Your business will run better when you’re not running everything.
Running your own business shouldn’t feel this hard.
Yet here you are — holding everything together with duct tape and determination while the work that could grow your business keeps getting pushed to next month (and the next one after that).
You don’t need a total overhaul or another employee to manage.
You need operational support that actually lightens your load, so you can get back to why you started your business in the first place — and find your flow again.
It’s time to get the support you actually need.
Bookings now open for new clients from January 2026.
→ Get the SERVICES GUIDE
You've built something good — great, even. But it's getting heavy.
Somewhere along the way, what used to feel exciting started to feel exhausting.
Every decision lands on your desk. Your team needs constant direction. And the systems that once worked are now clunky, inconsistent, or outdated.
It’s easy to lose sight of why you started when you’re stuck in the weeds — trying to look after your clients, make the right calls, looking after everyone else’s needs and keep everything else from falling through the cracks.
You know you need help. But hiring feels like taking on more problems, not solving them. Another salary to cover. Another person to manage.
Months of recruiting and training. And still no guarantee they'll lighten your load.
You don't need more employees. You need one strategic partner who can do the work of three.
That's where I come in.
I'm the operational support that plugs in immediately, costs a fraction of a full-time hire, and actually reduces your workload instead of adding to it.
No recruitment drama. No training curve.
Just experienced support that starts immediately and flexes with your reality.
Get operational support that actually works for your business
I help small businesses run more smoothly by creating structure, bringing order to the moving parts, and making it easier to work smarter — and feel more comfortable and confident in how things operate.
Not through cookie-cutter packages or rigid frameworks, but through just the right level of practical, tailored support for where you are now.
I offer two levels of support.
Whether you need hands-on help in the business or strategic partnership on the business, we’ll find the right fit for your season — and evolve it as you grow.
The Plug-In Business Manager
Online business manager: hands-on help IN the business
Operations management, project coordination, marketing implementation.
For when your business works, but it’s exhausting you.
I plug in to manage the moving parts, coordinate your team, and keep everything running smoothly so you can focus on the work that matters most.
WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE:
If you're deep in delivering your services → I might manage your admin and reporting, coordinate with contractors, onboard new team members, and handle client communication so you can focus on the actual work.
If marketing & business development keeps sliding → I might take over your content calendar, write your newsletters, schedule social media, and make sure campaigns actually happen. I can also polish your look and messaging, update your website, or write and design your business proposals, tenders or grant applications.
If your team needs direction → I might run your Monday meetings, map workflows, create SOPs, provide trouble-shooting and training support, answer the daily questions, and become their go-to so they stop interrupting your flow.
If systems are breaking → I might fix the gap between your CRM and invoicing, automate what's manual, or finally get your tech stack talking to each other.
I don’t come with a preset package. I start by understanding your business, then handle what actually needs doing.
THE RESULT
Operational comfort, calm, and control. Less firefighting. More flow.
You finally get the breathing room to lead, create, and grow — maybe even take that holiday you keep postponing.
The Wing Woman
Fractional COO: strategic partnership ON the business
Strategic alignment, operational transformation, scaling systems.
For when your business is evolving, and what got you here won’t take you where you’re heading.
I step in as your independent, objective operations partner — connecting vision with strategy and structure, people with process — to help you build something sustainable.
WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE:
If you're scaling from founder-led to team-delivered → We might develop a practical strategic plan, redesign roles, create leadership rhythms, and build systems and resources so quality doesn't depend on your personal involvement.
If you're launching something new → I might co-design and project-manage the entire initiative — from design to implementation — coordinate across teams and suppliers, support change management, and handle the operational implementation while you stay focused on vision.
If your team is overwhelmed by growth → We might restructure workflows, eliminate bottlenecks, build better processes and training, and create breathing room without adding headcount.
If culture and connection have taken a back seat → I might help operationalise your values, introduce wellbeing and engagement rhythms, and strengthen how your team works together day-to-day.
If you're preparing for a big leap → I might audit your operations, identify what will break at 2x scale, and systematically strengthen your foundation before you grow.
THE RESULT
Clarity. Confidence. A business that runs smoothly, scales sustainably, and still feels like YOU — with the right structures and resources in place to support your next stage.
Which level fits your business?
You probably need The Plug-In Business Manager (OBM) when you’re stuck in the weeds, juggling spot fires, and need someone inside the day-to-day.
You probably need The Wing Woman (Fractional COO) when your operations can’t keep up with your growth and you need structural change.
Not sure? That’s completely normal.
Or maybe there’s a specific project you need support with.
→ Get the Services Guide for more detail, then book a call and we’ll figure it out together.
Hi, I’m Emma
I've been the CEO. I've been the COO.
I've felt the weight of every decision and the loneliness of leadership.
Now I help founders build businesses that run smoothly — without running themselves into the ground.
Operations that support both business sustainability and growth, and the wellbeing of everyone they provide for.
I’ve spent my career in the thick of small business — from family ventures to not-for-profits — the kinds of places where people wear ten hats and every decision really matters.
That’s why I don’t bring corporate frameworks or consulting jargon.
I bring empathy, structure, and practical know-how that fits the way small businesses actually work.
With a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and experience across leadership, operations, marketing, people, and systems, I bridge creative problem-solving, strategy, and implementation in a way that works in the real world of small business.
Think of me as the Swiss-Army knife of operational support — equally comfortable rebranding and building your sales funnel or restructuring your entire organisation.
You don’t need an MBA. You need someone who already has one — and knows when it matters and when it doesn’t.
Why I Called it The Business Distillery
Because I help you strip away what’s not working, refine what is, and build something clear, strong, and sustainable — for you, your team, and your clients.
When you work with The Business Distillery, you work directly with me.
Yes, it's just me. That's the point.
No account managers. No junior or outsourced team. You get:
Executive-level expertise (MBA + former CEO & COO experience)
Cross-functional skills (operations + systems + service design + HR/People & Culture + marketing)
Direct accountability (the buck stops with me)
Lower investment (no agency or big overheads)
I believe small businesses need sophisticated thinking, not complicated systems. And I’m obsessed with making business feel lighter and more sustainable.
Working with The Business Distillery gives you smart support, not more employees.
And someone who gets that behind every business is a human who started with a dream and could use a little help keeping it alive.
Emma Bryant, Principal & Founder
The Business Distillery
Want to work with me? Here’s how to get started.
1. Get the Services Guide
Start by exploring how I work and the types of support available — what’s included, who they’re for, and typical investment levels.
2. Book an obligation-free call
We’ll talk through what’s working, what’s stuck, and what kind of support will make the biggest difference right now.
I’ll help you match the right package to your goals, team, and stage of business — so you know exactly what to expect before we start.
Let’s make running your business feel lighter.
You don’t have to hold it all together on your own.
Plug me in where you need support — and let me help you build a business that runs smoothly, grows sustainably, and gives you space to do more of what you do best.
Submit your details and I’ll send the Services Guide straight to your inbox.
GET THE SERVICES GUIDE
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