Business Coaching Services Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All
Coaching prices are all over the place. Some coaches charge by the hour. Others work off monthly retainers. A few tie their price to your results.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Hourly: $100–$500/hour
- Monthly Retainers: $2,000–$10,000+
- Project-Based: $3,000–$25,000 per engagement
- Value-Based: Based on performance or outcome (can go higher)
The price depends on what you need and how the coach works. If you’re hiring someone to help you shift mindset, that’s a different cost than someone running team workshops.
Most business coaching services are flexible. But too many people stop asking once they hear a price. They don’t realize there are options that can match both budget and goals.
And here’s something worth remembering: not all coaches work with giant businesses. Many work specifically with small business owners, solopreneurs, or first-time founders. These coaches know you don’t have unlimited cash or time. They’re used to adapting. In fact, many of them built their practice the same way you did—scrappy, tight, and focused on getting results.
When you’re looking for help, don’t just focus on cost. Focus on clarity. Know what you want to improve, what outcome matters, and how fast you need change. Then talk numbers.
Coaching Business vs. Consulting Business: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
Coaching and consulting aren’t the same thing. A consultant usually gives you answers. A coach helps you come up with your own. That difference affects price.
Coaches often:
- Ask questions
- Push your thinking
- Help with growth plans or leadership blocks
Consultants often:
- Analyze systems
- Build strategies for you
- Deliver plans and frameworks
If you want someone to hand you a marketing plan, you’re looking for a consultant. But if you need help showing up consistently and leading better, you’re probably looking for a coach.
Knowing the difference keeps you from wasting time and money on the wrong support.
Too many small business owners hire the wrong type of help, get poor results, and then say, “Coaching doesn’t work.” But the problem wasn’t coaching. It was misalignment.
Coaching works best when you’re stuck mentally, emotionally, or with clarity. Consulting works best when you have a system that needs a fix. Both have value, but you have to match the service to the problem.
At Accountability Now, we mix both depending on what a client actually needs. That hybrid approach saves time and avoids overwhelm. And if we’re not the right fit, we say so. You don’t need more confusion. You need support that fits where you are.
What’s the Real Cost of Not Getting Help?
Most people who say “I can’t afford coaching” are already paying for something. Missed growth. Hiring mistakes. Leadership bottlenecks. Poor pricing.
The truth is, avoiding coaching doesn’t save money. It just delays better results. Here’s what not getting help can cost:
- Lost sales from poor offers
- Burnout from carrying too much
- Team turnover from unclear leadership
- Slow growth because you’re stuck in the weeds
We hear, “I’m too busy” all the time. But coaching is often what clears that up. Time debt is real. And a coach doesn’t just give you tasks. They hold you to what you said you wanted.
Waiting costs. That’s the part people skip over. Every day you’re stuck in your own head, unsure what to do next, is a day you’re not moving your business forward. Multiply that by weeks or months, and it’s no wonder growth feels stalled.
Even worse, being too close to your business can blind you. You can’t see the patterns. You overwork or underprice or you start solving the wrong problem. Coaching gives you that clean outside view—one that can challenge you without dragging you down.
You don’t have to fix everything right away. But staying stuck helps no one. Especially not your team, your clients, or your goals.
Executive Coaching Pricing Doesn’t Always Mean “Expensive”
Executive coaching sounds fancy. It isn’t always pricey. Yes, some high-level coaches charge $1,000+ an hour. But many offer:
- Starter packages
- Performance-based fees
- Short-term sprints
Most good executive coaches want a long-term relationship, but they’ll meet you where you are. What they care about most is whether you’ll show up and do the work.
If you’re looking to lead better, grow a team, or stop drowning in your own company, a coach can help. But it doesn’t have to break the bank.
Think of it this way: you’re not just paying for the call. You’re paying for what changes between those calls. Good executive coaching shifts how you lead, think, and operate. That has ripple effects across hiring, marketing, and strategy.
Some of the best clients we’ve worked with started small. A single goal. One session per month. Over time, the wins added up. The team got stronger. The owner got clearer. That’s what you’re buying.
So yes, it costs something. But so does staying where you are.
You Don’t Need Budget—You Need a Plan
Here’s what we tell our clients: Budget is an excuse. So is time. If it matters, you find a way.
That doesn’t mean you throw money around. It means you:
- Set a clear goal
- Define what success looks like
- Start small if you need to
- Commit to action
Even $300/month can create big shifts if you stick with it. Most coaches, including us at Accountability Now, will work with you to find a format that fits. We’d rather see you grow than stall.
Coaching isn’t a luxury. It’s a tool. Use it that way.
We know what it’s like to run lean. Most of us at Accountability Now started there, too. We didn’t build a firm with investor money or big teams. We built it through consistent action, smart risk, and accountability.
So if you’re sitting with questions, unsure about next steps, here’s a gentle nudge: You don’t need to solve everything today. But don’t keep waiting for the “right” time. Start with one step. Reach out. Ask a question. We’re here if you want a partner who gets it.
TL;DR: You probably can afford a coach. You just think you can’t.
Coaching doesn’t have to be expensive. It has to be aligned. If you’re ready to get serious about growth, but budget and time feel like blockers, ask a better question:
What’s it costing me to wait?