What Is Business Coaching and How Does a Business Coach Help?

What Is Business Coaching and How Does a Business Coach Help?

Business coaching is a process in which a professional coach assists a businessperson in pursuing their work objectives. A business coach can help by providing personalized guidance to assist you in navigating the challenging terrain of running a business. The purpose of business coaching is not to give you answers and solutions but rather to support you as you work through issues on your own. The importance of business coaching for entrepreneurs includes increased self-confidence. The importance of business coaching for businesses includes increased employee engagement (67%), enhanced employee perception of leadership quality (60%), greater leadership bench strength (54%), increased productivity (50%), and better work quality (44%). The importance of business coaching for entrepreneurs includes increased self-confidence. Both small businesses and entrepreneurs need business coaching. In order to understand the history of business coaching, it is important to go back to the previous century. In a way, the first business coach in history was Sir John Whitmore is largely recognized for adapting Timothy Gallwey’s initial concepts to business coaching. A business coach is a professional mentor who educates, motivates, and supports business owners. A business coach can help business owners define their company’s vision and how it aligns with their objectives. Business coaches make money in five different ways: group coaching, one-on-one coaching, online courses, consulting services, and live events (online or in person). Some of the key qualities you should look for in a business coach include prior experience and strong ethics. The benefits of business coaching include improved planning and goal-setting, increased productivity, enhanced accountability, etc. Business coaches can help you grow your business by maximizing efficiency and minimizing mistakes. 

Business coaching alternatives are the resources you can turn to when you are stuck as a business owner and need to find a workable solution for your problems. The coaching business is mostly an unregulated industry. Therefore, we’d suggest you remain cautious while looking for a successful coach for your business. With no one monitoring them, most business coaches set their own rates. No, just like in every other field in the world, there are no free business coaching services available.  It is possible to take online business coaching services. Business coaching for small businesses is not really much different from any other type of coaching or than a business coach working for big enterprises. You don’t really need a certification or a degree to become a life or business coach. But a certificate certainly adds to your credibility. When starting a coaching business, you should keep in mind that you are not just a coach, but also an entrepreneur who is starting a new business so there’s a lot of room to grow and learn. There are many famous entrepreneurs in the world that use business coaching services to get personalized advice that transformed their businesses. The coaching industry has been showing consistent growth.

The best coaches for 2023 include Jay Abrahams, Alexis Fedor, and Anthony Jay Robbins. There are also many motivational business coaching quotes you can live by. The Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership, the Coach Training Alliance, and the College of Executive Coaching offer some of the best business coaching courses that you can take advantage of to enrich your knowledge in business even more. The best business coaching books include “The Coaching Habit: Say Less” by Michael Bungay Stanier, “The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown” by Daniel Coyle, and “Co-Active Coaching” by Karen Kimsey-House, Henry Kimsey-House, et al. The best business coaching blogs are Boldheart Business Coaching Blog, Boldheart Business Coaching Blog, and Coaching for Leaders Blog. Youpreneur FM, AIB Podcast, and The BizChix Podcast are some of the best business coaching podcasts. You can make your business coaching processes easier and simpler with the help of business coaching tools like Vcita, Paperbell, and Acuity Scheduling. The difference between a business coach and a consultant lies in the way they assist their clients. The difference between a business coach and a mentor is evident in how they impart their knowledge to you. The difference between a business coach and a mentor is apparent in how they impart their knowledge to you. The difference between a business coach and an executive coach is who their clients are and what kinds of strategies they are imparting to their clients. The difference between business coaching and training is how knowledge is imparted to the individual.

Business coaching is a collaborative relationship between an entrepreneur or business owner and a qualified business coach with the aim of developing a profitable company. Business coaching offers many benefits for both small businesses and entrepreneurs, including help with achieving your business goals, enhanced productivity, more confidence, and improved profitability. The beginnings of business coaching can be traced back to the 1970s but it gained popularity in the 1990s after IBM implemented it for the first time. 

A business coach acts as both a mentor and trainer, teaching you the abilities you need for company success while also identifying any difficulties and holding you accountable. They work to improve your skills, focus on your goals, guide your decisions, and take whatever other actions they can to make sure that you and your company are successful. Some key qualities you should look for in a business coach include expertise in their field, prior experience, a strong skill set, and strong ethics.

