How Do I Know If My Business Is ‘Ready’ for a Business Coach?

by Sean Foster | August 8, 2025  | Business Coaching

It’s a question many New Zealand SME business owners wrestle with. And the truth is that it’s really just a bad question 😏.

Instead, I should be asking: ‘Am I ready for a Business Coach?’

And the ‘thinking’ usually revolves around: “I’d love to get support, but I don’t think my business is ready for a coach.”

Maybe you think your business is too small, or you only have a few staff members, or you’re not turning over seven figures (yet). These are all good questions, but a better focus should be on yourself. After all, you are responsible for everything that happens in your business, so the better you are, the faster you will get the outcome you are after and at a lower risk.

So, whatever the reason, there is a common assumption that business coaching is only for businesses that are already bigger, established, and scaling.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Business Coaching Isn’t About Size: It’s About Intent

Being business-ready for coaching doesn’t require you to hit a certain revenue goal or headcount. What it does require is the willingness to step out of the weeds and look at your business, and yourself, with fresh eyes.

Your ‘intent’ really sums up where you would like the business to head, and how intentional you are going to be in terms of your involvement in getting there.

You don’t need a polished operation. You need clarity, direction, accountability and a big dose of commitment.

And this is where coaching delivers its value.

Take a look at our article: Do I Really Need a Business Coach, or Can I Just Figure It Out Myself?. If that question’s been sitting in the back of your mind, this piece offers a grounded perspective to help you weigh it up properly.

When is the Right Time to Start Business Coaching?

• When it feels like the business relies too much on you
• When everything feels urgent and you struggle to make decisions that you know you should be making
• When your current business growth rate is showing the cracks in your systems (or you just don’t have established systems in place!)
• When staff performance is inconsistent. Sometimes it feels like we have a great culture and then the proverbial hits the fan
• When you start to feel that all your hard work is simply not paying off, i.e it feels like you are just not getting ahead

If any of these sound familiar, your business is exactly the kind that benefits from business coaching.

The 5 Most Important Benefits You Get From a Business Coach in NZ

There are many business coaches, mentors and business advisors offering their services to New Zealand SME’s. The following five aspects are what you will get from an effective business coach, and includes what you should be specifically looking out for in a business coach.

1. Clarity and Strategic Focus

What research shows:
Studies by New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and NZTE consistently highlight that SME owners often struggle with strategic planning due to being too involved in day-to-day operations.

Coaching benefit:

• A business coach helps the owner:
• Set clear goals and KPIs
• Focus on high-impact activities
• Build long-term strategies rather than just reacting to issues

Why it matters:
Clear direction improves decision-making, reduces overwhelm, and enhances competitiveness.

2. Improved Leadership and People Management

What research shows:

Poor leadership is a major barrier to SME growth. The University of Otago and AUT business school research shows that many NZ SMEs are too reliant on the founder and lack leadership depth.

Coaching benefit:
A good coach develops the owner's:

• Delegation skills
• Communication and feedback practices
• Ability to build self-sufficient teams

Why it matters:
It reduces owner-dependence and creates a more resilient business culture.

3. Accountability and Execution

What research shows:
SME owners often know what they should do but struggle to follow through, due to distractions or decision fatigue. A 2021 MYOB Business Monitor reported that accountability was a top issue for owner-operators in NZ.

Coaching benefit:

• Regular check-ins keep plans on track
• Helps overcome procrastination
• Provides a sounding board for decisions

Why it matters:
Execution is where most SMEs fall short—even great plans are worthless without follow-through.

4. Increased Financial Acumen and Profitability

What research shows:
Xero and NZTE reports show that many SME owners lack detailed understanding of cash flow, margins, and pricing strategy.

Coaching benefit:

• Better understanding of financial levers
• Guidance on pricing, budgeting, forecasting
• Smarter resource allocation

Why it matters:
Even small changes in pricing or cost control can lead to significant profit increases.

5. Work-Life Balance and Reduced Burnout

What research shows:
Burnout and stress are high among NZ SME owners, especially those with <20 staff. Mental Health Foundation NZ notes that time pressure and lack of support systems are key drivers.

Coaching benefit:

• Helps owners redesign roles
• Encourages building systems, not silos
• Aligns business with personal values and goals

Why it matters:
Long-term sustainability of both the business and the business owner depends on wellbeing. I often hear from business owners that they love working non-stop, often at the expense of personal relationships or even their health. While this is sometimes a necessity, especially for newer start-ups, it is unsustainable.

Take a look at our article: Is Business Coaching Worth It?. It gets into the heart of what many business owners quietly wonder; whether the time, money, and energy invested into coaching actually pay off. If you've been asking yourself that, this read might help bring some clarity.

Bonus Insight:

A 2020 survey by the Business Mentors NZ programme showed that mentored business owners were 23% more likely to report year-on-year revenue growth and reported higher confidence and satisfaction with their business direction.

You Don’t Have to Be Further Along

Many business owners think, “Once I’ve got more revenue or a bigger team, then I’ll look into coaching.”

The reality is that nine times out of ten, this thinking is just delaying the business from getting to this ‘perceived’ right size. Instead, coaching will simply help you get there faster, with less trial and error?

From personal experience, I have found that there are very few ‘black & white’ decisions to be made in a business. Most decisions are ‘grey’, with their outcomes based on best assumptions and probabilities.

So taking on board that most decisions are ‘grey’, what becomes more valuable is your confidence in your decision making process. The right type of decision making process will leave you feeling more in control of your growth, and building the kind of business that reflects your values, not just your effort.

You don’t need to do it alone.

Further Reading: What to Expect in Your First 90 Days with a Business Coach in Auckland

What If You’re Just Getting Started?

Coaching is just as relevant at the beginning as it is at any other stage. It can help you:

• Avoid costly mistakes
• Clarify your service or pricing model, without undermining your true value
• Build solid habits and systems early
• Stay focused on what really matters

The sooner you get support, the sooner your business becomes easier to lead and grow.

With established, larger businesses the decision to get a business coach or business advisor on board can be more strongly influenced by analysing the cost-vz-benefit ratio. That is, If I spend $20,000 on business coaching will I get more than $20,000 back into the business in the next few months? With smaller, or start-up businesses this thinking does not work. Instead, an investment based approach needs to be taken.

That is, I will spend $20,000 in business coaching over the next X period, and I am confident that this will pay off over the next few years. The payoff is typically measured through having better systems and habits in place, achieving breakeven or specific financial KPI’s realized earlier etc.

Why Business Coaching Might Be Exactly What You Need

Forbes lists 20 compelling reasons to hire a business coach, emphasising benefits like eliminating inefficient processes, reducing redundancies, enhancing clarity, and boosting performance (forbes.com). This kind of structured support can make a real difference when you're juggling strategy, team management, and long-term planning.

So, Are You Ready?

If you’re asking the question, that’s usually the sign.

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to wait.

You just need to want more clarity, structure, and traction. And if that’s you, then yes, your business is ready.

Curious what difference coaching could make for your business? If you’d like a fresh perspective or just want to explore what’s possible, let’s connect for a straightforward, no-obligation chat. You’re welcome to book a free, open Zoom discovery session to see if it feels right for you.