- \n
- How to structure a coaching business<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Why you need to come up with a coaching offer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 7 coaching business model ideas and real-life examples<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What is a Coaching Business Model?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"coaching](\"https:\/\/paperbell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/coaching-business-model.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA business model describes how a coach creates, delivers, and captures value in the marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In other words, it\u2019s a structure for serving your coaching clients<\/a> \u2014 and how you intend to generate revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your business model<\/a> will also include what type of dream client you\u2019re targeting. But in the context of this article, we\u2019ll cover different coaching models<\/a> \u2014 because any of them can work with any target client!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Do You Structure a Coaching Business?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Whether you\u2019ve been coaching for a while or just started your coaching business, here are some tips to help you structure your coaching business and develop a business model that makes sense for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Come up with your first offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No matter which business model you choose, you\u2019ll need at least one coaching offer to sell before you can get clients<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you create your first offer, let\u2019s explore the differences between offers, coaching programs<\/a>, and coaching packages<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Coaching program<\/strong>: the step-by-step process your clients will go through when they work with you. Coaching programs usually depend on a coach\u2019s signature framework<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Coaching package<\/strong>: everything included in what you\u2019re selling (and your pricing). This can include coaching sessions<\/a>, digital products, workbooks, and anything else you deliver to your clients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Coaching offer<\/strong>: a promise, outcome, or guarantee clients can get when they purchase your coaching packages<\/a>. Some people refer to this as a value proposition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In other words, the coaching package is the \u201cwhat.\u201d Your coaching program is the \u201chow.\u201d But the coaching offer is the \u201cwhy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why should clients hire you as a coach? What specific outcome will they get from working with you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s take a look at a coach who helps couples heal their relationships after an affair \u2014 Dee Tozer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On her website<\/a>, she breaks down the details of her 90-day coaching program<\/strong>. She also shares the details of what\u2019s included in the coaching package<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/paperbell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image4-1-1024x762.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBut what about her promise? The above sounds interesting, but what will really convince couples on the verge of divorce to hire Dee?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is where Dee\u2019s coaching offer <\/strong>comes in. The promise she makes to her clients is to Rescue, Repair, and Rebuild Your Relationship Within 90 Days.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notice how the offer is only one sentence long and doesn\u2019t include any superfluous details about what\u2019s included or how many sessions it will take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s because a coaching offer doesn\u2019t sell \u201csessions.\u201d Instead, it sells an outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, you don\u2019t have to sell your coaching this way. You\u2019re free to sell coaching sessions instead. But by creating a specific coaching offer, you\u2019ll stand out from your competitors and position yourself as unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s a much simpler way to get coaching clients, fast<\/a> and make money!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, you can find hundreds (if not thousands) of relationship coaches<\/a>. But how many make the same promise as Dee? Not many. That\u2019s how she\u2019s able to stand out and attract clients<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To come up with your coaching offer, ask yourself the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- What end goal can your coaching program help your target audience achieve?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What is your coaching niche?<\/a> In short, who is your ideal client?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What\u2019s a realistic timeframe to achieve this? The more clients you help, the more you\u2019ll know how to figure this out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What undesirable things can your coaching clients avoid with this offer? For example, \u201cI\u2019ll help you gain 15 lbs of muscle within a year without protein shakes<\/strong>\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What is my guarantee? (if applicable) For example, do you keep working for free with your clients if you don\u2019t achieve the desired results within the promised timeframe?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Make sure not to overpromise with your coaching offer. If your offer sounds too good to be true, potential clients may be turned off because they won\u2019t believe it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only once you have your offer ready should you elaborate on the details of your program and packages. Keep in mind that those details can change over time, especially as you gain more experience and refine your process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udca1 Pro tip:<\/strong> Once you’ve defined your coaching offer, use Paperbell<\/a> to turn it into a professional package with payment processing and booking in just minutes.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Build a minimum viable business model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now that you have your offer, it\u2019s time to create your business model. And before you get carried away\u2026 consider trying a minimum viable business model and marketing strategy<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This means: start with one business model \u2014 without bells and whistles. You can test your offer and your target coaching market before you build on this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, let\u2019s say you want to try one-on-one coaching. Your minimum viable business model could look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- One coaching package for 3 months of coaching<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Simple landing page to allow potential clients to book a free consultation with you<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Simple landing page to allow clients to pay for your package, sign a contract, and book their first session with you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s it. No fancy websites, and no overwhelming list of package options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The key to your minimum viable business model is to avoid spending too much on an offer that hasn\u2019t been validated. And this goes for all entrepreneurs \u2014 not just coaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, don\u2019t build an entire new website<\/a> \u2014 and don\u2019t spend thousands on ads!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Validate your offer and business model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are several ways you can validate a coaching offer \u2014 depending on your budget and how much time you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to validate your offer for free, you may have to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Message past clients (if you have any)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reach out to existing members of your audience on social media <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ask your existing network if this offer sounds appealing to them (or if they know someone who\u2019d find it appealing)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
