OPERATIONS CONSULTING, TRAINING & EMBEDDED LEADERSHIP

Your growth shouldn’t outrun your systems.

Your growth shouldn’t outrun your systems.

We help growing companies fix the operations that either haven’t caught up yet or are starting to hold them back — whether that’s an outside diagnostic, hands-on training for your team, or the right person embedded in the seat.

We help growing companies fix the operations that either haven’t caught up yet or are starting to hold them back — whether that’s an outside diagnostic, hands-on training for your team, or the right person embedded in the seat.

See how we work →

Connected operations diagram

WHAT WE DO

Strategy, Systems, Software, Staff —
one integrated engagement

Four pillars, delivered together to ensure a comprehensive and long-lasting solution. Here’s what each one actually produces.

Strategy

Get crystal clear on where you’re going

Systems

Make it easy to do the right thing, every time

Software

Tools that support the system, not fight it

Staff

The right people, in the right seats

A diagnostic process that ends with your Strategic Map: a refined mission, vision, and values statement, a one-page plan spanning your long-term vision and this year’s implications, and a 12-month initiative matrix.

— A named Strategic Map your leadership team actually references — Short-term implications tied to the long-term vision — A starting point for quarterly 90-day planning

Kara— you led a fantastic strategy session. We walked away with some great action steps because of your excellent facilitation. Thank you!

Steve Gielda

President, Ignite Selling, Inc.

We struggled for years to create systems and infrastructure in our business. Kara and her team helped us do that!

Renee Thompson

CEO & Founder, Healthy Workforce Institute

We’ve made huge progress recently in offloading tasks to our assistant, and Erika has been instrumental in making that happen. It’s been amazing to see responsibilities finally being handled by the right people.

Natalie Swan

CEO, Swan & Associates

Asana and the infrastructure we’ve set up is invaluable. It’s allowing us to prioritize effectively, find gaps in our system, and be more agile.

Denise Hamilton

CEO + Founder, WatchHerWork

Strategy

Get crystal clear on where you’re going

Systems

Make it easy to do the right thing, every time

Software

Tools that support the system, not fight it

Staff

The right people, in the right seats

RESULTS

What this looks like in practice

Here are a few representative outcomes from operations work across high-growth, people-driven businesses.

Coaching Agency...
Profitability Audit

$12,000+

Software expenses cut in a client's first month

Vendor audit, renegotiated contracts, + a leaner software stack helped the owner cut $12,000 in annual expenses without sacrificing service quality.

TRAINING COMPANy...
LEADERSHIP & SYSTEMS

100% of quarterly goals achieved

A leadership team with a real operator in the seat

Role clarity, CRM ownership, and Asana gave the founder a strategic partner and the team a shared source of truth and accountability to drive progress.

CONSULTING firm...
EMBEDDED COO

Weekends back

A business built to outlast burnout, not end because of it.

Documented SOPs, rebuilt communication protocols, + a right-sized team turned a founder on the edge of closing her doors into an operation that runs itself.

Backstage Ops was hands-on and all hands on deck—checking in and ensuring the project moved forward.

Jubee Leroy Vilceus

CEO, Yellow Tail Tech + Strivo

Backstage Ops was hands-on and all hands on deck—checking in and ensuring the project moved forward.

Jubee Leroy Vilceus

CEO, Yellow Tail Tech + Strivo

Kara is legitimately a PRO - not a faker who runs around making bold claims. I know because I paid her and she over-delivered like mad.

Jon LoDuca

Founder, PlaybookBuilder

Kara is legitimately a PRO - not a faker who runs around making bold claims. I know because I paid her and she over-delivered like mad.

Jon LoDuca

Founder, PlaybookBuilder

It was a good exercise to step back and work “on” the business and I’m excited to have outside expert eyes look at how we are currently doing things - ready to make improvements.

Sydne Jacques

PE

It was a good exercise to step back and work “on” the business and I’m excited to have outside expert eyes look at how we are currently doing things - ready to make improvements.

Sydne Jacques

PE

WHO THIS IS FOR

Whatever stage you’re at, here’s how to know if this is for you.

