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Small Business Coaching
Foundations Course

Learn to Coach Small Business Owners –

Start Your Business Coach Certification Today.

Start Coaching Small Business Owners With a Solid Foundation

Foundations is the high value starting point for anyone exploring small business coaching. This practical, ICF-accredited course gives you a structured way to coach business owners, and the basics you need to begin building your own coaching practice. This course is part of both our ICF Level 1 and Level 2 ICF credential path.

Why Small Business Coaching Matters

Small business owners carry every decision, every risk, and every constraint at once. When you know how to coach, you can help them think clearly, make strong choices, and follow through, without falling into advising, rescuing, or doing the work for them.

Foundations is designed to give you a solid base in coaching skills and small business fundamentals, so you can coach with credibility from the start, and begin shaping a practice that fits your strengths and goals.

This Course Includes:

Who should take the Small Business Coaching Foundations Course ?

Aspiring Small Business Coaches and Career changers
You want to become a small business coach. You may be leaving a corporate role, navigating a layoff, or retiring from a successful career. You bring real business experience and want a credible, practical path to your next chapter.

Coaches
You are a coach, with or without ICF credentials, ready to expand your practice to coach small business owners. Earn 30 ICF CCEUs for renewal or to begin your ACC Level 1 or PCC Level 2 pathway.

Helping professionals without coaching skills
You are a business consultant, economic development officer, marketing agency owner, business bank manager, bookkeeper, or accountant. You already serve small business clients and see their struggles. You want a better way to help.

What You’ll Learn:

Imagine transforming your passion into a powerful force for change, offering much needed support to vulnerable small business owners. Our courses are grounded in both neuroscience and sound business principles, tailored to meet the unique needs of small business owners and their teams.

Here’s what you’ll gain from our comprehensive course modules:

Module 1 – Decoding the Client Mindset of a Small Business Owner

Stop guessing what your client is thinking. Learn the “Client Decoder” framework to instantly understand their motivations, fears, and decision making style so you can connect from the very first minute.

Module 2 - Contracting and Establishing Client Goals

Shift from informal chats to a professional coaching relationship. Learn how to set up the coaching partnership from day one, and help clients turn ideas into meaningful goals, priorities, and written commitments.

Module 3 - A Coach Approach to Strategic Planning

Bring structure to strategic planning conversations. Learn how to coach clients to define their direction, set priorities, and translate strategy into a practical plan.

Module 4 - Small Business Money Problems (and what to do about them)

Coach the person behind the numbers. Learn how to recognize money patterns, beliefs, and avoidance that can block progress, then use clear diagnostic questions to pinpoint cash pressure and guide smarter decisions.

Module 5 - Coaching towards a Healthy Small Business Culture

Turn team stress into team structure. Learn how to coach owners through hiring, leadership expectations, and culture building, so the team performs and the owner can breathe again.

Module 6 - Strategic Target Market Exploration for Coaches and Clients

Help your clients stop wasting money on “hope marketing.” You will learn how to guide them to identify their best customers and focus their budget where it counts.

Module 7 - Roadmap to a Successful Small Business Coaching Practice

Turning your skills into a career. We walk you through the business side of coaching, how to find your first clients, how to price your services, and how to build a practice that sustains you.

Become a catalyst for change in the world of small business coaching and embark on a journey towards enriching lives and businesses. Join us and acquire the knowledge and skills to make a lasting impact on your clients’ entrepreneurial ventures

COURSE FEE

$997 CAD

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Choose your ICF credential pathway with Systems Business Coach®

Our ICF-accredited pathways are designed to help you achieve your ACC or PCC in a clear, consistent way. Each option combines our most popular courses, and two of the three pathways lead to your Certified Systems Business Coach® designation so you can build a profitable small business coaching practice.

Effective Small Business Coach Training Program

ICF Level 1 ACC pathway.

Includes Foundations, Bootcamp, and Mentor Coaching.

Professional Certificate in Small Business Coaching

ICF Level 1 ACC pathway with dual certificate.

Includes Bootcamp, Certification, and Mentor Coaching. Graduates earn the Certified Systems Business Coach® designation.

Advanced Certificate in Small Business Coaching

ICF Level 2 PCC pathway with dual certificate. Includes Foundations, Bootcamp, Certification, and Mentor Coaching. Graduates earn the Certified Systems Business Coach® designation.

If your goal is to build a long-term coaching business, choose a pathway that leads to becoming a Certified Systems Business Coach® and grow with our global community and ongoing support

Participant Reviews

I love the idea of small business, and they are the heroes of the economy. And it’s so tough and it can be lonely. And sometimes it is a coaching conversation that needs to happen. I feel like having systems and having the framework so I can not only be certified but but have that extra bit of confidence to sell myself and have that conversation.

I’m a CPA, and I’ve always worked with Small Business owners. I opted into this program because I am looking to transition my career to becoming a small business coach. I’ve always really enjoyed those interactions and that kind of relationship and I want to continue that on as I transition into my later career life and that’s why I’m here.

