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Business Coaching Blog

Practical tips, insights, and strategies to help you build a better business.

All articles Business Growth(39)Business Coaching & Mentoring(28)Business Coaching(24)Useful Tips(22)Business Strategy(18)Team Building(17)

When Busy Stops Being a Strategy: A Quick Test for Business Owners

Productivity Time Management

7 October 2026

When Busy Stops Being a Strategy: A Quick Test for Business Owners

Busy feels like proof you're doing everything you can. It isn't the same as progress. Here's the simple end-of-day test Mark runs with new clients to tell the difference, and what to do once you see it clearly.

Why a Profitable Business Can Still Run Out of Cash

Financial Planning Scaling Your Business

7 October 2026

Cash Flow vs Profit: Why a Profitable Business Can Run Out of Cash

Cash flow vs profit: they aren't the same thing, and they don't move together. Here are the 3 numbers to check weekly and how to stop a profitable business running tight on cash.

How to Choose a Business Coach in Sydney: What to Look For

Business Coaching Business Coaching & Mentoring Business Development Entrepreneurship Goal Setting Small Business Advice Small Business Growth Small Business Strategies

10 September 2026

How to Choose a Business Coach in Sydney: What to Look For

Finding a business coach in Sydney isn't the hard part. There are hundreds of them. Finding one who actually helps your business grow, rather than one who sells you a framework and moves on, is harder than it looks. After 17 years coaching business owners across 44 industries, here's what I'd tell anyone […]

Small Business Mentors: What They Do and Whether You Need One

Business Coaching Business Mentorship Mentorship for Startups Personal Growth for Entrepreneurs Productivity and Time Management Professional Development Small Business Growth Startup Success Strategies Success Mindset

10 September 2026

Small Business Mentors: What They Do and Whether You Need One

Business mentoring gets misunderstood a lot. Some owners expect a mentor to hand them answers. Others confuse it with consulting, paying someone to do the work for them. And some assume mentoring is for startups or first-timers, not for owners already running a real business with real revenue. None of those are quite right. […]

Business Coach vs Mentor - What’s the Difference and Which One Do You Need?

Business Coaching & Mentoring Small Business Advice

1 September 2026

Business Coach vs Mentor: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?

Not sure whether you need a business coach or mentor? Learn the 5 key differences, when to choose each, and why the best results often come from combining both.

How to Scale a Business What Actually Has to Be in Place First

Business Growth Business Strategy Small Business Advice

18 August 2026

How to Scale a Business: What Actually Has to Be in Place First

Understanding how to scale a business is one of the most important things a growing business owner can get right. Most owners use the words “growth” and “scaling” interchangeably. They’re not the same thing, and confusing them is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make in business. Growth means revenue goes up. Scaling […]

Business Coach for Tradies: 4 Ways Mark Helps Australian Trades Grow

Business Coaching Business Growth Small Business Advice

18 August 2026

Business Coach for Tradies: How Mark Helps Trades Business Owners Grow

Finding the right business coach for tradies comes down to one thing: does the coach actually understand how a trades business works? Not in theory, in practice. The cash flow gaps, the quoting by feel, the challenge of getting off the tools and trusting your team to hold their standard when you're not on site. […]

How to Delegate Properly (Even If You Don’t Trust Your Team Yet)

Business Coaching Business Coaching & Mentoring Business Growth Business Strategy Business Tips & Advice Small Business Advice

18 August 2026

How to Delegate Properly (Even If You Don’t Trust Your Team Yet)

Delegate properly from the outset to unlock growth, reduce burnout, and empower your team. But here’s the rub: what if you don’t fully trust your team yet? This is a common and frustrating situation for business owners, particularly those who have built their business from the ground up and feel deeply responsible for everything.

The Most Effective Recruitment Strategy for Highly Competitive Job Markets

Business Coaching Business Growth Business Strategy Small Business Advice

18 August 2026

Recruitment Strategy for Small Business: 7 Tips to Hire the Right People

Just like the housing market, recruitment swings between a buyer's market and a seller's market. Sometimes you have more applicants than you know what to do with. Other times, there's not an eligible candidate in sight. In a tight labour market, which Australian small businesses have experienced significantly since 2021, employers are in fierce competition […]

Business Coaching Business Growth Leadership Small Business Advice Team Building

18 August 2026

What Is Leadership Coaching In Business

Leadership coaching in business is a one-on-one process where a coach works with a business owner or leader to develop the specific skills, habits, and mindset needed to lead a team more effectively. Unlike a general business coach who focuses on strategy, pricing, or systems, leadership coaching focuses specifically on the person leading the business, […]

When Is the Right Time to Hire a Business Coach?

Business Coaching Business Development Business Growth Business Strategy Business Tips & Advice Small Business Advice

18 August 2026

When Is the Right Time to Hire a Business Coach?

