{"id":11814,"date":"2023-09-21T11:02:12","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T11:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/?p=11814"},"modified":"2023-08-12T18:00:05","modified_gmt":"2023-08-12T18:00:05","slug":"coaching-business-start-up-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/coaching-business-start-up-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Coaching Business Start-up Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A
Coaching Business Start-up Planning<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Starting a coaching business<\/a> can be simplified with action steps so you get coaching sooner!\u00a0 After you complete your initial training, use the process outline below for ideas to create your own plan and move forward.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Name your business. \u00a0Using your personal name can work well when you have a large network and great reputation.\u00a0 Choosing a business name is an opportunity for something meaningful \u2013 do include exactly what you do in the name.\u00a0 A business name may also create the impression of a larger business.<\/li>\n
  2. Create your coaching agreement.\u00a0 There are five examples on the coach login page plus ICF<\/a> offers one.\u00a0 It is important to do this early on so you are ready to start!<\/li>\n
  3. Update your social media profiles to indicate your certification or credential.\u00a0 Let your network know you are available to coach.\u00a0 If you want, make an offer stating a normal rate and a super discounted rate for a limited number in exchange for using a specific process and writing a testimonial.\u00a0 Get started coaching!<\/li>\n
  4. Be sure to continue your coach training.\u00a0 Decide if you want to move toward the <\/span>ACC or the PCC credentia<\/a>l with ICF.\u00a0 As you continue your journey to become a coach, continue setting up your business too.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Create your calendar.\u00a0 Include time for Business Tasks, Phone Calls, Emails, Letters, Distributing Flyers or Brochures, Online Networking, Local Networking, Blogs and Articles, Seminars and Workshops, Speeches, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Define your niche.\u00a0 Without a niche it is hard to target your efforts for gaining clients.\u00a0 Additionally, when you are vague it creates an impression versus when you are specific it lends credibility.\u00a0 As an example, if you want to do executive coaching, be specific \u2013 is your niche leadership, transitions, communication, or what?\u00a0 If you want to do life coaching, be specific \u2013 is your niche dating, parenting, retiring, <\/span>ADHD<\/a>, balance, or what?\u00a0 Choose up to three specific niche areas and be sure they make sense together. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Describe your ideal client.\u00a0 The more specific you are the better.\u00a0 In addition to demographics, describe the challenges they face and can work on in coaching.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Write your mission and vision statements.\u00a0 There is a handout for graduates on the coach login page or there is a previous blog explaining the steps.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Decide how you will share your Code of Ethics and Core Values.\u00a0 Ensure you provide access to them on your website.<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Decide what type of legal ownership you want and follow the required steps.\u00a0 Consider a business license, LLC, S, or C Corporation, or d.b.a. (In the US incorporating is easily done online.)<\/span><\/li>\n
  11. Decide on insurance for your business, obtain three quotes, select one, and sign up.<\/span><\/li>\n
  12. Set-up and organize your office.\u00a0 Be sure you are working in a functional, comfortable, and private space.\u00a0 Ensure that your coaching notes are only accessible by you and that you can easily access documents you use.<\/span><\/li>\n
  13. Create your business and marketing plans.\u00a0 An outline is provided on the coach login page and will be reviewed in an upcoming blog.<\/span><\/li>\n
  14. Choose the colors, theme, and look you want for your logo, business cards, website, and brochures.<\/span><\/li>\n
  15. Design your logo or engage someone to do it for you based on your input.<\/span><\/li>\n
  16. Refine your marketing message to fit with your niche and your design, then Create your Website.<\/span><\/li>\n
  17. a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Choose a web hosting service and buy your domain name.\u00a0 It is smart to also own your name as a domain.
    \nb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Choose whether you will use a template or hire a web designer.
    \nc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Write content for a home page, a page for each type of service offered, an about page, and a can contact page.
    \nd.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Create an initial draft version of your website.
    \ne.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get feedback and make changes.
    \nf.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Set a completion date and publish your website.<\/li>\n
  18. Design and print your business cards.\u00a0 Be sure they are readable and include your name, business name if different, phone, email, and website.<\/li>\n
  19. Set goals for the number of clients and what you want to earn.\u00a0 Focus on engaging new clients.<\/li>\n
  20. Extras to expand your reach include social media, brochures and\/or flyers, a blog, articles, a podcast, publishing, and presenting.\u00a0 Choose one at a time and create your content.<\/li>\n
  21. Develop a contact database to keep track of your network and people you meet through events or giving presentations.<\/li>\n
  22. Choose online and in-person networking groups and join.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Make changes to this list to fit your circumstances and objectives.\u00a0 What counts is that you get started!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Starting a coaching business can be simplified with action steps so you get coaching sooner!\u00a0 After you complete your initial training, use the process outline … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11815,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,470,471,16,40],"tags":[711,402,59,50,2451,1907,998,142,205,712,186,2452],"class_list":["post-11814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-coaching-resources","category-coaching-skills","category-coaching-stories","category-tools-and-techniques","tag-acc","tag-adhd","tag-business-2","tag-coaching","tag-coaching-business-start-up-planning","tag-core-values","tag-credential","tag-ethics","tag-icf","tag-pcc","tag-planning","tag-start-up","latest_post"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11814"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11814\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11817,"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11814\/revisions\/11817"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coachcert.com\/coachingblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}