In-Person Coaching vs Online Coaching: Which is Better?

Five years ago, this wasn’t even a question.

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

Real coaching happened in person. Face-to-face. Same room.

Virtual was seen as second-best. Compromise. What you settled for if geography demanded it.

Then COVID forced everyone online. And something interesting happened.

It worked. Often better than in-person.

The Shift to Virtual

Pre-2020, maybe 30% of coaching happened online.

Post-2020, it’s closer to 75%.

Not because of necessity anymore. Because it works.

Business owners discovered they could get the same results without driving 45 minutes to an office. Without blocking three hours for a one-hour session.

Coaches discovered they could serve clients anywhere. Not just local market.

The experiment is over. Virtual coaching is proven.

Online Coaching Benefits

Convenience: Join from your office. Your home. A café. No travel time.

Wider coach choice: Not limited to coaches within driving distance. Access best coach for your situation anywhere.

Cost-effective: Coaches save on office rent. Often pass savings to clients. 10-20% lower fees typical.

Flexibility: Easier to schedule. Miss your train? Jump on Zoom. Travelling? Join from hotel.

Better note-taking: Screen share documents. Coaches can type notes in real-time. Everything documented.

Recording options: Some coaches record sessions (with permission). Review what was covered.

Less intimidating: For some owners, being in their own space feels more comfortable. More open conversation.

These aren’t small advantages. They’re significant.

The Research: Does Virtual Actually Work?

International Coaching Federation studied this extensively.

Findings:

• No significant difference in outcomes between virtual and in-person coaching
• Client satisfaction equally high in both formats
• Some measures (accountability, follow-through) slightly better in virtual
• Relationship quality comparable when coach is skilled

Key qualifier: when coach is skilled.

Bad coaching is bad regardless of format. Good coaching works in both.

The medium matters less than the methodology and coach competence.

In-Person Benefits

Let’s be fair. In-person has real advantages too.

Deeper connection for some: Face-to-face creates different energy. Some people connect better physically present.

Body language more visible: Easier to read subtle non-verbal cues. Though good video largely solves this.

Fewer distractions: When you drive to coach’s office, you’re committed. Phone stays away. Full focus.

Whiteboard sessions: Physical whiteboard work can be more fluid than digital equivalents.

Relationship building: First meeting in person often builds trust faster.

Site visits possible: Coach can visit your business. See operations. Meet team. Valuable context.

These matter. Especially relationship building in early stages.

Cost Comparison

In-person coaching:

• Coach has office overhead (rent, parking, facilities)
• You lose time travelling (often 1-3 hours per session including travel)
• Premium positioning often means higher fees
• Typical: $3,000-6,000/month

Online coaching:

• Lower overhead for coach
• Zero travel time for you
• More price competition due to wider market
• Typical: $2,500-4,500/month

The time saving alone is valuable. Three hours saved per session. Four sessions per month. That’s 12 hours monthly.

At $200/hour value of your time, that’s $2,400/month saved. Covers most of the coaching fee.

Effectiveness: What Actually Matters

Format matters less than these factors:

Coach quality: Skilled coach gets results on Zoom. Mediocre coach wastes your time in person.

Your engagement: Show up prepared, do the work, implement between sessions. Format is irrelevant.

Chemistry and trust: Can happen in both formats. More about the person than the medium.

Methodology: Proven system works remotely or face-to-face. No system fails in both.

Accountability: Works in both formats. Actually easier to track digitally (shared docs, email check-ins).

Pick the right coach with the right approach. Format is secondary.

Tech Requirements for Online Coaching

If you go virtual, you need basics:

Reliable video platform: Zoom, Teams, Google Meet. Stable connection. Good audio.

Decent camera: Laptop camera is fine. Let coach see your face clearly.

Good microphone: Critical. Built-in mic usually works. Headset better.

Screen share capability: Essential for reviewing documents, plans, financials together.

Quiet environment: Minimise background noise. Private space for confidential discussion.

Stable internet: Minimum 10Mbps download. Wired connection better than WiFi.

