Gary Mullins: Building a Business with a Bright Future

From Corporate Leadership to Business Coaching

After more than 20 years in engineering and senior management, Gary Mullins wanted a different future. He had built successful businesses, led teams around the world and achieved significant career milestones, but he wanted greater control over his time and a better work-life balance.

Joining ActionCOACH UK gave Gary the opportunity to use his business experience in a new way. Over the following decade, he built a coaching business designed not only to support his family’s future but also to make a meaningful difference to business owners, their employees and the wider community.

“I worked in engineering production management for over 20 years, latterly growing one marine engineering company four-fold, entering it into the FTSE 250 before becoming CEO of a small developing business listed on the Alternative Investment Market in the UK. I spent all those years working all over the world but never getting to really enjoy those places. So, I decided to look for something which would give me a better work-life balance.”

Discovering the ActionCOACH UK Opportunity

About a year into researching new career options, Gary was approached by ActionCOACH UK. His background in business development, leadership and team management made him a strong candidate for the growing franchise network.

At the time, however, business coaching was an unfamiliar concept. An invitation to attend the ActionCOACH global conference in Dublin in early 2007 gave Gary the opportunity to learn more about the business, meet founder Brad Sugars and speak directly with existing franchisees.

The experience accelerated his research and helped him decide to move forward with the opportunity.

“At this point, I had very little understanding of what business coaching meant. ActionCOACH’s global conference in early 2007 was in Dublin and the UK master licensee for the franchise offered to fly me out to experience the community, meet the global founder, Brad Sugars, and speak to other franchisees. I came back with so much information, it fast-tracked my due diligence and six weeks later I went to the initial training in Las Vegas.

“My 10 days of training was life changing. Not only did I learn their systemised approach to business coaching and the technical knowledge of this new profession but I also went through a huge personal transition. It enabled me to become clear on what I wanted to achieve as a business, a coach, and how I could make a difference to people’s lives.”

Gary launched his business in the UK in August 2007. Based in Havant, near Portsmouth, he had a clear ambition from the outset: to build a substantial business rather than simply create a job for himself.

Building a Business with Long-Term Goals

Gary understood that creating a better work-life balance would require more than changing careers. He wanted to build a business that could eventually provide an income in retirement, giving him the freedom to step back from day-to-day operations without losing the value of what he had created.

His strategy was to establish strong foundations early. He brought in a personal assistant and a bookkeeper so that he could concentrate on sales, coaching and business development.

“Some people choose to coach to the hours they wish to work whilst other franchisees want to build a larger business. I had left corporate life to get a better work balance but I also needed the business to support me in retirement and that meant building it to a size where it would generate an income for me once I was no longer working. I started as I meant to go on and brought in a PA and bookkeeper so I could focus on sales and coaching.”

During the first couple of years, Gary concentrated on attracting clients and establishing his coaching practice. With recommendations and support from the ActionCOACH UK team, he explored a range of marketing activities, including telemarketing, networking, seminars and direct outreach to businesses across multiple sectors.

His target industries included accountancy, legal services, retail, manufacturing, construction and other service-based businesses.

This combination of consistent business development and a clear long-term vision helped Gary establish himself as one of the UK's top five coaches at the time.

Growing a Team and Bringing Family into the Business

Gary always intended to build a business that could grow beyond his own coaching capacity. Four years after launching, he recruited his first employed coach. Although that appointment did not work out as hoped, the experience provided valuable lessons about the challenges of recruitment and team development.

Around the same time, Gary’s son Steve had joined the business as a Business Development Manager. Having gained experience of the business and attended ActionCOACH conferences and professional development events with his father, Steve decided to train as a coach himself.

His move into coaching provided a natural opportunity for the business to grow while bringing the next generation into the company.

Gary and Steve subsequently expanded the practice to serve 30 one-to-one coaching clients, alongside group programmes such as ProfitCLUB and the 90-day planning programme ActionCLUB.

Their business also expanded its offering through partnerships supported by the ActionCOACH UK team.

“Through the partnerships which the UK support team develop, we have also become licensed to deliver the leading employee engagement programme, Engage & Grow, a monthly online training programme called Luv4 Marketing, and the business planning programme, Profit Plus.”

By combining individual coaching, group sessions and additional business development programmes, Gary and Steve created a broader business with multiple ways to support their clients.

Making a Difference Beyond Business

What began as a plan to build financial security for retirement has grown into something much bigger for Gary. As the business developed, so did his ambitions for its impact.

He sees business coaching as an opportunity to improve not only the performance of companies but also the working lives of their employees and the communities around them.

“My initial aim was to build a business that would support me in my retirement but it has become much more than that. Once you earn enough to support a good life for you and your family, your goals need to become wider. As well as making a difference to the lives of the business owners we coach and their employees, we now coach several charity organisations and work with our local Round Table to help our community.”

This wider purpose has become an important part of the business's direction. Through supporting charity organisations and contributing to local community initiatives, Gary and Steve are using their experience to create benefits beyond the companies they coach.

Planning for the Next Generation

Gary and Steve have ambitious plans for the future. Their five-year vision at the time of the interview was to grow the business to more than £4 million, with eight employed coaches. Their longer-term aspiration was to reach £10 million in turnover.

For Gary, these targets are about more than financial growth. They represent an opportunity to build a sustainable business that can continue creating opportunities and making a difference, even after he steps away from day-to-day responsibilities.

“Our five-year horizon is to build a £4million-plus business with 8 employed coaches and our ultimate goal is to grow to £10million turnover. Steve is passionate about giving back and reaching that level of income means we can make a real difference. I’ll probably have retired by then but Steve will continue to run the business while I focus on family time.”

Having Steve involved in the business gives Gary the opportunity to plan for succession while helping his son develop and lead the company into its next chapter.

It also brings Gary closer to the personal goal that first motivated his career change: having more time to enjoy life outside work.

Creating More Time for Family

Gary has been married to Kathy for 38 years and has spent much of his career travelling internationally. Although his work took him to more than 50 countries, the demands of corporate life often meant he had little time to appreciate the places he visited.

Now, with a business designed around long-term sustainability and succession, he is looking forward to returning to some of those destinations with Kathy.

“I’ve been married to Kathy for 38 years and, during that time, I’ve travelled to over 50 countries for work and now we’d like to visit some of those places together. Family is really important to me. My three sons are getting where they want career-wise and with two of them married, Kathy and I want the free time to enjoy with them as our family develops.”

For Gary, success means having the freedom to spend more time with the people who matter most, while knowing the business he has built can continue to thrive.

Gary’s Advice for Future ActionCOACH UK Franchisees

With years of experience building his coaching business, Gary believes that clarity, commitment and planning are essential for anyone considering a franchise.

He encourages prospective franchisees to think carefully about what they want their business to deliver, both professionally and personally, before deciding which path to take.

“ActionCOACH is world-class in terms of support, the structure and amount of help is immense and your level of success is down to your focus. That leads to my advice to be clear about what you want to get out of your business, what are your personal needs and goals? There are several routes where you can develop your ActionCOACH business so plan your journey with your future in mind. This franchise is a fantastic return on investment but, like any business or franchise opportunity, you must be willing to put the work in.”

Gary’s experience highlights the importance of building a business around a clear vision. With the right planning, consistent effort and a willingness to develop as a business owner, franchising can provide a route to professional fulfilment, financial goals and greater personal freedom.

Could You Build a Business with a Bright Future?

If you have business experience and want to help other business owners succeed, becoming an ActionCOACH UK franchisee could be the next step in your career.

Discover the franchise opportunity, learn about the support available and explore how you could build a business aligned with your own ambitions and future goals.

Watch our overview video: https://actioncoach.co.uk/overview