Introduction
If you’ve landed here after searching “best business coach in Australia”, chances are you’re tired of spinning your wheels. Maybe revenue has flat-lined, your team feels stuck, or you’re simply know there’s another level but you can’t quite reach it on your own.
I am Nathan Baws. I get it. I’ve been there – multiple times – across restaurants in Sydney, health clinics in Brisbane, supplement brands that went nationwide, and everything in between. Over the last 43 years, I’ve started, scaled and sold 15 businesses, some spectacularly, some painfully. Along the way I’ve learned exactly what separates genuine guidance from polished noise.
This article isn’t about selling you anything. It’s about giving you the straight facts, the frameworks I still use today, and the questions you should be asking before you invest your time and money in any coach – including me. By the end you’ll know how to spot the real deal and, more importantly, how to move your own business forward starting this week.
Quick realities before we go deeper:
- Most businesses in Australia never break the seven-figure mark because the owner never fixes the real bottleneck – usually the owner dependence.
- Best business coach in Australia doesn’t motivate you; they remove the excuses that keep you stuck.
- The Australian market rewards speed, relationships and clever positioning far more than perfect products.
- You don’t need another course – you need clarity, accountability and someone who’s actually done it here.
Let’s get into it.
What Actually Makes Someone the Best Business Coach in Australia?
Plenty of people call themselves coaches. Very few have run payroll in multiple states, dealt with the ATO at 2 a.m., or stared down a landlord when rent was due and the bank account was empty.
Experience That Translates to Your World
I’ve opened venues in shopping centres that were meant to fail, turned around a supplement brand that was bleeding cash, and built a speaking career that still fills rooms from Perth to the Gold Coast. That mix means I can talk to a café owner in Adelaide one day and a tech founder in Sydney the Valley the next – and both conversations are useful.
When you’re assessing any of the best business coach in Australia, ask: “Have they ever had to make hard decisions with real money and real people on the line – in Australia?” If the answer is mostly overseas corporate roles or online courses, keep looking.
The Ability to Simplify Without Losing Power
The best business coach in Australia takes complex problems – cash-flow crunches, staff turnover, stagnant lead flow – and boils them down to three levers you can pull this week. I’ve sat in boardrooms where consultants delivered 80-page reports. Nothing changed. I’ve also watched a single Post-it note with three bullet points double someone’s revenue in 90 days. Simple wins.
Skin in the Game and Zero Delegation
I still take every single strategy call myself and that make me one of the best business coach in Australia . No junior coaches, no “team members” you’ve never heard of. When you work with me, you work with me. That’s non-negotiable, because your context, your numbers and your personality require my full attention.
The Mindset Shifts That Actually Move the Needle
Everyone talks about mindset. Very few tell you which bits matter.
Stop Waiting for Permission or Perfect Conditions
I launched my first big health clinic in the middle of a recession because rents were cheap and people still needed help. Waiting for the “right time” is the most expensive habit in Australian business.
Treat Failure as Data, Not Drama
Every restaurant I opened taught me something the next one used. The ones that bombed taught me the most. When you reframe setbacks as tuition fees, decision-making gets faster and cleaner.
Own the Fact You’re the Bottleneck
In 9 out of 10 businesses I walk into, the owner is the single biggest constraint – usually because they’re still doing $30-an-hour tasks. The best business coach in Australia will tell you that truth kindly but firmly.
Lead Generation That Doesn’t Rely on Meta or Google Ads
Ads work until they don’t. Here’s what still works in 2025 across every state I’ve tested:
Joint Ventures with Complementary Businesses
A Brisbane physiotherapist and a local gym swapping patient lists added $180k combined revenue in year one – zero ad spend.
Community Pop-Up Events
My supplement brand ran free “health check” days in Westfield carparks. We collected 4,000 leads and made the news three times in one summer.
Strategic Media Stunts
One carefully planned world-record attempt generated $107,000 in free press for a few years back. Still the highest-ROI marketing I’ve ever done.
How the Best Business Coach in Australia Works with Different People
Event Organisers
I help you build contingency plans that actually get used, price tickets for profit (not ego), and create VIP experiences that fund the whole event.
