Hey coaches!
At Life Coach Magazine, part of our mission is to help coaches like you make the impact you want to make. As a new coach starting out, there’s so much potential and opportunity in front of you. We created this page to help you confidently take the steps you need to build your coaching business.
As you start out, here are the key questions you need to consider:
- Coach Training & Certification — What (if any) coach training and certifications do you want?
- Coaching Niches — What kind of coaching do you want to offer?
- Business Setup — What tools or software do you need in order to run an online coaching business?
- Getting Clients — How exactly do you find coaching clients?
Let’s talk about each one to help you get started as a coach, and create a coaching business you love. ❤️
Step 1. Coach Training & Certification
Because the coaching industry is unregulated in most areas, you don’t need any training or certifications to be a coach. However, many coaches choose to get certified for credibility, community, personal growth, or to gain specialized knowledge and skills.
Helpful resources:
- The Pros and Cons of Getting Certified as a Life Coach — Read this article to help you decide if certification is right for you.
- The Best Life Coach Certification Programs — Check out our most recommended certification programs to explore your options.
- Coach Training & Certification Quiz — Answer a few simple questions to help you decide which coach certification program is right for you.
- Coaching Certification Database — Compare coaching certifications in our database to find the best one for you.
Action items:
✅ Decide if you’ll get certified (if not, move on to step 2)
✅ Choose a program and sign up
✅ Complete your training and get certified
Step 2. Coaching Niches
To niche or not to niche? It’s a common question, and many new coaches find themselves spinning in “niche drama.” To avoid niche drama remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Your decision might depend on your experience, goals, or even just what feels right.
You can always refine your niche over time — don’t let the pressure to choose the perfect niche stop you from getting started.
- The Pros and Cons of Choosing a Coaching Niche — Can’t decide if you want to niche or not? Read this article to understand the benefits and drawbacks to choosing a niche.
- Coaching Niche Finder Tool — This free PDF download from The Coaching Tools Company offers a powerful framework to help you choose a niche based on your natural strengths.
Action items:
✅ Decide if you’ll niche or not (if not, move on to step 3)
✅ Choose a niche
✅ Add a tagline to your social media (or wherever you promote your coaching)
Step 3. Business Setup
Starting a coaching business doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. You don’t need fancy tools or big financial commitments. You can start with the basics and grow from there, upgrading as you learn more about your needs and preferences.
Helpful resources:
- How to Set Up Your Coaching Business — This article covers the tools you need to set up your coaching business, so you can get all your ducks in a row.
Action items:
✅ Set up a scheduling tool
✅ Set up a video call tool
✅ Set up payment processing
✅ Get a coaching agreement
Step 4. Getting Clients
As a life coach, marketing and selling your services may feel intimidating, especially if it’s a new skillset for you. But it’s really just about building relationships and connecting with people who need your help.
Helpful resources:
- Marketing and Selling 101 for Life Coaches — This article gives a birds-eye-view of how to market and sell your services as a coach.
- Free Ebook: How to Get Your First Coaching Clients — We asked 25+ successful coaches for their advice for getting clients. Read their answers in our free ebook.
Action items:
✅ Make a plan to market and sell your coaching
✅ Follow your plan to get clients
Pro Tips for Taking Action as a Coach
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by any of these steps, here are a few pro tips to avoid getting stuck in indecision:
Give yourself a deadline to make decisions — Remember that “making a decision” is an action item. If you spend 2 hours researching certification programs, and make a decision at the end, that’s time well spent. Decide how many hours you will spend researching the decision (or a date you must make the decision by). Then make the decision. Remember, there are no right or wrong decisions.
Go all in, and have your own back — Once you’ve made a decision, commit to it. Give yourself a timeline for how long you will stick with your decision, and then don’t look back. Tell yourself this is what you’re doing *for now* and then move confidently forward.
Manage your brain — When it’s time to take action, you may notice resistance, fear, or other unhelpful emotions. Use your coaching tools, and be your own first (and best) client!
You’ve Got This!
Remember, progress beats perfection every time! Take it one day at a time, and trust that each step you take is bringing you closer to your goals. Celebrate your wins (big and small), learn from your setbacks, and keep moving forward, one step at a time — you’ve got this!
— The Life Coach Magazine Team
P.S. Need a little extra help? Book a call to talk about whatever you’re stuck on in your coaching business. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and read our helpful emails for more community and support. ❤️