Hiring Help When You’re Not Ready to Hire Full-Time

Spoiler: You don’t have to be.

Hiring full-time operations or leadership support can feel like a huge leap, especially for small group practices or solo providers who are slowly expanding. Because hiring a full-time employee of any kind is a big deal!

It comes with training, expectations, payroll, benefits, paperwork (ugh), and often a sense of permanence that can feel overwhelming. Especially if you’re in a growth phase of the practice where things are still shifting.

If you’re feeling the tension of “I can’t keep doing this all myself” but also “I’m not sure I can take on another salary right now,” you’re in the right spot.

This is exactly where fractional support shines.

If you’re new to this whole ‘fractional’ thing, it basically means: part-time hire for full-level work.

A fractional practice manager offers something in-between just you and a whole department: someone who can handle key operational responsibilities, without needing to be on your payroll full-time. That might look like a few hours a week of high-level oversight, strategic planning, or implementation of the systems that keep your practice humming behind the scenes.

It’s leadership help, without the commitment of a full-time hire.

Image via unsplash.

It also lets you try things on. Maybe you’re not sure if you need operations help or clinical support. Maybe you’re navigating growth spurts or seasonal shifts and don’t want to rush into hiring prematurely.

Fractional support lets you get immediate relief, test what actually works, and build toward something more permanent if and when you’re ready.

This can also be a powerful stopgap when your team is stretched thin. Instead of making rushed hiring decisions or offloading big tasks onto your already-busy staff, fractional support fills in the gaps with intention. It protects your time and your mission, without overcommitting your resources.

You get to test systems, clear your plate, and see what support actually helps, before hiring full-time (if you ever even want to).

Think of it like this: you’re not “hiring someone to fix everything.” You’re bringing in someone to stand beside you, catch what’s falling through the cracks (or is actively on fire), and help you make decisions from a calmer, more supported place.

You don’t need a perfect org chart to start. You don’t need a five-year plan. You just need the willingness to try something different.

And the courage to not keep doing it all alone.

Fractional support meets you where you are and helps you keep growing.

Curious what fractional support might look like for your practice? Let’s talk about it.

Schedule a free call with me to talk shop and get your project in the books.

Hey! I’m Charlie — Your Practice Partner.
I help human-centered group practices thrive. More about me.