About Small Business Coach Associates
Your Business Shouldn't Feel Like Survival Mode. It Should Feel Like Progress.
For over 20 years, we’ve helped more than 1,100 small business owners break free from the Owner’s Trap — building businesses that serve their lives instead of consuming them. (On this page are a few of the 1,100+ business owners we’ve helped.)
In 2026, four of our client firms met the rigorous growth requirements for the Inc. 5000 list, with one standout founder doubling revenue from $6M to $12M in a single year. Another of our clients grew his business from $3M to $9M in 10 months with a part time business! Additionally, two clients were honored with prestigious Industry Awards over the last year, and another was selected for the Exceptional Women in Business Award.
Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor. It’s a Warning Sign.
I’ve been exactly where you are. Working too many hours. Sacrificing time with family. Wondering if the business you built is actually building you — or burying you.
You didn’t start your business to work 70-hour weeks and still feel behind. You started it for freedom — financial freedom, time freedom, the ability to build something that lasts.
Ready to Build a Profitable and Scalable Business?
Alan Melton's Entrepreneurial Journey
The Vision
Long before the accolades, Alan Melton was a 14-year-old runaway on a Greyhound bus to Florida. He was staring out the window and imagining a future where he owned a business, carried a briefcase, and finally felt stable. That vision became a lifeline.
Caught in the "Owner's Trap"
In 1983, at age 26, Alan and a partner launched a car rental start-up with just three vehicles and $3,000. While the business grew to $1M in sales, Alan fell into the classic Owner’s Trap:
The 24/7 Grind: Manned phones around the clock and worked 12-day shifts before taking a single weekend off.
Personal Sacrifice: Despite the high revenue, Alan was making less money than his previous job and once had to buy baby milk on a gas credit card because cash was so tight.
The Bottleneck: With worn-out shoes and a $29 sale blazer, Alan was working 80-hour weeks just to keep the doors open.
The Turning Point
Facing burnout, Alan hired a business coach (then called a consultant). This partnership transformed the business. By implementing professional systems and better pricing strategies, Alan cut his workweek in half while doubling his income within months.
A Legacy of Excellence
That foundation of systems allowed the business to scale from a two-man operation to East Coast Transportation, a premiere fleet with 130 employees. This journey led to the “Big Three” recognitions that define Alan’s career:
Inc. 500 (1989): Ranked #422 among America’s fastest-growing private companies.
SBA Small Business Person of the Year (1994): Awarded for outstanding leadership and growth.
Governor’s Sterling Award (1999): Honored for organizational performance excellence, benchmarked against the standards of the Ritz-Carlton.
Alan’s proudest achievement wasn’t a trophy; it was the $1 million gift he shared with his employees upon selling the firm to a publicly held company. Today, he uses that same “In the Trenches” experience to help you build a business that serves your life, not the other way around.
Building the Blueprint [7 Stages To Business Freedom]
After successfully growing his companies, Alan began refining the systems and leadership strategies that created that success.
These proven processes became the blueprint for the 7 Stages to Business Freedom, which he now shares with entrepreneurs to help them scale revenue, profits, and freedom.
From Business Owner to Business Coach
With a track record of scaling an Inc. 500 company and building award-winning organizations, Alan Melton now shares the systems behind that success with small business owners nationwide.
Today, he coaches business owners on how to grow revenue, strengthen teams, and build businesses that provide both profit and freedom.
7 Stages to Business Freedom
Alan Melton didn’t just build a successful business; he developed a repeatable system to help other owners do the same. The 7 Stages of Business Freedom™ is the Small Business Coach Associates proprietary framework designed to identify exactly where you are and what specific systems you need to reach the next level.
Dream Phase
Moving from an idea to a validated business model.
Start-Up Stage
Launching with a strategic plan and a strong brand identity.
Chaos Stage
Overcoming the disorder of early success by implementing basic financial and sales systems.
Break-Even Stage
Achieving normalcy and beginning to measure real business results.
Burnout Stage
The critical turning point where you must delegate or stagnate.
Profitability Stage
Refining high-performance systems so the business begins to serve you.
Success Stage
You and your business have established your brand reputation and provided high-quality products and services.
Freedom Stage
The ultimate goal, a systematized, scalable, and legacy-ready business that runs without your daily supervision.
Small Business Coach Associates don’t rely on coaching from theory. Each stage includes specific coaching modules, from strategic planning to CEO personal growth, tailored to your unique challenges. Our mission is to align your business with your life goals so you can finally make more, have fun, and work less.
Ready to Build a Profitable and Scalable Business?
Alan Melton
Alan isn’t a professor in an ivory tower. In Alan’s first business after personally experiencing problems with cash flow, customers, employees, debt and burnout, he hired a business coach who transformed his life and business. From there his struggling small business grew to a leading company with 130 employees and high profits. After selling his business to a publicly-held company Alan founded Small Business Coach Associates and created the Small Business Coach framework to help him overcome obstacles in his own company. The process resulted in him doubling revenue and profits for three consecutive years.
Sorpresa Cardoza
Is a versatile and results-driven manager with a strong background in operations, communication, and digital strategy. She excels in vendor negotiation, billing oversight, and internal communications, while also managing the company’s social media presence, graphic design, and SEO initiatives. A certified virtual assistant and 2021 medalist from DigitalJobPH, Sorpresa brings a unique blend of creativity and efficiency to every task. With five years of teaching experience as both a junior and senior homeroom teacher, as well as one-on-one ESL tutoring for children, she is a natural leader and communicator who thrives in fast-paced, service-oriented environments
Dave Pugh
Is a seasoned small business coach and financial advisor with over 30 years of leadership, teaching, and entrepreneurial experience. He has founded multiple successful businesses and financially advised more than 800 business owners and families. A music educator, Dave led award-winning bands that performed for two seated U.S. Presidents—demonstrating his ability to inspire excellence and lead high-performing teams. He has also taught Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University for over 20 years, equipping individuals and business owners with the tools to achieve financial freedom and long-term success.
Bob Zook
Is a seasoned small business coach and consultant with over 18 years of experience helping more than 80 businesses improve performance, reduce costs, and increase profits. He has facilitated over 110 teams to solve complex problems, trained 40+ team facilitators to become effective leaders, and created 30 streamlined procedure templates to help businesses systematize and scale. A recipient of the GE Executive Award for Technological Improvement, Bob is known for transforming company cultures and delivering practical, lasting results.
Odessa Cardoza
Is a dedicated professional focused on creating engaging content, building community, and driving growth across digital platforms. She is responsible for developing and scheduling posts, fostering audience interaction, and implementing strategies that enhance brand visibility and follower engagement. With a keen eye for trends and a passion for connecting with audiences, Odessa plays a key role in strengthening the company’s online presence and supporting its overall marketing goals.
What founders are saying
“Tremendous Growth – From $900K to $4M”
Small Business Coach Associates has been instrumental in helping us scale our business and develop our team. Our growth has been tremendous, from $900K to $4M, and we continue to see success.
“Growing as a Leader, 22% Boost in 30 Days”
Since working with Small Business Coach Associates, I’ve grown as a leader and gained clarity I didn’t have before. In just 30 days, our activity is up 22%, morale is high, and we’re thriving even in challenging times.
“Sales Grew from $44K to $1.1 Million Per Year”
My coach helped me see opportunities I never thought about. Within just five months, my sales grew by 800%, my student count doubled, and I took my first paycheck. Since then, we’ve grown from $44,000 to over $1,100,000 per year!
“We Improved Our Profit by Over $60,000 This Year”
Our SBCA coaches have completely transformed how we run our business. Our profit has improved by more than $60,000 this year, and we’re getting ready to build a new shop. Sales have more than doubled since we started working with you!
“In just a few weeks our sales have increased by $500,000 annually”
Before working with SBCA, I was overwhelmed and stuck. Other coaches gave me generic advice that never worked. But with SBCA, I finally got clear direction, a real strategy, and accountability. Now we’re growing fast and on track to jump from $5M to $7M this year.
“Gave Myself a Raise, Paid Off $75K Debt & Took 5 Weeks Vacation”
We’re on track to double our generator sales this year. We gave ourselves and our employees raises, paid off $75,000 in debt, and completely transformed our quoting, sales, and collections processes. Most importantly, I finally took 5 weeks off without stress!
“Hired 3 Amazing Employees & Grew Our Sales by 200%”
SBCA helped us define our vision, improve leadership, and build a real strategy for growth. In just 12 months, we grew sales by 200%, hired 3 incredible team members, and took an extra day off each week!
“My Sales Are Up 60%, and Profits Increased by 233%”
With SBCA, I gained the accountability, systems, and hiring strategies I needed. I freed up my time, improved marketing, and as a result, my 2024 sales are up 60% and profits have increased by 233%!
“Profits Up $300K and Dates With My Wife”
After struggling with financial setbacks, my coach helped turn my business around. Within six months, profits increased by $152K, and annualized, that’s over $300K. More importantly, I now have time to take my wife on dates again.
“Exceeded $1M in Sales While Reducing Work Hours and Stress”
Since working with SBCA, we’ve gone from 70-hour workweeks to 30-40 hours, with significantly less stress. Our business has efficient systems in place, and we’ve exceeded $1 million in sales—well beyond our initial $675K goal.
