What is a "Fractional Partner"?
Think of a Fractional Partner as the high-caliber partner your bootstrapped brand wishes it had—someone to provide clarity, direction, and leadership to take your business to the next level.
Helping you step out of execution and work on the business
Our job is to help you step out of the day-to-day grind and focus on the bigger picture: building the business itself, aligning your strategy, and turning your vision into reality.
Making decisions together with you and your leadership team
Think of a Fractional Partner as a high-touch decision-partner. They don’t just lead workshops—they join your leadership team to help shape and guide decisions with expertise and care.
The partner and board member you’ve been missing
A Fractional Partner provides the clarity you need to grow profitably, acting as the highly engaged board member (you don't have) who uses the Clarity Canvas framework to guide your business.
Facilitates and participates in clarity workshops with your team to ensure alignment, buy-in, and a clear path forward.
Analyzes your finances using the Financial Clarity Canvas to spot profit opportunities and guide smarter decisions.
Shapes your growth strategy with the Strategic Clarity Canvas, helping you focus on the most profitable areas.
Aligns your team on what needs to happen immediately and develops actionable initiatives using the Operational Clarity Canvas.
The most impactful support model for bootstrapped brands
Your problem isn’t execution—it’s clarity. A Fractional Partner helps you step back, shape your strategy, and make decisions that unlock your business’s full potential.
Ready to put this model to work?
Discover the difference
FAQs
Many business owners think hiring a CMO, COO, or CFO will solve their problems—but without a clear strategy, these roles can’t be as effective as they should be.
A fractional partner comes first because they help you define the big picture—clarifying your strategy, aligning your business, and ensuring every decision leads to profitability. Without that clarity, hiring high-level executives often leads to wasted resources and misalignment.
Once your strategy is solid, then you can bring in a CMO, COO, or CFO to execute it effectively. Alternatively, if you already have key team members in place, a fractional partner can work alongside them to shape the plan before they implement it.
This approach maximizes ROI—solving high-level business problems first with a fractional partner, so that when you invest in full-time leadership, they’re set up for success.
A fractional partner focuses on strategy first because fixing execution alone won’t make your business successful. There are already many tools—like EOS, Scaling Up, and other operating systems—that help businesses streamline execution. But just because your business is systemized doesn’t mean you’re building the right business.
We found that most brands don’t fail because of poor execution—they fail because they lack clear strategy. Most systems out there are too simplistic, helping you organize tasks but not ensuring you’re focused on the right things.
That’s where a fractional partner comes in. We work with strong operators who already know how to execute—but need clear direction on where to go and how to get there.
That said, a fractional partner does touch execution—once strategy is clear, we help set up an Operational Clarity Canvas to define key initiatives and execution priorities. But execution always comes after strategy—otherwise, you risk building the wrong thing.
A fractional partner works best for businesses that are already generating revenue, have a team in place, and are ready to take action.
To get the best results, your business should have:
At least $1M in sales.
Most businesses that benefit from this model fall between $1M and $20M in revenue—big enough to need strategic clarity but still lean enough to move quickly.
An action-oriented mindset.
We challenge assumptions and refine how things are done. For this to work, you need to be open to change and ready to execute once decisions are made.
An owner actively involved in the business.
A fractional partner works with owner-operated companies where the founder or leadership team is hands-on in driving growth.
A small but capable team.
This model isn’t for solo entrepreneurs—we’re here to develop the company, not just the individual. You need at least a core team in place to implement strategic shifts.
A brand-building mindset.
Industry doesn’t matter, but businesses that see themselves as brands and want to strategically design their growth get the most value from working with a fractional partner.
If your business fits these criteria, a fractional partner can help you gain extreme clarity and move forward with confidence.
A fractional partner isn’t just for struggling businesses—it’s for brands that are already working but need strategic clarity to grow profitably.
