Your Business Has Outgrown How It Operates. Let's Fix That.
You don't need a full-time Chief Operating Officer. You need the same result. Operational clarity, reduced founder dependency, and a business that runs without you in every decision, at a fraction of the cost.
Practical. Results that outlast the engagement.
I'm Drew Robins, a Fractional COO based on the Gold Coast, working with manufacturers and B2B businesses across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and nationally. I've spent 30 years in operational and commercial leadership roles across Australia, the UK, and Europe.
Growth Creates Problems That Hard Work Alone Can’t Solve
Most business owners reach a point where the business they built starts working against them. Revenue is growing, but so is the chaos. You’re working harder than ever, but it doesn’t feel like progress.
You might recognise one of these:
- You’re the bottleneck. Every decision, every exception, every problem lands with you. Nothing moves without your involvement.
- Your systems haven’t kept up. What worked at $3M is breaking at $8M. Delivery is inconsistent, orders are missed, and your team is firefighting.
- You’re preparing to scale or raise capital, and you know the operational foundation needs to be solid before you take that step.
- You’re thinking about exit. You know a buyer will look hard at how your business runs. Right now, what they’d find doesn’t reflect the business you’ve actually built.
If any of these feel familiar, this is exactly where a fractional COO makes the difference.
Built for Founders and Directors Ready to Do Something Significant
Manufacturers
You run a complex operation with real lead times, real capacity constraints, and real consequences when things go wrong. I’ve spent years working inside manufacturing businesses. I understand the operational levers that actually matter.
B2B Business Owners ($2M–$40M)
Your business is established and growing. The challenge isn’t winning work, it’s delivering it consistently and building the infrastructure to support the next stage without everything depending on you.
Founders Preparing for What’s Next
Whether you’re scaling, raising, or preparing to exit, the operational foundation of your business determines what’s possible. Getting that right now changes everything that comes after.
What This Looks Like in Practice
A Gold Coast Builder: 140 Days to 11
A residential builder was running 20-week build timeframes. The systems behind the business had outgrown what was in place. We rebuilt production SOPs, quality control and scheduling from the ground up, and added a new modular system that now delivers in 11 days from the same team.
“Every phase has produced real deliverables, not reports sitting in a drawer. If you are a builder or manufacturer who needs someone to come in and build the system rather than just tell you what it should look like, Drew is your man.”
Tayne Watson, Managing Director, Gold Coast builder
Inner Bath & Shower: Operational Structure
A business owner reached out feeling the business was out of control. Following the standard diagnostic model, we built the role structure, reporting lines, and systems the business needed to move from founder-dependent to running on its own.
“Since then, we have been building the actual systems the business needs: role descriptions, customer journey maps, staff handbooks, recruitment frameworks. All designed around one goal: reducing the dependence on me so the business can grow without me being the bottleneck.”
Andrew Lawson, Managing Director, Inner Bath & Shower
How It Works, and What It Costs
A clear path, with no long-term commitment required upfront
Every engagement starts with a free 30-minute conversation, then a 1-Day Operational Diagnostic from $2,000. If you go ahead, a 90-day engagement costs $24,000 to $60,000 + GST, depending on whether it's one or two days a week. It's scoped from the diagnostic and priced upfront, so there are no surprises. For comparison, a full-time COO typically costs $100,000 to $260,000 a year before super, recruitment and on-costs.
Each step stands on its own. You decide whether to take the next one.
30-minute conversation
An honest look at what's holding the business back. No pitch, no proposal.
1-Day Operational Diagnostic
A day inside your business, or two for larger or multi-site operations. You leave with a clear roadmap, whether or not we work together.
90-day fractional COO
If you want help delivering it, I embed with your team.
What people usually ask before getting in touch
How much does a fractional COO cost?
It starts with a complimentary 30-minute conversation. The 1-Day Operational Diagnostic is from $2,000. If you go ahead, a 90-day engagement is $24,000 to $60,000 + GST, depending on scope, and is priced upfront. For comparison, a full-time COO typically costs $100,000 to $260,000 a year before super, recruitment and on-costs.
Do you work onsite in Brisbane?
Yes. I’m based on the Gold Coast, 90 minutes from the Brisbane CBD, and work onsite with Brisbane clients regularly. Most engagements combine onsite days with remote support.
How is this different from hiring a consultant?
Most consultants advise from the outside and produce a report. I work inside your business alongside your team until the changes are built and stick. There’s a significant difference between a recommendations document and someone who’s accountable for the outcome.
Will I become dependent on you long-term?
The 90-day engagement is designed with a specific outcome in mind. Solve the operational problem, build the systems and processes to support it, and leave your team with the capability and documentation to run it without external support. The engagement ends with your business stronger and more self-sufficient, not reliant on ongoing involvement.
How much of my time does this require?
Less than you’d expect, and that’s by design. The goal is to reduce your involvement in day-to-day operations, not add to it. We agree a weekly cadence that works for your schedule.
Do I have to commit to 90 days upfront?
No. The 30-minute conversation and the 1-Day Diagnostic are separate decisions. The 90-day engagement only proceeds if we’re both confident it’s the right fit.
What industries do you work with?
My primary focus is manufacturers and B2B businesses in the $2M–$40M range. I have deep experience in building products, industrial supply, and trade-facing businesses, but the operational principles transfer broadly.
Ready to find out?
Looking for a Fractional COO in a specific city? I work regularly with businesses in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. Visit the relevant page for local availability and details.
Ready to Talk?
If your business has outgrown how it operates and you’re ready to do something about it, the first step is a 30-minute conversation. No obligation, no long proposal to sit through.
Or call Drew directly: 0468 794 040