business plan coach

How to Craft your coaching business plan in 7 simple Steps (+ FREE Template)

September 24, 2023

August 6, 2024

Are you eager to launch your coaching business but feeling overwhelmed about where to start?

You’re not alone! 

In this article, I’ll help you understand what a coaching business plan involves. I’ll provide you with a coaching business plan template and also teach you how to shape it so that it mirrors your vision and goals. I’ll walk you through every step to ensure you create a successful coaching business plan tailored to your niche.

Let’s dive into the world of business planning, where clarity meets strategy.

In Brief : How to Craft your coaching business plan in 7 simple Steps

• Step 1: 📝 Executive Summary – Craft a compelling summary that encapsulates your business vision, mission, and core elements like the business name, owner, and location, setting the stage for what follows.
• Step 2: 🗂️ Business Description – Detail your coaching services, niche, and operational mechanics. Explain how these elements work together to meet the needs of your clientele.
• Step 3: 🔍 Market Analysis – Conduct a thorough analysis of your target market and competition. Use this data to tailor your services and pinpoint market opportunities.
• Step 4: 📈 Create a Marketing Strategy – Develop a comprehensive marketing plan that includes digital and traditional methods to attract and retain clients, ensuring your brand stands out.
• Step 5: ⚙️ Operations Plan – Outline your business’s operational structure, including the logistics of daily operations and the roles of your team members.
• Step 6: 💰 Financial Planning – Forecast your business’s financial health with detailed budgeting, pricing strategies, and expected financial outcomes.
• Step 7: 🚀 Review and Implement – Regularly review and refine your business plan to ensure it remains relevant and effective

Do You Need a Coaching Business Plan?

A few years ago, I was just like you—excited yet baffled about the right steps to take in starting my coaching business. I dabbled in social media, attended conferences, tried podcasting, and explored various other avenues. 

Despite my efforts, the results were far from what I needed. It felt like I was constantly moving, but not in the right direction.

Then it clicked. I realized that diving headfirst into business without a well-thought-out plan was like sailing without a compass. 

So, I took a step back and started from scratch, this time with a clear strategy in mind. I laid out a business plan that not only guided my business to success but also continues to guide me today.

Starting a coaching business can be an exciting venture , but without a clear plan, it’s easy to lose direction and focus. A business plan helps you outline your business objectives and also provides a roadmap to achieve them. 

Here’s why a business plan is vital for a coaching business:

• Clarity and Direction : A business plan defines your coaching business’s purpose and sets clear goals. This clarity guides your decisions and keeps you focused on long-term goals.
• Understanding Your Market : Who are your potential clients? What are their needs and how can your coaching services meet those needs? Analyzing the market helps you tailor your offerings. It also helps you stand out from competitors. This ensures your services are in demand.
• Attracting Investors and Funding : Investors want to know that their money is going into a venture. The venture must have a clear plan to make a profit. This will give potential investors the confidence to back your business.
• Measuring Progress and Success : A business plan sets a baseline for measuring your progress. Setting clear goals and milestones helps you track progress and adjust strategies as needed. This ongoing review keeps you on track and informs smart decisions that drive your business forward.
• Risk Management : All businesses, including coaching ones, face risks. A business plan helps predict and manage these risks, making it easier to handle challenges. It prepares you for economic downturns, shifts in consumer behavior, and new competitors. This proactive approach protects against unexpected problems.

How To Create Your Coaching Business Plan

A well-structured business plan outlines every critical component of your operation, from your business identity and client demographics to your financial management and growth strategy.

Before we jump straight into the coaching business template , let’s understand the structure of your coaching business plan:

• Step 1: Craft your Executive Summary
• Step 2: Business Description
• Step 3: Market Analysis
• Step 4: Create a Marketing and Sales Strategy
• Step 5: Operations Plan
• Step 6: Financial Planning
• Step 7: Review and Implement

1. Crafting Your Executive Summary

To start your coaching business, begin with a powerful executive summary in your business plan. This section is like the front cover of a book—it needs to captivate and inform.

Here’s how to craft an executive summary that sets the stage for a compelling business plan:

• Business Name and Location : Clearly state the name of your coaching business and where you are based. This basic info introduces your business.
• Services Offered : Describe the types of coaching you provide. You might specialize in life coaching, career coaching, or another niche. Give a snapshot of what you offer.
• Mission Statement : Your mission statement should reflect the core values and purpose of your business. It tells your audience what your business stands for and what you aim to achieve.
• Vision Statement : This is about the future. Where do you see your coaching business going? What impact do you want to make? Your vision statement paints a picture of the future you are working towards.
• Goals and Objectives : Jot down your short-term and long-term objectives for your coaching business using the SMART criteria—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound . Short-term goals might include reaching a certain number of clients. Or, they might include achieving a set income within the first year. Long-term goals could involve expanding your services nationally. Or, they could involve developing a franchise model.

2. Business Description

Here, you explain what your business does, how it operates, and what it aims to achieve.

This section gives context for the rest of the business plan. It helps stakeholders understand your business at a detailed level.

Choose Your Niche

Choosing a coaching niche and specifying your services are key. This sets your business apart.

Detail your target market. Whether you focus on life, executive, or health coaching, each meets unique client needs. Focus on demographics like age, profession, or specific challenges. Your coaching addresses those challenges.

Explain how your services are tailored to meet these needs, and discuss your business’s competitive edge. List your services in this field. Include personal coaching, group workshops, and online courses.

Also, showcase what makes you unique. For example, you might have a special coaching method. Or, you could be highly skilled in a popular coaching area.

Business Structure

The structure of your coaching business can greatly impact its operations and growth. You may operate as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation. Each type has its own implications.

A sole proprietorship is easy to start and gives you full control. But it also leaves you fully liable for debts. On the other hand, a corporation shields you from debt and can attract investors. It does this through its structure and ability to sell shares. However, corporations face more rules and taxes.

Choose the structure that fits your business goals. Consider how it affects liability, taxation, and investment.

Business Model

Your coaching business can adopt various models to deliver its services, depending on your target market and your expertise:

• One-on-One Coaching: Tailored specifically to individual clients to address personal or professional goals. This model allows for deep, personalized work and can be conducted in person, over the phone, or via video conferencing.
• Group Sessions: These sessions bring together multiple clients who share similar goals or challenges. Group coaching is effective for workshops, seminars, and regular meetings, offering the added benefit of peer learning and support.
• Online Courses: Providing digital courses allows clients to engage with your coaching material at their own pace. This model can include video lectures, downloadable resources, and interactive elements like quizzes or forums.

Value Proposition

What sets your coaching services apart is your unique value proposition.

For instance, your approach might integrate cutting-edge psychological research, or perhaps you offer a unique blend of strategies drawn from various disciplines such as mindfulness, behavioral science, and leadership training.

Maybe your services are particularly tailored to a niche market, such as startup entrepreneurs or corporate executives facing burnout.

Highlighting this uniqueness in your business plan helps potential clients and investors understand why your coaching services are not just necessary but highly desirable.

3. Market Analysis

A thorough market analysis is crucial. It helps you understand your environment. You can identify opportunities and challenges. Then, you can make strategies. These strategies use your strengths to meet market demands.

This part of your business plan will show the whole market. It will offer key insights. These insights will help you set real goals and grow in a lasting way.

Identify your Target Market

Identifying your target market involves defining the specific group of people who are most likely to benefit from your coaching services. Key aspects to consider include:

• Demographics: Age, gender, profession, income level, and educational background. For instance, your services might cater primarily to mid-level professionals aged 30–50.
• Psychographics: Values, interests, lifestyle, and personality traits. For example, this might include people who value personal development, are career-focused, and seek work-life balance.
• Location: Whether your target market is local, regional, national, or global. Online coaching services can broaden your geographical reach compared to traditional in-person sessions.

Market Need

This section details the specific needs your coaching services address.

Are your clients looking for career advancement, personal growth, better stress management, or improved leadership skills?

Understanding these needs allows you to tailor your offerings effectively.

For example, if there is a high demand for stress management techniques among corporate workers in your area, your coaching could focus on mindfulness and resilience training.

Analyze your Competition

Analyzing your competitors helps you understand the current market landscape and identify what sets your coaching apart. Consider the following:

• Who are your main competitors? Look at other coaching services in your niche.
• What services do they offer? Understanding their offerings helps you spot gaps in the market.
• What are their strengths and weaknesses? This can help you learn from their successes and capitalize on areas where they may fall short.

SWOT Analysis

A SWOT Analysis is a strategic method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Use it to analyze your coaching business:

• Strengths: What advantages does your coaching business have? This could be a unique coaching methodology, a strong personal brand, or deep expertise in a niche area.
• Weaknesses: What areas need improvement? This might include limited market presence or lack of full-time coaching staff.
• Opportunities: Look for external factors that could be advantageous for your business. This could include increasing demand for mental health services or expanding into online coaching.
• Threats: Identify potential challenges that could hinder your business’s success. These might include new competitors entering the market or changes in regulatory laws affecting coaching services.