If your business does at least $500K to $1M in revenue and you know how to execute and get things done, but you're feeling stuck, losing profit, or unsure where to focus next, that’s where a fractional partner makes the biggest impact.
Unlike EOS or other business operating systems that help streamline execution, a fractional partner doesn’t just improve your systems—they help you focus on the right things, ensuring your efforts lead to real growth.
If you’re already operating well but need clear direction on what will actually move the needle, a fractional partner can help you take your business to the next level.
The fractional partner model is designed for bootstrap brands because these businesses face a unique challenge—they need high-level strategic support but don’t have the resources of VC-backed startups.
Why bootstrap, not VC-backed startups?
Startups backed by investors have access to top talent, board members, and deep networks that provide guidance and capital to hire high-caliber executives. Bootstrap brands, on the other hand, don’t have that built-in support system and often can’t afford full-time strategic leadership—which is exactly where a fractional partner fits in.
Why brands, not just any business?
Not every business needs this level of strategy. Companies focused purely on execution can often get what they need from EOS or other business operating systems that help them streamline operations. But a brand—especially one looking to grow into something bigger—requires strategic design, long-term vision, and clarity that goes beyond just execution.
Bootstrap brands need a structured way to gain clarity, align their efforts, and grow profitably—and that’s exactly what a fractional partner helps with.
A fractional partner can work with investor-backed businesses, but only if the focus is on profitable growth.
Many VC-backed companies prioritize hyper-growth at any cost, often making decisions based on expansion rather than profitability. That’s not what we do. Every tool, framework, and method we use is built around making financially sound, profit-driven decisions.
Another key factor is decision-making authority. In many investor-backed companies, the board or investors control major decisions, which can slow down the process. A fractional partner works best with owner-led businesses—where leadership has the authority to commit to a strategy and take action quickly.
If your business has raised capital but operates with a profit-first mindset and full decision-making control, then a fractional partner can be a great fit. But if decisions require board approval or the goal is growth at any cost, this model won’t be the right fit.
Mindset and decision-making speed matter more than funding. Whether bootstrapped or investor-backed, a fractional partner works best when leadership is focused on smart, profitable growth and can move quickly on strategic decisions.
A fractional partner works with the entire leadership team—including the owner.
Strategy isn’t a solo effort. By involving the whole team, we:
1. Get diverse input – The best decisions come from open discussions, not just one perspective. We bring the team together to shape the right path forward.
2. Ensure full buy-in – When everyone is part of the process from day one, there’s no need to convince people later. Execution becomes faster and smoother.
3. Create momentum & alignment – The process builds team cohesion and makes strategy something the team is excited about—not just another task.
While the owner plays a key role, we lead discussions with the full leadership team to ensure the strategy is clear, actionable, and ready to implement immediately.
A fractional partner helps you make better decisions by giving you clarity on the most important areas of your business.
We use the Clarity Canvas Framework to guide you through all the key strategic questions your business needs to answer. Instead of guessing, we help you and your team think through each decision, align on a plan, and gain full visibility into what needs to happen next.
By working through this structured process, you’re not just making decisions—you’re making the right decisions, based on strategy, alignment, and long-term profitability.
A fractional partner is a long-term resource, but not a full-time role in your business. The frequency of engagement depends on your needs.
At the start, we work closely to help you set up your Clarity Canvases—covering strategy, financials, and operations. Once you have a solid foundation, our involvement shifts to a zoomed-out, high-level role, helping you stay on track.
After the initial engagement, you might meet with your fractional partner quarterly or yearly—similar to how you’d check in with a highly involved board member. These check-ins help course-correct, refine strategy, and make sure your business stays aligned for profitable growth.
We work best with teams that know how to execute but need big-picture clarity at key moments to ensure they’re always moving in the right direction.
We work based on the Clarity Canvas Framework, helping you implement, refine, and update your strategy to maximize profitability.
If you want to know more about what it’s like to work with a fractional partner—including the process and cost—visit our services page