Under the May 1, 2026 disclosure for Minnesota and Wisconsin, an ActionCOACH franchise is a relationship-led professional-services unit: the franchisee markets authorized coaching programs, enrolls business owners and executives, delivers structured coaching or training, records client and operating data, and reports performance through required ActionCOACH systems.
- Legal structure
- Buji, LLC is the Master Licensee and contracting subfranchisor; ActionCOACH North America, LLC (ACNA) is the national franchisor; ActionCOACH IPCo, Ltd. owns the intellectual property.
- Applicable formats
- The core offer is the PARTNER Business Coach Franchise; the optional FIRM structure requires a Firm Addendum.
- Evidence basis
- 2026 FDD Items 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19 and 20; Franchise Agreement; Firm Addendum; Managing Director Business Coach Agreement; Operations Manual table of contents.
- Reporting period
- Item 20 through December 31, 2025; official operating pages checked July 30, 2026.
No matching franchise-controlled public FDD link was verified. See the official U.S. ActionCOACH franchise website.
How does the ActionCOACH operating model work after opening?
The franchisee creates local demand, converts prospects into Clients, delivers authorized Coaching Services through a certified Business Coach, and maintains the relationship through planning, accountability and follow-up. Buji supplies regional support and oversight; ACNA controls the System, certification, technology environment, national marketing and brand standards; approved suppliers support selected inputs.
What does the franchisee sell, and who buys it?
The franchisee sells authorized business coaching, executive coaching, mentoring, strategic planning, training modules and related products to Clients defined as business owners or other customers who purchase Coaching Services. The disclosed customer base includes established business owners, executives and their teams.
The official ActionCOACH programs catalog includes one-to-one coaching, group programs, 12-week courses, 30X programs and the ActionCOACH Business Operating System (ABoS). The franchisee sets prices and selects among authorized offerings, but may not sell unapproved or improperly licensed professional services.
Recurring coaching relationships
One-to-one Business Coaching uses regular sessions, goal review, operating metrics, planning and accountability. Group programs add facilitated peer interaction.
Planning and education programs
GrowthCLUB is a quarterly 90-day planning workshop; the 12-Week Business MasterCLASS combines recorded instruction, facilitated sessions, KPI tracking and weekly application.
Diagnostic-led engagements
ABoS describes a 184-question assessment, dashboard and 90-Day Action Plan used to structure client work.
Authorized products and materials
Books, printed materials, merchandise, electronic tools and other branded items may support coaching delivery. Proprietary ActionCOACH materials must come from ACNA-approved suppliers; the FDD states there is no minimum purchase requirement.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 1, 8, 16 and 19; Franchise Agreement definitions and Sections 1 and 11. Public examples are linked above.
How does work move through an ActionCOACH unit?
The disclosed model is a lead-to-coaching-to-reporting cycle rather than a retail transaction. The franchisee owns local business development and client service; certified coaches perform delivery; required systems capture pipeline, client, financial and performance information for follow-up and franchisor oversight.
Generate demand
- Actor
- Franchisee, MDC or assigned team member
- Action
- Use referrals, networking, approved local advertising, digital activity, workshops and direct outreach inside the DDMA.
- System/asset
- Approved brand assets, website, CRM, event materials
- Output
- Recorded prospect or inquiry
Qualify and select a program
- Actor
- Certified Business Coach
- Action
- Conduct discovery, diagnose needs and match the prospect to an authorized coaching, planning or training program.
- System/asset
- Client Forms, sales scripts, CRM, approved assessments
- Output
- Defined engagement and next meeting
Enroll and schedule
- Actor
- Franchisee or authorized team member
- Action
- Confirm price, engagement terms, participant details, billing arrangement and session schedule.
- System/asset
- CRM, calendar, Client Information, agreement records
- Output
- Active Client relationship
Deliver Coaching Services
- Actor
- Certified Business Coach or approved additional coach
- Action
- Facilitate one-to-one sessions, groups, workshops, planning or training using the Manuals and authorized content.