4. Marketing and Sales Strategies

An effective marketing and sales strategy is critical for the success of any coaching business. This part of your business plan outlines how you will attract and keep clients.

It details your approaches to reaching your target market and turning leads into paying customers. The right strategy boosts visibility. It also improves client engagement and loyalty.

A well-crafted marketing plan is essential. It sets clear goals and identifies the best tactics to reach them. It ensures your marketing is consistent, targeted, and effective. They help build brand recognition and trust.

Developing your coaching brand involves creating a distinctive identity that resonates with your target audience and sets you apart from competitors.

Key elements include:

• Brand Message: What are the core messages you want to convey? This could be your commitment to helping clients achieve specific goals, like improving leadership skills or finding work-life balance.
• Visual Identity: Includes your logo, color scheme, and overall visual style. These should reflect the tone and ethos of your coaching practice.
• Brand Voice: How you communicate in written and spoken words, which should consistently reflect your values and appeal to your target audience.

Marketing Channels

To reach your potential clients effectively, utilize a mix of marketing channels tailored to where your audience spends their time:

• Social Media: Platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook can help build community and engagement. Tailor your content strategy to each platform to maximize reach and engagement.
• Speaking Engagements: Presenting at conferences or local events can establish you as an expert in your field and attract clients looking for proven guidance.
• Networking: Building relationships through industry groups or local business events can lead to referrals and new client opportunities.
• SEO: Optimize your website and content for search engines to attract organic traffic. Focus on keywords that potential clients might use to find coaching services.

Effective marketing can significantly boost your coaching business, attracting a steady stream of clients. It not only draws attention but also captures and retains interest

Sales Strategy

Converting potential clients into paying clients requires a clear sales process:

• Initial Consultation: Offer a free or discounted initial consultation to introduce potential clients to your coaching style and the benefits of your services.
• Follow-Up: After the consultation, follow up with a personalized message that summarizes how you can help them achieve their goals.
• Special Offers: Consider time-limited offers or package deals to encourage sign-ups.

Set up a sales funnel. A sales funnel is a process that guides potential clients from their first interaction with your brand through various stages of engagement until they make a purchase.

It starts with awareness, often through your marketing efforts, and progresses to interest (engaging with content), decision (attending a consultation), and finally action (purchasing a coaching package). 

5. Operations Plan

The Operational Plan section of your business plan provides a detailed look at how your coaching business works. This section outlines the day-to-day operations that support your coaching business.

This includes preparing for client sessions, both scheduled and ad-hoc and follow-up activities for each session, client communication, and administrative tasks like scheduling, billing, and client records management. 

It’s important to specify how these tasks are handled and by whom, as well as any business hours or response time commitments you make to your clients.

Business Location

Where you operate your business significantly shapes how it runs. Specify whether you offer your coaching services online, offline , or in a hybrid model:

Technology Used

Technology is crucial in running a modern coaching business efficiently. List the specific technologies and software you utilize for various business functions:

• Client Management Systems : Software for scheduling , session notes, and client progress tracking.
• Communication Tools : Tools used for client communication, such as email platforms, video conferencing tools, and instant messaging apps.
• Marketing and Sales Software : CRM systems for managing leads, marketing automation tools, and analytics platforms.

Staff and Resources

Finally, detail any staff or additional resources needed to operate your business effectively. This includes any administrative support, marketing personnel, or additional coaches. 

If you handle most operations solo, discuss any outsourced services you might need, such as virtual assistants, accountants, or IT support.

6. Financial Planning

The Financial Plan is a critical section of your business plan. It is crucial for both potential investors and for you as the owner.

It shows that your coaching business is financially viable. It gives a roadmap for financial success.

This section is crucial for securing funding. It shows you understand your business’s finances.

Startup Costs

Outline all initial costs required to start your coaching business. This includes any licensing fees, initial marketing expenses, technology setup costs, office equipment, and any other expenditures necessary to launch your business.

Pricing Strategy

Set your prices for your coaching services based on the value you provide, the demands of your target market, and your competitors’ pricing. You can also offer different pricing tiers based on the length and depth of the coaching provided or discounts for upfront payments for a series of sessions.

Revenue Projections

Project your revenues over the next three to five years. Base these estimates on your market analysis, including expected client numbers, session pricing, and any additional revenue streams like workshops or online courses.

Break-even Analysis:

Calculate when the business expects to break even. This analysis should consider all fixed costs (like rent and salaries) and variable costs (such as session materials or payment processing fees) against expected revenue streams. The break-even point is the moment when total revenues equal total costs, indicating when the business starts to generate profit beyond recovering its initial and operational costs.

Think of it like this: if you have a lemonade stand, you need to know how many cups of lemonade you have to sell to pay for all your supplies and costs. The moment you’ve sold enough cups to cover all your expenses, you hit your “break-even point.” That means you’re not losing money anymore, and any more lemonade you sell after that starts to make you profit.

7. Review and Implement

Once you’ve finalized your coaching business plan, the next steps are critical: reviewing the plan carefully and implementing it effectively.

This ensures that your business is built on a solid foundation and is ready to adapt to challenges and opportunities. Here’s how to approach these important phases:

Reviewing Your Business Plan

• Thorough Read-through: Start by reading your business plan thoroughly from start to finish. This helps you ensure that the plan is cohesive and all parts align well with each other.
• Seek External Feedback: It’s invaluable to get perspectives from trusted mentors, industry peers, or potential investors. They can provide insights that you might have missed and suggest improvements. Consider feedback from people who understand the coaching industry as well as those who might be part of your target audience.
• Revise for Clarity and Accuracy: Based on the feedback and your own assessments, make necessary revisions. This could involve clarifying certain sections, adding missing details, or correcting any inaccuracies. Ensure your financial forecasts and market analysis are realistic and based on the latest available data.
• Finalize the Document: Once revisions are made, finalize the formatting, proofread for grammatical errors, and ensure that the document is professionally presented.

Implementing Your Business Plan

Now that your business plan is meticulously crafted, it’s time to bring it to life. This step might seem a bit overwhelming, but it’s essential for growing your coaching business.

The great news is, you’re not in this alone. We’re here not just to support you but to actively participate in your journey.

Our role extends beyond mere guidance; we’re here to help build your business. While you concentrate on what you do best—coaching and transforming lives—we’ll handle the operational details. From identifying your niche to marketing execution, we’ve got you covered .

As we wrap up, I hope the insights shared here have empowered you to create a structured and effective business plan for your coaching venture.

Crafting a solid plan is crucial, not just for guiding your business but for adapting as your enterprise grows.

If you have any questions about the business planning process or wish to share your own experiences and insights, feel free to leave a comment below.

Resources for your Coaching Business Plan

As a coach, it’s crucial to have the right resources at your fingertips.

We’ve put together a curated list to support your journey to craft your custom coaching business plan.

Your Custom Template

To get your FREE custom Coaching Business Plan Template, click on the “Download Your Coaching Business Plan” Button

Other resources

Financial planning and management tools.

• QuickBooks : An accounting software ideal for small businesses to manage accounts with ease.
• Mint : Helps with personal and business financial planning and budgeting.
• Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets – Spreadsheet tools that are essential for financial analysis, including creating detailed financial projections and budgets.

Software and Online Platforms

• LivePlan : This is an intuitive, user-friendly business plan software that guides you through the process of creating a detailed, investor-ready business plan. It offers templates, financial forecasts, and performance tracking tools.
• Bizplan : Bizplan makes the process of writing a business plan more efficient through step-by-step guidance, templates, and a modern, user-friendly interface that simplifies financial forecasting and business modeling.
• Enloop : This tool automatically writes and formats your business plan as you input information. It offers features like auto-generated financial reports and a real-time performance score to improve your plan.
• SMART Goals – A framework for setting objectives that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, ensuring well-defined and attainable goals.
• SWOT Analysis – A strategic planning tool used to identify and understand the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats related to business competition or project planning.
• PEST Analysis – A framework for analyzing and monitoring the macro-environmental factors that may have a profound impact on an organization’s performance.
• Business Model Canvas – A strategic management template for developing new or documenting existing business models across nine key components.
• Value Proposition Canvas – A tool that helps businesses ensure that a product or service is positioned around what the customer values and needs.
• “ Co-Active Coaching: Changing Business, Transforming Lives ” by Henry Kimsey-House, Karen Kimsey-House, Phillip Sandahl, and Laura Whitworth – This book provides a foundational philosophy for professional coaching.
• “ Business Model Generation ” by Alexander Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur – A book that introduces practical tools for creating, analyzing, and reinventing business models, with visual methods for brainstorming.
• “ The Lean Startup ” by Eric Ries – A book that introduces methodologies for developing businesses and products in an efficient way by managing and directing startup activities toward the markets.

Legal Resources for Small Businesses

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) : Information on business registration, legal structures, and licenses.
• Gov.uk (for UK based businesses) : Guidance on starting and running a business in the UK, including legal obligations.

Each resource was chosen based on its practical utility, ease of access, and the most current information available.

