My Business Is Too Small for a Coach - Is That True?

“I’m not big enough for a coach yet.”

At Building Great Businesses, we help Sydney business owners build businesses that work without them.

We hear this weekly.

Owner is doing $400K in revenue. Working 55-hour weeks. Team of four. Real business. Real problems.

But they think coaching is for bigger companies.

Let’s fix that misconception.

The Question: When Is Big Enough?

Here’s what most owners think.

Coaching is for businesses doing $5M+. With proper teams. Real offices. Established operations.

Not for someone still figuring things out. Not for someone under $1M.

That’s backwards.

The growth phase is exactly when you need coaching most. That’s when the expensive mistakes happen.

Revenue Isn’t the Only Signal

Yes, revenue matters. But it’s not the whole picture.

Under $300K: Probably too early. You’re still proving the business model. Focus on survival and sales.

$300K-$500K: Group coaching makes sense. You’ve got traction but can’t justify $3K/month yet.

$500K-$3M: Sweet spot for one-on-one coaching. Big enough that mistakes cost real money. Small enough to turn quickly.

$3M+: Definitely hire a coach. Probably should have already.

But revenue alone doesn’t tell the story.

What Else Matters

Profit margins: Doing $800K but keeping 5%? Different from doing $400K and keeping 25%.

Growth trajectory: Flat at $500K for three years? Different from growing 50% annually.

Team complexity: Two contractors is simpler than eight full-time employees.

Your goals: Want to stay solo? Different from wanting to build a team and sell.

A $350K business with strong margins and growth trajectory beats a flat $700K business every time.

The Real Question: Are You Ready?

Readiness isn’t about size. It’s about these factors:

Consistent revenue: Not feast-and-famine. Predictable income you can count on.

Real team forming: Even if it’s just two people. You’re hiring. That creates complexity.

Systems becoming necessary: Can’t run everything in your head anymore. Need processes.

Growth goals: Want to scale beyond current level. Not happy staying where you are.

Problems worth solving: Team issues. Time trapped. Profit not matching effort.

Hit three of those five? You’re ready. Regardless of revenue.

Early-Stage Alternatives

Can’t justify $2,500/month for one-on-one coaching yet? Fair enough. Learn more about our business coaching programs.

Here are better-fit options:

Group coaching programs: $500-$1,000/month. Get expert guidance plus peer learning. BGB’s Elite program is built for this.

Workshops and masterminds: One-off events. $500-$2,000. Get frameworks without ongoing commitment.

Peer advisory groups: Like Vistage or TEC. $1,000-$1,500/month. More peer-focused than coach-led.

Fractional mentors: Former operators who advise for equity or small fees. Less structured than coaching.

You don’t need to jump straight to premium one-on-one. Build your way up the ladder.

The Prevention Argument

Here’s what smaller businesses miss.

Coaching prevents expensive mistakes during the growth phase.

Bad hire at $350K revenue: That $65K mistake could have been avoided with hiring systems. Which a coach would have helped you build.

Pricing too low: You’re leaving $80K on the table annually. Coach would have caught that in week one.

Owner doing everything: You’re billing $200/hour but spending 20 hours/week on $30/hour work. That’s $170K in lost opportunity annually.

Growth without profit: Revenue up 40%. Profit up 5%. Something’s broken. Takes a year to figure out alone. Coach spots it immediately.

One prevented mistake pays for a year of coaching.

BGB’s Sweet Spot: $500K-$5M

We built our programs for this range. Here’s why.

Under $500K: Usually better served by group programs or workshops. Resources are tight. Implementation capacity is limited.

$500K-$5M: Perfect zone. You’ve got the revenue to invest. Team is forming. Systems are needed. Mistakes get expensive. Transformation creates huge leverage.

Over $5M: Still valuable but different needs. Might need specialised coaching for scale challenges.

This isn’t gatekeeping. It’s matching solution to problem.

A $300K business has different challenges than a $2M business. Different tools solve different problems.

Starting Small, Scaling Up

Smart approach: Grow your coaching investment with your business.

Phase 1 ($200K-$400K): Books, podcasts, occasional workshops. DIY learning phase.

Phase 2 ($400K-$700K): Join group coaching program. Get frameworks and peer learning.

Phase 3 ($700K-$2M): Add one-on-one elements. Custom strategy for your situation.

Phase 4 ($2M+): Full one-on-one coaching. High-touch support for complex challenges.

Your coaching investment should scale with your business capacity.

The Opportunity Cost Nobody Talks About

“I can’t afford coaching yet.”

But what’s staying stuck costing you?

Two more years working 60-hour weeks because you haven’t systematized?

Another bad hire because you don’t have a proven process?

Missing a growth opportunity because operations are too chaotic?

Doing $500K for the next three years when you could be at $1.5M?

The cost of not getting help often exceeds the cost of help.

Real Example: Too Small?

Owner came to us doing $420K annually. Solo with two contractors.

“Am I too small for this?”

We looked at the situation:

• Growing 35% year-over-year
• Strong margins (28%)
• First full-time hire in three months
• Worked 55 hours/week
• Wanted to scale to $1M in two years

Not too small. Perfect timing.

We focused on: hiring systems, time management, pricing strategy, growth planning.

18 months later: $780K revenue, team of four, owner working 42 hours/week.

ROI on coaching: 12x

Size wasn’t the issue. Readiness was there.

When It Actually IS Too Early

Let’s be honest. Sometimes it is too early.

You’re pre-revenue: Still testing the idea. No customers yet. Save your money.

Revenue under $200K and flat: Prove the model first. Get traction. Then get coaching.

Can’t afford to eat: Genuinely in survival mode. Coaching is an investment, not a rescue.

No time to implement: If you can’t carve out 5-10 hours/week for implementation, coaching won’t work.

Not coachable: If you just want validation, not challenge, save your money.

Coaching requires readiness. Both financial and mental.

FAQs

At what revenue level does coaching make sense?

$300K-$500K for group coaching. $500K+ for one-on-one coaching. But readiness matters more than revenue alone.

What if I can’t afford $2,000/month coaching?

Start with group programs at $500-$1,000/month. Or workshops and masterminds. Build up as revenue grows.

Should startups hire coaches?

Usually no. Early stage needs different support. Advisors, mentors, peer groups work better. Wait until you’ve got consistent revenue and real team formation.

Bottom Line

Your business isn’t too small. It’s about readiness and ROI potential.

If you’ve got consistent revenue, team forming, systems needed, and growth goals. You’re ready.

Start with group coaching if budget is tight. Upgrade to one-on-one as you scale.

The expensive mistake isn’t investing too early. It’s waiting too long and making preventable errors during growth.

One bad hire costs more than a year of coaching. One pricing mistake leaves six figures on the table.

Size isn’t the question. Readiness is.

Related Reading

• How Much Does Business Coaching Cost? A Breakdown by Model
• How to Budget for Business Coaching (Without Breaking the Bank)
• Is Business Coaching Worth the Investment?

Check If You’re Ready

BGB’s Elite program is built for businesses in the $400K-$3M range.

Group education + custom support + proven system.

$400/week. No locked contracts.

See if it’s right for you or book a Quick Fit Call.

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