What is a business coach?

According to the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches, business coaches help small business owners understand their role in helping their business succeed.

How is coaching different from consulting?

Consulting and coaching services are different. If you’re looking for a professional with specific expertise to help you with an area of business, like marketing or sales, you may want to look for a consultant. Business consultants offer services to help you manage, grow, or promote your business. As Forbes shares, consultants offer instruction and execution.

Coaches, on the other hand, offer guidance and help business owners expand their knowledge to achieve their goals.

What services does a business coach provide?

Both new and experienced business owners may seek help from a business coach. If you’re an entrepreneur, a business coach specializing in entrepreneurship can help you navigate the process of starting a business and becoming a leader. If you’re a seasoned business owner, a coach can help you identify blind spots, balance life and work, grow your leadership skills, and more.

When should I hire a business coach?

There are many reasons why you may want to hire a business coach. A few reasons may include:

• You need guidance on how to navigate business challenges
• You are seeking a mentor or want to grow professionally
• You are looking for a fresh perspective on today’s business trends

What should I look for when searching for a business coach?

Before hiring a business coach, interview several to find the best fit. Ask questions to determine whether the coach shares your values and can help you achieve your business goals.

You can also ask the coach to provide examples of how they have helped other business owners like you. Ask for references that you can contact and verify.

Determine if you want to hire a remote or local business coach. Consider the pros and cons of meeting virtually or in person and the possibility of having similar local connections.

To find a good business coach you can trust, you can check on BBB.org to see if the coach is BBB Accredited. BBB Accredited Businesses adhere to the BBB’s Standards for Trust and operate with honesty and integrity in mind.

Are there scams I should look out for?

Yes, unfortunately, scammers have targeted business owners with business promotion and coaching scams. These scammers may approach business owners with big promises of helping them grow their business with only a “small investment.”

Always research a business before hiring them, and if something seems like a scam, check with BBB Scam Tracker. For more information on these scams, read BBB’s tips.

For more information

Read BBB’s tips on how to hire the right business coach.

For more information on running a local business, visit BBB’s Local Business HQ. Find all of BBB’s business tips at BBB’s Business HQ.