Starting a life coaching business can be difficult if you have no idea where to begin? You’re not alone—there are thousands of people who dream of starting their own successful business every day and getting started can be daunting. Here’s how to get going.

Have an Understanding of Life Coaching

To be successful in your life coaching practice, you should have a solid understanding of what makes for effective life coaching. When you’re just starting out, it can be hard to determine what issues people have and what makes for an effective solution, but you should always take time to learn about common problems that people face and which solutions are most helpful in solving them. 

Your clients will appreciate your empathy when they come to you with complex problems and difficult backgrounds. They may also prefer certain types of problem-solving over others (for example, goal setting might not be enough to solve someone’s issue). When you have some initial experience as a life coach under your belt, focus on determining how your strengths align with specific needs.

(NOTE: If you’ve been waiting to start your coaching business, or were wondering if you can do it profitably, then you need to watch this video. In the video, I’ll explain how to How to Build a Profitable Coaching Business in 30 Days. Click HERE now to watch the video.)

Do Your Research

Start by researching your market and competitors; if no one else is offering what you have in mind, then it might be time to move on. You should also consider who your audience is going to be—what their problems are, how they think and act, etc.—and conduct research on them. This will help you create products or services that people want. 

The life coaching industry has grown significantly over recent years, and there’s room for everyone with different niches of focus. Therefore, research other practitioners within your niche/market, look at what kinds of programs and courses they offer, study their websites (or work with someone who can design one for you) and keep an eye out for any common elements so that yours can be similar but unique enough to set yourself apart. To really stand out within an increasingly competitive marketplace, you need your own USP (unique selling point). A catchy tagline may do just fine!

Create a Brand Image

Before you even launch your life coaching practice, make sure you have an image in mind. A brand is simply how others see you, and it’s crucial that you think about what will make you stand out. 

Can your clients look at your name and picture and immediately know who they’re working with? Do potential clients get excited when they hear what type of services you offer? How can they tell just by looking at your logo or website? 

If you’re just starting out, all these things may seem trivial, but over time customers are more likely to work with someone whose values are congruent with their own (for example, if you provide guidance on emotional eating for female entrepreneurs hoping to lose weight before an important meeting). It might take some research and consultation with friends—or maybe even hiring a professional branding company—but taking time to choose the right images for yourself helps set you up for success.

Hone your Message

Starting a life coaching business is no easy feat. It takes hard work, patience, and persistence. Your brand message—the one you convey via your website, social media channels, videos, and other online content—will be key in attracting new clients. 

That said, it will take some time for you to hone it so that it fits your personality and style; creating a compelling yet authentic story will help attract potential clients like moths to a flame. 

Start by writing about how you want your business to look. What kind of life do you want to create? What values do you want to cultivate? How would you describe yourself as a coach? These types of questions will allow clarity around why people should choose to work with you over another coach in your space. Include these elements when writing about why someone should become a client of yours!

Set Up Your Website

Setting up your website is one of those important things that people tend to put off because they don’t know where to begin. Start by using website builders like Wix, which allow you to set up a functional and appealing site without much experience or expense. The cost of these types of services is often under $10 per month, which means you can get your site live and worry about SEO optimization later.

Find Clients

Once you’ve got your website up and running, it’s time to find clients. Obviously, one way of doing so is through client referrals—if someone comes to you by way of a trusted source, it’s more likely that he or she will choose to hire you. 

Another smart move is creating a Portfolio Page on your site where potential clients can see examples of past work. This helps secure their trust in hiring you for future projects. You can also search for leads on social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. 

Create a profile there that clearly explains what services you offer, then look at profiles of people who might be interested in hiring you (you can do so using keywords) and reach out to them directly. Don’t be afraid to get creative with how you land new clients; take whatever opportunities present themselves as long as they don’t compromise your integrity!

Make Sure You Keep Good Records

If you don’t keep good records, you can’t prove what income you generate, what expenses are allowed, and what expenses are excessive. And if your records aren’t good enough for an auditor, they aren’t good enough for you. 

So, make sure that every cent of income and expense is recorded in your books accurately and honestly. Hire someone if necessary—your CPA or bookkeeper is worth every penny spent on their services! Always report accurate numbers and no one will question how successful you are as a coach.

By keeping track of money coming into your business, you won’t miss any income opportunities like offers to give lectures or workshops at community colleges, universities, or even high schools (they all want speakers now!). By keeping track of money going out, you’ll be able to see what your real profit margin is before tax time comes around.

Keep Learning

Life coaching isn’t just about helping people deal with issues, challenges, and problems; it’s also about helping individuals realize their full potential. As such, you need more than just experience—you need to continue learning every day. 

Attending workshops, reading industry books, and continuing education courses are all great ways to enhance your professional skillset and network with other like-minded professionals. In addition, get involved in community projects that align with your passion or target market. 

For example, if you want to work with adolescents who feel they don’t fit in at school and/or home, volunteer at an after-school program where teens can feel safe expressing themselves freely. This is also a wonderful opportunity for self-reflection—do you have what it takes to inspire someone else? Are there any aspects of your personality or character that may be holding back your career?

Final Remarks about Starting a Life Coaching Business

If you want to start a life coaching business, ask yourself three important questions. Before asking these questions, please remember that whether or not your life coach business is successful does not depend on how much money it brings in (although of course, that’s what most people seem to think). It doesn’t depend on whether or not you get clients quickly. What really matters is if your clients experience results. 

So, ask yourself: Do I have something unique and valuable enough to offer my clients? Am I 100% clear about what kind of client/coaching relationship do I want with them? Am I willing to do whatever it takes to make sure they succeed with their goals? Only when you have answered yes to those questions can you move forward with confidence in your new business. Good luck!

Would you like an endless stream of new coaching clients? Simply click the image to the right and email and I’ll send you free videos with step-by-step blueprints for generating a massive income from high paying coaching clients.

Jeannie Cotter
Editor/Writer
Writer, Coaches Training Blog community