If you work as a business coach, it is your job to train and education business owners, operating managers, and all remaining employees.  Running a successful and profitable business starts at the top and works its way down. 

Your responsibilities, as a business coach, include getting your client to understand the important aspects of running a business, such as sales, marketing, communication, organization, and conflict resolution.  This is an important job and you know this.  But, there are some business owners who wonder if using the services of a business coach are worth it.  It is also your job to convince them that it is.

You need to convince potential clients that your service is great and more than worth the money.  This is nice to know, but how?  Continue reading on for a few sample ideas.

You can do so with promotional brochures and free promotional items.  Sending a pamphlet outlining your services and how they can increase sales is a great idea, but these brochures often just get thrown in the trash.  Include more!  Add a free magnet or pen with your company name, address, and phone number.  People love and will use free stuff, so your name will get seen.  The struggling business owner may literally be stressing about their future and glance over to see your logo in their office.

You can do so by offering discounts.  Many of the business owners who use the services of a business coach are struggling.  Some are barely staying afloat financially.  They need to use their money wisely.  Make it seem like they are getting a good deal.  Offer a small, but meaningful discount on your services.  Also, include extra bonuses in your package.  Most business coaches hold training seminars.  Include, as a bonus, free printed guides for each employee.  These guides allow for later reference, long after your training session has ended.

You can do so by offering free consultations and assessments.  As previously stated, most business owner who uses coaches are struggling.  Unfortunately, some wait until they are in the red to seek help.  Offer free consultations and assessments.  Show the business owner or operating manager that they are heading down a dangerous path.  Use their records to show what they can expect the next year if swift action is not taken.  Then, go into great deal about how you can turn their business around.  For example, you will teach that business owner the importance of local and internet marketing, and share unique marketing tactics with them.

You can do so by being a real person.  Your job, as a business coach, is a professional one.  It is important to stay professional, but business coaches work side-by-side their clients.  You need to show these people that you are a real person, more than just a suit.  Some struggling business owners fear seeking help because they are afraid that their ideas and actions will be dissected and criticized.  Yes, this is your job, but always put a positive spin on things.  When soliciting business, never blame a business owner.  Comment that they did many great things, but a few simple improvements can do wonders.

In short, business coaching is a valuable service for all small, medium, and large companies.  Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way.  For that reason, market yourself, get the word out, and encourage those in trouble to save their business and with your help.

If you want to offer your services as a business coach, there many areas of business that you need to familiarize yourself with.  After all, if you don't know the keys to running a successful business, how can you teach others?

As previously stated, there are many areas of running a business that new and struggling business owners need assistance with.  One of those areas is business communication.  Business owners need to learn to properly communicate with employees and clients.  Employees need to learn how to communicate with their bosses, coworkers, and clients.  It goes on and on.  Proper communication is key to running a successful and profitable business.

So, what will you, as a business coach, need to teach your clients?

The best way to communicate 

Technology has given us many ways to communicate with friends, family, coworkers, clients, and employees.  Just a sample of the options available includes letters, faxes, emails, text messages, and phone calls.  Which option is best?  It depends on the type of business.  Other than emergencies, all professionals should avoid text messages.  Instead, they should pickup the phone, send a fax, or write a well-composed email.

Communication etiquette 

This is important for both communication with coworkers and clients.  Some inexperienced workers and business owners do not fully understand the importance of politeness and etiquette.  You need to show them.  For example, it is okay to use abbreviations in personal emails, like BRB or LOL, but never with business communications.  In emails, all writers should identify themselves by name and position and address all recipients the same.  It is the polite and professional thing to do.

Tips for improving writing skills 

Unfortunately, all of our writing skills have suffered.  The internet, instant messaging programs, and text messages make it particularly hard to write by hand and legibly.  Your job as a business coach is to stress the importance of proper writing.  Highlight the importance of proper spelling, grammar, proofreading, and good sentence structure.

The importance of clear communication 

In business, straightforward directions and little rambling is best.  You client's customers don't want to know about the day they are having or what the weather is like; they want to know if you can help them.  A good approach is to find former letters and emails and dissect them.  Show, by example, if it is good or bad and what changes can be made.

Giving both bad and good news 

Business owners, rarely deliver only good news.  For example, a retail store may have processed an order for a client, only to later learn that item is out of stock. They must then contact that customer to inform them that their order cannot be filled.  Some just say "your order cannot be filled."  Stress the importance of keeping that customer happy.  In this situation, a formal apology, notification of when the item becomes available, and a small discount is best.

