Choosing a Business Coach that is right for you is a big decision and the chances are you have some questions. These are some of the most popular questions I get asked. I’ve tried to give you as detailed an answer as possible but if you need more detail or if you have a different question that’s not been answered yet, please get in touch.
Q. Why do I need a Business Coach?
Every great performer, whether it’s an elite athlete, business legend or performing superstar, is surrounded by coaches and advisors.
As the world of business moves faster and gets more competitive, it’s difficult to keep up with all the changes in your industry – in addition to running your business every day.
Just like great atheletes who find success following the lead of a coach with with a winning game plan, business owners are increasingly realising that a Business Coach can help develop a winning game plan for their business.
Why?
First of all, it is very difficult to be truely objective about yourself. A Business Coach brings an outside perspective and can be objective for you. We help you see the ‘wood from the trees’.
A sports coach will make you focus on the game and will make you run more laps than you think you are capable of or feel like doing. A good coach will also tell it like it is and will give you pointers about the game and your competition. A great coach will listen and guide you to success.
Likewise, a Business Coach will make you focus on your business and hold you accountable on the things you need to do and push you beyond where you think you can get in order to be where you want your business to be. Your Business Coach will also be like your one person Board of Directors. They will help you when it comes to your marketing, your sales, your training and every other area of your business. Simply put, when you work with Action Coach, we become your partner, your confidant, your mentor and sounding board. We tell you what you need to hear not what you want to hear. We teach, guide, challenge and extend you as a person so that you can achieve beyond what you think you can.
We help you make your goals and dreams a reality.
Q. How much does Business Coaching cost?
People like Bill Gates of Microsoft and Eric Schmit of Google are frequently quoted saying things like “you’ll never achieve your full potential without the help of a coach.” So rather than asking about how much coaching costs- a better question might be, “What is it costing me by NOT having a coach?” Hiring a Business coach is an INVESTMENT you are making in you and your business. How much additional VALUE could you and your business create by being pushed and held accountable to do the things you know you should be doing but aren’t? How much faster could you achieve your goals and how many mistakes could you avoid by having a coach guide you on your business journey?
How much then, is the investment in Business Coaching?
Very few – if any – Business Coaching firms state their pricing details publicly. This is because with out knowing you or your business needs, it is impossible to know exactly what support you need.
Your investment will very much depend on the scope of our undertaking together; we offer a wide range of services that are affordable for most businesses from start ups to experienced, successful businesses.
The level of investment will depend on the size of your business, the challenges you face and where you are currently against the goals you wish to achieve. Together we will work out what is the most appropriate for your needs.
At the most accessible end, our monthly online BookClub starts at £25/ month. 90 Day Growth Club costs £100-£295 (online/in person) per quarter, and ActionClub, our Group Coaching program is £400 per month for a 12 month programme.
Where your requirement is for a more bespoke understanding of your business, more accountability and a deeper involvement with the people in your business, then our 1:1 Coaching Programs are more appropriate. These focus on Accountability and Growth and range between £1000-£3500 per month over a 12 month period. They are suitable for a business turning over £500k+ with good sales and profit growth potential. All programs are subject to VAT.
Q. What's an Alignment consultation?
The Alignment Consultation is where your Action Coach starts with every business owner. During this meeting your Action Coach will learn as much as possible about your business, your goals, your challenges, your sales, your marketing, your finances and so much more…
An Alignment Consultation is done with three goals in mind:
* First, to know exactly where your business is now.
* Second, to clarify your business and personal goals.
* And third, to get the crucial pieces of information needed to create an Action Plan to get your business and life to where you want in 12 months’ time.
The plan isn’t a traditional business or marketing plan, but instead a step-by-step of action you’ll work through each year of your one-on-one coaching programme. The plan is also what makes the annual Alignment Consultation so profitable for our clients.
Q. What is one-on-one coaching?
We offer many different coaching programmes, all designed to help your business grow revenue and profits and while you can always start with a group coaching programme, nothing gives you the results that one-on-one coaching does.
Typically, it takes 3-5 years of weekly participation to get your business into the most profitable state. The following two years focus on wealth creation.
