A business coaching franchise is a license that allows you to operate under the name of an established company. Usually, as part of a franchise, you’re also given access to the marketing material, templates, tools, and strategies. These have been tried and tested by the company. Many people who decide to become franchise owners see it as a way to establish themselves, especially if they aren’t secure in the industry.
If you’re looking to join a business coaching franchise, the following article is for you. I urge you to read every bit of it thoroughly, because joining a business coaching franchise is not a decision that should be taken lightly.
Although you’ll definitely want to get certified, have some industry knowledge, and maybe have a qualification or two to back you up before you become a business coach, there are a lot of companies offering franchise opportunities or licenses. They are usually extremely expensive, and making the wrong decision may come with terrible consequences, so it’s vital that you make the right choice.
Today, we’re going to help you make that choice. We’ll be covering absolutely everything you need to know before making this huge decision. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
What does a franchisee receive as part of a business coaching franchise?
The following is an overview of exactly what you receive as part of a business coaching franchise:
- Frameworks
- Set of tools
- Recognized brand in the marketplace
- Networking opportunities
- Help with marketing
- Training & ongoing support
- A designated territory
Let’s take a deeper look at each.
Frameworks
Often, trying to start your own business from scratch results in a lot of trial and error. Rather than trying to figure out your own set of frameworks, a franchise will give you all of theirs. This can include proven systems to help you find clients and coaching methods on how to conduct coaching sessions.
The framework can, however, be very rigid and restrictive and does not offer much freedom or individuality. If their frameworks or systems don’t work for you, there isn’t a whole lot you can do about it, and you may find yourself stuck in a difficult situation.
Set of Tools
As part of a franchise package, you’ll also be provided with a set of tools. These can be computer applications, manuals, or training videos. These tools are there to, in theory, help you automate your system.
Recognized brand in the marketplace
One of the biggest advantages of being part of a franchise is that you get to operate under their brand name. You don’t have to spend any time trying to build up your own brand and can instead start coaching right away.
However, this does mean you’ll be associated with the brand under all circumstances, good or bad. If the brand is doing well, then that’s great for you, but if another coach gets involved in a scandal or if the business does something wrong, which is not completely outside the realm of possibility, you’ll also be associated with that.
Networking opportunities & shared experience
If you are new to the coaching industry, being part of a franchise gives you instant access to a whole network of other, more experienced coaches. Speaking to other people in the industry is a great way to gain valuable knowledge and insight and ensure you avoid making the same mistakes they did.
However, as part of a coaching franchise, you may have to attend compulsory events, even if you don’t want to.
Help with marketing
A lot of the time, marketing is the bane of a business owner’s workday. To have a successful marketing strategy, you need to put in consistent work. This can often feel like it’s interfering with the time you could be spending coaching or recruiting new clients. If you become part of a business coaching franchise, you can just tap into their marketing resources and piggyback off the marketing done for the brand.
Again, this can also limit you, and if you don’t like the marketing material or find that it’s not working for you the way it’s intended to work, there’s not a whole lot you can do about it.
Before buying into any business coaching franchise, always make sure the franchisor gives you support with marketing, sales, structure, and administration. If they are not ready to do so, then make sure they communicate what you need to do on your own from the start so that there are no false expectations.
Training & ongoing support
Usually, franchises will offer a few weeks of initial training. This allows the coaches to become familiar with the frameworks and systems they’ll be using. The training will also show coaches how to implement the tools and resources given to them in their coaching practices.
A designated territory for your business
Most business coaching franchises work by marking territory. The reason for this is to make it fair to all their franchisees. Territories make sure there aren’t any coaches from the same brand competing for clients.
Although this does minimize competition between franchise members, it doesn’t prohibit coaches from different franchises, or those who are self-employed, from competing with you. The territory will also limit the area in which you are able to operate, and as a franchisee, you will be, in essence, a local business owner.
How Much Does It Cost To Join A Business Coach Franchise?
The initial investment to become part of a business coaching franchise is extremely steep. Some business coaching franchises that we’ll talk about later cost upwards of 50,000–100,000 dollars to join initially, not to mention the high ongoing costs.
Often, part of your earnings will also go towards the marketing fund of the business coaching franchise. Usually, you will be given the option of paying a yearly fee or buying a membership.
Some franchises will also take part of your revenue as part of the franchise agreement. This is usually calculated according to a sliding scale. The more income you earn, the more of your revenue you have to pay to the franchise.
The contract terms can often be extremely long, too, making it impossible to leave without risking legal action being taken against you.
How to choose a coaching franchise
When looking to join a franchise, it’s important to first have a clear understanding of what you want. You need to make sure that the company you’re buying from is set up correctly and has all the right systems in place. This is especially important to ensure payments are made on time, resources are available, and your training is easy to access.
