Business Coach or Consultant– What’s the difference and which one should you hire to help you reach your business goals?
So the time has come where you’re ready to take the next step with your business and get some expert advice and guidance. There’s just one problem, you’re not sure exactly what kind of help you need to move your business forward, and you don’t want to invest in the wrong thing. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you make an informed choice so you can make the right move with confidence!
You’re ready to branch out and get some help making those tough decisions for your business, but not sure whether you should invest in a business coach or consultant. Depending on your specific needs, there are pros and cons to both! We’ll go over the specifics of each expert and what they offer. Let’s get into it!
Business Coaches
Who are they?
Business coaches are taking the internet, and the world, by storm! Experts of all walks of business and life are stepping forward to help the next generation of business owners to make smarter choices and avoid some of the most common business mistakes. Oftentimes, business coaches are business owners who’ve found some success and have developed strategies to share with their clients. Business coaches work with individual business owners to help them improve their personal role in their business.
What are the benefits of hiring a business coach?
Let’s start with the pros of investing in a business coach. First off, coaching can be a powerful tool to give new business owners a sense of confidence as they face the inevitable challenges that come with starting a business. The right coach can help hold you accountable for your business goals, and be a huge support in developing your business structure. Coaches can help someone who’s struggling with the confidence to do what’s necessary for their business to feel a sense of direction and empowerment as they grow into the boss that they want to be!
Why a business coach might not be right for you and your business.
Now for the cons… In a perfect world, all coaches would be created equal. Unfortunately, we live in a time where self-proclaimed experts have access to great marketing and schemy business strategies. When it comes to business coaching, there’s a huge range of quality so you need to be cautious in choosing the right fit for your personality and your business goals. Make sure you do your research and look into the legitimacy of your coaches’ claims. You may even go so far as to ask if you can speak with one of their previous clients for reference.
Another con to coaching is that coaches can help point you in the right direction for outsourcing, and making business decisions, but they don’t do any grunt work for you. It’s not their objective to get personally invested in your business to optimize the structure and flow. Instead, coaches rely on communication from you and help you to solve problems that you’re already aware of. Just like a sports coach doesn’t actually get out on the field and play with the team, a business coach won’t be out there making moves in your interest. They will, however, be on the sidelines cheering you on and giving you cues to improve your performance.
Business Consultants
Who are they?
Business consultants are business experts that are usually sought out to help businesses solve complex issues, increase productivity and profit margins. Oftentimes, consultants hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in business management, administration, marketing, or finance. They’re highly educated in the complex dynamics of business management and optimization and can be a great tool for the overwhelmed business owner looking to gain a new perspective as well as the tools necessary to make changes within their business. Business consultants, unlike business coaches, will work with business owners and their employees to provide the best outcomes.
What are the benefits of hiring a business consultant?
Business consultants, unlike coaches, will dive deep into the structure of your business. They can help to identify issues and formulate plans of action to address them. They’ve been known to transform company morale, improve branding and mission statements, optimize day-to-day operations and provide the support and encouragement a business owner needs to make decisions with confidence. Where a coach is just cheering you on from the sidelines, a business consultant will be out there in the field helping to move your business forward.
Why a business consultant might not be right for you and your business.
Business consulting can be quite an investment. Because business consultants take the time to get to the root of your business issues and find the solutions for them, they end up investing a lot of time and energy in your business. More time and energy from the consultant means more $$ from you. That being said, a good consultant can seriously improve your profit margins helping you to recoup your investment, and then some, with time!
If you’re in the earlier stages of your business or looking for a low-investment startup, you may find coaching to be a more affordable option. However, if your business is facing complex challenges, or you’re struggling to find out exactly why things aren’t working within your company, a business consultant is definitely the way to go.
Getting Started
We hope you’ve found this information helpful! If you still have questions about whether or not a business coach or a consultant is the right move for your business, we’d love to hear from you! We provide both coaching sessions and consulting services for your business or project! Send us a message to get started by setting up a free discovery call.
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