From established industry platforms to cutting-edge tools and insightful publications, our editorial team has researched, fact-checked, and curated a diverse mix of resources to cater to various learning styles and needs.

This ensures you have access to the best tools and knowledge, helping you build a solid coaching business plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the steps of a business plan.

A coaching business plan includes the following steps – making a list of the strengths and weaknesses of the company, moving on to a SWOT analysis, outlining a short-term and long-term strategy, creating project benchmarks, and defining the key success factors. Another additional step is how to price the business and launch a new product.

What Must An Entrepreneur Do After Creating their Coaching Business Plan?

A list of tasks that entrepreneurs should complete after setting up their coaching business plan includes: obtaining startup capital, researching trade laws, reviewing business licenses, and choosing a company name.

What Is the Purpose of Writing a Business Plan Before Entering the Market?

Creating a coaching business plan before entering the market can prove beneficial because it allows entrepreneurs to look at the big picture of the company, from the way it will be run to its goals and general purposes. It also gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to look at what they need to do in order to successfully and efficiently run their business.

What Should I Include In A Business Plan?

Every business plan needs to include the questions and answers of these three fundamental issues: what do you want your company to accomplish, why should people buy what you sell, and how will you make it happen? It is important to take this opportunity to be very thorough with your business plan.

How to Make a Business Plan?

To make a business plan, you must know what kind of business you want it to be. You will need to research your market, competition, and finances. If you don’t, then you run the risk of running out of money or building a business that is unable to make a profit.

How Do You Draft A Coaching Plan?

You can draft a coaching plan through plenty of documents and templates that can be used as a guide to help you brainstorm and organize your own thoughts. One great resource is the Coaching Business Plan Workbook and Guide by Mary Baldwin and Amy Levin-Epstein.

How To Write A Business Plan Step By Step?

The precise step-by-step guide on how to write a business starts with first outlining what your business will be and what your long-term goal is. Next, it’s important to start with developing your company’s mission statement, detailing who your customer is and what they want. This is followed by conducting market research and researching your competition.

ABOUT SAI C.N.G. BLACKBYRN

I’m Sai C.N.G. Blackbyrn, better known as “The Coach’s Mentor.” I help Coaches like you establish their business online. My system is simple: close more clients at higher fees. You can take advantage of technology, and use it as a catalyst to grow your coaching business in a matter of weeks; not months, not years. It’s easier than you think.

4 thoughts on “How to Craft your coaching business plan in 7 simple Steps (+ FREE Template)”

This article was very simple and easy to follow. Extremely helpful. Just starting out so needed this kinda help.

Hi J Dawn, I’m glad you got great value from this piece. And since you are just starting out, the webinar would be extremely helpful to you so do register

Thank you so much, very insightful especially as I’m starting my coaching business.

Keep up the great work!

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Coaching Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Coaching Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their coaching companies. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a coaching business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Coaching Business Plan?

A traditional business plan provides a snapshot of your coaching business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Coaching Business

If you’re looking to start a coaching business or grow your existing coaching company, you need a business plan. A solid business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your coaching business to improve your chances of success. Your coaching business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Coaching Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a coaching business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for coaching companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to Write a Business Plan for a Coaching Business

If you want to start a coaching business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your coaching business plan.

Executive Summary

Company overview, industry analysis, customer analysis, competitive analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, financial plan.

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of coaching business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a coaching business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a multiple coaching businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the coaching industry.
• Discuss the type of coaching business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target audience.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

In your company overview, you will detail the type of coaching business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of coaching businesses:

• Business coaching: A business coach specializes in helping business owners clarify their business’s vision and goals.
• Career coaching: A career coach specializes in helping individuals reach their professional goals.
• Life coaching: A life coach specializes in helping people make positive progress in their daily lives, relationships, and careers.
• Performance coaching: A performance coach specializes in helping individuals improve their performance abilities using techniques similar to a sports coach.
• Wellness coaching: A wellness coach specializes in helping individuals develop and maintain healthy habits.

In addition to explaining the type of coaching business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What is your mission statement?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, the number of cases with positive outcomes, reaching $X amount in revenue, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the coaching industry. While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the coaching industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your coaching business plan:

• How big is the coaching industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your coaching business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

The customer analysis section of your coaching business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, families, and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of coaching business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

Finish Your Coaching Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other coaching businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes other types of self-development services, therapists, counselors, and online support groups. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of clients do they serve?
• What type of coaching business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you make it easier for clients to acquire your services?
• Will you offer services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a coaching business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of coaching company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide performance coaching, executive coaching, health and wellness coaching, or career coaching services?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your coaching company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your coaching business located in a busy retail district, a business district, a standalone office, or purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your coaching marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your coaching business, including answering calls, planning and providing coaching sessions, billing clients and collecting payments, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth session, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your coaching business to a new city.  

To demonstrate your coaching business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing coaching businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in coaching or running a small business.  

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you see 5 clients per day, and/or offer group coaching sessions? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your coaching business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a coaching business:

• Cost of utilities, internet service, and office supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and office furniture

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your office location lease or a list of payment forms you accept.  

Writing a business plan for your coaching business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the coaching industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful coaching business.

Sample Life Coaching Business Plan PDF

For a comprehensive resource to guide you through crafting a simple coaching business plan, check out this Sample Life Coaching Business Plan PDF . This document can be adapted for various coaching niches, including life coaching, executive coaching, and wellness coaching. It provides insights into market analysis, financial projections, and operational strategies, making it an invaluable tool for any coach looking to ensure the success of their business.

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Coaching business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   See how a Growthink business planning consultant can create your business plan for you.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

🌍 Upmetrics is now available in

• Sample Business Plans
• Education & Training

Coaching Business Plan

Low startup costs, high earning potential, diverse clientele, and professional growth make coaching a rewarding career for new entrepreneurs. However, entering the marketplace without proper planning can put you and your business at risk.

Are you looking to start writing a business plan for your coaching business? Creating a business plan is essential to starting, growing, and securing funding for your business. So we have prepared a coaching business plan template to help you start writing yours.

Free Business Plan Template

Download our Free Business Plan Template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
• Financial Tables

How to Write a Coaching business plan?

Writing a coaching business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section of the business plan intended to provide an overview of the whole business plan. Generally, it is written after the entire business plan is ready. Here are some components to add to your summary:

• Start with a brief introduction: Start your executive summary by introducing your idea behind starting a coaching business and explaining what it does. Give a brief overview of how your business will be different.
• Market opportunity: Describe the target market in brief, and explain the demographics, geographic location, and psychographic attributes of your customer. Explain how your coaching business meets its needs. Clearly describe the market that your business will serve.
• Mention your services: Describe in brief what services a customer can expect from your coaching center. Also, incorporate brief information mentioning the safety and security systems you implement, keeping consumer safety in mind.
• Marketing strategy: Explain how you plan on marketing your services, including advertising, social media marketing, public relations, promotions, etc. Define your target market and how you will execute the marketing.
• Financial highlights: Provide a summary of your financial projections for the center’s initial years of operation. Include any capital or investment requirements, startup costs, projected revenues, and profits.
• Call to action: After briefly explaining your business plan, end your summary with a call to action, inviting potential investors or readers to the next meeting if they are interested in your business.

Ensure you keep your executive summary concise and clear, use simple language, and avoid jargon.

Say goodbye to boring templates

Build your business plan faster and easier with AI

Plans starting from $7/month

2. Business Overview

Depending on your business’s details, you’ll need different elements in your business overview. Still, there are some foundational elements like business name, legal structure, location, history, and mission statement that every business overview should include:

• The name and type of your coaching center: mention whether you are a coaching center focusing on personal, corporate, executive, or life coaching. Maybe, you offer online coaching services —so mention that.
• Company structure of your coaching business, whether it is a sole proprietorship, partnership firm, or something else.
• Location of your coaching center and why you selected that place.
• Ownership: Describe the owners of your coaching center and mention their roles in running it. Who owns what shares in the corporation, and how each owner helps in the business?
• Mission statement: Add a mission statement that sums up your coaching center’s objectives and core principles. This statement needs to be memorable, clear, and brief.
• Business history: Include an outline of your coaching center’s history and how it came to be in its current position. If you can, add some personality and intriguing details, especially if you got any achievements or recognitions till now for your incredible services.
• Future goals: It’s crucial to convey your aspirations and your vision. Include the vision of where you see your business in the near future and if you plan to open a new business franchise in the same city or state.

This section should provide an in-depth understanding of your coaching business. Also, the business overview section should be engaging and precise.

3. Market Analysis

Market analysis provides a clear understanding of the market your coaching center will run, the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. Your market analysis should contain the following essential components:

• Target market: Identify your target market and define your ideal customer. Know more about your customers and which services they prefer: personal coaching, educational coaching, corporate training, business consulting, group coaching sessions, or anything else.
• Market size and growth potential: Provide an overview of the coaching industry. It will include market size, trends, growth potential, and regulatory considerations. Highlight the competitive edge and how your business is different from the rest.
• Competitive analysis: Identify and analyze all other coaching centers in the local market, including direct and indirect competitors. Conduct a thorough competitive analysis in a business plan to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and explain how your business can offer qualitative services.
• Market trends: Analyze current and emerging trends in your industry, such as technological changes or customer preferences. Explain how your business will cope with all the trends. For instance, coaching for remote workers is on the rise after the Covid-19 pandemic; explain how your business will cope with it.
• Regulatory environment: Describe any regulations or licensing requirements that affect coaching business, such as business registration, professional credentials, data privacy, business license, etc.