But if you want to use paid advertising<\/a>, you can launch a simple ad to get people to book a free consultation in your calendar. Facebook Ads<\/a> is one of the easiest ways to validate a coaching offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spend somewhere between $100-$150 to test your messaging. If you get zero booked calls on your calendar, this means you may need to tweak your messaging or your offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It can take a few tests to get the offer right. But don\u2019t spend more on a campaign until you\u2019ve validated that people are interested in booking a free discovery call with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve validated your coaching offer and business model, it\u2019s up to you to decide what to do next. Some coaches are perfectly happy working with just 3 to 4 clients, while others will prefer to scale their businesses and add new revenue streams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7 Coaching Business Models to Inspire Your Own Journey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Need some ideas for online coaching business models to implement in your own business? Here are 7 business models, along with real-life examples of coaches who\u2019ve successfully used them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. One-to-one Coaching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Individual coaching is the most straightforward type of coaching model. In this model, you simply work alone with all your new clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can perform a one-to-one coaching practice in person, during virtual sessions on Zoom<\/a>, or asynchronously using text messaging or Voxer. The goal is to work closely with your clients, so they have your full attention during their dedicated time with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nayshondra Mercer<\/a> offers personal coaching<\/a> in nearly all of her packages. Here\u2019s an example of her 6-month program:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/paperbell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image1-1-1024x776.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Group Coaching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Group coaching works in similar ways to one-to-one coaching \u2014 except on a one-to-many basis. You, the coach, can serve several people at once!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can still implement some one-on-one sessions in your group coaching services<\/a>. But at its core, you\u2019ll typically serve a larger number of clients in a group setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some coaches will also call their group coaching program a Mastermind. But in a true Mastermind, all members are peers of relatively equal footing. It\u2019s peer-to-peer instead of being one-to-many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tarzan Kay<\/a> is an email marketing coach who mostly works in a group coaching format. She provides support to her cohorts using Slack in addition to live calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notice anything special about Tarzan\u2019s sales page? Yup \u2014 it\u2019s a simple Google Doc. That\u2019s a minimum viable funnel in action! And to take payments, she has a simple checkout link:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Coaching](\"https:\/\/paperbell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image7-1-1024x815.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Consulting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Consulting<\/a> is a bit different from one-to-one coaching. Instead of helping your clients with accountability and soul-searching questions, you figure out what to do for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, Luke Charlton<\/a> runs an advertising agency \u2014 but also has a consulting program, The 15 Minute Client. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Coaching](\"https:\/\/paperbell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image2-2-1024x595.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThroughout this program, clients go through training videos and do their homework. But Luke\u2019s team provides actionable feedback and is available to answer any questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Memberships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A membership is a recurring subscription that gives your clients access to you, your community, your content, or anything else you wish! You can offer group coaching or one-to-one coaching in a membership, or you can simply offer access to digital resources or Q&A sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kia Cannons<\/a> is an example of a life coach who\u2019s launched a membership:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Coaching](\"https:\/\/paperbell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image6-1-1024x808.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHer membership offers live sessions each month as well as monthly Creative Hours and additional bonus sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Courses and Digital Products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Coaching courses and digital products<\/a> differ from group coaching in that they don\u2019t require your active input. Clients pay for access to content \u2014 not you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can offer single workshop<\/a> recordings \u2014 or break down a course into several modules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, Savannah Bustos<\/a> offers one-on-one sessions, but she also sells an online course as a more affordable option to work with her:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Coaching](\"https:\/\/paperbell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image5-1-1024x868.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne caveat with courses \u2014 coaches often get told courses are \u201cthe best way\u201d to grow a coaching business. But that\u2019s not always the case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a course, template, or digital product to be high-quality, you need to have tons of experience helping your clients through what you\u2019re teaching. This means a course should rarely be your first business model \u2014 unless you have prior experience from another job or life experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. In-person Events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Offering coaching online is awesome. But face-to-face events are still a valuable tool for coaches and their clients to fast-track their results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you offer retreats, workshops, or summits, you simply can\u2019t beat interacting with people in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, Amy Bell<\/a> only offers her NLP program in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Coaching](\"https:\/\/paperbell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image3-1-1024x560.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nShe does this because, according to her, it\u2019s nearly impossible to train new coaches on the techniques of NLP<\/a> without seeing them in person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Blended Approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You can stick to a single business model. But as you grow and gain more experience as a coach, you may want to take a blended approach with more than one business model!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Coaching package<\/strong>: everything included in what you\u2019re selling (and your pricing). This can include coaching sessions<\/a>, digital products, workbooks, and anything else you deliver to your clients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Coaching program<\/strong>: the step-by-step process your clients will go through when they work with you. Coaching programs usually depend on a coach\u2019s signature framework<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
![\"Coaching](\"https:\/\/paperbell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image8-1-1024x482.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"coaching](\"https:\/\/paperbell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/coaching-business-model-pin.png\")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"