Knowing what your franchisor is like, who you’ll be working with closely, what the expectations are, and what the general public thinks of the brand you’re associating yourself with are all vital aspects that you need to research. Analyze their success, too. A great way to do this is to speak to other franchisees and ask them what their experience has been like.
Before spending your own hard-earned money on joining a coaching franchise, you want to have peace of mind that they will deliver everything that they promise.
13 coaching franchises + 1 non-franchise alternative
- Business Coach Academy
- ActionCoach Franchise
- The Entrepreneurs Source
- Growth Coach Franchise
- Entrepreneurs Circle Coaching Franchise
- International Coaching Academy
- Chrysalis Partners
- High Achievers
- The Core Asset
- Business Doctors
- Leadership Management UK
- Sandler Training Franchise
- UK Business Mentoring
- The Alternative Board
Business Coach Academy (not a franchise)
Founded by Zander Woodford-Smith and Pam Featherstone, Business Coach Academy aims to give their coaches the opportunity to achieve financial freedom. Both founders are seen as prominent figures in the coaching industry and have combined their knowledge and years of experience to create this course. In addition, they have also created multiple tools and frameworks to help new coaches start their business seamlessly.
Because it’s not a franchise, there are no huge fees, you won’t be limited to a territory, and you’re under no obligation whatsoever to use any of the systems, tools, or materials that are provided.
ProCoach Training
This is a 9-week training course offered through the Business Coach Academy online learning platform. This is a coaching certification program that will help you sign and keep high-value clients and build a financially secure coaching business. You receive lifetime access to the course and can complete it at your own pace, meaning you can start by committing just a few hours of your time on evenings or weekends. Once the course is completed, you will become a certified ProCoach.
What you receive in the course:
- 9-Week ProCoach Training
- 1 Year Mentorship & Coaching
- Full Access to the Coaching Community
- Monthly Live Q&A Calls
- Expert Tools & Worksheets Suite
- 1-1 Calls With Millionaire Coaches
Price: £9,600 for lifetime access to the training; £695 per month for the license & support
Provides: Training, Certification, License, Support
Results & Reviews:
Learn more about the Business Coach Academy ProCoach Certification here.
ActionCoach Franchise
The business coach franchise, ActionCoach, was founded by Australian-born entrepreneur Brad Sugars in 1993. The vision of ActionCoach is to re-educate business owners on how to build more profitable businesses. With this, they also aim to decrease stress in their coaches’ working lives and to attract, grow, and retain great teams within a thriving company culture.
As part of the initial fee, you receive a 5-day or 10-day intensive training workshop where you will learn a variety of coaching techniques. Before you attend coaching training, there is also a 4-week pre-training workshop that helps you prepare for the workshops that follow. Once completed, you will become a certified ActionCoach, and you’ll be allowed to operate under their business coach franchise.
In the workshop, ActionCoach states that you’ll learn:
- How to use their 9-step business-building system
- Ways to coach someone to an investment decision using their sales system
- The right way to coach business owners
- ActionCoach’s 344 sales, marketing, and profit strategies
- How to deliver ActionCoach seminars and workshops
- How to build a winning team
- “More personal growth than you can imagine.”
The course options for ActionCoach are divided into three-course packages:
The Action Pro
This course includes the 5-day training workshops as well as the ActionCoach license at the end of your training. Moreover, you’ll be provided with ongoing support from the team. You’ll also be allowed to operate under their business coach franchise; however, only the business coaching revenue streams will be available to you and not the full database of resources.
Price: $20,000 upfront. From month 4, there’s a management fee of $1,000, or 20% of your income per month, and 5% of your income will be pooled in a coach’s marketing fund.
Provides: Training, Certification, License
ActionPRACTICE
This course includes the 5-day training workshop and your investment in an ActionCoach license. As part of the business coaching franchise, you’ll also have full access to all of the intellectual property of the marketing and admin teams.
Price: $60,000 upfront. From month 4, there’s a management fee of $1,800 per month, and 5% of your income is pooled in a coach’s marketing fund. Once your revenue exceeds $15,000 per month, the marketing fund is capped, and the management fee switches to a percentage basis.
Provides: Training, Certification, License
ActionPREMIUM
This coaching course gives you all of the benefits of the ActionPRACTICE; however, once the business is bringing in more than $15,000 per month, you’ll be allowed to employ another coach. Once this employee coach brings in more than $10,000 per month, you’ll be allowed to take on a third coach.
Price: $75,000 upfront. From month 4, there’s a management fee of $1,500 per month per coach. 5% of your income is pooled in a coach’s marketing fund, and once your revenue exceeds $15,000 per month, the marketing fund is capped and the management fee switches to a percentage basis.
Provides: Training, Certification, License
Find out more about the ActionCoach franchise here.
