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How To Write A Life Coaching Business Plan: 5 Templates

If you’re passionate about helping others fulfill their potential and reach new heights, life coaching could be a truly rewarding career for you.

This guide will show you how to create a coaching business plan that will help you turn your ideas into reality, so that you can start creating value and deliver real results to your life coaching clients.

5 Tips For Starting Your Life Coaching Business

Starting out as a life coach can seem like a big move, and there’s plenty to consider. For many experienced life coaches, it’s balancing the support, guidance, and coaching theory side of things business admin that can be a little tricky.

Maybe you see yourself more as a development professional than an entrepreneur, or perhaps you’ve helped others professionally but never quite had your own practice.

Regardless of where you are in the coaching game, here are some tips that can help you get started building a life coaching business of your own: [1]

• Decide on a clear, unique value offer. Life coaching is incredibly popular, and that’s not changing anytime soon. To distinguish yourself as a coach, think about the unique value you’ll create for your clients – what’s original about the results you can help them achieve, or how you help them get from A to B?
• Consider accreditation. The right life coaching certification can arm you with useful skills and knowledge in your field while boosting your credibility as a coach. There are plenty of qualifications available online for coaches, and you may find one that goes a long way to enhance your marketability.
• Set your business up, practically. Various states, regions, and countries have different systems for registering and starting an online coaching business. Make sure you allow time to collect or create all the coaching forms you’ll need to enroll and manage your clients.
• Develop or curate your coaching resources. To practice, you’ll need tools such as life coaching worksheets , lessons, exercises, videos (if you’re using them), and more. Create a database of all the coaching tools you’ll need so you know just where to find them when you land your first client!
• Create an online presence. Think about how you’ll reach out to clients, and prepare the things that will help you be discovered online. Some examples include a coaching website , social media profile, or listings in online coaching directories. A strategic way to approach this is by developing a marketing strategy, which covers all the ins and outs of how you’ll grow your visibility.

How To Write A Coaching Business Plan: 2 Examples

A coaching business plan should help you clarify why and how you’ll start and run your coaching practice, as well as the tools you’ll need to help others.

Creating a life coaching business plan might sound terrifying, don’t be put off. You can go into more detail if you prefer a comprehensive organizational roadmap, but your business plan should quite simply help you:

• Clarify your “Why” – What is the ultimate purpose of your business? What is your desired future vision for your practice and clients?
• Solidify your “How” – What are your coaching objectives/your mission? What approaches will you use to achieve them?
• Determine your “What” – Understand the interventions, tools, lessons, or solutions that will help you on your mission.

Depending on the depth of detail you’d like to go into, you can break your plan up into more or fewer sections.

The following two coaching business plan examples illustrate this.

Example 1: Lean Life Coaching Business Plan

A lean business plan is ideal for explaining your coaching practice succinctly, or if you’re planning a small coaching business.

Using this USA Small Business Administration sample as a guide, your lean coaching plan might include the following headings: [2]

• Business identity
• Target client
• Client pain points
• Your solution
• Your competition
• Revenue streams
• Marketing activities
• Team and their key roles, and

Lean coaching business plans can be particularly helpful if you’re keen to refine and enhance your business plan as you learn and gain experience.

Example 2: Life Coaching Business Plan Template

This life coaching business plan template from Profitable Venture is a more comprehensive example, starting with an executive summary and ending with a startup expenditure budget. [3]

SWOT and market analyses are used for an in-depth assessment of potential opportunities, threats, and rivals in the coaching industry.

3 Helpful Templates and Samples For Your Plan

Here are a few good examples of coaching business plans, including some extra sections you might want to include:

• 9 Steps to a Lean Life Coaching Business Plan from Coaching Online – this covers a few more sections such as your competition, marketing, and finances [4]
• Traditional Business Plan from the USA Small Business Administration – a traditional business plan that may work well for larger coaching practices [5]
• Business Plan Template for a Startup from Score.org – a 9-step template for new business owners. [6]

Creating A Business Plan For Your Online Coaching Business

Once you’ve decided on the most relevant format for your business plan, you’ll want to formalize it by writing it all down.

You will most likely be referring to it regularly, as you structure, run, manage, and grow your coaching practice, so it’s critical to keep your plan along with the rest of your business documents.

A quick, straightforward solution for most coaches is to create a digital business plan, as we’ve started to do below using Quenza:

Using Quenza’s Activity Builder , you can create custom sections for each element in your plan, as well as text boxes for all the information that will go into your tool.

This helps you store your plan in your coaching portal alongside your Client profiles, activities, and other coaching tools, so your plan is always near at hand as you start to build your business.

To create your own coaching business plan using Quenza’s Activity Builder, simply:

• Open and title a new Activity
• Create sections for each header of your plan, and
• Save your Activity to your Library when it’s done!

You can also print your plan as a PDF, or access and edit at any time on Quenza’s client app, as shown below:

There’s no right or wrong way to create a coaching business plan template, so don’t be afraid to add in headers or sections as your plan grows. As long as your plan takes you through each milestone of building and running your business, you’re on the right path to creating a successful, growing practice.

Best App and Software For Your Coaching Business

Quenza is a state-of-the-art solution for coaching professionals, regardless of where you are in the process of running your business.

Not only can you plan out your business as a first-time coach, but Quenza’s tools can help you deliver solutions, stay in touch with clients, and even market your business as you gain traction.

With Quenza’s features, for example, you can:

• Design, build, and deliver personal and group life coaching solutions
• Craft coaching programs, curricula, or entire e-courses from your existing tools
• Drip feed your solutions to coaching clients automatically, on a schedule
• Create and customize all your coaching contracts , coaching agreements, and feedback forms
• Collect and securely store all your clients’ data with Quenza’s HIPAA-compliant app and coaching platform
• Offer clients a centralized online coaching portal
• Stay in touch with and engage your clients throughout the course of your programs, using notifications, reminders, and multimedia,
• Track, monitor, and evaluate your clients’ progress in real-time, and
• Document your sessions with Quenza’s Client notes.

5 Unique Features Included in Quenza

We’ve already seen how important it is to carve out your niche as a life coach – and of course, you’re most efficient when you decide on your own workflow, processes, and style.

With Quenza’s custom features, you have all the flexibility you need to get creative with solutions and market yourself in a way that suits you.

For instance, you can make use of Quenza’s:

• Multilingual client app – to translate your own or your clients’ Quenza app into 16 different languages, and custom brand colors
• Group or private chat – to share feedback, reminders, or encouragement
• White label feature – to promote your brand by adding your logo to tools, forms, and programs
• Wheel of Life feature – to design personalized life Wheel of Life assessments , and
• Expansion Library – for customizing popular and evidence-based coaching exercises without starting from scratch!

Final Thoughts

These tips, templates, formats, and examples will help you craft a strategic business plan that can get your coaching practice up and running – even if you’ve never started a business in your life.

If you have a template of your own to share with your fellow coaches, do let us know in the comments below.

We hope this article was helpful. Don’t forget to start your 30-day, 1 dollar Quenza trial for all the tools you need to bring your business plan to life!

Quenza’s practitioner tools will help you craft and deliver powerful online coaching solutions from any connected device, and contains everything you need to run your life coaching practice digitally for brilliant client outcomes.

• ^ Truex, L. (2021). How to start a home-based coaching business. Retrieved from https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-to-start-a-coaching-business-1794520
• ^ SBA.gov. (2021). Sample Lean Business Plan. Retrieved from https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2017-12/Sample%20Lean%20Business%20Plan%20-%20Wooden%20Grain%20Toy%20Company.doc
• ^ Profitable Venture. (2021). Life Coaching Business Plan Template. Retrieved from https://www.profitableventure.com/life-coaching-business-plan/
• ^ Coaching-Online.org. (2021). 9 Steps to a Lean Life Coaching Business Plan. Retrieved from https://www.coaching-online.org/life-coach-business-plan/
• ^ SBA.gov. (2021). Write Your Business Plan. Retrieved from https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan
• ^ Score.org. (2020). Business Plan Template for a Startup Business. Retrieved from https://www.score.org/resource/business-plan-template-startup-business

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

January 4, 2024

May 8, 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.

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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!

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What Are The Types of Business Plans?

There are two primary business plan categories: traditional business plans and lean start-up business plans . Traditional business plans are lengthy, detailed, and more common. In this post, we will focus on the traditional business plan.

A lean start-up business plan is a quick summary of all your business ideas and often covers only one page. It is usually presented in the form of illustrations, such as charts, graphs, and tables, for easy perusal. In addition, lean business plans are easier to amend because of their brief nature.

Neither business plan is superior to the other. In deciding which to use, you’ll have to examine your business needs first. Whichever one you choose to go with, what matters is ensuring your business plan is concise, easy to understand, and fact-based. 

What Do You Do Before Writing a Business Plan for Life Coaches?

The answer? RESEARCH.

You would hear from business coaches about the importance of research to assess possible strengths and opportunities as well as weaknesses and threats (SWOT) before embarking on a business venture, and they would be right. 

Your coaching business may be similar to another. However, it would still require its SWOT analysis to identify what sets your coaching products and services apart from others, create strategies for business growth, and avoid hassles later down the line.

I recommend that the outcome of your research addresses and answers the following questions:

• What type of coaching practice do I want? Your coaching practice is a business, so you should run it as one. Therefore, setting up a legal structure for your company is essential. It is also crucial to pinpoint the right coaching style for your new business to make planning smoother.
• What is my niche? Knowing my target niche clarifies the path I’d follow toward business success. It also sets the stage for determining my business and marketing strategy. 
• What solutions am I offering? The products and services you offer should solve your ideal client's problems. That’s the only surefire way to get new clients and build a solid portfolio.
• What steps must I follow to grow the business?  Your research must help determine the steps you’d take to expand your life coaching practice.
• Is my coaching business client-focused? It’s common to have a business plan focusing on the owner and what it plans to accomplish. However, it is better to create a business plan focusing more on the client and the benefits they would be getting. Your clients become return clients who cost less to keep, spend more and market your business better on your behalf.
• How will I finance my coaching business? If, like many others, you’re starting your business with limited funds, you’d have to clearly state how you intend to finance your business, especially during the early stages until it begins to profit. 

Ok, so we’ve done our research, and we’ve been able to detect what we can excel at, where we thought wrong, and areas we can improve upon based on our initial guesses. We can now decide if we can proceed with the business or return to the drawing board.

If we’re ready to roll, it’s time to write our business plan.

Life Coach Business Plan Template

If you’re just starting, you could make a simple business plan using the template below. Then, as time goes by, you could expand each section to make it more robust. This template outlines every vital aspect of your coaching business. 

• Mission statement
• Overview of business
• Business contact information
• Target market
• Coaching niche
• Unique selling point
• Short-term and Long-term goals
•  Strategic objectives
• Tactical plans
• Products and services you offer 
• Product differentiation
•  Benefits to your clients
• SWOT analysis
• Target market valuation
• Market trends
• Profile of competitors
• Competitive advantage      
• Pricing model
• Marketing Strategy
• Marketing platforms
• Advertising and promotion
• Sales strategy
• Distribution channels
• Organizational charts
• Training and development
• Procurement
• General operations
• Source of funding
• Key assumptions
• Profit and loss accounts
• Balance sheet
• Cashflow projections

With this template, you can remain focused on building your business rather than chasing every shiny object you see or hear about, as is the case with entrepreneurs without proper business plans.

Now, let’s take each section at a time.

How To Write a Life Coach Business Plan (Step-By-Step)

1.      Executive Summary

Think of the executive summary as a way of introducing your business to a potential client, lender, or the general public. Therefore, it should include what you do as a business, how you do it, who you do it for, and what value you provide. You should try to keep your executive summary concise at one to two pages maximum. 

It may be easier for you to write the executive summary after completing other sections because you would have highlighted notable points throughout the plan.

2.      Company description

As the section already states, I would describe my coaching business in detail and include the following:

• My registered business name
• Address and contact information
• Legal business structure
• Executives or directors (if any)
• My coaching niche 
• Who my target market is
• My unique selling point

I would also be sure to point out what sets my coaching business apart from the competition and how my company maximizes its opportunities.

3.      Goals and Objectives

What are your business goals? 

This section will state my short-term and long-term goals and the tactical steps my coaching business will take to reach those goals. For instance, if I plan to make X amount in annual revenue by a specified year, I would provide a realistic, research-based breakdown of how I’d reach that goal.

By providing a breakdown of how I’d accomplish my goals, I’d also be generating trust and confidence in the minds of potential investors or lenders about my business if I intend to seek funding.

4.      Products and Services

In this section, you’ll describe your business's products or services to your target market. These would not be limited to coaching packages, coaching subscriptions, masterclasses, courses, books , etc.

Give a detailed description of each product or service you will offer. Explain how your goods and services are different from or better than your competitors’ offers on the market, and don’t forget to include your pricing model. You would also clearly state the benefits your target market gains by using your products and services.

5.      Market Analysis

Here, you would analyze the coaching industry in which you plan to do business during your research phase before writing the business plan. A comprehensive analysis of the industry would provide valuable information such as:

a.         Results from SWOT analysis

b.         Target market valuation

c.         Market trends

d.         Profile of your competitors

e.         Competitive advantage for your coaching business

f.          Benefits your clients stand to gain

Explain in-depth what prompted your decision to set up your coaching business within that sector and what your competitors are doing. You should also explain how you can improve upon what they aren’t doing well enough to enhance your bottom line but, more importantly, deliver value to your clients.

6.      Marketing and Sales Strategy

Having a fantastic product that creates admirable transformations in clients is one thing. It’s another thing to publicize enough to reach those clients. Your marketing and sales strategy is supposed to convince your clients that your products will provide the solutions they seek.

First, you´ll develop a marketing budget to meet your spending needs. You’d also write a detailed plan for marketing and advertising your products and services to your target market. Which channels would you use?

• E-mail marketing
• Search Engine Optimization
• Social media marketing
• Search Engine Marketing
• Print materials
• Networking,  e.t.c.

Earlier, I mentioned the importance of having repeat clients because they are some of the best and cheapest marketing tools for your business, so it is crucial to know how to sell your coaching services . In this section, you’ll explain your strategy for turning your clients into repeat clients and building customer loyalty. Be sure also to include your sales strategies. For example, which sales distribution channels will you use?

• Direct sales
• Sales representatives
• E-commerce channels

7.      Operations

In this section, I will discuss the day-to-day running of my coaching business. I will explain how I’d operate the business through employees, freelance workers, and business partnerships. I would include an organizational chart to illustrate the internal structure of my coaching business and how employees would contribute to the growth and success of the company.

I’d discuss in detail how I plan to staff my company and what salaries or wages I would pay my staff. I’d then enumerate the freelance workers I may hire, their roles, and their remuneration. I would then discuss my plans for staff and training development.

Finally, I’d give a clear plan for other general operations like procurement of materials and equipment required for the start-up of my coaching business. Such equipment may include video conferencing equipment, software, and personal computers. I would also note essential information about all suppliers and vendors with whom I work.

