Running a business can be exhilarating but also isolating. When the decisions rest with you, there’s rarely an independent, unbiased and knowledgeable person you can ask whether you’re heading in the right direction, or to offer an alternative perspective. That is where business coaching steps in.
It’s a working partnership between an experienced outsider and the business owner, designed to help you think more clearly, act more strategically and build something even better.
Still, the term business coach gets thrown around a lot, often without much explanation. This article answers the question ‘what does a business coach do’, by exploring what a business coach actually does in real-world scenarios and explains how business coaching differs from other types of professional support.
Table of Contents
What Does a Business Coach Do?: Focusing on You and Your Business
So, what does a business coach do? Business coaching supports the business owner within the overall context of the business itself. This role is different from that of an executive coach, who works purely on individual professional development and skills. It also differs from a business consultant’s role, which focusses solely on the minutiae of the structure and functioning of the business itself.
With business coaching the focus is shared. A coach will look at the state of the business, its goals, its positioning and general operations. They will also analyse how your role as owner currently sits within the business and what you want to achieve, both in the short and long term.
To give a practical example, one client in financial services approached us after scaling his business more quickly than expected. He’d grown it from scratch, largely on instinct and found himself with too many staff, too little structure and no clear path forward. He didn’t want a team of consultants mapping out every detail of every system. What he needed was a high-level view of what was and wasn’t working, along with advice on how to effectively run a business of significant size.
That is the essence of business coaching: perspective, structure and direction, built around the specific needs of the person and the company.
What Does a Business Coach Do?
There is no fixed list of tasks, because no two businesses are the same. That said, the core focus of a business coach usually includes:
· Clarifying your business goals and aligning them with your personal objectives
· Assessing the current state of the business and your role within it
· Helping you create short-term targets and routes to achieve these
· Assisting with long-term planning, including exit strategies or business sale
· Helping manage stress, pressure and time constraints
How Business Coaching Differs from Business Consultancy
This is a key distinction. Consultants are brought in to assess systems, deliver recommendations and fix problems based on data. They typically require detailed metrics surrounding financial records, organisational structure and systems and staff reports. Their role is analytical and conducted in granular detail.
So what does a business coach do that is different? A business coach is more ‘light touch’ than a business consultant. They work with the founder or owner to understand the overall landscape of the business. Rather than focusing on operational detail, the coach looks at the business owner themselves within the broad overview of the business.
Key advantages of business coaching include its responsiveness and rapid delivery — tailored guidance delivered without the length, complexity or expense of a full consultancy engagement.
To understand more about what business consultancy offers, explore our article ‘What Does a Business Consultant Do?’ For a more detailed comparison between the two services read our article ‘Business Coaching vs Business Consultancy’. |
How Business Coaching Differs from Executive Coaching
The two are related but distinct. Business coaching looks at the company and the owner in tandem. Executive coaching tends to focus more narrowly on the individual – their leadership, confidence, communication or decision-making for example.
That said, the distinction isn’t always clear-cut. In some cases, business coaching involves executive-level work, especially if the owner’s mindset or behaviour is limiting growth. In other cases, executive coaching may touch on broader strategic issues for the company the executive works for.
The terminology also varies by region. In the US, if you were to search ‘what is a business coach’, you would find that the term is also often used to describe coaching that in the UK would fall under the labels of executive or leadership coaching.
The key point to keep in mind is that it is not so important what the coach is called, but whether they understand your situation and can adapt their approach to suit.
To find out more about exactly what executive coaching is, read our article ‘What is an Executive Coach?’ To discover the differences between entrepreneur coaching and founder coaching, take a look at our article ‘Entrepreneur Coach vs Founder Coach’. |
What does a Business Coach do in the Real World?
Here are three real-life examples that illustrate what business coaching looks like in practice.
- The Small Business
A highly skilled therapist came to us exhausted. Her practice had grown organically through word of mouth. She was fully booked without advertising but felt guilty every time she turned someone away. She was managing admin, bookings, finance and clinical work herself. It was unsustainable.
Through coaching, we identified ways to reduce pressure. We built systems for delegation, introduced administrative support and explored how she might train others to use her therapeutic model. She shifted from feeling responsible for every single client to overseeing a team, ensuring quality whilst maintaining her energy. Business coaching, in this case, allowed her to scale her practice without compromising standards or burning out. - The Startup Banker
A former City banker approached us with a bold plan to launch his own private bank. He had deep expertise in finance, but a limited understanding of how to structure or run a business.
He didn’t need detailed consultancy work at that stage. What he needed was clear overarching advice on all of the aspects of setting up and operating a business to get him started as quickly as possible. As the business took shape, we maintained contact for guidance as issues arose. Business coaching supported his transition from specialist to business owner, helping him build a solid foundation without unnecessary complexity. - The Founder Preparing to Exit
Another client, the founder of a fast-growing financial services business, wanted to exit within seven years. But the company relied heavily on him. He was involved in every decision, every transaction and every client conversation.
Our coaching focused on helping him progressively build a structure that could operate without him and mapping out a strategy that would make the company more attractive to buyers. He didn’t need outside consultants or layers of analysis – he needed a clear roadmap, shaped by someone who understood the pressures of leading and letting go.
What Does a Business Coach Do?: Who Uses a Business Coach?
Business coaching is valuable across a wide range of industries and business sizes. Typical clients include:
· Entrepreneurs building or growing their first business
· Professionals turning a skill into a commercial venture
· Business owners struggling to scale
· Founders planning a future exit
· Business owners needing a shift in how they operate
The common thread is that the person is responsible for a business, but often lacks the knowledge, experience or impartial perspective needed to achieve their goals.
Some clients dip in and out of coaching as needed. Others maintain regular sessions over months or years. The relationship is flexible and responsive.
To find out more about business coaching costs and benefits, read our article ‘How Much Does Business Coaching Cost?’ |
What Does a Business Coach Do?: What Should you Look for in a Business Coach?
A good business coach should bring experience, clarity and perspective. They should understand how different industries work, how businesses evolve and how to tackle real-world issues.
You’re not looking for someone with a script or a set method. You’re looking for someone who can offer practical solutions, give you new ideas and adapt perfectly to you specific situation.
Evaluate whether business coaching is the right fit for your growth goals in our article ‘Is Business Coaching Worth It?’ For more insights about how business coaching can help businesses when the coaching is high quality and a good fit, read our article ‘Best Business Coaching Services’. |
Mary Taylor & Associates – Business Coaching with Exceptional Impact
At Mary Taylor & Associates, we don’t deliver generic advice or one-size-fits-all solutions.
Our bespoke business coaching is designed for ambitious leaders and business owners seeking sophisticated, high-level support that drives substantial and lasting results.
We partner with clients ready to make decisive shifts — whether that’s scaling operations, refining leadership, creating a resilient and sustainable enterprise or preparing for a lucrative exit.
Mary Taylor brings a unique combination of expertise as a corporate lawyer, psychologist, and accredited coach, with over 20 years’ experience advising owners across diverse industries. This multidisciplinary approach allows us to provide innovative strategies, lateral thinking and proven methods that produce quantifiable results.
Whether your objective is to step away from day-to-day management, increase your influence, optimise your business structure for sale or reclaim your time and focus, our advanced coaching delivers personalised solutions precisely tailored to your ambitions.
We offer one-to-one coaching with clear outcomes and a satisfaction guarantee.
If you have been considering what a business coach does and whether bespoke coaching could be the catalyst for your next phase of growth or transformation, we provide the insights and structure to help you realise your goals at the highest level.
