ActionCOACH franchisee Anu Khanna has been helping business owners increase their profits and build a strong team
In 2021, ActionCOACH franchise partner, Anu Khanna, met Azam Shafa, an experienced solicitor who had decided to start his own law firm, Lawrence Kurt Solicitors, in November 2018. His goal? To support clients from all backgrounds to get legal justice whilst building a profitable business for himself and his family. Before ActionCOACH, like many new to business ownership, Azam lacked the experience needed to help his company succeed in such a competitive and fast-paced market. Not only did Anu help Azam develop his business potential, but she also guided him to award-winning status.
“I found it challenging to manage the business whilst providing my clients with the best advice and legal service possible. Essentially, I’d bought myself an expensive job. Yet in early 2022, my firm had increased our portfolio from 100 to 650 clients and won a national award for Best Customer Service – an amazing turnaround thanks to ActionCOACH.”
Meeting in session
“I realised during my initial meeting with Anu we would work well together. She provided me with a great understanding of how a successful business should be structured by explaining each element of the business model.
“Anu’s confidence, depth of knowledge, and the ActionCOACH system helped me believe I could fulfil my ambitions.
“Our initial goal was to create a strong pipeline of prospective clients through lead generation activities to increase our client portfolio. We had meetings to discuss our goals which were inclusive and supportive. Every member of the group had something to take away and implement from this meeting before our next session.
“After ActionCOACH were on board, we had steady, continuous growth. We had to put the strategies into place before we could see any real financial gain, which took time. Anu was constantly coaching us to come up with new ideas to maximise the growth of the firm, encouraging us to try new approaches to see what worked best for the business.
“This initial test-and-refine phase was fundamental in securing the efficient business plan we now have at Lawrence Kurt Solicitors.
“Gradually we received more clients and just six months after our coaching began, we had increased our revenue by 35.7 per cent.”
Representing his community
During the COVID-19 lockdown periods, Azam’s firm helped those in abusive relationships by offering free advice and waiving any future fees until the victim received their share in assets. They also dedicated time to helping NHS key workers by writing their wills for free. During that time, Azam and his team wrote over 200 wills free of charge.
“We pride ourselves on excelling in customer service. During the pandemic, we wanted to support as many people as we could whilst simultaneously increasing our client base and reputation as a firm. We took on five consultants to help us handle the increased workload, as well as volunteers to support us with writing the key workers’ wills. These volunteers were trainee solicitors who were at a real loss because of the pandemic. Giving them work experience was another opportunity to help those in need. I also supported the small business community, sharing advice, filling out necessary start-up forms and helping to identify what they needed to do to establish their company – steps I knew because I had been through them myself.
“Anu suggested we create an employee engagement strategy, which helped with the recruitment and retention of staff as we took on extra workload during the pandemic. We decided to partner with a conservation organisation where every time a new case was opened, they planted a tree on our behalf. This corporate tree planting has encouraged our team to be part of something worthwhile, creating a mentally enriching reward for both our clients and our employees.
“Despite our team working remotely, we still feel close as a group. Our team strategy allows us to increase our client database whilst still providing the same great customer service we are known for. In fact, we can now say that 80 per cent of our clients are either loyal customers or have been recommended to us by other satisfied clients. Anu encouraged me and advised me on how best to utilise this new recognition – helping Lawrence Kurt Solicitors to be the reputable business we are today.”
The winning case for coaching
Over the last year, Lawrence Kurt Solicitors has experienced significant growth and is projected to increase its £215,000 profit in 2021 to £350,000 in 2022.
“ActionCOACH has made a significant difference by working with us to construct business plans and improve our marketing strategies. Coaching has also improved our confidence and dynamic as a business. By implementing efficient operations, the team’s work-life balance has also improved – so much so I am looking to reduce my full-time working hours to part-time. I know my business is now on track to seek justice for many more clients in the future. We want to be one of the best and fastest-growing law firms in the country and with Anu’s help, we are confident we can be.”
The coach behind the business growth…
Before Anu Khanna found her true calling with ActionCOACH, she considered her brain to be brimming with knowledge. However, upon discovering the world’s number one business coaching franchise, she quickly realised her glass was only half full – and she was ready to pour more into her life.
“The main impact ActionCOACH has had on me is who I’m becoming. When I joined the network, I thought my glass was full, but being exposed to the precision and detail within the franchise model, I became aware of how much work there was left to do. It’s miles away from the stage I was operating at in the corporate world, and it’s completely turned my life around.”
Topping up her glass
Despite Anu’s business skillset and experience in coaching, she recognised the variety of expertise she would be able to tap into with ActionCOACH. Anu was awarded her franchise in May 2018, and soon after, she was ready to embark on her training at ActionCOACH University.
“The training programme was extremely comprehensive, albeit intense, but it only made me eager to get going. I thrive most when putting things into practice and being in front of people – I was confident I could make my franchise a success.
“When I arrived home one evening after training I joined a BNI group, which was how I signed my first client. It felt amazing to get a confidence boost straight away and it only made me determined to go bigger and better. From that point onwards, my business grew naturally, with many of my clients joining through recommendations.”
Thirsty for more
For the first two years in her business, Anu focused on creating an all-star team around her. She understands the importance of synergising teams and leading by example.
“I have to demonstrate that I’m adopting the ActionCOACH systems in my own business to highlight how it works. I’m doing exactly the same as what I’m telling my clients to do, practising what I preach as they look to me as the expert.
“I’ve created a substantial client base that I’m extremely proud of, including businesses with revenue from £70,000 to £70m. I deliver one-to-one coaching with 15 businesses in the area and have recently started training leader programmes, but perhaps the best part is being able to offer something for everyone. I host several group coaching sessions, such as 90-day planning, and I’ve recently launched a BookCLUB. Combining all these aspects, I’m servicing as many business owners as possible in my area and comfortably earning more than I did in the corporate world – but I’m determined to grow further.”
Drinking in life
It’s not only Anu’s career that has been transformed; her home life has too. The flexibility of ActionCOACH has given her the freedom to take her children to school each day.
“My life has changed for the better. In my previous role, I was never able to wind down. My days were extremely long, meaning I missed out on family time whilst my children were growing up. Now’s my chance to make up for it.”
If you want to build a business with scalability and longevity, make a difference in your local community and you’re the kind of person who:
A) loves learning and developing yourself;
B) has enjoyed success in your career or sport; and
C) is willing to invest if they see substantial rewards can be made…
Then find out more by visiting actioncoach.co.uk/franchise.
At a glance
Established: 1993 in Australia, 1991 in the UK
Number of franchised outlets: 200 plus in the UK
Location of units: UK
Investment range: £69,000
Minimum required capital: £20,000
