Let me be straight with you — and this might surprise you coming from a business coach.
Having a business coach isn’t always the right answer. In fact, for some business owners, at some points in their journey, it can be a waste of money, a source of frustration, and occasionally make things worse before they get better.
That’s not something most coaches will tell you. But I’d rather you go in with your eyes open — because when coaching works, it really works. And when it doesn’t, there are usually clear reasons why.
So here are the real problems with having a business coach — and what to do about them.
1. It only works if YOU do the work
This is the big one. A coach isn’t a consultant — we don’t come in and fix things for you. We ask the right questions, challenge your thinking, hold you accountable, and help you see what you can’t see yourself. But the doing? That’s all you.
If you’re too busy to implement, too resistant to change, or not genuinely committed to growing your business, coaching will feel like an expensive conversation. The business owners who get the most from coaching are the ones who show up prepared, take notes, and then actually do what they said they’d do.
The fix: Before investing in coaching, ask yourself honestly — am I ready to be challenged? Am I willing to change how I think and operate? If the answer is yes, you’re in the right place.
2. You might be at the wrong stage
Coaching isn’t a magic solution that works at every stage of business. If your business is in survival mode — cash flow is critical, you’re firefighting daily, and you don’t have the headspace to think strategically — you may need different support first.
Similarly, if your business is very early stage and you haven’t yet proven your product or service in the market, you may need mentoring or a business advisor rather than a coach. Coaching works best when there’s a functioning business to work on, not just an idea.
The fix: Be honest about where you are. A good coach will tell you if coaching isn’t right for you right now — and will help you identify what is.
3. The wrong coach can set you back
Not all coaches are equal — not by a long way. The coaching industry is largely unregulated, which means anyone can call themselves a business coach. Some have deep commercial experience and real expertise. Others have completed a weekend course and set up shop.
A coach who doesn’t understand your sector, who gives generic advice, or who simply tells you what you want to hear isn’t going to move your business forward. Worse, bad advice from a trusted advisor can cost you time and money you can’t afford to lose.
The fix: Do your homework. Ask potential coaches about their own business experience — not just their coaching qualifications. Ask for case studies, speak to their clients, and make sure their background is relevant to the challenges you’re facing.
4. It can create dependency rather than capability
Good coaching should make you more capable, more confident, and more decisive over time — not more reliant on your coach to make decisions. If you find yourself unable to make a move without running it by your coach first, something has gone wrong.
The goal of great coaching is to put itself out of a job. You should be building your own strategic thinking muscle, not outsourcing it permanently.
The fix: Set clear outcomes for your coaching engagement from the start. What does success look like? How will you know when you’ve grown enough to fly solo — or to move on to a different level of challenge?
5. It costs money — and the ROI isn’t always immediate
Good business coaching isn’t cheap (and you can see exactly what business coaching costs in the UK here). And unlike hiring a salesperson or running an ad campaign, the return on investment isn’t always quick or easy to measure. This can be uncomfortable, particularly if you’re used to tracking every pound you spend.
The results from coaching often show up in better decisions, fewer costly mistakes, a clearer strategy, and a business owner who leads with more confidence. These are real and significant — but they don’t always show up on a spreadsheet in month one.
The fix: Treat coaching as an investment, not an expense — but hold your coach accountable to delivering value. Set clear goals, measure progress, and review regularly. If you’re not seeing movement after a few months, have the conversation.
So should you get a business coach?
Yes — if the conditions are right.
Coaching works brilliantly when you have a business worth growing, a genuine desire to improve, and the right coach in your corner. The business owners I work with who get the best results are honest about their challenges, open to being pushed, and committed to making things happen.
The problems I’ve outlined above aren’t reasons to avoid coaching — they’re reasons to go into it with clear eyes, ask the right questions, and choose the right person to work with.
If you’re not sure whether coaching is right for you right now, let’s have a conversation. No pressure, no hard sell — just an honest chat about where you are and what might help.