The Entrepreneurs Source
Founded by Terry Powell in 1998, Entrepreneur’s Source is a resource that provides education, awareness, and discovery. In the same vein, their franchise program aims to teach entrepreneurs how to use franchise business ownership as a path to developing the income, lifestyle, wealth, and equity required for self-sufficiency. With offices all over the United States & Canada, they are one of the top business coaching franchises in North America.
What their program offers:
The coaching course consists of a 12-week training program that teaches you about career ownership coaching as well as their approach to management and administration. The course will help you become a certified coach as well as develop your leadership skills. The model that the coaching techniques are based on is called ILWE: income, lifestyle, wealth, and equity. This framework helps coaches define career goals and then create action plans to achieve them.
As part of the initial fee, you receive:
- Network access to a group of like-minded franchisees to brainstorm, share stories, tackle challenges, and find success together
- On-demand education to enhance your and your business’s performance from the start and throughout your ownership journey
Price: Between $92,450 and $100,750
Provides: Training, Certification, License
Find out more about The Entrepreneurs Source here.
Growth Coach Franchise
Growth Coach was founded by Dan Murphy in 1992 after he left his job at Deloitte and became the first Growth Coach. The systems generated by Growth Coach aim to open the door to a wide range of additional project work, sales coaching, and management consulting.
What their program offers
There is not a fixed criterion for people who apply to Growth Coach; however, they do have some preferences. Usually, the program is aimed at investors with the financial and professional resources available to provide for all startup costs, as well as the costs associated with living while they get their business off the ground. A solid history of business, training, human resources, or coaching experience is preferred.
As part of the initial fee, you’ll receive:
- Access to the Growth Coach community
- Their 90-day “Secret to Success” marketing strategy
- Training programs and site visits to Growth Coach group coaching sessions
Price: Starting at $57,000 to $78,900
Provides: License, Training
Find out more about the Growth Coach franchise here.
Entrepreneurs Circle Coaching Franchise
Entrepreneurs Circle offers training and the step-by-step tools you need to work with any small business. The training helps you identify a business’s biggest opportunities and help them get results. You don’t need any previous experience to apply to Entrepreneurs Circle and become part of the business coaching franchise.
What their program offers
- An eight-part online training program
- Training by founder Nigel Botterill
- Supply of resources
- In-person training days
Price: £4,999 + VAT for initial training and joining fee and a £399/month + VAT license fee
Provides: Training, License
Find out more about the Entrepreneurs Circle here.
International Coaching Academy
The business was conceptualized in 1998 by premier consultant and personal success expert, M.D. John Haynes. The ICA business coaching franchise specializes in individual and organizational transformation. Moreover, they also provide 1-on-1 training for both businesses and coaches.
What their program offers
Coaching training can be done at their head offices in Liverpool, UK. They can also conduct the training at your premises or online through the International Coaching Academy online learning platform. Once a registration fee is paid, you can become part of their business coach franchise.
As part of the course, you’ll receive:
- A tried and tested business model (a “blueprint for your success”)
- Launch program
- Initial and ongoing training
- Ongoing support from their head office
- Your own territory in the UK
- A website and marketing profile
- A comprehensive operations manual
Price: £19,500 upfront with setting up costs and working capital of around £5,000, making the minimum investment £25,000.
Provides: Training, Certification
Find out more about the International Coaching Academy here.
Chrysalis Partners
Chrysalis Partners is a company that provides coaching services and is always eager to get more coaches on their team. They aim to help organizations become more profitable by providing support and guidance.
What their program offers
- 5-day residential training course
- 3-month Enhanced Support Program with an experienced coach
- Inclusive appointments from the head office
- Full access to the Chrysalis Partners coaching and consulting system
- Chrysalis Partners’ operating license
- Ongoing training
- A website and lead generation system
Price: £34,950
Provides: Training, License
High Achievers
High Achievers is a company that was initially founded in 1998. When the company first started, it was based on the principle of helping entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and small business owners embrace a lifestyle of high achievement. The team is currently led by David Alexander. His focus is on how he can help others build the perfect small business. For this reason, High Achievers have created the Nexpert Coaching System.
What their program offers:
The Nexpert Coaching System is a 2-day training course for business owners, entrepreneurs, business coaches, and consultants. The coaching course is designed to work for people who already have access to a network of potential clients and have previous industry knowledge.
The Nexpert Coaching Program offers the following:
- Systems, support, and a license to resell a business
- A business plan
- A marketing plan
- Sales training & a sales funnel
Price: $450
Provides: License, Limited Training
Find out more about High Achievers here.
The Core Asset
The Core Asset was founded in 2016 by former professional rugby player Steve Hackney. Together with his partner, Peter Finlay, Steve developed The Core Asset, a company that works with SMEs to accelerate their sales and profits. Because of the success they received with The Core Asset, they went on to start the business mentoring system. This program trains business coaches and helps them start their careers.
What their program offers:
- The prospect-to-client management system
- 3 lead magnets
- Your own tailored “conversion web pages’
- Lead-to-client conversion system
- Mentoring service
- Implementation system
- 21-day online training
Price: £797 + £35 per month for each of your clients accessing the vault
Provides: Training, Certification
Business Doctors
Business Doctors were established in 2004, and since then, they have built a team of experienced professionals. As a result of their many years in the industry, they’re a well-established business coaching franchise. The franchise operates a national network able to support business development initiatives down to provincial and local area levels.
They offer a coaching and consulting platform, which makes it easier to start and scale your professional services business. They then have three plans for different levels of franchise associates.
What they offer
Associate
- Int. Certification
- Training
- CRM
- Content
- Platform
- Brand
- Profit share
- Sales resources
Price: R12 000 per year
Provides: Training, Certification
Franchise
- Int. Certification
- Training
- CRM
- Ops Manual
- Platforms
- Brand & website
- Profit share
- Sales resources
Price: R54 000 for 2 years
Provides: Training, Certification
Partner
- Int. Certification
- Training
- CRM
- IP. Ops Manual
- Platforms
- Brand & website
- Profit share
- Sales resources
Price: R124 000 for 3 years
Provides: Training, Certification
Senior Partner
- Int. Certification
- Training
- CRM
- IP. Ops Manual
- Platforms
- Brand & Website
- Profit share
- Sales resources
Price: R242 000 for 5 years
Provides: Training, Certification
Find out more about Business Doctors here.
Leadership Management UK
LMI UK is a team of independent coaches, trainers, and consultants who offer leadership, management, and personal development solutions to their clients.
To become an accredited business coaching franchise member of LMI and receive coaching training, there are various stages that you’ll have to complete.
The following are the various stages:
1st investment: £49 + VAT
Attend the Foundations of Success Workshop, which introduces the ideas and practical tools that underpin LMI’s approach to business development.
Duration: 1/2 day
2nd Investment: £3,000 + VAT
Join the LMI UK team as an associate by completing their development program. This is while you’re also being trained in the basics of their sales and coaching processes. If you want, you can continue as an LMI UK team member without any further investment, or you can become a full-time franchisee.
Duration: 8 weeks
3rd Investment: £6,000 + VAT
At this stage, you’ll be coached through LMI’s Leadership Program as well as given intensive training and support. This is so you can develop your LMI business in the direction you would like it to go.
Duration: 12 weeks
4th Investment: £6,450 + VAT
This final investment takes you to full franchisee status. You’ll receive access to and master copies of all LMI programs and be in a position to begin building your own LMI team.
Total price: £21,499
Provides: Certification, License
Sandler Training Franchise
Founded in 1983, Sandler Training Franchise aims to offer individuals the opportunity for growth. Their goals are to allow people to achieve work-life balance, earn the money they deserve, and make a difference in the lives of their clients.
What they offer
- Intensive initial training
- Dedicated business coach
- Three annual Sandler conferences
- National branding campaign & marketing support (for US franchisees only)
- Weekly teleconference calls
- Sandler online learning & development
Price: £55,000 + VAT
Provides: Training, Certification, License
UK Business Mentoring
UK business mentoring is focused on helping business owners with whatever challenges they face, whether that be around people management, financials, marketing, or any other area.
The training course will provide you with:
- Training on all aspects of the role, including the delivery of business development seminars
- Undertaking the Zulu business review
- Coaching and mentoring
- Marketing
- Preparing your business plan
Price: £35,000
Provides: Training, License
The Alternative Board
TAB helps SME owners grow their businesses, increase profitability, and improve their lives. They do this by leveraging local business advisory boards, private coaching, and using proprietary strategic processes. As a TAB franchisee, you’ll deliver real-world advice to help business owners stay focused on what matters most.
The Franchise Packages:
Full Franchise:
- Franchise fee of £40,000
- Training fee of £14,500
- Required marketing spend of £10,000 in year 1
- Royalty of 20% payable
- Term of 10 years with a 5-year break clause
Option to purchase a franchise:
- Option fee of £10,000 (redeemable on conversion)
- Training fee of £14,500
- Required marketing spend of £10,000 in year 1
- Royalty of 50% payable
- Term of 2 years
Both packages have training programs that include:
- Initial on-site training at TAB Headquarters
- An assigned campaign manager to guide the launch of your business
- In-territory member recruitment support
- Quarterly advanced training
- Monthly peer board with fellow TAB franchisees
- Annual UK and international conferences
- Proven and effective member acquisition and member retention programs
- Support from a community of 100s of other TAB franchisees and facilitators