8.      Financial analysis and projections

As a new coaching business, I don’t expect you to be able to pluck out figures from past performance. However, I hope you would have done your research based on the coaching niche you plan to set up shop in. 

When you’ve done this, you should make financial plans and projections for a five-year periodhttps://costhack.com/business-plan-cost to begin with. Five-year plans give you enough room to meet and exceed SMART goals . You may refresh any goals you don’t meet in your five-year plan, if need be, and insert them into the following timeline until you achieve them.

It is important to note that this is the section every lender and investor is particularly interested in, so you must take extra care to be factual in your illustrations and realistic in your projections. If you’re seeking start-up funding, this is where you state it. Explain how you’ll use the investment and communicate the expected returns.

Don’t blow up figures to entice them because what you’d do is leave a wrong impression because they’d probably see through it. Instead, make your projections align with what your competitors are also achieving, and if you surpass those goals, great.

For an existing coaching business, you’ll want to include: 

• Financial statements
• Profit margins

I’ll advise you to speak to an accountant who will guide you better in putting all the required information together.

9.      Appendix

The appendix is where you put in any other necessary information that may not have fit anywhere else in the different sections of the business plan. These may be documents such as: 

1.    Certifications

2.    Your resume 

3.    Resumes of key team members

4.    Licenses

5.    Contracts

6.    Marketing materials e.t.c.

7.    Market research report

With the above guide, you’d have a well-written yet concise report to keep you on track and direct your business toward success.

You may wonder how long it’ll take to write a business plan. Ideally, it shouldn’t take more than a few months to complete the research and write the business plan. However, if you take longer than a few months may disrupt other vital activities in the start-up process.

Can I Hire Someone To Write My Life Coach Business Plan?

Ok, I get it. Life can get hectic. You’re being pulled from every angle and can’t find the time to write your business plan.

Fortunately, you can hire a professional business plan writer or consulting firm to provide the service. Professional business plan writers cost from $2,000 to upward of $20,000 to write a business plan for a small to medium size business. If hiring a writer instead of a firm, verify all credentials and portfolios to ensure they meet your needs.

If you decide to hire a consulting firm, it’ll cost you more. However, the upside is the breadth of expertise they offer. Other factors that may affect the plan's cost are the length, turn-around time, editing, review, and any additional support service.

I would advise putting together as much information as you can on your own before approaching a professional because you would have a better idea about how the plan is woven together. A professional would then develop a foolproof plan, especially one that captures investments if you’re seeking start-up funding. 

Common Business Plan Mistakes Life Coaches Must Avoid

Although I’ve mentioned some mistakes to avoid, I figured it was best to state them clearly. If you make mistakes while developing a business plan, they could jeopardize your business. Some of these mistakes to avoid are:

Inadequate research: Avoiding research or doing insufficient research before writing your business plan is a dangerous mistake you don’t want to make. If you still go ahead to write the plan, you may not identify all the risks involved. As a result, your coaching business plan may be based on non-factual information and lead to inaccurate projections, which you may never meet.

Overestimating your financial projections: Avoid padding up figures in your business plan to impress lenders and investors. Lenders and investors are experts and analyze financial information for a living, so injecting false estimates into your plan may make you lose those opportunities altogether.

Ignoring the competition: Knowing what your competition is doing gives you insight into exploiting areas they may be neglecting, thereby giving you a competitive advantage.

Not setting a target niche: This is a common mistake. Many new life coaches attempt to get any and every client and end up losing focus. Without setting a target niche, your business will have no direction. 

When your business has no direction, you can’t establish workable goals. In other words, you’d be everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. As a result, your business will not be operating optimally and may remain stagnant after a little while.

Ignoring future trends: Times change and economies evolve. Imagine you started your coaching business pre-internet and remained stuck in paper-based marketing after the arrival of the internet, social media, and email marketing. 

What do you think would happen?

That’s right. Your business won’t be able to keep up and will fold up in no time.

Creating unrealistic goals: This is also a mistake many people make. If you create unrealistic goals, there won’t be measurable targets to track your progress, and soon enough, you’ll stop taking action.

Establishing a rigid plan : A business plan that isn’t flexible enough to accommodate changes can also negatively impact the business. No life coach can predict the future of their business. There’ll be ups and downs. A flexible plan gives room for unforeseen changes without disrupting the long-term goal.

Download your free life coachng business plan template

Ok ready to get started? Download a free business plan template here .

This is exactly what I needed. I found you through Bing because Google is only showing results for PAID templates that take me through complicated funnels. Thank you for what you have provided!!

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How To Write a Business Plan for a Life Coaching Business + Free Example

John Procopio

6 min. read

Updated February 7, 2024

Free Download:  Sample Coaching Business Plan Template

• Turn your passion for helping others into a thriving life coaching business.

As a life coach, you have the opportunity to empower others and help them achieve their goals. And with an estimated industry value of over $2 billion, the demand for life coaches has never been higher. 

Yes, the dynamic world of coaching presents an array of opportunities to guide clients through personal and professional growth. But just as you are developing plans for your clients you need to do the same for your business.

Crafting a solid business plan for your coaching practice will help you clarify your vision and objectives, account for certifications and training, and explore how you need to perform financially in order to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to create a business plan for a life, performance, or executive coaching business. You can even download a free one-page coaching plan template to fill out as you go.

• What is a life coaching business?

A life coaching business provides professional coaching services to help clients achieve their personal and professional goals. Life coaches work with individuals or groups to provide guidance, support, and accountability. There are many types of life coaching, including:

• Performance coaching: Enhancing specific skills or talents, such as athletes or musicians.
• Executive coaching: Developing effective leadership skills for executives and business leaders.
• Relationship coaching: Improving communication, conflict resolution, and relationship dynamics with partners, family, friends, and colleagues.
• Career coaching: Advancing careers through skills assessment, resume building, networking, and career planning.
• Life coaching: Taking a holistic approach to improving various areas of life like health, work-life balance, productivity, and personal fulfillment.
• Why you should write a business plan for a life or executive coaching business

A solid business plan is crucial for success in your life or executive coaching business. It helps organize your strategies, identify potential obstacles, and invest in certifications and marketing for growth and credibility. By writing a detailed business plan, you can more effectively allocate resources, set achievable goals, and create a roadmap for success.

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• How to write a life coach business plan

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key components of a life coaching business plan to help you lay the foundation for a thriving coaching practice. For a walkthrough of how to write the specific sections of a business plan , check out our full guide and supporting articles.

1. Clearly define your offering

To build a successful life coaching business, you must have a precise understanding of your services and how they stand out from the competition. Determine your areas of expertise—whether career, executive, relationship, life, or wellness coaching—and the specific challenges you can help clients navigate. Becoming properly certified and accredited demonstrates your professional competence to clients.

The two top certifying organizations are the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the Coaches Training Institute (CTI). The ICF offers ACC, PCC, and MCC credential levels based on your experience. CTI offers a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach credential. Achieving the right credential for your coaching specialty—such as becoming a Certified Career Coach, Certified Professional Career Coach, or earning a Life Coaching Certification—can maximize your credibility.

With a clear service offering tailored to your target market’s needs and the proper certifications, you will gain the credibility and expertise to help many clients achieve meaningful life changes and reach their full potential. Promote your services boldly by focusing on your areas of specialization, ideal clients, and the specific outcomes you provide.

2. Have specific clients in mind

Speaking of your target market , successful businesses have a clear understanding of their ideal customer and cater to their unique needs.

For example, a life coaching business may target mid-career professionals seeking personal growth or corporate executives looking to enhance their leadership skills. Their needs include developing management skills, thinking strategically, and improving communication. However, you can break this down even further and have market segments such as: 

• Mid-career professionals looking to change jobs or careers. Their needs include identifying strengths and interests, building a strong resume, developing networking skills, and gaining confidence in interviews.
• Young adults transitioning from college into the working world. Their needs include determining a career path, gaining skills and experience, finding mentors, and learning professionalism.  
• Entrepreneurs looking to start a new business. Their needs include business planning, productivity, accountability, motivation, and work-life balance.

3. Create a marketing plan

Developing a strategic marketing plan is vital to building brand awareness and attracting clients to your life coaching business. You’ll need a detailed marketing strategy to maintain a consistent brand identity reflecting your unique coaching style and expertise. 

Strategically choose a few marketing channels, like your website, a targeted social media strategy, and possibly speaking engagements to reach your ideal clients. Run a blog, Substack, or podcast providing actionable advice in your areas of coaching. Submit articles to media outlets your target audience follows and build credibility through these expert placements. 

It’s also important to consider paid media as part of your marketing strategy, such as social media advertising and Google Ads. Monitor your return on ad spend (ROAS) and calculate the lifetime value of a lead to accurately measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. 

With a customized brand and strategic marketing focused on your niche audience’s needs, you will hope to gain visibility, credibility, and quality leads to develop a thriving coaching practice. These are just some of the marketing avenues you may consider exploring.

4. Know your numbers

To build a profitable coaching business you need to understand your financials by monitoring both revenue and expenses closely. Charge what you’re worth based on your experience, certifications, and client outcomes. While gaining momentum, generate extra income through related services. Consider charging for initial consultations to add another revenue stream to your business. 

Here are a few other key things to consider when exploring your numbers:

Track key metrics

Review key metrics monthly, like client retention and profitability. Make adjustments to optimize satisfaction and revenue. Budget for short-term loss but aim for profitability within 6-12 months. Think long-term, progress will take time.

Test your pricing strategy

Explore different pricing models to attract clients with varying budgets. Consider offering packages, retainers, group programs, and online courses, as they provide stability for both you and your clients. 

Keep a close eye on expenses

Assess expenses regularly to minimize waste. Expect costs like marketing, office space (if needed), insurance, and certifications. Budget adequately , reducing expenses will boost profit, and review and refine over time.

• Download your free life coaching business plan template

Now, you’re reading to start creating your business plan. To get started, download our free one-page business plan example for a life-coaching business . For more inspiration, check out our free library of sample plans and templates for service businesses. You can download any of these documents in Word form and get some structure and industry-specific insight for your own plan.

John is a seasoned digital marketing leader with over 25 years of experience across SaaS, e-commerce, and content industries. He has a proven track record of driving growth through data-informed strategies that span the entire marketing pipeline.

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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 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 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

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 customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

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 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.

Industry Analysis

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.

Customer Analysis

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.

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Competitive Analysis

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.  

Marketing 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

Operations Plan

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.  

Management Team

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.  

Financial Plan

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.

Coaching Business Plan Template FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my coaching business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your coaching business plan.

Where Can I Download a Sample Life Coach Business Plan PDF?

You can download our sample life coach business plan pdf here.

How Do You Start a Coaching Business?

Starting a coaching business is easy with these 14 steps:

• Choose the Name for Your Coaching Business
• Create Your Coaching Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Coaching Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Coaching Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Coaching Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Coaching Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Coaching Business Equipment
• Develop Your Coaching Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Coaching Business
• Open for Business

Learn more about how to start your own coaching 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.   Click here to see how a Growthink business planning consultant can create your business plan for you.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Life Coach Business Plan Template

Are you thinking of starting your own life coaching business? Use Carepatron’s life coach business plan template to start turning your dreams into a reality.

By Alex King on May 15, 2024.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

‍ What is a life coach business plan?

Life coaches help their clients to succeed with their personal goals through coaching, support, and creating action plans. Life coaching can be an alternative to traditional therapy or counseling, which typically focuses more on mental health issues rather than practical coaching. Life coach plans aim to achieve life goals for those who do not feel they need additional mental health support. As you don’t need a specific degree or qualification to become a , many people change their careers to take on life coach responsibilities in order to help others.

This free life coaching business plan will help you kick off your life coaching business to a great start. Starting a business is a huge life decision, so if you have made it this far, congratulations! It’s time to turn those dreams into reality by making a practical and comprehensive business plan for your life coaching business. This plan is designed to help you get your ideas onto paper and provide a solid starting point for your business. You may have been dreaming about your marketing strategy or sales pitch for months now, but you may not have considered other important aspects yet. This template is designed to help you organize your ideas into a robust overview of how your life coaching business will fit into the existing market.

Printable Life Coach Business Plan Template

Check out these business plan templates for life coaches to improve the growth of your practice and streamline your operations.

How To Use This Life Coach Business Plan 

It can be intimidating to start on your first business plan, so we have made our template super simple and customizable to use. Just follow these steps to use our life coach business plan template.

1. Download the PDF

The first step is to download the free PDF life coaching business plan template. You can either fill this PDF in digitally using the interactive text boxes, or you can print it out and fill it in by hand if you prefer.

2. Executive Summary

The first section of our life coaching business plan template is the executive summary. This is the overview of some of the key parts of your business including your mission statement, life coaching packages offered, team members and key roles in your business, and the type of company your life coaching business will be.

3. Competition and Customer Analysis

This section is an important one for differentiating your business from the competition. In this section, you will compile an overview of the market you will be entering, an analysis of your competitors, unique selling points for your business, and establish the target demographic for your life coaching business.

4. Marketing and Finance Plan

This section is for the practical side of things. How will you market your services? Once you have an interested potential client, what will be your sales strategy? How much will you charge for your services? What is your start-up budget, and what expenses will you have? 

5. Management and Growth Plan

Finally, your business is bound to change as you grow, and nobody can predict the future. However, having a plan in mind for how your business will remain sustainable and develop as it grows is a great idea to include in your business plan. This section also includes the milestones you plan to reach to measure your progress, this could be measured in the number of clients you see, engagements with your marketing, or your client’s satisfaction with their life coaching.

Life Coach Business Plan Template Example (sample)

Some of the headings in this business plan template might be unfamiliar to you, so to help you understand this life coach business plan template, we have provided an example life coach business plan. This example is a completed version of the template designed to illustrate what this template could look like once all filled in.

Take a look at our sample business plan template:

Who Can Use This Life Coach Business Plan Template?

This life coach business plan template is designed for people looking to start their life coaching business, but it could also be used for established life coaches looking to refresh their business model. This is in addition to other prospective coaching professionals such as business coaches, sales coaches, health and wellness coaches, personal coaches, or relationship coaches. 

Whether you have been planning your business for a long time but have never taken the first step of developing a business plan, or if you have only just heard of life coaching and immediately realized it was for you- this business plan template can help you get off to a great start.

Why Is This Template Useful For Life Coaches?

Analyze your competition.

To understand where your business fits in the life coaching market , it’s important to understand the other businesses operating and the services they offer. Use our life coaching business plan template to assess your competition and figure out what you can offer.

Differentiate your business

Once you have an understanding of your competition, you can start working on differentiating your business to ensure it stands out. This template is designed to help you do this through the unique selling point, target demographic, and marketing strategy sections.

Realize your marketing strategy

Maybe you’ve been brainstorming marketing content already, or maybe you’ve never heard of Facebook ads! Either way, our business plan template can help you actualize your marketing plan.

Why Use Carepatron for Life Coaches?