Some additional tips for writing the market analysis section of your business plan:

• Use various sources to gather data, including industry reports, market research studies, and surveys.
• Be specific and provide detailed information wherever possible.
• Include charts and graphs to help illustrate your key points.
• Keep your target audience in mind while writing the business plan.

4. Products And Services

A coaching business plan’s product and services section should describe the specific services offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

• Create a list of the services your coaching business will offer, including educational coaching, corporate training, business consulting, executive coaching, etc.
• Describe each service: Provide a detailed description of what it entails, the time required, and the qualifications of the professionals who will provide it. For example, coaches are responsible for providing coaching services to students or clients.
• Coaching Methodology: In all service descriptions, explain the methodology used. You should include information about the coaching process, how clients will be assessed, what techniques will be used, and how progress will be measured.

Overall, a business plan’s product and services section should be detailed, informative, and customer-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

• Develop your unique selling proposition (USP): Clearly define your coaching business’s unique selling propositions, which can be your services, expertise in the market, coaching methodology, online services, and so on. Determine what sets your business apart from the competition and what benefits your target market.
• Determine your pricing strategy: Develop a pricing strategy that is competitive and affordable yet profitable. Consider offering promotions, discounts, or packages for your coaching services to attract new customers.
• Marketing strategies: Develop a marketing strategy that includes a mix of online and offline marketing tactics. Consider social media, email marketing, content marketing, brochures, print marketing, and events.
• Sales strategies: Mention your sales strategy as in – creating referral programs for your existing customers, offering free trial or consultation, hosting events and workshops, incentive programs for brokers, etc.
• Customer retention: Describe how your business will retain customers and build loyalty, such as through loyalty programs, special events, or personalized service.

Overall, the sales and marketing strategies section of your business plan should outline your plans to attract and retain customers and generate revenue. Be specific, realistic, and data-driven in your approach, and be prepared to adjust your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

When writing the operations plan section, it’s important to consider the various aspects of your business processes and procedures involved in operating a business. Here are the components to include in an operations plan:

• Hiring Plan: Tell the staffing requirements of your coaching business, including the number of teachers, trainers, and coaches needed, their qualifications, and the duties they will perform. Also, mention the perks you will provide to your staff.
• Operational Process: Outline the processes and procedures you will use to run your coaching center. It includes sales and marketing, staffing and management, curriculum and teaching methods, quality assurance and improvement, etc.
• Facilities and Technology: Describe all the facilities and Technology used in your business operations, including internet connectivity, learning management system, library and resource center, accounting systems, etc.

By including these key elements in your operations plan section, you can create a comprehensive plan that outlines how you will run your coaching center.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of the individuals responsible for running the coaching business. This section should provide a detailed description of the experience and qualifications of each manager, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

• Key managers: Describe your management team’s key members, roles, and responsibilities. It should include the owners, senior management, department manager, coaches, support staff, and other people involved in the business operations, including their education, professional background, and any relevant experience in the coaching industry.
• Organizational structure: Describe the organizational structure of the management team, including reporting lines and how decisions will be made.
• Compensation plan: Describe your compensation plan for the management team and staff, including salaries, bonuses, and other benefits.
• Board of advisors: If you have a board of advisors for your business, then mention them along with their roles and experience.

Describe your business’s key personnel and highlight why your business has the fittest team.

8. Financial Plan

When writing the financial plan section of a business plan, it’s important to provide a comprehensive overview of your financial projections for the first few years of your business.

• Profit & loss statement: Create a projected profit & loss statement that describes the expected revenue, cost of products sold, and operational costs. Your business’s anticipated net profit or loss should be computed and included.
• Cash flow statement: Estimate your cash inflows and outflows for the first few years of operation. It should include client cash receipts, vendor payments, loan payments, and other cash inflows and outflows.
• Balance sheet: Prepare a projected balance sheet, which shows the business’s assets, liabilities, and equity.
• Break-even point: Determine the point at which your coaching business will break even or generate enough revenue to cover its operating costs. This will help you understand how much revenue you need to generate to make a profit.
• Financing needs: Estimate how much financing you will need to start and operate your coaching business. It should include short-term and long-term financing needs, such as loans or investment capital.

Remember to be realistic with your financial projections and provide supporting evidence for your estimates.

9. Appendix

When writing the appendix section, you should include any additional information supporting your plan’s main content. This may include financial statements, market research data, legal documents, and other relevant information.

• Include a table of contents for the appendix section to make it easy for readers to find specific information.
• Include financial statements such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. These should be up-to-date and show your financial projections for at least the first three years of your business.
• Provide market research data, such as statistics on the size of the coaching industry, consumer demographics, and trends in the industry.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Provide any additional documentation related to your business plans, such as marketing materials, product brochures, and operational procedures.
• Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the information they need.

Remember, the appendix section of your coaching business should only include relevant and essential information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

This coaching business plan sample will provide an idea for writing a successful coaching plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready coaching business plan to impress your audience, download our coaching business plan pdf .

Related Posts

Tutoring Business Plan

Youth Mentoring Program Business Plan

400+ Sample Business Plans Example

Summer Camp Business Plan

AI-Based Business Plan Generators Tools

Components of Business Planning

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you need a coaching business plan.

A business plan is essential for anyone looking to start or run a successful coaching center. It helps to clarify your business, secure funding, and identify potential challenges while starting and growing your coaching business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your coaching business.

How to get funding for your coaching business?

There are several ways to get funding for your coaching business, but one of the most efficient and speedy funding options is self-funding. Other options for funding are:

• Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
• Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your coaching business, usually online.
• Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought options for startups.
• Venture capital – Venture capitalists will invest in your business in exchange for a percentage of shares, so this funding option is also viable.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your coaching business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and idea better than you, so we recommend you write your coaching business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your coaching business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any coaching business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

Turn your business idea into a solid business plan

Explore Plan Builder

Plan your business in the shortest time possible

No Risk – Cancel at Any Time – 15 Day Money Back Guarantee

Create a great Business Plan with great price.

• 400+ Business plan templates & examples
• AI Assistance & step by step guidance
• 4.8 Star rating on Trustpilot

Streamline your business planning process with Upmetrics .

Websites for Coaches by Lovely Impact

How to Create a Simple Business Plan for Your Coaching Business

So… you’ve decided to start a coaching business? Or maybe to get more clarity within your current coaching business? Either way… congrats! The brainstorming phase is now over and it’s time to develop a plan of action. That’s right, it’s time to create your business plan!

Now before you freak out, take a deep breath. We are going to make this process as simple as possible for you. Unless you are applying for a loan, you do not need a traditional business plan. Do you know those crazy 300 page documents with all those charts? Yeah… those. We’re not going to make you do that! Together, we are going to create a short, sweet, but powerful mini-coaching business plan.

Inside this blog post you’ll learn:

✔️ Why you need a coaching business plan.

✔️ What to do before you start writing your plan.

✔️ What to include in your coaching business plan.

Why you need a coaching business plan.

A coaching business plan is really about clarity and focus for you, your partners, your investors, and your executive team. This plan will help you build a business that will support you financially, have an impact on those around you, and leave a lasting legacy you can be proud of.

The research you have to conduct to finalize a coaching business plan will help you peer into the future and predict different outcomes. Though it’s certainly not perfect, it helps you map out where you currently are and where you’re headed.

Get Your Free Coaching Business Checklist!

Fill out this form to access our free comprehensive business checklist with 149+ actionable tasks to setup your coaching business for success.

Plus, join our email list to stay up to date.

Specifically, a business plan helps you…

• Estimate total startup costs
• Understand your target audience
• Compete from the start
• Anticipate challenges

Bottom line? A business plan helps keep you on track. It ensures that you focus your attention on the right things and helps you avoid mistakes that could sink you.

Ready? We’re going to walk you step-by-step through the process of creating a solid business plan.

What you need to know before you start writing a business plan.

At Lovely Impact, we are all about dreaming big. Have you seen our tagline? “Launch your coaching website. IMPACT THE WORLD.”

We truly believe truly in that mission. However, every coaching business has to start somewhere. Unfortunately, many business plans are wildly unrealistic. The initial excitement of starting the business often causes coaches to massively overestimate how successful they’ll be and underestimate the challenges they’ll encounter.

In order to be effective, a coaching business plan needs to be realistic. Before you launch, you want to be relatively confident that you have a good chance of succeeding.

In many ways, a business plan should help you decide whether your coaching niche and business idea will pan out. It’s possible that you may put together your business plan and then realize that the potential outcome isn’t as bright as you initially thought. That’s okay. It forces you to go back to the drawing board.

