Managing the responsibilities of business leadership can be an isolating journey
For many owners, the weight of every decision rests squarely on their shoulders, leaving them with few people to turn to for real guidance.
That’s where your business leadership and expertise come in.
As a TAB Franchisee, you are a trusted advisor that business owners rely on when working through challenges, unlocking opportunities, and driving long-term success. By leading peer advisory boards, providing one-on-one coaching, and connecting with a global team of TAB franchise partners, you will have the tools needed to make a lasting impact on the lives of entrepreneurs and executives in your community for years to come.
What sets us apart? At TAB, we invest in your success as much as you do. Our certification program blends hands-on training and self-paced learning. You’ll also gain ongoing support through expert hotlines, strategic proprietary tools, yearly workshops, and a global community of peers who walk the same path.
What is a business coach?
A business coach is like having a highly experienced partner in your corner. They provide personalized advice that can help you navigate the rough terrain of running a business, which can include things like defining goals, crafting strategies for growth, or devising a plan for reviving a struggling brand.
A business professional is usually considered a business coach when they exhibit a combination of expert-level professional experience, coaching skills, and a mindset focused on helping others succeed.
There are a few self-regulating groups, like the International Coach Federation and the International Association of Coaching that certify coaches. These certifications are indicative of formal training and adherence to a code of ethics. However, there isn’t a licensing requirement to become a coach and many great coaches aren’t certified.
Business coach vs. consultant
In general, business coaches are like a GPS for your business journey — you drive, but they guide. Consultants are more like a taxi — they take you straight to the destination.
More specifically, a business coach works with you to develop skills, make better decisions, set meaningful goals, and stay accountable to your vision for growth. They focus on empowering you to find your own answers and build long-term success.
A business consultant, on the other hand, is hired to assess specific challenges and provide direct solutions or expert strategies to implement immediately. Consultants use their specialized knowledge to diagnose problems, recommend actions, and sometimes even implement changes, offering a more hands-on approach.
What does a coach do?
A business coach helps business owners define a clear vision for their business and align it with their personal goals. When business and personal goals are connected, owners gain a sharper understanding of how reaching those goals will impact their life both professionally and personally. Without that connection, it’s harder to stay motivated, making it less likely the goal will be achieved.
As an outside observer, a business coach can more objectively see a company’s internal and external issues and assist with prioritizing various goals. They help owners see which items are tasks to be delegated and which are long-term objectives to focus on, working alongside the business owner to create a strategic framework to achieve success.
Part of that strategic framework may be creating key performance indicators (KPIs), or metrics by which a business owner can measure their success. KPIs also allow a coach to track progress, which is something a business owner might struggle with if they are on their own. Accountability is another critical component of business coaching; therefore, meeting with business owners regularly to check in on commitments, goals, and KPIs is an important part of the process.
A business coach doesn’t take over the work like a consultant might. Instead, the business owner stays in the driver’s seat, focused on the end goal, motivated to follow through on commitments, and has clarity on why those goals matter. With support from a business coach, a business owner gains accountability, an experienced sounding board, and develops awareness of personal and professional blind spots they couldn’t see otherwise.
Hard vs. soft skills
Many business owners are experts at what they do—but not always at leading. That’s where business coaching can make a big difference. Rather than teaching technical, job-specific skills (known as hard skills), a business coach focuses on soft skills—like communication, leadership, problem-solving, and time management.
These soft skills are often what separates successful business leaders who create sustainable growth from overwhelmed bosses who are constantly putting out daily fires. It is extremely common for business owners who begin their journey as an employee, to miss out on opportunities that teach one how to truly lead, delegate, or step back from the daily grind. Business coaching bridges that gap.
With the guidance of a coach, business owners learn how to stop working in their business like an employee—and start working on their business like a visionary CEO. That mindset shift creates space for growth, freedom, and long-term success.
Boost confidence
Business coaches bring expertise to understand leadership styles, so business owners can build on strengths, address weaknesses, and grow into more effective, confident leaders.
Gain perspective
With fresh perspective and experience, business coaches help uncover blind spots, challenge thinking, and serve as a trusted sounding board for ideas.
Expand the comfort zone
With fresh perspective and experience, business coaches help uncover blind spots, challenge thinking, and serve as a trusted sounding board for ideas.
Improve leadership
Business coaches bring expertise to understand leadership styles, so business owners can build on strengths, address weaknesses, and grow into more effective, confident leaders.
Skyrocket productivity
Finding out what each business owner does best and helping their team do the same will increase efficiency and morale. That’s a recipe for massive productivity gains.
Make more money
A good business coach will help clarify business owner goals, craft a solid strategy, identify which actions are most likely to increase profits, and hold them accountable for implementation. That usually adds up to more money in the bank.
Impact Business Coaching
To be an effective business coach, you must bring more than just experience—you need to embody a combination of insight, character, and a coaching philosophy that resonates with the business owners in your community. According to a Small Business Pulse Survey by The Alternative Board, business owners value coaches who demonstrate trustworthiness, integrity, expertise, and a clear coaching style.
Many passionate business owners don’t just want answers— they’re looking for someone who can conduct a thorough business assessment, tackle the tough conversations head-on, and help drive measurable change.
As a coach, it’s essential to communicate your areas of expertise, share success stories, and let your philosophy come through in how you listen and lead. Building trust starts with being transparent about your background and aligning your approach with your client’s goals.
Ultimately, being a great business coach means showing up with purpose, asking the hard questions, and guiding leaders to clarity—even when the path forward isn’t easy.
