What Factors Influence Business Coaching Fees? (Sydney 2025 Guide)
You’ve looked at a few business coaches in Sydney, and the pricing is all over the map. One coach charges $1,000 per month. Another charges $5,000. A third charges $800 but seems less experienced. What’s driving these differences? And more importantly, how do you know if a coach’s fees are justified?
This guide breaks down the eight key factors that influence business coaching fees so you can evaluate whether you’re getting value for money or just paying for positioning.
Factor 1: Coach Experience and Track Record
The most significant factor influencing fees is the coach’s experience—specifically, their experience building and running real businesses. A coach who’s built, grown, and sold multiple businesses can command higher fees than someone who became a coach straight out of corporate employment or who’s never run a business themselves.
Why does this matter? Coaches with real business ownership experience understand challenges from the inside. They’ve dealt with cash flow crises, made bad hires, navigated growth problems, and built teams. Their advice comes from lived experience, not just theory or frameworks learned in coach training.
At Building Great Businesses, both Stephen O’Sullivan and Andrew Laurie built and exited businesses before coaching anyone. Stephen ran his business down to 45 minutes per week while the team handled everything else. That kind of experience—actually building the outcome clients want—justifies higher fees than coaches without that background.
Track record with coaching clients also matters. A coach who’s worked with 100+ business owners and can show consistent results across different industries brings more value than someone with five clients and no proven methodology.
Factor 2: Specialisation and Niche Focus
Specialists charge more than generalists because they’ve solved your specific problem dozens of times before. A coach who specialises in helping service businesses scale from $1M to $5M in revenue knows exactly what challenges you’ll face at each stage and has tested solutions ready to implement.
Compare that to a general business coach who’s worked with startups, corporate executives, solo consultants, and ecommerce businesses. They might be good at general coaching skills, but they don’t have the pattern recognition and specific expertise that specialists develop.
BGB specialises in one thing: helping business owners ($500K-$5M revenue) build teams and systems so the business runs without them. We’re not trying to help everyone. That specialisation means we’ve seen the exact challenges Sydney business owners face with team development, delegation, and owner extraction. We know what works and what doesn’t in this specific situation.
Niche specialists can charge 30-50% more than generalists because their expertise creates faster results with less trial and error.
Factor 3: Coaching Format and Time Commitment
The format significantly impacts pricing. Pure one-on-one coaching costs more than group coaching because the coach can only serve a limited number of clients. A coach doing exclusively one-on-one work might cap at 10-15 active clients. A group coaching programme might serve 50-100 people.
The time commitment included in the fee matters too. Weekly one-hour sessions cost more than monthly sessions because you’re getting four times the time. Unlimited email or phone access costs more than “sessions only” arrangements.
What’s interesting is that hybrid models often deliver the best value. BGB’s Elite programme combines group learning with one-on-one support. You get the benefits of peer interaction and group momentum, plus personalised guidance when you need it. This hybrid approach costs less than pure one-on-one but often delivers better results because of the community element.
When comparing coaches, calculate the actual coaching time you’re getting. A $2,000/month coach providing weekly sessions plus email support might be better value than a $3,000/month coach providing two sessions per month with no between-session access.
Factor 4: Frameworks, Tools, and Intellectual Property
Coaches who’ve developed proven frameworks and systems can charge more than those who rely on generic coaching questions. A proprietary methodology that’s been tested across hundreds of clients adds significant value.
The Black Diamond System at BGB is our framework: five interconnected areas (Business, Work, Team, Numbers, Owner) that we diagnose and strengthen systematically. This isn’t generic advice—it’s a tested system that creates predictable results. Clients pay partly for access to this intellectual property, not just for coaching time.
Some coaches include extensive tools and resources: diagnostic assessments, implementation templates, online training modules, or software access. These add real value beyond the coaching conversations. When evaluating fees, ask what frameworks and tools are included.
Factor 5: Credentials and Certifications
Coaching credentials influence fees, though less than you might expect. Certifications from organisations like the International Coach Federation (ICF) demonstrate training in coaching methodology, but they don’t necessarily prove business expertise.
What matters more for business coaching is business credentials. Has the coach built businesses? Do they have an MBA or business education? Do they have deep expertise in specific business areas (finance, marketing, operations)?
Be wary of coaches who rely heavily on coaching certifications but can’t demonstrate real business experience. You need someone who understands business, not just someone who’s good at asking coaching questions.
That said, the best coaches combine both: solid business experience plus professional coach training. They know how to run businesses and how to guide others effectively.
