Business Coaching for Owners Who Are Ready for What's Next
Whether you're stuck in a partner dispute, planning your exit, or trying to build a business that runs without you, I bring four decades of experience to help you get where you want to go.
Business Partner Conflict Resolution
Many partnerships start as friendships. Then a downturn hits, or the partners want different things, and suddenly two people who built something together can't agree on anything. While they fight, the business loses value.
Resolving partner conflict is the work I'm best known for. Other business coaches call me in to help with their toughest partnership disputes. I never choose sides and never decide who's right. My job is to solve the problem and get the business moving in the right direction again.
In one case, I stepped in as CEO for two years while the partners worked through their differences. We sold the company for $14 million. Both partners walked away with strong outcomes, and both are still my clients today.
This may be right for you if:
You and your partner can't agree on direction
Disagreements are affecting employees or customers
A friendship has turned into a standoff
The business is losing value while you fight
This may be right for you if:
You hope to sell or retire in the next few years
Everything in the business runs through you
Your key people don't have a stake in the future
You'd like an employee or partner to buy the business
Preparing Your Business for Sale
Here's what's sad: most businesses never sell. Owners spend 30, 40, even 50 years building a company, and when it's time to step away, the doors simply close.
The reason is almost always the same. The owner is the hub of the wheel, and every spoke, from sales to delivery to operations, runs through them. They never delegated or built a team that could run the business without them. And in the final few years, key employees often leave because they don't see a future for themselves.
I help you change that. We build a business that runs without you, get buy-in from your key people, and prepare your company to sell on your terms. With a good business, preparation can take one to two years, so the best time to start is now.
I've spent my career helping people buy, sell, and start businesses. I even helped one employee buy the advertising agency she worked for, and she has grown it into a $10 to $12 million company.
Business Growth Coaching
Whether you're a new business that needs structure or an established company ready for the next level, I help you strengthen the areas that drive growth: your finances, your organization, your leadership, and your sales and marketing.
We start with costs, not profit. You'd be surprised how many owners have been in business 15 or 20 years and don't know what it truly costs to run their company. Many hand their numbers to a CPA every year and never hear a word about them. That's like a doctor hearing your symptoms and telling you to come back in a month. I review my clients' financials every month, so we always know where the business is headed.
We also work on your people and your leadership. What kind of leader are you, and how do your employees see you? If you could change three things in your business today, what would they be? Questions like these are where real growth begins.
This may be right for you if:
You can't find or keep the right employees
You're not sure what it really costs to run your business
Your business is new and needs structure
Growth has outpaced your systems
$1M to $10M
A marketing client's growth in annual revenue while working together.
Key Employee Coaching
Sometimes an owner comes to me and says, "One of my people is a really good guy, but he's struggling. Will you work with him?" I coach key employees at the owner's request, helping your best people grow into the leaders your business needs.
Key employee coaching is arranged and paid for by the business.
What Coaching With Me Looks Like
Regular Coaching Calls
Two coaching calls a month by phone or video, with phone and email support in between.
Monthly Financial Review
I look at your financials every month so we can see where expenses are going and stay on course.
Two Clear Priorities
Every session ends with your takeaways and two things to work on before we meet again. Never a list of twenty.
A Network of Specialists
When you need expertise in technology, accounting, HR, or business structure, I know who to call.
Hands-On When Needed
When it helps, I'll meet directly with your CFO, bookkeeper, or a team member to get things moving.
Flexible for New Businesses
If you're just getting started and committed to the work, I'll work with you on an arrangement that fits where you are today.
Questions About Coaching
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Every business is different, so I price coaching based on your needs. We'll talk through what makes sense for you on your free 30-minute call.
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I ask for a one-year commitment, because real change takes time. That said, if we're six or seven months in and it isn't working, I'll tell you honestly, and I won't hold you to it.
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A consultant tells you what they think you should do. A coach asks the questions that help you see it for yourself, so the answers stick. When a company asks me to consult, I can, but coaching is where lasting change happens.
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Yes. I work with business owners across the United States and internationally, including clients in the UK and Australia.
“A reliable colleague and partner to clients.”
“Every time I have worked with Fred Johnson, he has consistently demonstrated high professional standards, met key deadlines, and proven to be a reliable colleague and partner to clients.
He communicates complex ideas clearly, listens actively, and fosters productive discussions within financial and corporate environments. Fred takes initiative in solving problems, stays current with industry trends, and brings strong competence and engagement to leading teams. I know that his expertise and judgment are also well respected by his peers.
Fred has been a reliable, valued presence working together both professionally and personally, and I am confident he brings that same positive impact in every role he plays.”
-Timothy G.
Not Sure Which Service Fits?
That's what the free 30-minute call is for. Tell me what's happening in your business, and we'll figure out the right next step together.