This is why taking the necessary time to do the market research, analyze your financial needs, and map out your strategy for the future is super important. Don’t look at being realistic as the thing that’s preventing you from dreaming big. View it as building a foundation for a successful, long-lasting business.

What to include in your coaching business plan

We want you to put a lot of thought into each section of your coaching business plan. To help, we’ve not only included a free download in our Free Resource Library , but we’ve also broken each part down for you:

Section 1: Mission Statement: Keep your mission statement concise and specific but make sure anyone reading it will have a full understanding of your business. Your mission statement should include what you do, how you do it, who you do it for, and what value or need you are serving.

Section 2: Executive Summary: In this section, you should describe your business in more detail. What type of business is it? Why did you start this business? What does it mean to you and your customers? What industries do you service?

Section 3: Products and Services: Here you’ll want to list out and describe all of the products and services your business will offer. But we want you to dig a little deeper by including pricing and materials needed to provide them to your customers.

Section 4: Targeted Audience: Now it’s time to describe your ideal customer. Include demographics, influencers, trends, where they are online, and more. Don’t get too obsessed with this. In chapter 3 we’ll be doing a deeper dive on marketing research.

Section 5: Customer Needs: What need is your business fulfilling? Here you’ll need to discuss the pain points and frustrations of your potential customers, and how your business will solve those problems.

Section 6: Customer Acquisition: In this part of the plan, you’ll discuss where your customers are and how you will reach them. Include social media platforms, forums, magazines they read, activities they frequent, etc. Explain how you will use these mediums to promote your business and reach your customers.

Section 7: Competitive Advantage: What makes your business so unique? This is where you explain why you are better than your competition, how your products and services stand out, and what make you different.

Section 8: Owner Passion: Here’s a section that many don’t add to their business plans, but that’s the point of this course right? Describing why you are personally passionate about this business is important to keep you motivated. Be sure also to include your three top qualities that you will put into your business.

Section 9: Finances: Here we go! Don’t panic. For this part, we will keep it very simple. What are your financial goals? How will you fund this business? Finally, what is the cost to start this business?

Section 10: Business Goals: For this part, list what goals you plan to accomplish in 6 months, one year, and five years from now.

Download our free the coaching business plan worksheet

Ready to get started writing your coaching business plan? Head on over to our free resource library and look for the “MINI COACHING BUSINESS PLAN”. This guided workbook goes along with this blog post and was developed to help you create a short, sweet, but powerful mini-coaching business plan.

Sign up here: https://lovelyimpact.com/free-resource-library-for-coaches >>

About The Author

Hey! I’m Tee, a Certified Business Coach and a Co-Founder at Lovely Impact. I help coaches grow and scale their coaching businesses. Here on our blog, my content focuses on web design, marketing, business, and social media strategy.

Tee, thank you so much for this article! I’m planning to download the mini coaching business plan because I love how you laid it out here!

Hi Laura! I’m so glad this helped 🙂 The mini coaching business plan is laid out exactly like this, so if the article helped the download will follow the same process.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The most comprehensive coaching library online including trainings, ebooks, checklists, and more.

We’ll Set Up Your Coaching Business & Design Your Website in Just 9 Weeks!

Privacy Overview

• Certifications
• Find A Coach

Free Masterclass! 4 Simple Steps To Start Your Coaching Business Today

Creating Your Rock-Solid Coaching Business Plan

Here's the no-holds-barred truth...

Starting and running a successful business - any kind of business -- isn't easy.

It will probably be one of the hardest things you'll ever do, but it will also be one of the most satisfying things you will ever do.

The good news is a coaching business that's based on a solid coaching business plan...

A plan that gives you clarity, focus, and direction...

A plan that's based on clear commitment...

Will take a lot of the sting - or obstacles and difficulties - out of the business-building experience.

Step #1 in creating a coaching business plan is about creating that commitment by finding the truth around why  you want to build a successful coaching business in the first place.

This may sound like a simple thing to do but don't be fooled... it's probably the most challenging step of all.

A lot of coaches believe the reason why they do what they do is because they want to serve others and make a difference in people's lives, but if we're really honest with ourselves, that's only half  the story.

If all you want to do with your coaching skills is to serve others, you'd do it for free and you wouldn't build a business around it and charge for your services.

Just to be clear...

This is definitely NOT a campaign to get you to coach for free! Charging for your coaching services and building a coaching business are awesome and it's the right thing to do.

How else would you be able to serve others powerfully if you can't make ends meet or are coaching after hours, leaving little to no time to your own wellbeing?

You have to make your coaching business sustainable if you want to make a living out of your passion. 

The point of this step is to get you to reflect deeply and dig deeper around your  inner motivation for building a coaching business.

When you get to the REAL root of  why you want to build a business, why it matters to YOU and not just how you can help others, you'll strengthen your motivation and commitment.

You'll find that with strong commitment, you're able to continue along your journey, no matter what happens...

You're able to tap into a level of persistence and consistency that will allow you to overcome all of the challenges, risks and uncertainty that will come up when you start to build your business.

As you think about your commitment in this first step, don't feel like you need to focus on others and that you must be empathetic to what other people want and need all the time.

As master coach and co-founder of Evercoach, Ajit Nawalkha says...

The following questions will help you connect with the heart of your  personal why... the needs and desires within you that don't have anything to do with anyone else.

Commitment is the step that holds all the other pieces in place in your coaching business plan and that's because no matter how awesome your plan is, it's not going to work if you're not deeply committed and focused on building a successful business.

Question #1

Think of a successful coach you admire. What are some of their awesome personal qualities and traits ? What is their business model? What kind of lifestyle do they have? (if you're not sure, Google to get some answers)

Note: When we admire someone, it's usually because we desire some of what they have. This question will help you identify your deepest desires as a coach.

Question #2

Describe an ideal day in your life as a coach. Start from the moment you wake up until the moment you fall asleep at night. Be as detailed as possible, you can add elements of your lifestyle, where you are, who you are with, be specific about times, etc.

Note: This question will give you hidden clues to what you're looking for in your coaching business and why you want to build your business. Is it a rich, luxurious life with lots of 1 st  class travel and a house by the beach? Is it plenty of time freedom or maybe it's working with well-known politicians and celebrities? Let yourself dream BIG!

Question #3

What are 5 to 10 of benefits you personally experience from your work as a coach? Maybe your work allows you to grow and transform as a human being, maybe it's that you get deep satisfaction knowing that you're making a difference in people's lives, maybe it's both.

Note: This question will focus your mind on some of the benefits you gain being a coach. This will help you discover why you want to make this your life's work.

Question #4

Now that you've completed questions 1 through 3, finish this sentence:

"I want to build a successful coaching business because..."

Note: List as many reasons as you want but try to make sure these reasons are related to you, your passion, your work, your lifestyle, your dreams, and your desires. Don't let yourself focus on other people... you have permission to be selfish!

Here's one of the biggest conundrums of the 21st century...

The internet has linked us to more people than ever before in the history of humanity and at the same time, it's left us feeling lonelier than we've ever been.

Here's the thing...

The internet creates an environment where we can reach people around the world and we can share our lives with them, but it does not nurture TRUE connections.

Deep, honest, vulnerable and powerful connections are the foundation of successful coaching.

So, what has this got to do with creating a coaching business plan?

Well, just about everything!

For one thing, people are hungry for connections. They want a coach who creates space for them to be themselves without fear of being judged or rejected.

More and more people want to feel seen, heard and understood in a real way and not just through mindless likes and shares on social media.

A successful coach is someone who has what it takes to build real connections with people both online and offline.

As you continue to build out your coaching business plan, spend time thinking about how you're going to inspire true connections with potential clients.

Are you going to reach out to them online?  Schedule an old-fashioned "coffee date" so you can get to know each other? Will you send them an email and follow up with a phone call?

If you're not sure, do a little research and check out what other coaches -- in your niche or area of expertise -- are doing to create connections in your space so you can kick start a stream of ideas and inspiration.

It's time to make some big picture choices on how and when you want to start creating real connections with potential clients.

This is an important segment in your business plan as it will help you make decisions around being visible and marketing your coaching services.

List all the online and offline methods you can think of to reach out and connect with potential clients. Be specific of what places or platforms you would use to find your ideal audience and approach them.

Note: For instance, if you're a health coach, you could aim to attend at least one a health-related industry conference each month. If you like connecting on social media , what are some of the Facebook groups you could become a part of?

How do you show up best when you're connecting with someone new? Do you love connecting online or do you prefer in-person meetups?

Note: When you've answered this question, check back on your list in Question 1 and circle specific methods that work best for you, based on your answers to this question. For instance if your list in question #1 included "attending live networking events", "running a weekend seminar" and "reaching out via DM on Instagram" and you know you're at your best when you connect in person, then you'd circle the first 2 methods but not the third.

What's ONE thing you can do by the end of today, or if you're reading this before bed, what's the one thing you can do in the morning to connect with at least 3 potential clients?

Conversation

You've identified your preferred channels of connection and maybe you've even already taken your first action step to reach out to potential clients.

