Frequently Asked Questions
Here are our answers to your most frequently asked questions
Who are ActionCOACH Black Country?
We have been working with business owners in and around the Black Country and the wider West Midlands area since 2007. In that time, we have had the privilege of helping hundreds of business owners on their journey to achieve more profitable businesses and gain more freedom to enjoy their success.
Our Senior Partner, Andy Hemming, has won West Midlands Coach of the Year every year since 2014, and has consistently been ranked in the top 5 ActionCOACHs in the world.
The firm has won the UK's Highest Client Satisfaction Award for 5 consecutive years, Best Client Results for 6 out of the past 7 years and UK and EMEA Firm of the Year.
Most importantly, we see it as a huge responsibility to help the business owners we work with to achieve their goals, and go above and beyond where needed to make sure that happens.
Who are ActionCOACH?
ActionCOACH was founded in Australia in 1993 by Brad Sugars who is now one of the top business coaches in the world. Since then it has grown to 90 plus countries and there are more than 2,000 ActionCOACH firms globally. The ActionCOACH system for growing businesses has been used in tens of thousands of businesses. That's why we are so confident that if you apply the system as we teach it to you, you will get results.
We believe that being in business should give you more life, hence our definition of a business being "A commercial, profitable enterprise that can work without you".
What is business coaching?
A business coach will work in partnership with you to help you achieve both your personal and your business goals.
Once we've helped you to define where you want to go, we'll work with you to put a plan in place so that the actions (and any learning) that you need to undertake to achieve those goals are clear.
We'll then ensure that you have all the skills you need, and keep you focused and accountable to completing the actions.
In so doing, we'll help you achieve your goals faster.
Most importantly, it's about making you independent of us so you can confidently grow any business you are involved in.
Like a sports coach, we don't play the game for you - we help you play your game better.
What can a coach do for me?
When you're running a business it is easy to get lost in what you are doing and you can get stuck doing the same thing which just gets you the same results. When you start working with a coach you get the space and time to take a step back and look at your business from a different angle.
A coach isn't there to tell you what to do, but they can help you to see things more clearly and support you in taking different actions that will lead to different, and better, results.
How do I know if coaching is right for me?
Our intention is to help you to understand enough about coaching and what it's like to be coached so that together, we can make an informed decision about whether it's right for you and whether it will help you get to where you want to go.
We offer a complimentary session to anyone who wants to try it.
We know that you will get value from the session whether we continue to work together or not, and that's why we offer these opportunities.
How do I know if you’re the right coach for me?
There is a coach for everyone! That might not be us and that's ok.
When you get in touch with us we will go through a series of steps to help you to see what coaching, and what we, are really like. We do this so that you can make an informed decision on whether we are the right coaches for you.
What type of businesses do you work with?
The team at ActionCOACH Black Country are business growth experts working with hundreds of business owners in and around the Black Country since 2007. Working with business ranging from 1 to 300 team members, and £100,000 to £50m turnover, we have a proven track record of helping business owners and their teams break through to the next level of success – whether that be business growth, freeing up time to pursue other ventures or hobbies, or eventually exiting the business by sale or succession, we have accelerated that journey for business of every sector, shape and size. From retail to manufacturing, education to cleaning, we have experience that spans many sectors and business types. Our coaching principles can be applied to every business.
Will one-to-one coaching work in my business?
That's down to you. Like most things in life you will only get out what you put in.
We have the evidence to show that one to one coaching can work within any size or type of business and we're happy to share that with you.
As coaches we won't do the work for you but we will support you with the tools and skills you need to be able to move forward towards your goals.
What can you tell me about my business that I don't already know?
That's not the point though. Whilst you have all the knowledge you need about the specialisms of your business, we have the knowledge of how to build businesses, and have built hundreds since 2007.
We use a proven system to help you create a business that can grow, provide you with both a great living and the freedom to enjoy it, because every business is built on the same principles.
When we put our knowledge of building businesses together with your knowledge of your business, we can adapt our strategies to make sure that they work for you.
Can I speak with a coach in-between sessions if something crops up that I want to discuss?
Of course. We are always at the end of the phone or email if there's something you need help with or you simply need an alternative point of view.
Can my team be included in coaching sessions?
Once we have defined where it is you want to go, we'll work with you and if necessary, your team to help you achieve your goals.
We teach our clients about "The Cycle of Business": The owner looks after the team, the team look after the customers, the customers look after the business and the business looks after you, the owner.
When the majority of our clients join us, they are looking after the team, the customers and the business.
If you're going to have a business that really performs, you'll need a great team to help you. That's why we include them in our programmes.
When will I start to see a return on my investment?
Our clients invest their time, their energy and their money into coaching. When we work with you we will identify quickly the areas in your business where we can help you to get a return on all three.
One of our initial focuses is to generate enough additional profit to pay for what you are investing in your coaching programme, so that you don't have to worry about the investment.
Are there any hidden costs?
Quite simply no, there are no hidden costs.
How long am I committed for?
You're not tied into a contract, we operate a 30 day notice period.
What is expected of me?
The number one thing that we expect from our clients is 100% participation. That means that we need you to be commited to the process, turn up to your coaching sessions and take the agreed actions. If for any reason you feel that you can't participate fully we would want you to tell us so that we can support you in finding a way forward.
How do I find the time when I'm already really busy?
When you work with us, it's not about us simply giving you more work to do. If you're like many of the businesses we work with, you'll probably find that you're spending time doing a lot of low value activities. We will work with you to manage your diary and create space for your regular coaching sessions so that you don't feel like they are getting in the way of other things.
We'll help you do less of those low value activities and more of the things that will grow your business, make it more profitable and give you the freedom you deserve.
As you'll see on our 'Success Stories' page, our clients not only grow their business and personal income, they also work less hours in their businesses.
What results can I expect?
As you'll see from the case studies and testimonials on our site, it's very common for the business owners we work with to both grow their business from a sales and profit perspective and get more freedom to do what they want with their lives.
Whether it's to be able to sell your business for millions, or be able to go on holiday for two weeks with your family without worrying about your business, we have worked with numerous business owners to help them achieve that.
They're your goals - we work with you to help you achieve them. Take a good look around our 'Success Stories' and you'll see plenty of examples of the kind of results our clients achieve.
How much does it cost?
We're very transparent with our fees. You can find them on our 'Pricing' page.
When we sit with you to take a look at your business, we'll make sure you are absolutely clear on what you can expect from any programme you embark upon, whether that is one to one coaching or one of our training programmes.
Most importantly, if we don't think that the programme is right for you, then we simply won't let you buy it.
Are there any guarantees?
We are happy to guarantee our services. We understand that it's a big decision to embark on a coaching programme, and we believe that there shouldn't be any financial risk in doing so.