It’s a familiar challenge for many small business owners — you know that you need coaching but cashflow is tight. Business coaching could help you get unstuck and move forward, but cashflow feels too squeezed to make that investment right now. What do you do?
It’s the classic chicken-and-egg situation:
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Regular business coaching could help your business become more profitable and sustainable.
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But you feel you can’t afford coaching until your cashflow improves.
So, which comes first?
Let’s unpack this common dilemma — and find a practical, sustainable way through it.
Why coaching feels out of reach (and why this is so common)
It’s common for small business owners to hit points where cashflow feels squeezed — not because the business isn’t doing well, but because growth, expenses, and client demands all pull in different directions at once.
Even for successful businesses, cashflow can be tight on an ongoing basis.
It’s completely understandable that coaching can feel like a “nice to have” rather than a “must-have” in those moments. After all, you want to make smart financial decisions but it can feel out of reach to find the funds to invest in coaching when there are so many demands going on.
And you’re right to be cautious. I’m not a believer in pushing people into financial hardship to pay for coaching. Telling someone they must “do whatever it takes” to afford coaching is unethical and often dangerous in my view.
That said, the very issues that make cashflow tight are often the exact issues that coaching helps solve.
The real cost of staying stuck
When business owners hold off on getting support, what often happens is:
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They keep working in the business rather than on it – staying stuck and not moving forward.
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The same patterns, habits, or bottlenecks keep repeating – with no room for growth and innovation.
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Stress builds, time gets shorter, and opportunities get missed – taking a toll on their wellbeing and overall enjoyment of the business.
- Their business continues wasting time, energy and money – with inefficiencies running rampant.
Coaching isn’t about adding more work — it’s about creating clarity, focus, and better decision-making so that you can make the right moves to free up time, energy, and money.
If cashflow management is one of your biggest challenges right now, this guide on managing cash flow from Xero offers some clear, practical advice to help you get a handle on your numbers and spot areas for improvement.
The very things that make cashflow tight are often the exact things that coaching helps solve
Why coaching isn’t a quick fix (and why that’s a good thing)
Coaching isn’t a magic button that instantly fixes cashflow or turns a business around overnight.
But when done well — with commitment, a solid strategy, and action — it becomes a powerful catalyst for lasting change.
You might see quick wins when you start coaching, but the bigger value lies in shifting how you think and operate. That’s where sustainable growth and stronger cashflow start to take root.
A smarter way forward: Take a smaller step first
If you’re in that chicken-and-egg situation, where you know you need coaching but cashflow is tight, the best next step isn’t to dive into a long-term coaching commitment. It’s to take one clear, focused step.
For most busineses, that step can be a one-off strategy session.
It’s a lower investment than commiting to ongoing coaching but still provides:
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Clarity about what’s really going on beneath the surface
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A practical roadmap for what to focus on next
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The first few actions that can free up time and improve cashflow
Once those first changes start to take effect, ongoing coaching becomes a much more comfortable and sustainable option.
You’re not alone in this
So many business owners have been exactly where you are now — knowing things need to change but feeling stretched by the numbers.
The key is not to stay stuck in indecision. Start where you are, take the first step, and build momentum from there. There is always things you can do to get unstuck, lessen the overwhelm and move your business forward.
If you’d like to explore how a strategy session could help you move forward, I’d love to support you.
You’ll walk away with practical strategies, clear next steps, and renewed focus for creating the results you want.
Learn more about booking a Strategy Session here
Key Takeaway
When cashflow is tight, business coaching can feel out of reach — but often, it’s part of the solution.
Start small, get clarity, and make intentional moves that lead to stronger results and healthier cashflow.
