You started your business with a vision – to change the world, solve a problem, or provide for your family. But now, instead of owning your business, you find yourself being owned by your business. You feel out of control; nothing is working; you’ve hit the metaphorical ceiling and are not making the profit (or the income) you desire.

You know you need the help of an experienced manager. Perhaps you tried a business coach, but getting advice didn’t change things.

You need a second-in-command. You need a COO or Integrator.

When you need a COO, you are looking for someone typically with years of experience and education — much more than most companies can afford for their first COO.

How do you move forward if you cannot afford what your company needs? You cannot keep struggling in your Visionary role while being the full-time Integrator.

Consider A Fractional Integrator or COO

• Typically, a Fractional Integrator/COO works remotely with your company. This saves you from creating a separate executive office.

• Fractional Integrators/COOs do not require an elaborate executive hiring process — thus, you do not have to build separate HR processes for just one position.

• Being a contract employee, the Fractional Integrator/COO does not require executive benefits, bonuses, or perks.

• A Fractional Integrator/COO creates a try-it-before-you-buy-it experience, allowing you to kick the tires and determine what you need from a full-time Integrator/COO.

• The Fractional Integrator/COO is there to work themselves out of a job — they focus on building your company so you can truly afford a full-time COO in the future, and they can even help you find and hire their replacement.

• If the Fractional Integrator/COO does not work out, let them go — firing an executive can be a grueling situation fraught with cost and legal dangers, but letting a contract employee go is relatively easy.

When hiring your first Integrator or COO, do not wait. However, consider whether a Fractional Integrator or COO is right for your business.

The right time to hire a Chief Operating Officer (COO) or Integrator is before trouble appears in your company. The reality is that most businesses realize they need a COO too late.

Signs that you need a COO or Integrator:

A COO should come from outside your company, especially your first one. Insiders are typically part of the problems you are facing. They seldom have the required knowledge, skills, or experience to leap.

Learn more about the Fractional COO position by reading this Forbes article.