Corporate Teams and Corporates
We focus on leadership pipelines, psychological safety in hybrid teams, and turning annual off-sites into genuine strategy sessions instead of junkets.
Educators and Students
I run workshops showing Year 11 and 12 students how to turn a passion project into a side hustle that pays HECS before they graduate.
Established Business Owners
We strip the business back to the three numbers that matter, remove you from daily operations, and build it so it runs (and grows) whether you’re on the tools or on the beach.
Technology, Innovation and Keeping It Australian
I’m not here to sell you another AI tool you don’t need. I’ll show you:
- The free tools that replaced three full-time staff in one of my businesses
- How to use simple data dashboards so you’re never surprised by a slow month again
- The exact prompts I use with ChatGPT to write better copy than most agencies – in Australian tone of voice
How to Measure If Coaching Is Actually Working
Forget vanity metrics. Here’s what I track with every client:
- Monthly revenue vs same month last year
- Owner hours worked per week (should be going down)
- Number of decisions delegated permanently
- Sleep quality and stress levels (yes, we measure it)
If those four aren’t moving in the right direction within 90 days, we’re doing something wrong.
Common Traps and How to Avoid Them
- Hiring the cheapest coach (you’ll pay ten times over in lost opportunity)
- Thinking you need another marketing funnel instead of fixing the offer
- Letting “busy” feel like progress
- Working with someone who’s never had to meet Australian payroll
Conclusion
Finding the best business coach in Australia doesn’t have to be complicated. Look for someone who’s built and scaled businesses here, who still takes their own calls, and who measures success by your results – not their testimonials page.
I’ve laid out the exact frameworks, questions and red flags I wish someone had handed me 30 years ago. Put even half of them to work and you’ll see movement within weeks.
If you’ve read this far and something clicked – if you’re ready to stop guessing and start building with certainty – then let’s talk. I only work with a small number of people at any one time because I don’t delegate my coaching.
Head over to https://nathanbaws.com/, fill in the short form, and I’ll be in touch personally within 24 hours. No sales team, no hard sell – just an honest conversation about where you are and where you actually want to go.
FAQs
How do I know if I actually need a business coach right now?
If your revenue has been flat for 12+ months despite working harder, if you’re the only one who can fix problems when they arise, or if you feel overwhelmed rather than excited on Monday mornings, those are pretty clear signals. I’ve yet to meet an Australian owner who regretted getting help too early – only those who waited too long.
What’s the biggest difference between you and other coaches in Australia?
I still run businesses today, not just talk about ones I ran a decade ago. Every framework I teach is something I’m either using right now or used in the last 24 months. Plus I take every call myself – you’ll never get 43 years of scar tissue, not a scripted junior.
Do you only work with certain industries?
No. I’ve worked with tradies, tech founders, doctors, retailers, franchisors, event companies and government departments. The principles of leverage, positioning and team are the same – only the language changes.
How long does it usually take to see results?
Most clients see a shift in clarity and energy within 2–3 sessions. Revenue movement usually starts inside 60–90 days if we’re doing the work together. I had one client add $48k in new contracts in his first month just by repositioning his offer.
Is this just for big businesses?
Not at all. Some of my favourite turnarounds have been $200k-$800k lifestyle businesses that wanted to get the owner’s time back without killing profit.
What if I’m nowhere near Sydney or Brisbane?
Everything is virtual and has been for years. I’ve coached people in Geraldton, Burnie, Alice Springs and Far North Queensland with zero issues. Time zones are the only thing we juggle.
Will this work if I’m completely maxed out on time?
Yes – because the first thing we do is free up your time. We audit where your hours actually go and systematically remove, automate or delegate the low-value stuff.
What if I’ve already done courses and programs and nothing stuck?
Courses give information. Coaching gives implementation and accountability. That’s why people finally get traction when they move from self-study to working directly with someone who won’t let them off the hook.
How much time do I need to commit each week?
Usually one 60–90 minute call per fortnight plus whatever actions we agree on. Most clients tell me they get back double that time within a month because we kill time-wasters early.
What’s the very first step if I think we might be a fit?
Go to https://nathanbaws.com/, scroll to the bottom and fill in the application form. It takes three minutes. I read every single one myself and will reply within a day to set up a call. No obligation, no pressure – just a conversation.
