What Makes Systems Business Coach® Different?
Small business owners do not need more generic advice.
Business owners need to be listened to, to be heard and understood in what matters most to them. They need a coach that understands the reality of running a small business. Cash flow pressure. Team issues. Sales inconsistency. Limited time. Competing priorities. High stakes. Owner exhaustion. Constant decision-making.
That is where Systems Business Coach® is different.
Built on years of coaching small business owners, we now train professionals to do the same using a structured, research-informed, ICF-aligned method designed for the realities of small business.
Systems Business Coach® exists to improve the success rate of small business.
We have built a practical framework for business development
At the centre of our work is a structured business development framework built around the core competencies small business owners need to strengthen over time.
This gives coaches and business owners a shared language for growth.
Instead of vague goals, they can focus on concrete areas of business development such as:
- Values
- Company Promise
- Communication
- Systems
- Structure
- Productivity
- Hiring
- Delegating
- Profit
- Cash Flow
- Promotion
- Sales
This makes coaching more practical, more consistent, and more useful.
Built specifically for small business
Most coach training is designed to be general. Systems Business Coach® was built for one purpose: to improve how small business owners are supported.
Our work is grounded in more than 15 years of research and practice, including 3,300 interviews with small business owners over three years and more than 500 small business coaching engagements. Everything we teach is shaped by one central question:
Why do small businesses fail, and what helps them succeed?
That question led to the development of our ontology, our business development framework, and the coaching method we teach today.
We are an ICF-accredited, business-specific coach training provider
Systems Business Coach® offers ICF-accredited coach training designed specifically for professionals who support small business owners.
Our programs align with International Coaching Federation standards while applying coaching skills, ethics, and mindset to real small business challenges.
Our ontology sets us apart
The Systems Business Coach® Ontology gives advisors more than good conversation skills. It helps them understand the business system underneath the conversation.
By combining systems thinking, coaching practice, and real small business experience, our approach helps advisors see patterns sooner, ask better questions, and support business owners with greater confidence, structure, and relevance.
Foundational Business Competencies
Systems
Thinking
Appreciative
Inquiry
A Coach
Approach
We combine coaching skill with business substance
A coach can be an excellent listener and still feel unprepared when the client is dealing with pricing, delegation, role confusion, hiring, debt, or operational breakdown.
That is why Systems Business Coach® combines professional coaching skill with small business substance.
Our coaches are trained to stay in a coach approach while also understanding the realities of small business. This creates stronger conversations and better support.
Small business owners are not being talked at. They are not being handed generic worksheets. They are being coached in a way that helps them think better, lead better, and build a stronger business.
Who We Partner With
Presence
Possible
Plan
Perform
We train the people who already support small business owners
Yes, we train coaches.
We also train the professionals who are already working with small business owners every day, including:
- Consultants
- Economic
- Development Officers
- Business Advisors
- Accountants
- Bookkeepers
- Bankers
- Marketers
- Agency Owners
- Nonprofit Support Teams
- Community-Based Business Support Organisations
These professionals often care deeply about their clients and want to help more effectively. Coaching skills, systems thinking, and small business-specific structure make that possible.
Our mission is bigger than training
Systems Business Coach® exists to improve the success rates of small businesses by improving the quality of support available to them.
Small businesses create jobs, support families, strengthen communities, and drive local economies. They deserve better support systems.
We believe small business owners deserve support that is informed, ethical, practical, and built for the reality they are living.
That is why we train professionals to coach small business owners in a different way.
Who this is for
SYSTEMS BUSINESS COACH® IS A STRONG FIT FOR YOU IF YOU:
- Already Work With Small Business Owners And Want To Support Them More Effectively
- Want To Become A Small Business Coach With A Strong Methodology
- Are A Consultant Or Advisor Who Wants To Take A Coach Approach
- Are Part Of An Organisation That Supports Entrepreneurs And Wants A Stronger Framework For Client Success
- Want Training That Is Practical, Credible, And Grounded In Real Business Life
The difference in one sentence
If you want to help small business owners with more confidence, more structure, and more relevance, you are in the right place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is small business coach training?
