You’ve built something incredible. Your business is growing, your client base is expanding, and you’re making an impact. But with growth comes new challenges, and you may find yourself stretched too thin, juggling operations, managing your team, and trying to stay focused on your vision.

At some point, wearing all the hats stops being sustainable. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or like your business is running you instead of the other way around, it might be time to bring in strategic leadership—a COO (Chief Operating Officer) or Business Manager—to help you scale efficiently and sustainably.

Wondering if you’re at that point? Here are the top five signs it’s time to hire a COO or Business Manager.

1. You’re Constantly in the Weeds & Can’t Focus on Growth

As the CEO, your time should be spent leading, innovating, and making strategic decisions. But if you’re buried in the day-to-day—handling admin tasks, answering emails, troubleshooting team issues, and putting out fires—you’re not able to focus on the big-picture growth of your business.

🚨 Red Flags:

• You spend more time on logistics than on strategy.
• You can’t step away without everything stalling.
• You’re drowning in daily operations instead of working on high-level growth plans.

How a COO/Business Manager Helps:

A COO takes over the backend operations, so you can step fully into your CEO role and focus on your zone of genius—whether that’s serving clients, developing new products, or expanding your brand’s reach.

2. Your Business Feels Chaotic & Lacks Systems

If everything in your business relies on YOU remembering to do it, that’s a problem. A lack of systems, processes, and automation will not only slow your business down but will also make it impossible to scale effectively.

🚨 Red Flags:

• No clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place.
• Team members constantly asking the same questions because there’s no structured workflow.
• Bottlenecks in communication, project management, or daily operations.

How a COO/Business Manager Helps:

A business manager brings structure and efficiency by creating repeatable processes, workflows, and automation to ensure your business runs smoothly—with or without you.

3. You’re Managing a Growing Team (and It’s Overwhelming)

A growing team is a sign of success—but if managing them has become another full-time job, it’s time to bring in support.

🚨 Red Flags:

• You’re spending too much time onboarding, delegating, and following up with your team.
• You’re unsure who is responsible for what, leading to dropped tasks and inefficiencies.
• You feel like you’re the bottleneck preventing progress because everyone needs your input.

How a COO/Business Manager Helps:

A COO takes over team management, ensuring everyone is clear on their roles, responsibilities, and deadlines. They streamline communication, optimize workflows, and make sure everything gets done—without requiring your constant oversight.

4. You’re Struggling to Scale Without Burnout

Your business has outgrown its original structure, and scaling feels like a constant uphill battle. You know you need to grow strategically, but you don’t have the time or bandwidth to figure out how.

🚨 Red Flags:

• You’re working longer hours, but your revenue has plateaued.
• You have big ideas but no capacity to implement them.
• You feel stuck—knowing what needs to happen next but unable to make it happen.

How a COO/Business Manager Helps:

A COO guides your growth strategy, helping you scale without burning out. From financial planning to operational efficiencies, they ensure you’re growing sustainably and profitably.

5. You’re Ready to Step Fully Into Your CEO Role

You didn’t start your business to be buried in spreadsheets, workflows, and operations. You started it to create, lead, and make an impact. If you’re ready to step into your next level as a CEO, a business manager can help you make that transition seamlessly.

🚨 Red Flags:

• You dream about working ON your business, not IN it.
• You’re tired of being the go-to person for every little decision.
• You’re ready to elevate your role and focus on high-level strategy, partnerships, and innovation.

How a COO/Business Manager Helps:

A COO bridges the gap between your vision and execution, turning your big ideas into scalable, sustainable systems so your business thrives—without you having to micromanage every detail.

So, Is It Time to Hire a COO or Business Manager?

If you resonated with any of these signs, it might be time to bring in strategic support. A COO or Business Manager isn’t just a luxury for massive corporations—it’s an essential role for growing businesses that want to scale with structure, sustainability, and success.

The right support doesn’t just take tasks off your plate—it transforms your entire business, freeing you up to do the work that truly lights you up.

If you’re ready to stop being the bottleneck and start stepping fully into your CEO role, we can help!

Through The Magnolia Method, we provide on-going business support that take the overwhelm out of operations, optimize your workflows, and position your business for sustainable growth.

Let’s chat about how we can support you—apply now!