Founding COO Jobs UK
Startup and founding COO opportunities
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What type of COO do you need?
Key Takeaways
- 1Fractional COOs work 1-3 days per week, providing senior expertise without full-time costs
- 2UK day rates range from £800 to £1400, depending on experience and sector
- 3Typical engagements save 50-70% compared to full-time executive hires
- 4Ideal for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs needing strategic leadership
- 5No employment overhead: no pension, NI, benefits, or notice periods
Founding COO Roles
Quick Definition
Founding COOs build operations and scale ventures from early stage. These roles combine equity with competitive salary for operators who turn chaos into systems.
UK Founding COO Market
UK founding COO demand comes from scaling startups needing operational leadership. Series B and growth-stage companies actively recruit experienced operators.
Typical Profile
| Area | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Experience | 10+ years operations leadership |
| Track Record | Scaling startups or high-growth |
| Skills | Process, team building, execution |
| Equity | 1-3% typical founding COO stake |
Cost Comparison
Fractional vs Full-Time Executive
Your Potential Savings
£172k+
Time Allocation
How fractional executives spend their time
UK Fractional Executive Day Rates
Compare day rates across C-suite roles
Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time
Choose the right engagement model
| Aspect | Fractional | Interim | Full-Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Commitment | 1-3 days/week | 4-5 days/week | 5 days/week |
| Duration | Ongoing/flexible | 3-12 months | Permanent |
| Annual Cost | £50-150k | £150-300k | £200-400k+ |
| Best For | SMEs, startups, scale-ups | Crisis, transitions | Large enterprises |
| Flexibility | ★★★ High | ★★☆ Medium | ★☆☆ Low |
Costs are indicative UK market rates. Actual costs vary by role, experience, and sector.
Calculate Your Day Rate
Calculate Your Potential Income
Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. COO UK average day rate: £950.
BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.
Related Executive Roles
Complementary leadership for your organisation
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know
A founding COO builds operations including processes, teams, and execution systems.
Related Pages
The Fractional Executive Trend
Industry data on the rise of fractional leadership
of executives who moved to fractional work report higher job satisfaction
Source: Harvard Business Review ↗Platform Stats
Founder's background
📊 COO Market Snapshot
💰 COO Day Rates
Based on 2026 market data for UK COO roles.
