Eventually, every owner becomes an accidental COO.

Scheduling becomes payroll. Payroll becomes purchasing. Purchasing becomes meetings, reporting, and leadership management. Moonshot's Fractional COO engagement exists for exactly that moment.

A Fractional COO helps create the operational structure necessary for the restaurant to function without relying on constant owner intervention. The goal is not dependence. It’s leadership development. We build the systems, reporting structure, accountability processes, and management routines required for the business to operate independently.

WHAT CHANGES

A laptop displays a detailed spreadsheet of financial data on a wooden desk. Surrounding items include notebooks, pens, a black coffee mug, and stacks of paper with handwritten notes and prints, in a workspace with warm lighting and a potted plant in the background.

VISIBILITY

Ownership gains consistent reporting and financial clarity — shifting from constantly writing the story to editing the business.

Group of people holding papers and discussing in a room with shelves in the background.

LEADERSHIP

Managers receive clearer expectations and stronger accountability. Ownership can expect improved outcomes.

Person wearing black gloves handling fresh fish on ice at a seafood market, with a clipboard and a price list in the foreground.

EXECUTION

Operational standards become documented and repeatable. Outcomes follow.

People wearing black shoes and pants, and one person in white scrubs, standing on a wet, dirty kitchen floor in a restaurant kitchen.

RHYTHM

Meetings, reviews, forecasts, and planning become part of normal operations.

ENGAGEMENT FREQUENCY

WEEKLY

Operational reviews and leadership coaching.

MONTHLY

Financial reviews, KPI analysis, labor planning, and operational recommendations.

QUARTERLY

Strategic planning sessions and long-range business review.

ONGOING

Direct access for guidance, problem solving, and implementation support.

WHAT TO EXPECT

IN NINETY DAYS

  • Prime cost visibility improves.

  • Reporting structure becomes consistent.

  • Leadership accountability increases.

  • Operational priorities become clearer.

BY MONTH TWELVE

  • Managers operate with greater independence.

  • Ownership spends less time reacting.

  • Decision-making becomes faster and more informed.

  • The business develops the infrastructure required for sustainable growth.

WHO IT IS FOR

You're a strong candidate if:

  • Annual revenue exceeds $1M

  • Ownership is actively involved

  • Growth has created complexity

  • Leadership needs development

  • You want stronger operational visibility

This engagement is not intended for restaurants seeking occasional advice. It is designed for operators committed to investing in a stronger organization.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • A full-time hire would cost $200-$350K per year fully loaded. Fractional COO is 1/3 the cost for senior-level operations leadership. Most independent restaurants generating $1-5 million in annual revenue don’t need a full-time COO — they need a senior operator for 5-8 hours/week.

  • Consultants come, deliver a slide deck, and leave. Advisors meet quarterly and give opinions. A Fractional COO embeds in your weekly leadership rhythm and is responsible for the operational outcomes alongside you.

    Different commitment, different accountability.

  • Yes, automatically. Mutual confidentiality is built into every engagement letter.

  • After we’ve had an initial conversation, yes. Lockeland Table, Salter, and our other clients are happy to share their experience with serious prospects.

  • The work doesn’t work if the engagement is wrong. If we’re not a fit, We’ll refer you to someone better suited — usually a restaurant CPA, a specialized chef consultant, or an industry coach. No pitch, no pressure.

  • Moonshot is based in Nashville. We work in-person with Middle Tennessee restaurants and virtually with restaurants anywhere in the US.

    Travel for out-of-state clients is billed at cost.

  • Initial conversation within 1 week. If we’re a fit, we typically have a signed engagement letter and first-week-onboarding done within 30 days.

  • You either renew, transition to a lighter “Monthly Operations Reporting” engagement, or graduate to running operations independently.

    Most clients renew once and then graduate to reporting.

EMAIL HUNTER

Our goal is not to become your COO forever. Our goal is to help you build one. Schedule a Free 30-Minute Operations Audit Call, or email Hunter directly.