Fractional COO  ·  Service-Based Businesses

Work on your business.
Not in it.

Most owners get trapped managing the day-to-day: firefighting, filling gaps, doing work that should belong to someone else. I step in as your Fractional COO and build the systems, processes, and infrastructure that free you to focus on what only you can do.

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Michael Bernstein
Michael Bernstein Fractional COO  ·  Los Angeles, CA

About

Built across industries.
Deployed wherever it matters.

Over the past decade, I have been embedded inside the operations of service businesses across seven industries: architecture and design, construction and trades, sports and entertainment, technology startups, travel, real estate, and service marketplaces.

My deepest experience is in AEC. I spent six years building the operational foundation of a dual-office architecture and design firm in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, then led operations at a high-growth construction services company managing 100+ employees and $30M in annual revenue. In both cases, I joined organizations that had outgrown their systems and left them with the structure, visibility, and processes to scale.

The problems are rarely unique to the industry. Growing service businesses share a common set of failures: decisions made without data, revenue lost to process gaps, and good people spending time on work that should not exist. I fix that.

As a Fractional COO, I embed with founder-led and owner-operated businesses to build the operational foundation their next phase requires.

Industries

One discipline.
Seven industries.

Every business is different. The operational gaps rarely are.

Architecture & Design
Construction & Trades
Sports & Entertainment
Technology & Startups
Travel & Hospitality
Real Estate
Service Marketplaces
Don't see your industry? Let's talk →

Services

What I do

Every engagement is scoped to your business's specific stage and needs. I embed as a senior operator, not a consultant who hands you a deck and leaves.

Operational Systems & Process Design

I design and implement the SOPs, workflows, and cross-functional structures that bring consistency and accountability to your business, from intake through close-out.

  • Standard operating procedures
  • Cross-departmental workflows
  • KPI definition & performance tracking
  • Vendor & subcontractor management

Finance & Back-Office Buildout

From AP/AR and payroll coordination to project budgeting and executive reporting, I build the financial infrastructure that gives leadership real visibility into what is happening.

  • Budgeting & financial oversight
  • AP/AR workflow design
  • Payroll & benefits administration
  • Contract & insurance management

Technology & Automation

I implement and integrate the systems your business needs: project management, billing, and dashboards. Then I build the automations that eliminate manual work at scale.

  • Software selection & implementation
  • API integrations & data pipelines
  • Workflow automation (Zapier, Power Automate)
  • Executive dashboards (Power BI, SQL)

HR, Compliance & Risk

I build the people operations and risk controls that protect your business, from hiring and onboarding through compliance, licensing, and contract execution.

  • HR operations & policy design
  • Compliance & licensing management
  • Risk identification & mitigation
  • Legal coordination & contract administration

How I Work

What an engagement looks like

No retainer for retainer's sake. Every engagement follows a clear arc with defined outcomes at each stage.

01

Assess

I spend the first two to four weeks inside your business. I review financials, map your workflows, talk to your team, and identify exactly where time and money are being lost. You get a clear picture of what is working, what is not, and what to fix first.

02

Build

I design and implement the systems, processes, and infrastructure your business actually needs. Not a template. Not a playbook borrowed from a different industry. Everything is built around how your business operates and where it is going.

03

Operate

I stay embedded as your fractional COO, owning the operational agenda alongside your leadership team. As the business evolves, so does the work. You get a senior operator without a senior executive salary.

Results

By the numbers

A track record built across real businesses in demanding industries.

$24M+ Annual revenue under operational oversight
100+ Employees across field and office teams managed
68% Reduction in payment delays
500+ Automated workflows deployed, freeing staff for higher-value work
10+ Years leading operations inside service-based businesses
7 Distinct industries with hands-on operational leadership

Who I Work With

The right fit matters on both sides.

I keep my client roster small by design. At any given time, I work with a limited number of businesses so each one gets my full attention and involvement.

Currently accepting a small number of new clients.

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The businesses I work best with are typically:

  • Founder-led or owner-operated service businesses
  • Teams between 10 and 150 people
  • Revenue between $2M and $50M
  • Leaders who know something needs to change but are not sure where to start
  • Businesses preparing for a growth push, a key hire, or an eventual exit
  • Organizations where the owner is still doing operational work they should not be doing

Get in Touch

Let's find out if we're a fit.

I take on a limited number of new clients each quarter. The first conversation is 30 minutes with no obligation. If there is a fit, we will know quickly.

Request a Consultation

Or reach me directly at michael@mbernstein.me