What an Online Business Manager Actually Does in a Six-Figure Coaching Business

Jan 13
4 min read

If you run a six-figure coaching, consulting, or service-based business, chances are this sounds familiar:

On the outside, things look successful. Clients are signing, offers are selling, and your calendar is full. But behind the scenes? You’re still the one holding everything together.

You’re the final decision-maker, the problem-solver, the project manager, the systems checker, the team reminder, and the person who notices when things quietly start to unravel.

This is exactly where an Online Business Manager (OBM) comes in, and no, it’s not “just an upgraded VA.”

Let’s break down what an OBM actually does inside a six-figure business, and why this role becomes essential at this stage of growth.

First: Why Six-Figure Businesses Hit a Different Kind of Wall

At six figures, the challenge usually isn’t motivation or effort. It’s complexity.

You likely have:

Multiple offers or programs running
A small team (assistants, contractors, maybe a coach or specialist)
Systems that kind of work but aren’t fully integrated
Too many decisions living in your head
A growing gap between vision and execution

You’re no longer in “start-up mode,” but you’re also not fully operating like a CEO with protected focus and strategic oversight. That in-between stage is where most burnout, stagnation, and messy growth happens.

So, What Does an Online Business Manager Actually Do?

An Online Business Manager steps in to bridge the gap between vision and execution.

They don’t just complete tasks, they manage the business operations so you can lead.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

1. They Translate Your Vision Into Executable Plans

You might know where you want the business to go:

Grow revenue sustainably
Improve client experience
Reduce your working hours
Build a team you actually trust

An OBM takes that high-level vision and turns it into:

Clear priorities
Structured plans
Timelines your team can actually follow
Defined roles and responsibilities

Without this translation layer, vision stays stuck in your head — and execution becomes reactive instead of intentional.

2. They Own and Oversee Business Operations

In a six-figure business, operations touch everything:

Client delivery
Team workflows
Systems and tools
Internal communication
Ongoing projects and launches

An OBM looks at how all of these pieces work together.

They identify:

What’s slowing things down
Where things are duplicated or overcomplicated
What’s being held together by memory instead of systems
Where you’re still the bottleneck without realising it

Then they design cleaner, more sustainable operational flows, and make sure they’re actually followed.

3. They Manage Projects So You’re Not Chasing Progress

Every coaching business runs on projects:

Launches
Program updates
New offers
System migrations
Team onboarding

Without strong project management, these projects:

Drag on longer than necessary
Create stress for you and your team
Eat into client delivery time
Never feel fully “done”

An OBM plans, tracks, and manages projects end-to-end:

Clear milestones
Realistic timelines
Accountability for each role
Regular check-ins and updates

You stop wondering “Is this moving?” because you have visibility without micromanaging.

4. They Manage and Support Your Team (So You Don’t Have To)

At six figures, team management often becomes an invisible drain.

You might be:

Answering the same questions repeatedly
Unsure who owns what
Fixing small mistakes that shouldn’t reach you
Avoiding delegation because it feels easier to do it yourself

An OBM:

Clarifies roles and expectations
Creates and improves SOPs
Acts as the point of contact for the team
Ensures work is aligned with business priorities
Flags issues early, before they become problems

This allows your team to function without constant access to you.

5. They Optimise Systems (Without Overcomplicating Them)

This isn’t about adding more tools. It’s about making sure your existing systems actually support how you work.

An OBM evaluates:

Client onboarding and offboarding
Communication flows
Project management tools
CRM and backend systems
Internal documentation

They streamline what’s messy, simplify what’s bloated, and ensure your systems reduce friction, not create it. The goal is ease, clarity, and consistency.

6. They Protect Your CEO Time and Mental Bandwidth

This might be the most underrated part of the role.

An OBM helps you:

Get out of daily operational decision-making
Stop being the default problem-solver
Create space for strategy, leadership, and rest
Shift from “doing” to directing

You don’t lose control, you gain structure.

What an OBM Is Not

To be clear, an OBM is not:

A task-only VA
A tech implementer without a strategy
Someone who needs step-by-step instructions
An extra layer of admin

An OBM is a strategic partner focused on how the business runs, not just what gets done.

When a Six-Figure Business Is Ready for an OBM

You’re likely ready for OBM support if:

Your business feels heavier than it should
You’re constantly context-switching
Growth feels chaotic instead of exciting
You’re making money but lacking ease
You want the business to run well without relying on you for everything

This stage isn’t about hustling harder, it’s about building smarter.

A six-figure business doesn’t need more effort. It needs stronger operations, clearer leadership, and better support structures. That’s the work of an Online Business Manager.

If you’re ready to move from holding everything together to leading with clarity and calm, that’s where the right OBM makes all the difference.

Ready to Build a Business That Runs Without You Holding It All?

If you want support with streamlining your operations, managing your team, and creating a business that feels sustainable, not stressful, I’d love to talk.

Visit https://www.virtuallybymo.com to explore how I support coaches, consultants, and service-based business owners through strategic OBM support.