Choose by your biggest constraint and how you like to learn, not by brand. This guide compares five systems on the same facts, with a source for each.
Short answer: systems built around a management rhythm suit teams that need alignment. Peer-based programmes suit experienced owners who want a sounding board. Coach-led systems suit owners who want help with their own numbers and decisions.
| System | Origin | Format | Cost (as published) | Scale (as published) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ActionCOACH | Founded 1993 by Brad Sugars; franchised since 1997 (directory listing, confirm on actioncoach.com) | One-to-one coaching through franchise coaches | Not published on the sources checked | 70+ countries, nearly 1,000 coaches (directory listing) |
| EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) | Gino Wickman's Traction | Self-run using books and tools, or guided by an EOS implementer | Not stated on the source | 170,000+ companies use EOS tools and 17,000+ run on EOS (EOS Worldwide, November 2022) |
| Scaling Up | Verne Harnish, Rockefeller Habits | 12-week hybrid course with live sessions and coaching | Group accelerator US$10,000; private programme US$25,000 (course page, 2026 intake) | "Thousands of business leaders" (no count published) |
| Simple-Growth System | Kevin D'Ambros-Smith, Simple-Growth | One-to-one coaching and online programmes | Typically $5,000 to $10,000 for one-to-one coaching, higher for intensive advisory work; exact pricing after a free 30-minute discovery call. Eligible NZ businesses may receive up to 50% of one-to-one coaching fees through RBP co-funding | 200+ businesses coached one-on-one; four pillars: strategy, marketing and communications, sales, productivity and implementation |
| Strategic Coach | Dan Sullivan | Four workshops a year, in person (Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, London) or virtual, in peer groups | Not published; fees due upfront each year | For entrepreneurs with at least three years' experience; the programme says about three years are typically needed for major change |
Work out your own break-even. Illustration only: if a programme costs $10,000 and your gross margin is 40%, you need about $25,000 of extra sales to cover it ($10,000 divided by 0.40). Ask any provider to show how clients measured the result, and treat headline multiples with caution.
Related guides: how to choose a business coach in New Zealand and business coach vs consultant.
Results depend on the business and the owner's effort.
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