There isn’t an area of your business that one-on-one coaching doesn’t touch. From weekly coaching calls and goal setting sessions to working with you on your new marketing pieces, you will develop new sales strategies and business systems so you can work less and learn all you need to know to make your dreams come true…
Q. What is group coaching?
We understand that every business is at different levels in their business and that’s why we’ve also developed multiple Group Coaching programmes to fit the needs of every level.
Unlike a consultant, your personal Action Coach will do more than just show you what to do; he or she will be with you when you need them most as each idea takes shape, as each campaign is put into place, as you need the little pointers to make things happen. Your Action Coach will also be there when you need someone to talk to, when you’re faced with challenges or, most importantly, when you’re just not sure what to do next.
You’ll benefit from the support of your group, not just through lowering your investment compared to our flagship one-to-one programmes, but also through their camaraderie. You’ll enjoy opportunities to tap into our wider UK communities of over 2,000 members and of course your Action Coach will be there every step of the way.
Q. How long will I work with my Action Coach?
For as long as you’re in business… Well we would say that, wouldn’t we! However, participate fully and it’s odds on every year your Action Coach will turn out to be one of your most profitable team members. And why would you ever sack a profitable team member?
If you’ve been in business for more than a few weeks, you’ve seen at least one or two so-called “quick fixes”…
Most consultants seem to think they can solve all your problems in a few hours or a few days. At ActionCOACH, we believe long-term success means we aren’t just offering suggestions or doing the work for you; it means doing the work with you, showing you how to do it, working alongside you and creating success together.
Each year, you’ll see your goals become a reality, you’ll gain both confidence and the knowledge to make it happen again and again.
Q. Won't this just mean more work?
Once you know the ActionCOACH definition of a business you will never ask that question again. Our goal is to help you build a Profitable, Commercial Enterprise that Works…Without You.
The last two words are the most important because, in the end, our goal is to have you no longer working IN the business, but, instead, working ON it. That means more time to spend doing what you want to do while the business serves you, instead of the other way around.
Of course, when you set the plan with your Action Coach, it may seem a bit overwhelming and you may need to find a few extra hours in the first few weeks, but no one ever said achieving your goals would be easy…
However, the further you work into the programme, the less work you’ll actually have to do. And, at the same time, your company will be more productive and profitable.
Simply put, you’ll be working smarter. You will be amazed at how focused you’ll be and how much you’ll get done. With focus, an Action Coach, and most importantly the ActionCOACH systems, you’ll be achieving a whole lot more with the same or even less work and effort.
Q. How can you be sure this will work in my industry and business?
ActionCOACH is expert in the areas of sales, marketing, business development, business management, and team building and with literally hundreds of different profit-building strategies you’ll soon see how powerful our business growth system is.
Because you are the expert in your business and industry, together we can apply our system to make your business more effective.
Because of our network of coaches all over the world, ActionCOACH will have worked with, managed, worked in or even owned a business that is the same or very similar to yours.
Our extensive network means when you hire an Action Coach, you hire the full resources of the entire ActionCOACH team to find a solution for any and every challenge you may have. Imagine hiring a company with the collective knowledge of thousands of experts in virtually every industry, in every corner of the world, ready to help you.
Q. Will it cost me extra to implement the strategies?
No, implementing the strategies is part of the ActionCOACH experience. Give your Action Coach just a half-hour to show you how to turn your marketing into an investment which yields sales and profits rather than just increasing your overhead…
In most cases, an Action Coach will actually save you money when they help you unearth areas that aren’t working for you or your business. For some marketing or team building programmes, you will need to invest some money to make more money. And yet, when you follow our easy-to-use systems, calculated risks net substantial returns over time.
Remember, when you default to the accounting way of saving costs, you can only add a few percentage points to your bottom line…
Following the ActionCOACH formulas, the returns from your sales, marketing and team members can be exponential.
Q. What can I expect from my Action Coach?
Remember we are still your Business Coach…and we can’t do your work for you. You’re still the player, and it will always be up to you and your team to score goals.
We will push you, cajole you, help you, be there for you, and even do some things with you…but in the end you’ve still got to DO the work.
Ultimately, only YOU can ever be truly accountable and responsible for your own success, but we will guarantee to provide the best service and support available, to answer your questions and challenges promptly, and offer you the most current and appropriate processes and approaches.
We are fully committed to helping you become successful (whether you like it at the time) or not.