This is the segment in the business plan that most coaches absolutely love because they kick a$$ in this area!

We've arrived at the conversation phase of your business plan.

This is where the magic happens.

When you can have a conversation with a potential client, you need to direct your attention to 3 key elements:

Transformation

How can you make every, single conversation you have feel insightful, meaningful, and transformational for the potential client?

How can you take your language and conversational skills up to the highest levels?

The best coaches in the world also happen to be world-class listeners and conversationalists, and that's not a coincidence!

Coaches are in the business of creating transformations one conversation at a time.

So, keep in mind that with every conversation you have, you are also in the position to create transformation right there in the moment ..

This isn't about feeling pressured or stressed into changing lives in minutes although it has been known to happen!

It's actually about looking inside yourself and discovering the internal and external cues, triggers and environmental elements that allow you to show up as a master conversationalist, a master listener...

And a master coach.

At Evercoach, we teach coaches the art of practicing deep listening , asking powerful, perceptive questions that create a space for reflection and game-changing "a-ha" moments for clients.

You can learn more about deep listening and asking questions for life-changing conversations in one of our all-time popular courses on Evercoach -  Being an Exponential Coach

Knowing how to have great conversations with clients comes with deep thought, reflection and practice. The following questions will help you create a personal guideline to start meaningful, insightful, transformational conversations that you can include in your business plan.

What's a great opening question you can ask to trigger a deep conversation with a potential client?

Think of some of the game-changing conversations you've had in your own life - either with a coach or even with a friend. What are some of the powerful elements of those conversations, other than insightful, meaningful and transformational?

Note: When you've identified at least 3 elements, think about how you can include them in your next conversation with a potential client.

Identify 3 ways you can learn to take your listening, questioning and conversations skills up to the highest level. 

Note: You can check out our Youtube channel  and  Coaching Guides to get tons of free, high-value content will help you rapidly up-level your coaching skills - even if you're a brand-new coach.

T he 5-Step Coaching Business Plan

C reating  your rock-solid coaching business plan, build your thriving coaching business.

Coaching Business Plan

Creating a well-structured coaching business plan is crucial for anyone looking to succeed in the coaching industry. Whether you’re interested in life coaching, business coaching, or offering specialized services, a clear roadmap will guide your journey and help you achieve your goals. This article delves into the essentials of a coaching business plan and explores the benefits of using a coaching business plan template to streamline your planning process.

The Importance of a Coaching Business Plan

A coaching business plan serves as the foundation for your coaching practice, outlining your mission, vision, target audience, service offerings, marketing strategies, and financial projections. It’s your blueprint for success, ensuring that every step you take aligns with your overarching business goals.

For those considering starting a life coaching business, a comprehensive life coach business plan is indispensable. This plan not only helps you clarify your objectives but also attracts potential clients and investors by demonstrating that you have a well-thought-out strategy in place. Whether you’re planning to offer one-on-one sessions, group coaching, or online coaching, a robust business plan is the first step toward a successful venture.

Key Elements of a Coaching Business Plan

When crafting your coaching business plan, it’s important to cover several key areas:

• Executive Summary: This section provides an overview of your coaching business, including your mission statement, vision, and core values. It should succinctly convey what your business is about and what sets it apart from the competition.
• Business Description: Detail the nature of your coaching business, including the types of services you offer (e.g., life coaching, business coaching, wellness coaching). This section should also describe your coaching methodology and approach.
• Market Analysis: Conduct thorough research on your target market, identifying key demographics, market trends, and potential competitors. Understanding your market is essential for positioning your business effectively.
• Marketing Strategy: Outline your plans for attracting and retaining clients. This could include digital marketing tactics, such as social media campaigns and content marketing, as well as traditional methods like networking and referrals.
• Operational Plan: Describe the day-to-day operations of your coaching business, including your business structure, staffing needs, and technology requirements. If you’re planning to offer online coaching, this section should also cover your virtual setup.
• Financial Plan: Provide a detailed breakdown of your financial projections, including startup costs, revenue streams, pricing strategy, and profit margins. A well-prepared financial plan is critical for securing funding and managing your business’s financial health.

Coaching Business Plan Sample

One of the best ways to get started on your coaching business model plan is to use a coaching business plan template. Templates provide a structured outline that ensures you cover all essential aspects of your business. For those starting a life coach business, a sample life coach business plan PDF can be an invaluable resource.

Below is a coaching business plan sample that typically includes sections guiding you through the process of creating a comprehensive business plan, from defining your coaching niche to outlining your marketing strategy. Whether you’re planning to start a life coaching business from home or launch a corporate coaching practice, a business plan for coaching business provides the framework you need to succeed.

1.0 Executive Summary

Elevate Executive Minds (herein also referred to as “Elevate-X” and “the company”) was established in the State of California by Founder, Mr. David Williams. Founded in 2022 with an initial focus on providing executive coaching services to high-level professionals, the company has since expanded its offerings to include leadership development programs, corporate training, and strategic consulting services.

Elevate-X’s innovative business model is meticulously designed to harness emerging trends in executive coaching and corporate leadership development. By broadening its focus beyond individual coaching, the company is able to provide comprehensive solutions tailored to the needs of both executives and organizations. This diversification strategy not only drives revenue growth but also ensures resilience against fluctuations in demand for specific services.

To support the company’s expansion, Elevate-X is seeking a $200,000 investment to strengthen key operational areas. The funds will be allocated toward the development of a cutting-edge digital platform that will enable the company to deliver coaching and training services on a global scale. Additionally, the investment will be used to expand the team of expert coaches and consultants, allowing the company to accommodate a larger client base and enhance service delivery.

Under the leadership of Mr. David Williams, Elevate-X has quickly gained recognition for its commitment to excellence and innovation in the executive coaching industry. His ability to anticipate industry trends and deliver tailored, impactful solutions has been crucial to the rapid growth and success of the company. With a focus on empowering leaders and driving organizational success, Elevate-X is well-positioned for continued growth and impact in the executive coaching and corporate training sectors.

2.0 Business Overview

Elevate Executive Minds operates a dynamic B2B and B2C business model focused on executive coaching and leadership development. The company primarily targets corporate executives, business leaders, and organizations seeking to enhance leadership capabilities, foster professional growth, and drive organizational success. Elevate Executive Minds provides tailored coaching sessions, strategic consulting, and leadership training programs that are designed to empower individuals and teams to achieve their full potential.

To diversify the company’s service offerings and extend its reach, Elevate Executive Minds also delivers specialized services, including corporate workshops, online coaching platforms, and customized executive retreats. These services cater to both individual professionals and corporate clients, providing a comprehensive approach to personal and organizational development. This multifaceted service model positions Elevate Executive Minds as a one-stop solution for leadership and executive training needs.

2.1 Mission Statement  

The mission is to empower leaders and organizations through innovative coaching solutions, fostering growth, and achieving excellence in leadership. The company is dedicated to providing transformative experiences that drive success for clients and contribute to their long-term growth.

2.2 Vision Statement

The vision is to be recognized as a global leader in executive coaching and leadership development, known for delivering exceptional results and creating lasting impact for clients. The company strives to set the standard for excellence in the industry and to be the preferred partner for organizations seeking to elevate their leadership capabilities.

2.3 Core Values

Elevate Executive Minds’ culture is built upon a foundation of core values that guide all interactions with clients, partners, and team members. These values are central to all business activities and are deeply embedded in the company’s ethos.

• Excellence: Elevate Executive Minds is committed to delivering the highest quality coaching and consulting services. Every program is meticulously designed and executed to meet the specific needs of clients and exceed their expectations.
• Integrity: The company operates with the utmost integrity, ensuring honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior in all business dealings. Trust is considered essential for building strong, lasting relationships with clients and partners.
• Client-Centric: Clients are at the core of everything the company does. Elevate Executive Minds prioritizes understanding clients’ unique challenges and goals, tailoring services to provide the most effective solutions.
• Innovation: The company embraces continuous improvement and innovation, staying ahead of industry trends and developing cutting-edge approaches to leadership development.
• Collaboration: Elevate Executive Minds fosters a collaborative environment, both internally and with clients, believing that teamwork and shared knowledge are key to achieving exceptional outcomes.

2.4 Goals and Objectives

3.0 market analysis.

In the dynamic field of executive coaching and leadership development, understanding market trends, regulatory influences, and the competitive landscape is crucial for positioning Elevate Executive Minds for success. This market analysis offers a thorough examination of these critical factors, delivering insights that will guide the development of a winning strategy.

3.1 Market Trends

The demand for executive coaching and leadership development services has been steadily increasing as organizations recognize the value of investing in their leadership teams. Key trends include a shift towards personalized coaching programs that are tailored to the specific needs of individual executives, as well as a growing preference for virtual coaching solutions, driven by the rise of remote work and digital transformation. Additionally, there is a notable increase in the adoption of data-driven coaching techniques, where assessments and analytics are used to enhance the effectiveness of coaching programs. The market is also witnessing a rise in demand for leadership training that focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as organizations strive to foster more inclusive workplace cultures.

