As a Business Development Coach, What Do You Do Exactly?
- EVAN LEBRAS
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Hint: It’s not just sticky notes and strategy buzzwords.
People often ask me, “So... what exactly does a business development coach do?”
It’s a fair question. The title sounds like I might either be your startup’s fairy godparent or someone who yells at your business from the sidelines while holding a clipboard. Neither is quite right.
The truth? I help business owners stop duct-taping things together and actually build the business they meant to build.
Let me explain—with some real examples of the types of work I do.
For the Small-but-Mighty Business Owner
You know the type. Wearing every hat. Running every meeting. Probably replying to emails at midnight. (Hi, yes, I see you.)
With these businesses, I often jump in and ask, “Could this run without you for a day or two?” If the answer is no, we’ve got work to do.
I recently worked with a small team to turn a mental filing cabinet of “how we do things” into real, documented procedures—SOPs, onboarding templates, even a little digital command center. We cleaned up their offers, defined pricing that didn’t involve existential dread, and made sure they weren’t throwing money at problems that could be solved with a little clarity.
Suddenly, vacations were back on the table. (You know, those mythical things with beaches?)
“I’d like to grow my business, but I don’t know where to start.”
You’re not alone—this is one of the most common things I hear from business owners.
When we tackle this together, we don’t just guess or throw ideas at the wall. For example, in one project, we:
Developed detailed employee profiles for each potential hire, clarifying exactly what skills and experience would be needed.
Mapped those skill levels to the actual tasks they’d take on, so there was no confusion about who would be doing what.
Identified all the overhead costs that came with bringing each type of employee on board.
Factored in the desired profit margins to make sure growth wasn’t just more work, but also more income.
We used Used all that information to create realistic revenue targets for the future state, so the business had a clear path to sustainable growth. We also were able to create a structured onboarding plan, ensuring new team members could ramp up quickly without derailing daily operations.
It's not about guessing—it’s about giving your growth a blueprint.
And Yes, Sometimes We Talk Branding, Marketing and Advertising Too
Occasionally I work with folks who have great services and even greater confusion about how to talk about them. They’ll say, “We’re just… different,” and I say, “Cool. Let’s figure out how, exactly.”
So we dig into tone, messaging, and what makes them truly stand out. One recent client left with a sharper offer, clearer language, and the confidence to tell their brand story without needing interpretive dance. (Though if that’s your thing, no judgment.)
In other situations we focus on increasing the inputs to the business through advertising, search engine optimization, web design and marketing. Need a hand generating convincing marketing content, but don't have the time? Let's talk.
Okay, But What Do You Really Do?
Here’s the short version:
I help businesses fix the stuff that’s not working.
I build systems so things don’t fall apart when someone takes a lunch break.
I help business grow their revenue, without sacrificing quality & profit.
And I do it without making you sit through 27 hours of jargon-filled slide decks.
Think of me as your business’s friendly operations whisperer. With spreadsheets. And humor. And maybe some fun tools like Kanban Boards and Hoshin Matrix's.
TL;DR?
If your business feels like it’s always almost under control—or you’ve outgrown your current way of doing things—I’m here to help.
Let’s make your business feel like it runs on purpose… not panic.