How a business coach can help you build your business

For start-up owners looking to grow their company quickly and consistently, a business coach can provide the support and expertise they need to succeed.

Business coaches help companies of all sizes grow and fulfil their objectives, helping business owners overcome challenges and focus on their priorities.

But how can a business coach work for your start-up, and what are the benefits of hiring one?

What is a business coach?

A business coach is a professional consultant who can offer insight, support, and advice to help you improve operations for your new business.

Coaches can come from a number of professional backgrounds, with specialisms ranging from finance and sales to marketing and HR, so you’re sure to find one who is appropriate for your particular business.

The right coach can guide you through setting goals, strategic planning, and problem-solving processes, with the aim of helping you optimise performance and achieve your targets.

How long you work with a business coach can vary depending on your needs – you might hire a coach on a project basis, during transition periods, or for the long term to provide ongoing support and guidance.

While offering support similar to that of a business mentor, there are some differences to consider.

Business coach vs mentor – what’s the difference?

Business coaches and business mentors both approach helping businesses from different perspectives.

A business coach is typically hired for a specific purpose, such as improving leadership or helping navigate a small business through a challenge for a short time or over a longer period.

Their coaching skills are typically universal and won’t be specific to an industry – but they may have experience that could apply to your particular needs.

A business mentor is someone who offers guidance based on their unique personal and professional experiences.

Working with a business mentor is typically a long-term arrangement during which they provide advice, share their network, and help you explore business strategies and opportunities.

Read our guide on the importance of business mentoring for new businesses.

Benefits of hiring a business coach

Increased creativity

With the help of a business coach, you could find yourself able to step past mental roadblocks that have made it difficult for you to try new business ideas.

Brainstorming sessions with a business coach to generate ideas for products and services could provide a creative boost and help you identify potential new opportunities.

And with your new and exciting products and services, your business may generate more income and profit.

You could then reinvest this money into your start-up for further growth and development.

A new perspective

Working with someone to provide an objective view of your business could help you approach challenges from a new angle and tackle them more effectively.

An outside perspective could also help you identify and rectify mistakes you’re unaware of, such as inefficient processes or the wrong marketing for your target audience.

A business coach could help you view challenges in a new light and then guide you on tackling them, helping you feel more confident.

Achieve a better work/life balance

As a start-up owner, you may struggle to balance your workload with your personal life.

A good work/life balance could involve ensuring you have enough relaxation time with friends and family to return to your business feeling more productive and clear-headed.

Your business coach could help you identify the areas of your business that need work and advise you on prioritising and managing your time more efficiently.

Improving your time management skills could benefit your business and help you carve out time to focus on your health and wellbeing.

Set achievable goals

Aiming high when starting your own business can be tempting, but setting unattainable goals early on can be a challenge and leave you feeling stretched.

Rather than lose faith along the way, you could work with a business coach to develop a set of achievable milestones to help steadily build up your business.

A business coach could also help you assess the resources you currently have or need and advise on how to reach your targets efficiently so that you can work smarter, not harder.

Learn more about setting business objectives.

Focus on decision-making and problem-solving

Making difficult decisions and facing challenges outside your comfort zone could be considered part of the day-to-day life of running a start-up.

But some decisions, particularly ones you’ve never faced before, may feel more daunting than others.

This is where a business coach can provide support – with years of experience behind them, their expert advice could make problem-solving simpler and less stressful.

How to choose a business coach

Where can I find one?

There are several places you could begin your search for a business coach:

• professional organisations – there are various associations for coaching in the UK, such as the Association for Coaching and the International Coaching Federation that have directories containing accredited coaches who may be able to help with your small business.
• online platforms – websites such as LinkedIn or coaching-specific platforms can help you find and connect with the right business coaches.
• networking events – industry conferences and local business events can provide opportunities to meet coaches and get personal recommendations.
• personal referrals – ask other small business owners or professionals within your network for recommendations.

What should I look for?

When looking for the right business coach for you and your small business, you may want to consider several things.

If they have previous experience in your industry or recognised qualifications from industry bodies, they might be better suited to helping you than other business coaches with more general expertise.

You may want to ask your potential business coach what qualifications they have – if they are not certified as a coach, they may still have other valuable and relevant experience that can benefit your new business.

By asking for references or reading reviews, you could also figure out if their coaching approach and methodology is not only a fit for your business but also for your personality.

How much does a business coach charge?

Business coaching fees in the UK can vary widely depending on experience, their specialism, and the nature of the work you have for them.

Depending on these factors, you might expect to pay anywhere from £50 to £500 per hour, but some coaches may offer discounted package deals for more comprehensive, long-term partnerships.

This may seem like a hefty fee to a small business owner, but it’s an investment that could help your business become more lucrative and successful in the future.