3.2 Government Regulations

The executive coaching industry is subject to various regulatory frameworks that impact its operations. While there is no direct governmental regulation of coaching practices, industry standards and certifications, such as those provided by the International Coach Federation (ICF), play a significant role in ensuring the quality and professionalism of coaching services. Compliance with data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for clients in the European Union, is essential, especially for firms offering virtual coaching services that involve the collection and processing of personal data. Additionally, intellectual property laws are relevant when developing proprietary coaching materials and methodologies. Understanding and adhering to these regulatory requirements is crucial for maintaining credibility and trust with clients.

3.3 Competitive Analysis

Let's get started.

• Your Name *
• Email Address *
• Phone Number

4.0 Products and Services

Elevate Executive Minds offers a comprehensive suite of executive coaching and leadership development services tailored to meet the diverse needs of business leaders and executives across various industries. These services are designed to empower clients to achieve their personal and professional goals, enhance their leadership capabilities, and drive organizational success.

4.1 Executive Coaching

Elevate Executive Minds provides one-on-one executive coaching sessions that focus on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by senior leaders. These sessions are customized to address specific leadership development needs, such as decision-making, strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and communication skills. Through a personalized approach, clients are guided to unlock their full potential, navigate complex business environments, and lead with confidence.

4.2 Leadership Development Programs

The leadership development programs offered by Elevate Executive Minds are designed to cultivate the skills and competencies necessary for effective leadership at all levels of an organization. These programs include workshops, seminars, and group coaching sessions that cover a wide range of topics, such as team building, conflict resolution, change management, and innovation. Participants gain practical tools and strategies that can be immediately applied to their roles, enabling them to drive positive change within their organizations.

4.3 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Coaching

Recognizing the importance of inclusive leadership, Elevate Executive Minds offers specialized DEI coaching services. These programs are aimed at helping leaders understand and address issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within their organizations. Through a combination of coaching, training, and assessment, clients are equipped to foster a more inclusive workplace culture, improve employee engagement, and enhance organizational performance.

4.4 Virtual Coaching Solutions

In response to the growing demand for remote and flexible learning options, Elevate Executive Minds offers virtual coaching solutions that allow clients to access coaching services from anywhere in the world. These solutions include video conferencing sessions, online assessments, and digital resources that are easily accessible through a secure online platform. Virtual coaching is an ideal option for busy executives who require flexibility in their coaching engagements.

4.5 Data-Driven Coaching Assessments

To maximize the impact of coaching engagements, Elevate Executive Minds integrates data-driven assessments into its coaching process. These assessments provide valuable insights into clients’ leadership styles, strengths, and areas for development. By leveraging data analytics, clients receive actionable feedback that helps them make informed decisions and track their progress over time.

4.6 Customizable Coaching Packages

Understanding that each organization and individual has unique needs, Elevate Executive Minds offers customizable coaching packages that can be tailored to specific requirements. These packages allow clients to select from a range of services and combine them in a way that best aligns with their goals. Customizable packages provide flexibility and ensure that clients receive the most relevant and impactful coaching experience.

4.7 Leadership Retreats and Offsite Workshops

Elevate Executive Minds organizes leadership retreats and offsite workshops that offer immersive learning experiences in a focused and distraction-free environment. These retreats are designed to facilitate deep reflection, strategic planning, and team bonding. Participants benefit from a structured yet relaxed setting where they can engage in intensive leadership development activities and return to their organizations with renewed energy and clarity.

4.8 Ongoing Support and Follow-Up

To ensure sustained growth and development, Elevate Executive Minds provides ongoing support and follow-up services for clients. This includes regular check-ins, progress reviews, and access to additional resources. Ongoing support helps clients stay on track with their development goals and continue to build on the insights gained during coaching sessions.

5.0 Sales and Marketing Plan

5.1 target market.

Elevate Executive Minds targets high-level executives, senior managers, and business leaders who seek to enhance their leadership skills, drive organizational success, and achieve personal and professional growth. The primary market includes:

• Corporate Executives: Senior leaders and executives from medium to large-sized enterprises who need personalized coaching to navigate complex business challenges and improve their leadership effectiveness.
• Small Business Owners: Entrepreneurs and small business owners looking for strategies to scale their operations, manage growth, and develop leadership capabilities.
• Emerging Leaders: Professionals on the cusp of executive roles who require guidance to transition effectively into leadership positions and build a solid foundation for their careers.
• Human Resources and Talent Development Professionals: HR professionals and talent development managers seeking to implement coaching programs within their organizations to foster leadership development and improve employee performance.

Elevate Executive Minds also targets industries with high leadership turnover or those undergoing significant change, such as technology, finance, healthcare, and professional services. The focus is on providing tailored coaching solutions that address the specific needs and challenges faced by leaders in these sectors.

5.2 Marketing Strategies

To effectively reach and engage the target market, Elevate Executive Minds employs a multi-faceted marketing strategy that includes the following key components:

• Content Marketing: Develop and distribute valuable content such as blog articles, white papers, case studies, and thought leadership pieces that address leadership challenges and showcase the benefits of executive coaching. This content will be shared through the company’s website, email newsletters, and social media platforms.
• Social Media Marketing: Utilize platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to build brand awareness, engage with industry professionals, and promote coaching services. Regular updates, client testimonials, and success stories will be featured to highlight the impact of the coaching services.
• Networking and Partnerships: Establish relationships with industry associations, professional networks, and business organizations to generate referrals and partnerships. Attend industry events, conferences, and seminars to connect with potential clients and increase visibility in the target market.
• Online Advertising: Implement targeted online advertising campaigns using Google Ads and social media ads to reach executives and business leaders actively seeking coaching services. Ads will be tailored to address specific pain points and offer solutions relevant to the target audience.
• Webinars and Workshops: Host webinars and workshops on leadership topics to provide valuable insights and demonstrate expertise. These events will serve as lead-generation tools and provide potential clients with a preview of the coaching services offered.
• Client Referrals and Testimonials: Encourage satisfied clients to refer others and provide testimonials that can be featured on the company’s website and marketing materials. Positive word-of-mouth recommendations will enhance credibility and attract new clients.

5.3 SWOT Analysis

6.0 operational plan, 6.1 hours of operation.

To accommodate clients in different time zones and enhance accessibility, extended hours are available by appointment on weekdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Additionally, virtual coaching sessions can be scheduled on weekends based on client availability. This flexible scheduling ensures that clients receive the support they need at convenient times.

6.2 Location

The primary operational base for Elevate Executive Minds is a professional office space located in the downtown business district. The central location provides easy access for clients and is situated near major transportation links. The office is equipped with state-of-the-art meeting rooms, video conferencing facilities, and a comfortable environment for one-on-one and group coaching sessions.

In addition to the physical office, Elevate Executive Minds operates a robust virtual platform that enables remote coaching and client interaction. This online presence supports global reach and provides clients with the flexibility to engage in coaching sessions from any location.

6.3 Risk Analysis

7.0 organizational plan.

The organizational plan for Elevate Executive Minds outlines the company’s approach to managing human capital, ensuring effective leadership, and maintaining operational efficiency. This plan is designed to be flexible and will be periodically reviewed to ensure that Elevate Executive Minds remains adaptive and responsive to emerging opportunities and challenges in the executive coaching industry.

7.1 Organizational Structure

Elevate Executive Minds employs a structured organizational hierarchy to facilitate smooth operations, clear communication, and effective management. This structure promotes collaboration among teams and establishes clear lines of authority, supporting decision-making and operational efficiency. The hierarchical setup ensures that each department functions cohesively towards achieving the company’s strategic objectives.

7.2 Personnel Plan

The personnel plan for Elevate Executive Minds defines the roles, duties, and responsibilities of key positions within the company. This plan ensures efficient management and accountability, contributing to the overall success and growth of the executive coaching business.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

• Oversees overall operations, strategy, and vision of Elevate Executive Minds.
• Makes high-level decisions and manages the leadership team.
• Represents the company to stakeholders, clients, and the broader community.

Operations Manager

• Manages the day-to-day operations of the coaching business, ensuring a seamless experience for clients.
• Ensures compliance with industry standards and maintains operational efficiency.
• Coordinates with vendors and oversees procurement and resource management.

Client Relations Manager

• Focuses on building and maintaining strong relationships with clients.
• Organizes client engagement activities, including workshops and networking events.
• Manages client feedback and ensures a positive coaching experience.

Financial Manager

• Manages budgeting, financial planning, and financial reporting for Elevate Executive Minds.
• Oversees accounts payable and receivable, and ensures financial health.
• Provides financial analysis to support strategic decision-making and business growth.

Administrative Assistant

• Provides administrative support to the CEO and other team members.
• Manages scheduling, correspondence, and overall office organization.
• Assists with record-keeping, document management, and client inquiries.

Sales Manager

• Drives client acquisition and membership growth through strategic sales efforts.
• Manages the client onboarding process and works to retain existing clients.
• Develops and executes sales campaigns to meet growth targets and expand market reach.

