One-on-One Coaching vs Group Coaching: Pros and Cons
You’re ready to invest in coaching.
At Building Great Businesses, we help Sydney business owners build businesses that work without them.
Now comes the format question.
Private one-on-one sessions with a coach? Or group program with other business owners?
The price difference is real. $2,500-5,000/month for private. $500-1,500/month for group.
But it’s not just about cost. It’s about what actually works.
The Trade-Off
One-on-one gives you complete customisation and full attention.
Group gives you peer learning and community support.
Both can transform your business. Different mechanisms. Different experiences.
Neither is objectively better. Depends on your situation and learning style.
One-on-One Coaching: The Full Story
Private coaching is what most people imagine when they think “business coach.”
You. Your coach. Undivided attention.
Typical structure:
- 2-4 sessions per month
- 60-90 minutes each
- Just you and coach
- Fully customised to your business
- Usually $2,500-5,000+ monthly
Pros of One-on-One Coaching
Complete customisation: Every session tailored to your exact situation. Your business. Your team. Your challenges.
Full attention: Coach’s brain is entirely focused on solving your problems. No time shared with others.
Total privacy: Sensitive issues stay confidential. Financial details. Team problems. Personal struggles.
Flexible pacing: Move fast on what you’re ready for. Slow down where you need more support.
Deep relationship: Coach learns your business intimately. Knows your history. Anticipates your challenges.
Immediate pivots: Business crisis happens. Next session addresses it. No waiting your turn.
For complex situations or business owners who value privacy, one-on-one is powerful.
Cons of One-on-One Coaching
Higher cost: $30K-60K annually. Significant investment for most $500K-$2M businesses.
No peer learning: You only get your coach’s perspective. Miss what other owners would share.
Can feel isolated: It’s just you and coach. No community. No relationships with fellow owners.
Single perspective: Even great coaches have blind spots. No other voices in the room.
Pressure can be intense: All eyes on you. No buffer of group discussion. Some find this uncomfortable.
Limited accountability sources: Only your coach holds you accountable. No peer pressure.
The cost alone eliminates it for many owners. But the isolation is equally limiting.
Group Coaching: The Full Story
Group coaching brings together 8-15 business owners. Similar stage. Similar challenges.
Coach facilitates. Owners learn from each other. Community forms.
Typical structure:
- Weekly or fortnightly group sessions
- 60-90 minutes
- 8-15 business owners
- Structured content plus group discussion
- Often includes some one-on-one access
- Usually $500-1,500 monthly
Pros of Group Coaching
Peer learning: Other owners share what worked. What failed. Strategies you’d never think of alone.
Community and relationships: Build network of business owners who understand. Friendships form. Support continues outside sessions.
More affordable: $6K-18K annually. Accessible to more business owners.
Diverse perspectives: 10 owners in the room. 10 different approaches to same problem. Choose what fits.
Accountability amplified: Coach holds you accountable. So do peers. Harder to hide or make excuses.
Faster learning: See others tackle similar challenges. Learn from their wins and mistakes. Compressed learning curve.
Less pressure: Not all eyes on you every moment. Can observe and participate when ready.
Research shows peer accountability increases success rates by 65% over solo coaching.
Cons of Group Coaching
Less personalisation: Coach can’t customise everything to your specific situation. Some content won’t fit perfectly.
Limited time per person: 10 people in 90 minutes. You get maybe 5-10 minutes of individual attention.
Privacy concerns: Can’t discuss everything openly. Financial specifics. Sensitive team issues. Legal problems.
One-size-fits-many content: Topics chosen for group relevance, not your exact needs this week.
Group dynamics: Some groups gel. Others don’t. You can’t control who else is in the room.
Scheduling less flexible: Fixed session times. Miss a week, you miss content.
If you need deep customisation or complete privacy, group coaching has real limitations.
