Category Archives: Business

Business Coaching From Home

Business Coaching From Home

If you want to start a career as a business coach, you need to make an important decision.  That decision is how you want to operate your business.  Business coaches educate and train operating managers and business owners on the key components of running a successful and profitable business.  These components are all the same, but there are many ways to teach them.  What are your two best options?

1 – One-on-One Training

One-on-one training is when you work directly with your client.  You consult with them via email, through the phone, or meet with them in person at their office.  When working with small to medium sized business owners, your involvement starts at the top.  You will then later want to work with all staff members.  Remember, a good manager is important to a business, but that well-performing manager means nothing if their staff does not back them up with good results and speedy productivity.

One-on-one training has many benefits.

For starters, you usually visit your client at their place of business.  This gives you a lot of insight.  Not all business suffer from the same problems.  Some have a poor marketing plan, some have poor leadership, and others have organizational problems.  Visiting your client in their place of business enables you to examine the situation.  You can determine exactly what is going wrong.  For example, a business with poor office organization, but a strong marketing plan, does not need marketing help. They need organizational help.

One-on-one training also allows you to show by example.

In keeping with the above mentioned example of an unorganized office or sales floor, you can physically walk to the problem and point it out.  Show the store manager that because a large display is in the middle of the aisle, it is difficult for customers to get a shopping cart through.  You get better results when you show business owners and operating mangers how to make changes, not just tell them.

2 – Hosting Seminars

As a business coach, you also have the option to host seminars.  This is when you choose a specific location, like a hotel conference room, take paying reservations, and hold a class.  During this class, you will go over the key components of running a successful and profitable business.  These components include marketing sales, time management, no workplace conflict, organization, and teamwork.

Hosting seminars is nice because it expands your profits.  When working one-on-one, you work with one paying client at a time.  When hosting a training seminar, the room can be filled with a hundred business owners.  They all paid.  In about the same amount of time or even less, you make more money!  Unfortunately, those same business owners will take your class once and they will not need it again.  To work in this aspect full-time, you will need to travel to teach seminars, targeting new business owners and managers each time.

As you can see, both one-on-one training and hosting seminars have their pros and cons.  Which option should you choose?  It depends on your personal preferences.  Moreover, you do not need to choose.  Why not offer them both as an option?  On your website, list your ability to meet with clients one-on-one.  Then, mention you occasionally host seminars.  Host two or three a year.  List these seminars on your website and cross promote.

Who Needs a Business Coach

Who Needs a Business Coach

If you hold a business management degree or have prior experience running a profitable small to medium sized business, you have a unique talent.  Many Arctic Circle inhabitants would love to run their own business, but most do not know how.  You can teach them how.  Running a business coaching service is not only an exciting opportunity, but it has the potential to bring in large profits.

If interested in starting a business coaching service, you will wonder about your profits and clients.  How you will get clients?  By marketing and targeting the individuals who can benefit from your services.  Who are they?

New business owners.

Most new business owners take time to create their empire.  They brainstorm and develop a plan, secure financing, and get to work.  This is how small businesses should get started, but many do not take this route.  Some individuals get an idea in their head to start a business and make money; they run with it.  Action is key, but so is careful planning.  Acting without first thinking of a solid plan is one of the reasons why many new small to medium sized businesses fail.  You, as a business coach, can stop that from happening.

Not all new business owners realize the importance of proper training and education.

Some mistakenly believe they can do everything themselves.  These individuals may need a little push.  Lead them to your website or deliver free promotional material highlighting your services.  Also, show how they can translate into profits.  For example, stress the importance of marketing.  Both online and storefront businesses need a solid marketing plan.  No one will buy products or pay for services if they don’t know they exist.  If speaking directly with a new business owner, ask about their marketing plan.  If they do not have one or have a poor thought out plan, stress the dangers and risks of heading down the wrong path.

Business owners not seeing profits.

As previously stated, some new small to medium sized business owners do not understand the importance of seeking help.  Most believe they can handle all responsibilities on their own.  You can use persuasion and proof to change their minds, but still some will not budge.  That is why you should not only target new business owners, but businesses in distress.  Start with your local community.  Have you heard ramblings that a small mom and pop store is about to go under due to increased competition and poor sales?  Make your move!

Business owners who aren’t seeing profits, already have a business plan in place.  That may be a good plan that just needs a little bit of tweaking.  Since the business is already established, you should focus on sales, marketing, and lowering operating costs.  When soliciting business from struggling companies, have a set plan in place.  Have a step-by-step guide available to show potential clients why you can help and how you will.

Stay-at-home parents looking for a way to increase income.

Perform a standard internet search with the phrases “working from home,” “work-at-home moms,” or “work-at-home parents.”  You will find online message boards where parents are looking for information on how to make money from home.  Some of these individuals just want a job that allows them to work from home, but others are interested in starting their own business.  This is another group that is considered your targeted market.

When working with stay-at-home parents, it is important to focus on the business aspect.  The internet is filled with online job scams.  Most parents can benefit from starting their own business, as opposed to working for someone else.  It also provides parents with more freedom and flexibility.  Not only can you provide setup, marketing, and sales help to these individuals, but you can feed them ideas.  Essentially, you aren’t just a business coach, but a moneymaking coach.  Does a stay-at-home dad express his interest in woodworking?  Suggest profiting from that passion by creating natural wood decor or toys to sell.  If they like the idea, help them turn it into a reality.

Anyone with the dream of starting their own business.

As previously stated, you can do more than just help small to medium sized business owners increase their profits.  You can also encourage people to follow their passion and profit from it.  This does involve more work, as you help someone get their small business off the ground, but it expands your reach.  Not only do you have experience coaching small to medium sized business owners, but you now have experience with business setup.

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