5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing a Small Business Coach
If it’s time for you to hire a business coach, then you’ll soon come to realize that searching for one is pretty easy. A quick Instagram or Google search will bring up many small business coaches that would probably love to work with you.
Choosing a business coach, however... now that’s overwhelming.
How do you know exactly what to look for in a business coach?
How can you discern which business coach will be the right fit for you and your business?
I believe that you can significantly reduce that overwhelm by first getting clear on what exactly it is that you want and what your business needs.
To save you time on discovery calls, here are 5 questions to ask yourself so that you don’t waste time with the wrong people.
#1- Has this small business coach worked with others that have a similar business to yours?
A lot of small business coaches only have experience with either product-based or service-based businesses.
While many general business concepts can cross over, if they only have experience in one sector or the other, they may not be the right fit for your business.
Likewise, if they aren't familiar with your industry at all, or if they haven't helped others in your industry, then they may not have the experience that you would need a business coach to have in order to fully help you.
I have experience in both. I used to think that I should niche in one or the other, but I realized that being able to serve both types of business and both types of entrepreneurs is actually one of my superpowers.
#2- Do you want a business coach that is more niche-specific to your industry?
There's no right or wrong answer here. This is a matter of personal preference, but it is still something important to consider when you begin your search.
Let's say you're a boudoir photographer that needs help growing your business.
You could hire a:
small business coach
photography business coach
boudoir business coach
Again, there is no right or wrong answer here, but you may be in a very specific niche that may require more specific help and attention.
And although a more niche-specific business coach may be difficult to find, if it’s the right fit for you, then it automatically saves you time searching for a business coach that will not be able to fully help you.
Knowing the specific kind of help your business needs will give you a more focused search.
#3- Are you comfortable in one-to-one business coaching, group coaching, or both?
You may be someone who strictly prefers one or the other, or you may need a group for the context of what you’re getting.
Get clear with yourself.
Where would you thrive? Where would you receive the help you need most?
Often, people may suggest that one-to-one business coaching is a larger investment, but this is not always the case.
And if after making the investment in group coaching you realize that this format wasn’t the right fit for you or your business, then it may be more costly in the long run.
Tip: What I tell my group coaching clients is that in order to get the most out of the group experience, they have to participate. The beauty of a group coaching environment is that the members learn from each other as well, and the more each person participates equally, the better the experience overall.
#4- Are there other things to consider that may help or hinder your success?
This is a very individualized question and will 100% depend on you as the entrepreneur and on your business values.
If you have some things that are non-negotiables, it is important to identify these ahead of time.
Tip: There is nothing about your non-negotiables that you should consider to be “too much.” In fact, choosing a business coach that most closely aligns with your values affects your comfort with, and your trust in, this person, which will be an integral part of your success during your time together.
some questions to consider when hiring a business coach:
Would you want a business coach that is explicitly religious, or that they apply specific religious/faith tools in their business coaching?
Would you prefer a business coach who is “woo?”
Are you looking for a business coach of a specific race/ethnicity?
If you’re a parent, does it matter if your business coach is or isn’t a parent (or vice versa)?
Is it important for you to have a business coach that is queer affirming?
If you’re neuro diverse, can your business coach adequately accommodate that?
Will the business coach force you to use strategies that do not align with your values?
These are things that are very unique to every individual but it’s important to know which things are essential and which things are a deal breaker.
#5- Are you trusting your gut, or is it slick marketing?
A lot of business coaches use marketing tactics and strategies that really get you to believe that they are the absolute best person out there to get you the results that you want.
This kind of slick marketing tells you that if you don't hire them, you are a fool.
And while they might be amazing and they may have a great track record, it does not necessarily mean that they will be the right person for you.
My advice: do a gut check. Is it slick sales tactics that are making you want to work with them, or is it the tangible research you have done to get better acquainted with the things that are important for you and your business?
How can you know if this business coach is the right fit for you?
Look at their whole website (home, about, testimonials, who are the people leaving those testimonials, etc), not just their sales page.
Look through their content (blogs, podcasts, youtube videos, etc) to see the type of content that they are putting out and if you resonate with it.
Look through their social media presence to see how they're showing up and how you resonate with what they say.
Look at the behind-the-scenes, casual things they say and do in their stories to show you their personality and get to know them better.
You’re going to be spending money and time with this person, so if something feels off, or if something seems too good to be true, trust that.
While it can be frustrating to keep searching, it's better to be intentional about the process and take your time to find the person who is the right fit for you.
A quick note about discovery calls- it is OK to do discovery calls with multiple people to interview whoever you feel might be the best fit for you and your business.
Don’t allow someone to tell you that it is not OK.
Also, as you’re doing discovery calls, If someone pushes you to pay directly on the call, run.
This is a red flag, and you don't need this kind of high pressure sales tactic in your life.
Anyone who is honest and ethical will also want what is best for you and they should respect the fact that you might need to sleep on it for a day or two.
If you’re interested in learning more about my coaching services, I’d love to have a sleaze-free, no-obligation discovery call. Learn more here.