Carepatron is a state-of-the-art practice management software packed with features to take your life-coaching business to the next level. Carepatron is designed to save you time on administrative and management tasks, so you can get back to coaching your clients. Here are just a few things you can do in Carepatron to set your life coaching business apart from the competition:

• Sick of no-shows? Automate SMS or email appointment reminders for your life coaching clients in Carepatron and ensure your clients remember their appointments.
• Digitally manage your life coaching clients using Carepatron’s customizable tags system, and monitor the progress of your clients.
• Offer your clients access to their own Carepatron client portal on mobile or desktop.
• Take progress notes for your clients and store them securely with Carepatron’s HIPAA-compliant data storage.

You’ll find this PDF life coaching business plan template and many more in Carepatron’s community template library packed with time-saving digital templates.

Commonly asked questions

Life coaching and therapy have often been confused as both methods can help people with similar problems. One of the biggest differences is that therapists are licensed mental health professionals, whereas life coaches focus on helping their clients achieve goals and take positive actions rather than treatment of mental health issues.

That’s okay, we all have to start somewhere! If this is the case for you, you can leave the management team and key roles sections blank. Alternatively, you could establish several roles to fill in the future once you expand as part of your growth plan.

A mission statement will look different for every life coaching business, and there is no one formula for writing your mission statement. The mission statement should capture the identity of your business, as well as address how your business will solve problems for your clients in a way that differentiates you from your competition.

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The Lifehand

Imagine your life, but better.

Life Coaching Business Plan Template Free Sample

Discover how to craft a compelling life coaching business plan template free with this comprehensive guide and template. Set your coaching journey on the path to success.

If you've ever pondered questions like, "How can I distinguish my coaching services from direct competitors?" or "Which marketing channels should I leverage to reach my target audience?", you're in the right place.

A life coach business plan goes beyond traditional business plans. It's a comprehensive roadmap, encapsulating everything from an executive summary of your value proposition to an in-depth market analysis derived from meticulous market research.

This plan defines clear goals for your coaching sessions, whether they cater to personal growth enthusiasts, corporate executives, or personal trainers. It's not just about numbers, although financial statements, balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements are crucial for financial planning or securing bank loans.

It's about understanding your potential clients and tailoring your marketing strategy to their needs, ensuring that every move, from social media marketing on popular platforms to group programs, resonates with your ideal clients.

Diving deep into a SWOT analysis, competitor analysis, and competitive analysis allows life coaches to carve a unique space even in a saturated coaching industry. Whether you're drafting a simple coaching business plan or aiming for a more comprehensive approach, the following sections of this article will provide a template, essential steps, and key elements to ensure you're on the right track for a successful coaching business.

So, gear up as we navigate the intricacies of crafting a plan that merges personal life goals with professional aspirations, ensuring the best results for both business owners and their clients. Let's embark on this crucial step towards building a successful life coach business.

Understanding The Life Coaching Industry

Diving into the life coaching industry requires more than just the ambition to be a great coach. It requires a solid business plan that gives a comprehensive overview of your business model, from your mission statement to your sales strategy.

In the United States, this industry has witnessed significant growth, driven by the realization of personal and professional goals by individuals seeking life coaching services.

The first step in crafting your life coach business plan template involves understanding your target market. Ask yourself the following questions: Who are your potential customers? What personal life challenges are they facing, and how can you offer solutions?

This detailed plan will guide your marketing strategies, helping you leverage the right social media platforms and create effective marketing materials.

Your business goals should reflect both your personal goals and your professional aspirations. Whether you're aiming for a simple business plan or crafting a more comprehensive business plan, it's essential to forecast your financial projections.

This includes creating a balance sheet and assessing financial goals and forecasts.  Google Docs  and  Canva  templates can be valuable tools in this endeavor, offering both free and Canva pro images to enhance your document's aesthetics.

Executive Coaching Proposal Template To Land More Clients

Establishing a competitive advantage is paramount, ensuring that your action plan aligns with the industry's needs and your target customers' desires.

Finally, remember that understanding the life coaching industry isn't just about financial goals. It's about creating a business that resonates with your potential customers, ensuring your services make a genuine difference in their personal and professional lives.

As you venture on this journey, keep in mind that a comprehensive and detailed business plan is your roadmap to success.

Benefits of a Life Coaching Business Plan

Embarking on a life coaching journey without a structured business plan is akin to sailing without a compass. The benefits of having a well-laid-out life coaching business plan are manifold.

Firstly, a robust marketing plan ensures you're not shooting in the dark.

It provides clarity on how to promote your services, allowing you to reach and resonate with your target audience effectively. This plan is a strategic roadmap, guiding you to understand where to allocate resources and how to maneuver in the ever-evolving coaching market.

Having a clear management team structure within your business plan outlines responsibilities and highlights the roles of key players. This ensures that every team member knows their role, driving efficiency and promoting smooth operations.

Financial forecasts, a core component of your business plan, arm you with predictive insights. This is crucial for both short-term and long-term sustainability. By anticipating revenues and understanding potential expenses, you can make informed decisions and avoid pitfalls.

A well-structured business plan, even if it's a single page life overview, provides a snapshot of your entire operation. It's an easily digestible document that stakeholders or potential investors can quickly understand, enhancing transparency and trust.

How Much Is A Life Coach? Cost, Fees, and Prices.

The notion of a "free life" resonates with many.

By laying out a clear plan, life coaches can attain this freedom. It allows them to work efficiently, ensuring they have time for both their professional endeavors and personal pursuits.

Lastly, crafting your own business plan, tailored to your unique vision and objectives, ensures authenticity. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach but a reflection of your personal brand, ethos, and the value you wish to bring to your clients.

In essence, a life coaching business plan isn't just a document; it's the backbone of your enterprise, underpinning every decision and propelling you toward success.

Key Components of a Life Coaching Business Plan

Crafting a successful life coaching business plan requires meticulous attention to specific foundational elements. These components not only give your plan structure but also ensure it’s comprehensive and effective.

Executive Summary

This is a snapshot of your business, presenting an overview. It should briefly outline your business's mission, vision, and primary objectives.

Business Description

Delve into what your coaching business is all about. Describe the services you offer, your specialization, and what sets you apart in the coaching industry.

Market Analysis

Understand your target market. Who are your ideal clients? What are their needs? This section should present thorough research on market trends, demands, and potential gaps you aim to fill.

Competitive Analysis

Identify your direct competitors. Analyze their strengths, weaknesses, and market positioning to determine where you fit and how you can differentiate yourself.

Marketing and Sales Strategy

How will you attract and retain clients? Detail your promotional strategies, sales tactics, and the channels you’ll employ, from social media to workshops.

Service Offerings

Clearly list out the coaching services you will provide. Will you focus on one-on-one sessions, group programs, online courses, or a mix?

Financial Projections

Forecast your income, expenses, and profitability. This should cover your expected revenues, potential costs, and the break-even point.

Operational Plan

Define the daily operations of your coaching business. This includes your office space, any tools or software you might use, and how you'll manage client appointments.

Management and Organization

Describe the structure of your business. If you have a team, outline roles and responsibilities. Even if you're a solo coach, define your role and potential future hires.

Pricing Strategy

Decide on how you’ll price your services. Consider your target market, value provided, and industry standards.

Action Plan

Break down the steps you'll take in the initial weeks and months. This actionable roadmap should cover your immediate objectives and the tasks to achieve them.

Appendices (Optional)

This section can include any supplementary information, such as client testimonials, certifications, or further research that doesn't fit neatly into other sections but still adds value to your plan.

When you compile these components cohesively, you're crafting not just a document but a clear vision and strategy for your life coaching business's success. This blueprint serves as a guide, ensuring you remain on track and aligned with your professional goals.

Life Coaching Business Plan Template

1. Executive Summary

• Business Name:  [Your Business Name]
• Mission Statement:  [Your Mission Statement]
• Business Goals:  [Short and Long-Term Goals]

2. Business Overview

• Description of Your Coaching Services:  [Types of Coaching Services Offered]
• Target Market:  [Who are your ideal clients?]
• Legal Structure:  [Sole proprietor, LLC, etc.]

3. Market Analysis

• Industry Overview:  [Trends in Life Coaching]
• Target Market Segment:  [Specific client demographics, psychographics]
• Competitor Analysis:  [Who are your direct/indirect competitors? What are their strengths and weaknesses?]

4. Marketing and Sales Strategy

• Marketing Channels:  [Social Media, Workshops, Webinars, etc.]
• Promotion Strategies:  [Discounts, Packages, Referral Programs]
• Sales Process:  [From initial contact to closing a coaching session]

5. Services and Pricing

• Description of Services:  [Detailed list of offerings]
• Pricing Strategy:  [How much will you charge and why? Any packages or tiered pricing?]

6. Operational Plan

• Location:  [Office space, home-based, virtual?]
• Resources Needed:  [Software, Tools, Materials]
• Daily Operations:  [Day-to-day tasks and activities]

7. Management and Organization

• Your Role:  [Owner, primary coach, etc.]
• Team Members:  [If any - their roles and responsibilities]
• Hiring Plans:  [Any plans for future hires?]

8. Financial Plan

• Startup Costs:  [Initial expenses before you start]
• Ongoing Costs:  [Monthly/Yearly expenses]
• Income Projections:  [Expected monthly/yearly revenue]
• Break-even Analysis:  [When will you start making a profit?]

9. SWOT Analysis

• Strengths:  [What are you good at?]
• Weaknesses:  [Where can you improve?]
• Opportunities:  [What can you capitalize on?]
• Threats:  [What external challenges can affect your business?]

10. Appendices (Optional)

• Client Testimonials:  [Proof of your abilities and results]
• Certifications:  [Any relevant qualifications]
• Supporting Documents:  [Contracts, study results, research]

Remember, this template is a starting point. As you delve deeper into your business planning, be prepared to adjust and customize sections to fit your unique business model and services. The more detailed and thorough your business plan, the better equipped you'll be to launch your life coaching business with confidence and clarity.

Tips for crafting an effective Life Coaching Business Plan

Start with clarity.

Ensure you have a clear understanding of your business goals and vision. This clarity will act as your compass throughout the planning process.

Stay Flexible

While it's essential to stick to a plan, be prepared to adapt when needed. The coaching industry can evolve, and flexibility ensures you remain relevant.

Use Reliable Data

When conducting market and competitive analysis, always use credible sources. Accurate information is crucial to making informed decisions.

Engage with Your Target Audience

Before finalizing your plan, engage with potential clients to get feedback. Their insights can help tailor your services more effectively.

Seek Feedback

Share your draft plan with trusted peers, mentors, or other coaches. They can provide invaluable input, highlight overlooked areas, and suggest improvements.

Stay Updated

The coaching industry, especially niches like executive coaching, may have shifts in trends. Regularly revisit and update your business plan to stay current.

Focus on Differentiators

Highlight what sets you apart in the market. Whether it's your unique coaching method or specific qualifications, ensure they shine through in your plan.

Budget Wisely

Financial planning can make or break a business. Be conservative in your projections and always account for unforeseen expenses.

Leverage Technology

Utilize software or online tools that assist in business plan creation. They can offer templates, financial calculators, and more, simplifying the process.

Keep It Concise

While detail is essential, avoid unnecessary jargon or overly lengthy sections. A concise and clear plan is more likely to be referred to regularly.

Regularly Review

Don’t let your business plan collect dust. Regularly review and adjust as you achieve milestones, face challenges, or identify new opportunities.

Stay Client-Centric

Always keep your potential and current clients at the heart of your plan. After all, they are the reason for your coaching business's existence.

Crafting an effective life coaching business plan requires a mix of research, introspection, and forward thinking. By adhering to these tips and maintaining a client-first perspective, you'll pave the way for a successful and impactful coaching journey.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Watch out for these common mistakes that are often made when it comes to creating a life coaching business plan.

Vague Vision

Clearly define your coaching objectives and services. A vague or general vision will not provide the specific direction you need.

Skipping Market Research

Not investing time in understanding your target market can lead to misaligned strategies. Always know who your potential clients are and what they seek.

Overestimating Financial Projections

It's natural to be optimistic, but unrealistic financial projections can lead to disappointment and financial strain. Always be conservative and 

realistic in your estimates.

Ignoring Competition

Every industry has competition. By not acknowledging or understanding competitors, you may miss out on differentiation strategies or potential collaborations.

Setting Too Many Goals

While ambition is commendable, trying to achieve too much too soon can spread your resources thin. Focus on a few key goals initially and expand gradually.

Neglecting Marketing

A great coaching method needs visibility. Not investing in marketing or neglecting its importance can severely limit your reach.

Avoiding Technology

In today's digital age, avoiding online platforms or technology can hinder growth. Embrace digital tools, from CRM systems to social media, for better client engagement.

Static Planning

The belief that once a plan is set, it should remain unchanged is a mistake. Regular reviews and adaptations are necessary as the market and client's needs evolve.

Undervaluing Services

While competitive pricing is essential, undervaluing your services can impact your revenue and market positioning.

Not Seeking Feedback

A business plan crafted in isolation, without any external feedback, may have overlooked areas. Seek insights from peers, mentors, or even potential clients.

Ignoring Professional Development

The coaching industry values continuous learning. Neglecting your own professional growth can render your methods outdated.

Overlooking Legal and Regulatory Aspects

Ensure you're aware of any licensing, certification, or legal requirements in your area. Overlooking these can lead to potential legal issues.

Avoiding these common mistakes will strengthen your business plan, ensuring it's not just a document but a strategic tool that guides your coaching journey, fostering growth and success.

Something to think about

The journey of establishing a successful life coaching business begins with a well-structured and thought-out business plan. This blueprint not only provides clarity on your vision and goals but also serves as a guiding tool to navigate the complexities of the coaching industry.

Remember, the essence of a powerful business plan lies in its details, adaptability, and the commitment to continual learning. Whether you're just starting out or are a seasoned coach looking to scale, revisiting and refining your business plan can make all the difference.

Embrace the process, learn from both successes and challenges, and let your plan be the foundation that propels your coaching career to new heights.

This post was all about how to create a Life Coaching Business Plan Template Free.

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How to write a coaching business plan template for beginners

Table of contents

Life coaching is a promising and lucrative industry, and many coaches are now earning a significant amount of money with their tailored coaching business plans. If you, too, can help someone with your knowledge and life experiences, then it is the right time for you to start your own coaching business.

It is a smart idea to start your own coaching business, and there are several people out there who may need your help and can benefit from your experience. This guide will help you learn how to devise a business plan and make your mark in the coaching industry. Let's get right to it!

Note: If you are a coach, try Bonsai's full-suite of tools you can use to run your business. From task management, to time tracking, and tax, Bonsai's software has everything you need to manage your business. In fact, we have a whole library of pre-made templates to send coaching invoices , contracts and proposals. Try a 7-day free trial here .

What is a Coaching Business Plan?

If you want to create a coaching business, the first thing you need to do is to put together a business plan. Without a plan for your coaching business, you won't know what to do and in which order.

