Maybe a fellow coach mentioned it in a Facebook group. Or perhaps you saw an ad promising warm referrals and local business connections. Either way, you’re here because you want to know: 

Is Alignable actually worth your time and money as a coach?

The short answer? It depends on your coaching niche and how you prefer to build relationships.

The longer answer? That’s what we’re diving into today.

I’ll walk you through:

• What Alignable is
• How coaches are using Alignable
• Whether Alignable a good fit for your coaching business
• What Alignable alternatives might serve you better

What is Alignable?

Alignable is a professional networking platform designed specifically for referrals. You can think of it as LinkedIn’s local-focused cousin. 

The platform connects over what Alignable claims is 10 million business owners who are looking to:

• Network
• Find referral partners
• Discover new customers

Alignable takes a more targeted approach compared to LinkedIn. It focuses on connecting you with business owners in your area or within specific industries.

Alignable’s Pricing Structure

The base plan for Alignable is free. However, that free tier won’t get you that far.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• Free Plan: Basic profile, group access, networking events, and 5 connection requests per month
• Member Plan ($29/month): Daily curated opportunities and 15 connection requests per month
• Premium Plan ($49/month): Profile analytics, boosted visibility, “Ask About Services” button, and 25 connection requests per month
• Premium+ Plan ($89/month): Host events and groups, plus 75 connection requests per month

Note that you have to go through the entire account creation process to access the pricing plans above.

Five connections per month is very few. And according to some reviews, acceptance rates are quite low, averaging 20% or less.

But let’s move on.

When you set up your profile, Alignable asks specific questions about your business. 

You’ll specify:

• Who you typically sell to (businesses, consumers, or both)
• What types of customers you serve (sub-categories of the above)
• Where they’re located in relation to you

This helps the platform connect you with relevant opportunities.

The platform also offers industry-specific categories. If you search “coaching,” you’ll find options like:

• Audition coaching
• Behavior coaching
• Corporate coaching
• And more

So yes, they definitely have coaches in mind.

How Do Coaches Use Alignable?

Coaches on Alignable typically fall into two camps: 

• Those targeting local business owners
• Those hoping to build referral partnerships

For local business coaching

If you work primarily with small business owners in your area as a business coach, leadership coach, or executive coach, Alignable can connect you directly with your ideal clients. You can:

• Join local business groups
• participate in discussions about common challenges
• Position yourself as the go-to expert for business growth

For building referral networks

Some coaches use Alignable to connect with complementary service providers. 

For example, a career coach might partner with:

• Resume writers
• LinkedIn consultants
• Personal branding photographers

When these partners encounter clients who need coaching, they can refer them your way. You can specify the type of businesses you want to partner with in your profile.

Below, you can see the profile sections in Alignable that allow you to define your ideal customers as well as your ideal partners:

Is Alignable Worth It For Coaches?

Let’s be honest about what Alignable can and can’t do for your coaching business.

Alignable works best if:

• You’re a business or executive coach whose ideal clients are local small business owners. The platform literally exists to connect small business owners with each other. So, if that’s your target market, it could work for you.
• You’re willing to invest time in relationship building. Like any networking platform, Alignable rewards consistency. Show up regularly, engage authentically, and build real relationships over months, not days.
• You prefer local, community-based networking. If you thrive on supporting your local business community and building a reputation in your area, Alignable’s local focus could be a good fit.

Alignable probably isn’t worth it if:

• You’re a life coach, wellness coach, or mindset coach serving individual consumers. While you can specify that you serve “Businesses & Consumers” in your profile, the platform is fundamentally designed for B2B connections. Most users are looking for business services, not personal development coaching.
• You expect immediate results using the free plan. Multiple users report low acceptance rates for connection requests and slow progress in building their networks. One user mentioned averaging just one new network member per month.
• You’re not comfortable with potential privacy concerns. Several reviewers expressed frustration about Alignable’s contact import process. They claim the platform spammed their entire contact list with invitations. While Alignable representatives say this is optional and can be skipped, the complaints are common enough to warrant caution.

After checking out the platform myself and reading several dozen reviews, here’s my take on Alignable:

The privacy concerns are real. When you create an account, Alignable asks you twice to share the platform with your network. 

They’re quite insistent about it, which validates the complaints I’ve seen in multiple reviews. If you do sign up, be careful during the onboarding process and skip those steps.

What about compared to LinkedIn?

This is the crucial question. According to Alignable’s website, they have 10 million users. But that’s total users, not active users.

Compare that to LinkedIn: 1.2 billion active users worldwide, and still growing.

The difference is staggering. 

Now, LinkedIn’s free tier is incredibly powerful. You can:

• Create authority-building content
• Build your network strategically
• Connect with potential clients without ever paying a dime. 

If you’re willing to send out 25-100 strategic connection requests per week and focus on content marketing, you don’t need a paid LinkedIn plan.

The paid plans on both platforms are really designed for cold outreach. And here’s the thing: cold outreach can be super effective for certain services like agency work, high-ticket SaaS products, or copywriting. I’ve personally landed copywriting clients through cold outreach on LinkedIn.

But coaching is completely different. People don’t hire coaches because of a cold message. They hire coaches they trust. 

That trust gets built through content, referrals, and seeing your expertise demonstrated over time. Personally, all my coaching clients have come from referrals, content marketing, and Facebook ads. Never from cold outreach.

Long story short, you can use LinkedIn to get clients without paying a dime.

My recommendation?

If you serve local business owners and want to be active in your local business community:

• Try Alignable’s free plan for three months.
• Post weekly, engage authentically, and use your limited connection requests strategically.
• If you’re seeing real conversations and potential interest after those three months, great! If not, don’t feel bad about moving on.

For everyone else? Focus on LinkedIn instead if your audience is on there. 

The free version gives you access to a vastly larger pool of potential clients and much better tools for content marketing. 

Use other social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram if that’s where your audience is. Regardless, the concept remains the same:

• Build your presence through valuable content
• Engage with your ideal clients’ posts
• Let people come to you

Honestly, for most coaches, putting your energy into one platform where you can build a real content presence will serve you better than spreading yourself thin across multiple networking sites.

How to Cancel Alignable

If you’ve tried Alignable and decided it’s not for you, canceling is straightforward.

To cancel a paid membership:

1. Click the “My Business” dropdown in the top-right corner and select “Account.” 

2. Navigate to “My Membership” in the top navigation bar. 
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find your membership controls.
4. Click “Cancel Subscription.” You’ll see two options: “Keep Benefits” or “Cancel Benefits.” Choose “Cancel Benefits” to stop future charges.

Your paid benefits will remain active until the end of your current billing period. After that, your account automatically downgrades to the free tier.

To permanently delete your free account:

Before you start, note that account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. You’ll also need to cancel any paid memberships first.

1. Log in to Alignable and open the “My Business” dropdown, then click “Account.” 
2. Click “I want to permanently deactivate my business account” at the bottom of the page. 

3. Complete the steps that follow, including explaining why you’re leaving and entering your password for security verification. 
4. Finally, click “Deactivate Business Account” to finish.

The process is more involved than simply clicking “delete,” which seems designed to make you reconsider. But if you’ve made up your mind, just work through each step.

What Works Better Than Alignable for Most Coaches

Here’s what I’ve seen work consistently for coaches who want to grow their businesses online.

1. Build your own platform first. 

Instead of relying entirely on third-party networking sites, create a home base you control. 

This means having your own website with clear information about: 

• Your coaching services
• Who you help
• How to work with you

Paperbell makes this incredibly simple, even for coaches who hate tech and drag-and-drop site builders. You get a professional coaching website that automatically creates a website, including unique landing pages for each of your offers. 

Your clients can: 

• Purchase your coaching packages
• Book sessions into your calendar
• Make payments and sign up for ongoing subscriptions
• Answer surveys and intake forms
• Access resources and digital downloads

They can do all of that from a single, easy-to-use client portal that’s accessible directly from your coaching website:

No need to piece together multiple tools or worry about tech complications.

Having this single, easy-to-share link makes it so much easier to drive traffic to your coaching business from your marketing platform of choice. You can:

• Share valuable content consistently
• Engage in real conversations
• When people are ready to work with you, send them to your Paperbell site where they can easily take the next step

Focus on one or two channels at first, not five. You don’t need to be everywhere. You need to be present and consistent where your people are. 

For most B2B coaches, that’s LinkedIn. For many life and wellness coaches, that’s Instagram. Pick your platform, commit to it for at least six months, and actually show up.

2. Build your email list

On top of having a website, I also suggest building your email list. 

This is the one marketing asset you truly own. Social platforms can change their algorithms or even shut down. Your email list stays with you. 

Start by:

• Offering a valuable lead magnet to grow your list
• Displaying your lead magnet/newsletter opt-in on your Paperbell site

• Nurturing your subscribers with helpful and/or entertaining content
• Making relevant offers when it makes sense

The coaches who succeed aren’t necessarily the ones on every platform. They’re the ones who build real relationships, demonstrate their expertise consistently, and make it easy for people to work with them.

Grow Your Coaching Network, Your Way

Alignable can work for some coaches, particularly those serving local business owners who enjoy community-based networking. But for most coaches, there are more effective ways to invest your time and energy.

Rather than hoping a networking platform will deliver clients to you, focus on building your own platform and driving your ideal clients there. 

With Paperbell, you can create a professional coaching site in minutes and have everything you need to land and coach clients in one place. Try Paperbell free today and see how simple growing your coaching business can be.

FAQs About Alignable

What is Alignable?

Alignable is a professional networking platform connecting over 10 million small business owners. It focuses on local and industry-specific connections to help business owners find clients, partners, and referrals through groups, events, and direct networking.

Is Alignable legit?

Yes, Alignable is a legitimate networking platform owned by a real company. However, user experiences vary widely. Some find valuable connections while others report low engagement and concerns about contact privacy during signup.

How does Alignable work?

After creating a profile with your business details, Alignable suggests relevant connections based on location and industry. You can join groups, attend events, and send connection requests (limited by your plan type) to network with other business owners.

Is Alignable good for coaches to get clients?

It depends on your niche. Business and executive coaches serving local small business owners may find it useful. Life coaches and wellness coaches serving individual consumers will likely get better results from platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram.

What is an alternative to Alignable?

LinkedIn offers a much larger network with better content marketing features. For coaches, creating your own professional website with Paperbell lets you showcase your services and make it easy for clients to book and pay in one place.

Most coaches don’t. Yet, these “repetitive” emails are essential for running a smooth coaching business. But writing them manually for every single client? That’s a recipe for burnout.

The good news is that you can automate most of your coaching emails without sounding like a robot. And when done right, automation actually improves your client experience because people get the right information at exactly the right time.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to automate emails for coaches, including:

• Types of emails coaches send (and should automate)
• How to automate emails for coaches
• How to use Paperbell to automate all your coaching emails
• Best practices for automating emails

10 Types of Emails Coaches Send (And Should Automate)

Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the what. Here are the essential emails every coach should have running on autopilot.

1. Client onboarding emails

Your onboarding email sets the tone for your entire coaching relationship. 

It’s the first thing clients see after they’ve paid for coaching programs. As such, it should make them feel excited and confident about their decision to work with you.

A great onboarding email includes:

• A warm welcome
• Clear next steps
• Any important information they need to get started

Maybe you want them to complete an intake form, or maybe you need them to book their first session. 

Whatever it is, spell it out clearly. In the sample email below, I specify how to book a first session, get their first resource, and get additional support.

2. Appointment confirmation emails

Once someone books a session with you, they should get an immediate confirmation. This reassures them that everything went through correctly and gives them all the details they need.

Your confirmation email should include:

• The date and time of the appointment
• The video call link
• Any prep work you want them to do beforehand
• What to do if they need to reschedule

Make it obvious in your subject line that this email is a confirmation of an appointment, like in this example below:

3. Appointment reminder emails

Even the most organized clients forget about appointments sometimes. A reminder email sent a day or two before your session helps reduce no-shows and keeps your calendar running smoothly.

Keep these short and sweet. Include the basics: 

• When you’re meeting
• Where (the video link)
• Optional: one sentence about what you’ll be covering

If there’s any homework they should complete before the call, mention that too.

4. Appointment cancellation emails

Life happens. Clients get sick, emergencies come up, and sometimes they just need to reschedule. 

Having an automated cancellation email takes the awkwardness out of the situation.

This email should:

• Acknowledge the cancellation
• Remind them how to rebook
• Let them know you’re looking forward to connecting when the time is right

5. Appointment rescheduling emails

Similar to cancellations, rescheduling should be frictionless. 

When a client moves their appointment, they should get an automated email confirming the new time and date.

This eliminates the back-and-forth confusion of “Wait, did we land on Tuesday or Wednesday?”

6. Reminder to book the next appointment

Let’s say a client finishes a coaching session. You both agree to meet again in two weeks, and then… crickets. 

They get busy, you get busy, and suddenly it’s been a month.

An automated reminder that goes out when a client hasn’t booked in 30 days can save these relationships. Keep it friendly and low-pressure, like a gentle nudge rather than a scolding.