When as a business owner you feel stuck and can’t find a workable solution for your problem and cannot consult a business coach as well, you can have other resources at your disposal. Such as you can turn to business books, attending relevant conferences, choose someone as your mentor from your colleagues, take part in business training provided by business authors, etc. Although you should keep in mind that you can only do these things until you need personalized, specially tailored business advice. And when you do, you’ll need to find a successful business coach. There are some qualities associated with a successful business coach that you’d need to keep in mind while looking for the right consultant. Such as one having vast experience, who should’ve struggled as an entrepreneur before, and is confident and bold enough to go against your advice when they feel it may not work, etc.

When searching for a business coach, you should start by looking for recommendations from your circle rather than searching for a business coach online first. Also while you interview the potential business coach, you should ask for the failure stories along with success stories, discuss their coaching style and technique and talk about the tools and resources they use to find the right fit for yourself and your company.

The cost of hiring a business coach is also important whether you own a small business or are running a big enterprise. Business coaches charge hourly as well as monthly and most of them also offer packages. Their prices depend upon the size of your business, the kind of assistance you need, and whether you require them to assist you in person or via a phone call or webcam, etc. You should also know that if someone’s offering business coaching services for free or at extremely low rates, they’re likely a scam.

In a tech-dominated world, you can also opt to take online business coaching services. You should also know that while it’s not a condition to have a degree or certificate to become a business coach, there exist several institutions which give training and certificates to business coaches. So, you can look out for a professional certificate while searching for a business coach since it’d prove that they’re consistently growing and are aware of the newest trends in the market.

To start a coaching business, you need to think and act like an entrepreneur. That’s why, before you begin, you should be clear about your goals, have chosen a business model to run your coaching business, have a niche, should have given a name to your business, determine the price for your services, and have selected a mean of providing the service, e.g. in person, online or both.

Now, why exactly do you need to get a business coach? Well, statistics show that businesses show actual growth when companies and CEOs develop a strong coaching culture. Companies and individual business owners also have reported that they were usually satisfied with their experience of having a business coach on board with them and would happily repeat the process. Many famous entrepreneurs, such as Eric Schmidt, and Steve Bennett have also used business coaching services which proves that it does bring a change.

Some of the best business coaches of 2023 are authors, coaches, and speakers like Jay Abraham, Alexis Fedor, Anthony Robbins, John Mattone, John Maxwell, Grant Cardone, Robin Sharma, and Lolly Daskal. These business coaches are your go-to trainers to learn from if you’re still a startup business or already an established entrepreneur. Aside from these business trainers, there are also courses to benefit from like programs from The Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership, Coach Training Alliance, The College of Executive Coaching, The Academies Inc., Co-Active Training Institute, and The Center for Executive Coaching. These are the best accredited and trusted programs to take this 2023.

For those who love books, you can also get these 2023 top picks to read this year. These motivational and informative books are The Coaching Habit, The Talent Code, Co-Active Coaching, The Word on Coaching, and The Quiet Voice Fearless Leader. If you like to add more to your learnings and be updated with business coaching tips, blogs like Boldheart Business Coaching, John Mattone Executive Coaching, The Coaching for Leaders Blog, EMythy blog, and The Alternative Board is the best blogs this year.

For podcasts, learn from Youpreneur FM, The AIB Podcast, The BizChix Podcast, The Business Accelerator, and My First Million. These podcasts discuss essential business coaching strategies to apply this 2023. Lastly, incorporate business coaching tools into your approach for an easier and simple process. Business coaching tools like Vcita, Paperbell, Acuity, and CoachAccountable are your best picks for 2023.

Business coaching is an essential factor in the development of your business. That’s why there is a need for business coaches. Unlike business consultants, mentors, life coaches, and executive coaches, business coaches focus more on the growth aspect of your business. The difference lies in how business coaches manage, share their knowledge, target angles in your business, and impart strategies to their clients. Through business coaching, these are achieved. Unlike business training, coaching is more holistic and more focused on the overall evolution of your business.

What Is the Purpose of Business Coaching?

The purpose of business coaching is not to give you answers and solutions but rather to support you as you work through issues on your own. 