This is why it is absolutely necessary to have a foolproof life coaching business plan for a successful coaching business. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started on the right track.

Steps To Write A Life Coaching Business Plan

Here are all the steps you can use for a successful life coaching business.

Decide Your Vision

To tell your potential customers what you believe in and what your motive is, it is important to write down a vision and what motivated you to start this business.

This will help your customers understand why you want to deliver these services. Many customers consider coaches who are not just focused on their professional goals but also care for their students.

When writing the vision you need to add details such as what is the purpose behind your business and why should others care about it.

Work On Your Mission Statement

Every traditional business plan contains a mission statement and so should yours. A mission statement outlines what your business does. It can be described as the mission of your business.

The mission statement is not just important for your career coaching but it is also essential for your personal life. However, it is very important for you to be very transparent and crystal clear with your mission statement so your potential customers don't get mislead.

It can be difficult to write the mission statement on your own so it is best if you focus on answering things such as what are you hoping to accomplish at present and the future

Outline Your Coaching Services

Your business plan should include all the details of your business coaching details. Describe all your services in detail.

The details can include several things such as who are the recipients of your services. Each service may have a different recipient so it is essential for you to list all of them down. For instance, you can mention that a particular service is for middle-class parents or so on.

Other important details to include can be the pain points you will be catering to in your services. It is best to talk about the most powerful pain point right away so you have the attention of your customer segments instantly.

Your biggest aim should be to talk about something personal your audience is worried about and present your coaching as a solution.

Next, it is wise to include key features of your service. Doing this will help you attract customer attention and they will be interested to learn the exact steps that you will take to help the customers solve the problems they face.

Narrow Down Your Target Market

Now that you are done with the basics, let's move on to the next most important step. Identify your target audience using market research.

Knowing who your audience is very important and can help you come up with a very effective marketing plan. Without knowing who actually wants your service it can be difficult to appeal to the right kind of audience.

To understand what demographic needs your coaching you can use different research methods such as surveys, use reports and more.

This will help you identify all those people who suffer from the problems you are providing a solution for.

For instance, if you are providing coaching services to battle debt then your potential audience is a group of people who are in debt and can't seem to get out.

There are many advantages of identifying your customer base. Once you know who you are speaking to, you will know how to change or modify your coaching sessions to appeal to the audience in a better way.

Furthermore, it will also help you devise an effective marketing strategy designed exclusively for the target market.

Therefore, an in depth market analysis is essential to learn where your customers live, what their ages are and even what gender they fall under. The more detail you have the better it is as that can help you come up with a targeted marketing plan and coaching services.No

Note: if you are a coach, try Bonsai's full-suite of business tools to help you streamline your business. From invoice, tax, task, time tracking, to proposal templates for coaching , Bonsai has it all. Try a 7-day free trial here .

Design A Marketing Strategy

To get the attention of your audience and to market your coaching business it is important that you formulate a marketing strategy that will effectively help people notice your brand.

There are several marketing techniques you can use in your strategy but you need to make sure you choose the one that fits your coaching business the best.

Here are some of the common marketing techniques you can use to build your marketing strategy:

Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization is one of the most effective marketing strategies. Here, you can use different keywords and key phrases that will help your customers locate your website or services easily.

For instance, if you are providing coaching services for debt then you can smartly use different words in your content such as 'debt group coaching sessions' and every time a user searches for the term your content will pop up automatically.

Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms are the best place for you to talk about your coaching services. Most of us already have social media accounts and are very active on these platforms.

You do not need to go the audience to market your services, all you need to do is create a social media page and the audience will come to you.

However, you need to have an active presence there and share valuable content so your audience stays engaged. There are several social media platforms , choose the platforms where you can find most of your target audience.

For instance, if you are catering to the younger demographic then you can go for platforms such as Instagram and TikTok as these platforms have a higher population of the younger users.

Advertising

If you want immediate results and go for a more direct solution then it is better if you opt for paid advertising.

If you pay for ads your services will reach your audience much quicker than they would otherwise. More importantly, paid advertising will only show the ads to the potential customers rather than random people. This means that you will have better outcomes and and can expand your growth plan.

However, paid advertising can be expensive and you may need help from experts. You can hire professionals to handle paid advertising on your behalf and make sure they do it effectively.

Blogging is one of the most common ways to create awareness in your audience. There are multiple ways you can blog about your coaching business. You can either get another blog to feature your business or you can start a blog of your own.

Blogs are a great way to deliver content to your audience and you can incorporate your coaching services in these blogs. These blogs should have valuable content that must link with your subject and help your audience in the longer run. It is a smart decision to make blogging an important part of your coaching practice.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is an effective marketing strategy as any. You can build a mailing list and then send regular emails about your coaching sessions.

You can also give your audience a brief overview of your services so you can grab their attention so they are interested in coaching and sign up for more.

In the future you can also use this list to introduce more product and services to your audience. Make sure you follow up on your emails for the best results.

Include Financial Projections

Other coaches in the business may tell you how important it is to think about financial planning . The coaching business needs money to fuel it and it is essential for you to be clear on how much of it you need.

List Down Coaching Resources Needed

You may need lots of resources when providing coaching and instead of learning about them as you go, make a list of the needed resources beforehand. This will help you be a great coach and be as effective as possible.

Why Is A Coaching Business Plan Important For You?

Without a coaching business plan, it can be very difficult for you to be on the right track, and you may end up making mistakes that could have been avoided easily.

It is better to enter the field with a plan rather than just diving into it right away! With the best business coaching plan, you can get your first client in no time.

Coaching Business Plan Template

If you are having difficulty coming up with a coaching business plan on your own, then you can also use a template and fill it according to your needs and the needs of the business.

There are lots of coaching business plan templates online for you to choose from. Just make sure you fill them out properly. Templates offer you a competitive advantage so you can get more customers.

Try Bonsai's Suite Of Coaching Tools

Bonsai is the best coaching tool on the market to run your business. With our software, you could easily edit pre-made templates to send coaching contracts , proposals, intake forms, invoices, and more. Not to mention we have time tracking and task management tools you could use to better organize your day-to-day duties.

Claim your 7-day free trial here .

Those who keep these tips and tricks in mind can have great coaching businesses and meet all professional goals. Just make sure you do not skip out on anything important, as that can affect your business model in the future. Good luck with your venture!

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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.

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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.
• 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 .

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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:

Small Business Administration (SBA) loan

Crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital.

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

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How to Create a Coaching Plan for a New Client +Templates & Samples

October 24, 2023

The Coach Factory Team

Great coaching requires time, dedication, and structure . Clients don’t experience a transformation by chance , instead, these periods of radical growth are the product of a coach’s deliberate design. 

To get things started on the right foot and to continue through lasting change, a coach needs a cohesive coaching plan that maps out the client journey. Like a skilled instructor crafts a course of study to include lectures, valuable videos, insightful reading passages, and meaningful homework assignments, a coach also maps out the coaching plan with a variety of resources, all customized for the particular client.

What are the key elements of a coaching plan?

A coaching plan includes four key components:

• Laying the groundwork by understanding your client.
• Setting goals.
• Devising a specific plan to achieve those goals.
• Assessing and reconfiguring as needed.

In this article, you’ll learn more about the steps for creating a successful coaching plan. You’ll see how to effectively use this coaching action plan to nudge your clients toward their ultimate success. Even better, this eight-step plan is available in a free PDF coaching plan template — with two samples to show you how to use the template in your own practice.

What is a good coaching plan?

A good coaching plan goes far beyond this eight-step template. A solid coaching action plan is always created with the specific client in mind and is responsive to the client’s needs and unfolding environment. This means that the ideal coaching plan is not only unique and tailored to the client, but it also flexes as the coach-coachee relationship evolves and as new obstacles present themselves. 

• Step 1: Getting to Know Your Client

The onboarding and intake session is more than just a meet and greet. It’s a coach’s first opportunity to gain insights to build an action plan. In this session, you get to truly see your clients, acknowledge where they’re coming from, and grasp which areas of life they want to transform.

You have two key tools at this stage:

• Open ended coaching questions .
• Assessments .

Both of these tools help your client, and you , to get clarity about their needs and biggest challenges. 

Motivation Code for Understanding Your Clients 

The MCode assessment is ideal for the first stages of coaching. It attaches useful labels and categories to the inner drives that motivate your client. Being able to name and prioritize these inner values can provide a guiding north star for the path of your coaching. 

Other types of assessments measure strengths, interests, emotional intelligence, etc. Those all have value, but a motivations assessment truly supersedes them all since motivation is the propelling force underlying all of the other components of our personhood . 

Knowing your client’s motivations can inform so many aspects of the coaching plan:

• The way you talk to your client.
• The types of homework assignments you give (or don’t).
• The way you apply incentives and track progress.
• Step 2: Set Objectives

Some clients come to coaching knowing exactly what their goals are. But many will need your outside perspective to help them voice their goals in a way that’s tangible, for example with the SMART framework: 

• M easurable
• A chievable
• T ime-bound

What are coaching goals?

Coaching goals are the objectives that your client longs to achieve. These are the impetus that drove your client to seek coaching and to hire your expertise. If you can help your client achieve these goals, you will win your client’s appreciation and raving testimonials . Ultimately, these goals are your reason for coaching.

During your coaching intake or onboarding session, the information you’ve gathered from your client and their assessments will be your reference point for setting objectives. 

All coaching goals should align with your client’s values and core motivations . As you make the coaching development plan, be sure to limit your coachee to just 1-3 goals at a time. You can always generate new goals once the first set is achieved. 

Wins inspire more wins! So to ensure your client is consistently experiencing progress throughout their journey, opt for a mix of short-term and long-term goals. Success in short-term goals offers an immediate sense of gratification that fuels the harder won long-term goals. 

• Step 3: Prepare for Obstacles

A rewarding coaching plan identifies the end goal and articulates the rationale behind the objective. But remember, life will throw curveballs, and the only way to combat these inconveniences is by recognizing and addressing potential obstacles, like behavioral patterns, belief systems, or external challenges. 

In your coaching action plan, be proactive about the challenges your client faces by providing strategies, resilience frameworks, and adaptive models to address them ahead of time:

• SWOT Analysis
• Root Cause Analysis
• Bias Discovery Tools
• Fear Assessment
• Decision Matrix

• Step 4: Set Milestones on a Timeline

Measurable, unambiguous outcomes are the tangible indications that your client is advancing. They provide both motivation and a clear snapshot of their progress. Best coaching practice is to intertwine both quantitative and qualitative metrics, valuing emotional shifts just as much as number of steps walked or business targets reached. 

Attaching these milestones to a tentative timeline is helpful for accountability. In the name of flexibility, some coaches are hesitant to define specific timeframes. But your timeline can always be adjusted during Step 6 below. 

• Step 5: Develop a Strategy with Resources

This is the longest part of the coaching plan template for a reason! Strategy is how you will help your client move from where they are to where they want to be. Within the strategy development process, your role as a coach extends into facilitating a space where clients feel seen, heard, and confidently engaged in their transformative journey. You provide the tools, frameworks, vocabulary, cheerleading, and troubleshooting that your client needs. 

All of your sessions are based on what are you doing in between to achieve these goals, to meet these outcomes — “How can I support you? What are the tools that I can give you to continue to improve along those lines?” And coaching can be therapeutic, but it’s not therapy. It’s very structured and very goal oriented. Rebecca Ward on the Coach Factory Podcast

This part of the coaching plan should be fully customized for your niche and your client. While every coach has their go-to diagrams (like the Wheel of Life ) or handy acronyms (like the SOAR method), an experienced coach will realize that different people will respond better to different homework assignments or reading passages. 

The coaching strategy should be easy to communicate, and your client should feel challenged yet confident about what’s required. 

• Step 6: Assess Progress

Part of the coaching action plan template is to evaluate progress, listen to feedback, and make adjustments where needed. 

• Decide when you’ll do these periodic check-ins and what signals will indicate success. Add those to your coaching plan. 
• When should you push a client to work harder and when should you adjust the timeline? These kinds of decisions are hard to make, and you’ll have to rely on your intuition and past experience. 
• Implement a system for tracking progress as your client moves through your coaching program. This will help you recognize any patterns or inconsistencies along the way. For your client, seeing their progress serves as motivation to keep them moving forward. 

Be Open to Feedback

In coaching, feedback is a two-way street. You should be as open to your client’s needs and concerns as you expect them to be about yours. The feedback you give each other is how you keep your client motivated. If something in their plans needs tweaking, you must address it to avoid any unnecessary friction in achieving their goals.

Set up a main line of communication to keep the feedback flowing freely. Choose a messaging app or devote time during your sessions to garner critique. 

• Step 7: Make Revisions

Flexibility ensures the coaching plan remains relevant, adaptive, and genuinely supportive as the client navigates through their journey. Recognize that as the coaching process unfolds, new insights, challenges, and opportunities will emerge, requiring adjustments to the plan. A flexible plan accommodates growth and keeps the coaching methodology dynamic.

If a particular strategy or milestone consistently falls short, don’t hesitate to revisit and redefine it to align with learned experiences. It’s helpful to schedule client sessions dedicated to discussing any necessary changes and redirect the strategy. 

You should also discourage overcommitment from your client. New clients sometimes are eager to take on as much as possible to accelerate their growth. Gently remind them that smaller steps lead to bigger achievements and there’s no need to rush their transformation. 

• Step 8: Celebrate

The power of acknowledgment and celebration is extremely important. Every milestone, whether it be the realization of a goal or the manifestation of growth and learning, deserves to be celebrated. Recognizing and honoring these moments fuels motivation, affirms the client’s efforts and achievements, and fosters a positive and appreciative coaching dynamic . Knowing what motivates your client will help you celebrate in ways that deeply resonate with them. 

Collaborate with your client to create celebratory moments for each milestone. Allow them to dictate how they would like to reward themselves. As they approach the end of their program, acknowledge their hard work and accomplishments.

If your client fails to meet a milestone, it is still important to promote positive thinking and offer support. Turn the failure into a teachable moment by allowing your client to reflect on what went wrong and how they can bounce back from it. This encourages them to practice resilience and aids in helping your client complete the plan. 

• Coaching Plan Template with Samples

Each step of the coaching plan, from the initial onboarding to the triumphant celebration of milestones, forms a chapter in the client’s journey. The magic of effective coaching resides in your deliberate, thoughtful approach to facilitating your client’s growth and achievement. This should manifest in each coaching plan you’ve created for a client. 

Download this free coaching plan template (with two samples) today and put the eight-steps of a coaching action plan into use for your clients right now. 

Even though transformation is the end goal, affirming the process is just as valuable as the outcome. A well-developed coaching plan shows your clients how each step works in harmony to get them where they need to be in their lives. The more effort and time you put into constructing solid plans, the better the results you’ll yield for your clients. 

Written by The Coach Factory Team

We're a team of coaching enthusiasts who hire and work with coaches. Members of our team run businesses in the coaching industry or provide services that support coaches, and several of us are coaches ourselves.

