How a professional services firm grew from approximately $105K to more than $1.2M in annual revenue while building the team, infrastructure, and leadership capacity to operate beyond its founder.
Professional Services Firm | Fractional COO Leadership
The Challenge
When ROP became involved in 2021, the firm was a solo, highly owner-dependent business. In the year before the engagement, it generated approximately $105K in annual revenue.
The founder was carrying both client work and the operational demands of the company. At its most intense, that meant sleeping on the office floor to keep up.
The business did not simply need more help. It needed operating capacity beyond the founder.
The Operating Response
ROP’s role evolved around what the business needed rather than a predetermined list of responsibilities.
As the firm grew, ROP built and assumed ownership across people, financial administration, client intake, vendors, technology, accountability, and day-to-day operations.
Just as importantly, the work did not depend on the founder identifying and delegating every issue. ROP developed enough context across the company to recognize what needed attention, determine the next step, involve the right people, and drive work forward.
That created leadership capacity beyond the founder while strengthening the team, systems, and accountability needed to support continued growth.
Measurable Business Results
$105K in 2020 → $1.2M+ in 2025
Annual revenue grew from approximately $105K before the engagement to more than $1.2M by 2025.
11×+
Growth from the pre-engagement revenue baseline.
$330K+
Net income in 2025 after paying the owner a six-figure salary.
~40%
Owner salary plus remaining profit represented approximately 40% of annual revenue, before additional owner distributions.
Office floor → multi-week vacations
The founder moved from sleeping at the office during the firm’s most demanding periods to being able to take multi-week vacations while the business continued operating.
Client Perspective
“Since Maggie’s hires started last week, the firm bloomed to life! Even though we are in the dark days of winter, the office couldn’t be brighter! Everybody is so positive, punctual, and super competent. Pinch me, I must be dreaming. You had everything to do with it. I am so grateful.”
— Founder
The Outcome
The firm did not simply become larger. It became less dependent on its founder to personally carry the operational weight of the business.
ROP built the operating capacity required for a $1M+ company to function differently from the $105K solo practice it had been.
Results reflect business performance during the engagement and are not presented as solely attributable to Riley Operating Partners.