Growing a business is a challenging process and the purpose of business coaching is to help you avoid making costly mistakes. Business coaching has a purpose to help you shortcut your road to success. Your business coach provides advice specifically tailored to your sector, and helps you to focus on your strengths, polish your skills, and leverage them in order to be more effective.

What Is the Importance of Business Coaching For Businesses?

The importance of business coaching for businesses includes increased employee engagement (67%), enhanced employee perception of leadership quality (60%), greater leadership bench strength (54%), increased productivity (50%), and better work quality (44%)

Similar findings were presented by another research, which ranked employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction as the most important intangible benefits of business coaching for businesses. The importance of business coaching doesn’t stop here; it helps you better understand and communicate with people, manage sensitive conversations, and deliver presentations. 

What is the Importance of Business Coaching For Entrepreneurs?

The importance of business coaching for entrepreneurs includes increased self-confidence. 80% of entrepreneurs who received business coaching said it helped them feel more confident. It comes as no surprise that one in six entrepreneurs rely on business coaching to enhance their performance because of the importance of business coaching for entrepreneurs.

Do Small Businesses Need Business Coaching More Than Entrepreneurs?

No, both small businesses and entrepreneurs need business coaching. Entrepreneurs need business coaching more than small businesses because they are setting up a business and taking on financial risks in some situations. Entrepreneurs require business coaching more than small businesses because they need guidance, accountability, and support. Thanks to their commercial awareness and ability to view your situation from a distance, a business coach acts as a sounding board, helps you grow your mindset, and challenges you to further develop your knowledge and skills.

Business coaching is important because it provides you with an advantage and makes you more competitive When it comes to small businesses, business coaches help you grow by offering your company a valuable external viewpoint and years of experience.

Small business owners are increasingly using paid coaches to help them overcome obstacles according to a study by Infusionsoft and Emergent Research.

What is the History of Business Coaching?

The history of business coaching starts in the 1970s when the American author Timothy Gallwey released “The Inner Series” of books. Timothy Gallwey presented a number of innovative coaching and general success strategies in these books for sports like skiing and tennis, as well as other professions that demand strict inner strength and self-discipline, such as music.

The concept presented by Gallawey became so popular that even people who weren’t athletes began using it in their professional and personal lives. The American corporate sector found his ideas so fascinating that the author was invited to give lectures to businesspeople around the country.  

Who Was the First Business Coach in History?

The first business coach in history was Sir John Whitmore is largely recognized for adapting Timothy Gallwey’s initial concepts to business coaching. However, there were other intellectuals, including Americans Werner Erhard and Thomas Leonard, who helped popularize the concept of business and life coaching outside the States over the years, so they are counted among the first business coaches in history. 

Business coaching gained in popularity after IBM implemented it for the first time in the 1990s. The shift of individual professional behavior and corporate behavior throughout the 1990s was another significant factor in the expansion of business coaching among Fortune 500 organizations and others.

What Does a Business Coach Do?

A business coach is a professional mentor who educates, motivates, and supports business owners. The role of a business coach is to educate, motivate, and support you in the creation of a business vision that is consistent with your personal beliefs and objectives. A business coach gives you the direction, encouragement, and support you require to establish and achieve your goals and beliefs, enabling you to advance your business from where it is to where you want it to be.

What Can a Business Coach Help With?

A business coach can help their clients define their company’s vision and how it aligns with their objectives. A business coach helps their clients with prioritizing business objectives and determining strategies to accomplish those objectives. 

They are able to see the internal and external problems that a company is facing more objectively being an outside observer, so a business coach can help business owners to better understand what might need to change and develop a plan to achieve the desired objectives.

The business coach works with the client to develop KPIs (key performance indicators), which are measurements that can be used to gauge success. KPIs make it possible for coaches to monitor their clients’ development, something a business owner chooses to forego if they work alone.

Lastly, accountability is one of the most important components of business coaching. Coaches usually keep in touch with their clients on a regular basis, such as once a week or once a month, to follow through on commitments made during earlier coaching sessions.

How Does a Business Coach Make Money?

Business coaches make money in five different ways, including group coaching, one-on-one coaching, online courses, consulting services, and live events (online or in person). Some business coaches make money by choosing a hybrid model where they sell a selection of coaching services in order to expand their revenue range and provide their clients with the opportunity to select the coaching style they prefer. The average business coach makes $87,281 but the normal salary range is $73,577 to $106,437 as of January 2023. Salary ranges vary significantly depending on a variety of factors, including the coach’s education, credentials, additional skills, and the length of time they have been working in a given field.

Business Coaching Definition

What Qualities Should You Look For In a Business Coach?

Some of the key qualities you must look for in a business coach include prior experience and strong ethics. There are several key qualities that make a good business coach when it comes to business coaching. However, not all coaches are the same. Here is a full list qualities you should look for in a business coach.

Business Coaching Definition

What Are the Benefits of Business Coaching?

The benefits of business coaching include improved planning and goal-setting, increased productivity, enhanced accountability, etc. The investment in business coaching will pay off many times over as it also increases your bottom line. Below are just a few of the most important benefits of business coaching: 

Can Business Coaches Help You Grow Your Business?

Yes, business coaches can help you grow your business by maximizing efficiency and minimizing mistakes. Here are some figures to help you get a clearer picture If you are wondering how business coaches can help you grow your business; companies that employed business coaches saw an average ROI of 5.7 times and more than 50% of businesses with strong coaching cultures saw a higher revenue than similar businesses. However, with so many options out there, finding a good business coach who will help you grow your business is a challenge. It is essential to take your time, conduct thorough research, choose the right business coach, and understand what you are getting for your money. 

What Are the Alternatives to Business Coaching?

Business coaching alternatives are the resources you turn to when you are stuck as a business owner and need to find a workable solution for your problems. But you are not able to go and consult a  business coach because of the many business coaching mistakes you’ve encountered; such as business coaches being more interested in their commission than your success, or failing to find practical ways to solve a problem, etc. 

Therefore, to save you from such situations, we have listed below some of the good business coaching alternatives that contribute a great deal to pacing up your business’s growth by providing you with viable solutions to the issues you face as a business owner.

How to Find a Successful Business Coach?

You must first know the qualities you need to look for in order to find a successful business coach. One of the main qualities of a coach is to have diverse experience. A successful business coach should have worked with people from a wide variety of fields and areas. They must have worked in different positions and be able to talk to you comfortably on different topics related to your business such as strategy, financial and human resources, new market trends, etc. 

A successful business coach must have walked in your shoes. It is why they must be someone who has either run a small business as an entrepreneur in the past or is doing that right now; so that they are well aware of the challenges entrepreneurs face every day and guide you accordingly. 

You must keep in mind that you need someone who is more interested in seeing you succeed rather than adding one into their own accomplishments while thinking about how to find a successful business coach. You are able to find out by observing those who are trying to know more about your business to have an idea about where you currently stand rather than going on and on about their own achievements. 

A successful business coach must be someone who has the courage to stand up to you when you are preferring option A and suggest option B confidently if they feel it’d help you more to grow and succeed. A person who always agrees with you on everything  and does not push you forward. 

A successful business consultant is one with strong ethics. You need to make sure they have that by choosing a coach who’s a member of a professional organization or an order which follows a well-defined code of ethics.

It’s time to talk about how to find one. So, here’s your step-by-step guide after discussing the qualities a successful business coach must have. 

How Much Does a Business Coach Cost?

Most business coaches set their own rates with no one monitoring them. Therefore, business coaching prices vary depending on the experience, qualification, area of expertise of the coach, and how often you seek advice from your business coach. Typically, it ranges from $500 to $5000 a month or $175 to $250 per hour. It depends on whether the coach is providing services through a face-to-face consultation, an online consultation, or a pre-recorded video session. The charges for face-to-face consultations tend to be the highest; ranging from $100 to $500 per hour. 

Are There Any Free Business Coaching Services?

No, just like in every other field in the world, there are no free business coaching services available. It’s likely that either they are not as effective and personalized or they are a scam and if you see some free coaching services at your disposal. They claim that they’re experts and able to teach you the secret technique that helps you change your game, but you must keep in  mind that no one would walk around giving out business advice and investing their time without earning anything from it. It is possible that they make you sign-up for them for free and charge for their business coaching services later. 

So, you must refrain from getting free or low-cost business coaching services because it will likely be only a waste of your time and even your money.  

Is It Possible to Take Online Business Coaching Classes? 

Yes! It is possible to take online business coaching classes. Online business coaching is better than getting coaching classes in person in some ways with the world becoming more tech-dominated each day where concepts like digital nomads are getting popular. No matter where you are located, you are able to get classes from top-notch business coaches to transform your strategies and redefine your goals. You are able to get access and benefit from the BEST from the comfort of your home or office in a world where virtuality is becoming the new reality.

Is a Small Business Coach Different?

No, business coaching for small businesses is not really much different from any other type of coaching or than a business coach working for big enterprises. Just like other coaches, a small business coach charges either on an hourly or monthly basis and their fee usually depends upon how much assistance you need as a business owner. The quality of their work is determined by how in an ever-changing world, they help you think strategically and offer new ideas that support you in your growth both as a person and as a business owner. 

The strategies used by small business coaches are not different from those used by other types of business coaches. For example, your small business coach’s goals and needs are in alignment with the needs and goals of your business. They add value to your life with the content they provide you; such as podcasts, interviews, webinars, etc. They Improve your social media impact and help you in networking and building relationships. 

What Is Business Coaching Certification?

Coaching is still an unregulated profession; that is, you don’t really need a certification or a degree to become a life or business coach. However, there are many institutions that offer professional certifications and training for business coaches. For example, ICF accredited programs for business coaches,  Co-Active Training Institute, Academy for Coaching Excellence, etc. 

You’re taught specific approaches and methods to get specific results. Such as, supporting business owners in taking up their business from where it is now to where they envision it to be during business coaching certification training. Helping them to clarify their goals and carve a path to achieve those goals etc. 

The price varies depending on the institution you choose for your training and how much assistance and extra training you’d need to reach your full potential as a business coach when it comes to the cost of business coaching certification. The cost generally ranges from  $1000 to $20,000 and more. The expensive training provides you with more hands-on experience. 

Certifications and training are as important in business coaching as they’re in any other field. The training arms you with tools and skills with the help of which you are able to track your client’s growth and tackle complex goals with confidence. They show your potential clients that you are serious about your growth as a professional and are well aware of recent strategies in the world of business. 

How Do People Become Certified As a Business Coach?

Business coaching is not a regulated industry yet. However,  a certificate certainly adds to your credibility. There are several ICF-accredited (International Coaching Federation) institutions in the USA and all over the world providing training and business coaching certification. You are able to take part in any of them, undergo 125 hours of coaching training and 10 hours of mentoring, acquire 500 hours of coaching experience, and pass the final performance evolution test and you’ll be eligible to receive your certificate for a professional business coach.  

Business Coaching Definition

How to Start Coaching a Business?

You must keep in mind that you are not just a coach, but also an entrepreneur who is starting a new business so there’s a lot of room to grow and learn when starting a coaching business. Just like an entrepreneur, you have to invest in personal development and be ready to leave your comfort zone to make some daring decisions. 

Here are the specific steps you need to take while starting a coaching business.

What Are the Famous Entrepreneurs Who Had Business Coaching?

There are many famous entrepreneurs in the world that used business coaching services to get personalized advice that transformed their businesses. Listed below are some of the famous entrepreneurs who had business coaching.

What Are the Business Coaching Statistics?

The coaching industry has been showing consistent growth. The global revenue generated from the coaching industry was estimated to be 2.849 billion USD in 2019 alone. It shows that coaching does bring some change since people are ready to spend more and more. Some of the business coaching statistics that show how happy the clients are with their business coaches are listed below.

Who Are the Best Business Coaches?

These are the best business coaches of 2023.

These are your best business coaches to learn from whether you’re still a startup or an established entrepreneur. 

What are the Best Business Coach Quotes?

Here are also some motivational business coach quotes.

What Are the Best Business Coaching Courses?

There are best business coaching courses that you are able to take advantage of to enrich your knowledge in business even more apart from exceptional business coaches.

What Are the Best Business Coaching Books?

Check out these top coaching books if you want to add more meaningful and valuable learnings to your Coaching approach.