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15 Coaching Templates and Samples for Life-Changing Sessions

And yet, it doesn’t matter whether you’re the best listener in the world or have personally scaled Mount Everest.

Even the best coaches need to work from a plan.

In what follows, we’ll provide you with 15 templates and samples you can use to craft concrete, actionable coaching plans that help your clients achieve life-changing transformations during their time with you.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

Writing a coaching plan: 3 templates, 3 samples and templates for your coaching sessions, life and health coaching: top 3 templates, 3 templates for your coaching program & classes, a look at quenza: top 3 tools for coaches, a take-home message.

Coaching plans are critical for maintaining and documenting the progress of your coaching sessions (Olubiyi, 2019). These plans provide clarity for both the coach and coachee in several important ways (adapted from Johnson, n.d.).

• They consolidate collected information and establish major areas for development.
• They facilitate the setting of SMART goals with target dates to maintain accountability.
• They create a basis upon which to pivot or adjust existing goals.
• They point the coachee toward relevant resources, such as media, books, or other professionals.
• They establish milestones that, when accomplished, may be highly motivating for the coachee.

By keeping these goals in mind, you can design effective coaching plans that help drive progress in the coaching relationship.

To this end, let’s look at three useful templates to identify growth focus areas in your coaching plans.

In several of these examples, we’ll draw on activities from the comprehensive coaching tool Quenza , which allows coaches to digitize and automate several aspects of a coaching practice. This digitization takes the form of web-based activities, such as assessments, reflections, and evaluations, that coaches can design and clients can complete using their own iOS or Android devices.

If you’re interested, you can access and experiment with any of these activities yourself by taking advantage of Quenza’s 30-day trial for just one dollar.

Now, on to the templates.

The Best Possible Self

When many clients begin coaching, they report feeling ‘stuck’ but are uncertain about the specific changes they’d like to make in their life.

The Best Possible Self exercise is a simple, 10-minute exercise to help your clients gain clarity about their ideal life and guide the development of a coaching plan.

The exercise begins by inviting your client to set a stopwatch or timer for 10 minutes. The client is then invited to write about what life would look like if they had performed to the best of their abilities and achieved all they wanted in their life. This visualization thereby creates an image upon which to set goals.

Life Domain Satisfaction

Another common situation in coaching relationships is when a client begins by reporting dissatisfaction in one or more life domains .

The Life Domain Satisfaction assessment is a powerful tool to help you and your clients discover the extent to which they are satisfied with various life domains.

The exercise invites your client to reflect on their satisfaction across 16 different domains of life, such as family, education, and standard of living. You and your client can then reflect on the responses to identify strengths and areas for growth.

Basic Needs Satisfaction in General Scale

For an especially high-level assessment of a client’s life satisfaction, you can assess their satisfaction of basic core needs.

The free Basic Needs Satisfaction in General Scale is a science-backed, 21-item scale assessing the degree to which your clients experience satisfaction of their three core needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness (Ryan & Deci, 2000).

All items are rated on a scale from 1 (not true) to 7 (very true), and example items from the scale include (Gagné, 2003):

• I feel like I am free to decide for myself how to live my life.
• Often, I do not feel very competent.
• People in my life care about me.

The results of this instrument are valuable for facilitating discussion about where and in what contexts clients experience the most (or least) satisfaction and how they might increase life satisfaction across different domains.

Now that you have a few templates to aid you in exploring your clients’ desired future selves and areas for growth, let’s look at three more templates to help you design a motivating coaching plan with these desired futures in mind.

Goal Visualization

Mental imagery of future events can help people “envision possibilities and develop plans for bringing those possibilities about” (Taylor, Pham, Rivkin, & Armor, 1998, p. 429).

Quenza’s Goal Visualization audio exercise is a powerful activity designed to strengthen your client’s motivation in the lead-up to pursuing a goal or starting a plan of action.

This exercise comprises eight minutes of guided imagery that invites the listener to consider a goal they’d like to accomplish within a year.

In the exercise, the listener is encouraged to imagine themselves progressing forward in time and consider what taking steps toward goal achievement might look and feel like at different time points. By doing so, they will energize their conscious and unconscious mind to take gradual steps toward their goal, increasing motivation .

Self-Contract Template

Another way to increase our motivation to make beneficial life changes is by completing a self-contract.

Quenza’s Self-Contract Template is a useful agreement your clients can complete to make a signed commitment toward positive change.

In particular, the contract template invites your client to set a clear goal, pick a deadline by which to complete the goal, and note the specific reasons why it is personally important to achieve the goal. Again, explicitly exploring their reasons for pursuing this goal will help keep them motivated when they come up against challenges.

Goal Planning and Achievement Tracker

Tracking progress toward the accomplishment of big goals is another strategy to keep us motivated as we pursue them.

For a useful tool to help track progress toward goal achievement, take a look at the free Goal Planning and Achievement Tracker worksheet.

This simple worksheet invites your client to set goals at the start of the week. Once they set their goals, they then note their daily progress toward achieving the goals in a series of cells that correspond to each day of the week.

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Exercises (PDF)

Enhance wellbeing with these free, science-based exercises that draw on the latest insights from positive psychology.

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Tools Pack (PDF)

By filling out your name and email address below.

Some people seek the support of a coach to guide them in their pursuit of a range of personal or health-related goals.

Goals such as these may center around weight loss, health-related habits, or self-care, just to name a few.

Here are three useful templates for your life coaching practice  to support your clients looking to make lifestyle-related changes.

Creating a Positive Body Image

How we feel about our bodies can play a significant role in determining how we feel about ourselves as a whole and the confidence we project into the world.

For your clients looking to change their self-image as it relates to their body, take a look at the Creating a Positive Body Image pathway on Quenza.

This activity pathway spans several days and invites your clients to think about their body in terms of its functionality and what it can do for them. This serves to shift your client’s focus from limitations or dissatisfaction with physical appearance to cultivate a friendlier relationship with their body.

Distinguishing Physical from Emotional Hunger

Enjoying delicious food is one of life’s many pleasures. But our relationship with food can grow complicated when we eat for reasons other than hunger.

If your client is looking to change their relationship with food, consider sending them the Distinguishing Physical from Emotional Hunger reflection exercise on Quenza.

The reflection begins by inviting your client to think about and list self-soothing activities besides eating that they can engage in when experiencing challenging emotions. They are then encouraged to identify where in their body they experience the physical sensation of hunger and learn to distinguish between physical versus emotional hunger cues.

The Fourteen-Day Commitment

The shift toward a healthier lifestyle typically requires that we change our habits. These habits can be small behaviors surrounding how we eat, sleep, and stay active.

For clients looking to improve their lifestyle habits, check out this free Fourteen-Day Commitment chart .

This chart is sectioned into columns that probe the duration and type of exercise your client undertakes, the amount of sleep they are getting, and the quality of the food they eat. The thinking is that by actively tracking behaviors for 14 days, your clients can become more aware of the micro-behaviors that contribute to or detract from their goal to lead a healthier lifestyle.

How to structure your coaching sessions – Coach Ajit x Evercoach

Many coaches will draw on principles from disciplines like positive psychology to develop psychoeducational content, lessons, or workshops as part of their coaching program.

If this is you, here are three useful templates you can use to deliver life-changing lessons or classes, either in groups or one-on-one.

Getting to Know One Another Exercise

If you’re running an activity or class in a group, you may find it useful to begin your session with an icebreaker activity. For something a little out-of-the-box that warms up people’s active listening skills , take a look at our free Getting to Know One Another Exercise .

To begin, get participants to form a circle and pair people up with someone they do not know very well. Next, each person in the pair describes one of their biggest blunders, while the other person attempts to remember as many details about the story as possible.

After going around the group and having each listener share the story they heard, the exercise repeats but with new pairs and a focus on views about the shared environment (e.g., workplace, team environment, etc.), helping bring the focus to the context of the coaching session.

20 Guidelines for Developing a Growth Mindset

People with a growth mindset are described as:

“individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others).”

Dweck, 2016

Inherent in the process of being coached is a focus on learning and development. Therefore, a good starting point for any coaching relationship may be to educate your clients about the benefits of a growth mindset.

For a useful pre-packaged lesson on the topic, take a look at the 20 Guidelines for Developing a Growth Mindset lesson on Quenza.

This lesson neatly summarizes the difference between a fixed and growth mindset , includes a brief video lesson on the neurology of the growth mindset, and details 20 actionable guidelines to help your clients move toward a growth mindset.

Pushing the Ball Underwater Metaphor

When we’re experiencing negative emotions and thoughts, our automatic reaction may be to avoid or suppress them. However, the trouble with this approach is that trying to suppress negativity is much like trying to push a ball underwater – it will quickly bob back up again.

For an illustrated lesson and reflection applying this metaphor of the ball underwater, check it out in Quenza’s pre-loaded Expansion Library.

Overall, this metaphor and lesson will help your clients understand how acceptance rather than control might be a better way to deal with negative experiences, helping your clients get in touch with all their thoughts and emotions, not just the positive ones.

You’ll note that several of the templates we’ve explored have been drawn from the psychoeducational coaching platform Quenza .

Quenza is a user-friendly online coaching platform for coaches and other helping professionals that helps you automate and scale aspects of your coaching practice at all stages of the coaching relationship.

The same team who created PositivePsychology.com designed the platform, with the help of the wider positive psychology community. The platform includes a range of science-backed tools designed to keep your clients on track while saving you time and resources.

Let’s look at three top coaching tools  within the platform now.

The Activity Builder

All the content that coaches prepare in Quenza is designed using the platform’s intuitive drag-and-drop Activity Builder.

The Activity Builder allows coaches to create sequences of coaching questions and multimedia that clients engage with using their Android or iOS device. These sequences can form various lessons, reflections, assessments, or homework activities, and they can include written content, videos, and audio.

For instance, pictured above, a coach is designing a simple emotion reflection that their client can complete by tracking their mood on a five-point scale.

This reflection may then be followed by an open-ended response question that asks the client to note the dominant emotions they have experienced throughout the day or drivers of their present mood. Alternatively, it may be followed by a video lesson or soothing guided audio meditation.

Regardless, the Activity Builder takes the complexity out of the design and digitization process so that the coach can focus on preparing activities that help the client meet their agreed-upon goals.

The Expansion Library

If you’re just starting your coaching practice and are unsure where to begin, Quenza’s Expansion Library is a great place to start.

Quenza includes an extensive library of pre-loaded science-based activities and pathways that are widely used by members of the positive psychology community. This library is continuously growing, with activities and pathways focusing on topics like body image, gratitude , and goal setting.

Likewise, all activities within the library are fully customizable and can be used as templates to design activities that cater to your clients’ specific needs, giving you complete flexibility.

Leading security features

As part of the coaching relationship, clients will inevitably share personal data and information with the coach. When this is done digitally, the coach must take steps to ensure this information is kept safe and secure.

Quenza was designed with the latest data protection and security laws at its heart, making it both HIPAA and GDPR compliant. All identifying information and responses in the platform are safely and securely stored using top-level AES 256-bit encryption and personal PIN codes. Yet, all this information remains easily accessible to you and your clients via any device at any time.

17 Top-Rated Positive Psychology Exercises for Practitioners

Expand your arsenal and impact with these 17 Positive Psychology Exercises [PDF] , scientifically designed to promote human flourishing, meaning, and wellbeing.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

Even the best coaches need a plan and guidance. Thankfully, with the many resources available through PositivePsychology.com and online coaching communities, there is little reason to run your practice in a bubble.

Likewise, if you’re busy or unsure how to get started with your practice, there is no shortage of pre-prepared templates, activities, and coaching plans you can adapt to your practice and coaching style .

We hope you’ve found some templates presented here valuable. And if you’ve tried any for yourself, let us know about your experience using them in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.

Also, remember, you can try all of Quenza’s features for yourself by taking advantage of the platform’s 30-day trial for just $1.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

• Dweck, C. (2016, January 13). What having a “growth mindset” actually means. Harvard Business Review . Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means
• Gagné, M. (2003). The role of autonomy support and autonomy orientation in prosocial behavior engagement. Motivation and Emotion , 27 (3), 199–223.
• Johnson, J. (n.d.). 3-Step coaching model. UNT Health Science Center . Retrieved from https://www.unthsc.edu/administrative/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/Coaching-With-ICF-Compentencies-3-Step-Process.pdf
• Olubiyi, M. K. (2019). A sample coaching plan for your coaching practice. Coaches Training Blog . Retrieved from https://coachestrainingblog.com/becomeacoach/coaching-plan-for-your-coaching-practice/
• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist , 55 (1), 68–78.
• Taylor, S. E., Pham, L. B., Rivkin, I. D., & Armor, D. A. (1998). Harnessing the imagination: Mental simulation, self-regulation, and coping. American Psychologist , 53 (4), 429–439.

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Top 5 Coaching Business Plan Templates With Samples and Examples

“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining,”

Former US President - John F Kennedy.

This quote holds great significance when it comes to understanding the importance of planning in a business context. Just as a roof requires proactive maintenance before the arrival of rainy days, a successful coaching business must engage in strategic planning before facing unforeseen challenges or opportunities. Whether it’s a coaching business or any other competitive enterprise, planning serves as the foundation upon which it can navigate uncertainties, optimize resources, and seize the advantage. It empowers organizations to envision their goals, chart a course of action, and adapt to the dynamic nature of the market.

We offer you the Top 5 Coaching Business Plan Templates which will help your company navigate the evolving market. With vibrant colors and relevant content, these PPT decks help you to save time and maintain efficiency in the work culture of your company. Our PowerPoint decks are thoughtfully designed to be content-ready and offer you the utmost flexibility in planning and executing your work tasks.

With their 100% editable content, you have the power to customize each slide according to your specific needs, allowing for a seamless and efficient workflow. Harness the potential of our business plan ppt decks to enhance your presentations and achieve optimal results in your work.

Let’s explore the templates that align perfectly with your specific requirements.

TEMPLATE 1: Coaching Business Plan PowerPoint Presentation Slides

Ignite your business coaching journey with our dynamic presentation template designed exclusively for aspiring entrepreneurs. This captivating template showcases a comprehensive analysis of your coaching business plan, offering a holistic view of your venture's potential. Delve into the depths of your company's strengths and values, while exploring the dynamic industry landscape. Engage your employees with meticulously-crafted customer profiles, enabling you to connect on a deeper level. Download this template to avail these features.

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TEMPLATE 2: Coaching Startup Business Plan PowerPoint Presentation

A startup business requires careful attention and strategic planning to foster its growth and success. Ans when it is the coaching business, you need to have the fundamentals in place, which include a knowledge of the market gap and opportunities; plus an overview of the business coaching industry. This presentation template from SlideTeam does both. In fact, this complete deck demonstrates a detailed financial summary section comprising a financial summary, profit and loss statement, cash flow statement, balance sheet etc.

From well-organized content to captivating imagery and seamless transitions, each slide in the PPT Bundle tells a compelling visual story, engaging the employees with its design and aesthetic appeal. With a perfect balance of aesthetics and information, this presentation is sure to leave a lasting impression. Download this now to get started with your new venture in an organized manner.

TEMPLATE 3: One-Pager Employee Coaching Business Plan Presentation

This one-pager PowerPoint slide has been meticulously designed to provide everything, a corporate training needs in a concise and efficient manner. By condensing comprehensive information, key insights, and visually engaging graphics into a single slide, our world-class product eliminates the need for time-consuming and elaborate presentations. Download this slide to get a complete overview, enable users to quickly grasp essential details, make informed decisions, and effectively communicate messages.

TEMPLATE 4: Business Plan For Coaching Institute PowerPoint Presentation Slides

In these slides, a rich color palette has been skillfully utilized. As the online coaching industry gives tough competition to the coaching institutes, this template for business plan explores the meticulously designed sections encompassing company analysis, customer profiling, financial plan, operational plan, and more, the vibrant colors will aid in delivering a compelling and memorable presentation experience. Click on the link below to avail a compelling well-structured template for your requirements.

TEMPLATE 5: Coaching Firm Business Plan PowerPoint Presentation Slides

Sustaining a coaching firm’s business isn’t an easy task. For your firm to stand out among competitions like the online coaching industry and coaching programs, you need to have a detailed plan and strategy to cater to the dynamic market and unforeseen obstacles. These presentation slides for coaching firm business plans are truly remarkable. The agenda slide sets the tone for a well-structured and organized presentation. The financial summary section provides an in-depth analysis of the revenue model, profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and other key financial metrics that are essential for the success of any business. Overall, this presentation is a perfect blend of style and substance, providing a comprehensive and compelling roadmap for the success of a coaching firm business plan. Get it now.

GET THE DIRECTION RIGHT

Amidst the competitive landscape of the business coaching industry, having a well-crafted and comprehensive plan is like a compass that guides coaches to navigate challenges, stand out from the competition, and achieve sustainable success. This blog has all the resources you need to achieve your target. The Coaching Business Plan Templates come in handy when you are starting a new venture.

According to recent data, the global coaching market size reached $15.1 billion in 2020. Click here to use our Coaching Industry Business Plan to make a proper plan for coping with a highly competitive landscape and employ effective marketing strategies to thrive in this dynamic industry.

FAQs on Coaching Business Plan

How do i start a coaching business .

To start a coaching business, identify your target audience and niche, create a business plan, establish your brand and online presence, and start offering coaching services. Continuously improve your skills and knowledge while building relationships with potential clients through networking and marketing efforts. Focus on delivering value and exceptional service to your clients to foster growth and success.

How do you structure a coaching plan?

A coaching plan typically follows a structured framework. Start by establishing clear goals with the client. Assess their current situation and identify areas for improvement. Develop a plan of action with specific steps and milestones. Provide support, guidance, and accountability throughout the coaching process. Regularly evaluate progress and adjust the plan as needed. Finally, celebrate achievements and ensure a smooth transition towards independent success for the client.

How much does it cost to start a coaching business?

The cost of starting a coaching business can vary significantly depending on factors such as location, niche, and individual preferences. Generally, the initial costs may include obtaining necessary certifications or training, setting up a website and branding materials, marketing and advertising expenses, and any required office space or equipment. It's advisable to create a budget and determine the specific needs of your coaching business to estimate the approximate cost of getting started.

Is coaching business profitable?

Coaching businesses have the potential to be profitable ventures. The profitability of a coaching business relies on factors such as the coach's skills, experience, specialization, and ability to attract and retain clients. By providing valuable guidance and support, coaches can establish a strong reputation and attract a steady stream of clients willing to invest. However, it is essential to consider market demand, pricing strategy, effective marketing, and efficient business operations to maximize profitability.

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Free Coaching Plan Template + How to Use It For Your Coaching Clients

Do you ever find you start a session, look at last session’s scribbled notes and think “Now WHAT were they supposed to have done?.” 

Do you wish you had a specific, helpful coaching plan template to track your client’s progress and actions?

If so, keep reading! You landed on the right article. We’re Cass & Tee, the duo behind Lovely Impact, a coaching branding and web design company that helps coaches build transformational businesses that leave an impact on the world. 

As coaches ourselves, the one thing that we are obsessed with is templates, tools, and systems to help coaches reach more people and do what they came here to do — coach! One of the most powerful tools any coach can have is a coaching plan template. 

Let’s dive right in!

Table of Contents

• What is a Coaching Plan? 

1. Client Coaching SMART Goals

2. frequency of coaching sessions, 3. coaching objectives, 4. client responsibilities.

• 5. Progress Tracker: Explain how a coaching plan should include a way to track the progress of the client. 
• Step 1: Start with the end in mind. 

Step 2: Choose your Coaching Tools.

Step 3: create the plan, what is a coaching action plan, what are the roles of a coaching plan, final thoughts, what is a coaching plan.

Coaching plans are plans which coaches use to keep track of their client’s progress throughout their sessions.

Having a coaching plan helps you to outline your framework for each individual client, and allows you to discuss and agree upon goals with the client. Having a clear plan can improve communication and understanding on both sides, helping to prevent confusion.

A coaching plan encourages you to think about each individual client’s journey and how you are going to guide them to create good, lasting habits and improve their lives. It also offers space for you to communicate with them about their thoughts on how you can help.

Your coaching plan should be built before you begin your first sessions with your client, and it should map out the whole journey you intend to take, both as a coach and the coachee.

It will set specific targets, mark major milestones, and serve as the blueprint for your entire relationship with the client.

What are the key elements of a coaching plan?

A coaching plan will be tailored to each individual, and different coaches will have different preferences about how they organize their plans, but all plans will share some common elements across different clients and coaches.

You should always include goals in your coaching plan; these benefit both you and the client, bringing structure and finesse to your coaching strategy.

These goals will be unique to each client but should follow the S.M.A.R.T. structure. This means:

S: Specific. What matters most to this client? Hone in the details and create specific, focused goals.

M: Measurable. When you set the plan up, define how you will measure whether they have met a goal. What parameters will you use?

A: Agreed. You and your client must agree on the goals.

R: Realistic. Goals need to be challenging, but achievable. Too easy, and the client will lose interest. Too hard, and they may become demotivated.

T: Time-based. When should the goal be met? Define a time period in which the goal should be achieved.

A coaching plan should also cover how many sessions you will have and how often, for the whole of your coaching period. This ensures you and the client are on the same page and there is no confusion later. 

It also lets you work out your S.M.A.R.T. goals realistically; you will know what your client wants to achieve, what time period they want to achieve it in, and how often you will get to see them and coach them.

Once you have a plan that tells you your available sessions, you should set objectives for each of these. No session should be left without a clear purpose that lets both you and the client know what they will be working toward and what the session hopes to achieve.

This will help both of you form an overall map of the client’s journey and will make it easier to spot any unrealistic goals or slack moments where they aren’t progressing. 

It will also make it easier for you as the coach to plan exactly what a session will consist of because you’ll know what your client is hoping to achieve in that specific session.

The coaching plan should also cover the client’s responsibilities and any work that you want them to do between sessions. Much of your client’s progress will be made when you aren’t there to help; how will they know what they should be doing week by week?

Use your individual session goals to help guide any “homework” that you’re setting your client, and give them a clear breakdown of what they need to do prior to each session in order to be successful. 

This will help your client stay on track and prepare for sessions, improving their efficiency and approach.

5. Progress Tracker: Explain how a coaching plan should include a way to track the progress of the client.

Your coaching plan will naturally serve as something of a progress tracker, but you should enhance this if possible by specifically tracking your client’s progress in terms of the goals set for each individual session, and the bigger overall goals your client wants to achieve.

Using the individual sessions will help you realize quickly if a client is falling behind and likely to miss a big target. This makes it easier to get them back on track, or slightly adjust the goals (or both).

You can also use the coaching plan to keep an eye on the past progress, and to encourage your client when they are feeling demotivated. Show them how much they have achieved, and prove to them that their current goals are equally within reach.

How do you write a coaching plan?

Now that you know how to write a coaching plan, it’s time to create one for your clients! Here’s how:

Step 1: Start with the end in mind.

Before you dive in, the first thing to do is to ask yourself what the client wants to achieve. Pull out your kick-off session notes and intake form and decide how many sessions you’ll need to help your client achieve their goal and what coaching methodologies would work to support those sessions. 

Every goal needs its own focus and should be treated separately. By the end of this brainstorm, you should outline a coaching plan and know exactly how you plan to help your coaching client reach their goal. 

Next, you want to decide what coaching tools and techniques you will use to support your client’s goals and the methodologies you’ve chosen to help them. 

A coaching technique is a strategy that is used with coaching tools to help a client breakthrough. Every coach has different techniques depending on their niche and training. However, there are some universal coaching techniques and tools that can be used by any coach.

You can learn more by checking out: 15 Coaching Techniques That Work For Any Niche or Client >>

Now it’s time to create a plan! You want to start by taking the goals set and adding those to your coaching plan. Next, you’ll want to add how many sessions it will take to master each goal. Third, you’ll want to add the coaching tools and methodologies that you’ll cover in each session. Lastly, add in the homework you expect the client to commit to. 

Pro Tip: Get The FREE Client Action Template from The Coaching Tools Company

The Coaching Tools Compay provides ready-to-use coaching forms, worksheets, and tools for coaches. Their Client Action Template is free and is perfect to use as a coaching plan template or to give directly to your clients to remember their actions.

Template Features: 

• You can keep it for yourself or give it to your clients • Keep track of client actions easily • Hold your clients responsible for their commitments • Helps you and your client stay organized

Coaching Plan FAQs

A coaching action plan is a simple, practical client-action recording sheet for you – or your clients to use to keep track of SMART goals, client homework, and session notes. 

There are two roles in a coaching plan. The role of the coach, who puts the plan together and setups the goals and objectives, and the role of the coachee who follows the plan and any suggested homework in between sessions. 

Throw away those sticky notes and random sheets of paper. A coaching plan is exactly what you need to make sure that your client doesn’t miss any of their goals and objectives, and it keeps you organized and looking like the professional coach you are. 

Do you use a coaching plan? If so, share below! If not, comment and let us know if this helps. 

About The Author

Hey! I’m Cass, a brand coach and the Co-Founder & Chief Brand Officer at Lovely Impact, a website template shop for coaches. I help coaches elevate their businesses with beautiful branding and websites. Here on our blog, my content focuses on branding, web design, and storytelling.

Hey! I’m Tee, a brand and marketing coach and the Co-Founder & CMO at Lovely Impact, a website template shop for coaches. I help coaches grow their coaching businesses digitally. Here on our blog, my content focuses on web design, marketing, business, and social media strategy.

Thank you Tee for sharing such a valuable content. It s always great to learn new things and get inspired to grow even more! Best wishes and blessings! Emy x

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The Ideal Life Coaching Business Plan Template Free & Easy to Use

March 25, 2021 by Margaret K. Olubiyi Leave a Comment

Do you plan to start a life coaching business and need to find a life coaching business plan template free and easy to use? Great, I may have one that might work for you. 

Let us begin by understanding what a business plan is..

What is a Business Plan? 

If you want to succeed in any business, having a business plan is critical. A business plan is a document that describes when and how an organization will accomplish its objectives over time. It contributes to the overall success of a business. It is interesting how many individuals you see, including coaching professionals try to start or run a business without having a plan. Without a business plan, there is no direction, and the company may end up folding up within weeks or months of starting.  

(NOTE: If you want to learn how to start your own coaching business, then check out this webinar , called “How to Start Your Coaching Business in 30 Days “  During the webinar, I’ll cover how to get your first paid clients fast and make it feel natural for you. Click HERE now to attend the webinar .)

About Life Coaching

Life coaching is based on a future-focused approach. Its purpose is to take the individual from where they presently are to where they want to be in their personal or professional life. The life coaching field is a financially rewarding and enriching field for anyone who has a passion for helping people lead fulfilling lives. The demand for life coaches has grown significantly in recent years due to the immense emphasis that society has placed on self-improvement and personal growth.

Life Coaching Business Plan Template Free For You    

Using a business plan template can save you lots of time and especially money when starting a business. The internet is a great place to check out a few samples to help you get started. Over time you are always able to modify your existing business plan as your business grows.  

As an independent coaching professional (entrepreneur), you want to ensure that your life coaching business plan includes the right information, like the ones mentioned below. 

Here is a life coaching business plan template free and simple to use in guiding you: 

Life Coaching Business Plan

• This is a one page highlighting your business’s mission, vision, goals, or objectives. 
• This includes your target audience, the individuals your services or products are intended for, the demographics, size, and market trend. The best way to identify your prospective clients is to have them complete a survey or assessment to determine how best to serve them. 
• How do you intend to advertise your services or products to your target market? You can use various strategies to attract life coaching clients to your business. A few examples are the utilization of social media platforms, content generation, email marketing, podcasting, and more. 
• Who are your rivals/competitors? 
• How do you differ from others who provide similar services? Find out the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors. 
• How do you intend to operate your business? 
• Are you planning to run it from home, in an office setting?
•  Will you be meeting with clients in person, over the phone, online, or all three? You can highlight how you will effectively serve your life coaching clients. 
• Your financial forecasts have to do with how much you will need to operate your coaching business. This includes the income statement, cash flow, revenue, and expenses and describes how funds will be utilized.

When you take advantage of the life coaching business plan template free online, you can customize it to your satisfaction. It is a great resource to help you design a plan for your life coaching business with no stress. These templates are easy to use and download on your computer. You are welcome to try the above sample in this article or check out others on the internet. 

Jeannie Cotter

Editor/Writer, Coaches Training Blog community

Margaret K. Olubiyi Life Coach Writer, Coaches Training Blog community

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Coaching Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Coaching Business Plan Template

If you want to start a coaching business or expand your current coaching services, you need a business plan.

The following Coaching business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning business plan. It can be used to write a life coaching business plan, a career coaching business plan, or a plan for any type of coaching practice.

In addition to using this template, a solid plan will also include market research to help you better understand the coaching industry, your competitive advantage and your target customers. It will also help you craft your marketing strategy and strong financial projections.

You can download our Ultimate Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.  

Coaching Business Plan Example

I. executive summary, business overview.

[Company Name], located in [Location], is a new career coaching business that provides services that help clients achieve their professional goals, improve their performance, and increase their productivity and efficiency. The company’s mission is to help each and every client with their career goals and help them become the best version of themselves in their place of work. We aim to become one of the leading career coach companies in the area by providing support, empathy, and guidance to each of our clients.

[Company Name] is founded by [Founder’s Name], who has been a mentor and career coach informally for several years. His coaching experience began when he was a manager providing guidance to his employees. Over time, he found himself providing insight and support to many colleagues in his company and decided to start his own business where he can dedicate all his energy to helping other professionals.

Products Served

[Company Name] provides career coaching services to help clients achieve their professional goals and become the best version of themselves in their place of work. Some of the services we provide include guidance about career direction, interview practice, and helping with job searches.

