61 What Business Owners Should Know About Utilizing Fractional Consultants
Empowering Healthy Business: The Podcast for Small Business Owners · 2026-06-23 · 7 min
Substance score
29 / 100
Five dimensions, 20 points each
What our scoring noted
Our reviewer’s read on each dimension, with quotes from the episode.
Insight Density
The episode covers three fractional roles (COO, HR, CMO) in a 7-minute runtime, but most claims are high-level overviews rather than actionable insights. The single concrete detail—that state tax-withholding triggers can range from 24 hours to a full month of in-state work—is genuinely useful, but the rest is generic framing.
it could be anywhere from 24 hours working in that state to a month working in that state before a company is required, required by the state to withhold taxes
a random assortment of marketing activities absent a foundational marketing strategy
Originality
Every argument here is a standard pitch for fractional services: big-company roles at small-company prices, accountability gaps, random marketing tactics. There is no contrarian framing, no first-principles reasoning, and no angle that hasn't been repeated across hundreds of similar episodes.
the whole idea behind our business, key performance integrators, is to be able to offer that executive level support and service for on a part-time or fractional basis
do you have a marketing problem or do you have a sales problem
Guest Caliber
The three guest speakers appear to be active fractional practitioners (COO, HR, CMO), not career podcast guests, which is a positive signal. However, no credentials, client scale, or career history are established in the transcript, making it impossible to verify depth of experience.
we have a client that we recently took on that um, you know, it's uh uh the owner, CEO, her brother-in-law is on the leadership team
I often come in to solve specific problems
Specificity & Evidence
There is almost no concrete evidence—no named companies, no revenue figures, no success metrics, and no cited data. The only specific numbers are the state-withholding trigger window (24 hours to a month) and a vague anecdote about a CEO whose brother-in-law is underperforming.
it could be anywhere from 24 hours working in that state to a month working in that state
her brother-in-law is on the leadership team, and uh she struggles with okay, he's family
Conversational Craft
The host's actual questions are absent from the transcript—guests open with 'Yeah, great question' and 'That's a good question' but we never hear what was asked. There is no visible pushback, no follow-up drilling, and the episode ends abruptly after three short monologues, suggesting a loose panel format rather than a crafted interview.
Yeah, great question.
That's a good question.
Conversation analysis
Computed from the transcript - who did the talking, and the verbal tics along the way.
Filler words
Episode notes
This Utilizing Fractional Consultants recap brings together key insights from multiple Empowering Healthy Business podcast conversations focused on fractional leadership, business growth, operations, HR, marketing strategy, and organizational effectiveness. Topics discussed include: • Fractional COO support • Strategic planning and accountability • HR leadership and compliance • Employee relations and team development • Fractional marketing leadership • Sales and marketing alignment • Solving operational challenges • Executive-level expertise for growing businesses • Building stronger systems and processes Across these conversations, one theme remains consistent: Businesses often benefit from specialized expertise without needing to hire a full-time executive. Whether you're navigating growth challenges, building systems, improving accountability, or refining your marketing strategy, fractional consultants can provide valuable guidance and support. Hosted by Calvin Wilder. Sponsored by SmartBooks, provider of bookkeeping, accounting, and financial management services for growing businesses. Send us Fan Mail Thanks for listening!
Full transcript
7 minTranscribed and scored by The B2B Podcast Index.
