Hi, I'm Mike - It's great to meet you and thanks for checking out my support
I appreciate your interest in my story.
My background, experience and skills are geared to help you effectively start, develop and grow your business.
I am committed in helping entrepreneurial business owners like you to have the business you desire and your hard work deserves. I strive to help you build a business that changes your life by generating profits and cash that gives you more choices, whilst giving you back the time you want for other key matters in your life.
I am a business mentor, who has actually run my own businesses and advised many more in various advisory roles.
My core experience comes from running my own businesses, mentoring others and in senior roles that included strategy, marketing & sales, finance, operations, health & safety and people management.
I work with business owners and entrepreneurs to review the key areas for your business and establish what we need to focus on to make it work for you, your team (internal & external) and to the expectation of your ideal customer.
My practical approach ensures that your time and energy is best utilised. With my experience, skills and knowledge, I ensure that the business has a sound foundation from which to develop and grow.
As also trusted by
What other business owners like you say about my impact
- Commercially focused advice and practical business experience
- Fresh perspectives and constructive challenge
- Greater clarity, focus and direction
- Accountability and support to make progress
- Having a trusted adviser and sounding board
“I’ve really enjoyed working with Mike over the past year as my business mentor, helping me move Tennis Court Supplies forward. His advice and guidance have been invaluable. I particularly appreciated his clear, practical and easy-to-follow action steps, which have… Read more”
“That shift is down to Mike's coaching. He is commercially sharp, structurally rigorous, and genuinely invested in his coachees' outcomes. He'll challenge you directly when you need it, give you space to think when you need that instead, and consistently… Read more”
“Mike is a fantastic guy and a superb strategic thinker. Listening to his advice has been huge for me and the business... It is the clarity of thought that is so empowering... Mike is excellent. Supportive, responds quickly, guides you… Read more”
“Having known Mike for a number of years, at events, networking and both being in Oxfordshire. I went to one of his events and thought 'this guys really does know his stuff'. I have been working now with Mike for… Read more”
“I was fairly sure I didn't need a mentor, but then I was also conscious that I had never run a business before and I couldn't possibly be good at everything. I have been working with Mike for a couple… Read more”
“Mike has become an integral part of our business management. He's guided, supported, listened, and provided outstanding advice. We're moving forward as a business in so many areas thanks to Mike's support.”
“Mike is a brilliant sounding board. I highly value his perspective on things I am pondering in my business. I can rely on Mike always to come up with an alternative way of looking at things, he has a knack… Read more”
“As a business owner, it's easy to procrastinate as there is no-one holding me to account. Enter Mike. Working with Mike over the last 10 months has been a blast! I have gone from working in my business to working… Read more”
“Mike's advice and support as my mentor and sounding board over the last few months have been invaluable. As a business owner with operational responsibilities both internally and for my clients, I found it difficult to prioritise my ambitious growth… Read more”
“Mike Foster has been an invaluable mentor for me. His commitment goes beyond our sessions – he takes the time to understand me and my business, providing support that extends far beyond the norm. Mike's guidance has helped me break… Read more”
“His extensive business experience often leads to insights that bring clarity to a topic or offer a fresh perspective. He serves as a truly valuable sounding board. Neil and I highly recommend working with Mike.”
“Mike is an excellent business coach and mentor. He actively listens, asks thoughtful questions and gives practical advice when needed based on his vast experience running other businesses. He is well networked in the area and helpful to make introductions… Read more”
“I've had the pleasure of working with Mike and I cannot recommend him enough. His calm manner to any situation or conundrum really helps me focus and stand back and assess the situation properly. His commercial knowledge and experience means… Read more”
“Working with Mike has been transformational for my business. He has helped me create clarity in my processes, my message and my purpose. With a relaxed and yet still dynamic approach he guides you through the practicalities of building a… Read more”
“I’ve ran my business for many years now and throughout that time I’ve had a number of advisors. Mike is one of the rare few I genuinely respect. Full of knowledge, experience and level-headed wisdom. Has a knack for putting… Read more”
“Mike has been a fantastic mentor/coach. His past experience running businesses and franchises shines through in his teaching and has been invaluable to us. I can’t recommend him enough to anyone needing assistance taking their business forward.”
“I started working with Mike from The Entrepreneurs Mentor earlier this year. Mike has a wealth of experience and knowledge which shows in every meeting and phone call we have. He has helped me plan and map out the journey… Read more”
“I wanted to share my positive experience with the mentorship sessions I've been having with Mike this year. Mike, a seasoned entrepreneur, mentor, and business coach, has been actively involved in understanding the ins and outs of my business operations.… Read more”
“I wanted to take my business to the next level and Mike is the man to do that. Anything I needed to focus on, Mike has been happy to oblige. Mike took my processes and talked them through with me… Read more”
“Mike's flexible approach over the past 3 month's has been invaluable in getting me over the line with a new business venture. I asked Mike for help with not only accountability but challenging the assumptions and associated actions I was… Read more”
My objective
To be the most respected source of guidance, support and inspiration for entrepreneurs looking to successfully start, develop or grow their own business.