How is Systems Business Coach® training different from other coach training programs?
Unlike most coaching programs that focus on executive or leadership coaching in large organizations, Systems Business Coach® training programs are designed for coaching small business owners.
We specialize in coaching methods designed specifically for companies with fewer than 100 employees.
We are one of the few organizations offering ICF-accredited coach training with tools, systems, and language that actually apply to the small business leader.
Is Systems Business Coach® ICF-accredited?
Yes. Systems Business Coach® is an ICF Level 1 & 2 Accredited Training Provider, qualifying you to pursue your Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentials after completing our training and mentor coaching.
Who is small business coach training for?
Our small business coaching courses and programs are ideal for:
Consultants
Marketing agency professionals
Accountants and bookkeepers
Current coaches wanting to specialize in small business
- Aspiring small business coaches
Advisors already working with entrepreneurs
Business owners transitioning into new careers, including those retiring, selling, or stepping back from day-to-day operations
Current business owners looking for a side hustle that builds on their experience
- Career changers with business experience looking to start a new chapter after leaving a corporate role, navigating a layoff, or retiring from a successful career.
Get started with our Small Business Coaching Foundations Course.
What credentials do I need to become a small business coach?
The two recommended credentials for small business coaches are:
ICF Credentials are internationally recognized coaching certifications that demonstrate a coach has met the International Coaching Federation‘s rigorous standards for education, practice hours, and ethical conduct
Systems Business Coach® Certification is an internationally recognized certification program built on a four-pillar ontology, specifically designed for coaching small business owners.
To become a small business coach through Systems Business Coach®, you don’t need to be a certified coach before you begin our training programs. We provide everything you need to:
Learn how to coach effectively (using ICF core competencies)
Apply coaching to real small business challenges
Earn your ICF credentials (ACC & PCC) through our accredited pathways.
- Gain access to licensed Systems Business Coach® coaching resources, client tools, and a global community to support your success.
What’s included in the Small Business Coach Training Program?
How long does it take to become a certified small business coach?
With Systems Business Coach®, you can become a certified small business coach faster than you might think!
Our shortest small business coach certification programs can be completed in:
- 12 weeks: Certified Systems Business Coach Program
- 6 months: The Effective Small Business Coach Program (to earn ICF Level 1 ACC certification)
These business coach training programs prepare you to start coaching small business owners in as little as 12 weeks while you continue your training. This means you can begin building your coaching practice and gaining real-world experience before you finish the full certification.
Can I make a living as a small business coach?
Yes, you absolutely can. With the right systems, tools, and pricing model, becoming a small business coach can be both financially rewarding and personally fulfilling.
Our program is modelled on the real-life experience of our founder, who built a sustainable, profitable coaching practice working 4 days a week (Fridays off for family), taking summers off, and coaching 40 weeks per year. With a roster of 10 active one-to-one clients plus two group programs, this schedule generated approximately $200,000 annually.
The best part is, it was achieved while charging about half of what many long-time coaches charge. High fees can make it difficult to attract and retain clients. Our suggested pricing ensures everyone wins: the coach earns a healthy living, clients get exceptional value, and the community benefits from stronger, more sustainable small businesses.
How do I get started?
Our ICF-accredited small business coach training programs and courses offer pathways to develop coaching skills and earn certifications to become a small business coach.
To get started, you can:
Take our Small Business Coaching Foundations Course.
This is the ideal starting point for anyone considering a career in small business coaching. It’s affordable, packed with deep and practical learning, and earns you 30 ICF CCEUs. You’ll gain valuable skills you can apply immediately, whether you decide to pursue full certification or not.
Book a Discovery Call
If you’re unsure where to start or want to know how your unique experience and situation fit into a professional coaching career, schedule a free call with us. We’ll walk you through what it takes to become a professional certified small business coach and help you decide if Systems Business Coach® is right for you.