When Is the Right Time to Hire a Business Coach? Knowing when to hire a business coach is one of the most valuable decisions a growing business owner can make. Most business owners who come to me don't ask "what does a business coach do?" They already know. What they're really asking is: is now the […]

How to Increase Profit Margins in Your Small Business (Without Working More Hours)

Business Growth Financial Planning Small Business Advice

21 July 2026

How to Increase Profit Margins in Your Small Business (Without Working More Hours)

Net profit below 5% is the danger zone for Australian SMEs. Learn how to increase profit margins through smarter pricing, delegation, and cost structure, without working more hours.

Business Development

19 July 2026

How to Build a Self-Managing Team That Doesn’t Rely on You

A self-managing team can be the difference between owning a business that serves your life versus one that consumes it. For many business owners, particularly those who started their venture from scratch, the idea of letting go of control can be nerve-wracking. But here's the hard truth: if everything in your business depends on you, […]

How to Stop Working In Your Business and Start Working On It

Business Growth Personal Growth & Mindset Personal Growth for Entrepreneurs Scaling Your Business Small Business Advice Small Business Growth Time Management

16 July 2026

How to Stop Working In Your Business and Start Working On It

Every Business Owner Reaches This Point You started your business because you wanted more freedom. And the key to getting it back is learning how to stop working in your business and start working on your business. More flexibility. More control over your future. But somewhere along the way, something changed. Instead of owning a […]

How to Write a Business Growth Plan for Your Small Business (With a Working Template)

Business Growth Small Business Growth Small Business Growth and Strategy Useful Tips

16 July 2026

How to Write a Business Growth Plan for Your Small Business (With a Working Template)

A Simple 90-Day Business Growth Plan Template One of the biggest reasons business growth plans fail is because they're too complicated. I've seen beautifully designed 40-page documents that never get opened again after they're written. Instead, I encourage business owners to use a simple one-page growth plan that gets reviewed every week. Here's the framework […]

The 5 Business Growth Stages Every SMB Owner Must Navigate

Business Growth Useful Tips

16 July 2026

The 5 Business Growth Stages Every SMB Owner Must Navigate

Every Business Hits Different Challenges as It Grows Every successful business moves through predictable stages of growth. Each stage brings new opportunities, but also new problems that require a different way of thinking. If your business already feels like it's growing but you're worried about burning out, read our guide on How to Scale a […]

Business owner reviewing flat revenue figures at their desk - Revenue Ceiling

Business Coaching & Mentoring Useful Tips

13 July 2026

Why Your Business Has Hit a Revenue Ceiling (And How to Break It)

You’re working harder than ever. The team is busy. The phone is ringing. And yet, at the end of the month, the revenue number looks almost identical to what it was twelve months ago. That’s not a motivation problem. It’s not a marketing problem. It’s a revenue ceiling, and it’s one of the most common, and most frustrating, patterns I see in Australian small businesses.

Business Growth

30 June 2026

5 Signs You Have Outgrown Your Business and What Comes Next

Outgrown your business is a phrase most owners would not use to describe their situation, but the feeling underneath it is one thousands of Sydney business owners know intimately. Your revenue has not moved in twelve months. You are working harder than ever but the results have plateaued. The business still needs you for everything, […]

How to Stop Your Business Partnership From Breaking Down

Business Growth

23 June 2026

How to Stop Your Business Partnership From Breaking Down

Business partnership breakdown is one of the most painful and disruptive things a business owner can experience. You started with a shared vision, complementary strengths, and genuine enthusiasm for what you were building together. Over time something shifted. The communication changed. The contributions started to feel unequal. The conversations became harder to start and easier […]

Business Development

16 June 2026

Business Owner Goals Why Most Never Get Achieved

Business owner goals are one of the most discussed and least solved problems in small business. Every January, every new financial year, and every time something goes wrong, owners sit down and set goals. They choose revenue targets, productivity improvements, team changes, and personal commitments. They write them down, sometimes in a formal plan, sometimes […]

Local Business Awards 2026 Finalist — City Suburbs — Business Coach Mark

About Business Coaching

10 June 2026

Business Coach Mark Named a 2026 Local Business Awards Finalist

Business Coach Mark has been named a Finalist in the 2026 Local Business Awards for the City Suburbs region. Here's why this community-voted recognition is so special, and the business coaching lessons it holds for you.

Business Coaching & Mentoring

2 June 2026

Business Coach or Mentor: Which One Does Your Business Need

Business coach or mentor is a question more Sydney business owners are asking as the coaching and mentoring industry grows. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe meaningfully different kinds of support. Choosing the right one for where your business is right now can make a significant difference to the outcomes you […]

Business Strategy Growth Strategies

26 May 2026

Marketing Challenges Sydney Business Owners Must Overcome

Marketing challenges are something almost every Sydney business owner knows intimately. You have a good product or service, a reliable team, and clients who are happy with your work. But finding new clients consistently feels harder than it should. You try different approaches, some work for a while, most do not, and the whole process […]

Business Coaching & Mentoring Business Growth

19 May 2026

Emotional intelligence for business owners in Sydney

Emotional intelligence is one of the most underestimated skills a business owner can develop. Most owners focus on strategy, systems, and revenue targets. They build plans, set KPIs, and refine their processes. All of that matters. But without it, the most carefully constructed plan will still fall apart in the moments that require genuine human […]