Customer Focus

[Company Name] will primarily serve individuals, entrepreneurs, business executives, and students that live in the [Location] area. The demographics of the area is as follows.

• 91,000 residents
• Median age: 38 years
• 52% college educated
• 45% in management/professional careers

Management Team

[Company Name] is founded by [Founder’s Name], who has been a mentor and career coach informally for several years. His coaching expertise began when he was a manager providing guidance to his employees. As time went on, he found himself being an informal career coach to several employees, colleagues, and other professionals in his network. He found this work far more enjoyable than his job, so he decided to start a career coaching business so he could focus all his energy on helping others in their career.

Success Factors

[Company Name] is qualified to succeed due to the following reasons:

• There has been significant growth in the career coach industry over the past few years. In addition, we surveyed the local population and received highly positive feedback pointing towards an explicit demand for the services, supporting the business after launch.
• The management team has a track record of success in the career coaching business.
• [Founder’s Name] has lived in [Location] all of his life and has raised his family in the same community as the target market. He has many connections with businesses, government officials, and local organizations.

Financial Highlights

[Company Name] is currently seeking $60,000 to launch its career coaching company. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

• Office location build-out and startup costs (training and certifications, website development, etc.): $35,000
• Working capital: $25,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and lease costs

II. Company Overview

You can download our Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Who is [Company Name]?

Millions of people find themselves in professional careers but don’t know how to get the job of their dreams or reach their next career goal. [Company Name] provides numerous services to help people reach their highest potential in their careers. Whether a client needs some help with their job search or wants to completely reassess their career path, we can help them in any way they need to achieve their goals.

All the coaching programs will aim to provide transformational results. [Company Name] will ensure that its services are of the highest standards and meet the client’s needs precisely and completely through thorough follow-ups and assessments of the clients’ progress.

[Company Name]’s History

Upon surveying the local client base and finding a potential office location, [Founder’s Name] incorporated [Company Name] as an S-Corporation on [Date of Incorporation].

[Founder’s Name] has selected an initial location and is currently undergoing due diligence on the property.

Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

• Developed the company’s name, logo, and website
• Determined the list of services to be offered
• Determined equipment requirements
• Began recruiting key employees

[Company Name]’s Products/Services

[Company Name] will provide the following services:

• Career mapping and assessments
• Job search assistance
• Mock interviews
• Resume help
• Guidance on how to get unstuck and advance one’s career
• Guidance on how to improve skills, performance, and productivity
• Other general career guidance and advice

III. Industry Analysis

You can download our Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here. [Company Name] competes against small, individually owned career coach businesses. The coaching industry in general has seen a huge boom in business since the pandemic. In the past few years, millions of people have been reconsidering their career goals and have sought out the guidance of a coach to help them navigate a new career path. The success of these coaches and their clients has led to an increase in demand.

The primary positive factors affecting this industry are the increasing demand for personal development and career coaches. Total advertising expenditure is expected to increase, representing a potential opportunity for the industry. In recent years, favorable government policies, such as the implementation of free trade agreements, are positively influencing market demand. Rising foreign direct investments coupled with improving economic conditions are expected to further boost the market.

According to IBIS World, the career and business coaching sector was worth $15 billion in 2022 and has been increasing at an average rate of 2.5% per year. With so much demand and potential, there is no better time to become a career coach.

IV. Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

[Company Name] will serve the entrepreneurs, business executives, students, and other professionals in [Location]. The area we will serve is populated mostly by moderate to affluent people; as a result, they have the means to pay for higher quality services.

Customer Segmentation

[Company Name] will primarily target the following customer segments:

• Entrepreneurs and business executives : A large number of entrepreneurs and business executives who want to succeed and build sustainable brands are looking for professional and quality career and business coaching services.
• Professionals : Many people are in professional careers but don’t know where to move forward. We will provide a long list of services to help these professionals navigate their career path and prepare for their next big challenge or transition.
• Students : [Company Name] will offer coaching services to students who want to start mapping out their career opportunities.

V. Competitive Analysis

Direct & indirect competitors.

The following establishments are located within a ten mile radius of [Company Name], thus providing either direct or indirect competition for customers:

Career Development Inc. Career Development Inc. is one of the leading providers of career coach services in town and has been in business for ten years. Career Development Inc. specializes in providing individual coaching classes and group coaching classes to its clients to help them achieve their career goals. They can help clients with the job search process, improving their performance, or mapping out a whole new career path.

Career Gurus Career Gurus has been in the industry since 1990, catering to various groups of clients, including managers, entrepreneurs, executives, students, and other professionals. Career Gurus was designed with state-of-the-art coaching programs which has led thousands of their clients to great success. Career Gurus focuses on the creation of custom executive & leadership coaching, career coaching, skill building, transformational intelligence, and women at work.

Career Transformations Career Transformations was established in 2000 and offers one-to-one coaching, group coaching, speaker & influencer workshops, vision board, team building workshops, and leadership training. Career Transformation provides the most comprehensive range of services within the area but also charges the highest prices. Clients who can afford these services get the expertise of coaches with decades of experience as well as the potential to network with hundreds of other professionals and influencers.

Competitive Advantage

[Company Name] enjoys several advantages over its competitors. These advantages include:

• Management : [Company Name]’s management team has ten years of business and marketing experience that allows them to serve customers in an improved and sophisticated manner than the competitors.
• Relationships : Having lived in the community for twenty years, [Founder’s Name] knows all of the local community, media, and other influencers. Furthermore, he will be able to draw from his existing personal and professional relationships to develop an initial client base.
• Great services at an affordable price : The complete array of career coaching services offered by [Company Name] nearly equals our most premium positioned competitors. However, [Company Name] will offer these services at a much more affordable price.
• Location : [Company Name]’s location is near the center of town, giving the company access to entrepreneurs & business executives, students, and government officials.

VI. Marketing Plan

The [company name] brand.

[Company Name] seeks to position itself as a respectable, upper-middle-market competitor in the career coach service market. The [Company Name] brand will focus on the company’s unique value proposition:

• Offering a wide collection of high-quality career coaching services
• Convenient location
• Comfortable, customer-focused environment
• Moderate pricing

Promotions Strategy

[Company Name] expects its target market to be individuals living within a ten mile radius of its location. The following are [Company Name]’s promotions strategy to reach these individuals:

Website/SEO [Company Name] will develop a professional website that displays images of [Founder’s Name] and the services that we provide. It will also invest in SEO so that the company’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.

Social Media Marketing Social media is one of the most cost-effective and practical marketing methods for improving brand visibility. [Company Name] will use social media to develop engaging content in terms of career topics and guidance and post customer reviews that will increase audience awareness and loyalty.

Word of Mouth Marketing [Company Name] will encourage word-of-mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients. The Company will use recommendations and word-of-mouth marketing to grow the customer base through the network of its existing customers. [Company Name] will be incentivizing its existing customer base to encourage their friends to come and try their services for the first time.

Special Offers Offers and incentives are an excellent approach to assisting businesses in replenishing the churn in their customer base that they lose each year. [Company Name] will introduce special offers to attract new consumers and encourage repeat purchases, which will be quite advantageous in the long run.

Advertisement Advertisements in print publications like newspapers, magazines, etc., are an excellent way for businesses to connect with their audience. [Company Name] will advertise its company offerings in popular magazines and news dailies. Obtaining relevant placements in industry magazines and journals will also help in increasing brand visibility.

Public Relations [Company Name] will hire an experienced PR agency/professional(s) to formulate a compelling PR campaign to boost its brand visibility among the target audience. It will look to garner stories about the company and its services in various media outlets like podcasts, television stations, radio shows, etc.

Pricing Strategy

[Company Name]’s pricing will be moderate, so customers feel they receive great value when availing of our career coaching services.

VII. Operations Plan

Functional roles.

In order to execute [Company Name]’s business model, the company needs to perform many functions, including the following:

Administrative Functions

• Bookkeeping
• Website maintenance
• Hiring and training staff

Service Functions

• Provide general career guidance and coaching
• Provide career maps and assessments
• Help with job searches
• Create mock interviews
• Create resumes
• Provide emotional support to clients

VIII. Management Team

Management team members.

[Company Name] is led by [Founder’s Name], who has been career coaching professionals for several years. He used to work in management in a Fortune 500 company and found himself providing career guidance to his employees, colleagues, and others in his network. He spent so much time coaching others that he decided to turn his skills into a new business.

While [Founder’s Name] has never run a career coaching business himself, he has extensive experience as a manager in a large company, so he knows the operations and management sides of running a business. He will hire other staff members who can help him manage other facets of the business.

Hiring Plan

[Founder’s Name] will start off as the only Career Coach. In order to launch, the company will need to hire the following:

• Administrative Assistant
• Marketing Assistant
• More Career Coaches as the business grows

IX. Financial Plan

Revenue and cost drivers.

[Company Name]’s revenues will come from the fees charged for providing career guidance and coaching.

The major costs drivers for the company will include overhead and marketing expenses.

Capital Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

  5 Year Annual Income Statement

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How to Build a Tailored Coaching Plan for Maximum Impact

Allison kirschbaum.

• May 15, 2024

Table of Contents

Crafting a solid coaching plan is vital for steering your clients toward success. In this guide, we’ll dive into the key elements and process of creating impactful life coach lesson plans, providing you with practical tips and a coaching plan template to streamline your coaching process. Let’s get started!

A coaching plan is like a tailor-made roadmap crafted by a life coach to help their clients hit their goals, whether it’s scoring a dream job, leveling up in life, or finding zen in their relationships. We’re talking specific goals, actionable steps, and a dose of motivation and accountability to keep things on track.

Importance of Having Life Coach Lesson Plans

In the competitive world of life coaching, just calling yourself a life coach and creating a business and marketing plan isn’t enough. You need a solid coaching plan to make sure both you and your clients succeed and here’s why.

• For coaches , lesson plans are like roadmaps for each session – they outline what you want to achieve and how you’ll help clients get there. With a clear plan, you can keep sessions focused and effective while guiding clients toward their goals. 
• For clients , having proper life coach lesson plans in place provides structure and accountability. With a plan set, clients have a better grasp on the purpose of each session and set clear goals to work toward. Plus, with a blueprint of their coaching journey, clients can track their success, see how far they’ve come, and keep themselves motivated. It’s all about staying on track and moving forward.

7 Key Elements of a Coaching Plan

A well-structured coaching plan offers guidance and direction for both coach and client. Here’s a breakdown of key elements to include:

1. Coaching Details

Let’s start with the basics: your coaching setup. We’re talking about how often you’ll meet, how you’ll connect (in-person, phone, video), and how long you’ll be partners. Clearing these upfront helps both the client and the coach stay focused and crush those goals together.

2. Goal-Setting

The next key element is setting clear and realistic goals that match the client’s values. To create effective and personalized life coach lesson plans, it’s important to explicitly pinpoint the relationship goal and the type of coaching needed. 

3. Challenges

Spotting the roadblocks and hurdles that could hinder your clients’ progress is another key component of developing a solid coaching plan. As a coach, you’ll guide your clients in recognizing and overcoming these obstacles, whether they stem from internal doubts or external constraints like time or resources. 

By addressing these challenges directly, your clients will be better equipped to push past them and achieve their objectives.

4. Action Steps

After pinpointing the client’s goals and hurdles, the next step is outlining clear action steps to advance toward those goals. Work with them to break down goals into manageable steps, set deadlines, and ensure they stay committed. Consistency is key to their success.

5. Personal Development

When you’re sketching out life coach lesson plans, keep in mind the power of personal growth. As a coach, your job is to help your clients spot areas where they can level up, make the most of what they’re already great at, and pick up fresh skills to ace their goals. Putting personal development front and center ensures they hit their targets and adapt as they go.

6. Accountability

In your coaching plan, setting accountability systems is a must. As a coach, you’ve got to make sure your clients stick to their goals, follow through with their plans, and keep moving forward. Keep in touch with them, track their progress, and keep that motivation strong!

7. Flexibility

Finally, flexibility is a crucial element in your coaching plan. Life throws curveballs, and as a coach, you’ve got to be ready to pivot when needed. Stay open to adjusting goals and action steps as situations change, keeping your coaching plan on track and effective for your client’s success.

How to Create a Tailored Coaching Plan

Whether you’re a seasoned coach or a beginner still figuring out how to become a life coach , it’s crucial to nail the right steps to ensure the plan is effective and personalized.

1. Fill-In General Information

To kick things off, gather some basic info about your client—like their background, lifestyle, and anything else that might affect how they approach coaching. Knowing their context will help you customize your coaching approach to fit their needs perfectly. 

Make sure to include the following:

• Name and details
• Frequency of sessions
• Communication methods
• Additional information

2. Establish Clear Goals

Now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to set some goals with your client. Ensure these goals are clear, measurable, and within a certain timeframe. With these goals in place, you can track progress and stay laser-focused on what needs to be done.

• Goal : Develop leadership skills to qualify for a managerial position within 12 months.
• Objective : Attend leadership training workshops and complete relevant online courses.
• Timeline : Complete the first workshop within three months and enroll in online courses thereafter.

3. Assess Strengths and Weaknesses

The next thing to do is to help your clients recognize what they’re great at and where they need a little boost. Get them thinking about their skills, past experiences, and areas where they want to grow. This self-awareness will be the thing that shapes the perfect plan just for them.

• Strengths : Strong communication skills, strategic thinking
• Areas for Growth : Time management, delegation skills

4. Develop Actionable Steps

Once you’ve pinpointed your client’s strengths and weaknesses, it’s time to come up with practical steps they can take to reach their goals.

Life Coaching Tools & Worksheets

Using life coaching skills , along with tools and worksheets can make a big difference in crafting personalized life coach lesson plans. These handy resources let you and your client see how far you’ve come, keep tabs on your goals, and think about what’s working and what’s not. Vision boards, goal-setting sheets, and journal prompts are some cool options to explore.

• Vision Board : Create a visual representation of career goals and aspirations.
• Goal-Setting Template : Develop SMART goals for each coaching session.
• Journal Prompts : Reflect on progress, challenges, and successes after each session.

Providing Accountability, Support, and Feedback

Keeping your client on track requires ongoing support, feedback, and accountability. Think regular catch-ups, progress check-ins, and open chats – adding these accountability systems to your coaching plan is key to keeping them motivated and heading toward their goals.

• Weekly Check-Ins : Schedule brief phone calls to discuss progress and address any challenges. 
• Feedback Sessions : Encourage open dialogue to gather feedback on coaching sessions and adjust the approach accordingly.
• Milestones : By Week 4 of the coaching program, the client will establish and maintain a consistent exercise routine, exercising at least three times per week for a duration of 30 minutes each session.

5. Adjust and Adapt

And finally, as you journey through coaching, stay open to tweaking the plan as you go. No coaching plan is set in stone, so be ready to pivot based on what’s working and what isn’t. Keep in touch with your client regularly to ensure the plan stays relevant and keeps kicking goals.