7. Final appointment notification

When a client is on their last session in a coaching package, they should know it. 

This email gives them a heads-up that they’re approaching the end. But it also opens the door for them to purchase more sessions if they want to continue.

8. Post-package debrief emails

After you’ve completed a coaching package with someone, send a debrief email that celebrates their progress. This is your chance to find out:

• What worked
• What didn’t work
• How you can improve

It also plants the seed for continuing to work together or trying another one of your offerings.

9. Asking for testimonials

If you’ve done great work with a client and they’ve had amazing results, ask them for a testimonial! 

But don’t just send this request randomly. Time it strategically, either right after a big win or at the end of a successful package.

Make it easy for them by asking specific questions about their experience. For example: 

“What was your biggest challenge before we worked together?” 

Or: 

“What would you tell someone considering coaching with me?”

10. Upsell and cross-sell emails

Once existing clients have completed a program with you, they’re your best target audience for your next coaching services.

An automated email sequence that introduces them to other ways you can work together can turn one-time clients into long-term relationships. Feel free to share success stories for those upsell opportunities to properly showcase the opportunity.

How to Automate Emails for Coaches

Okay, so you know what emails you need. Now let’s talk about how to actually set up email automation without pulling your hair out.

There are a few different approaches. The right one depends on your current tech stack and how much complexity you want to deal with.

Option 1: Use an email marketing platform with automation

If you’re already using an email marketing platform, you might be able to set up basic automated email triggers there.

Dedicated tools like ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, or Mailerlite let you create automated sequences based on tags or actions. 

For example, when someone fills out a form or makes a purchase, they get added to a specific sequence.

The challenge with this approach is that you’ll need to connect your email platform to:

• Your scheduling software
• Your payment processor
• Whatever else you use to manage clients. 

Every integration is one more thing that can break. And not all platforms integrate with everything else natively.

Option 2: Connect tools with Zapier

Zapier is a powerful automation tool that lets you connect different apps without knowing how to code.

You can create “Zaps” that say things like:

“When someone books an appointment in Calendly, send them an email through Gmail.”

This works, but it gets complicated fast. You’ll be managing multiple Zaps for different scenarios, and troubleshooting when something goes wrong can be a nightmare. 

Plus, the more Zaps you need, the more expensive it gets.

Option 3: Use an all-in-one platform built for coaches

This is where things get a lot simpler. When you use a platform designed specifically for coaches, the email automation is already built in. It’s also already connected to everything else you need to run your business.

This means:

• No duct-taping multiple integrations together
• No paying for Zapier
• No hoping that your scheduling tool plays nice with your email platform

Paperbell is the best all-in-one platform to automate your emails along with the rest of your coaching business. Let’s get into the step-by-step.

How to Use Paperbell to Automate All Your Coaching Emails

Paperbell was built specifically to make life easier for coaches. That includes automating every email you need to send.

When you create a coaching package, you can set up all the automated emails right there in the same place. No integrations needed.

You can trigger automated emails based on:

• Purchase triggers: Send emails immediately after someone buys or at any point up to 12 weeks after purchase. This is huge for creating nurture sequences that keep coaching clients engaged for a full three months after they start working with you.
• Appointment triggers: Send emails from three days before an appointment up to 12 weeks after. Perfect for reminders, follow-ups, and checking in on how they’re implementing what you covered.
• Group session triggers: Same as appointment triggers, but specifically for group coaching sessions or live classes.
• Reminder to book: This email automatically goes out if a client hasn’t booked an appointment in the last 30 days. No more manually tracking who’s gone quiet.
• Final appointment trigger: Automatically send an email after the final appointment of a package. Great for asking for testimonials, offering an upsell, or just celebrating what you accomplished together.

The fact that Paperbell now lets you set automated email triggers for up to 12 weeks after purchase makes all of this so much easier. You can create a comprehensive onboarding and nurture sequence that guides coaching clients through their entire journey with you.

For example, you could set up:

• An upsell email for potential clients following a discovery call
• A welcome email immediately after purchase
• A “how to prepare for your first session” email one week after purchase, including helpful free resources such as blog posts or social media posts
• A progress check-in at week 4
• A mid-program encouragement email at week 6
• A “you’re halfway through!” celebration at week 8
• A reminder about the final sessions at week 10
• A package completion and next steps email at week 12

All of this marketing automation runs in the background while you focus on actually coaching your clients. And because it’s all in one platform, you don’t have to worry about whether your calendar syncs with your email tool or if Zapier is going to randomly stop working.

Here’s how to automate any email inside Paperbell for your coaching practice:

First, create your free Paperbell account.

Next, create your first coaching package. You’ll manage EVERYTHING from your packages, including:

• Number of appointments (and appointment length)
• Payments (processed through Stripe or PayPal, no invoices needed) and payment plan options
• Contracts
• Intake forms
• Digital downloads and other resources

And, of course, your automated emails.

Once you’ve got your package, navigate to the Emails tab:

That’s where you’ll add your automated emails.

Simply click the + Add button, pick from the triggers, and draft the email you want to add.

That’s it! Now, every time a client hits the trigger you picked, they’ll receive your email. And you get to spend fewer hours in your inbox.

Oh, and did you know that your brand-new coaching package gets displayed on a beautiful, branded coaching site? You can even add:

• Testimonials and success stories
• FAQs
• Opt-in forms and lead magnets
• A call to action to book a free discovery session
• Additional offers, such as online courses or coaching memberships

This gives you an additional marketing channel to find more clients.

Best Practices for Automating Emails

Automation is a powerful piece of email marketing for coaches. However, it’s not a “set it and forget it” situation. 

Here’s how to make sure your automated emails actually help your coaching clients instead of annoying them.

1. Write like a human, not a robot

Just because an email is automated doesn’t mean it should sound automated. Write your emails the way you’d write to a friend:

• Use contractions
• Tell stories (if relevant)
• Let your personality shine through

Avoid phrases like “Dear new client” or “We hope this email finds you well.” Instead, try “Hey Sarah!” or “I’m so excited to work with you!”

2. Personalize whenever possible

Most email automation tools, including Paperbell, let you insert personalization tokens like first names or package names. Use them! 

An email that says, “Hey Vicky, looking forward to our session tomorrow” feels infinitely more personal than “Looking forward to our session tomorrow.”

3. Test your emails before they go live

Send yourself test emails to make sure they look good and all the links work. Check them on both desktop and mobile. 

Nothing kills trust faster than a broken Zoom link or a button that doesn’t do anything.

4. Don’t overdo it

Yes, automation is great. No, you shouldn’t send 47 emails in the first week someone works with you. 

Be strategic about what actually needs to be automated and what can wait.

A good rule of thumb: 

Only send an email if it provides real value or necessary information. If you’re just emailing for the sake of staying top of mind, reconsider.

5. Review and update regularly

Your automated emails shouldn’t stay the same forever. As you learn what works and what doesn’t, update your templates. 

Maybe you notice everyone asks the same question that you forgot to address in your onboarding email. Add it!

Set a reminder to review your automated emails every few months. Then, make improvements based on what you’re learning from your coaching clients.

6. Keep the important stuff non-automated

Some emails should always be personal. Big celebrations, handling sensitive situations, or addressing specific client concerns shouldn’t come from an automated sequence. 

Know when to step in and write something from scratch.

Stop Spending All Day in Your Inbox

Email automation, when done right, can keep your clients informed, engaged, and excited about working with you. This can allow you to focus on being the best coach you can be and spend more time on relationship building where it counts.

Ready to simplify your entire client workflow? Get started with Paperbell to launch your coaching website and automate your online coaching business.

FAQs About Automating Emails for Coaches

How do I automate my coaching business?

Start by identifying repetitive admin tasks like scheduling, invoicing, and client communication. Use tools like Paperbell to automate emails, payments, and bookings in one platform without needing multiple integrations.

What is the 60-40 rule in email?

The 60-40 rule suggests your email marketing strategy should be 60% value and 40% promotion. Focus more on helping your audience than selling to them, which builds trust and keeps people engaged with your email marketing.

Is there a way to automate emails?

Yes! You can automate your email marketing efforts using email marketing software, Zapier integrations, or all-in-one coaching platforms like Paperbell that have email automation built in and connected to your scheduling and payments.

Without a record of your coaching process, you may feel uncertain and unprepared in your session. As a result, you fail to deliver the tangible results your client is looking for.

A simple way to prevent that is by keeping a coaching log. It keeps your practice organized and focused while tracking your clients’ progress and accountability.

Let’s explore how an effective coaching log template is made and what makes it so powerful, including:

• How to keep track of your coaching sessions
• What a coaching log is
• The benefits of keeping a log of your coaching sessions
• How to create a coaching log
• Free coaching log templates

What is a Coaching Log?

A coaching log is a record-keeping coaching tool you can use to document session details. These include the client’s:

• Progress
• Goals
• Action items

A coaching log keeps you organized and makes your sessions more impactful by keeping your coaching process focused and your client accountable.

Pro tip: Automate your coaching log (and the rest of your admin) by trying Paperbell for free and launching your all-in-one coaching site.

The Benefits of Keeping a Log of Your Coaching Sessions

Writing coaching logs may seem like additional paperwork, but they can help make your coaching practice much more efficient. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Staying Organized

Many coaches understand the sheer panic of digging through email threads to determine how many sessions they’ve delivered to a client. 

A coaching log helps you consistently document your sessions and organize your work:

• You’ll see where you are in a particular coaching program or process.
• You can tell whether your client is on track to reach their goals.
• Keeping your coaching logs in a central location will also require less time preparing for your next session.

Paperbell makes this easy by keeping all your coaching information organized by client, including:

• Your notes
• Session materials
• Your contracts
• Intake forms

2. Keeping Your Coaching Session Focused

When you sit with clients, you have limited time to move them forward on their coaching journey. Your coaching conversations need an impactful flow, requiring you to always know your next step.

With a coaching log in front of you, you’re always aware of the focus areas and key topics you need to cover with a client. It reminds you of: 

• The issues you discussed in the past
• Coaching techniques you wanted to go through but didn’t have time for in your previous session
• Your client’s progress and what milestone they are heading towards

[ Read: Use This 6-Step Template to Deliver a Powerful Life Coaching Session ]

Plus, you’ll quickly catch patterns in their thinking and behavior. This can make your coaching approach more transformative.

3. Sharing Notes With Your Clients

Although your coaching log isn’t something you typically share with your client, it makes it easier to create a session summary later. Sharing notes with your clients about their key insights and commitments makes your coaching process more effective and valuable.

Excellent communication with clients is the foundation of a positive coaching relationship. Keeping a consistent coaching log can contribute to that.

4. Keeping Your Clients Accountable

Taking notes of your sessions will help you refer back to topics you’ve discussed with your coachee earlier and any repeating themes in your conversations. This step enables you to keep them accountable for habit or behavioral changes.

Additionally, a coaching log: 

• Allows you to record your client’s action items
• Makes it easier to follow up on them in your next session
• Helps strengthen your clients’ sense of responsibility and commitment to their progress

No matter your coaching style, monitoring follow-through is key to guiding your clients in their desired direction.

5. Fulfilling Your Certification Requirements

If you’re applying for credentials through the International Coach Federation (ICF), you must submit a coaching log that records your paid and pro bono coaching hours. 

This document should contain: 

• Your clients’ names
• The sessions’ dates
• Session duration

Our previous guide covered how to prepare and submit your coaching log as part of your ICF credential application. This article also contains a free template with the specific details the organization requires as evidence of your coaching experience.

[ Read: The Simplest Way To Complete Your ICF Coaching Log (+ Free Template) ]

In this guide, we’ll explore a more detailed coaching log template and how you can use it for purposes other than fulfilling credentialing criteria.

6. Keeping a Written Reference of Your Sessions

Documenting your coaching process also comes in handy when facing a dispute with a client. It provides a historical record of what you’ve discussed in your sessions and how many hours you’ve worked together. 

Depending on your policy, you can refer to it if your client requests a refund.

How Do I Create a Coaching Log?

Let’s break down a coaching log’s key elements and their purpose.

1. Note Down the Basics.

First, write down the essential details of your session:

• Your client’s name
• The date of your coaching session
• The session number in a particular coaching process or program
• The duration of your session

This will help you find the notes you’re looking for at a glance for later. 

Noting the session number also clarifies how deep you are in the coaching process with the client. You’ll see how much time you still have left to guide them to their desired outcome.

2. Create a Rough Agenda.

If your coaching style is more laissez-faire and you prefer to keep your sessions fluid, you might not want to lock yourself into a set agenda. 

However, it’s still important to note down the key topics you must discuss with your client.

For example, you may:

• Have issues at the end of your session that you don’t have enough time to go into
• Want to do a longer coaching exercise with a client
• Connect the dots about their situation after your session is finished

Defining the key topics and desired outcomes for your coaching session in advance will make it more focused and time-efficient.

3. Review Progress.

Most coaching sessions (other than the first one) will start with checking in on the action items your client has committed to previously and their current reality about their overarching objective. 

