Salary and compensation analysis - Fractional COO Salary UK Compensation Guide
Salary Guide 2026

Fractional COO Salary UK

Complete guide to fractional COO salary UK rates. Understand day rates, annual equivalents, and factors affecting compensation.

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£600-£1,200
Day Rate Range
£900
Average Day Rate
£60k-£145k
Annual Equivalent
2-3 days
Typical Engagement

Fractional COO Salary UK Overview

Fractional COO salary in the UK typically ranges from £600-£1,200 per day, with the average sitting around £900/day. This translates to annual earnings of £60,000-£145,000 depending on days worked per week and number of clients.

UK Market Context: According to HireChore (Aug 2025), full-time COO salaries range from £160,000-£320,000 annually, making fractional COOs at £60,000-£145,000/year a cost-effective alternative for growing businesses.

Working 2-3 days per week across multiple clients, fractional COOs can achieve annual earnings of £94,000-£210,000. The most successful fractional COOs specialise in specific domains like scale-up operations, e-commerce logistics, or PE-backed business integration, commanding day rates of £1,000-£1,400.

Experience

Fractional COO Salary by Experience Level

How experience and track record impact day rates and annual earnings.

Experience LevelDay RateAnnual (2 days/week)Typical Background
Entry-level Fractional£550-£750£57,000-£78,0008-12 years ops, first fractional role
Mid-level Fractional£750-£950£78,000-£99,00012-15 years, multiple fractional engagements
Senior Fractional£950-£1,200£99,000-£125,00015+ years, proven scale-up experience
Specialist (PE/M&A)£1,100-£1,400£114,000-£145,000Integration expertise, PE portfolio

Scaling Premium

COOs with demonstrable scaling experience (20→200+ employees, £1M→£20M revenue) typically command 15-25% higher rates than peers with similar years of experience but less quantifiable results.

Hourly

Fractional COO Hourly Rates UK

For ad-hoc consultations and project-based work.

Level / SpecialisationHourly RateBest For
Standard Consultation£95-£125/hourProcess reviews, ad-hoc advice
Senior COO (15+ years)£125-£175/hourStrategic planning, board presentations
Supply Chain Specialist£125-£200/hourLogistics audits, procurement strategy
M&A Integration£150-£225/hourDue diligence, integration planning

When to Use Hourly Rates

Hourly billing suits operational due diligence, process audits, or specific strategic decisions. For ongoing operations leadership, monthly retainers typically offer better value.

Retainers

Fractional COO Monthly Retainer Pricing

Ongoing operations leadership on a predictable budget.

STARTER
£2,500-£4,000
per month
  • • 1 day per week (4 days/month)
  • • Operations strategy oversight
  • • Process improvement guidance
  • • Team structure advice
Best for: Seed stage, small ops team
POPULAR
GROWTH
£5,000-£8,000
per month
  • • 2 days per week (8 days/month)
  • • Active operations leadership
  • • Process implementation
  • • Team hiring & training
  • • Board-level reporting
Best for: Series A-B, scaling teams
ENTERPRISE
£10,000-£15,000
per month
  • • 3+ days per week
  • • Full COO responsibilities
  • • Multi-site operations
  • • M&A integration
  • • PE portfolio work
Best for: PE-backed, acquisitions

Cost Comparison: A fractional COO at £6,500/month (£78,000/year) provides senior operations leadership at 50-65% less than a full-time COO total cost of £180,000-£280,000 (salary + benefits + bonus + recruitment). Source: HireChore.

Location

Fractional COO Salary by Location

Regional variations in fractional COO day rates across the UK.

LocationDay Rate RangePremium vs UK AvgNotes
London£800-£1,200+10-15%PE-backed, scale-ups, multi-site
Manchester£650-£1,000BaselineE-commerce, logistics, manufacturing
Birmingham£600-£950BaselineManufacturing, automotive, retail
Bristol£650-£1,000+5%Aerospace, defence, professional services
Leeds/Yorkshire£600-£950BaselineFinancial services, healthcare
Remote UK£550-£900-5-10%Competitive rates, wider talent pool

London Premium Explained

London rates are 10-15% higher due to concentration of PE-backed companies, multi-site operations, and complex supply chains requiring hands-on leadership.

Manufacturing Hubs

Manchester, Birmingham, and Yorkshire offer strong demand for COOs with manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain expertise, often matching London rates for specialists.

Specialisation

Fractional COO Salary by Specialisation

How operational expertise and domain specialisation impact earning potential.

Scale-up COO

Rapid growth, team scaling, process design

£900-£1,200/dayVery High Demand

E-commerce COO

Supply chain, fulfilment, logistics

£850-£1,100/dayHigh Demand

M&A Integration COO

Post-acquisition integration, carve-outs

£1,000-£1,400/dayHigh Demand

SaaS COO

Customer success, recurring revenue ops

£850-£1,150/dayGrowing Demand

Manufacturing COO

Lean operations, quality, efficiency

£750-£1,050/daySteady Demand

Professional Services COO

Resource planning, utilisation, delivery

£800-£1,100/dayGrowing Demand
Comparison

Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time COO

Understanding the salary and engagement differences.

FactorFractional COOInterim COOFull-Time COO
Day Rate£600-£1,200£900-£1,400N/A (salaried)
Monthly Cost£2,500-£15,000£16,000-£25,000£10,000-£16,000+
Annual Cost£30,000-£180,000£64,000-£100,000 (4-6mo)£180,000-£320,000+
Commitment1-3 days/weekFull-time (temp)Full-time (perm)
DurationOngoing (6+ months)3-12 months typicalPermanent
Equity0-0.75% (rare)0% typically0.5-2% typical
Best ForSMEs, startups, scale-upsCrisis, M&A, turnaroundLarge enterprises, £30M+

Savings Summary: A fractional COO at 2 days/week costs £62,000-£125,000/year vs £180,000-£320,000+ for a full-time COO (including salary, NI, pension, benefits, bonus, and recruitment fees). That's 50-70% savings while maintaining senior operations leadership.

