If you’re thinking of hiring a coach and want to know the types of small business coaching services to expect, then you’ve found the right place. Many coaches offer different types of packages and programs, whether it’s one-on-one coaching, group coaching or pay-as-you-go. Whatever you choose, and whoever you go with, each service is designed for one thing: to make you money.
What is Small Business Coaching?
A small business coach is someone who knows how to troubleshoot, diagnose and provide solutions on building a business. This includes giving advice on better management, finding new revenue streams, motivating the business owner, executing strategy, goal setting and accountability. The business coach oversees the running of the business and provides expert knowledge to increase the company’s revenue.
Depending on the types of small business coaching services you’re after, you have to consider if:
- The coach has a program suitable to your needs;
- If the business coaching packages matches your budget;
- Knowing how to find the right business coach you can work well with;
- If the coach delivers the coaching sessions in a way that’s comfortable for you.
Remember, business coaches are there to make you money. And each session is designed to expand and open your mind to the possibilities you never knew existed. The experience of the coach plays a role too. Let’s explore the important (and the things that don’t matter) when searching for small business coaching services.
Business coaching programs: Session delivery.
Most coaches offer weekly, fortnightly or monthly sessions either through phone, skype, zoom or if they’re local, you can meet them in person. Depending on the coaching style, some have lock-in contracts, pre-paid sessions, 6-12 month commitments or pay-as-you-go. Some common coaching programs are:
- One-on-one phone or virtual (Skype/Zoom) coaching;
- Group phone or virtual (Skype/Zoom) coaching;
- The coach visits you for one-on-one coaching;
- You visit the coach;
- Monthly group meet-ups;
Depending on the coach, prices vary. The cheapest option is group coaching and the most expensive is one-on-one. And if the coach is local, you may be lucky enough to meet in person. It’s best to explore your options and determine if the coach has the right personality for you, especially if it’s along-term commitment. Also, it’s important to see f the coach is multi-skilled and can help you in other specialist areas, such as copywriting, content writing, digital marketing, therapy, online branding strategy, etc, – without having to pay extra service fees.
Next, let’s look at coaching prices.
Small business coaching services: Package and program costs.
Expect to pay on average $200-400 per session. Some coaches charge a minimum of $1000 per month. Others can even charge up to $24,000 per year. There’s always a coach to suit your budget. You just have to research to determine who is the right one. Most coaches only have one skill, which is just coaching (they don’t do any work at all). And from my research, there is no correlation between price and skill level. Pricing is a positioning statement. If coaches only want to deal with high-end business and corporations, then they charge accordingly.
Small business coaches are the most affordable because they know small businesses need the most help and don’t have much money to spare. Always look to see the value the coach gives you and see if the coach has multi-skills they can bring to the table. Remember, if a coach has built businesses from nothing, they would most likely have ground knowledge in many areas. For example, a Fantail Foundation Melbourne business coach has over 40 specialist skill sets (in addition to coaching) because these skills had to be learnt the hard way. And watch out for coaches who claim they’re ‘certified’ – or who work as a franchise because a class-room coach can’t teach or advise on anything specific or particular to your industry. And because they haven’t run their own successful businesses, they tend to overcharge for the advice given.
If a business owner needs lots of help, then a more committed 6-12 month plan is suitable. Others may only need a few coaching sessions and if affordability is an issue, then group coaching may be an option.
How to find the right business coach.
Start by doing a google search and exploring various business coaching websites. Read their reviews, see how much they charge and determine if their programs are right for your business needs. Also, it’s important to see if they’ve coached similar people and businesses as yours. Some coaches provide free discovery sessions. It’s important to know how to interview your coach during these sessions.
You may also check out their content, testimonials and visit their social media so you get a full picture of the right coach. You can ask other business owners who’ve had a coach and compare their experiences with what you want. Next, we’ll explore what to look for in business coaching website.
Explore business coaching websites.
If you’re searching for someone offering their small business coaching services, then their website sets the tone on the kind of business coach you’re dealing with. Go through the content and look for these 5 things:
- Does the coach solve the problems you’re currently facing?
- Ar the prices and packages within your needs and budget?
- Does the coach offer more than just coaching?
- Can the coach do any of the work he or she tells you to do?
- Does the coach offer in-house coaching services that are part of the coaching package? (this will minimise price shock later in the coaching journey).
Most coaches offer free discovery sessions, so it’s best to perform a few enquiries and speak with each coach to see if you’re a good fit.
Certifications Vs experience: What really matters.
We’ve touched on this previously. Make sure the coach has experience building a business from nothing. These are the coaches that show the most compassion and can motivate you out of any rut you may be in. Also, it’s these coaches who know how to get results and a huge ROI with a minimal budget. Coaches that have failed the most, know the most because they’ve become sensitive to what works and what doesn’t.
Coaches that boast having certifications or who are part of a ‘supporting’ franchise are doing so because they lack the skill necessary to give any specific advice. It’s important to test the coach by giving him or her a scenario to solve. A good coach will give you specific, relevant answers in your free discovery call without holding anything back. It’s O.K. to be certified, but experience is what really matters.
There you have it. You now have a clearer understanding of what to consider and expect when searching for small business coaching services. If you would like to view Fantail Foundation’s prices, packages and how we compare to other coaches, then please visit the pricing section of our homepage.
