The first thing to establish is whether you get along with your intended coach. It’s no good hiring someone if they rub you up the wrong way or they antagonize you. The coaching relationship is not a short term one, so you need to ensure that you can stick with this person for several months or more.
Secondly you need to establish whether they have a systematized method for growing a business and if it is compatible with your style of running a business. Conflict in this area can result in actual conflict.
Ask your prospective coach whether they have additional resources available for you to read, such as web tutorials, videos, audio or books.
Importantly ask your business coach what happens if they can’t guarantee improved profitability. A reputable coach should be prepared to give you a money back guarantee if the programme doesn’t work out.
Lastly, make sure you ask for testimonials and contact details for references. You don’t want to be a guinea pig, so the best way to find out is to ask other people.