I spent £6,000 on business coaching, only to realize I needed mentoring instead. Here’s how to avoid making the same mistake.
The Key Distinction
Coaches employ questioning techniques to help clients discover their own solutions. Mentors draw from direct experience to provide concrete advice.
A coach asks: “What should you do about that angry customer?” A mentor provides: an email template that resolved similar issues last month.
Real-World Examples
I helped a restaurant owner negotiate a rent dispute, preventing £30,000 in annual increases. That’s immediate, tactical value from direct experience.
I worked with an agency owner to restructure pricing from £500 daily rates to £2,000 project fees using established frameworks. They needed the answer, not more questions.
When Coaching Works Best
- Business exploration phases
- Emotional support during challenges
- Mindset development
- Personal accountability
If you don’t know what you want yet, coaching helps you figure it out.
When Mentoring Works Better
- Stuck at revenue plateaus
- Facing unfamiliar business obstacles
- Seeking compressed learning timelines
- Needing exit planning assistance
If you know the problem but not the solution, mentoring gets you there faster.
Investment Reality
Business coaching in the UK/Ireland ranges from £500 monthly. Specialized mentoring typically costs £1,000–£2,500.
Higher mentoring fees justify themselves through proven strategies that help you avoid costly mistakes.
The Bottom Line
Know what you actually need before you spend. I learned this lesson the expensive way.
Ask yourself: Do I need help finding my own answers, or do I need someone who’s already found them?