A practice manager coordinates day-to-day admin. A full-time COO owns operating strategy and execution but is a permanent senior salary. A fractional COO gives you that same senior operating leadership part-time on a monthly retainer — the right fit for most founder-led firms that need the thinking but can’t yet justify a full-time hire.
The three roles at a glance
| Fractional COO | Full-time COO | Practice manager | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Operating strategy + execution | Operating strategy + execution | Day-to-day admin & coordination |
| Seniority | Senior operator | Senior operator | Mid-level |
| Commitment | Monthly retainer, rolling | Permanent salary + on-costs | Permanent salary |
| Typical UK cost | From ~£3k / month | ~£90k–£150k+ / year + on-costs | ~£30k–£45k / year |
| Time to value | Immediate | 3–6 months to hire & ramp | Weeks |
| Best when | You need senior operating thinking but can’t justify full-time | You’re large enough to need one every day | You need coordination, not strategy |
| Main risk | Low — short minimum term, cancel after | High — recruitment, salary, notice periods | Medium |
Cost figures are a rough UK guide, not a quote — they vary by firm size, location and scope.
When a practice manager is enough
If your systems and strategy are sound and you mainly need someone to keep the day-to-day moving — deadlines, admin, coordination — a practice manager is the right, most affordable answer. The limit is seniority: a practice manager coordinates the operation, but usually isn’t positioned to redesign it.
When a full-time COO makes sense
Once a firm is large and complex enough that operations need someone senior every single day, a full-time COO earns their salary. Below that size, a full-time hire is a big fixed cost and a long commitment to make before you know it’s working — and good operators are hard to recruit.
When a fractional COO is the sweet spot
For most founder-led accountancy firms between roughly £250k and £3m in fees, a fractional COO is the practical middle ground: full senior operating leadership, starting immediately, at a fraction of the cost, with a short minimum term instead of a permanent commitment. You get the thinking and the execution without the recruitment risk. That is exactly what the Optivo Monthly COO is built to be.
Common questions
Can a fractional COO become a full-time hire later?
Yes — many firms use a fractional COO to build the operating foundation and prove the value first, then hire a full-time operator (or promote internally) once they’re large enough to justify it.
Is a fractional COO cheaper than hiring?
Almost always, in total cost. There’s no salary, employer’s NI, pension, benefits, recruitment fee or notice period — just a monthly retainer you can stop after a short minimum term.
Which do I need if I already have a practice manager?
Usually a fractional COO. The two roles complement each other: the COO redesigns how the firm operates; the practice manager runs the day-to-day within it.
Let’s build a firm that runs without you in the middle of it.
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