What Does a Business Coach Actually Do? [Real Client Examples Inside]

If you've ever found yourself asking, "What exactly does a business coach do?" you're not alone. The term is everywhere, but many people have only a vague idea of what hiring a business coach actually entails.

In this post, we break it down with no fluff. You’ll get a clear, honest understanding of what business coaching involves, how it works, and whether it’s the right investment for your business.

What Is a Business Coach?

A business coach is a strategic partner who helps business owners, founders, and leaders make better decisions, grow faster, and solve complex problems with clarity and confidence.

Unlike consultants who do the work for you, coaches work with you to sharpen your thinking, expand your perspective, and turn ideas into action.

Great business coaches don’t give you generic advice. They bring a framework, challenge your thinking, and hold you accountable to the outcomes you say you want.

The Core Functions of a Business Coach

1. Strategic Clarity

• Define your true north
• Align your actions with long-term goals
• Cut through noise and distractions

2. Accountability to Execution

• Set clear milestones and timelines
• Review regular progress
• Keep you accountable when you drift

3. Decision-Making Frameworks

Coaches help you build repeatable systems for making tough calls. They don’t just tell you what to do — they teach you how to think.

4. Personal Leadership Growth

• Break limiting patterns
• Build scalable habits
• Step into your next level as a leader

5. External Perspective

You’re too close to your business to see it clearly. A coach brings unbiased insight and pattern recognition across industries.

Who Needs a Business Coach?

Not everyone. But if any of the following applies to you, coaching can help:

• You’re stuck making high-stakes decisions
• You’ve hit a revenue plateau
• You’re overwhelmed in day-to-day operations
• You’ve lost clarity or drive
• You’re preparing to sell, scale, or reposition

Real Client Examples

Case Study 1: Breaking the $3M Plateau

A Sunshine Coast founder hit $3M in annual revenue but couldn’t scale. In 90 days of coaching, we:

• Mapped and simplified key processes
• Shifted 70% of delivery to team leads
• Increased average deal size by 18%

Result: Revenue grew to $3.8M with stronger margins and less stress.

Case Study 2: Preparing for a Sale

One founder had a great product but lacked systems. We:

• Built a sale-readiness roadmap
• Fixed valuation gaps
• Positioned for strategic acquisition

Result: Sold the business in 11 months at 6.2x EBITDA.

Case Study 3: Early-Stage Clarity

A startup founder was drowning. In coaching, we:

• Defined clear roles and priorities
• Hired the first operations manager
• Launched a 90-day execution plan

Result: Revenue doubled in 3 months, and the founder got their time back.

What to Expect from Coaching Sessions

Most engagements follow this structure:

• Initial Strategy Session: Deep dive into goals and bottlenecks
• Regular Sessions: Weekly or fortnightly check-ins
• Between-Session Support: Tools, tracking, and accountability
• Clear Metrics: Dashboards to track real progress

Business Coaching vs Consulting vs Mentoring

How to Choose the Right Business Coach

• Look for Experience: Have they built or run a real business?
• Check Results: Ask for testimonials or client success stories
• Assess Fit: You want someone who challenges you, not just agrees
• Ask for Frameworks: Do they have a proven process?

Is Business Coaching Worth It?

Coaching accelerates your results, helps you avoid costly mistakes, and sharpens your leadership. Clients typically see ROI within 90 days or less.

• Faster execution
• Smarter decision-making
• Higher profit with less stress

Final Thoughts

Business coaching is not about having all the answers. It's about asking better questions, seeing blind spots, and turning strategy into execution.

If you're considering working with a business coach, the best time to start is before you hit the wall.

Book your free 30-minute strategy session and let's see if it's the right move for your next level.