Factor 6: Location and Market Dynamics
Geography affects pricing. Sydney coaches generally charge more than coaches in regional areas because the cost of doing business is higher and the target market (Sydney business owners) can typically afford higher fees.
If you’re comparing a Sydney-based coach to someone in a smaller city or overseas, expect the Sydney coach to charge 20-30% more. This doesn’t mean the Sydney coach is better, but it reflects market realities.
However, with online coaching, geography matters less. You can work with a coach anywhere. The question becomes: do you value working with someone who understands your local market? For Sydney business owners, a coach who knows Sydney’s business landscape, talent market, and competitive dynamics can provide more relevant guidance than someone overseas who’s never worked with Australian businesses.
BGB is Sydney-based and works primarily with Sydney and Australian business owners. We understand the local challenges, which adds value our coaching.
Factor 7: Results and ROI Offered
Some coaches price based on the transformation they deliver rather than just their time. If a coach consistently helps clients increase profit by $200,000+ within 12 months, they can justify $30,000-$40,000 annual fees because the ROI is clear.
Industry research from the International Coach Federation shows that business coaching delivers a median ROI of 7 times the investment. Coaches who can demonstrate consistent ROI through client testimonials and case studies can charge premium fees because the value proposition is proven.
When evaluating fees, ask about typical results. What outcomes do their clients achieve? Can they provide specific examples? Do they track metrics? A coach charging $3,000/month who helps clients add $15,000-$20,000 monthly profit is a bargain. A coach charging $1,500/month who delivers no measurable results is expensive.
BGB tracks client progress across all five Black Diamond areas. We can show you what typical results look like because we measure them. That accountability justifies our fees.
Factor 8: Additional Services and Support
Some coaching fees include more than just coaching sessions. Quarterly workshops or events, access to a community of other business owners, additional support staff (not just the coach), priority access or faster response times, or implementation support (help actually doing the work, not just talking about it).
BGB’s Elite programme includes two quarterly events where members gather for strategic planning and social connection. That community element adds significant value beyond the weekly coaching. You’re not just getting one coach’s perspective—you’re learning from other sharp business owners facing similar challenges.
When comparing pricing, look at the total package. A coach charging $2,500/month who includes quarterly events, a peer community, and implementation resources might deliver more total value than a coach charging $2,000/month for sessions only.
Red Flags: When Higher Fees Aren’t Justified
Not all high-priced coaches deliver proportional value. Watch for these red flags that suggest fees are inflated.
Lack of Business Experience
If a coach’s only business experience is coaching, question why they’re charging premium rates. They’re selling expertise they don’t have.
No Proven Results
Coaches who can’t provide testimonials, case studies, or client references shouldn’t command top-tier pricing. Results should justify the investment.
Overpromising Returns
“I’ll help you 10x your business in 90 days” is a red flag. Good coaches set realistic expectations based on proven results, not make wild promises.
Price Not Aligned with Market
A coach with two years of experience charging more than established coaches with decades of track record is a warning sign. Either they’re positioning above their value, or they’re offering something genuinely unique (which should be obvious).
How to Evaluate if Fees Are Justified
When deciding if a coach’s fees make sense, ask these questions.
What specific experience do they have that’s relevant to my situation? If you’re a $2M service business trying to build a team, has the coach actually done that themselves? Or are they generalising from different experiences?
What framework or methodology are they using? Can they explain clearly how they’ll help you? Or is it vague “we’ll work on your business” promises?
What results do their clients typically achieve? Specific examples, not generic claims. Numbers. Timeframes. Measurable outcomes.
What’s included beyond coaching time? Tools, frameworks, community, events, resources? Total package value matters more than session price.
How long will this take? Real transformation takes 6-12 months minimum. Be suspicious of short-term programmes promising massive results.
The Bottom Line: Value Trumps Price
The cheapest coach is expensive if they don’t deliver results. The most expensive coach is cheap if they help you add $300,000 in profit. Focus on value, not just price.
A coach charging $3,000/month is justified if they have proven business experience building what you’re trying to build, specialise in your specific challenges, use a tested framework that creates predictable results, deliver consistent ROI across clients, include valuable tools and community, and create real accountability that drives implementation.
A coach charging $1,000/month isn’t good value if they lack relevant experience, have no proven methodology, can’t show client results, or don’t create accountability.
Book a Quick Fit Call with BGB and we’ll be straight with you about what we charge, why, and whether it makes sense for your situation.
Related Reading:
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ICF ROI research: International Coach Federation member surveys
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Market pricing data: Industry analysis 2024-2025
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