The Essential Checklist: How To Start A Life Coaching Business

How To Become A Life Coach

  

This is one of the most frequent questions I get.  How do I start my coaching business from scratch? Or I’m overwhelmed, how to do I start in becoming a life coach?

I've created a free checklist you can use so you don't miss a step. >>> Download Your Checklist <<<

 

 

If you start to feel overwhelmed about all these steps remember that as you start a business many of these steps you only ever need to do once!

#1: Take training from a reputable school and consider becoming certified. There are many icf accredited training programs. The international coaching federation icf is one of the governing bodies in the life coaching industry Check out this blog post on how to become a professional coach.

#2: Log as many hours as you can. Both free and paid. The more you coach the more skilled you will be. Keep track of the number of hours you coach.

#3: Get organized (paper and/or electronic tools). You will need a calendar, a way to invoice your clients, an agreement with payment and cancellation policies, a welcome package, discovery and completion paperwork.

To make a professional impression on your clients, and save time and energy, grab your 8 Must-Have Forms for Your Coaching Business here.  

#4: Get good at doing sample sessions. This is where most new coaches get new clients. They offer a complimentary 20 or 30-minute session to a potential new client with the intent on deciding whether they are a match and to ask them to be a client.

 

#5: Find people to offer a sample session to.

#6: Establish your rates and signature packages.

#7: Learn how to market your services.

There are many options to choose from, use the platform(s) which will give you the most access to your tribe. Some ideas, your website, blog, social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn), in person, public speaking, workshops, conferences and networking events. 

Choose 2 or 3 platforms and master them. It's better to leverage your chosen platforms instead of inefficiently dabbling in all of them.

#8: Successful professionals learn how to ask for referrals.

#9: Decide on your coaching niche (the problem you help clients solve).

#10: Decide on your target market or ideal client (your tribe, who you help).

#11: Have a professional looking website.

#12: Set short and long-term goals for your business.

When you're thinking of the next steps you need to ask yourself what do I want my business to look like in 5 years? In 1-year? What is my business model? Do I want to work with people full or part-time?

#13: Treat your business like a business, not like a hobby and you will build your business more effectively.

#14: You are a business owner. Allocate time to work ON your business and time to work IN your business. Working on your business will be marketing, paperwork, networking. Working in your business is when you work with clients i.e. doing sample sessions and coaching.

#15: Register your business with your local provincial, state or federal agency.

#16: Establish your leadership team.

This may sound strange since you’re just starting out but it’s better to know who your trusted resources are before you’re in a tough situation and need help.

In some cases you will only need a short meeting, in other cases, you might outsource it to one of your favourite service shops or use an online outsource agency (like Fiverr or Upwork). Depending on your skill set you may fill one or more of these roles. 

The resources you will need: 

• Legal (a quick consultation to set your business up in the most favourable way)
• Accountant (understand what you can and cannot write off, the potential for income splitting, how best to plan your finances and structure your company)
• Virtual Assistant (a good VA can do the administrative stuff faster and for a very reasonable cost, which may free you up to find more clients)
• Marketing
• IT (A good backup plan for when your computer crashes before a big presentation or maybe you need a quick repair or a loaner)
• Business Coach will save you time and money

#17: Keep track of your costs and how much money you earn.

#18: Set up a business bank account.

#19: Create and use a secure and confidential filing system (electronic or paper) where you keep track of your clients.

If you’re overwhelmed about all these steps there is good news. Many of the steps you only ever need to do one time. 

 

If you like this kind of training, I've created a free checklist you can download immediately so that you don't miss a step >>> The Essential Checklist To Start A Successful Coaching Business <<<