Once we’ve helped you set your goals and create your plan we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you achieve your goals… at the same time promoting a balanced lifestyle as an overriding theme in all we do. This is to ensure you never compromise either the long-term health and success of you or your company, or your personal values and what’s most important to you.
Q. What results have other business owners seen?
Everything from owners previously working over 60 hours a week down to working just 10… right through to revenue increases in 100’s and even 1,000’s of percent. Our results speak for themselves, and are highlighted by specific examples featuring real people with real businesses …getting really great results.
There are three main reasons why this will work for you and your business.
First, your Action Coach will help you get focused on your goals and the step-by-step process to get you there. This focus alone is amazing in its effect on you and your business results.
Second, your Action Coach will hold you accountable to get things done, not just the day-to-day running of the business, but for the dynamic growth of the business. You’re making an investment in your success – and we’re going to get you there…
Third, your Action Coach is going to teach you as many of our 328 profit building and business building strategies as you may need.
So, whether your goal is to make more money, or work fewer hours… or, both… every year you can turn those goals into a reality.
But don’t take our word for it. Just ask any of the thousand of existing ActionCOACH clients or the tens of thousands who have worked with ActionCOACH to achieve their dreams.
Q. What areas will you coach me in?
Our “5 Ways” and “6 Steps” are two of the most powerful formulas in the world of business and we put them to use to work with you in all areas to help you multiply your revenues and profit and get your business to work so you don’t have to. When you work with an Action Coach, the emphasis taken will depend on you, your business and of course your goals.
The key areas are:
*Sales and Finance – You can’t know if you’re winning if you don’t have a full understanding of the scorecard. This is the backbone for creating a profitable business, and one of the areas we’ll help you get spectacular results in.
*Marketing – If you want to make a sale, you’ve got to find a prospect first. Over the next 12 months your ActionCOACH will teach you amazingly simple, yet powerful, streetwise marketing techniques and approaches to drive up profits.
*Systems & Business Development – End the hopless cycle of “the business running you” and begin running your business. We will show you the secrets of having your business “work|”… even when you’re not there.
* Mastery and Customer Service – Discover how to deliver your products or service consistently, making it easy for your customers to buy and leaving them feeling delighted with your service. Learn new ways to motivate your current customers to give referrals and to ensure their repeat business. These are just two of the many strategies we will teach you.
Q. Can you also train my people?
Yes… in fact, we believe training your people is almost as important as coaching you. Your Action Coach can provide you and your business with many different training modules, including TeamRICH, SalesRICH, PhoneRICH and ServiceRICH. You’ll be amazed at how much enthusiasm and commitment comes from your team as they experience each of our training programmes.
Q. Can you write ads, letters and marketing pieces for me?
At ActionCOACH, we believe in the principle, give a person a fish, they will eat for a day, teach a person to fish, they will eat for a lifetime. Our objective is to teach you to fish so you can apply strategies in your current business plus any business you may own in the future. You will be given all the tools so you can see real results as you go along. Your Action Coach can train you to do it yourself, or simply critique the marketing pieces you’re using right now…
If it’s a critique you’re after, we’ll work through your piece and offer feedback in terms of what to change, how to change it and what else you should do to make it effective.
Finally, we can recommend a variety of books or resource materials which provide a “home study” opportunity for you so you’ll know how to do it yourself next time.
Q. Why do you recommend books and videos?
We do this to save you both time and money. You can learn basics in your own time so when you get together with your Action Coach, you’ll be working on higher level implementations rather than the basics…
It’s also a very powerful way for you to speed up the coaching process and get phenomenal – rather than just – results.
Q. When is the best time to get started?
Right now! Before you take another step, waste any more money, lose another sale, work too many more hours, miss another family event, or forget another special occasion, you need to call ActionCOACH today.
Far too many business people wait and see… mistaken in thinking that working harder will make everything better. Remember, what you know got you where you are today. To get to where you want to go, you’ve got to make some changes and most likely, you’ll have to learn something new…
There’s no time like the present to get started on your dreams and goals.
Q. So, how do we get started?
First…you need to get in touch…there’s some simple paperwork to go through and then you’re on your way…
Next, you’ll need to invest a few hours showing your Action Coach everything about your business.
Together you’ll get a plan created – and then the work really starts! Remember, it may seem like a big job at the start, but with an Action Coach, you’re sharing the load. Together, we’ll achieve great things.