7 Types of Business Mentoring Programs for One-Person Businesses

After two decades of building businesses, I've learned that you don't need coaching but the right kind of guidance at the right time.

The mentorship space has exploded. LinkedIn is flooded with “business coaches” promising overnight results and ready to sell you “magic beans.”. Masterminds are launching every month. Online communities sold by influencers with six-figure audiences who actually don’t run them or are then never even around.

This creates a new problem: How do you choose between one-on-one coaching, group programs, peer circles, or self-directed learning when you're already overwhelmed running your business?

I've participated in most of these models. I've also created the right version of several of them. 

After mentoring over 551 consultants, founders, and solopreneurs, I've seen which approaches work for different personality types, business stages, and learning preferences.

The wrong mentorship model doesn't just waste your money—it can set you back months or even years. In this guide, I’ll break down the different types of business mentoring programs so that you can choose the right model for yourself.

1. 1:1 Coaching: Direct access with premium pricing

One-on-one coaching, done the proper way, gives you personalized attention from someone who has built what you're trying to build.

You get customized advice, direct feedback on your specific challenges, and the ability to dive deep into your unique business situation. These mentors give you focused attention on your problems.

When it's worth the investment: 

• Complex, specific challenges that don't fit into generic frameworks. 
• Unconventional business models. 
• Highly specialized markets. 
• Sensitive operational issues that need privacy.
• Deal values that push into the five or six-figure range

When to skip it: You're looking for basic business fundamentals. You can't verify the coach has actually built what you're trying to build. You need ongoing support rather than problem-solving.

The trade-off is cost and availability.

Quality 1:1 coaches charge $10,000+ because of their background and expertise. You're paying for their full attention, but that attention comes at a premium that many solopreneurs find difficult to sustain long-term.

I'm skeptical of coaches who haven't built what you're trying to build.

Too many "business coaches" have made their money coaching, not running the type of business they're advising on. When evaluating 1:1 options, verify they've done what you want to do—not just studied it or taught it.

The best 1:1 coaching relationships feel more like mentorship and outcome-focused. You're not hiring a therapist. You're hiring expertise to solve specific problems.

2. Group coaching: Structured learning with peer mentoring

Group mentoring combines expert instruction with peer interaction in a structured format. And the best people in the business have a healthy mix of 1:1 and group coaching.

A coach leads the sessions, provides frameworks, and facilitates discussions among participants, typically at similar business stages. Think of it as an interactive classroom for business owners who run businesses.

When it's worth the investment:

• You learn better in collaborative environments. 
• You want expert guidance but aren’t ready to invest in 1:1 coaching. 
• You benefit from hearing how others tackle similar problems.

When to avoid it: You need immediate, specific solutions. You prefer private access. The group isn’t vetted enough or at your business stage.

As alluded to, group coaching bridges the gap between private, individual coaching and purely peer-based learning.

You get professional guidance while benefiting from the diverse perspectives and shared experiences of other business owners. The combination of expert instruction and peer mentorship often produces "aha" moments that wouldn't emerge in isolation.

For example, you learn different communication strategies for tactically closing a deal and experience massive knowledge transfer by just observing everybody's conversation. Compared to traditional one-on-one mentoring, you build a business network and achieve a broader set of mentoring objectives.

The structure also provides accountability.

When you commit to implementing something in front of a group, you're more likely to follow through than if you made the same commitment privately to a coach.

The quality depends heavily on the coach's facilitation skills and the engagement level of other participants. A passive group or poor facilitation can make these sessions feel like generic webinars.

3. Mastermind groups: Peer-powered problem solving

Mastermind groups bring together business owners at similar levels to share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and provide mutual accountability.

These masterminds are typically a combination or peer-facilitated or lightly guided by a mentor. The collective wisdom of the group drives the value, not a single expert. A big difference between groups and masterminds include how frequently they meet, with masterminds often being less frequent and going much deeper into specific topics.

When they're powerful: You want advice from people actively building businesses like yours. You thrive on peer accountability. You can contribute as much as you take.

When to pass: The mastermind has misaligned peers from personality to experience level. You prefer expert instruction over peer advice. You're not willing to be vulnerable about your challenges.

The peer accountability aspect often proves more powerful than expert advice.

When other business owners count on you to report progress, you're more likely to act on your commitments. This social pressure creates momentum that's difficult to generate in isolation.

However, masterminds require careful curation. A mastermind with mismatched business stages, incompatible personalities, or passive participants can quickly become unproductive.

4. Community-based mentorship: Ongoing support with shared learning

Online communities combine peer interaction, expert guidance, and ongoing support in accessible formats.

Members share challenges, celebrate wins, ask questions, and learn from both facilitators and each other through forums, chat platforms, or regular meetings.

When they're most valuable: You want ongoing support rather than one-time fixes. You learn well from peer interaction. You can commit to active participation.

When they won't work: You prefer passive consumption or immediate, specific solutions. You're not willing to help others alongside getting help.

Well-run communities provide consistent value through multiple interaction modes.

You might get quick answers to specific questions through chat, deeper insights through forum discussions, and structured learning through community workshops or expert sessions.