You can ask them:

• Why they missed specific action steps
• How they felt doing the ones they succeeded in
• How they feel about their progress overall

This will all inform your session, highlighting where your client stands right now and how far they are from reaching their goals. It will also draw attention to obstacles that need to be tackled that you might not have included in your session agenda.

4. Note Observations.

This is when you dive into the agenda of your session. It may not be exactly what you have planned, but that’s okay.

While you’re in conversation with your client, make a quick note about the following:

• Any topics you still want to discover in this current session
• Key insights your client has arrived at
• Observations about your client’s journey (that you don’t necessarily share with them right away)
• The main challenges they are facing
• Any new objectives that arise
• Coaching exercises and frameworks you’re leading your client through in this session
• Coaching exercises and frameworks you want to make space for in your upcoming session

This is not the time to make detailed notes since you should focus on facilitating the conversation and actively listening to your client. You can complete these notes later after the session is finished.

5. Define the Next Steps.

Note the exact steps your client will take before your next session. Make sure you read it back to them and ask whether they agree.

Adjust these actions and their time frame so they can commit to them fully. They should:

• Challenge your client
• Move them toward their desired direction
• Not overwhelm them

If you see the slightest sign of resistance, discuss it before you close your session.

This is also where you note down your own action steps. For example, sharing an assessment or additional resource as a homework assignment with your client.

6. Make Additional Notes.

Once your session is complete, you can make additional observations here and note any coaching tools you want to incorporate in your next session. 

You don’t have to write an essay; you can even leave this section blank if you have nothing to add to your coaching log.

As long as you are clear on your coaching process (and what your brief remarks mean in your log), you can use the template as you see fit. remarks mean in your log), you can use the template as you see fit.

How To Track Coaching Logs Using Paperbell

Need to track your coaching logs to get certified with the ICF?

Paperbell automatically generates a log of every paid and pro-bono hour spent coaching your clients.

The process is simple:

• Use Paperbell to schedule your coaching sessions
• Keep your client notes inside Paperbell
• Go to your ICF Client Coaching Log and click the “Export CSV” button

Doing this will automatically download all the required info from your coaching hours inside Paperbell.

That’s it! Get your free account to start tracking your coaching log automatically.

Free Coaching Log Templates

If you’re ready to make the most of your sessions, we have just the perfect coaching log template for you.

If you need to log your coaching hours according to ICF guidelines, head to our ICF coaching log guide.

If you want to use your coaching log for more than just keeping track of your hours, you can use our free coaching log template.

And if you’re looking for more tools to get your coaching business up and running, you might want to look at our free templates pack. It will help you set up a stunning website and coaching package quickly.

How Do You Keep Track of Your Coaching Sessions?

To sum it up, here are the key elements of your coaching sessions you should keep track of:

Client progress: Fill out your coaching log with your agenda, observations, and the client’s action steps, and review your notes before you jump into your next session with them.rking hours, buffer time between sessions, and their duration so clients can book your calendar without making it crowded.

Coaching hours: Log your hours manually, or create a Paperbell account and get it automatically tracked for you. You can download your Paperbell coaching log anytime to submit it for your ICF application.

Number of sessions: Instead of getting lost in a maze of email threads, track how many sessions you’ve delivered from a particular contract. Better yet, have Paperbell do it for you.

Keep Your Coaching Practice Organized With Paperbell

Writing a coaching log for each session is a simple way to make them more impactful. However, keeping the rest of your business organized is just as important.

To streamline the admin side of your coaching practice, we recommend Paperbell.

It’s an all-in-one client management tool specifically designed for coaches by coaches. It handles your contracts, schedule, payments, and even generates a beautiful coaching website to help you sell your services easily.

Try Paperbell for free to start tracking your coaching log the simple way.

FAQs About Coaching Log Template

How to create a coaching log?

Start by noting basic session details like client name, date, and duration. Create a rough agenda with key topics, review progress on action items, note observations during the session, define next steps with your client, and add any additional notes after the session ends.

Are there tools to help me create a coaching log?

Yes, Paperbell automatically tracks your coaching sessions and generates logs for you. It organizes client notes, schedules sessions, and can export your coaching hours in CSV format for ICF certification requirements, eliminating manual tracking.

Where can I get coaching log templates?

You can download free coaching log templates from this article. There’s a detailed template for comprehensive session tracking and an ICF-specific template for certification applications. Paperbell also offers a free templates pack for your coaching business.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2024 and has since been updated for accuracy.

In this guide, you’ll learn about done-for-you digital products and how to use them to scale your course creation or coaching business.

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

• What is done-for-you digital marketing?
• What is a done-for-you product?
• Done-for-you digital product examples from successful coaches
• Done-for-you digital products with resell rights
• How to price your done-for-you products

What is Done-for-You Digital Marketing?

Done-for-you (DFY) digital marketing is the process of selling customizable, ready-made materials that other online business owners can use. 

These DFY solutions are designed to be easily implemented by the end-user with minimal effort. They include workbooks, designs, and content templates.

This marketing model has various advantages for businesses, such as the following:

• DFY marketing saves you and the users’ time. You do the hard work once and put these digital products up on your coaching store to get recurring sales. And users don’t have to start from scratch.
• It serves as a source of passive income. You can make money while you are asleep or on a family vacation.
• Buyers can use these products without needing to learn new skills. They don’t have to be experts. They can just customize and use them as they like. 
• It’s a lucrative market, and the products have higher profit margins. When you start selling DFY products, you can maximize revenue and scale your brand.

What is a Done-for-You Product?

A DFY product is a pre-made, ready-to-use solution that simplifies a particular process for your target audience. It is something you create once and can sell many times. 

These DFY products are high-quality materials that people can immediately use in their lives or businesses to save time, effort, and resources.

Selling digital products can be an excellent way to do the following:

1. Expand your offerings without significantly increasing your workload.
2. Provide additional value to your existing clients.
3. Attract new customers who might not be ready for a full coaching package or high-ticket investment.
4. Create passive income streams so you don’t have to work actively every time.

Pro tip:Want to sell done-for-you digital products alongside the rest of your coaching offers? Try Paperbell for free and launch your coaching website to sell DFY products, courses, coaching programs, and anything else you’ve got in mind.

DFY Digital Product Examples from Successful Coaches

Let’s look at some real-life examples of done-for-you digital products that successful coaches, small businesses, and course creators are offering:

1. Social Media Content Calendars

A social media content calendar includes:

• Pre-written posts or templates
• A posting schedule
• Hashtag ideas
• Graphic suggestions

This saves time for busy professionals struggling with consistent posting on their social media accounts. It provides relevant content ideas, captions, and hooks to keep audiences engaged without the daily stress of coming up with new ideas.Here’s an example of a social media content calendar by Studio Swain Co. on Etsy:

2. Design Templates & Scripts

These are copywriting scripts and design templates that can be used to improve businesses.  They include:

• Website templates
• Sales copy scripts
• Blog content
• Email sequences, and more

These resources make it easier for business owners to do the following:

• Communicate professionally with their clients
• Save time on writing
• Improve conversions and sales

Here’s an example of design templates by Abi Connick, a website designer and coach:

3. Worksheets and Workbooks

A life coach might offer a bundle of beautifully designed, fillable PDF worksheets covering topics like goal setting, habit tracking, and self-reflection.

These tools guide users through important personal development processes. They also provide structure for thinking and planning, which makes it easier for people to make progress on their goals.

Here’s an example of worksheets by Mindful Coaching Tools, a site that provides helpful resources for coaches:

4. Meal Plans and Recipe Books

Health coaches and nutrition experts can create detailed food plans, recipe collections, and cooking instructions.

These resources simplify healthy eating habits for various dietary needs and goals:

• They remove the need for daily meal planning and nutritional calculations.
• People can save time on grocery shopping and meal prep.
• These plans make it easier for people to stick to their health goals.

Here’s an example of a recipe book by RecipeTin Eats, a food blogging website.

5. Online Course Templates

Course templates are ready-to-use materials for creating a digital course.

These templates provide customizable frameworks that make it easy for new course creators to structure their programs effectively. With these materials, creators can save time and provide a better learning experience for their students.

Here’s an example of online course templates by Studio Loire:

6. Client Onboarding Kits

An onboarding kit includes everything needed to welcome and start working with a new client. It usually includes a welcome packet template, questionnaires to understand client needs, and a checklist of the first steps to take with a new client.

With these kits, business owners can achieve the following:

• Streamline the process of bringing on new clients so they don’t forget anything
• Create a professional first impression 
• Gather important information upfront
• Enhance smoother client relationships

Here’s an example of a client onboarding kit by Julia on Purpose:

7. Planners & Journal

A productivity expert can create planners to help people become more organized, intentional, and productive. 

These can be interactive PDF printables or digital planners, which can be any of the following:

• Daily and weekly planners
• Monthly reset planners
• Goal-setting journals
• Habit trackers
• To-do list templates
• Note-taking pages

Here’s an example of planners by Passion Planner, a website that sells customizable planners:

8. Canva Templates

These are pre-designed graphics and layouts made by Canva, a popular online design tool. They are easily customizable in terms of colors, fonts, and content. No need for advanced design skills.

A branding coach, graphic designer, or Canva creator can create these templates for business owners. They can include templates for:

• Social media posts
• Pinterest
• Blog posts and newsletters
• Presentation slides
• Brochures or flyers

Here’s an example by Faithola, a Canva Template Creator:

These done-for-you products make users’ lives easier. You can include a variety of them in your product listings. 

They can save time, look professional, ensure an on-brand look for all their marketing materials, and achieve their goals more efficiently.

Done-for-You Digital Products With Resell Rights

Another way to expand your business with DFY products is by offering them with resell rights. 

This means buyers can purchase your product and then resell it to their own customers. For your clients, that means the ability to create an additional revenue stream for them while expanding your reach. 

There are different versions of resell rights you can offer:

• Basic resell rights allow buyers to resell the product on their own website, but without passing on the resell rights to their customers or claiming they created it.
• Master resell rights give buyers the ability to not only resell your product as their own, but also pass along resale rights to their customers.
• Private label rights go even further and allow buyers to rebrand the product under their own brand, customize the content, and sell it as their own creation.

When you sell products with resale rights, you’re essentially creating a partnership with your buyers. 

They get a ready-made product they can profit from immediately without having to create digital products themselves. You benefit from wider distribution and the potential for increased brand awareness. 

This model works particularly well for content templates, planners, worksheets, and educational materials.

For example, Ivory Mix has an entire section of Private Label Rights (PLR) products:

Under this license, anyone could buy any of these PLR products and make any modifications to them before reselling them as their own.

How to Price Your Done-for-You Products

Consider these factors when deciding how much to charge for your DFY products:

1. Value to the Client

Consider how much value your product provides to clients. 

• Does it save time?
• How effortless will the process become?
• Will they make more money?

Price it accordingly. If it helps make money, you can usually charge more.

2. Your Expertise and Brand

The level of authority you establish in your niche can also influence your pricing. 

If you’re a well-known expert, you can charge more. People pay extra for products from experts they trust. However, let your price be reasonable for the value your clients will get. 

3. Market Research

Look at similar products in your niche and use that as a benchmark.

• How much are others charging?
• Do they include your exact deliverables, less or more?
• How are people reacting to the cost?
• What are they saying about the value they get?

For example, if most people are charging $8 to $15 for a pack of 5-10 Canva templates, you’ll struggle to sell them for $30 or more.

4. Production Costs

Include any costs associated with the creation of your DFY product.

• Was there any software tool you paid for?
• Did you hire someone, like a design or system expert, to help you out?
• Did it take you hundreds of hours to create?

Make sure your price covers these costs and leaves you a profit.

5. Scalability

Are you going to offer tiered pricing, payment plans, or bundle deals?

These pricing structures typically attract larger purchases. 

• You can sell some features of your product as a standalone or as a whole package.
• You can have a basic, standard, and deluxe version.
• You can also offer a discount if people buy multiple products together.

6. Ongoing Support

If your DFY product includes updates from time to time or ongoing support for users, factor that into your pricing structure.

Here’s a simple way to think about pricing:

• Low price: This can include ebooks, planners, recipe books, and small downloadable items
• Medium price: Design templates, content calendars, and Canva templates.

But this isn’t a one-size-fits-all structure. Price your DFY product at a rate that feels comfortable, as long as you consider the factors above (and it’s profitable). 

You can always adjust the price later based on the growing demand.eels comfortable, as long as you consider the factors above (and it’s profitable). You can always adjust the price later based on the growing demand.

Launch Your Done-for-You Products

Selling DFY products is an effective way for coaches and course creators to expand their businesses, audience sizes, and profit margins. With Paperbell, an all-in-one website solution, you can launch your DFY products in minutes. No tech headaches or juggling multiple platforms. Instead, just upload your products, set your prices, and start promoting and selling them alongside your coaching packages. Try Paperbell for FREE to get your digital products launched today.

FAQs About Done-For-You Digital Products

What is an example of a DFY product?

Common examples include social media content calendars, Canva templates, workbooks, meal plans, and client onboarding kits. These are pre-made materials that buyers can customize and use immediately in their businesses, or resell if you provide resale rights.

Are DFY products profitable?

Yes, DFY products are profitable because you create them once and sell them repeatedly. The most lucrative digital products have high profit margins, require minimal ongoing effort, and provide passive income while helping you scale your coaching business.

What is the best-selling digital product?

The best-selling digital products vary by niche, but templates, planners, and course materials tend to perform well. The key is creating something that saves time and solves a specific problem for your target audience.

What is the done-for-you business model?

The DFY business model involves creating ready-to-use solutions that others can purchase and implement immediately. You do the work once, then sell it multiple times, creating passive income and scalability.

How can coaches use DFY products?

Coaches can use DFY products to diversify income, provide additional value to clients, and attract new customers. They’re ideal for expanding your offerings without increasing workload or creating new passive revenue streams.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2024 and has since been updated for accuracy.

Let’s explore how you can create a step-by-step plan for your coaching process to maximize the results you deliver, including:

• What a coaching plan is
• What to include in a coaching plan
• How to write a coaching plan
• A free coaching plan template

What is a Coaching Plan?

A coaching plan is a structured framework that outlines the goals and strategies of a coaching engagement. This strategic planning coaching tool does the following:

• Serves as a roadmap for the coaching process with a clear direction for both the coach and the client
• Defines the client’s desired outcomes
• Breaks goals down into key milestones to keep the sessions on track throughout the coaching journey
• Track tangible progress as you provide constructive feedback and offer ongoing support

Without these key benefits, both you and your client might float aimlessly, lack tangible results, and miss opportunities. But by coaching with a plan, you can track and evaluate your client’s progress at every step and keep them accountable to take action. 

Your plan should be: 

• Individualized to each client upon your initial assessment and tailored to their aspirations and challenges
• Clear enough to move the client’s steady progress in the desired direction as you provide client feedback
• Flexible enough to evolve as new insights emerge during the coaching relationship as you track progress

Pro tip: Want to keep your coaching plan in one place with your bookings, payments, contracts, digital resources, and more? Try Paperbell for free to start running your coaching business from a single platform.

What to Include in a Coaching Plan

The most important part of an effective coaching plan is the client’s desired outcome when working with you. This should be clearly defined in your very first session with them and inform other elements of your coaching plan, such as:

• Clear objectives that support that outcome
• The key measurable milestones that will signal progress
• The action plan required to reach them
• A specific timeline with practical steps
• The evaluation criteria for the client’s goals
• How you provided actionable feedback while guiding clients

The objectives you first define with your client might shift throughout their personal development. An “aha” moment could prompt them to refine their goals or head in a new direction.

For example, your client might come to you with a desire to build a million-dollar business. However, after digging deeper into their real motivations, they might discover that their true business goals are about wanting to feel seen and have a sense of purpose. These goals can be achieved in simpler ways.

[ Read: 12 Types Of Coaches and How They Win Clients In Their Niches ]

How to Write a Coaching Plan

Here’s how to write a clear plan that aligns your coaching framework with your client’s goals and leads to meaningful results.

1. Establish Clear Goals.

Begin by working with the client to clearly define their goals and desired outcomes for the coaching engagement. This is the time to dream. Remove any mental limitations and encourage your client to expand their frame of mind.

For example, you can ask them:

• If everything were possible, what would you want to achieve?
• What would you do if time and money weren’t an issue for you?
• What did you always wish you could’ve done but never had the chance to?

It’s also worth exploring their core motivations to achieve these coaching goals. A technique that helps do this is the five “whys.” By repeatedly asking your client why their objectives matter to them, you can get to the root of their desires and make sure they are aiming for what matters. 

Once you know your client’s goals, you can refine them with the SMART goals framework. Make sure their objectives are:

• Specific: Clarify the fine details of the goal, for example, by answering who, what, where, when, and why.
• Measurable: Make sure there’s a way to determine when the goal is achieved.
• Achievable: Ensure the goal is realistic and attainable, given the resources available.
• Relevant: Align the goal with the client’s values, priorities, and ultimate vision.
• Time-bound: Make sure the goal can be completed within a set time frame (more about this later).

2. Break The Goals Down.

Big goals, even SMART goals, can feel overwhelming to act on. To make them more digestible, define some clear milestones for them. For example:

• Running research to gather new information
• Acquiring new skills to be able to work towards the goal
• Getting the resources necessary to move on
• Seeking out people who can help with their knowledge, advice, or support
• Carrying out a smaller version of the same project
• Developing a smaller version of the final outcome into something bigger

If your client wants to launch a new business, an actionable plan with key milestones for them could include:

• Identifying their target market and niche
• Registering their business
• Developing their first product
• Creating branding materials, such as a website and a professional biography
• Testing and refining their product with a focus group
• Launching marketing campaigns to build brand awareness and attract customers
• Monitoring their sales performance and developing new strategies

Provide guidance to your clients during this process. However, make sure they articulate their own objectives for themselves. Their goals and key milestones should be something they can wholeheartedly commit to.

3. Establish the Timeline.

Goals are only effective if they are tied to a specific timeline. While big goals and milestones can have a broader deadline (for example, buying a new property in 5-10 years), short-term and mid-term steps should be defined within a specific time frame.

Your coaching plan should ideally revolve around a key milestone of personal growth. For example, you may agree with your client to work towards overcoming their stage fright in the next 3 months. 

This way, they know what overarching objectives they are working towards while committing to a specific coaching process with you on a key target.

Writing down the exact date for a goal in your client notes can be extremely motivating. For example, “I’ll make my first sale by 31st March.” 

With Paperbell, you can store all your client notes and information in one place and refer back to them any time you need to. This makes it easier to review progress when providing feedback sessions.

4. Define Accountability Measures. 

Once a timeline is clear, define action steps at the end of each session with your client to move closer to their objective.

If your client has certain responsibilities, for example, sending you a check-in every week, include that in your coaching plan, too. For habits and action steps that need to be completed regularly, you can set up a digital progress tracker where your coachee can check off tasks they’ve completed.

5. List Relevant Coaching Tools.

Gather the exercises and tools that might help make your coaching process with the client more effective. These may be:

• Coaching questions
• Coaching models
• Exercises
• Assessments
• Digital planners
• Additional resources
• Online courses
• Referrals to support groups or other professionals

If you feel your client is hitting a roadblock or needs more clarity on a particular area, you can always return to this customized toolkit to help them reach their next step.

You should also:

• Define and agree on the frequency of sessions with the client that would be most effective in helping them reach their goals
• Decide on the communication channels and the frequency of check-ins for your contract with them
• Automate reminder and post-session emails to make sure your client always books their next session and never misses one (if you’re using Paperbell, you can set this once per coaching package and forget it)

6. Review and Revise.

Review your coaching plan regularly to ensure it still aligns with your client’s:

• Priorities
• Motivations
• Values
• Updated life situation (if it arises)

Be open to their feedback during coaching conversations. Make any necessary revisions or adjustments based on their input.

Remember, your coaching plan should be flexible to evolve as the coaching relationship progresses and your client gains new insights. At the same time, it should serve as a basis for your sessions that you can refer back to and use to keep your client accountable.

Coaching Plan Template

Here’s a simple coaching plan template that includes all the key elements that you can use with your clients.

Client Name:

Coaching Period:

1. Client overview: 

Describe the client’s profile, previous experience with coaching, and the main reason they approached you.

2. Client goals and milestones:

Define the client’s overarching goals and key milestones.

GOAL 1:

Key Milestones:

GOAL 2:

Key Milestones:

GOAL 3:

Key Milestones:

3. Timeline:

Establish a timeline and schedule for the coaching engagement with specific deadlines.

5. Accountability Measures:

Define how progress tracking will work and how you’ll evaluate personal growth throughout the coaching process, including regular check-ins, progress reviews, and assessments.

6. Coaching tools:

Identify the coaching tools and resources that might help make the coaching engagement and goal-setting more effective.

Build a Thriving Coaching Practice

A coaching plan helps maximize the results of your coaching programs. Creating lasting change in your clients’ lives will ultimately make you successful in the field, but only if your business doesn’t distract you from it.

To streamline the admin side of your coaching business, we recommend Paperbell.

It’s an all-in-one coaching business and client management tool specifically designed for coaches by coaches. It handles your contracts, schedule, payments, landing pages, and more.

Try Paperbell for free to get your coaching website launched and selling today.

Coaching Plan FAQs

How do you structure a coaching package?

Identify your target audience’s goals, then design a package with specific sessions (number, duration, frequency). Define client responsibilities, like check-ins. List coaching tools and exercises you’ll use throughout the process.

What makes a good coaching session plan?

A good coaching session plan starts with a clear agenda outlining topics and outcomes. Include reviewing past action steps, setting session focus, using coaching questions and frameworks, evaluating skill development, summarizing insights, and defining next steps. Adapt to your client’s needs and pace.

What are the 7 steps of coaching?

The 7 steps of coaching are: build rapport with the client, clarify goals and objectives, explore their current reality and challenges, discuss strategies for overcoming obstacles, explore patterns or limiting beliefs, develop an action plan, and provide accountability as you track progress.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2024 and has since been updated for accuracy.

Most new coaches use software like SimplePractice to stay organized, saving hours of work and headaches. In this article, we’ll examine this tool in-depth and explore SimplePractice alternatives, including:

• SimplePractice overview
• Why you should find a SimplePractice alternative
• Whether SimplePractice can be used for life coaching services
• 12 SimplePractice alternatives

What is SimplePractice?

SimplePractice is an electronic health record (EHR) solution designed for wellness professionals who see their clients in person or online. This practice management system is a one-stop solution to meet all administrative and client-facing needs. 

It also includes a client portal where your customers can manage their appointments.

As the name suggests, this practice management solution aims to simplify business and life for practitioners. Imagine having a bunch of notebooks and papers for different aspects of your business versus one central binder where everything is color-coded and neatly organized. 

Among its users, SimplePractice sees: 

• Behavioral health and wellness practitioners
• Speech-language pathologists
• Occupational therapists
• Dietitians and nutritionists
• Physical therapy practitioners

Life, business, and mental health coaches are a smaller user group. 

SimplePractice takes care of the following:

• Scheduling
• Insurance
• Documentation
• Security
• Billing
• Client portal
• Website builder
• Telehealth
• Support

Pro Tip: Looking for practice management tools that are built specifically for coaches? Try Paperbell for free to run your entire coaching business from a single platform.

Why Find a SimplePractice Alternative?

There are several reasons why people want to find a SimplePractice alternative. Some of them are:

Cost

The Starter subscription costs $49/month, but lacks essential features like appointment reminders, online appointment requests, and even out-of-office scheduling.

User experience

The learning curve can be overwhelming for some, leading them to revert to old solutions that may not fully meet their needs.

Target audience mismatch

SimplePractice is mainly for mental health professionals and may not cater to life coaches. For instance, they lack specific features like intake forms.

Lack of the latest features

Despite its credibility since 2011, SimplePractice may not be as innovative in its advanced features or as integrative with other systems when compared to newer solutions. This can make it more difficult for coaches to streamline their businesses and increase revenue.

Users report limitations in customization as well as the absence of a group coaching feature. However, they’ve recently earned HIPAA compliance, which was a notable issue in the past.

Customer support

A quick internet search shows that the lack of efficient customer service is a central complaint among users. 

Alternatives may offer better customer support, which is crucial during urgent client situations.

Integration with other systems

SimplePractice may not integrate natively with preferred systems like Acuity, Calendly, or Schedulista, prompting users to seek alternatives.

Can SimplePractice be used for life coaching services?

Yes! However, this client management software is designed with healthcare providers and mental health professionals in mind. For life coaches, terms like “patient scheduling” may feel out of place. 

So, as a life coach, you may want to look for alternatives to SimplePractice.

SimplePractice’s customer support claims that you must create customized client intake and progress note templates with questions and prompts relevant to life coaches. You can use our templates to make your coaching forms. 

If you’re willing to do that extra work, go for it!

If you prefer a ready-made solution with all the essential features to elevate your coaching business, consider exploring alternatives to SimplePractice below.

12 SimplePractice Alternatives

If you’re curious about exploring alternatives to SimplePractice, here are our recommendations. Some are for therapists or coaches, while others are general software solutions tailored to business owners and independent practices. 

1. Paperbell

Paperbell is the best practice management software created specifically for coaches and consultants. If you’d rather use your time to facilitate deep transformations instead of chasing late payments, you’ll love this platform. 

Paperbell handles:

• Online payments (subscriptions, pay-in-fulls, or payment plans)
• Scheduling and appointment management
• Offer pages (hosted on a beautiful, branded coaching website) 
• Client management and client portals
• Contract signing
• Content delivery (either instant or dripped to a specific schedule)

Pricing: Paperbell has everything you need to run a successful coaching business, without limits, for only a flat fee of $57 per month.