My values
- InspirationalCommitted to inspire and provide confidence
- Honest & TruthfulProviding support that can be trusted
- DedicatedTo my clients success and as defined by our clients.
- RespectfulRespect in others skills, ability and commitment with no personal judgement
- ChallengingTo challenge ourselves and our clients to improve. Open to challenge myself.
- InnovativeTo be creative in my thinking and original in my ideas, as one size does not fit all
- Results drivenFocused on solutions and impact
- Plain EnglishProvide simple and clear explanations, personalising my language and avoiding high level jargon
- First ClassProviding a first class experience, to exceed expectations, at every touch point
- Share my passionI commit to share my passion for entrepreneurship and success in business.
First hand experience
I’ve been coaching and mentoring since 2012.
Previously I had started, grown, franchised and sold my own businesses. These have included businesses in bookkeeping & accounts, marketing, training, health & safety, an indoor soft play centre and a membership organisation.
Overall, I’ve loved being an entrepreneur, but there have been tricky moments as well. As you might imagine with six businesses, it turned out to be a big lesson in focus and execution for me.
Even more so when it nearly all came falling down around me…
I’d made an investment of over £100k in one of my businesses and thought the success would come the same way it did with the previous ones. So, I never gave it the same attention. But I soon realised that you have to be proactive with your plan and take action. It doesn’t just happen on its own!
My attention to the basics had been distracted, because I thought it would be easy. But if business was that easy? Then we’d all be successful already!
I realised I had to go back to my business plan and identify the areas that needed improvement. We had a great business, with good margins if people came to visit. Unfortunately, the number of visitors was less than what we needed to be profitable. So we ramped up our marketing and had a better look at our operational model…
Within two months, our visitor numbers doubled, and we even had a number of full capacity days that stretched our model.
It was very pleasing and a huge relief. But it also proved to be a huge lesson. We went on to trade profitably for another five years before we sold the business for more than our investment. Happy days!
And although the businesses I ran were all very different, they did share one thing. Each of them taught me how important it is to have an effective business model and a complete strategy. It’s the only way to achieve (and sustain) any considerable level of success.
As I have demonstrated with those that I have mentored in the past, I will ensure you benefit from my experience, and not make the mistakes I made or have seen others make.
My background
In the late 1990’s, I was an area manager for Barclays in Oxfordshire with a team of business start up managers.
I then joined a team of leisure professionals to form a start up that was breaking away from the local district council to manage the leisure facilities in the county.
In 1999, I started my first business, which offered bookkeeping and accounts support. I later franchised and sold this business, before setting up a membership organisation to support others running a similar business.
After a successful start up period with this business, I started 5 other businesses, as mentioned above.
In 2007, my company were asked to run the ‘Be Your Own Boss Club’ on behalf of Business Link (MKOB) for new business start ups or those thinking of running their own business.
We also delivered a number of workshops and mastermind groups.
In 2013, I sold my businesses and worked within and then co-founded membership organisations to help their members start and develop their own business.
More recently, I have worked as the Commercial Director for a firm of accountants, which included offering advisory support to our clients, before moving to support entrepreneurs in the science and technology sector.
Since 2010 I have combined this experience to help others build their own business. Today I am also a Masterplan Coach working with colleagues at The Entrepreneurs Circle.
I strive to inspire your action and motivate your focus on the right activities in your business. I am committed to ‘making it work’ for you, your team and your customers.
If you are looking to develop your business, then please contact me, let’s have a call or a coffee to understand your situation and I will explain more about how I can specifically work with you.
Some further information
I am a member of the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs and am certificated by www.getmentoring.org.
I have a wide range of experience in the small business market. I have trained at the Warwick University school of business, hold my financial qualification with the Chartered Institute of Bankers and have a diploma in Sales and Marketing. My other business relevant qualifications include being a qualified Bookkeeper, a qualified HSE & QCA approved instructor to deliver first aid courses and a NEBOSH qualified Health and Safety adviser.
I am an active speaker on a range of topics including marketing, finance, business development and business start up.
I am the author of the Financial Times Guide to Starting a Business (2025).
Over the last 15 years I’ve run a number of networking groups and enjoy connecting business owners.
I am married with two children (my reason why). My other interests are my voluntary work, where I held the post of National Chairman for the voluntary organisation – Rotaract, covering Great Britain and Ireland. I am a past president of my local Rotary club and Chamber of Commerce. I enjoy football, basketball and rugby, although now no longer play!