Fractional Ops · Research · Strategy

Hi, I'm

Arlin.
Fractional Ops Manager & Researcher

I help small creative businesses and independent operators research, strategize, and find a way forward past the systems they've outgrown — so they can get their time back.

How it works
1
Tell me what's going on

Message me with your situation — what's tangled, what you've tried, what a good outcome looks like.

2
I research and think it through

I dig in, synthesize, and map a way forward — no calls required, no back-and-forth overhead.

3
You get a clear written brief

A structured, actionable deliverable — on your timeline, ready to use from day one.

All async · All in writing · On your timeline

Examples of the Work

Sample deliverables. This is the format and depth you can expect.

R
Deep Dive Research
Tier 1 · Researcher
Kickstarter vs. Direct-to-PDF: A Market Brief

A solo TTRPG publisher needed to know where to launch before investing months of work. Platform landscape, audience data, and a clear recommendation — delivered in writing.

Q
Quick Research Snapshot
Tier 1 · Researcher
EHR Platform Comparison for a Solo Practice

An independent therapist needed to pick a practice management platform without spending hours researching. A focused brief comparing top options by cost, features, and fit.

O
Operations Checkup
Tier 2 · Project Consultant
Finding the Gaps: A Nonprofit Ops Triage

A three-person nonprofit where everyone was doing everything and nothing had a real owner. Structural gaps mapped, priorities identified, and a clear starting point delivered.

S
Get Unstuck
Tier 2 · Project Consultant
Three Directions, One Decision: A Strategy Brief

A solo brand photographer had three directions she could grow her business and couldn't commit to any of them. A reframe, her options laid out clearly, and a concrete next step.

What do you need?

Everything is async, delivered in writing, on your timeline. No calls required unless you want one.

I need something built
Work Ready Tools

A form, tracker, chart, slide deck, or spreadsheet — built clean to your specs and ready to use from day one.

$25/tool
3-day turnaround
Includes
  • One custom asset per booking (form, template, chart, spreadsheet, or slide deck)
  • Built to your specifications
  • One round of revisions via email
  • Delivered as an editable file
What counts as "one tool"?
One discrete deliverable — a single spreadsheet, tracker, slide deck, or form. Multiple tools? Just book multiples.
What formats do you work in?
Google Sheets, Google Slides, Excel, Airtable base, or Notion template — your choice. Confirmed when you book.
Do I need to know exactly what I want?
A general idea is enough. Tell me the problem you're solving and I'll figure out the right structure.
I need to understand something
Research & Clarity

You have a question that needs a real answer. I research it — business decisions, platform comparisons, industry landscapes — and send back a written brief.

From $45
3-day turnaround

One focused question. I research it, synthesize it, and hand you back a clear brief with everything you need to decide.

Includes
  • Written research brief
  • One follow-up Q&A exchange
  • Optional 15-min intro call on request
What kinds of questions work for this?
Comparisons, platform lookups, regulatory checks, subject matter orientation. One clear question with a concrete answer.
What do I get back?
A written brief: your question restated, what I found, a summary, and a recommendation where applicable. Usually 1–3 pages.
What if my question is bigger than I thought?
I'll flag it upfront if it needs a Deep Dive. You're not locked in until we've scoped it together.
From $150
7-day turnaround

High-stakes decisions before committing time or money. I go deep and deliver a brief with a clear recommendation you can act on.

Includes
  • Written research brief with recommendation
  • One follow-up Q&A exchange
  • Optional 15-min intro call on request
  • Optional 30-min check-in on request
What makes this different from the Snapshot?
Scope and depth. A Deep Dive covers multiple angles, competing options, and edge cases — a real picture, not just a list.
What kinds of decisions is this for?
Platform launches, market entry, hiring, tool migrations, pricing strategy — anything where getting it wrong costs you.
Will you make a recommendation?
Yes. I'll tell you what I'd do and why, clearly labeled as my read.
I need a way forward
Strategy & Ops

Something's stuck or broken and you're too close to see it clearly. I map it and tell you what to do first.

From $95
5-day turnaround

Too close to the problem to see through it. I read your situation, reframe it, and send back a brief with your options and a concrete next step.

Includes
  • Written strategy brief with reframe, options, and next step
  • One follow-up Q&A exchange
  • Optional 15-min intro call on request
  • Optional 30-min check-in on request
How much context do I need to give you?
As much as you have. A messy brain dump is fine — part of what I do is figure out what the actual problem is.
What if I don't know what the problem is?
That's the exact situation this is built for. Tell me what's not working. I'll find the shape of it.
Is there back-and-forth?
Everything is async, delivered in writing. One round of follow-up clarification is included if needed.
From $300
10-day turnaround

Something isn't working and you're too close to see what. I map what's actually happening, find the gaps, and tell you what to fix first.

Includes
  • Written ops report with findings and analysis
  • Priority action plan — what to fix first and why
  • One follow-up Q&A exchange
  • Optional 15-min intro call on request
  • Optional 30-min check-in on request
What do you actually look at?
Workflows, ownership, communication patterns, recurring failures, and where time is leaking. I work from what you share — no system access needed.
What's the deliverable?
A written ops report: what I found, where the gaps are, and a prioritized action plan — what to fix first and why.
Is this right for a solo operator?
Yes. A lot of solo businesses are held together by informal systems that work until they don't. This is for anyone who's outgrown the way things used to run.

I untangle business chaos so you can get your time back.

I've spent years inside operationally complex environments — marine operations, kitchen management, software QA, non-profits and more. I know how to find the gaps and map a way through.

I've also spent time inside creative communities — TTRPG spaces, indie games, that world. I speak that language too.

If your business has outgrown the informal systems holding it together, that's where I come in — research, process mapping, and strategy, all delivered in writing on your timeline. No calls required unless you want one.

Operations Research Strategy Process Mapping Systems Thinking Async Design
6
Services across three tiers — from $45 research briefs to ongoing fractional support
100%
Async by default — everything delivered in writing, on your timeline
3 day
Fastest turnaround — Quick Research Snapshot delivered in 3 business days
Industries served — creative businesses, nonprofits, independent operators, and more

Tell me what's up.

I'll send a way forward. No call required to get started — just reach out.

Get started
So, how can I help? →
Email
arlinmae@pm.me
in
LinkedIn
Connect on LinkedIn →

"If your business has outgrown the informal systems holding it together — that's where I come in. Tell me what's going on and I'll send a way forward."