1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,000 SPEAKER_01: This is the Empowering Healthy Business 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:04,719 Podcast, and I'm your host, Cal Wilder. 3 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:07,839 Each episode, we'll dive into topics important to folks who 4 00:00:07,839 --> 00:00:10,480 want to run businesses that are both nicely profitable, 5 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,560 sustainable, and scalable, and who want to achieve balance in 6 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,839 their lives and realize their potential inside and outside of 7 00:00:17,839 --> 00:00:18,160 work. 8 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:20,879 The show is sponsored by SmartBooks, provider of 9 00:00:20,879 --> 00:00:22,960 bookkeeping and accounting for businesses. 10 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:24,559 Let's get started. 11 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:28,800 SPEAKER_03: Yeah, great question. 12 00:00:29,039 --> 00:00:34,240 So uh many larger organizations have the role of a chief 13 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,359 operating officer, and that tends to be uh someone who's 14 00:00:37,359 --> 00:00:41,439 kind of responsible for executing the vision of the CEO 15 00:00:41,439 --> 00:00:46,000 and the owners, and just working within the business, making sure 16 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,880 that all of the different functions of the business are in 17 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,479 sync with one another, that the leadership team is uh held 18 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,359 accountable to delivering on their results and things like 19 00:00:55,359 --> 00:00:55,520 that. 20 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,719 So that's a very common role in a large organization. 21 00:00:59,119 --> 00:01:04,159 Um, many small businesses have those same challenges and needs, 22 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:08,799 and yet they can't necessarily afford a full-time uh 23 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,400 experienced executive to come in and run their business. 24 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:16,159 And so the whole idea behind our business, key performance 25 00:01:16,159 --> 00:01:19,680 integrators, is to be able to offer that executive level 26 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:23,840 support and service for on a part-time or fractional basis, 27 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,359 so that the business owners can really take advantage of all the 28 00:01:27,359 --> 00:01:30,400 years of knowledge and experience that that these folks 29 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,519 have to help them achieve their goals and grow their business. 30 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,040 Really, it it all starts with a really good strategic plan. 31 00:01:37,599 --> 00:01:42,560 And so we can we can help a business to develop that and uh 32 00:01:42,719 --> 00:01:46,000 create clarity so that everyone in the business knows what we're 33 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:47,280 doing and why we're doing it. 34 00:01:47,439 --> 00:01:50,239 And then we really make sure that there's a good process in 35 00:01:50,239 --> 00:01:53,760 place to measure our performance against that plan every week, 36 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:55,519 every month, every quarter. 37 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:59,439 And and that's really the most important thing that we do is 38 00:01:59,439 --> 00:02:02,400 create that plan and then hold people accountable to delivering 39 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:03,120 on that plan. 40 00:02:03,359 --> 00:02:06,640 And one of the areas that many, many small business owners 41 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,199 struggle is that accountability piece. 42 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,960 We have a client that we recently took on that um, you 43 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,280 know, it's uh uh the owner, CEO, her brother-in-law is on the 44 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,840 leadership team, and uh she struggles with okay, he's 45 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,840 family, and yet he may or may not be delivering in a 46 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:26,719 particular area. 47 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,719 And how do I have that conversation and not make it so 48 00:02:30,719 --> 00:02:32,080 personal and whatever? 49 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:36,479 So we can really help be a neutral third party there to 50 00:02:36,479 --> 00:02:40,000 help really get to the root of that and make sure that everyone 51 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,840 is accountable for delivering results and delivering on their 52 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:44,879 commitments. 53 00:02:46,319 --> 00:02:47,360 SPEAKER_02: That's a good question. 54 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,199 And there are so many different things that can lead to that, 55 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:51,439 right? 56 00:02:51,599 --> 00:02:55,360 One could be compliance, and you know, every state has different 57 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:56,560 rules and regulations. 58 00:02:57,039 --> 00:02:59,439 It's not like it was 20 years ago where there was more of a 59 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:02,000 state, I mean a United States framework. 60 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,439 Now it's more individual states and even cities that you find in 61 00:03:05,439 --> 00:03:07,759 California that have their own individual rules. 62 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,240 Uh, it is also employee relations, which are critical. 