ActionCOACH is the world's largest business coaching franchise, operating in over 80 countries. Simon Ellson is an ActionCOACH franchisee based in Dorset and is a seven-time winner of the BizX Best Client Results award — ActionCOACH's highest recognition for coaching outcomes.

Award-Winning Business Coach Dorset | Scale, Exit & Leadership

Business Coaching Behind the Books

These books don’t come from theory. They come from decades spent coaching business owners turning over £1M–£20M who want growth without chaos, leadership without burnout, and a business that can eventually run without them. I coach in Dorset and across the South West, and the case studies, tools, and models in these books all come directly from real business transformations.

Dorset Business Matters – Real Stories from Business Owners Who’ve Lived It

Dorset Business Matters is a UK business podcast built around individual journeys.

Hosted by Simon Ellson, the podcast features honest, emotional and insightful conversations with business owners who have lived the experience. These are not polished success stories or theory-led interviews. They are real people talking openly about what it’s actually like to build, grow and run a business.

Each guest shares their journey, the highs and the lows, the mistakes, the turning points and the lessons that only come from doing it for real. The conversations are personal, reflective and often challenging, offering insights and advice that other business owners can genuinely relate to.

New episodes are released weekly and are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

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Build & Scale

£3,000/month

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Scale & Exit

£4,000/month

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Business Exit

£5,000/month

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Sell Your Business

£8,000 one off + 3% of sale value

Book & Resources

Client: Retail Business, £1.5m Turnover

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Problem: Female Founder, lack of self worth, struggling to lead.
Solution: Leadership and Executive focussed coaching to build resilience and self confidence.

Result: A proud and confident leader of a fast growing business with a dedicated high performance team.

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Client: Retail Business, £4M Turnover

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Problem: Overworked founder, no systems, no exit plan.
Solution: Structured exit coaching, team elevation, full delegation.

Result: Owner exited in 14 months, retained as board advisor, business continues to thrive.

See More Results

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FAQ's

What does a business coach do?

A business coach helps you step back from the day-to-day and focus on building a business that actually works — without you being the bottleneck.
That means identifying what’s holding you back, putting clear strategies in place, and holding you accountable to execute. It’s not theory or “nice conversations” — it’s about fixing the problems, building systems, developing your team, and driving measurable growth.
The outcome? More control, better performance, and a business that can scale — and eventually run without you.

How much does business coaching cost?

Business coaching is an investment, not a cost — and it’s designed to deliver a commercial return.
Programmes typically start from around £3,000 per month, depending on the stage of your business and what you’re trying to achieve — whether that’s growth, systemisation, or preparing for exit.
Every programme is focused on outcomes like increased profit, stronger leadership, and long-term business value — so the goal is always to generate far more than you invest.

Do you offer business coaching in Dorset?

Yes — coaching is delivered across Dorset, including Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, and Weymouth, as well as the wider South West.
Most clients are local, but coaching is also available remotely, meaning you can work together regardless of location. The focus isn’t geography — it’s whether you’re serious about growth, scale, or exit.

What size businesses do you work with?

The focus is on established businesses, typically turning over between £1M and £20M, that have moved beyond the startup phase but are now facing the next level of challenges. This often includes hitting a growth plateau, being too reliant on the owner, lacking the systems or leadership structure needed to scale, or starting to think about preparing the business for sale or exit. If you’re looking to scale properly — not just stay busy — you’re the right fit.

What is ActionCOACH?

ActionCOACH is one of the world’s largest business coaching organisations, working with tens of thousands of businesses globally.
It provides proven frameworks, tools, and systems for improving sales, marketing, operations, and leadership — all focused on driving profit and business value.
Working with an ActionCOACH means you’re not relying on guesswork — you’re using a structured, tested approach to grow and scale your business.