Sometimes when people are stuck, yes, it might be a limiting belief. Yes, it might be something that’s coachable, but actually it might also be something that’s really practical. And the resources that I’ve seen from a systems business coach I think are going to be incredible for that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you exploring how to become a small business coach? You’re in the right place. Systems Business Coach® offers one of the only ICF-accredited coach training programs in the world dedicated exclusively to coaching small business owners. Unlike generic leadership or executive coaching programs, our training is built for helping professionals who work with entrepreneurs and business owners of companies with fewer than 100 employees, the segment that makes up 95% of all businesses globally.

Learn how to coach with confidence, earn your ICF credential, and support business owners where it matters most: leadership, finance, operations, team, and marketing.

Do I need previous business or coaching experience?

Helpful but not required. We start with foundations and build practical competence through live practice and feedback.

Does completing Foundations count toward becoming a certified Systems Business Coach®?

Yes. Foundations is the first step on the SBC pathway. After Foundations, you’ll have clear next steps to continue training and licensure.

What else do I need beyond Foundations to achieve ICF Level 1 / ACC?

We offer two (2) ICF Level 1 Programs.

#1 – The Effective Small Business Coach Training that includes Bootcamp, Foundations and Mentor Coaching

#2- For those who want to become a Certified Systems Business Coach, The Professional Small Business Coach Training program includes Bootcamp, a self paced version of our Foundations course, Certification and Mentor Coaching.

All students must pass the Level 1 ICF coaching performance exam included with the course , log 100 coaching hours, plus pass the ICF knowledge exam offered only by the ICF when you submit your graduation from one of our programs.

Book a call with one of our program advisors to discuss your unique learning goals. https://link.systemsbusinesscoach.com/widget/bookings/sbc-discovery-call

Who is Foundations small business coach training course for?

This program is ideal for:

Anyone considering a career as a small business coach, this is a great first step!
Consultants
Economic development officers
Marketing agency professionals
Accountants and bookkeepers
Coaches wanting to specialize in small business
Advisors already working with entrepreneurs
Current business owners looking for a side hustle that builds on their experience

Explore our Foundations Course to get started.

What credentials do I need to become a small business coach?

To become a small business coach through Systems Business Coach®, you don’t need to be a certified coach before you start. Our accredited training path provides everything you need to:

Learn how to coach effectively using the ICF Core Competencies
Apply coaching skills to real small business challenges
Earn your ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential

The Foundations Course gives you an overview of our method and the fundamentals of coaching small business owners. It’s designed to help you understand the principles and structure of effective business coaching.
However, this introductory course does not include access to Systems Business Coach® tools, templates, processes, or licensing rights.

To gain access to our full suite of proprietary coaching materials and resources, you’ll continue on to become a Certified Systems Business Coach®. Certification includes licensed use of our complete toolkit of systems, guides, and tools, giving you everything you need to support any small business owner challenge with confidence and professionalism.

Learn more:
➡️ Small Business Coach Certification Program

➡️ Foundations Course

How long does it take to become a certified small business coach?

With Systems Business Coach®, you can become certified faster than you might think. We offer two certification paths:

ICF Level 1 Certification – Complete in as few as 6 months.
Certified Systems Business Coach® – Earn your designation in less than 9 months.

Both programs prepare you to start coaching small business owners in as little as 12 weeks while you continue your training. This means you can begin building your coaching practice and gaining real-world experience long before you finish the full certification.

Can I make a living as a small business coach?

Yes—you absolutely can.

Our program is modelled after the real-life experience of our founder, who built a sustainable and profitable coaching practice working four days a week (Fridays off for family), taking summers off, and coaching 40 weeks per year. With a roster of 10 active one-to-one clients plus two group programs, this schedule generated approximately $200,000 annually.

And here’s the best part—it was achieved while charging about half of what many “guru” coaches charge. High fees can make it difficult to attract and retain clients. Our suggested pricing ensures everyone wins: the coach earns a healthy living, clients get exceptional value, and the community benefits from stronger, more sustainable small businesses.

With the right systems, tools, and pricing model, becoming a small business coach can be both financially rewarding and personally fulfilling.

Note: Our graduates build rewarding coaching practices through their own effort and drive. You’ll be responsible for finding and working with your own clients.

How do I get started?

You have two options:

Take the Small Business Coaching Foundations Course
This is the ideal starting point for anyone considering a career in small business coaching. It’s affordable, packed with deep and practical learning, and earns you 30 ICF CCEUs. You’ll gain valuable skills you can apply immediately, whether you decide to pursue full certification or not.
Book a Discovery Call
If you’re unsure where to start or want to know how your unique experience and situation fit into a professional coaching career, schedule a free call with us. We’ll walk you through what it takes to become a professional certified small business coach and help you decide if Systems Business Coach® is right for you.
Book a Discovery Call

Help Small Business Owners Build Their Dream Business, while You Build Yours

Our Foundations course is designed to help you deeply understand small business dynamics and learn to effectively coach small business owners towards success.

Get the skills to build trust, establish rapport, challenge business owners, and implement foundational strategies for small business success.

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