- System/asset
- The HUB, The HOW, coaching tools, presentation and meeting platforms
- Output
- Client actions, plans and accountability commitments
Track and follow up
- Actor
- Business Coach
- Action
- Record progress, review KPIs, schedule follow-up, participate in satisfaction surveys and address complaints promptly.
- System/asset
- CRM, coaching dashboard, Client Forms
- Output
- Next-session agenda, renewal or program change
Bill, report and retain records
- Actor
- Franchisee or finance administrator
- Action
- Collect client payments, reconcile Gross Revenues, submit weekly activity and monthly revenue reports, and maintain auditable records.
- System/asset
- Separate bank account, accounting software, KPI system and direct-debit process
- Output
- Management records and required franchisor reporting
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 6, 11 and 16; Franchise Agreement Sections 4–6 and 11; Exhibit M. See the official coach-role description.
Who performs each operating function?
The PARTNER format begins as a single-coach structure: the franchisee personally operates the business and serves as the Business Coach unless an approved Managing Director Business Coach is appointed. Additional delivery capacity requires a Firm Addendum and approved, certified Business Coaches.
Manager-run operation is contractually permitted only through an approved MDC who has full operational decision authority and can bind the franchisee in dealings with Buji. The owner remains the franchisee, guarantor and responsible party. The FDD does not support describing the model as automatically absentee-operated.
Franchisee / Partner
- Builds the pipeline and selects local strategies.
- Sets prices for authorized offerings and manages contracts.
- Delivers coaching unless an MDC or additional coach does so.
- Employs or contracts staff and supervises performance.
- Maintains records, reports and complaint handling.
Buji, LLC
- Administers the Minnesota/Wisconsin franchise relationship.
- Provides weekly calls for the first 90 days after certification.
- Approves offices, MDCs and additional Business Coaches.
- Reviews reports, accesses records and may audit compliance.
- Controls regional marketing funds and referrals.
ACNA and dependencies
- Certifies coaches and supplies online Manuals and learning systems.
- Controls national marketing, brand standards and digital assets.
- Operates the technology ecosystem and may change specifications.
- Approves suppliers for proprietary materials and web assets.
- Coordinates Blue Chip Account delivery structures.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 11 and 15; Franchise Agreement Sections 7 and 11; MDC Agreement Sections 2–4; Firm Addendum Sections 1–7. See the official franchise FAQ.
Which suppliers, assets and technology systems are required?
This is a low-inventory professional-services unit, but it is technology-dependent. The franchisee must maintain compliant computer, communications, CRM, accounting, security and reporting capabilities; ACNA controls proprietary content, online brand assets and system specifications.
ActionCOACH systems
The online Manuals operate through The HUB; The HOW is the learning management system; The COM is the coaching and KPI system; The DAM stores digital assets. The technology mechanism supports websites, email, collaboration, learning, security and reporting.
Local operating stack
The FDD lists Windows 11 or current macOS hardware, audiovisual equipment, printer, connectivity, Office 365 or equivalent, endpoint protection, PDF tools, accounting software and CRM. Buji supports HubSpot and Go High Level; neither is stated as sole-source.
Supplier classification
Proprietary ActionCOACH materials must come from ACNA-approved suppliers. Non-proprietary inputs may come from reputable vendors meeting current specifications. Separate websites require written approval and ACNA-approved design, hosting and maintenance suppliers.
Data and upgrade dependency
Buji may access ActionCOACH-related information in franchisee systems. ACNA or Buji may change technology, reporting, insurance and operating specifications, requiring updates. The official technology overview describes CRM, progress tracking, automation and resource-library functions.
The FDD names Assessment 24/7, BNI, HubSpot, Go High Level, Trustist and ScoreApp as preferred relationships, not mandatory suppliers. Voyager Agency and Avalanche Enterprises are related digital-marketing companies, but franchisees are not required to purchase from them.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Item 8, pp. 18–20; Item 11, pp. 24–26; Franchise Agreement Sections 10 and 13; Exhibits M and N.