The ongoing nature builds relationships over time. Unlike mentorship programs with defined end dates, communities allow you to develop trusted connections with peers who understand your business evolution.

I've built my business around this model because it aligns with how solopreneurs learn and grow.

You need consistent touchpoints, varied perspectives, and the ability to learn at your own pace while staying connected to others on similar journeys. In fact, I’ve left 1000+ comments in The Club in the past year and will continue to be as involved going forward.

The community model also provides the best cost-to-value ratio for most solopreneurs. Instead of paying premium rates for individual coaching sessions, you get ongoing access to guidance, peers, and resources for a fraction of the cost.

5. Accelerators and incubators: Intensive programs with structured outcomes

Accelerators and incubators provide intensive, time-bound programs designed to rapidly advance your business through structured curriculum, expert mentorship, and sometimes equity or financial investment.

Traditional accelerators were built for venture-backed startups. New programs specifically target solopreneurs and service-based businesses. These typically run 8-16 weeks and combine workshops, one-on-one mentoring, peer interaction, and deadline-driven milestones.

When they make sense: 

• You thrive under pressure and structure. 
• You need forced focus on working ON your business. 
• You're seeking rapid transformation and have the time to commit.

When they're overkill: 

• You're committed to staying solo and growing sustainably. 
• You can't dedicate significant hours while managing existing clients. 
• You prefer gradual, self-paced learning.

The intensity can be transformative for solopreneurs who thrive under pressure.

You're forced to work ON your business rather than just IN it, often leading to breakthroughs that wouldn't happen through gradual, self-paced learning.

However, most accelerators are overkill for established solopreneurs.

They're designed for businesses seeking rapid scaling, often with the expectation of external funding or team building. If you're committed to staying solo and growing sustainably, the "hockey stick growth" mentality won't align with your goals.

The time commitment can also be overwhelming. Accelerator programs often assume you can dedicate significant hours to program activities, which isn't realistic when you're the sole revenue generator.

6. Mentorship marketplaces: On-demand expertise with variable quality

Mentoring platforms are increasingly popping up to connect solopreneurs with experienced mentors for pay-per-call sessions.But these are really “hired guns” and rented talent who aren’t as invested into you longterm.

You can book time with experts in specific areas—marketing, sales, operations, or industry-specific knowledge.

When they're useful: You need specialized expertise for specific decisions. You want to test different mentors before committing. You prefer paying only for what you use.

When to look elsewhere: You need ongoing relationships and context. You want comprehensive business guidance. You can't verify the mentor's actual experience.

This mentoring model provides flexibility and cost control.

You can access specialized expertise exactly when you need it, paying only for the specific guidance you require—for example, a pricing decision. Need feedback on a marketing strategy. Want input on operational efficiency? Book the right expert.

The challenge is quality control and relationship building. This is a fairly transactional approach.

Since you're typically working with different mentors for different issues, you lose the continuity and deeper understanding that comes from longer-term mentoring relationships. Each new mentor needs to understand your business context before providing useful advice.

The variable quality of mentors also creates risk. While some are experienced business owners sharing genuine expertise, others may be career coaches without relevant experience building businesses like yours.

This model works best as a supplement to other approaches rather than your primary source of guidance.

7. Content-based mentorship: Self-directed learning with expert frameworks

Content-based mentorship delivers expert guidance through courses, newsletters, playbooks, and other educational materials.

You learn from experienced business builders through their documented knowledge, frameworks, and systematic approaches.

When it's perfect: You prefer learning at your own pace. You want systematic frameworks you can reference repeatedly. You're self-motivated and don't need external accountability.

When it's not enough: You need personalized feedback on your specific situation. You struggle with implementation without external support. You learn better through discussion and interaction.

This model offers maximum flexibility and cost efficiency.

You can learn at your own pace, revisit materials as needed, and focus on the areas most relevant to your current challenges. Quality content also provides lasting value—you can reference frameworks and systems long after completing the initial learning.

I provide this through my weekly briefing and occasional workshops because many solopreneurs prefer learning through structured content they can implement on their timelines. Feel free to sign up here:

Self-directed learning often fits better than scheduled coaching calls or group sessions when managing client work and business operations.

The limitation is the lack of personalized feedback and accountability.

Content can provide excellent frameworks and strategies but can't adapt to your specific situation or push you through implementation barriers. You're responsible for applying the concepts and maintaining momentum without external support.

Choosing your mentorship mix

Always learn from someone who's done what you’re trying to do—not just someone who says they know the theory. No one actually goes to someone who “plays a doctor on TV” when they need medical attention. Don’t do the same in your business.

That principle should guide your mentorship decisions regardless of format. Match the approach to your learning style, business stage, and specific goals.

The most successful solopreneurs combine multiple mentorship approaches:

• A community for ongoing support
• Content for systematic frameworks
• 1:1 sessions for specific challenges

Remember that mentorship is a means to an end. Choose approaches that drive progress toward your goals, then commit to implementing what you learn.

The best mentorship won't help if you don't take action.

If you're looking for more 1:1 help or space to interact with a group of expert peers, reach out below: