James O'Halloran - certified b corp

Business Coaching Services in Bristol & Online

Are you exploring new opportunities in your business and not sure which direction to take? Maybe you’re buried in the day-to-day — decisions, strategy, operations — and haven’t had a proper moment to think. Or maybe things look fine from the outside, but something still feels off. That’s usually where a business coach comes in — someone to help you step back, get some clarity, and work out what’s actually next. I’m based in Bristol and work online too, so wherever you are, that’s rarely a barrier.

What Is Business Coaching and How Can It Transform Your Business?

Business coaching is really just having someone in your corner — someone who helps you get clear on your goals, work through what’s getting in the way, and build a way forward that actually fits your business, not a generic playbook. Some people call it business coaching, some call it business mentoring, some call it executive coaching. I don’t think the label matters much — what matters is whether it helps you grow and lead with more clarity.

What Business Coaching Can Help With:

Getting clear on where you actually want your business to go, so decisions get easier.
Working through what’s holding you back — could be strategy, money, the team, or just how you’re feeling about it all.
Building a plan that fits your business, not a template.
Reconnecting with why you started this in the first place — that spark is easy to lose once you’re deep in the day-to-day.

Coaching gives you the strength and confidence to make the hard calls, and helps you find your way back to why you’re doing this in the first place — this can often get lost whilst you’re running the business! Let’s reconnect you to that, and help you take action.

How Do Business Coaching Services Work?

In practice, it works by giving you a proper space to step back — away from the noise of the day-to-day — and actually look at your business, and yourself, clearly. From there, we build something structured together.

I’m based in Bristol, and I work with founders and business owners here, in Gloucester, and across the South West, as well as online wherever you’re based. I like working with people who want to challenge how things are usually done and push their business forward, not just tick boxes. Sessions are a safe space to unpack whatever’s actually going on for you, and get a clearer read on where you are and where you want to be.

A lot of the time, that means stepping back from the daily grind to notice how you’re actually thinking, deciding, and reacting to pressure — patterns you can’t always see from inside them.

Working with me offers several key benefits:

Holistic Perspective: Stepping back to look at your business from every angle — not just the numbers — so we can find the best next step, professionally and personally.
Structured Support: We build a plan around what you actually need, not a generic framework.
Stress Relief: Sometimes you just need somewhere to offload and think straight.
Accountability: I’ll help keep you honest about what you said you’d do.

What Challenges Does Business Coaching Solve?

“Where do I want the company to be in 5 years?”
“Help me get out of the detail?”
“My Mental Health isn’t what it used to be…”
“What type of person do I need for this new key role?”
“Should we head in this or that direction?”
“What should I do about this employee who isn’t working out?”
“I’m just not feeling it anymore… / I lack motivation.”
“I’m not sure I can lead this many people…”
“Should we take on investment?”
“How can I communicate my vision?”
“I thought I’d feel happier being self-employed… but I don’t.”
“I feel stuck in my own head and can’t break the cycle of overthinking.”

“I always come away from our meetings with a sense of clarity and having made some bold decisions. 3Sixty wouldn’t be where we are today without your contribution.”

Jon WaringOwner 3Sixty

“[working with James] isn’t about short term ROI, it’s about fundamental change in your personal vision, company direction and management of your team”

Luke ErringtonFounder: Swoop Patagonia; Swoop Antarctica

"Excellent business coach. Has the ability to see a business at a wider or detailed level as needed. Combines a great understanding of business and of people. Highly recommended!"

Ronal ShahFounder: FinTeXec (Removing Fear From Trading)

How Does Business Coaching Support Founders and CEOs in Bristol?

Founder coaching is a chance to step back from the day-to-day running of things, get some real clarity, and make the big calls with more confidence, without losing your grip on where the business is headed.

As a founder, CEO, or business leader — in Bristol or wherever you’re based — it’s easy to feel pulled in ten directions at once, especially early on or when things are growing fast. All that constant deciding and responsibility adds up, and burnout creeps in more easily than people expect. It doesn’t stay contained to the business either — it shows up in your energy, your relationships, how you turn up outside of work too.

When there’s a big opportunity for growth, working out the right move for you, your team, and the business isn’t always obvious. That’s where this kind of coaching earns its keep.

It helps you navigate the big decisions with more confidence, and make sure what you choose actually lines up with your longer-term vision and values — not just what feels urgent this week. We build a plan together to help you handle what’s in front of you and open up what’s next.

FAQs

How do I know if I need a Business Coach?

If you are struggling with which direction to take in business, feeling stuck and perhaps overwhelmed, then most likely you would benefit from talking to a Business Coach, where I can help you unlock your barriers or problems, help you to see things from a different perspective, and help you to achieve greater success.

This also applies if you’re feeling flat, lacking motivation, or questioning what you want from your business or career.

Can Coaching be a Business expense?

Yes. If you are an employee your employer will hopefully pay, I can help you with that conversation if required.

Do Business Coaches really work?

Yes! Think of athlete - the best athletes in the world all have coaches to help keep them focused, and aligned with their vision. It's the same with Business Coaching - I am there to help hold you accountable, focused, connected to your vision and help you reach your goals faster!

What's the difference between a Business Coach and a Career Coach?

Business Coaching explores where you are at within your business, what areas you might be struggling with and how to reach your goals, to help ease stress and build more confidence within your area of expertise.

Career Coaching helps you to connect to your purpose and passion, connecting to what you love and what drives you, recognising your strengths and how to help build a successful career out of your unique talents.

Are sessions online or in-person?

Sessions are online (via zoom) or in-person (if you live in the Bristol area).

How long does each session last?

Sessions usually last 1hr (if online), or 2 hrs (if in person).

What if I can't afford a Business Coach but really want to work with you?

To support my local Bristol community, I offer business coaching services at a subsidised rate for those who may be facing financial constraints. You may qualify if you are a low-income individual seeking business or career coaching, a new business struggling financially, or an underrepresented individual in need of coaching. If you are based in the Bristol area and interested, please get in touch. You can find out more here .

Is business coaching just for founders?

No, I coach a wide range of individuals. I also provide Neurodivergent Business Coaching & Entrepreneur Business Coaching

If you're unsure which type of coaching you need, feel free to get in touch with me

Can coaching help if I feel stuck or unmotivated?

Yes — this is one of the most common reasons people reach out. Coaching helps you explore what’s behind that feeling and find a clearer, more energising direction forward.

Can you help with focus, overthinking, or ADHD?

Many clients come to coaching because they struggle with focus, overthinking, or feeling mentally overwhelmed. While coaching isn’t a medical service, we can work together to better understand how you think and develop ways of working that suit you. You can find more info here

“We are kept from our goals, not by obstacles, but by a clearer path to a lesser goal.”

—Robert Brault.