Fractional COO pricing
Fractional COO Cost: Monthly Prices and How They Work
Fractional COO cost is usually a monthly retainer set by how much of the executive's time you buy. Wayne Fraser's three engagements run from $3,500 per month to $10,000–$12,500 per month, each tied to an approximate time commitment.
On this page
- What a fractional COO costs with Wayne Fraser
- How to read the three prices
- How fractional COO pricing works
- What drives fractional COO cost up or down
- Published COO salary figures in Canada
- Why a salary and a monthly fee are not the same thing
- When a fractional COO is not the cheaper answer
- Questions to ask any fractional COO about cost
- Where to go from here
- Frequently asked questions
What a fractional COO costs with Wayne Fraser
Wayne Fraser offers three engagements, each priced per month against an approximate time commitment. The table shows the fee, the time and what each one covers.
| Engagement | Monthly fee | Approximate time | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale-Up Advisory | $3,500 | Approximately 1 day per month | For founders who need Wayne in the room but do not need embedded execution. |
| Fractional COO | $7,500 | Approximately 1.5 days per week | Weekly leadership meeting, operating system, KPI management, strategic execution, process improvement, team accountability, founder advisory and technology and AI decisions. This is Wayne's primary offer. |
| Fractional COO + AI Transformation | $10,000–$12,500 | Approximately 2 days per week | Everything in the Fractional COO engagement, plus AI opportunity assessment, AI implementation, workflow automation, AI-enabled processes, technology architecture, vendor selection, AI governance and implementation oversight. |
How to read the three prices
Each price is a monthly figure paired with an approximate time commitment. The three differ in how much of Wayne's week goes to your company. They also differ in how much of the work he takes on.
The Scale-Up Advisory engagement suits a founder who needs Wayne in the room but does not need embedded execution. It carries the lowest fee and the least time, at approximately 1 day per month.
The Fractional COO engagement is Wayne's primary offer, at $7,500 per month for approximately 1.5 days per week. It includes a weekly leadership meeting, an operating system, KPI management and the other items in the table.
Fractional COO plus AI Transformation covers everything in the Fractional COO engagement and adds the AI work listed above. It runs $10,000–$12,500 per month at approximately 2 days per week.
How fractional COO pricing works
Fractional COO pricing usually takes one of three shapes: a monthly retainer, an hourly rate or a fixed project fee.
A monthly retainer buys a set share of the executive's time and attention. It works for ongoing operating work, where the executive needs to stay close to the company.
Hourly billing suits short, defined questions. For continuous operating work, it can push a founder to ration access to the executive instead of using them freely.
A project fee suits one defined outcome, such as a process redesign with a clear finish. It fits poorly when the scope will change as the company learns what is wrong.
Whichever shape a fractional COO uses, the fee usually covers the executive's time. Software, new hires and outside vendors often sit outside it, so ask what the fee excludes.
What drives fractional COO cost up or down
Five factors can move the price of a fractional COO.
- Time commitment: more days each week usually means a higher fee, since fewer hours remain for other work.
- Scope: advice alone usually costs less than running the operating rhythm, managing KPIs and holding a team accountable.
- Execution: an executive who helps carry out the plan does more than one who only recommends it.
- Seniority and track record: experience running companies through growth and change is often priced accordingly.
- Company complexity: several teams, locations or systems mean more to untangle in the same number of hours.
Published COO salary figures in Canada
Two published sources give salary figures for the chief operating officer title in Canada. Talent.com and Indeed Canada each report their own average. Both are employee salary averages for the title, across all company sizes.
| Source | Average per year | Range reported | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talent.com (Canada, 2026) | $97,000 | Entry-level positions start at $90,000; most experienced workers earn up to $126,000 | Employee salary figures for the title, all company sizes |
| Indeed Canada (updated September 13, 2026) | $133,049 | Typically $79,943 to $221,436 | 137 salaries reported; employee salary figures for the title, all company sizes |
Why a salary and a monthly fee are not the same thing
A salary and a fractional monthly fee measure different things.
A salary pays one person to work for one company, full time. Salary is usually only part of what an employee costs, because benefits, payroll costs and recruiting often come on top.
A monthly fractional fee pays for a defined share of an outside executive's time. The executive usually carries their own overhead and works with other clients. Depending on the agreement, a company can often adjust the arrangement more easily than it can end a permanent role.
The useful comparison is between what each option delivers. Ask which one puts the right leadership on the right problems for enough days each week. The fractional COO versus full-time COO comparison sets that out in full.
When a fractional COO is not the cheaper answer
A fractional COO is not always the cheaper answer. Paying for part of an executive tends to cost less in total when the company needs only part of one.
An outside executive can cost more per hour than an employee. The fee often reflects the provider's overhead, and their working days are shared among clients.
If a company needs an operating leader most days, a full-time hire may cost less per hour of attention. It may also fit better, because a full-time COO can manage a large team every day.
Wayne's best fit is a founder-led company with $2M–$10M in revenue and 15–50 employees. Companies of that size have money and complexity, but are usually too small to justify a full-time COO. See who Wayne works with for the full profile.
Questions to ask any fractional COO about cost
Five questions make quotes comparable, whoever sends them.
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What time does the fee buy?
Ask for the commitment in days per week or per month, and whether it is fixed or flexible. Two fees are hard to compare until you know the time behind each.
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What does the fee cover?
Ask for a written list of responsibilities and outputs. A vague role description makes value hard to judge.
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What sits outside the fee?
Software, hires, vendors and travel are common items to check. Ask who pays for each and who approves it.
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Who does the work?
Ask whether the executive does the work personally or hands it to others. A senior name on a proposal is not the same as senior hours.
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How will you know it is working?
Agree the KPIs or outcomes early and write them down. Without them, a monthly fee has no measure attached.
Where to go from here
If a monthly fee for part of an executive fits your company, compare the options against your real problems. Don't compare them against a salary alone. You can start a conversation about your situation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fractional COO cost?
A fractional COO usually costs a monthly retainer tied to time. Wayne Fraser's engagements start at $3,500 per month for approximately 1 day per month. The top tier is $10,000–$12,500 per month for approximately 2 days per week. Other fractional COOs set their own prices.
What is a fractional COO salary?
A fractional COO is usually paid a fee rather than a salary. Published salary figures therefore describe employees with the COO title. Talent.com reports an average of $97,000 per year for the COO title in Canada. Indeed Canada reports an average of $133,049 per year. Both are employee salary averages across all company sizes.
Is a fractional COO cheaper than a full-time COO?
A fractional COO is not automatically cheaper than a full-time COO. The company buys part of an executive's time instead of all of it. Total cost depends on how much time it needs. The two are not like for like, and the hourly cost of an outside executive can be higher. If the work needs an operating leader most days, a full-time hire may cost less per hour of attention.
What is included in a monthly fractional COO fee?
A monthly fractional COO fee covers a defined share of the executive's time and the responsibilities agreed for it. Wayne Fraser's Fractional COO engagement costs $7,500 per month. It includes a weekly leadership meeting, an operating system and KPI management. It also includes strategic execution, process improvement, team accountability, founder advisory and technology and AI decisions.
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