Let’s have a real conversation.

The NDIS space is growing, which is incredible. It means more opportunities for impact, more support for participants, and more demand for service providers who genuinely care.

But with that growth comes noise. And with that noise comes business coaches.

Every second person seems to have a new program, mentorship, or "signature method" for helping NDIS providers grow. Some are great. Some are not.

As someone who built a multi million dollar NDIS business from scratch, with over 50 staff and hundreds of participants, I’ve seen first hand what works and what absolutely doesn’t. And I’ve also seen too many good hearted business owners burned by coaching programs that overpromise and underdeliver.

So this blog is your heads up. A grounded, no BS guide to help you avoid the wrong kind of “support.”

Here are the red flags you need to watch out for when it comes to NDIS business coaching:

1. They’ve Never Run an NDIS Business Themselves

The NDIS is not like other industries. It is complex, people focused, and heavily regulated. There are compliance obligations, funding models, staffing challenges and service delivery expectations that are unique to this sector. If a coach has never walked that path, built a team, supported participants, dealt with audits, managed rostering and navigated the NDIA, then their advice can only go so far. Real world experience matters because theory without context won’t prepare you for the practical challenges of running an NDIS business.

2. They’re Still Running Their Own NDIS Business But You’d Never Know It

Some coaches are still active providers, but you would never know it because they hide it behind different branding or vague language. If someone is positioning themselves as a coach while still operating their own NDIS business in the background, this can create a conflict of interest. They may be targeting the same referrers, participants or support coordinators as you, while also collecting your business data and strategies. Transparency matters. You deserve to know whether your "mentor" is also your competitor.

3. They’ve Only Ever Built One Business Their Coaching Business

There is a big difference between growing a service based organisation with real staff, real participants, and high levels of responsibility versus building an online coaching brand. If a coach has only ever run a coaching business, they may not fully understand the operational demands of rostering, crisis management, team culture or service compliance. Business coaching requires lived experience across a broader base than just social media marketing.

4. They Regurgitate What Their Mentor Taught Them

It’s one thing to learn from a mentor. It’s another to copy paste someone else’s framework and sell it as your own. If a coach is simply repeating what they learned in a group program without adapting it for the NDIS, it won’t serve you well. You need insight shaped by direct experience, not recycled advice. Look for original thinking, practical adjustments and someone who has actually tested the tools they teach.

5. They Promise Overnight Success

"Fully booked in 30 days" might sound tempting, but it’s rarely realistic in the NDIS. Building a steady referral stream takes time, visibility, relationship building and trust. Quick fixes often lead to mismatched participants, overworked teams, or short lived growth. Sustainable success is built slowly with structure, clarity and consistency.

6. No Original IP, Process or Framework

If a coach can’t clearly explain how they help people grow, or what makes their method different, it might mean they don’t have a true process. You want someone who has refined a proven pathway, a structure they’ve used themselves, that they can walk you through with confidence. Vague advice or content that changes week to week is not a system.

7. It’s All Talk, No Walk

If their coaching content is mostly motivational slogans, reels or curated highlights with no actual strategy or step by step support, it’s not helpful. Encouragement has its place, but it won’t build your systems, manage your team, or attract ideal clients. You need someone who will give you actionable guidance, not just cheer you on.

8. They’ve Never Lost a Business or Rebuilt One

There is deep wisdom in failure. Coaches who have only ever experienced growth may not understand the lessons that come from tough seasons. If they’ve never had to make difficult decisions, rebuild after loss, or realign their business when things fell apart, they may not know how to support you when you’re under pressure. You want someone who’s weathered storms, not just coasted through sunny days.

9. Heavy Focus on Ads, Funnels or SEO

While digital marketing can be helpful later in your journey, it’s not the foundation of a sustainable NDIS business. Trust is built through relationships, visibility, reputation and follow through. If your coach wants you to start with Facebook ads, funnels or SEO agencies before you’ve clarified your messaging and built your local presence, it might not be the right fit.

10. No Support Around Team, Systems or Delegation

Growth means letting go. If your coach doesn’t help you understand how to hire, delegate or create systems so the business can run without you doing everything, you’ll stay stuck. A good coach teaches you how to step into leadership, not just how to get more clients.

11. No Real Understanding of Compliance or Participant Led Practice

Ethics and compliance aren’t optional in the NDIS. If a coach is teaching methods that bypass participant choice, push people into services, or focus more on "conversion" than client fit, they may not understand NDIS practice standards. This can put your registration and your reputation at risk.

12. They Only Show the Highlights Reel

If a coach only shares big wins, polished success stories and never talks about challenges, setbacks or lessons learned, that’s a red flag. Real business ownership includes all of it. You need someone who’s willing to be honest about their journey, not just sell the dream.

NDIS business coaching can be incredibly powerful when it’s grounded in real world experience, sector insight and genuine support.

But if it’s built on vague promises, hidden agendas or recycled content, it can leave you more confused and frustrated than when you started.

You deserve guidance that’s built on truth, not tactics. Experience, not ego. And strategies that actually fit the work you do, the values you hold, and the business you’re building.

Keep asking questions. Stay discerning. And trust yourself, you already know what integrity feels like.

So this blog is your heads up. A grounded, no BS guide to help you avoid the wrong kind of “support.”

🎥 Watch the full breakdown here:
In this video, I go deeper into the 12 red flags of NDIS business coaching and how to protect your business from poor advice.

👉 Watch on YouTube or play it below: