What do business coaches teach their clients? Anything and everything related to business. If a mom wants to open a local quilt shop, you can show her the importance of location. A high-trafficked and easily seen storefront will automatically translate into more customers and sales. If she has yet to pick a location, help her make the right choice. As for an online shop, if she has yet to set that up, help her choose an affordable web hosting package, a good domain name, and encourage her to hire the services of a professional web designer.
Some clients seek the advice and expertise of a business coach right from the start, but others wait until their new business shows signs of trouble. In these instances, business coaches educate their clients on marketing and sales. A stay-at-home mom selling her handmade quilts online is nice, but handmade products are widely available online. Just because she has a well-designed website, it does not mean that people will find it. Business coaches need to stress the importance of online and local marketing, as well as highlight a few examples for their clients.
In keeping with the example of a stay-at-home mom who wants to profit from her talent, most of these individuals want to be self-employed. They want to work for themselves and have no hired help. This does lower costs and increase profits, but many new small business owners make costly mistakes. One of those mistakes is taking on too much, too quick. Business coaches should also stress the importance of time management and show proper techniques. For example, the above mentioned quilt selling mom should have a waiting list and inform customers of a long wait, not stay up all night making quilts.
One question that those interested in running a coaching business ask is about profits. Most clients are new business owners or business owners who aren't seeing profits. How can these individuals pay for a business coach? Honestly, some cannot, but many can.
Business owners need to look at it from the standpoint of a wise investment and you must do the same. For a small to medium sized business that is barely staying afloat, a professional business coach may be its last hope. For that reason, you will always find clients willing to pay for your service. With that said, fair rates and flexible payment plans cannot hurt.
Coaching certainly involves more than just teaching an athlete to beat the competition; it encompasses many things. If you have a business management degree or prior experience running a small to medium sized business, take your degree and experience and turn it into a profitable career. Become a business coach.
YES! I would like to discuss how I can use a coaching model to bring my experience to a wider audience, and learn how I can use the right marketing to attract eager clients who will gladly pay me lucrative fees.
I understand this is an exploratory discussion only and that you are under no obligation to work with me, and I will not be required to commit to any course of action.