A Guide to Getting a Business Coach

​If you're overwhelmed and feel like your company is in a rut, it might be time to work with a business coach. This individual can help motivate you, give you ideas, and help take your business to the next level, even if you currently can't. Fortunately, when you understand the selection process, you can find the most suitable candidate for the job. If you need help getting started, let this guide from Cleanerpreneur can lead the way.

Benefits of a Business Coach

A business coach can help you develop new skills if you feel there's something you're missing that could benefit your company. 

This individual may also help you create a plan and learn how to implement it properly to improve your business. 

Maybe you have ideas but are scared to take them to the next level. Fortunately, you can confide in your business coach and ask for advice about your latest ideas. Your coach will let you know if you have a solid idea, and can educate you on how you can improve upon your idea.

If you hire a business coach, they can also help you learn how to better manage your time. They’ll ask you questions about your current schedule and what seems to hold you up. Then they can provide you with advice on how to manage your time more effectively.

​If networking isn’t in your wheelhouse, a business coach can also help you become more comfortable with this important aspect of being an SBO. Networking is crucial for learning about your industry and meeting other business professionals who can help you, and vice versa.

Searching for a Coach 

Many individuals have great success when they work with a business coach. They gain valuable insights into how to run their business better. However, not every coach is the same. It takes careful consideration to find a coach. 

Ideally, you should search the internet for reviews of different coaches. Read both positive and negative reviews, and conduct a comparison. Are most of the client experiences positive? Be sure to ask about a potential coach’s strengths and weaknesses to help find the right fit for your business. 

Once you narrow your options, schedule consultations with your remaining candidates. Remember, this is a time to ask questions and get to know the individual as a person and coach. This will help you see if their skills and personality mesh with your business needs. 

Low-Cost Tools When You Can’t Afford a Coach

​For fledgling business owners, a business coach might be out of reach financially. This is when it pays to research ways to affect change through various avenues that both enhance your business and reduce your overhead. 

For instance, you could take a free business course online to improve your management or accounting skills. This can provide you with a better understanding of your company’s financial health. 

Another option you have if you can't afford a business coach is to form a limited liability company (LLC). You limit the personal responsibility that comes with running a business. Plus, you have less paperwork to complete and can receive benefits come tax time. You can find an online formation service or complete the process yourself. Both cost little money when compared to hiring an attorney, but you must check into the legal restrictions in your state first.

Additionally, look into API software that works with any ACH processor. You'll then be able to use a bank account verification API to link with customer accounts while protecting their security. You receive the payment quickly with no risk to them. 

Finally, if you need to polish your networking skills, you can easily do this by becoming more active in your local chamber of commerce, joining local business community groups and attending conferences. Just be sure to have your resume updated and ready to deliver if you discover someone has a job you’d like to pursue. Fortunately, you can get started with a resume builder that allows you to customize pre-made templates. This way, you can create a polished resume without spending any money.

Better Business, Better Life 

You can make your business and life better when you hire a coach or take steps to improve your company on your own. ​