Most business owners already have this. It’s not a barrier.

When In-Person Actually Matters

Some situations benefit from face-to-face:

Initial relationship building: First or second session in person can accelerate trust. Then move to online.

Team workshops: Bringing your whole team together with coach. In-person group energy matters.

Quarterly strategic reviews: Deep planning sessions. Some prefer in-person focus.

Business visits: Coach seeing your operations, meeting your team, understanding physical context.

Struggling with connection: If virtual isn’t clicking after 3-4 sessions, try in-person reset.

Notice these are occasional, not weekly sessions.

The Hybrid Approach (Recommended)

Best of both worlds:

Regular sessions online: Weekly or fortnightly coaching. Convenient. Efficient.

Occasional in-person: Quarterly workshops. Annual planning. Team sessions.

This is what BGB does. Elite members get:

• Weekly online sessions (group and one-on-one access)
• Quarterly in-person events in Sydney
• Best of both formats

You get efficiency and convenience of online. Plus relationship depth of periodic face-to-face.

Real Example: Client Perspective

Client started with us doing in-person coaching. Office in Sydney. Drove 40 minutes each way.

COVID hit. Moved to Zoom reluctantly.

Six months later: “Why were we doing in-person? This works better. I get the same value without losing half my morning.”

He kept Zoom even when we reopened office option.

Attends quarterly in-person events. That’s enough face-to-face for relationship depth.

Geographic Freedom

Online coaching unlocks something valuable: coach choice without location limits.

Before: Limited to coaches within 30-minute drive. Maybe 20 options.

After: Access any coach anywhere. Hundreds of options.

This matters. You can find the exact right fit for your industry, situation, and goals.

Not settling for “best available locally”. Choosing best available anywhere.

For business owners outside major cities, this is transformative.

When Online Doesn’t Work

Be honest about these scenarios:

You can’t create private space: Open office, no quiet room, constant interruptions. In-person might be easier.

Tech intimidates you: Uncomfortable with video calls, screen sharing stresses you out. In-person removes barrier.

You need physical presence for focus: Easily distracted at home/office. Going somewhere creates commitment.

Local relationship matters: Want coach who knows Sydney market, local networks, can visit your business regularly.

These are valid. Don’t force online if it genuinely doesn’t fit.

The BGB Model

We run hybrid by design.

Weekly sessions: Online. Efficient. Members join from anywhere.

Quarterly events: In-person in Sydney. Full-day workshops. Peer connections. Deeper work.

One-on-one access: Online booking system. Quick sessions when needed.

This balances convenience with community. Efficiency with connection.

We’ve found it delivers better results than pure online or pure in-person.

FAQs

Is online coaching as effective as in-person?

Yes. ICF research shows no significant difference in outcomes when coach is skilled. Some measures (accountability, documentation) actually better online.

What if I’m not comfortable on video calls?

You adapt quickly. First session might feel awkward. By session three it’s natural. But if tech genuinely stresses you, in-person is valid choice.

Can you build a real relationship through a screen?

Absolutely. Relationship quality depends on coach skill and mutual trust, not physical presence. Many clients report feeling more open on video than in office.

Bottom Line

Online coaching works. Research proves it. Millions of business owners confirm it.

You get same results with more convenience, wider coach choice, and lower cost.

In-person has advantages for relationship building and team workshops. But not necessary for weekly sessions.

Hybrid approach gives you best of both. Regular online sessions. Occasional in-person events.

Choose based on your preferences and logistics. Not assumptions about what “real” coaching requires.

The format doesn’t determine results. Coach quality and your engagement do. Learn more about our business coaching programs.

Related Reading

• How Does Business Coaching Actually Work? A Behind-the-Scenes Look
• One-on-One Coaching vs Group Coaching: Pros and Cons
• What to Expect in Your First 90 Days of Business Coaching

Experience BGB’s Hybrid Model

Weekly online sessions plus quarterly in-person Sydney events.

Convenience + community.

Learn about Elite or book a Quick Fit Call.

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