• Suggestions to improve the current coaching plan : Increase the frequency of coaching sessions during busy periods to maintain momentum, focus less on time management, and more on meditation.

5 Tips for Effective Coaching Plan Implementation

Here are five tips to help you effectively implement your coaching plan.

Tip 1: Have Consistent Communication

Stay connected with your clients. Regular communication keeps them up-to-date on progress, offers guidance, and tackles any hurdles they encounter. It’s all about building trust and a solid connection for coaching success.

Tip 2: Set Milestones

Keep your clients motivated by setting clear and achievable milestones. Break the plan into smaller goals they can hit in a set time. Celebrate each win to keep them pumped up and pushing forward toward their big goal.

Tip 3: Encourage Self-Reflection

Urge your clients to take a moment to look inward. It’s a powerful way for them to learn about themselves and figure out what’s holding them back. By reflecting on their thoughts and actions, they can grow and make some real positive changes in their lives.

Tip 4: Keep Learning

Keep on learning, coach! Read life coaching books , attend workshops and conferences, and get feedback from fellow coaches. Staying sharp and improving your game is an essential requirement for coaches to continuously give your clients the best support possible.

Tip 5: Have a Feedback Loop

Keep the conversation flowing with your clients. Ask for their feedback on what’s working and what needs tweaking in your coaching sessions. Use their input to fine-tune your approach and give them the best support possible on their journey to success.

Sample Coaching Plan Template

Don’t worry if you’re still unsure about creating your own life coach lesson plans— we’ve got a free coaching plan template right here for you. Feel free to modify and adjust as you go!

Coaching Plan Template

General Information

• Name and Details: [Client’s name, contact info, address, age, etc.]
• Frequency of Sessions: [Specify how often coaching sessions will occur]
• Communication Methods: [How will you communicate with the client? In-person, phone, video, etc.]
• Additional Information: [Any other relevant details about the client]

Coaching Goals

• [List the client’s goals here]
• General Assessment: [Describe how you’ll assess the client’s current situation]
• Strengths: [Identify the client’s strengths]
• Weaknesses: [Identify areas where the client needs improvement]

Action Steps

• Timeline: [Specify the timeframe for achieving this goal]
• Life coaching strategies, tools, and/or worksheets: [Detail specific strategies, tools, or worksheets to be used]
• Milestones: [Set milestones to track progress]

Accountability and Support Systems

• Relevant Tools, Software, and Resources: [List any tools, software, or resources that will aid in accountability and support]
• How Systems Will Be Used: [Specify how these systems will be used to monitor the client’s progress]

Feedback Sessions

• [Add information about how feedback sessions will be conducted]

Adjustments and Adaptations

• [List down suggestions for adjustments or adaptations to the coaching plan to address any changes or lapses]

FAQs on Life Coach Lesson Plans

How do i determine the appropriate length of a coaching plan for my clients.

The length of a coaching plan varies based on each client’s goals and situation. Assess their needs before deciding how long it should be. Some may need just a few sessions, while others need ongoing support. Regularly check in to make sure the plan still fits their goals.

What if My Client’s Goals Change During the Coaching Process?

Don’t panic; clients often change their goals as life moves forward. As a coach, stay flexible and open to these shifts. Talk openly with your client to understand their new goals and update the coaching plan as needed. This might mean tweaking goals, timelines, or action steps to keep things on track.

What if I Encounter Resistance or Lack of Engagement From My Clients During the Coaching Process?

Sometimes, clients might not fully engage or resist the coaching process. It’s okay – everyone moves at their own pace. As a coach, create a supportive space for them to explore their goals. Listen carefully, ask questions, and offer feedback to keep them motivated. If you hit a roadblock, review the plan together to ensure it’s still on track with their needs.

Insure Your Life Coaching Business Today!

As we wrap up, keep this in mind: a well-built plan isn’t just a map—it’s the key to unlocking your client’s full potential and guiding them to their goals. With the practical tips and ready-to-use coaching plan template provided here, you’re all set to make your coaching journey smoother and achieve real results for your clients.

Now, it’s time to put your plan into action and start changing lives. Ready to level up your coaching game? Take the next step in your success journey by safeguarding your business with life coach insurance. Get your policy today !

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10 Free Business Plan Templates in Word, Excel, & ClickUp

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

February 13, 2024

Turning your vision into a clear and coherent business plan can be confusing and tough. 

Hours of brainstorming and facing an intimidating blank page can raise more questions than answers. Are you covering everything? What should go where? How do you keep each section thorough but brief?

If these questions have kept you up at night and slowed your progress, know you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve put together the top 10 business plan templates in Word, Excel, and ClickUp—to provide answers, clarity, and a structured framework to work with. This way, you’re sure to capture all the relevant information without wasting time. 

And the best part? Business planning becomes a little less “ugh!” and a lot more “aha!” 🤩

What is a Business Plan Template?

What makes a good business plan template, 1. clickup business plan template, 2. clickup sales plan template, 3. clickup business development action plan template, 4. clickup business roadmap template, 5. clickup business continuity plan template, 6. clickup lean business plan template, 7. clickup small business action plan template, 8. clickup strategic business roadmap template , 9. microsoft word business plan template by microsoft, 10. excel business plan template by vertex42.

A business plan template is a structured framework for entrepreneurs and business executives who want to create business plans. It comes with pre-arranged sections and headings that cover key elements like the executive summary , business overview, target customers, unique value proposition, marketing plans, and financial statements.  

A good business plan template helps with thorough planning, clear documentation, and practical implementation. Here’s what to look for:

• Comprehensive structure: A good template comes with all the relevant sections to outline a business strategy, such as executive summary, market research and analysis, and financial projections 
• Clarity and guidance: A good template is easy to follow. It has brief instructions or prompts for each section, guiding you to think deeply about your business and ensuring you don’t skip important details
• Clean design: Aesthetics matter. Choose a template that’s not just functional but also professionally designed. This ensures your plan is presentable to stakeholders, partners, and potential investors
• Flexibility : Your template should easily accommodate changes without hassle, like adding or removing sections, changing content and style, and rearranging parts 🛠️ 

While a template provides the structure, it’s the information you feed it that brings it to life. These pointers will help you pick a template that aligns with your business needs and clearly showcases your vision.

10 Business Plan Templates to Use in 2024

Preparing for business success in 2024 (and beyond) requires a comprehensive and organized business plan. We’ve handpicked the best templates to help you guide your team, attract investors, and secure funding. Let’s check them out.

If you’re looking to replace a traditional business plan document, then ClickUp’s Business Plan Template is for you!

This one-page business plan template, designed in ClickUp Docs , is neatly broken down into the following sections:

• Company description : Overview, mission, vision, and team
• Market analysis : Problem, solution, target market, competition, and competitive advantage
• Sales and marketing strategy : Products/services and marketing channels
• Operational plan : Location and facilities, equipment and tools, manpower, and financial forecasts
• Milestones and metrics: Targets and KPIs

Customize the template with your company logo and contact details, and easily navigate to different sections using the collapsible table of contents. The mini prompts under each section guide you on what to include—with suggestions on how to present the data (e.g., bullet lists, pictures, charts, and tables). 

You can share the document with anyone via URL and collaborate in real time. And when the business plan is ready, you have the option to print it or export it to PDF, HTML, or Markdown.

But that’s not all. This template is equipped with basic and enterprise project management features to streamline the business plan creation process . The Topics List view has a list of all the different sections and subsections of the template and allows you to assign it to a team member, set a due date, and attach relevant documents and references.

Switch from List to Board view to track and update task statuses according to the following: To Do, In Progress, Needs Revision, and Complete. 

This template is a comprehensive toolkit for documenting the different sections of your business plan and streamlining the creation process to ensure it’s completed on time. 🗓️

If you’re looking for a tool to kickstart or update your sales plan, ClickUp’s Sales Plan Template has got you covered. This sales plan template features a project summary list with tasks to help you craft a comprehensive and effective sales strategy. Some of these tasks include:

• Determine sales objectives and goals
• Draft positioning statement
• Perform competitive analysis
• Draft ideal customer persona
• Create a lead generation strategy

Assign each task to a specific individual or team, set priority levels , and add due dates. Specify what section of the sales plan each task belongs to (e.g., executive summary, revenue goals, team structure, etc.), deliverable type (such as document, task, or meeting), and approval state (like pending, needs revisions, and approved).

And in ClickUp style, you can switch to multiple views: List for a list of all tasks, Board for visual task management, Timeline for an overview of task durations, and Gantt to get a view of task dependencies. 

This simple business plan template is perfect for any type of business looking to create a winning sales strategy while clarifying team roles and keeping tasks organized. ✨

Thinking about scaling your business’s reach and operations but unsure where or how to start? It can be overwhelming, no doubt—you need a clear vision, measurable goals, and an actionable plan that every member of your team can rally behind. 

Thankfully, ClickUp’s Business Development Action Plan Template is designed to use automations to simplify this process so every step toward your business growth is clear, trackable, and actionable.

Start by assessing your current situation and deciding on your main growth goal. Are you aiming to increase revenue, tap into new markets, or introduce new products or services? With ClickUp Whiteboards or Docs, brainstorm and collaborate with your team on this decision.

Set and track your short- and long-term growth goals with ClickUp’s Goals , break them down into smaller targets, and assign these targets to team members, complete with due dates. Add these targets to a new ClickUp Dashboard to track real-time progress and celebrate small wins. 🎉

Whether you’re a startup or small business owner looking to hit your next major milestone or an established business exploring new avenues, this template keeps your team aligned, engaged, and informed every step of the way.

ClickUp’s Business Roadmap Template is your go-to for mapping out major strategies and initiatives in areas like revenue growth, brand awareness, community engagement, and customer satisfaction. 

Use the List view to populate tasks under each initiative. With Custom Fields, you can capture which business category (e.g., Product, Operations, Sales & Marketing, etc.) tasks fall under and which quarter they’re slated for. You can also link to relevant documents and resources and evaluate tasks by effort and impact to ensure the most critical tasks get the attention they deserve. 👀

Depending on your focus, this template provides different views to show just what you need. For example, the All Initiatives per Quarter view lets you focus on what’s ahead by seeing tasks that need completion within a specific quarter. This ensures timely execution and helps in aligning resources effectively for the short term.

This template is ideal for business executives and management teams who need to coordinate multiple short- and long-term initiatives and business strategies.

In business, unexpected threats to operations can arise at any moment. Whether it’s economic turbulence, a global health crisis, or supply chain interruptions, every company needs to be ready. ClickUp’s Business Continuity Plan Template lets you prepare proactively for these unforeseen challenges.

The template organizes tasks into three main categories:

• Priorities: Tasks that need immediate attention
• Continuity coverage: Tasks that must continue despite challenges
• Guiding principles: Resources and protocols to ensure smooth operations

The Board view makes it easy to visualize all the tasks under each of these categories. And the Priorities List sorts tasks by those that are overdue, the upcoming ones, and then the ones due later.

In times of uncertainty, being prepared is your best strategy. This template helps your business not just survive but thrive in challenging situations, keeping your customers, employees, and investors satisfied. 🤝

Looking to execute your business plan the “lean” way? Use ClickUp’s Lean Business Plan Template . It’s designed to help you optimize resource usage and cut unnecessary steps—giving you better results with less effort.

In the Plan Summary List view, list all the tasks that need to get done. Add specific details like who’s doing each task, when it’s due, and which part of the Business Model Canvas (BMC) it falls under. The By Priority view sorts this list based on priorities like Urgent, High, Normal, and Low. This makes it easy to spot the most important tasks and tackle them first.

Additionally, the Board view gives you an overview of task progression from start to finish. And the BMC view rearranges these tasks based on the various BMC components. 

Each task can further be broken down into subtasks and multiple checklists to ensure all related action items are executed. ✔️

This template is an invaluable resource for startups and large enterprises looking to maximize process efficiencies and results in a streamlined and cost-effective way.

The Small Business Action Plan Template by ClickUp is tailor-made for small businesses looking to transform their business ideas and goals into actionable steps and, eventually, into reality. 

It provides a simple and organized framework for creating, assigning, prioritizing, and tracking tasks. And in effect, it ensures that goals are not just set but achieved. Through the native dashboard and goal-setting features, you can monitor task progress and how they move you closer to achieving your goals.

Thanks to ClickUp’s robust communication features like chat, comments, and @mentions, it’s easy to get every team member on the same page and quickly address questions or concerns.

Use this action plan template to hit your business goals by streamlining your internal processes and aligning team efforts.

For larger businesses and scaling enterprises, getting different departments to work together toward a big goal can be challenging. The ClickUp Strategic Business Roadmap Template makes it easier by giving you a clear plan to follow.

This template is packaged in a folder and split into different lists for each department in your business, like Sales, Product, Marketing, and Enablement. This way, every team can focus on their tasks while collectively contributing to the bigger goal.

There are multiple viewing options available for team members. These include:

• Progress Board: Visualize tasks that are on track, those at risk, and those behind
• Gantt view: Get an overview of project timelines and dependencies
• Team view: See what each team member is working on so you can balance workloads for maximum productivity

While this template may feel overwhelming at first, the getting started guide offers a step-by-step breakdown to help you navigate it with ease. And like all ClickUp templates, you can easily customize it to suit your business needs and preferences.

Microsoft’s 20-page traditional business plan template simplifies the process of drafting comprehensive business plans. It’s made up of different sections, including:

• Executive summary : Highlights, objectives, mission statement, and keys to success
• Description of business: Company ownership and legal structure, hours of operation, products and services, suppliers, financial plans, etc.
• Marketing: Market analysis, market segmentation, competition, and pricing
• Appendix: Start-up expenses, cash flow statements, income statements, sales forecast, milestones, break-even analysis, etc.

The table of contents makes it easy to move to different sections of the document. And the text placeholders under each section provide clarity on the specific details required—making the process easier for users who may not be familiar with certain business terminology.

No business template roundup is complete without an Excel template. This business plan template lets you work on your business financials in Excel. It comes with customizable tables, formulas, and charts to help you look at the following areas:

• Highlight charts
• Market analysis
• Start-up assets and expenses
• Sales forecasts
• Profit and loss
• Balance sheet
• Cash flow projections
• Break-even analysis

This Excel template is especially useful when you want to create a clear and visual financial section for your business plan document—an essential element for attracting investors and lenders. However, there might be a steep learning curve to using this template if you’re not familiar with business financial planning and using Excel.

Try a Free Business Plan Template in ClickUp

Launching and running a successful business requires a well-thought-out and carefully crafted business plan. However, the business planning process doesn’t have to be complicated, boring, or take up too much time. Use any of the above 10 free business plan formats to simplify and speed up the process.

ClickUp templates go beyond offering a solid foundation to build your business plans. They come with extensive project management features to turn your vision into reality. And that’s not all— ClickUp’s template library offers over 1,000 additional templates to help manage various aspects of your business, from decision-making to product development to resource management .

Sign up for ClickUp’s Free Forever Plan today to fast-track your business’s growth! 🏆

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