The importance of listening 

Business owners and their employees should never make a client repeat him or herself.  The same is true for other in-office communication.  Coworkers and bosses should only need to ask someone to do a task once.  Stress the importance of taking notes.  There is less risk of errors and no having to ask someone to explain them again. 

Non-verbal communication 

A lot of business focus is placed on the word we speak or type, but communication can be non-verbal too.  This includes body language, appearance, and actions.  When meeting with a client, conservative apparel sends the proper message.  Soft, but confident tones are best.  As for body language, this is difficult.  Some send signals without even realizing it.  Stress the importance of monitoring your body language and learning to control impulsive actions.

These are just a few of the communication areas you will want to focus on as a business coach.  Regardless of whom are you working with, whether it is a business owner, paid employees, or both, all business can benefit and profit from good and proper communication.

Do you have a business management degree or years of experience running a profitable small to medium sized business?  If you are looking for a new career path or if you want to increase your moneymaking opportunities, business coaching is the way to go.  Both a degree and on the job experience deems you qualified enough to teach others.

When offering your services as a business coach, there are many areas of business you need to consider.  Marketing is the most common.  Marketing enables the public to know about a company and the products or services they sell. Your step-by-step guide to running a successful and profitable business should include marketing, but don't forget the smaller aspects.  For example, conflict resolution.

Conflict is common in the workplace and it comes in many different formats.  Coworkers have conflict with each other.  Supervisors have conflict with their employees.  Business owners and employees have conflicts with clients.  Honestly, the list goes on and on.  Although conflict is common in the workplace, it is unhealthy.  It is your job to teach small business owners and their employees how to avoid workplace conflict and how to resolve it quickly and peacefully.

One of the best ways to teach your clients about conflict resolution is with role-playing.  If hosting a seminar retraining employees, pick a couple from the group.  Start with two employees playing themselves.  This is very important.  A disruptive workplace starts a chain reaction.  Create the scenario where the two coworkers are supposed to be working jointly on a project, but only one is carrying their weight.  Allow the two to attempt to resolve the problem themselves.  Then, step in.  Highlight the good choices and the bad.  Then, coach these coworkers through a positive resolution.  This involves calm voices, friendly tones, and no finger pointing.

Next, work on the conflict between supervisors and employees.  If the business owner or manager is present you can use them for the exercise, but you may find little volunteers.  If that is the case, select one or, once again, use two employees.  Create the scenario that the boss is unhappy with the employee constantly showing up for work.  Start with the supervisor.  They need to calmly approach their employee and state their dissatisfaction.  Do not blame or accuse.  Next, the late arriving employee needs to explain him or herself.  In this situation, it is best just to apologize for the delay and state it will not happen again.  Excuses may lead to conflict.

Finally, role-play with a client and an employee. All businesses strive to please their clients, but no one is ever 100% happy.  If the company you are working with is a retail store, use the example that a customer was double charged for a product.  They arrive in the store the next day.  There is little proof that they were overcharged.  In this situation, many employees and managers try to get out of refunds.  No business wants to lose or handout money, but think of the consequences.  A happy customer tells their friends, but an unhappy customer tells anyone who will listen.  Think long-term and about the company's and employee's reputation.  Offer a refund or allow the customer to grab another of the product.

As previously stated, the best way to practice conflict resolution is with role-playing.  Unfortunately, not all business coaches are able to meet with their clients face-to-face.  In these instances, create literature for the business owner, supervisors, and employees to read.  Make it clear, short, and easy to read.

Regardless of how you teach your clients about conflict resolution, always highlight the important points in the end.  These include the consequences of conflict.  They are an unhappy client or disruptions in the workplace that can start a chain reaction.  Then restate the ways to avoid conflict, such as not placing blame, talking in a friendly tone, and addressing all issues as they arise and not later down the road.  

As a business coach, it is your responsibility to teach your clients the key components of running a successful and profitable business.  For most small to medium sized business owners, this is increased sales, lowered operating costs, leadership development, marketing, and proper communication.  These are very important aspects of running a business, but your step-by-step coaching guide should include more.  What?  Health and wellness in the workplace.

In terms of health and wellness in the workplace, some business owners and operating mangers have it all wrong.  Some literally believe that unless their employees are dying or in the hospital, they should be at work.  Yes, those in good health should show at work and arrive on time.  There are however, many consequences to not promoting a happy and healthy workplace.  As a business coach, it is your job to outline these consequences for your clients.