The Comparison
| Aspect | One-on-One | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $2,500-5,000+/mo | $500-1,500/mo |
| Customisation | Complete | Moderate |
| Privacy | Total | Limited |
| Peer Learning | None | High |
| Community | No | Yes |
| Coach Attention | Full | Shared |
| Accountability | Coach only | Coach + peers |
| Perspectives | One | Many |
| Flexibility | High | Lower |
| Learning Speed | Your pace | Accelerated by peers |
The Hybrid Model: Best of Both?
Smart coaching programs combine elements.
Example (BGB Elite approach):
- Weekly group sessions (education, peer learning, community)
- Plus ability to book one-on-one sessions as needed
- Plus Skool community for ongoing support
- Plus quarterly in-person events
You get affordability and peer learning from group format. Plus customisation when you need it.
This is increasingly common. And often delivers best ROI.
You’re not choosing one or the other. You’re getting both mechanisms working together.
ROI Comparison
One-on-one: Higher cost, highly customised. ROI depends entirely on coach quality and your implementation.
Typical ROI: 5-10x if coach is good and you execute.
Group: Lower cost, peer learning amplification. ROI often exceeds one-on-one due to multiple learning sources.
Typical ROI: 7-12x in well-run programs.
Hybrid: Best of both. Typically 8-15x ROI.
The peer learning effect is powerful. You learn from coach AND from 10 other owners solving similar problems.
How to Choose
Ask yourself these questions:
Budget: Can you comfortably invest $3,000+/month? If not, group or hybrid is your fit.
Privacy needs: Got highly sensitive issues you can’t discuss openly? One-on-one might be necessary.
Learning style: Learn better from watching others? Or need individual attention? This matters.
Problem complexity: Standard business challenges (team, systems, profit) work great in groups. Highly unusual situations might need one-on-one.
Desire for community: Want relationships with other owners? Or prefer privacy? Honest answer matters.
Current support: Already in peer groups or masterminds? Might not need group coaching. One-on-one could complement.
Real Example: Owner’s Choice
Client came to us able to afford one-on-one. Budget wasn’t the constraint.
We recommended Elite (group + hybrid) instead.
Why? He was isolated. Solo business owner. Worked from home. No peer network.
He needed community as much as coaching. Needed to see other owners tackle similar challenges.
18 months later: “The group is the best part. I learn as much from the other owners as from the coaching.”
Sometimes the more expensive option isn’t the better fit.
When One-on-One Makes Most Sense
You’ve got complex, unusual challenges: Not standard business growth. Unique situation needing deep customisation.
Privacy is critical: Financial restructure. Partnership issues. Legal concerns. Can’t discuss openly.
You’ve tried group coaching: Didn’t work for your learning style. Need individual focus.
Budget allows it easily: $3K-5K/month doesn’t stress your cash flow.
You want to move fast: Willing to pay premium for complete customisation and attention.
When Group/Hybrid Makes Most Sense
You want peer learning: Recognise value of learning from others in similar situations.
Budget is a consideration: $500-1,500/month is comfortable. $3K+ is a stretch.
You value community: Want relationships with other business owners. Peer support matters.
Standard business challenges: Team building, systems, profit improvement, growth. Well-trodden territory.
You’re coachable in groups: Don’t need all eyes on you. Can learn by watching others.
Most business owners in the $500K-$3M range fit this category better.
Bottom Line
One-on-one coaching delivers complete customisation and privacy. At premium cost.
Group coaching delivers peer learning and community. At accessible price.
Hybrid models give you both. Often best ROI.
Choose based on budget, learning style, privacy needs, and problem complexity.
For most owners, group or hybrid programs deliver better results per dollar. The peer learning effect is powerful.
But if you’ve got budget and genuinely need deep customisation, one-on-one works brilliantly.
Related Reading
- How Much Does Business Coaching Cost? A Breakdown by Model
- The 11 Benefits of Business Coaching (Backed by Research)
- Is Business Coaching Worth the Investment?
Explore BGB’s Hybrid Model
Elite combines weekly group sessions with one-on-one access.
Peer learning + custom support + proven system.
$400/week. No locked contracts.
Learn more about Elite or book a Quick Fit Call.
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