Paperbell also supports group coaching programs or programs that are a mix of 1:1 and group. No matter the type of private practice you run, you can tailor it to you. Check out our guide on how to use Paperbell, or watch this 5-minute guide on how to launch your coaching website:

2. Tebra

Tebra is the lovechild of Kareo and PatientPop. Users who have tried SimplePractice and Tebra claim that the latter is easier to administer and do business with. 

Tebra has a patient portal that can easily be used to coach clients in managing their appointments.

Pricing: Pricing for paid plans is upon request only. Users are prompted to schedule a free demo.

3. TherapyNotes

TherapyNotes is geared toward practitioners in behavioral health to keep better client records. The solution features an integrated system to handle business needs and administrative tasks such as:

• Scheduling appointments
• Notes
• Billing

Overall, it’s easier to use than SimplePractice but somewhat less robust.

TherapyNotes can brag about being the highest-rated EHR on Trustpilot – at the time of writing, it has a score of 4.9 out of 5.

Pricing: Individual users pay $59/month for monthly subscriptions, and clinic or enterprise users pay $69/month plus $40/month for each additional clinician. 

4. Epic

Epic is among the veterans in the EHR space. The software has helped health and wellness practitioners manage their businesses since 1979. 

While reputable, some users comment that it’s slow, and the user interface could be more intuitive. 

Pricing: It is not mentioned on their website. According to SelectHub, pricing averages from $25 to $1,000 per person per month, making it one of the most expensive solutions.

5. Spruce Health

Spruce Health is a comprehensive software with features such as:

• Client management
• Messaging service
• Auto-replies
• Video conferencing 

It also has a Slack-style team chat to connect with your team. 

Users have mentioned that this EHR lacks key functionalities like scheduling, so it might not be the first choice for life coaches if you’re not ready to use a separate booking system. Allegedly, their customer support can also be hard to reach beyond a chatbot.

Pricing: The Basic subscription is $24/month, and the Communicator is $49/month. The latter includes functionalities like API access and integrations. 

6. Ensora Mental Health (Formerly TheraNest)

Ensora Mental Health, formerly TheraNest, is a new system that helps therapists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors manage their practices and client experience. It can be used by individuals and practices. 

This is an excellent option for coaches who have a team and want to communicate internally. You can also use it as a solopreneur.

Some popular features are templates for note-taking to keep track of each client’s progress. However, TheraNest lacks some features that could be relevant to coaches, such as the option to book group sessions.

Pricing: TheraNest offers a free 21-day trial; no credit card needed. For solopreneurs, the Essentials plan costs $29 per month, but key features like online booking and intake forms are only available in the Advanced plan for $59/month per user. 

7. Practice Better

Practice Better has a client portal and a feature for creating courses and programs. This practice management software is specifically helpful for nutritionists and dietitians, since it comes with integrated tools for food, water, and weight management.

You can also create prescriptions and order labs. Thus, it could be an excellent choice for health coaches.

Practice Better has received praise for its responsive support team. However, like some other practice management software, it lacks features for managing group practices, such as the capability of hosting group calls or creating group packages and offers. 

Pricing: Practice Better offers a free trial for all its subscriptions. The subscriptions range from the Starter at $25/month to the Team at $145/month. 

8. Luma Health

Luma Health focuses on creating an easy customer journey and is highly rated among its users. Patients can chat using the integrated messaging system. It also has a “smart waitlist” function that offers your clients a spot if someone cancels their booking. 

That said, Luma Health is focused on health professionals. Coaches may find they lack key tools and features, such as the ability to create offer packages and sales pages. 

Pricing: Luma Health does not disclose their pricing details, but prompts users to book a demo. This suggests it’s a solution suitable for established companies. 

9. Assembly (formerly Copilot)

In contrast to the other SimplePractice alternatives covered, Assembly is not specifically aimed at mental health professionals. It’s a platform for agencies, freelancers, and startups to help them run and grow their businesses. 

Life coaches, health coaches, and healthcare professionals can benefit from: 

• Scheduling
• Client forms
• Easy automated billing
• In-app messaging
• The ability to create and manage contracts
• And so much more

Pricing: Their packages range from Starter at $59/month for a single user and up to 50 active clients, to Custom (price upon request) for unlimited clients and users.

10. Dubsado

You’ve probably heard of Dubsado. This business management software is designed with freelancers, coaches, and creatives in mind. 

It has a client portal and lets your customers sign contracts. Dubsado also has an email feature that allows you to send welcome emails and customizable forms in one click. 

It is robust and flexible, but on the flip side, it has a relatively steep learning curve. You need to be willing to invest some time, but it can be worth it if you need functionalities like contracts, a client portal, and invoicing in one place.

Pricing: The Starter plan is $20/month for unlimited clients. The Premier plan, with automations, scheduling, and integrations, is $40/month. 

 11. Podium 

Podium is different from the other alternatives on this list. It is an AI lead generation and client management platform that lets you manage your marketing efforts and client reviews. 

Thus, it involves the steps before and after a client signs up.

Podium also includes reputation management. Since it offers many more functionalities than “simple” client management software, it’s also substantially more expensive, which means it may be an alternative only for more established coaches.

Pricing: Podium no longer provides transparency on its pricing. You’ll need to submit a form to get a quote.

12. HoneyBook

HoneyBook helps coaches through the entire customer journey. From signing the contract to creating invoices, scheduling sessions, sending automated emails, and collecting feedback after a client contract ends, HoneyBook takes care of every step of the journey.

However, it lacks the flexibility to easily create simple coaching packages you can use over and over again. You can learn more about the pros and cons of HoneyBook here.

Pricing: You can try HoneyBook free for 7 days, then get the Starter plan at $36/month. If you want scheduling tools and automations, you’ll need to upgrade to Essentials for $59/month, and if you want unlimited lead forms and team members, that’ll take the premium plan at $129/month.

The Best SimplePractice Alternative For Coaches and Consultants

Life coaches as well as consultants can save money and find satisfying business management software solutions by considering SimplePractice alternatives. 

Although SimplePractice is still popular for mental health practitioners and behavioral health professionals, it lacks the customization and customer support that coaches look for. That’s because it’s tailored with health and wellness businesses in mind, not coaches.

If you’re looking for the best practice management platform designed with coaches in mind, try out Paperbell for free and get your custom coaching website up and running in minutes.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June 2024 and has since been updated for accuracy.

If you’re ready to build your personal brand and expand your services with workshops, read on to find out how to create and sell one, including:

• What is a coaching workshop?
• How do you structure a coaching workshop?
• Coaching workshop ideas
• How to promote your coaching workshop

What is a Coaching Workshop?

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A coaching workshop is a structured, interactive event around a specific theme. It provides insights into essential skills, techniques, methodologies, and best practices surrounding your chosen topic.

Coaching workshops are usually facilitated by experienced coaches or industry experts online or in person and span anywhere from a few hours to a few days. They are a mixture of the following:

• Lectures explaining coaching principles and case studies
• Interactive activities like group discussions or practical coaching exercises
• Networking opportunities in case of in-person events, particularly multi-day retreats

Coach workshops are great opportunities to:

• Build your authority in your coaching niche
• Create rapport with attendees and upsell people into your signature coaching program
• Enlighten potential clients into your coaching process to build rapport and trust

Pro tip: The best way to promote, sell, and deliver a coaching workshop is to use Paperbell. Try it for free to start selling your workshop with a stunning website integrated with payment processing, email automations, and more.

How Do You Structure a Coaching Workshop?

You don’t have to follow a cookie-cutter formula when structuring your workshop. However, there are some common elements most coaching workshops incorporate to keep participants engaged and effectively facilitate learning.

Here’s a workshop template you can follow to plan your next event:

1. Introduction and Expectation Setting

Open your workshop by introducing yourself and the other facilitators of your event to build rapport and credibility. Then, provide some context about the event’s main theme, purpose, why it’s important, and key learning outcomes.

This is also an excellent time to:

• Give your audience a breakdown of the event agenda
• Share some essential information, such as when breaks will be held
• Introduce agreements to the group to create a safe space for workshops with more sensitive themes, such as refraining from judgment

This is an important step, regardless of whether your workshop is in person or hosted as a virtual meeting.

2. Getting to Know the Group

The participants of your workshop probably don’t know each other. If the group is small, you can go around in a circle and let everyone introduce themselves. This may be as simple as sharing:

• Their name and background
• Why they joined the workshop
• Where they’re located (if this is a virtual workshop)

Optionally, you can also ask your participants to tell fun facts about themselves, like what they wanted to be as children when they grew up, or play a short icebreaker activity with them. 

These early activities help create trust between them for more intimate, small-group workshops so they will feel more comfortable sharing about themselves later on.

[ Read: How to Offer Group Coaching: The Everything You Need To Know Guide ]

3. Presenting Key Concepts

Your first lecture should provide an understanding of your workshop’s main concepts. Are you organizing a more extensive event? Create a clear structure and flow for the principles and methodologies you’re presenting so they build on each other.

Breaking up your lectures with visual aids and questions for your participants will help them stay engaged. They’ll also retain more of the information shared with them. This is especially true if your workshop is virtual.

Real-life case studies are also great ways to illustrate the practical application of the coaching process or tools you teach.

[ Read: The Five Go-To Coaching Models To Use with Your Clients ]

Make sure you always allocate time for questions before moving on to the next section of your workshop. This is so participants can seek clarification on the topics covered during your session.

4. Interactive Exercises

Group exercises are the heart of live workshops. They immediately demonstrate to your participants how to incorporate the skills they’ve just learned. It also allows them to learn from not only you but also their peers.

Workshop exercises may include role-plays and testing out what they’ve learned in groups of two to three people. However, depending on the topic, solo breakout times may be better.

For example, let’s say you’re a coach training people in specific coaching skills. One participant may play the coach, the second one the coachee, and the third one can be the observer. 

But what if you’re coaching your attendees on how to handle copywriting for their website? Then, this time would be better used solo to develop some copy to get your feedback right after.

Breakout sessions are also a great way to create space for sharing insights within groups of 3-5 people.

Alternating short lectures and practical exercises is the most effective way to teach multiple concepts within a short time frame.

5. Reflection

Reflecting on recent learning is an essential element of retaining and integrating information. You can do this with the following:

• Writing prompts for individual reflection
• Small sharing circles to discuss key takeaways and brainstorm ways to implement concepts
• A final Q&A where you can answer questions and provide constructive feedback to your attendees

Reflection will help your participants walk away feeling complete and ready to use the content of your workshop in real-life scenarios.

6. Closing

Your final session should briefly summarize the key topics of your workshop once again. It should also lay out a few next steps your attendees can take to incorporate them into their lives or businesses.

Thank them for participating and tell them where they can follow or contact you online. Your final workshop session is also an excellent opportunity to share a little about your coaching packages or course for further learning.

48 Coaching Workshop Ideas

It’s best to define your workshop idea based on the biggest pain point your target audience faces. 

Here are some examples of workshops in different niches, including for other coaches and non-coach individuals. You can also use these ideas for your online courses and other materials you want to sell on your coaching store later.

Life Coaching Workshop Ideas

For other coaches:

• Vision Board Creation Workshop: Learn how to facilitate vision board exercises to help clients envision their goals and aspirations.
• Values Clarification Session: Explore techniques to help clients identify their core values and align with them for greater fulfillment in life.
• Goal Setting and Action Planning Seminar: Learn to facilitate SMART goal-setting with actionable plans.

For individuals:

• Design Your Dream Life Vision Workshop: Create a powerful vision board and clarify your aspirations across all life areas.
• Core Values Discovery Session: Identify your personal values and learn practical strategies to live in alignment with them.
• New Year, New You Goal-Setting Intensive: Set meaningful SMART goals and create a concrete 90-day action plan to achieve them.

Below is an example of a goal-setting workshop by Jennifer Lovemore:

What’s great about goal-setting workshops is that you can easily upsell attendees into a coaching package to help them achieve the goals they’ve just set.

Career Coach Workshop Ideas

For other coaches:

• Personal Branding Workshop: Help your clients define and communicate their unique value proposition to advance their careers.
• Networking Mastery Training: Learn proven networking techniques and relationship-building strategies to help clients expand their professional networks.
• Career Transition Coaching Intensive: Learn how to guide clients through career transitions like job changes, promotions, or entrepreneurial ventures.

For individuals:

• Career Launch Workshop: Create a specific and actionable plan to launch a brand new career.
• Career Transition Workshop: Learn how to build the skills, resume, and network necessary to make a meaningful career transition. 
• Career Upskill Intensive: Find opportunities to upskill yourself as a worker and find new career growth opportunities.

Brite Launch’s 4-Week Career Launch Workshop is a great example of the above. 

Business Coaching Workshop Ideas

For other coaches:

• Business Coaching Fundamentals Training: Master core business coaching frameworks, including strategic planning, financial literacy coaching, and growth strategy development.
• Scaling Small Businesses Coaching Workshop: Learn methodologies and coaching conversations to help entrepreneurial clients scale from small businesses to sustainable businesses with teams.
• Business Model Innovation Coaching: Discover how to guide clients through pivoting, diversifying revenue streams, and adapting to market changes.