As previously stated, some employers want their employees at work, no matter how they look or feel.  This is very dangerous.  Not just for the sick worker, but for everyone else in the workplace.  A good example is to highlight common illnesses, such as the flu, the stomach bug, and the common cold.  Print information from the internet showing the many and easy ways that these viruses spread.  Then highlight the consequences, which could include everyone in the office coming down with a cold.  Unfortunately, not everyone will get sick all at once.  They will continue passing the virus around.  One cold can negatively influence an entire office for weeks.

Using the internet and printed guides to show how easily germs and colds spread from coworker to coworker is a great approach, but it isn't enough for all.  A great approach is to test surfaces.  Do not opt for someone's office or workplace, as the results may be embarrassing.  Instead, test a common area, such as a commonplace phone, filing cabinet, or bathroom.  Some test kits are available for sale, but they usually give limited results.  Bite the cost and get true lab testing.  In fact, include the cost in with your fee.  There is no denying the results.  Even cleaned offices have germs, many of which are the cause of viruses and colds.

As previously stated, a simple cold can affect a workplace for weeks.  This is because not all coworkers come into contact with each other at the same time.  It could take weeks or months for an entire office to run through a cold.  Once again, not all office managers and business owners understand this.  You need to show them.  Use volunteers.  In fact, use the entire staff present for training. 

Take one individual, he or she is sick, but called in sick to work.  Set that volunteer aside.  They stayed home; therefore, are not passing germs around the office.  Then take another volunteer; they are sick, but still went to work.  In just the first hour of the day, they came into touching contact with three different coworkers.  Those then turned around and encountered six more, and so forth.  Create a line showing all the people who will get sick.  Compare the two.  Yes, one employee does miss work, but it is much better than having the entire staff out of commission.  It is a chain reaction.

As previously stated, it is your job to educate business owners and managers on the key components of running a business.  However, to properly implement those components, happy, healthy, and well staff members must carry out those actions.  Otherwise, time is wasted, productivity is low, and the results are poor.

When it comes to business coaching, many coaches specialize in small to medium sized companies.  Those with experience in executive settings, assist large corporations.  Regardless of the specialty, there is money to be made.  But, many business coaches are failing to change with the times.  Many do not realize the potential of home based businesses, but you can and should.

As you know, home based businesses come in a number of formats.  For example, a mom may run a daycare out of her home, a dad may make handmade toys to sell from home, or a cosmetologist may run an in-home salon out of the garage or basement.  In terms of home based businesses, the options are endless.  They also vary in size.  Most are self-employed; working for themselves and by themselves.  Some hire outside help.

Anyone can start a home based business.  Someone who has a dream or a passion or wants to leave the dog-eat-dog corporate world behind can start a business and right from their own home.  There is a growing trend though.  That trend is parents who want to work from home.  Some want a work-at-home job, meaning they are employed by a company, but perform their tasks at home.  Others want to capitalize on a talent or hobby and start their own business.  For parents, starting a home based business provides them with unlimited flexibility and control.

Do you need proof that people want to start their own business?  If so, perform a standard internet search with the phrases "work-from-home," and "home based businesses."  You will get thousands of results.  There is a lot of information available online to assist these people, but they need more.  Just because a parent has a good product or service and a website, it does not mean that they will make money.  That is why they can benefit from using your services as a business coach.

The first step in working as a home based business coach is to find clients.  If you have a website, include home based business coaching as one of your services.  Then, seek out these individuals.  As previously stated, a lot of information can be found online.  Most websites are informational sites, but some are online communities, like message boards.  Join; insert yourself into the community.  Add a link to your business website in your profile and signature.  Join in on the discussions.  If someone asks for tips, provide them with a few.  Never give out too much information.  Members will wonder how you know so much and who you are, so they should click on your links.  If they want or need your service, they will use it.

Once you acquire a client, it is time to get to work.  Home based business coaches tend to have more responsibility and tasks.  This is because many home based business owners' setup shop on a whim.  They realized they could make money doing something they love and ran with it.  Some did not even have a plan in place.  If your client does not have a business plan, coach them through creating one.  This plan should include what they sell, who their targeted market is, how they intend to generate income, and how to market their product to the public.