What Are the Best Business Coaching Blogs?

If you’re into blogs, you can check out these relevant coaching platforms that offer simple yet effective strategies you can apply to your business.

What Are the Best Business Coaching Podcasts?

For more added value, you can also learn from these business coaching podcasts.

What Are the Best Business Coaching Tools?

Make your business coaching processes easier and simpler with the help of these amazing tools.

  1. Vcita: Vcita is the perfect tool for appointments, invoicing, billing, client management, and business coaching. Vcita is simple to use and has helpful features like an interactive calendar, a customizable interface, and an open software integration program. The only downside of Vcita is that its billing system lacks more options.
  2. Paperbell: Paperbell is a tool ideal for the administrative side of coaching. Paperbell is a convenient all-in-one software that covers billing, scheduling, coaching, and contract signing features. Paperbell also has a digital download feature for your coaching courses, and it comes with relevant content for user engagement too. 
  3. Acuity Scheduling: Acuity Scheduling is a trusted business coaching tool.  Acuity is ideal when you have to have a 24/7 scheduling system. Here, your clients can book a coaching session, and Acuity will automatically send a customized and branded booking form and deliver text reminders to notify your clients of updates anytime of the day.
  4. CoachAccountable: CoachAccountable would be your best pick if you want a tool with basic administrative features. These simple yet convenient features include billing, scheduling, and a tool for creating coaching sessions for your clients.

What Is the Difference Between a Business Coach and a Consultant?

The difference between a business coach and a consultant lies in the way they assist their clients. A business coach is a guide who enables you to make your own decisions. Business coaches address a wider scope of coverage when it comes to tackling personal development. On the other hand, a business consultant is an expert who analyzes data explicitly and gives you solutions to specific problems. A business coach works with you, while a consultant works for you. 

The downside of business coaches is that they don’t focus on the specifics when solving business problems, but the upside is that they holistically nurture your growth as an individual. Consultants do not give you a fixed solution, but they are effective when you want to execute plans and solve conflicts in your business.

What Is the Difference Between a Business Coach and a Mentor?

The difference between a business coach and a mentor is evident in how they impart their knowledge to you. Business coaches are more structured in the sense that they have a plan for your overall growth. A business coach gives you a checklist and recommendations while also keeping track of your progress. Mentors support your development, but they do it voluntarily and not necessarily have a formal, scheduled, and organized approach to teaching you. Thus, you are able to rely more on the structured methods of coaches and not always on mentors. Still, mentors have an edge when it comes to empowering individuals as they have seniority and expertise in their fields. 

What Is the Difference Between a Business Coach and a Life Coach?

The difference between a business coach and a life coach is that they target different angles when imparting their knowledge. A business coach has your business in mind while a life coach works on your problems holistically. You are going to benefit from a business coach if you want to let your business thrive as they work with you on a professional level. A life coach, on the other hand, tackles a problem entirely by assessing what your state is at the moment and focusing on you more on a personal level.

What Is the Difference Between a Business Coach and an Executive Coach?

The difference between a business coach and an executive coach is who their clients are and what kinds of strategies they are imparting to their clients. A business coach focuses on business methods while an executive coach is more than that. Business coaches support entrepreneurs by guiding and offering solutions to better business processes, but an executive coach is more involved and works with decision-makers and higher-ranking individuals in a company.

What Is the Difference Between Business Coaching and Training?

The difference between business coaching and training is how knowledge is imparted to the individual. Business coaching is more focused on guiding the client and looking out for ways to further enhance business tactics and resolve conflicts while training is more of a formal process where new information or skill is taught to a group of people. Business coaching focuses more on growth-related approaches while training is imparting knowledge and skills from a trainer. 

Alexis Fedor

Founder & CEO

Alexis Fedor

Founder & CEO

Alexis Fedor is an award winning performance artist and writer from New York City. She is the founder of Artists In Business, a company focused on helping artists create online businesses with their art through online courses and group coaching. Alexis is the creator of the renowned Profit Canvas Mentorship, which has helped hundreds of artists create profitable businesses with their art, and the AIB Jumpstart, a membership experience designed to help artists get their businesses prepped for profitability. Alexis lives in New York City among many friends, family, and two cats.