What does the franchisor control, and what decisions remain local?
The franchisee controls local execution inside a contractually bounded system. Buji and ACNA control the brand, approved offering set, certification, Manuals, advertising approval, data access, reporting, audits, digital presence and cross-area rules. The franchisee controls daily scheduling, staffing, local relationships, prices and which authorized programs to emphasize.
The 2026 FDD grants no exclusive territory. Item 12 describes the Territory as the state containing the principal office, while the Franchise Agreement uses a non-exclusive Designated Direct Marketing Area (DDMA) specified in signed Attachment 3. Public FAQ language describing an exclusive territory does not override this FDD.
Restricted or approval-based
- Only authorized Coaching Services and products may be sold.
- Outbound marketing outside the DDMA requires approval or referral.
- Advertising and digital assets require compliance or approval.
- Business Coaches and an MDC require approval and certification.
- Client information, reports and records are accessible and auditable.
- Blue Chip Account programs may standardize delivery and pricing.
Franchisee operating discretion
- Select a home office or approved professional office.
- Choose staff and compensation, subject to required approvals.
- Set prices and select authorized programs.
- Choose compliant local prospecting methods.
- Select non-proprietary vendors meeting specifications.
- Set business goals; no general minimum revenue or client-acquisition target applies.
Item 12 permits service to existing personal relationships regardless of location, but restricts proactive direct marketing outside the assigned area. Across-Area Marketing Programs, affiliates and other ActionCOACH franchisees may operate in the state, and campaign leads are not guaranteed to the local franchisee.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 11, 12, 15 and 16; Franchise Agreement Sections 5, 8–13 and 15. Public FAQ checked July 30, 2026; signed documents control.
What does Item 20 show about the operating network?
At December 31, 2025, the Great Lakes Region reported 26 operating outlets: 25 franchised outlets and one affiliate-owned outlet, with no company-owned outlets. The population covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, not the entire U.S. ActionCOACH system.
-
Franchised
25 outlets96.2% -
Affiliate-owned
1 outlet3.8% -
Company-owned
0 outlets0.0%
Source: 2026 ActionCOACH Business Coach FDD, Item 20, Tables 1, 3 and 4, pp. 45–49. Percentages: outlet count ÷ 26; 96.2% + 3.8% + 0.0% = 100.0%.
Which operating questions should a buyer verify?
The disclosed model is detailed on roles, systems and controls, but the signed deal documents still determine practical market access and workload. Verification should focus on the exact DDMA, lead routing, required platform configuration, approved program list and the approval sequence for adding a coach.
Buyer-verification list
- Obtain the completed Attachment 3 and map the DDMA against the state-level Territory and nearby franchisees.
- Confirm how Buji assigns inquiries from Across-Area Marketing Programs and out-of-area referrals.
- Request the current authorized Coaching Services list, certification prerequisites and program-specific delivery rules.
- Identify which CRM and ActionCOACH platforms are mandatory on day one, who owns each data set and how data export works.
- Review current advertising approval times, approved website suppliers and the local-versus-national marketing-fund practice.
- Confirm the approval standard for a Firm Addendum, including the stated performance guideline and coach onboarding sequence.
- Ask current Minnesota and Wisconsin franchisees how prospecting, coaching delivery, reporting and complaint handling divide across a typical week.
Operating-model synthesis
ActionCOACH converts relationships, referrals, approved marketing and events into paid Coaching Services for business owners, executives and teams. The franchisee must build the pipeline and deliver documented coaching; ACNA controls certification, Manuals, technology, brand and authorized offerings.
The key format distinction is a single-coach PARTNER versus a FIRM with up to four approved coaches. An approved MDC may manage operations without removing franchisee responsibility. The largest unresolved question is the completed DDMA and its lead-routing practice.