Business coaching involves encouragement.  You need to encourage home based business owners to take a step in the right direction.  Show them their potential.  If they truly have a great product, show them exactly how a solid marketing can increase sales.  Even if their marketing plan results in five new customers a week, calculate for them the additional yearly profit.  Also, given them ideas to run with.  Do more than just say "you need to market your business."  Give them specific examples, watch implement, and offer feedback.

If you run a business coaching service, it is your job to coach new and struggling business owners to make the right choices.  You are just like a football coach.  You give your clients plays and encourage them to run the plays properly.  One aspect of business that you should cover is marketing, namely internet marketing.  Even storefront businesses can benefit from internet marketing.  Many just do not know why they should invest time and money into the effort or how to get started.  It is your job to give them ideas.

In terms of internet marketing, there are many options.  Internet marketing presents a lot of opportunity, both large and small.  All businesses can and should utilize the internet.  As previously stated, some just don't know how to.  So, create a game plan for your clients or their advertising department to follow.  What could that plan include?

Blogging 

Many individuals make the mistake of believing blogs are for personal use only.  They are not.  Blogs can also be used as successful internet marketing tools.  Blogs rely on content, so your client or one of their employees will need to do this task, but it should only take less than 30 minutes a day.  They can write content related to the products or services they sell.  For example, someone running a dog grooming business can write articles on anything pet related, including care and health.  That blog can and should lead back to their business website.

Hosting contests 

People love free stuff and contests give them the chance to win.  It is, however, important to proceed with caution.  If your client posts a contest on their website, they will get those who fill out the entry form a leave.  Use a blog and have a monthly newsletter or RSS feed available.  Instruct your client to allow for an extra entry for anyone who subscribes to these.  They receive daily or weekly updates, always reminding them about the business and the products or services offered.

Online business directories 

In terms of internet marketing, one of the first places business owners should head to is online business directories, but most make it their last stop.  Fewer Americans turn to their phone books to find a business.  They perform standard internet searches and use online business directories, such as the one offered under the "Local," heading at Yahoo.com.  If your client is not listed in these directories, encourage them to do so and right away.  The process should only take a few minutes.

Online message boards 

For most business owners, online message boards are nothing but a waste of time.  They don't want to see their employees socializing online while on the clock.  Yes, this is good, but encourage your client to see the marketing aspect.  For example, companies who sell pet related products and services should participate in discussions on pet related forums.  Include a link back to the company website in all allowable signatures and profiles.  When posting, the name and link will show.  Pet owners are this company's targeted market.  They aren't waiting for the customers to come to them.  Instead, they are going directly to the source.

Banner and link exchanges 

Online networking is just as important as internet marketing.  There are many connections to be made online and these connections can lead to increased advertising.  To get started, encourage your client to network with those in related fields.  They can set up link and banner exchanges.  For example, if your client sells pet products, coach them through finding pet services, such as dog grooming or dog sitting.  Instruct them to contact the owner of the website and offer a banner or link exchange.  In these aspects, both companies benefit and advertising is free.

As you can see, there are many ways to market a business online.  Your job is to coach your clients through the process.  Carefully monitor each step and offer feedback.

As a business coach, your area of expertise is educating business owners.  You share tips on how to operate a successful and profitable business.  You do so though with one-on-one explanations, training exercises, and written materials that can be referenced at anytime.  Most business coaches have a special step-by-step program that they use.  You should be no different.  Whether your current program has you working one-on-one with your client or with your client and their employees, leadership training is vital.

In small businesses, there are usually one or two leaders.  With medium sized business, there are more, but usually less than twenty.  Leadership training should involve each member of management or those on their way up the company ladder.  Be sure your client knows this.  Yes, you can educate them on leadership development and they can later train their staff with this knowledge, but there are a number of benefits to doing it yourself.  After all, you are a trained and experienced expert on the subject.

In terms of leadership training, get started with your client.  This is the business owner or operating manager.  Monitor a few hours of their day.  How do they manage their time?  How do they interact with clients and employees?  Is their time well-managed?  Take notes throughout the day.  Commend your client for taking positive steps, but make suggestions where improvements are needed.  Finally, discuss with them what you will use to train their employees, particularly those in or on the way to management positions.

Speaking of which, what will you do?  Since medium sized businesses typically have less than twenty in management positions, you are at an advantage.  You should have a relatively small group to work with.  This gives you an edge.  You do not have to entertain or the hold the attention of a room of 50.  A small group also makes interactive exercises easy.

To get started, ask each team member to describe his or her day from start to finish.  Ask them to include the little things, such as bathroom breaks, smoke breaks, socializing with coworkers, and checking email.  You will collect these notes and read them aloud.  Ask the audience member to vote on which manager is making the best use of their time.  Conclude the exercise by highlighting the importance of time management in the workplace.  Then, share tips on how to improve the use of time.  This includes waiting until scheduled breaks to go to the bathroom, smoke, and socialize with coworkers.

Another ideal exercise focuses on conflict resolution.  Those in management positions deal with many conflicts.  Other employees approach them with complaints.  These complaints may be about the poor work environment or coworker troubles.  Managers also deal with customer complaints.  In these situations, the wrong action can lead to conflict.  Use role-playing to highlight your point.  Ask two managers to role-play.  Have one be a customer with a valid complaint.  See how the two handle the situation on their own in front of the group.  Then, analyze.  Show for the room what the two volunteers did right, what they did wrong, and offer tips to reduce and resolve workplace conflict.

In addition to time management and conflict resolution, good communication skills are a must for those in management.  As previously stated, managers need to communicate their bosses, coworkers, and clients.  They will provide direction and solve complications as they arise.  To do this, good communication skills are vital.  Directions must be easy to comprehend, detailed, and clear.  Buy a cheap plastic shelf from a discount store.  Choose two volunteers from the group.  The first provides direction, in their own words, on how to assemble.  The second volunteer does the assembly.  Were clear instructions given?  If the volunteer rambled or gave confusion suggestions, show how it influenced the second volunteer's ability to do the task.  Stress the importance of clear communication and tips for making it happen.

Time management, conflict resolution, and communication are just three aspects of leadership development that you should cover as a business coach.  Businesses generate income by selling a product or a service.  Yes, you want to focus on sales and marketing, but start at the base of the business.  Once that is functioning smoothly, the rest will start to fall into place.

Your job as a business coach is to take a new or struggling business and teach its owner how to see success.  This success should be an increase in profits and sales.  There are many important components to running a profitable business, but marketing is vital.  If you are not already stressing the importance of marketing to your clients, you need to start.

When getting started, create a step-by-step guide just for marketing.  Step one is highlighting the importance of marketing.  It enables customers to know that a business exists, as well as what they sell.  Step two is the consequences for not having a solid marketing plan.  This is decreased sales and loss of profits.  Step three is sharing marketing tactics.

In terms of sharing marketing tactics with your clients, focus on both local and internet marketing.  Some mistakenly believe they should only do one or the other.  They should do both, as it expands their reach.  The more consumers they reach, the higher the sales.  Internet marketing is easy, as most business owners and advertising departments know the internet like the back of their hand.  What many companies struggle with is local marketing.  So offer a few suggestions, such as the ones outlined below.

Advertising a business in the phone book.  Many new business owners list their businesses in the white pages.  After all, this is free to do. What they don't realize is that customers must already know their business name to find a phone number or address.  That is why yellow page listings are a must.  Yes, they do cost money, but they are a wise investment.

Advertising a business in the classified ads.  The internet has made it much easier to stay up-to-date on the news, but most Americans still read a paper in print.  For that reason, classified ads are still a successful marketing tactic.  In the classified section, most newspapers have an "Advertise Your Business Here," section.  Your client can write a short summary of their business, where it is located, what they sell, and how to contact.  For a slightly higher fee, your client can invest in a larger ad with bold printing, pictures, and more.

Advertising a business through mailable fliers.  Many business owners tend to sway away from mailable fliers.  This is because some consider them an invading form of solicitation.  If your client is against this practice, encourage them to purchase a full-page insert in a weekly classified newspaper.  This way, mailings are still delivered to doors, but no solicitation occurred.  To reduce the risk of angry residents who received unsolicited mailings, your client can include a moneysaving coupon or a free promotional product, such as a magnet bearing the company name, logo, address, and phone number.

Advertising a business through a grand opening or reopening celebration.  New storefront business owners need to attract customers.  It is best to start with a bang.  Help your client plan a grand opening celebration.  Offer deeply discounted prices, have free promotional items on hand, host a contest, and hire a radio station to broadcast in front of their store.  If you are helping a struggling business, help the business owner make needed improvements to inventory, management, sales, and so forth.  Then, work together to plan a grand reopening celebration.

As you can see, there are many ways to market and advertise a business.  A professional in the field of business management, you already know this, but not all business owners do.  Help your client understand the importance of local marketing and point them in the right direction.