10 Questions Every Tradesman Should Ask Before Hiring A Business Coach
Most tradesmen don’t spend enough time choosing a business coach.
They’ll spend weeks researching a new van.
Months researching a digger.
Yet they’ll hand thousands of pounds to a coach after watching a free masterclass.
That’s madness.
The coaching industry has exploded over the last few years and whilst there are some excellent coaches out there, there are also plenty who look great on social media but have very little real-world experience.
Before you invest a penny, here are 10 questions I believe every tradesman should ask.
1. Have They Built A Real Business Outside Coaching?
This is the first question I’d ask.
Not a coaching business.
A real business.
One with staff, customers, payroll, recruitment headaches, project delays and cashflow challenges.
A coach who has only ever run a coaching business has never faced many of the challenges tradesmen face every day.
Personally, I believe a business coach should have built at least a seven-figure business before teaching others.
2. Could That Business Run Without Them?
This is the big one.
Many business owners claim to have a business.
In reality, they own a job.
If they disappear for two weeks, everything stops.
A coach who can’t leave their business for three months has no business teaching tradesmen how to create freedom because they’ve never achieved it themselves.
When I sold Edinburgh Driveway Company, the business was turning over approximately £1.8 million, making around £360,000 profit, employing 27 staff across four teams and required around two hours of my time per week.
Most importantly, it continued moving forward after I left.
That’s a business.
3. Have They Ever Sold A Business?
Building a business is one thing.
Selling one is another.
A sale proves that the business had value beyond the owner.
It proves systems existed.
It proves people existed.
It proves processes existed.
I’ve met plenty of coaches.
Very few have actually sold a successful business.
4. Are They Living A Life You’d Actually Want?
This might be the most important question of all.
Forget the Ferrari.
Forget the Rolex.
Forget the private jet photos.
Would you genuinely swap lives with them?
Success isn’t somebody else’s dream.
It’s your dream.
For me, success looks like waking up in Dubai, walking along Kite Beach, training in the gym, spending a few hours coaching and working on property projects, having lunch with my wife Claire, reading a book, enjoying time with friends and playing padel, football or golf.
Your dream might be different.
That’s fine.
The point is this:
Choose a coach whose lifestyle inspires you.
Not their Instagram feed.
5. Are They Teaching How Or Just Why?
Many coaches are brilliant at telling you why you should do something.
Very few show you how.
Tradesmen don’t need another motivational quote.
They need systems.
Sales systems.
Recruitment systems.
Pricing systems.
Lead generation systems.
Operational systems.
Implementation beats inspiration every single time.
6. Are They Using Genuine Client Success Stories?
Look carefully.
Are they showcasing lots of clients?
Or the same one repeatedly?
One thing I’ve noticed is that some coaches recycle the same success story over and over again.
Others ask for reviews immediately after a webinar or masterclass before any real results have been achieved.
I’d rather see fewer reviews backed by genuine results than hundreds of reviews based on excitement.
7. Can You Speak To Previous Clients?
This should be easy.
If a coach has genuinely helped people, those people should be happy to speak with you.
At TradeCoach, we have dozens of written reviews and multiple video testimonials.
More importantly, many of our clients are happy to discuss their experiences directly.
Nothing builds trust faster than speaking to someone who’s already been where you want to go.
8. Is The Free Masterclass Actually Teaching Anything?
Let’s be honest.
Most free masterclasses aren’t masterclasses.
They’re sales presentations.
There’s nothing wrong with selling.
Every business sells.
The question is:
Did you actually learn anything valuable?
Or did they spend 80 minutes building desire and 10 minutes teaching?
The answer will tell you a lot.
9. Are They Honest About Who Coaching Isn’t For?
Most coaches want everyone.
I don’t.
Coaching isn’t for everyone.
The people who struggle most are usually know-it-alls, undisciplined business owners, people looking for instant success, people unwilling to implement and people who blame everyone else.
Coaching works when action follows advice.
Without action, nothing changes.
10. Do They Understand Profit Or Just Turnover?
If I could teach a tradesman just one thing, it would be this:
Know your numbers.
Not your turnover.
Your profit.
Your real profit.
After wages.
After materials.
After fuel.
After advertising.
After mistakes.
After everything.
I’ve met tradesmen turning over £1 million and making less money than tradesmen turning over £250,000.
Turnover is vanity.
Profit creates freedom.
What Success Actually Looks Like
One of my favourite client transformations wasn’t a turnover increase.
It was a lifestyle change.
John now takes three weeks off every summer and the whole of December off.
David works four mornings a week and spends the rest of his time doing what he enjoys.
Greg increased profits from £17,000 to £171,000.
Matthew increased prices by 40%.
Adam grew from £250,000 to £1.5 million.
Miles grew from £250,000 to £2 million.
Success comes in different forms.
The goal isn’t more work.
The goal is more freedom.
Want To Build A Business That Works Without You?
If you’re stuck working 60 to 80 hours a week, constantly firefighting and wondering if business ownership is really worth it, let’s have a chat.
Book a free 30-minute strategy call and I’ll show you exactly what’s holding your business back.
Book Your Free Strategy Call Here
Why Should You Trust Me?
You shouldn’t trust me because I tell you to.
You should trust evidence.
I’ve walked the same path you’re walking.
I’ve worried about leads.
I’ve underpriced jobs.
I’ve had recruitment issues.
I’ve had cashflow problems.
I’ve worked ridiculous hours.
I’ve made expensive mistakes.
I’ve built a business to £1.8 million turnover.
I’ve built a business that worked without me.
I’ve sold that business.
And I’ve helped tradesmen increase profits, increase prices, reduce their hours and spend more time with their families.
My success stories aren’t hidden.
They’re everywhere.
Read the reviews.
Watch the videos.
Speak to the clients.
Then decide for yourself.
Ready To Get Off The Tools?
The Off The Tools Programme is designed specifically for tradespeople who want more profit, more time and less stress.
Over 12 modules, you’ll learn how to improve your lead generation, sales, pricing, recruitment, systems, delegation, profit, cashflow and long-term wealth building.
Join The Off The Tools Programme Here
Or spread the investment monthly:
Not Sure If Coaching Is Right For You?
One thing you’ll never get from me is pressure.
In fact, I’ll be the first person to tell you if coaching isn’t right for you.
Book a call, tell me about your business and if I genuinely think I can help, I’ll explain how.
If not, I’ll point you in the right direction.
Book A Free Strategy Call Here
FAQs
What should a tradesman ask before hiring a business coach?
Ask whether the coach has built a real business outside coaching, whether that business could run without them, whether they’ve sold a business and whether they have genuine client success stories.
Is business coaching for tradesmen worth it?
Business coaching can be worth it if you’re willing to implement. It isn’t magic. The best results come from tradesmen who take action, learn their numbers and build proper systems.
What is the biggest mistake tradesmen make when choosing a coach?
The biggest mistake is choosing based on social media lifestyle rather than real business experience. A coach should have built something meaningful before teaching others how to do it.
Why is profit more important than turnover?
Turnover shows how much money comes in. Profit shows what is actually left. A trade business can have high turnover and still make very little money if the numbers are wrong.
How do I book a call with TradeCoach?
You can book a free 30-minute strategy call using the link below.