For individuals:

• Launch Your Business Blueprint Workshop: Develop a comprehensive business plan with validated ideas, target market research, and a 6-month launch roadmap.
• Revenue Growth Accelerator Intensive: Identify untapped revenue opportunities in your existing business and create actionable strategies to increase profitability.
• Business Systems and Automation Workshop: Streamline your business operations by implementing systems and automations that free up your time for strategic growth.

Wake Up To Freedom’s Beyond Thanks workshop is a great example of a revenue growth workshop. They help attendees create new streams of income via simple Thank You pages.

Executive Coaching Workshop Ideas

For other coaches:

• 360-Degree Feedback Training: Discover how to implement and interpret 360-degree feedback assessments to enhance executive development programs.
• Executive Presence Coaching Program: Practice coaching executives on cultivating presence, gravitas, and leadership charisma.
• Strategic Decision-Making Workshop: Explore frameworks and tools to help executives make sound strategic decisions and navigate complex challenges.

For individuals:

• Executive Presence Masterclass: Develop the gravitas, communication skills, and confidence needed to command respect in the boardroom.
• Strategic Thinking for Leaders Workshop: Learn proven frameworks to make better strategic decisions and lead your organization through complexity.
• C-Suite Leadership Intensive: Elevate your leadership capabilities with advanced strategies for managing stakeholders, driving change, and maximizing organizational impact.

Moxie Institute provides this executive presence workshop to help people become leaders who inspire action:

Leadership Coaching Workshop Ideas

For other coaches:

• Strengths-Based Leadership Seminar: Learn how to identify and leverage strengths in leaders for improved performance.
• Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolution Training: Learn coaching strategies that help leaders cultivate high-performing teams and manage conflicts.
• Authentic Leadership Development Retreat: Explore the principles of authentic leadership and how it can help leaders.

For individuals:

• Emerging Leaders Workshop: Build essential leadership skills including delegation, feedback delivery, and team motivation for new managers.
• Leading Through Change Intensive: Develop resilience and change management strategies to guide your team through organizational transitions.
• Authentic Leadership Retreat: Discover your leadership values, strengthen emotional intelligence, and learn to lead with authenticity and purpose.

McGill University teaches several leadership workshops for emerging leaders:

Relationship Coach Workshop Ideas

For other coaches:

• Couples Communication Coaching Certification: Learn effective communication strategies and conflict resolution techniques to help couples strengthen their connections.
• Relationship Renewal Facilitation Training: Discover how to facilitate transformative experiences and healing opportunities for couples seeking to reignite passion and intimacy.
• Attachment Theory in Coaching Workshop: Understand attachment styles and learn to help clients build healthier relationships based on their attachment patterns.

[ Read: 4 Top Relationship Coach Certifications + Free Alternatives ]

For individuals:

• Building Healthier Relationships Workshop: Learn practical techniques for emotion management, communication, and building stronger connections.
• Couples Communication Intensive: Master evidence-based communication tools and conflict resolution strategies to deepen intimacy with your partner.
• Relationship Renewal Retreat: Participate in a transformative weekend experience designed to help you and your partner reconnect, heal, and reignite your relationship.

Health Coach Workshop Ideas

For other coaches:

• Behavior Change Coaching Strategies Workshop: Learn evidence-based techniques and motivational interviewing skills to facilitate sustainable behavior changes in health clients.
• Holistic Nutrition Coaching Program: Explore integrative nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and self-care approaches that support optimal health outcomes.
• Stress Management Coaching Certification: Practice coaching methodologies for helping clients manage stress, build resilience, and support overall well-being.

For individuals:

• Habit Transformation Workshop: Create lasting healthy habits using proven behavior change strategies and personalized accountability systems.
• Holistic Wellness Reset Intensive: Design a comprehensive wellness plan addressing nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress for optimal health.
• Stress Less, Live More Workshop: Learn practical stress management techniques, mindfulness practices, and resilience-building strategies for everyday life.

Spiritual Coaching Workshop Ideas

For other coaches:

• Guided Visualization and Meditation Facilitation Training: Learn how to guide clients through transformative visualization and meditation experiences that support spiritual growth.
• Sacred Rituals and Ceremony in Coaching Workshop: Discover how to incorporate sacred rituals, ceremonies, and practices into coaching sessions ethically and effectively.
• Spiritual Coaching Methodology Intensive: Explore frameworks for helping clients deepen their spiritual practice while maintaining professional coaching boundaries.

For individuals:

• Meditation and Mindfulness Immersion: Develop a sustainable daily meditation practice and learn visualization techniques for personal transformation.
• Soulful Living Retreat: Participate in an immersive retreat experience focused on self-discovery, spiritual growth, and connecting with your authentic self.
• Sacred Life Design Workshop: Learn to incorporate meaningful rituals, ceremonies, and spiritual practices into your daily life for deeper purpose and fulfillment.

How to Promote Your Coaching Workshop

Here are a few ways to get the word out about your coaching workshop.

Position Your Event

To stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to carefully position your event:

• First, define the specific target audience for your event. Consider their biggest problem and how your workshop will help them solve it.
• Next, lay out your workshop’s key value proposition and learning outcomes. Highlight its benefits through the specific skills, knowledge, and tangible takeaways participants will gain by attending your event. Also specify how their career and life might change due to that.
• Then, turn these key selling points into a convincing title and description. Your title should be attention-grabbing and concise, using emotionally evocative language that inspires curiosity. Brainstorm a few versions and then shortlist the ones that resonate with you.

Lay out the detailed agenda of the event, describe the methodology behind it, and update your professional biography. You can use this material for your coaching website and promotional materials, and create short summaries of them for your social media posts and ads.

Create Your Workshop Signup Page

People will need a way to register for your workshop. If it’s paid, you’ll need to process their payment. 

You can set up a coaching package inside Paperbell to manage all of that at once:

1. Create your free Paperbell account if you don’t have one already.
2. Go to Packages, click Add New, and choose One-Time or Payment Plan (or Free Package if your workshop is free).

3. Add the details of your workshop in the Landing Page tab of the package editing page. 
4. In the Purchase Options and Pricing tab, set a price option. You can set up more than one option if you want to give more flexibility to attendees.

5. Navigate to the Appointments tab. Because this is a workshop, you’ll want to add a Group Session. Modify the date, time, and duration of your workshop. If it’s not a standalone workshop, you can add additional sessions here, not just one.
6. If you’re selling a workshop REPLAY and not a live workshop, you can add your replay file in the Content tab of your package.
7. Optional: Set up automated email reminders so that attendees don’t forget about your workshop. You can do this in the Emails tab.

That’s it! Once you’re done, you’ll have a beautiful landing page to share during your promo campaign. 

Interested attendees will be able to read all the info, pay, and receive their calendar invite for the workshop. All without you having to lift a finger.

Build an Online Campaign

Engage on social media platforms where your target audience spends most of their time. These include coaching-related Facebook groups, your Instagram broadcast channel, or LinkedIn. Plan a content calendar of various types of posts to share key information about your workshop and a call to action for registration, for example:

• Photography from your previous workshops
• Testimonials from your clients and coaching course students you helped with similar problems
• Sneak peeks into the key concepts of your workshop
• Live videos where you give a taste of your workshop content and pitch your event
• Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions where you can answer questions and handle objections
• Behind-the-scenes posts about preparing for your event

Make sure you plan, produce (or outsource), and schedule your posts in advance. This will give you the time and energy to execute your campaign the best way possible.

Tap Into Your Network

Reach out to your existing professional network, like your clients and the students of your coaching courses, who might be a fit for your workshop. Ask your close circle within the industry to share your posts and refer participants to you.

Don’t forget to leverage your email list and the warmest leads in your sales funnel whom you regularly engage with. If you’re a part of an organization like the International Coaching Federation (ICF), you can also contact members to ask for referrals.

Seek out Collaborations

Consider partnering with other businesses, professionals, and influencers in your niche to leverage their network. Depending on their profile, you can bring them on board as facilitators, offer them a free ticket, or sign affiliate deals with them.

You can also submit guest posts to relevant blogs and publications or seek opportunities to appear in interviews and podcasts related to your upcoming event. If your workshop is offline, you can also place print-outs in local coworking spaces and other communities your audience visits.

Incorporate Marketing Tactics

Here are some common marketing tactics to help you create interest for your workshop:

• Urgency: Encourage sign-ups by offering early bird rates or exclusive bonuses for participants who register before a certain date.
• Scarcity: Limit your workshop to a few participants to motivate people to secure their spot.
• Social proof: Leverage testimonials from clients and collaborators about your past events or services.
• Exclusivity: Optionally, create an application process for your workshop to select top professionals in the industry and boost your event’s networking value.

The important thing is that you stay consistent with these strategies. Don’t announce something and later compromise on it because of a low sign-up rate. 

Instead, pick one strategy you can stick to throughout your campaign.

Build the Coaching Practice of Your Dreams

Coaching workshops are one of the best ways to share your expertise and broaden your audience. Building your brand is key to your professional development, but it’s just as important that things work well behind the scenes of your coaching practice.

Paperbell will make sure they do.

It’s an all-in-one client management tool specifically designed for coaches by coaches. It handles your contracts, schedule, payments, landing pages, and more.

Try Paperbell for free to start promoting your next coaching workshop.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2024 and has since been updated for accuracy.

“It’s the future of email!”

“Everyone’s moving their newsletter to Substack!”

“You need to be on Substack!”

But just because everyone’s talking about Substack doesn’t mean it’s the right email marketing tool for your coaching business.

I’m not here to tell you Substack is perfect or terrible. Instead, I want to give you an honest look at what Substack actually does, how it works for email marketing, and most importantly, whether it makes sense for YOU as a coach.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know:

• What Substack is
• How to use Substack for email marketing
• Substack newsletter examples for coaches
• How Substack works with coaching platforms like Paperbell
• Whether Substack is a good way to build an email list

What is Substack?

Substack is a newsletter platform that allows writers and creators to publish content directly to their subscribers’ inboxes. I like to describe it as blogging and email marketing combined.

Here’s what makes Substack different from traditional email marketing tools:  

• Its focus is on long-form content and community building rather than automation and sales funnels.
• Unlike platforms designed specifically for marketing automation, Substack is built around the idea of regular newsletter publishing.
• It’s free to use, no matter how many subscribers you have.

Key features

So why are so many coaches and creators flocking to Substack? Here are the main draws:

• It’s free to use: You can start publishing newsletters on Substack without paying a penny. They only take a 10% cut if you decide to charge for subscriptions.
• Newsletter referral system to grow your email list: Substack has built-in discovery features that help readers find new newsletters.
• Simple to use: If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the endless features and settings in platforms like ActiveCampaign or Kit, Substack will feel like a breath of fresh air.
• Built-in monetization options: Substack makes it incredibly easy to offer paid subscriptions. You can create free and paid tiers, offer founding member rates, and manage everything from one dashboard.
• Community aspect: Through features like Substack Notes (think Threads or X, but for Substack users) and the ability to foster discussions in the comments, Substack creates a sense of community that goes beyond traditional email newsletters.

Because it’s free, the only thing you lose by trying out Substack is your time.

How to Use Substack for Email Marketing

If you’ve decided you want to try Substack, here’s your step-by-step guide to setting up and using it to start your coaching newsletter.

1. Creating your Substack account

Head to substack.com and click “Start Publishing” or “Start a Substack”.

You’ll need to provide basic information like: 

• Your name
• Email address
• The name of your publication

Choose your publication name carefully. This will become part of your Substack URL (yourname.substack.com), and while you can change it later, it’s easier to get it right from the start.

2. Setting up your newsletter publication

Once your account is created, you’ll want to customize your publication to reflect your coaching brand:

• Upload a profile photo and header image that represent your coaching style.
• Write a compelling “About” page that explains who you are, what you write about, and why someone should subscribe to your newsletter.
• Add a tab to link to your coaching services.

Next, set up your subscription options. Will you offer free content only, or will you have paid tiers? What will paid subscribers get that free subscribers won’t?

3. Writing and sending your first newsletter

Click “Create New” and select “Post” to start writing. 

From there, you’ll see that Substack’s editor is straightforward. You can add: 

• Headings
• Images
• Videos
• Links

And none of it requires any complicated formatting.

Write your subject line (this is what appears in subscribers’ inboxes), then craft your newsletter content. You can save drafts as you go, so there’s no pressure to finish in one sitting.

When you’re ready to publish, you’ll choose whether to send it to all subscribers, just free subscribers, or just paid subscribers. You can also schedule posts to go out at a specific time.

Don’t overthink your first newsletter. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Your subscribers signed up because they’re interested in what you have to say, not because they expect a polished magazine article every time.

4. Building your subscriber list

Growing your Substack subscriber list works differently from traditional email list building. Since Substack doesn’t integrate with lead magnet landing pages, you’ll need to get creative:

• Share your Substack link on social media regularly.
• Add it to your Instagram bio, your LinkedIn profile, and your Twitter/X header.
• Mention it in your podcast appearances or YouTube videos if you create content on those platforms.
• Embed a Substack subscribe form on your website if you have one.

