The Operating Systems Group
Case studies|Small businessesMedium businesses
Case studies — small businesses

Big results for small teams

Solo founders, early-stage startups, and small teams of under 10. These are the stories of businesses at the beginning of their journey — and what happened when they got the right support early.

4

Client stories

Solo–10

Team size range

UK & Ireland

Geographies

100%

Senior-led engagements

Client details have been anonymised where requested. Outcomes are specific to each engagement and will vary.

E-commerceSolo founderManchester, UK
Turning a side hustle into a real business

From kitchen table to commercial operation

The situation

A founder had built a profitable e-commerce brand in her spare time but had no idea how to make the leap to full-time. She had no business structure, no processes, and no confidence that the numbers would hold up under scrutiny. She needed someone to tell her honestly whether she had a business — and if so, how to build it properly.

What we did

  • Conducted a commercial health check to validate the business model and unit economics
  • Built a 12-month financial model and operational plan to support the transition to full-time
  • Designed the basic operational infrastructure: supplier management, fulfilment, and customer service processes
  • Provided ongoing fractional COO support through the first six months of full-time operation

The outcomes

  • Founder made the leap to full-time within three months of engagement
  • Revenue doubled in the first year of structured operation
  • Business became profitable on a full-cost basis within nine months
"I knew I had something — I just didn't know if it was a business. They helped me see it clearly and build it properly. That changed everything."
— Founder

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Creative & Media3 peopleLondon, UK
Pricing and positioning

Charging what the work is actually worth

The situation

A small creative studio was winning good clients but consistently undercharging. The founders had no commercial framework, quoted on gut feel, and were exhausted from delivering high-quality work at margins that made growth impossible. They needed a commercial model that reflected the value they were genuinely creating.

What we did

  • Analysed the existing client base to identify where value was being created and where it was being given away
  • Developed a value-based pricing framework and a tiered service model
  • Rebuilt the proposal and scoping process to anchor on outcomes, not hours
  • Supported the team through the first three client conversations using the new approach

The outcomes

  • Average project value increased by 65% within six months
  • Team capacity freed up — same revenue from fewer, better-fit clients
  • Studio moved from survival mode to a sustainable, growing business
"We were brilliant at the work and terrible at the business. They fixed the business without touching what made us good."
— Co-founder

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Professional Services2 foundersEdinburgh, UK
Co-founder alignment

Getting two founders pointing in the same direction

The situation

Two consultants had launched a business together but had never formally agreed on what they were building, how decisions would be made, or what success looked like. Eighteen months in, the cracks were showing. Clients were getting inconsistent service and the founders were having the same arguments on repeat.

What we did

  • Facilitated a structured co-founder alignment process over four sessions
  • Defined a shared vision, agreed operating principles, and documented decision-making boundaries
  • Built a simple governance structure appropriate for a two-person business
  • Developed a 12-month roadmap both founders could commit to

The outcomes

  • Founders reached full alignment on direction and roles within six weeks
  • Client experience became consistent — referrals increased as a result
  • Business grew revenue by 35% in the year following the engagement
"We were close to walking away from something genuinely good because we couldn't get out of our own way. They helped us see that — and fix it."
— Co-founder

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Technology4 peopleDublin, Ireland
First hire and team structure

Building a team without breaking the culture

The situation

A bootstrapped SaaS startup had reached the point where the founders could no longer do everything themselves. They needed to hire — but had no HR framework, no onboarding process, and no idea how to bring people in without losing the culture that had made them successful. A bad first hire could set them back months.

What we did

  • Defined the roles the business actually needed versus the roles the founders thought they needed
  • Built a lightweight HR framework: employment contracts, policies, and an onboarding process
  • Supported the recruitment and selection process for the first two hires
  • Designed a simple performance and feedback framework appropriate for a small team

The outcomes

  • Both hires settled quickly and were contributing meaningfully within 60 days
  • Founders reclaimed significant time to focus on product and customers
  • Team culture remained intact — all four people are still with the business two years later
"Hiring felt terrifying. They made it feel manageable — and the people we brought in have been transformational."
— CEO & Co-founder

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Also worth reading

Working with larger teams?

Our medium business case studies cover merger integrations, post-investment scaling, succession planning, and regional expansion — across the UK, US, and Middle East.

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