63 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,759 You might have some employee issues that are festering, that 64 00:03:15,759 --> 00:03:18,000 need somebody from the outside to help out with. 65 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,199 It's you realize at a certain point that you need, you know, 66 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,400 different HR programs, whether it's performance management or 67 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:28,719 performance feedback or coaching and training for your leaders, 68 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:34,159 or it could be a reorganization or recruiting that you need some 69 00:03:34,159 --> 00:03:34,800 help with. 70 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,759 It could be a variety of different things that you just 71 00:03:37,759 --> 00:03:42,879 know there's something that you could be doing better, or you 72 00:03:42,879 --> 00:03:46,319 could be doing more of, or that you just don't know if you're on 73 00:03:46,319 --> 00:03:46,960 the right track. 74 00:03:47,039 --> 00:03:49,439 And that's where you need somebody to come in on a 75 00:03:49,439 --> 00:03:51,680 fractional basis and give you some support. 76 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:57,280 It is uh every state is different in terms of how how 77 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:58,960 they look at a variety of factors. 78 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:03,039 So, for example, every state has a different site that you go to. 79 00:04:03,199 --> 00:04:06,479 You have to register the employee in that state. 80 00:04:06,639 --> 00:04:09,520 You have to pay unemployment insurance, right? 81 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:10,719 Workers comp. 82 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,800 Uh, every state has different laws in terms of just as an 83 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:19,120 example, leave laws, sick leave, do you have to pay out vacation 84 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:23,199 time, unused vacation time during a termination or end of 85 00:04:23,199 --> 00:04:24,079 employment? 86 00:04:24,399 --> 00:04:29,439 Um, there's also when do you need to have uh start doing the 87 00:04:29,439 --> 00:04:30,800 state tax withholding? 88 00:04:31,199 --> 00:04:34,000 And that's a big issue because it's not consistent. 89 00:04:34,319 --> 00:04:38,800 Every state is different, and it could be anywhere from 24 hours 90 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:44,079 working in that state to a month working in that state before a 91 00:04:44,079 --> 00:04:49,279 company is required, required by the state to withhold taxes. 92 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:55,519 SPEAKER_00: What I see often is that founders and CEOs, whether 93 00:04:55,519 --> 00:04:59,839 it's from a lack of knowledge or more likely a lack of time, 94 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,879 because we all know that founders and CEOs, their time 95 00:05:02,879 --> 00:05:04,720 and their bandwidth is stretched thin. 96 00:05:04,879 --> 00:05:08,160 They're asked to do so many things and wear so many hats. 97 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,800 And with this, what we'll see from a marketing perspective are 98 00:05:12,959 --> 00:05:18,959 a random assortment of marketing activities absent a foundational 99 00:05:18,959 --> 00:05:20,399 marketing strategy. 100 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,480 And what that's going to be result in is just limited 101 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:25,759 results from your marketing. 102 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:30,560 So I often come in to solve specific problems, and that is 103 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,800 probably more useful even than the revenue stage that you're 104 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:35,040 at. 105 00:05:35,199 --> 00:05:39,360 So are you seeing maybe a lack of predictability in revenue 106 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:39,920 growth? 107 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:44,480 Are you seeing an unsustainable cost of customer acquisition? 108 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,199 Is there really high customer churn? 109 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,360 Some of these problem statements that tons of startups, tons of 110 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,680 small businesses are dealing with that potentially could be 111 00:05:55,680 --> 00:06:00,160 solved by a marketing resource, whether that's fractional or 112 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:00,800 in-house. 113 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:05,040 The other thing that I think is smart marketers should be asking 114 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:09,439 the founders when they get there is do you have a marketing 115 00:06:09,439 --> 00:06:11,839 problem or do you have a sales problem? 116 00:06:12,079 --> 00:06:18,000 I think a lot of CMOs are wearing kind of a co CMO and 117 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:22,800 maybe CRO, chief revenue officer hat where they're where they can 118 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:24,240 diagnose these broader issues. 119 00:06:24,639 --> 00:06:26,160 SPEAKER_01: Another episode in the books. 120 00:06:26,399 --> 00:06:28,079 Thank you so much for tuning in. 121 00:06:28,319 --> 00:06:32,240 For show notes and more, visit empoweringhealthy business.com. 122 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,279 If you would like to have a one on one discussion with me, or 123 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,560 possibly engage smart books to help with your business, you can 124 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:42,879 reach me at Cal C A L at Empowering Healthy Business dot 125 00:06:42,879 --> 00:06:46,240 com or message me on LinkedIn where I am easy to find. 126 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,759 Until next time, this is Empowering Healthy Business, the 127 00:06:49,759 --> 00:06:52,000 podcast for business owners, signing off.