Before starting Sidestep Coaching, Liam had been self-employed for 11 years. In that time he built 3 successful companies and has spent 6 years as a professional speaker. Because of client requests, he started coaching entrepreneurs and contacts in the financial and service-based sectors. Seeing a gap in the market place Liam applied his unique business ideas to these challenges and started Sidestep Coaching. Our coaching and training programs have caught the attention of multi-million dollar companies in the financial industry such as: Royal Bank, TD, Investors Group, Centum, 4 Pillars, and many more.
Sidestep Coaching is aggressively expanding across North America with franchise partners in Canada and the US.
BeTheBoss: Tell us about the Sidestep Coaching concept.
Liam Brown: The concept behind Sidestep Coaching is to accelerate the careers of professionals in financial and service-based industries. We do this by providing one-on-one coaching, group coaching, seminars, and corporate training. We bring proven systems, tools, strategies, and programs to our clients so they can build a successful business and grow it beyond their wildest dreams.
BTB: How and when did you become involved with Sidestep Coaching?
LB: I have been involved with Sidestep Coaching from the first day I started it. At the time a friend mentioned that I have always helped business professionals “side step” business pitfalls and help them achieve success in their business, from that day on Sidestep was born!
BTB: What was your background prior to joining Sidestep Coaching?
Liam Brown: I built 3 successful businesses, spent years speaking and presenting sales, business development, and marketing seminars and training topics across Canada and parts of the United States.
BTB: What are some of the advantages in being a Sidestep Coaching franchisee?
Liam Brown: Sidestep Coaching is such a different company than any other because of the systems, programs, coaching methodology, and support we provide to all of our franchisees. We also have established partnerships and have built relationships with many umbrella organizations of our ideal clientèle. That means our franchisee’s gain access to all of those organizations so they can build a successful and profitable coaching business quickly and we provide the full step-by-step systems to do it. Head office is very involved in guiding and supporting our franchisees every step of the way. When you join us you will be providing a number of different services: Direct one-on-one coaching, group coaching, seminars, and corporate training.
BTB: Who is your ideal franchisee?
Liam Brown: Someone who has business experience, preferably in a leadership role, and wants to take control of their own professional life. More importantly we look for people who have an unwavering desire to help others, are driven, forward-thinking, and are passionate about seeing success achieved for others - and of course, themselves.
BTB: Tell us a little about your industry?
Liam Brown: Our primary target market is the Financial Sector which is over 1.3 million professionals in Canada. Some of the main industries in our primary target include: Mortgage Brokers, Banks/Credit Unions, Private Mortgage Lenders, Financial Planners, and Insurance Brokers/Agents. Our secondary target market is coaching and training small to medium sized service-based businesses which is a total market of over 4 million in Canada.
BTB: Do you have a mentor and is their someone you use for inspiration?
Liam Brown: There are many but my father is a great inspiration for me. He had a young family when he left a good trade as an electrician to move into a commission-only industry he knew nothing about because he wanted more for his family and himself. He had no safety net and he worked hard to achieve great success.
BTB: What advice do you have for someone looking to acquire a Franchise?
Liam Brown: #1 - Make sure that the franchise offers incredible support to the franchisees and is there to help, support, and guide every step of the way.
#2 – Make sure they have a unique offering and that there are proven systems, programs, relationships, and actionable steps in place that you can take so that you can experience the same, if not greater, success in the business.
#3 – In any business, it is people that are going to make the biggest impact on the success of you and your business; anyone can provide programs and a methodology but the people need to be there for you to help you walk the path, support you taking the action steps, help you side step the pitfalls and get YOU where you want to be. (I had my coaching hat on for that little spiel!).
#4 – You have to WANT IT. Buying into a franchise doesn't necessarily mean you will realize your dreams overnight. Just like any business, it takes hard work and dedication – and a strong desire for success – to make it work.
BTB: In your opinion, why do you think that Sidestep Coaching would be a great opportunity for someone?
Liam Brown: At Sidestep Coaching we have developed strong relationships with our target industries and there is a massive need for our coaching and training programs. Our systems, programs, and methodologies are proven. Further, we are never resting on the heels of our previous accomplishments; we are constantly enhancing our offerings, developing further relationships for our Franchisee’s to benefit from, adding to the various programs we offer, and are always refining ways to make our franchisee’s more profitable and successful. Sidestep Head Office is 100% dedicated to working with all of our Franchisees to ensure their success with us.