Whatever stage you’re at, here’s how to know if this is for you.

✓ You’re somewhere between $1M and $30M in revenue, and growth has outpaced your systems — or you can feel it starting to.

✓ Good opportunities come your way, but you hold back, unsure the team could deliver at a bigger scale.

✓ Your SOPs live in someone’s head, not in writing.

✓ You (or whoever’s running ops) is drowning in firefighting instead of building.

✓ Leadership’s aligned on priorities, but execution keeps slipping.

✓ Your CRM or project tool is half-configured and nobody fully trusts it.

If two or more of these sound familiar, schedule a call.

The Team Behind the scenes

Kara Barnes
Kara Barnes

You shouldn’t have to solve operational bottlenecks alone. Our team brings decades of combined expertise to build the backend strength your business needs.

You shouldn’t have to solve operational bottlenecks alone. Our team brings decades of combined expertise to build the backend strength your business needs.

Created by founder Kara Barnes, Backstage Ops is a collective of brilliant operational minds dedicated to taking the friction out of growth. From auditing performance to building custom systems, our experts work behind the scenes to give your leadership team the space, clarity, and backend strength to make a bigger impact.

Learn More

Meet Kara & see speaking topics →

Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning

Systems & Software

Embedded Leadership

QUESTIONS

Before you schedule a call

What size companies do you actually work with?

Mostly $1–30M in annual revenue — whether you’re still the one holding it together day to day, or you’ve handed off pieces of it and the cracks are showing anyway.

Is this a one-time project or an ongoing relationship?

Will you replace the tools we already use?

What happens after the engagement ends?

How is this different from hiring a fractional COO through a staffing firm?

RESOURCES

Notes for the work behind the work

Practical perspective on operations, systems, leadership, and the decisions that make growth sustainable.

Strategy

5 min read

How to Run an Annual Planning Session for Your Organization

Q4 is shorter than it looks. Here’s where annual planning breaks down for most teams, and how to build a plan your team can actually start in January.

Staff

6 min read

Hiring for the Long Haul: Rock Stars vs. Superstars

One of the biggest hurdles growing companies face isn't just "finding help"—it's finding the right kind of help for the seat that's currently on fire. When we talk about operations and…

Staff

4 min read

Build a Stronger Backstage by Investing in Your 2nd-in-Command

You started a business, you scaled it, and you've hired a strong 2nd-in-command (2iC). Everything is running at its absolute highest level now, and you've never been happier…right?

Strategy

5 min read

How to Run an Annual Planning Session for Your Organization

Q4 is shorter than it looks. Here’s where annual planning breaks down for most teams, and how to build a plan your team can actually start in January.

Staff

6 min read

Hiring for the Long Haul: Rock Stars vs. Superstars

One of the biggest hurdles growing companies face isn't just "finding help"—it's finding the right kind of help for the seat that's currently on fire. When we talk about operations and…

Staff

4 min read

Build a Stronger Backstage by Investing in Your 2nd-in-Command

You started a business, you scaled it, and you've hired a strong 2nd-in-command (2iC). Everything is running at its absolute highest level now, and you've never been happier…right?

Strategy

3 min read

How to Run a Same-Page Meeting: Sync Up or Seek Help

Most leadership breakdowns aren't dramatic. Nobody storms out. Nobody sends the blow-up email. It's quieter than that — a founder and their second-in-command drift a few degrees out of…

Explore all resources →

LET’S TALK

LET’S TALK

Bring us in before the breakdown.

Bring us in before the breakdown.

A 20-minute call to see if there’s a fit — no pitch deck, no pressure.

Schedule a call

or email howdy@backstageops.com

Absolutely do it. Kara and her team do a phenomenal job of aligning your vision and operations to move the business in the direction you want it to move.

Jake Thompson

CSP, Founder of Compete Every Day®

Absolutely do it. Kara and her team do a phenomenal job of aligning your vision and operations to move the business in the direction you want it to move.

Jake Thompson

CSP, Founder of Compete Every Day®

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