“Work Hours Reduced from 111 to 47.5 Per Week”
After experiencing extreme business growth, I was drowning. My coach at SBCA introduced me to a structured approach that helped me reclaim my time while still growing my business. My work hours have dropped from 111 to 47.5 per week, and my quality of life has improved significantly.
“Sales Up by $397,976, Profit Up by $308,120”
SBCA’s straightforward, practical coaching helped us increase sales by nearly $400K and profitability by over $300K in just six months. Their expertise saved us invaluable time and effort.
“Gained Confidence, 20% Increase in Revenue”
After just one session with SBCA, I gained the confidence to collect nearly half of my overdue invoices. By our second session, we had a plan in place, and my revenue jumped 20% without adding new clients.
“Sales Up from $3.6M to $13M, Profits Up 400%”
Small Business Coach Associates helped us transform our business during tough economic times. Sales have grown from $3.6M to $13M, and profits have increased by 400%. They helped us develop a five-year plan and reach every milestone.
“$170,000 Profit Increase, Sleeping Better”
After a past bad experience, we were hesitant to hire another coach but Small Business Coach Associates was different. They uncovered $200K in profit opportunities; we implemented $170K worth and started seeing results fast. For the first time in a while, we’re growing and sleeping better at night.
Ready to Build a Profitable and Scalable Business?
Ready to Build a Profitable and Scalable Business?
FAQs
Who are the experienced business coaches behind your small business coaching programs?
We’re a team of experienced business coaches with strong backgrounds in entrepreneurship, management, and leadership. Each coach brings years of hands-on experience and proven success in guiding small businesses toward growth. Our mission is to share practical strategies and insights that help business owners make smarter decisions, improve operations, and reach their goals through personalized, online sessions available worldwide.
Can I learn more about the expert coaches working with small businesses?
We’re happy to introduce you to our dedicated team of professional coaches who work closely with small business owners. Each coach has a strong track record in business growth, marketing, and operations. You can explore their profiles online, learn about their expertise, and discover how their skills can be matched to your specific business needs through our worldwide virtual coaching platform.
Are your coaches also successful business owners or business professionals?
We’re proud to have coaches who are not only skilled mentors but also successful entrepreneurs and business professionals themselves. They have built, managed, and scaled their own ventures, so they understand the real-world challenges of running a business. This firsthand experience allows them to offer practical advice, effective solutions, and proven strategies through online coaching sessions accessible anywhere in the world.
Do your business coaching associates specialize in different industries?
We’re a diverse team of business coaching associates with expertise across multiple industries, from retail and hospitality to technology and professional services. This wide range of knowledge allows us to match you with a coach who truly understands your market. Whether your business is local or global, our online coaching ensures industry-specific guidance tailored to your unique goals and challenges.
Who are the expert business coaches behind Small Business Coach Associates?
The coaches at Small Business Coach Associates are seasoned business owners and consultants with decades of hands-on experience across multiple industries. They’ve helped clients achieve measurable results, including revenue growth of up to 400% and streamlined operations that save both time and money. Each coach brings specialized expertise and a proven track record, ensuring business owners receive practical strategies, accountability, and the guidance needed to achieve long-term success through our virtual one-to-one coaching programs.
Can I work with a specific business coach based on my needs?
We’re happy to match you with a specific coach who fits your business needs and goals. Whether you prefer someone with expertise in marketing, leadership, operations, or a certain industry, you can request a coach who aligns with your vision. Our flexible, online worldwide coaching makes it easy to work with the right expert for your unique situation.
Do your coaches provide ongoing mentoring as well as coaching?
We’re committed to offering both ongoing mentoring and structured coaching. Beyond helping you set goals and strategies, our coaches provide continuous support, accountability, and guidance. You’ll have a trusted partner who understands your progress and challenges, ensuring long-term business growth. All of this is delivered through our flexible online sessions, making it accessible worldwide at your convenience.
What makes your coaches different from other coaching firms?
We’re different because our coaching staff combines real entrepreneurial experience with a personalized, results-focused approach. Each coach has built or managed successful businesses, giving them the practical knowledge to guide you effectively. We focus on creating strategies that work in the real world, delivered through online worldwide coaching that’s flexible, accessible, and designed around your unique needs and goals.
Can I schedule an introduction call with one of your coaches?
We’re glad to offer introduction calls so you can connect with a coach before starting. This allows you to discuss your challenges, goals, and expectations, ensuring the right fit. You can book these calls online, no matter where you are in the world, and begin your journey toward business success through our flexible virtual coaching platform.
Where is your coaching team based?
We’re a global team offering coaching services entirely online. While our coaches are located in various regions, our virtual platform allows us to work with clients anywhere in the world. This means you can access expert business guidance, proven strategies, and personalized coaching without location barriers, making our services available to entrepreneurs and small businesses worldwide.