$105,770 / $213,990
A full-time general and operations manager earns a median $105,770 a year; chief executives $213,990 (May 2025).
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Top ExecutivesThe owner's playbooks
Your C-suite in a box
You can't hire a full-time COO, CMO, CTO, CHRO or CFO yet. Start with the practical work they would make you do in your first 90 days.
Rookie Runway gives you the playbook now. When you are ready for real executive help, The Proper Group can put a seasoned fractional executive beside you.
COO
Operations
Turn good intentions into a repeatable week. Operations makes the path from a new inquiry to a finished engagement clear, even when you are busy.
Your first 90 days
- Set up your booking and scheduling system.
- Write SOPs for your top 5 tasks.
- Put a weekly review on your calendar.
- Build a vendor list with a backup for essentials.
- Map your client intake flow from inquiry to delivery.
Signs you need the real thing
Work slips through the cracks, you redo the same tasks, or growth depends on you being everywhere.
When that time comes, explore fractional executive help with The Proper Group .
CFO
Money
Know what your business needs to earn before you commit to another expense. A financial rhythm helps you separate revenue, profit and the cash available to pay yourself.
Your first 90 days
- Calculate your runway in months.
- Open a separate business bank account.
- Set aside taxes from each payment with your advisor.
- Price for profit, not just hours.
- Review a monthly P&L in 30 minutes.
Signs you need the real thing
Cash is unpredictable, margins are unclear, or a lease, purchase or hire needs a financial model.
When that time comes, explore fractional executive help with The Proper Group .
CMO
Growth
Make it easy for the right client to understand you, find you and take the next step. Consistent positioning and thoughtful follow-up beat scattered promotion.
Your first 90 days
- Write your positioning in one sentence.
- Set up an eligible Google Business Profile.
- Build a website with a clear next step.
- Ask for and reply to every review, within professional rules.
- Write and practice a referral ask script.
Signs you need the real thing
Your offers are unclear, leads come from one fragile source, or marketing spend has no measured return.
When that time comes, explore fractional executive help with The Proper Group .
CTO
Tools & tech
Own the essentials and keep your stack simple. The right tools reduce repeated admin without making you dependent on a vendor or creating another place to lose information.
Your first 90 days
- Own your phone number, email and domain.
- Choose one CRM and keep it current.
- Use a password manager and 2FA.
- Set up backups and test a restore.
- Use an AI assistant for writing and admin, without sensitive client data.
Signs you need the real thing
Systems do not talk to each other, manual admin is growing, or you need an independent technology roadmap.
When that time comes, explore fractional executive help with The Proper Group .
CHRO
People
Decide what help actually looks like before you hire. Clear responsibilities and a repeatable welcome give your first teammate a fair chance to succeed.
Your first 90 days
- Review contractor versus employee basics with an advisor.
- Write a scorecard for your first hire.
- Create a simple onboarding checklist.
- Describe your culture in three sentences.
- Decide when a VA can take recurring admin off your plate.
Signs you need the real thing
Hiring feels reactive, responsibilities overlap, or you need help structuring a growing team.
When that time comes, explore fractional executive help with The Proper Group .
A playbook now. A partner when you're ready.
Rookie Runway gives you the playbook now. When you are ready for real executive help, The Proper Group can put a seasoned fractional executive beside you.