Marketing Specialist

• Develops and implements marketing strategies to promote Elevate Executive Minds and attract new clients.
• Manages social media channels, email marketing, and promotional activities.
• Analyzes marketing performance and adjusts tactics to enhance brand visibility and client engagement.

IT Specialist

• Manages and maintains the company’s IT systems and technology infrastructure.
• Supports the integration of new software and technology solutions for virtual coaching.
• Ensures the effective operation of technology used for client interactions, including video conferencing and online scheduling systems.

8.0 Financial Plan

The following financial projections have been carefully crafted by the management team of the company. All projections are forward-looking and are dependent on securing the required financing. It is the audience’s responsibility to conduct all necessary due diligence.

Pro Forma Income Statement

Pro Forma Cash Flow Statement

Pro forma balance sheet.

A well-crafted coaching business plan is your roadmap to success, providing clarity, direction, and a solid foundation for your coaching practice. Whether you’re starting a life coach business or expanding your existing practice, a comprehensive plan ensures that you’re prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

If you’re ready to take the next step, consider using a sample life coaching business plan PDF or a life coach business plan template to kickstart your planning process. At BSBCON , we’re here to help you craft a business plan that aligns with your vision and sets you on the path to success. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you in building a thriving coaching business.

Have Questions? Looking To Get Started?

How can we help you.

Get in touch with us or visit our office

How to Start a Coaching Business from Scratch: A Step-by-Step Guide

by Stacey Hagen | Business

Related Posts

Table of Contents

So you decided to start a coaching business

What to know when you’re starting your coaching business, hiring a business coach to help you start your coaching business, 10 steps to start your coaching business from scratch, step 1: define your coaching niche. , step 2: research your ideal coaching client., step 3: set up your coaching business structure, step 4: create a business plan for your coaching business, step 5: create your core marketing message, step 6: create your coaching packages, step 7: create a brand and website, step 8: create a marketing plan for your coaching business, step 9: define your sales process for your coaching business, step 10: commit to your learning and growth — both as a coach and a business owner, ready to start building your coaching business, ready to hire a business coach.

Congrats! Starting a coaching business can be the start of a rewarding and fulfilling journey. Coaching as a profession can allow you to positively impact the lives, health, relationships, and careers of others while allowing you the freedom to have your own business and all that entails.

But starting a coaching business from scratch is no easy feat! While Instagram coaches may seem like it’s simple, it’s actually more challenging than just calling yourself a coach and creating a business Instagram account.

Starting a coaching business from scratch requires a lot of strategy, planning, and intentional actions, so that you can start your business on the right foot — and not waste time, money, or resources in the process.

Most people who start a coaching business are not necessarily entrepreneurs, business experts, or marketers. There’s no shame in that! But you do need to be aware of what you don’t know so that you can be prepared for your journey as a business owner.

Yes, when you become a coach and start a coaching business, you also become a business owner! (Shocking, I know!) Becoming a business owner means there are certain things you’ll need to know, understand, and do in your business.

For example, you’ll need to know how to set up a business and decide on your business structure. You’ll need to identify who exactly you want to serve (i.e., your coaching niche .) You’ll need to learn how to create coaching packages and what to charge for them, as well as how to market your coaching services .

There’s a lot to learn! But you can learn it. Honestly, the fastest way to get your coaching business off the ground is to hire a business coach who is experienced in helping new coaches. This can help you get your business off the ground faster, get your first clients sooner, and have a plan for moving forward to grow your business.

The right business coach can help you start your coaching business on the right foot and know what steps to take, in which order, and how to take them, so that you have all the support, strategy, and tools to start your business.

As a holistic business coach for new coaches, I can help. I’ve been coaching since 2015 and I’ve developed a proven process to guide my clients through the process of starting a coaching business — totally from scratch!

These are some of the major steps we take in my process. (And you know there’s a lot that comes up in between!)  I’ve developed my specific process over the years of supporting new coaches and I make sure to update my own process with the tools you need to start and grow a coaching business in today’s world.

Any good coach training program will give you the basic skills to coach practically anyone. However, “anyone” is not a good target market, and so you’ll want to define your coaching niche when you start your business.

Do you want to coach people on their careers, their relationships, their health, their business? Are you a career coach, a life coach, a business coach, a wellness coach?

You’ll want to choose a niche where you have both expertise on the subject matter and passion for what you do.

After you’ve defined your coaching niche, you’ll want to take it a step further to define your ideal client.

If your niche is career coaching, you’ll want to identify who you are coaching. Are you a career coach for new moms who are returning to the workforce or for tech professionals who are burned out? Are you a relationship coach for newly divorced women or for newly married couples?

You want to go beyond choosing your area of focus and define who you want to serve. Although this can be tricky when you’re just starting out, taking time to do market research for your coaching business will help you learn and understand who you can best serve. 

When you are starting a coaching business, you are also starting a business, which is a legal and financial entity. You’ll want to set up your business infrastructure, including registering your business, deciding if you’ll start as a sole proprietor or LLC, obtaining any necessary licenses or permits, and setting up systems for payments, bookkeeping, and taxes.

Starting off on the right foot legally and financially will make your business run a lot smoother operationally, especially as you scale and grow.

A coaching business plan can serve as a roadmap that outlines your business goals, strategies, and financial projections. It’s important to develop a business plan to help you stay focused and on track as you start and grow your coaching business. Your coaching business plan should include details about your coaching niche, target market, your coaching packages, marketing strategies , pricing, and financial projections. 

Your core message is that key statement that explains who you are, who you serve, and how it helps. More than an elevator pitch, your core message must resonate with your ideal clients by speaking to their needs and desires, while communicating how you can help. Creating a clear core message will help you establish yourself as a coach and differentiate yourself from other coaches in your niche. Check out this post on how to define your core message .

You may have heard this before, but clients don’t buy coaching packages; they buy the transformation they can achieve through a coaching package. But you still want to set up coaching packages (as opposed to offering only single sessions) with the goal of supporting your clients to achieve what they want to achieve.

Even though each client is different, when you know your ideal clients, you can identify and understand their main challenges and desires, and create packages that support them in achieving that. Creating compelling coaching packages can help you serve your clients in a deeper way, while allowing you to better manage your own time, energy, and finances.

Creating a strong coaching brand and coaching website helps you attract clients and give prospective clients information on who you are and what you do. Think of your website as your online home and your brand as the color, decor, and personality of your home.

Your website allows you to establish an online presence, showcase your expertise, and share content that can attract your ideal audience. Your coaching brand differentiates you from other coaches and helps to build trust, credibility, and an emotional connection with your audience.

When you start a coaching business, you want to do what you love: COACH! That means you need coaching clients. To find coaching clients, you need to have a way to attract, nurture, and convert prospective clients into paying clients. This means you’ll need to learn about marketing!

There are many ways to market your coaching business , such as networking, social media, and SEO. You can also offer free coaching sessions or webinars to build trust and establish yourself as an expert. Of course, you don’t want to try and attempt ALL the ways there are to market, but find the most effective ways for you. Then you want to create a strategic marketing plan .

Marketing your coaching business will help you attract clients and build your audience. You’ll also need a sales process to bring the right fit clients into working with you at the right time. Many coaches start by offering a discovery call or free coaching consultation to anyone who is interested in working with them. You can optimize your sales process by using intake forms and pre-call communications to give your prospective clients the information they need to go further, as well as to ensure you’re getting the right fit clients on the consultation calls with you. 

As a coach, you’re likely passionate about your growth and development. (That’s probably what led you to coaching in the first place!) So you’ll want to keep up on your own personal development and training. You can do this by enrolling in training programs, attending industry conferences, and even hiring a coach for yourself . This will not only help you improve as a coach, but also demonstrate your commitment to providing high-quality services to your clients.

You’ll also want to continue to learn and grow as a business owner , so you can scale and grow your coaching business over time. This means investing in your own business knowledge in the areas of finance, operations, marketing, sales and more.

Starting a coaching business from scratch requires not only good coaching skills, but solid business planning skills as well. By defining your niche, developing a business plan, creating a brand and website, and focusing on a clear marketing and sales process, you can establish a successful coaching business that serves your ideal clients and allows you to do what you love: Coach! 

Ready to get started? Take the first step to building your coaching business from scratch with this free checklist.

Knowing what to do is part of the process; the other part is knowing how to do it well! That’s where I come in. As a business coach for coaches, I can help you start your business on the right foot. My coaching includes a blend of business and marketing strategy, along with minndset and inner work, so that you can have a guide, support, and resources as you set up your coaching business.

Hi. Just completing my coaching qualification and preparing a business plan to set up my business as a Holistic Life Coach. Looking for guidance?

Hi John! Congrats on starting your business! A first step I would recommend is getting the Coaching Business Checklist, so you can see all of the pieces that go into starting a business. Here’s a link to the checklist: https://www.createcoachingconsulting.com/free-resources/coaching-business-checklist/

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hello! Welcome to the CREATE blog!

If you want to build a business and brand while being true to yourself, you're in the right place. I share business and marketing tips to help you do business your way.

Topics I Write About

• Uncategorized