/or equity distribution
Relocation fee or long delays to start date
Additional expense of benefits, PTO, and employee taxes
Leaders play a critical role in the wellbeing of their employees.
Leaders and managers may hold more influence over people's mental health than they ever thought possible.
60% of employees worldwide say their job is the biggest factor influencing their mental health.
For almost 70% of people, their manager has more impact on their mental health than their therapist or doctor.
81% of employees worldwild would prioritize good mental health over a high-paying job, and 64% admit they would take a pay cut for a job that better supports their mental wellness.
You can create lasting impact by raising leadership standards and investing strategically in the right support for your organization today.
Source: UKG.com Mental Health at Work
what exactly is
business operations?
business
What & where logistics of what you do and offer.
What & where logistics of what you do and offer.
How & why your impact is valuable to those you serve.
Who is behind your opportunities and success.
brand
How & why your impact is valuable to those you serve.
team
Who is behind your opportunities and success.
the outsourcing difference
When you outsource your business operation related responsibilities you'll reap many benefits. Some examples of the long-lasting impact you can expect are:
Immediate relief so you're no longer bursting at the seams with work each day, falling behind, or underdelivering as you go.
Updated workflows and procedures to alleviate the stress that comes from forcing your needs through expired processes.
An organic development process of this new role will clearly outline successful job descriptions for future hiring needs.
Implementing the best practices for your team so that their talents and efforts are more easily producing noticeably better results.
Industry Partnerships
Here are a handful of industries that have benefitted from working with Katie to grow, develop, and sustain their businesses:
family owned & operated
service providers
midsize corporate
brick & mortar
retail
real estate
non-profit
education & training
behavioral health & wellness
small business
solopreneurs
start-ups
your first 90 days
Planning for Success
I'm here to support your organization in whatever ways necessary. In most cases, our first 90 days together will be built around the following objectives. Whether this is all you are looking for, or you need more, The Outsourced COO is your preferred business operations partner.
Clarity on how to position yourself to execute the best version of your role so that you're able to continue putting your time toward things that most excite you. Transforming your overwhelming "needs" list into an action-oriented business development plan.
Develop breathing room with options for expanding your role and earning back some mental & emotional energy by shifting necessary tasks off your plate and identifying additional support and role opportunities.
Stabilization of existing business infrastructures to improve company wellbeing for brand sustainability and growth goals. Catching up on back-end backlog and positioning your teams' talents with renewed clarity, purpose, and capacity.
FAQs
operations outsourcing questions
There are two ways to handle this. The first is to start with a conservative hours estimation, knowing you can add on additional time needed at your retainer hourly rate. Or, choose a more comfortable range with the benefit of rolling over 5% of unused hours to the following quarter and either way making any retainer adjustments once you have a better idea of your ideal hours quota.
Absolutely and with pleasure! My home office is located in Loveland, OH (just north of Cincinnati). Each retainer will include a set amount of in-office days per quarter. If you find more in-office time would be beneficial, an additional 1 hour of your retainer bank will be considered fulfilled each occasion I'm personally in office. For remote companies, we keep travel as simple as possible using a standard state-side travel fee for airfare, accommodations, & per diem.
All clients of The Outsourced COO will have access to a private communication portal that houses important service documents including a standard cancel request form that you can submit anytime under the guidelines of your specific retainer package requiring 30, 45, or 60 days notice for cancelation.
Yes! If you're considering the benefits of a COO you can request a free consultation and recommendations report to help you identify the best step forward based on your priorities and budget. You can also take advantage of our Integrative 360 Business Assessment (optional add-on) if you'd like a more detailed plan in place that doesn't leave you solely responsible for the effort and attention in onboarding me as your newest team member.
The no-risk guarantee means that once we've agreed The Outsourced COO is the right fit for your company, services will be active for 30 days before your contract and quarterly agreement go into effect. At the end of that period, if for any reason, you decide not to move forward with The Outsourced COO you'll pay only for the hours received without any cancelation penalty. A standard $500 activation payment is required of all new clients, and will be applied toward your first invoice.
Unused hours, up to 5% of your retainer, will automatically roll over for one additional quarter, before those hours are forfeited. For Lite plan users, this is 3 hours per quarter. For Classic plan users, this is 5 hours per quarter. For Premium plan users, up to 10 hours may be rolled over, automatically, per quarter. Reduction requests to your retainer may be made anytime at least 14 days prior to quarter end, to be in effect the following quarter. All requests can be easily managed within your private client communication portal.