The key difference here is that people are subscribing to your newsletter specifically, not entering your world through a lead magnet and then receiving your newsletter as a bonus.

Pro tip: Paperbell now integrates with Substack! Create your free account now to start easily sharing your Substack on your coaching site.

5. Using Substack’s discovery features (Recommendations, Notes)

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Substack has built-in features designed to help new readers discover your publication.

Recommendations allow you to suggest other newsletters to your subscribers, and those creators can recommend you back. This creates a network effect where engaged readers discover new publications they might love.

Substack Notes is a social feed where you can share short updates, thoughts, and snippets from your newsletters. It functions similarly to Twitter/X and can help you connect with other Substack writers and potential subscribers outside of your newsletter.

Use these features consistently. You can:

• Engage with other creators’ Notes
• Recommend publications that align with your values
• Participate in the Substack community 

This is one of the platform’s biggest advantages over traditional email marketing tools.

Can Substack Be Used for Email Marketing?

Here’s where we need to get honest about what Substack can and can’t do for your coaching business.

What Substack does well for email marketing and what it doesn’t

Substack excels at simple, regular newsletter publishing. If your goal is to write weekly or monthly emails to your audience where you share insights, stories, and updates, Substack handles this beautifully.

The platform also shines when it comes to audience growth through its discovery features. Unlike traditional email platforms where growth depends entirely on your own marketing efforts, Substack’s recommendation system and Notes feature can bring new subscribers to you organically.

The community aspect is another win. Substack feels more like a social platform than an email tool, which means your subscribers can engage with each other in the comments and feel part of something bigger than just a mailing list.

But here’s what Substack doesn’t do: automation.

• You can’t set up welcome sequences that automatically send when someone subscribes.
• You can’t create drip campaigns that nurture leads over time.
• You can’t segment your list based on interests or behaviors and send targeted content to different groups.

Substack is designed for traditional newsletter publishing, not email marketing in the modern sense. Every email you send goes out manually to your entire list (or your free vs. paid tiers). 

There’s no way to create multiple entry points with different lead magnets that trigger different automated sequences.

When Substack makes sense for coaches vs. when it doesn’t

Substack makes sense when:

• You’re discovering your writing style and voice as a coach and don’t want to pay for premium features. Substack’s free tier is genuinely useful, making it perfect for coaches just starting to build an email presence.
• You want to keep things simple with your newsletter. If you like the idea of writing and sending without worrying about automation, tags, or complex workflows, Substack’s simplicity is a feature, not a bug.
• You want to build an audience using the Substack ecosystem and don’t intend to use other list-building strategies like Facebook ads. The platform’s built-in discovery can work well if you’re committed to engaging with the Substack community.
• You want to transition from a coaching business to a newsletter business, where newsletter monetization is more important than selling your coaching packages. Some coaches eventually pivot to making their primary income from paid subscriptions rather than one-on-one coaching.

Substack doesn’t make sense when:

• You have multiple dream client avatars that need to be addressed differently in email marketing. Let’s say you serve both career coaches and life coaches and want to send different content to each group. Substack won’t support that.
• You want to automate parts of your email marketing strategy. Let’s say you’re planning to create a welcome sequence, a post-purchase sequence, or a full drip sequence that runs in the background. You’ll need a traditional email platform.
• You have multiple lead magnets or entry points into your email list. Substack doesn’t integrate with landing pages or opt-in forms the way other platforms do. This makes it difficult to offer different resources to different segments of your audience.
• You don’t need to monetize the content of your newsletter itself because your priority is selling your coaching packages or other offers. If your newsletter exists primarily to nurture leads toward booking coaching sessions, traditional email tools will serve you better.

Assess your current coaching business and weigh the pros and cons before you decide how much time to invest on the platform.

Substack Newsletter Examples for Coaches

Let’s look at some real coaches who are successfully using Substack so you can see what’s possible.

Marco Altini

Marco Altini runs a coaching-focused Substack called CoachCorner, where he shares his training philosophy and coaching approach. 

He uses his newsletter to share case studies of his work, which builds trust with potential clients. He also provides deep insights into his process and methodology, positioning himself as an authority in endurance coaching.

What makes Marco’s Substack effective is how he balances educational content with personal philosophy. Readers get a clear sense of who he is as a coach and whether his approach aligns with what they’re looking for.

Adrienne J. Clarke 

Adrienne J. Clarke takes an interesting meta approach. She’s a Substack coach who runs a publication teaching others how to grow on Substack. 

Her publication showcases:

• Expert guest interviews
• Detailed tutorials
• A podcast called Cool People on Substack

But she also uses her platform to showcase different ways in which you can work with her.

Sarah Novaro

Sarah Novaro is a singer-songwriter and Jade Egg coach who uses Substack to share insights about her unique coaching method. 

As we covered in Sarah’s case study, she uses Substack to connect with potential clients, while using Paperbell to handle the actual client management and booking process.

This is a smart combination that I’ll explore more in the next section.

Types of content that work well on Substack

Based on how successful coaches use the platform, here are content types that tend to resonate:

• Authority-building content works exceptionally well on Substack. Deep dives into your methodology, explanations of common misconceptions in your niche, and thought leadership pieces help establish you as an expert.
• Thought leadership and essays give you space to explore ideas more thoroughly than social media allows. Substack readers expect and appreciate longer, more nuanced content.
• Interviews with other experts add variety to your newsletter and provide value through different perspectives. This also helps you build relationships with other professionals in your field.
• Case studies and client stories (with permission, of course) demonstrate your coaching impact in a concrete way that theoretical content can’t match.

The content formats you use depend on how you best communicate. Substack supports:

• Images
• Embedded videos
• Video uploads
• Voice notes
• Text-only publications when you want to keep it simple 

Some coaches write long essays, others share shorter updates with images, and some even record audio versions of their newsletters.

Experiment to find what feels natural and what your audience responds to.

How Substack Works with Your Coaching Platform Like Paperbell

Substack and your coaching platform don’t need to be in competition. They can work together, each serving a different purpose in your business.

Using Substack for content and authority building

Think of Substack as your content home and authority-building tool. This is where you:

• Publish your ideas
• Share your expertise
• Build relationships with your audience over time

Your Substack newsletter keeps you top of mind with potential clients. It gives them a chance to get to know your voice, understand your approach, and decide if they resonate with your coaching style before they ever book a session.

Using Paperbell for client management and bookings

While Substack handles your content and community, Paperbell handles the business side of coaching: 

• Your coaching packages (hosted on a beautiful branded website)
• Client management
• Scheduling
• Payments and contracts
• Intake forms
• Plus everything else you need to actually run your coaching practice

When someone reads your Substack and decides they want to work with you, you can direct them to your Paperbell site. Once there, they can: 

• View your coaching packages
• Book sessions
• Complete all the necessary paperwork automatically
• Access resources you’ve shared with them

And now that Paperbell integrates with Substack, anyone who visits your coaching website can navigate to your publication with ease, in addition to all your other social media platforms.

Why you might want both tools serving different purposes

Using Substack and Paperbell together gives you the best of both worlds because: 

• Substack’s discovery features and community aspects help you reach new potential clients.
• Paperbell handles everything related to actually coaching clients, from the first booking to payment processing to session management to content delivery.
• You can write your regular Substack newsletter to build authority and stay connected with your audience.
• When you want to invite readers to work with you, include a link to your Paperbell coaching site in your newsletter.

And just like Substack, there’s no risk in trying Paperbell. Grab your free trial now to start sharing your coaching website with your Substack subscribers.

Is Substack a Good Way to Build an Email List?

Let’s tackle this question directly because it’s not an easy yes or no.

Pros of using Substack for list building

• The discovery features genuinely work. If you’re active in the Substack community and consistently publish quality content, you can grow your subscriber list without spending money on ads.
• The barrier to entry is low. People are more willing to subscribe to a Substack newsletter than fill out a form for a lead magnet, especially if they’re already on the platform.
• You own your subscriber list. Unlike social media followers, you can export your Substack subscribers and take them with you if you ever decide to move to another platform.

Cons and limitations for coaching businesses

• You can’t segment your list based on interests or create multiple entry points for different types of clients. Everyone who subscribes gets the same newsletter.
• There’s no way to create targeted welcome sequences or nurture different leads differently based on where they are in their journey.
• If you’re used to traditional lead magnets and opt-in incentives, Substack’s approach feels limited. You’re essentially asking people to subscribe to your newsletter without offering a specific resource in exchange.

What coaches should consider before choosing Substack

If you’re primarily focused on building authority and community, and you’re comfortable with a simpler approach to email, Substack can work well.

If you need sophisticated segmentation, automation, or multiple funnels for different coaching offerings, you’ll want a traditional email platform instead.

Alternative approaches for coaches

Many coaches use both. They maintain a Substack for community and content, while also building a segmented email list on a platform like ConvertKit or MailerLite for more targeted marketing. 

This approach gives you flexibility but does require managing two systems.

Another option is to start with Substack to find your voice and build initial momentum, then transition to a traditional email platform once you’ve validated your approach and are ready for more sophisticated marketing.

Start Using Substack the Smart Way

Substack isn’t the perfect email marketing solution for every coach, but it might be exactly what you need right now.

If you’re just starting out and want a simple way to build authority through consistent writing, Substack’s ease of use and built-in discovery features make it worth trying. If you need sophisticated automation and segmentation for your coaching business, pair Substack with a traditional email platform or skip it altogether.

The smartest approach? Use the right tool for each job. Let Substack handle your content and community building, while Paperbell manages your coaching business with scheduling, payments, contracts, and client management all in one place.

Try Paperbell free to see how simple running your coaching practice can be.

FAQs About Using Substack for Email Marketing

Can Substack be used for email marketing?

Yes, but with limitations. Substack works well for simple newsletter publishing and community building. It doesn’t support automation, segmentation, or complex email marketing funnels that many coaching businesses need.

Is Substack a good way to build an email list?

Substack can help you build an engaged subscriber base through its discovery features and community aspects. However, it lacks the segmentation and targeting capabilities that traditional email platforms offer for business growth.

Can I use Substack instead of Mailchimp?

It depends on your needs. Substack is simpler and better for straightforward newsletters, while Mailchimp offers more marketing automation and segmentation. If you just want to send regular newsletters, Substack works great.

Can I export my subscribers from Substack?

Yes. Substack allows you to export your subscriber list at any time, which means you’re not locked into the platform. This gives you flexibility to move to another tool if your needs change.

You’ve spent months (maybe even years) getting certified, developing your coaching skills, and figuring out exactly how you want to help people. But when it comes time to put a price tag on your coaching? Suddenly, you’re second-guessing everything.

What if you charge too much and no one buys? What if you charge too little and can’t pay your bills? What if someone asks why you’re “so expensive”?

The thing is, pricing doesn’t have to be this complicated. You don’t need a degree in economics or a crystal ball to set coaching prices that feel good and work for your business.

In this post, you’ll learn how to price your coaching services in a way that makes sense for where you are right now, including:

• Types of coaching services
• Types of pricing for coaching services
• Factors that affect pricing
• The simple pricing strategy to get you started
• How Paperbell makes pricing easier

Types of Coaching Services

Before we dive into pricing strategies, let’s quickly cover the different types of coaching services you can offer. How you structure your coaching directly impacts how you should price it.

• One-on-one coaching sessions: Individual sessions where you work with clients privately. These can be standalone sessions or part of a larger package.
• Coaching packages: Bundled sessions over a set timeframe (like a 3-month coaching package or 6-month program). This is the most common structure for sustainable coaching businesses.
• Group coaching programs: Working with multiple clients simultaneously, often combining group calls with individual support.
• Subscription/ongoing coaching: Clients pay monthly for continued access to your coaching, without a defined end date.
• Coaching memberships: Similar to subscriptions but often include community access, resources, and regular group sessions.
• Voxer coaching: Asynchronous voice message coaching through apps like Voxer, offering flexibility without scheduled calls.
• VIP intensive days: Condensed, high-touch coaching experiences where you work intensively with a client over a single day or weekend.

The type of service you offer changes everything about your pricing strategy. For example, hourly sessions require constant client acquisition, while a 6-month package gives you predictable revenue and deeper client relationships.

Most coaches find the sweet spot with coaching package pricing because it allows you to focus on transformation rather than trading time for money.

Types of Pricing for Coaching Services

Now that you know what you’re selling, let’s talk about how to price it.

1. Hourly pricing (and why most coaches should avoid it)

Charging by the hour seems straightforward, but it creates problems fast:

• It caps your income at the number of hours you can physically work.
• It penalizes you for getting better at your job (the more efficient and skilled you become, the less time sessions take, which means you actually earn less for delivering better results).
• It keeps clients focused on the clock instead of their transformation.

If you’re brand new to coaching and want to test the waters, hourly pricing can work temporarily. But plan to move away from it as quickly as possible.

2. Package pricing (recommended for most coaches)

This is where most successful coaches land, and for good reason.

Package pricing bundles multiple sessions together over a set timeframe. Instead of charging $150 per session, you might charge $1,500 for a 3-month package that includes 6 sessions plus email support.

