Before Hiring a Business Coach - Read This!

As any business owner will testify, there are many wins and losses, highs and lows that come with owning a business. With the risk and excitement that come with venturing into entrepreneurship and business management, many leaders seek others that can help them. Mentors, teachers, and coaches bring much value to the growth of your business - if the right one is found! 

ActionCOACH RGV business coaches have helped more than 100,000 business owners thrive. Hiring a business coach is an investment, and we want to provide the best information for you before making that decision.

What Exactly Is a Business Coach?

A business coach is someone who can help a business owner with the internal aspects of entrepreneurship, personal growth, setting goals, and facing fears and resistance related to successfully running a company. 

A business coach also approaches your business objectively. They can recognize your struggles or weaknesses, help you overcome them with plans and advice, and help you stay on track with goals by utilizing effective business strategies. 

If you search for a business coach online, you’ll find a plethora of options and advice. Because some people may call themselves a coach without having any certifications or measurable results, it is important to research before making the investment.

The Right Questions Make All the Difference

There are a few topics and areas of concern that you will want to ask any potential business coach that you decide to work with: 

• Achievements: While it is important for your coach to state what they have achieved, a one-time achievement does not equal future guaranteed success. A few questions you can ask of their achievements include:

• How many clients are you currently working with?
• How long have you been coaching?
• What are you doing to continue to learn and stay on top of the industry?

• Profit: Many coaches define their success by how much money they guarantee to help you make. Some offer promises of six-figure salaries or more. Profit, take-home pay, and hours worked should be factored into the questions you ask:

• Have they reached this salary and for how long?
• Are these figures in gross (total sales) or net (after expenses)?
• How many hours a week are they working and how much time off/vacation do they take?

• Personal Experience: It’s ideal to have a business coach that has had years of work and experience in your particular field. They will relate to your situations much more and can point out bumps in the road that they have already overcome. Possible questions to ask are:

• How many full-time or part-time employees do you have/did you have?
• What are some recent challenges you have faced and how did you handle them?
• What are the types of clients you’ve worked with and in what industry?

Choosing the Right Coach

After you’ve done your research and vetted potential coaches, you may find that there are a number of potential business coaches to choose from. The next step in the process of finding the right coach can now be broken down by asking yourself a few questions:

1 “Where am I now in my business?”

The type of support you need will determine the type of coach you should hire. Some coaches are good for beginners and others are more suited for helping business owners who are at a higher level; different stages require different skills. You might need help with sales leads or with team building.

Whatever it might be, there are different steps to take and challenges you’ll face. Your coach should be experienced in this area.

2 “What do I want to achieve next?”

In the same way, the goals you have for the next quarter will also help you in selecting a coach. As expertise in a related field is preferred, your coach would have either achieved this goal on their own or helped other clients do so.

3 “Do I feel like there will be honest communication and accountability?

A business coach should be motivating, encouraging, and available. They are not, however, a counselor or just a “friend.” Your coach is there to give you honest feedback and tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. 

4 “What do their references say?”

It is important to do your due diligence. After all, this is a business investment. Speak to their past clients, reference list, and check out their website or past clients’ websites. One bad review wouldn’t disqualify them from being a great coach, but it could open discussion as to why they received that review and how they’ve resolved the issue.

Business Coaching Works

A Fortune 500 study reported that 77% of respondents indicated that coaching had a significant impact on at least one of nine business measures. Overall productivity and employee satisfaction were the most positively impacted areas.

At ActionCOACH RGV, we’ve seen those results firsthand. Our dedicated coaches bring business support through Action Club, GrowthClub and more. With our unique business building tools, approaches, strategies and systems, our coaches are available and ready to help you take your next step.

Take Action and Schedule a Consult With an RGV ActionCoach Today!