Rates, 2026
What should a fractional COO charge in a smaller market?
About $1,225 a day for a fractional COO who is working and booked in a smaller US market. $850 in the first years, $1,600 when senior.
Other markets: New York or LA · a major city · remote
First years
$850
a day · $100 an hour
Working, booked
$1,225
a day · $150 an hour
Senior, sought after
$1,600
a day · $200 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$1,225 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$150 per hour
- Monthly retainerthe operation run, two days a week$7,000 per month
Sold a monthly retainer, by the day. The month is the unit; one-off work is priced as a project.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for a smaller US market: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Operations audit$1,750 to $5,600 each
- SOPs and process build$1,400 to $4,200 each
- Monthly leadership$3,500 to $10,500 per month
How the number is made
Fractional COOs at this level in this market day at about $1,225 ($1,000 to $2,500 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
A retainer is the month, not the hours: the operation run, two days a week. It is priced about 20% under the same work bought one at a time, in exchange for the certainty; three months minimum, or it is not a retainer.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a fractional COO in a smaller US market?
- About $1,225 a day for someone working and booked, $850 in the first years, $1,600 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- What does a monthly retainer look like for a fractional COO?
- Around $7,000 a month: the operation run, two days a week. About 20% under the same work bought one piece at a time, in exchange for certainty; three months minimum.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
Pick your level and market, get a card you can send the next client who asks. Then RostrLab quotes, papers, invoices and chases every job with it: free for 14 days, $29 a month, never a cut.
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