Or, for shorter packages, you could charge between $500 and $800, like River and Reed Coaching’s 4-week package:

Those are just a few examples. And doing this this way offers several benefits for both you and your clients, such as:

• Clients commit to the full transformation, not just one conversation.
• You can structure the journey properly instead of hoping they book another session.
• You get paid upfront (or through payment plans), which creates cash flow stability.
• You can price based on the value of the transformation, not just your time.

Package pricing also makes your offers clearer and easier to sell. Instead of “let’s meet and see what happens,” you’re offering a defined journey with a clear outcome.

Pro tip: Paperbell makes it incredibly simple to set up coaching packages with flexible payment options. Try it out for yourself today.

3. Monthly retainer/subscription model

With this model, clients pay a recurring monthly fee for ongoing access to your coaching. This works well if you’re offering continuous support rather than a transformation with a clear endpoint.

The advantage is predictable recurring revenue. The challenge is that without a defined end date, some clients stay longer than they need to, while others leave before getting results.

This model works best when paired with memberships or group programs where clients are getting ongoing value beyond one-on-one time with you.

4. Value-based pricing

Value-based pricing means you set your rates based on the transformation you provide, not the time it takes you to deliver it.

For example, let’s say you’re a small business coach, and you help entrepreneurs add $50,000 in revenue to their business. Charging $5,000 for that transformation is more than fair, even if the actual coaching only takes 10 hours of your time.

This is the model that allows coaches to earn well without working around the clock. But it requires confidence in your ability to deliver results and the willingness (and skill!) to articulate that value clearly to potential clients.

5. Payment plans and installments

Instead of requiring $3,000 upfront for a 6-month package, you might offer $500 per month for 6 months. This makes your coaching accessible to more people while still getting you paid fairly for your work.

You can also offer a small discount for paying in full upfront, which incentivizes clients who can afford it to pay the full amount immediately.

Paperbell handles all of this automatically, so you’re not manually tracking who owes what or sending awkward payment reminders.

Factors that Affect Pricing Strategy

Pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all. What works for one coach might not work for another, even in the same niche. Here are the biggest factors that should influence your rates.

1. Your experience level and credentials

Let’s look at a real example: Brigid Tebaldi, a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, offers her Restored by Grace program for $1,500.

This 12-week program helps moms heal after birth trauma and includes:

• Twice-monthly 60-minute group sessions
• On-demand coaching support
• Access to her complete curriculum
• And much more

Brigid can charge this rate for group sessions because she has a specific signature coaching program that solves a clear problem. She also has testimonials from past clients and recognized certifications that build trust with potential clients.

If you’re newer to coaching and don’t yet have testimonials or credentials, you might start at a lower rate while you build your portfolio. That’s completely normal and expected.

2. Your niche and target market

Who you serve and what you help them with dramatically impacts what you can charge.

Executive coaches working with corporate leaders can charge significantly more than life coaches working with college students. That doesn’t mean one is “better” than the other. It’s simply a reflection of what those markets can afford and the different value propositions.

If your ideal clients are busy professionals who value their time highly, they’ll often pay premium rates for coaching that saves them years of trial and error.

3. Geographic location and target audience income

If you’re coaching online, geography matters less than it used to. But if your target audience lives in an area with a lower cost of living, they may have different budget expectations than clients in expensive cities.

This is another reason to think carefully about who you want to serve. Your coaching niche determines not just what you teach, but also what you can realistically charge.

4. The transformation you provide (not just your time)

Here’s another real example: Coach Chinonyelum Udoye charges $3,570 for her 6-month private coaching program.

She’s not just selling 22 coaching sessions. She’s helping women stop people-pleasing and lead from alignment.

Her package offers a complete transformation that includes: 

• Releasing guilt
• Redefining success
• Reclaiming time and energy
• Strengthening their professional presence
• Setting boundaries with confidence
• Leading with authenticity

When you frame your coaching around the transformation instead of the time commitment, pricing becomes clearer. You’re not charging for 45-minute sessions. You’re charging for a different life.

4. Market rates in your coaching specialty

You don’t have to match what other coaches charge, but you should know what’s typical in your niche.

Are similar coaches charging $2,000 for 3-month packages? Or are they closer to $5,000? 

Understanding the range helps you position yourself appropriately based on your experience and the value you deliver.

Want to see real pricing examples from actual coaches? Download this free report to see how 28 real coaches price their packages across different niches and experience levels.

5. Your business goals and desired income

This one’s practical but often overlooked.

If you need to make $5,000 per month to cover your expenses and you can realistically take on five clients at a time, you need to charge at least $1,000 per client. 

If you want to work with only three clients at a time, you need to charge closer to $1,667 per client.

Working backward from your income goals helps you set rates that actually support the business you’re trying to build.

6. Confidence level (and how it grows with experience)

When I first started offering coaching and consulting, I charged $97 for an hour-long strategy session.

Was I worth more than that? Probably. But I had no experience actually coaching (plenty of experience on the topic I was coaching about). I had no coaching-specific testimonials, and frankly, I just wanted someone to say yes. 

I needed the cash flow and the practice.

Since then, I’ve more than doubled my strategy session pricing. I also only take coaching or consulting clients when I’m confident they’re a good fit and I’ll genuinely enjoy working with them.

I’ve even expanded into asynchronous coaching and charged $1,200 for a 6-week coaching package with no calls at all. That only works because I’m confident in my ability to deliver results that way.

Your confidence will grow as you get results for clients. In the beginning, it’s okay to charge less while you build that confidence. 

Just don’t stay there longer than necessary.

The Simple Strategy to Get You Started With Your Coaching Service Prices

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all these factors, here’s a simple 3-phase approach that takes the guesswork out of pricing.

Phase 1: Penetration pricing

When you’re just starting out, use penetration pricing to get your first clients in the door and build testimonials.

At this phase, your goal isn’t to make tons of money. It’s to: 

• Get experience
• Refine your process
• Collect testimonials that will help you raise your rates later

A good baseline is around $1,500 for a 3-month coaching package. This positions you as a professional (not a hobbyist), but it’s accessible enough that people will take a chance on you even without a long track record.

Phase 2: Necessity pricing

Once you have a few clients under your belt and some solid testimonials, move to necessity pricing.

This means charging enough to cover your actual business costs and pay yourself a reasonable salary:

• Calculate what you need to make per month 
• Factor in how many clients you can realistically serve
• Set your prices accordingly

If you need $6,000 per month and can work with 6 clients, you need to charge at least $1,000 per client. If you can only manage 3 clients at a time while maintaining quality, you need to charge $2,000 per client.

This phase helps you build a sustainable business that doesn’t burn you out or leave you broke.

Phase 3: Premium pricing

Finally, once you’re confident in your results and have a strong reputation, move to premium pricing.

Premium pricing means charging what your transformation is actually worth in someone’s life or business. 

If you help someone double their income, overcome a decade of limiting beliefs, or completely transform their relationship with their body, that’s worth a premium investment.

At this phase, you’re not competing on price. You’re competing on results, and clients who are serious about transformation will pay accordingly.

You might charge $5,000, $10,000, or even more for deep transformational work. The key is that you can back it up with proven results and a clear process for getting clients there.

How Paperbell Makes Pricing Easier

Once you’ve decided on your pricing strategy, the next step is actually setting it up so clients can easily buy from you.

This is where a lot of coaches get stuck again. Do you need a website? A payment processor? A scheduling tool? How do you make it easy for someone to say yes without overwhelming them with tech?

Paperbell handles all of this in one place.

You can set up beautiful coaching package pages with flexible pricing options, such as:

• Pay-in-full
• Monthly payment plans
• Custom installment schedules
• Monthly subscriptions

Everything is branded to you, and payment processing happens automatically through Stripe or PayPal.

Even better, it takes just minutes to set up your first package. You can even pick from one of several templates and customize from there:

When pricing feels overwhelming, having the tech side handled makes everything easier. You can: 

• Test different pricing models
• Adjust as you grow
• Focus on the actual coaching instead of chasing payments or managing spreadsheets

Try it out for free to launch your first coaching package today.

Price With Confidence and Get Back to Coaching

Pricing your coaching services doesn’t have to keep you up at night.

Start with a simple baseline that reflects where you are right now. Get some clients, deliver amazing results, and raise your rates as your confidence grows. Focus on the transformation you provide instead of just the time you spend, and don’t be afraid to charge what you’re worth.

And when you’re ready to make the tech side simple, try Paperbell for free. You’ll have your coaching packages and pricing page set up and ready to sell in minutes, so you can spend less time worrying about pricing and more time actually coaching.

FAQ About Pricing Your Coaching Services

How much should you charge for a coaching session?

For individual sessions, many coaches charge between $100 and $300 per hour, depending on experience and niche. However, most successful coaches move away from hourly pricing toward packages.

How do you price yourself as a coach?

Start by considering your experience level, the transformation you provide, and your income goals. New coaches often begin around $1,500 for a 3-month package, while experienced coaches may charge $3,000 to $10,000 or more.

How to charge clients for coaching?

Most coaches use package pricing with payment plans when setting coaching fees. Clients can pay in full up front or spread payments over several months. Automated tools like Paperbell handle payment processing seamlessly.

What is the average price for coaching?

Life coaching packages typically range from $1,500 to $5,000 for 3-month programs, though rates vary widely based on niche, experience, and target market. Executive coaching or business coaching will often be pricier.

Which tool can I use to help with processing payments easily?

Paperbell is specifically designed for coaches and includes payment processing, scheduling, contracts, and client management in one simple platform. You can set up coaching pricing packages with flexible payment options in minutes.

The good news? You don’t have to start from scratch or piece together multiple tools again. Paperbell offers everything you need to keep your coaching business running smoothly, and we’re here to help you make the transition as painless as possible.

Why Practice.do Coaches Are Moving to Paperbell

Practice.do raised $10 million in venture capital funding but ultimately couldn’t sustain a profitable business model. Here at Paperbell, we took a different approach. We’re a bootstrapped, profitable company that’s been serving coaches for five years. We have thousands of active paying coaches who have collectively processed over $40 million through our platform—and we’re not going anywhere.

When you’re choosing where to build your coaching business, stability matters. You need to know your platform will be there for you next month, next year, and beyond.

Everything You Relied on in Practice.do, All in Paperbell

If you loved how Practice.do consolidated your coaching tools, you’ll feel right at home with Paperbell. Here’s what we offer:

Client scheduling that syncs with Google Calendar, iCal and Outlook, complete with automatic time zone detection and buffer times between sessions. Your clients can self-book, and you’ll never worry about double-booking again.

Complete client management with detailed profiles showing purchase history, session notes, signed contracts, and remaining appointments—all in one place.

Forms and contracts built right into your client onboarding flow. Clients sign contracts and complete intake surveys as part of scheduling and payment, so you never have to chase anyone down.

Flexible payment options including one-time payments, payment plans, and ongoing subscriptions. Accept credit cards through Stripe or PayPal, and Paperbell handles all the billing automatically.

Video call integration with Zoom and Google Meet. Each appointment automatically includes the meeting link in both calendars, so your clients always know how to connect with you.

File and content delivery for any digital resources you want to share with clients—PDFs, videos, worksheets, you name it.

Client portal where your clients can access everything they need: book sessions, view notes, access materials, and communicate with you.

Professional website included with every account. Unlike Practice.do’s approach, Paperbell gives you a complete coaching website that looks polished and converts visitors into clients—no additional website builder needed.

Paperbell Helps You Migrate from Practice.do

Moving platforms can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already dealing with the stress of Practice.do closing. That’s why we’re offering personal migration support to all Practice.do coaches.

Just reach out to us at hello@paperbell.com and we’ll help you get set up, answer your questions, and make sure you’re ready to welcome clients on Paperbell.

Practice’s Official Shutdown Announcement

“We’re writing today to share some unfortunate news. Our company was in the process of being acquired, but unfortunately, that acquisition has fallen through. Because we have been preparing for a transition, we are unable to pivot quickly enough to keep operations running independently and thus will be closing our doors.

We know this is abrupt, and our leadership team is truly sorry for the disruption this may cause you, your customers, and your business. This is not the outcome we had hoped for, and our team deeply regrets that we weren’t able to provide more notice or continuity.

Serving you over the last four years has been a privilege, and we want to thank you sincerely for your trust and support.

Next, we highly suggest that you export your Practice data at your earliest convenience. To export your data, please follow these steps:

1. Access your settings: app.practice.do/settings
2. Connect your Google Drive to Practice
3. Navigate to your Google Drive integration
4. Start the export process, and it will run for a brief period of time in the background

If you have any questions or technical difficulties, please email us at [REDACTED]

With gratitude and regret,

Julien Smith

CEO & Co-Founder of Practice”

Switch to Paperbell Today, Completely Free

You can sign up for a free Paperbell account right now, with no credit card required. Take your time setting up your coaching packages, importing client information, and getting comfortable with the platform.

Practice.do coaches deserve a stable, reliable platform that’s built to last. We’re here for you, and we’re not going anywhere.

Get your free Paperbell account →