Most people use “business coach” because it’s what everyone searches for. But there’s a massive difference between coaching and mentoring – and choosing wrong could waste months of your time and thousands of pounds.
I learned this the expensive way. After spending £6,000 on a business coach, I realised I needed a mentor instead. Let me save you that costly lesson.
My £6,000 Wake-Up Call
When I hired a business coach in Northern Ireland, I spent an hour with her every week. She’d ask me thought-provoking questions. She’d hype me up. She’d help me “find the answers within myself.”
It was all a bit… fluffy.
Don’t get me wrong – she was doing her job perfectly. That’s what coaches do. They ask questions and help you discover your own solutions. But when you’re trying to scale a business, sometimes you don’t have time for self-discovery. You need someone who’s been there to tell you what actually works.
The Real Difference Between Coaching and Mentoring
Let me show you the difference with real examples:
A coach asks: “What do you think you should do about that angry customer?” A mentor says: “Here’s the email template that’s saved three of my clients from losing major accounts.”
A coach asks: “How could you approach your sales differently?” A mentor says: “You’re pitching features instead of outcomes. Here’s how to fix your pitch.”
See the difference?
Real Client Examples
Last month, I helped a restaurant owner negotiate with their landlord who was threatening to double the rent. We didn’t spend time exploring his feelings about confrontation. I showed him exactly how to structure the conversation, what data to present, and how to negotiate terms that saved his business £30k a year.
The week before, I trained an agency owner to stop undercharging. Not through motivational speeches, but through actual pricing frameworks that took her from £500 day rates to £2,000 project fees.
This is mentoring. It’s consultative. It’s direct. And it works because I’ve lived through these exact scenarios.
The Hidden Cost of Choosing Wrong
Here’s what typically happens: You hire a coach because it’s cheaper. £500 a month feels more manageable than £1,500 for a proper mentor.
But then you spend six months of monthly calls, exploring your mindset, when what you really needed was someone to look at your numbers and say “Your margins are too low – here’s how to fix them.”
Some franchise coaching companies deliver frameworks they’ve never actioned in the real world. They’re teaching from playbooks, not experience. That’s not necessarily bad, but when you’re losing customers or can’t break through a revenue plateau, do you want theory or proven solutions?
When You Need a Coach
You might benefit from a coach if:
- You’re exploring whether to start a business
- You need emotional support through challenges
- You have the strategies but struggle with mindset
- You’re working through personal blocks
- You need accountability for goals you’ve already set
When You Need a Mentor
You need a mentor if:
- You’re stuck at a specific revenue level
- You’re facing business challenges you’ve never dealt with
- You want to compress years of learning into months
- You need tactical advice from someone who’s been there
- You’re ready to plan your business exit
A Success Story
Let me give you a real example. Sarah runs an online content creation community. She came to me after working with a coach for eight months. The coach helped her “believe in herself” and “visualise success.”
But Sarah didn’t need confidence. She needed someone to look at her business model and say “You’re selling one-off programmes when you should be selling memberships.”
Three months later, she’d moved from unpredictable £10k months to steady £19k recurring revenue with a plan to scale this up every month.
The Investment Reality
Yes, good mentoring costs more than coaching. In the UK and Ireland, business coaching starts around £500 per month. Specialised mentoring typically ranges from £1,000 to £2,500.
But here’s what that extra investment gets you:
- Someone who’s built and sold a business
- Someone who’s made the mistakes so you don’t have to
- Someone who can say “I’ve solved that problem, here’s how”
- Direct access to proven strategies and frameworks
- Time saved from avoiding costly mistakes
My Approach
I’m not completely anti-coaching. The best mentors blend both approaches. I’ll absolutely hold you accountable to your goals. I’ll challenge you respectfully when you’re not giving your best. That’s the coaching element that comes naturally.
But when you need to know how to structure your pricing, handle difficult negotiations, or scale beyond yourself – that’s when you need someone who’s actually done it.
Making the Right Choice
The question isn’t whether you need support. It’s whether you need someone to help you find your own answers, or someone who already knows them.
Think about your biggest business challenge right now:
- Do you need someone to help you explore how you feel about it?
- Or do you need someone who’s solved it before to show you how?
If you’re ready for direct, experience-based mentoring that will transform your business, let’s have a conversation.
I’ll never work with a client I don’t believe I can help. If you need therapy or life coaching, I’ll refer you to someone brilliant. But if you need someone who’s navigated the exact challenges you’re facing in your business, that’s where I add value far beyond any investment.