Factors

Factors Affecting Fractional COO Salary

Key variables that determine your earning potential as a fractional COO.

+15-25%

Scaling Track Record

Experience growing companies from 20→200+ employees and revenue scaling

+15-20%

M&A Expertise

Post-acquisition integration, carve-outs, and operational due diligence

+10-15%

Industry Specialisation

Deep expertise in e-commerce, SaaS, manufacturing, or professional services

+5-10%

Process Certifications

Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean certification, CMI Chartered Manager

+10-15%

Team Size Managed

Experience managing 50+ person teams, multi-site operations

-5-10%

Engagement Length

Longer contracts (12+ months) may warrant volume discounts for certainty

Qualifications

Professional Bodies & Certifications

Key qualifications that impact fractional COO earning potential.

🏛️

CMI Chartered Manager

Chartered Management Institute

+5-10% rate premium

📊

Six Sigma Black Belt

Process Improvement Certification

+5-10% for ops roles

📦

CIPS Level 6

Procurement & Supply Chain

+5-10% for supply chain roles

👥

IoD Member

Institute of Directors

Network & credibility valued

Track Record Matters More

While certifications add credibility, demonstrable results matter more. COOs with proven scaling experience (20→200 employees, successful integrations, operational transformations) command 15-25% premiums regardless of formal qualifications.

Calculate

Fractional COO Salary Calculator

Calculate your potential earnings as a fractional COO

Fractional COO Earnings

Calculate Your Potential Income

£950
£750Avg: £950£1400
2.5 days
1 day5 days
2 clients
14
Weekly
£4,750
Monthly
£20,568
Annual
£228,000

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.

UK Tax

IR35 Impact on Fractional COO Salary

Calculate your take-home pay based on IR35 status

UK Tax Calculator

IR35 Take-Home Pay Calculator

See how IR35 status affects your earnings as a fractional executive

£900
4 days
48 weeks
Gross Annual: £172,800

Inside IR35

Umbrella company or deemed employment

Gross Revenue
£172,800
Employer's NI
-£8,611
Income Tax
-£50,632
Employee NI
-£5,098
Take-Home Pay
£107,259

Outside IR35

Limited company - salary + dividends

Company Revenue
£172,800
Corporation Tax
-£41,666
Dividend Tax
-£33,395
Take-Home Pay
£94,739
Being Outside IR35 Saves You
-£12,520
per year (-11.7% more)
BetaEstimates only. Consult a tax accountant. gov.uk/IR35
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about fractional COO salary and compensation.

The average fractional COO earns around £900 per day in the UK. Working 2-3 days per week, this translates to annual earnings of £94,000-£140,000. Entry-level fractional COOs start at £550-£750/day, while PE/M&A specialists command £1,100-£1,400/day.
Fractional COOs earn higher daily rates than full-time equivalents. A full-time COO earning £150,000 salary works out to roughly £577/day, while fractional COOs charge £600-£1,200/day. However, fractional COOs must cover their own benefits, pension, and manage multiple clients to achieve similar annual earnings.
Key factors include: (1) Scaling experience - growing companies 20→200+ employees, (2) Industry specialisation - e-commerce, SaaS, manufacturing, (3) M&A expertise - integration and carve-out experience, (4) Process certifications - Six Sigma, Lean qualifications, (5) Location - London rates 15% higher, (6) Team size - managing 50+ people increases rates.
Some fractional COOs receive equity grants (typically 0.25-0.75%) as part of their compensation, especially for longer engagements with startups. This is less common than for full-time COOs who typically receive 0.5-2% equity. Equity is usually offered in exchange for a reduced day rate.
A fractional COO working 3 clients at 1.5 days per week each (4.5 days total) at an average rate of £900/day could earn around £210,000 annually. However, this requires excellent time management and clear boundaries. Most fractional COOs work with 2-3 clients simultaneously.
IR35 status significantly impacts take-home pay. Outside IR35, a fractional COO on £900/day might take home approximately £630/day after corporation tax and dividends. Inside IR35, the same rate yields around £500/day after PAYE deductions. Many fractional COOs factor IR35 status into their rate negotiations.
Yes, rates are negotiable based on several factors: engagement length (longer contracts may offer 5-10% discount), days per week (volume discounts for 3+ days), payment terms (upfront payment may warrant discount), and equity trade-offs. Most fractional COOs have a minimum day rate but flexibility above that.
London fractional COOs typically earn 10-15% more than the UK average. London rates range from £800-£1,200/day, while Manchester and Birmingham average £650-£1,000/day. Remote-first fractional COOs often charge UK-average rates regardless of their location.
CMI Chartered Manager status, Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean certifications, and project management qualifications (PRINCE2, PMP) can add 5-10% to rates. More impactful is demonstrable track record: successful scaling experience, M&A integrations, and operational transformations.
Private equity portfolio companies and PE-backed businesses pay premium rates (£1,000-£1,400/day) for fractional COOs with M&A integration experience. E-commerce and SaaS companies also pay above-average rates (£850-£1,100/day) for COOs with scaling expertise.

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Fractional COO Salary UK 2026 | Day Rates, Annual Earnings & Compensation Guide | Fractional Quest