Starting a Home-Based Life Coaching Business

Are you the kind of person who likes to help people, and who everyone seems to come to for advice and counsel? Starting a home-based life coach business might be a good business idea if this describes you.

Life coaches help people sort through decisions and ideas that they may be struggling with. A life coach may help people make decisions about relationships, careers, education, and many other important life decisions.

Getting Started

A life coach may meet with one client at a time, or may work with a group of clients at one time. Coaching sessions may be conducted in person, on the telephone, by e-mail, or through an Internet chat application. The communication medium is up to the coach and the client.

Many people take formal training classes before attempting to start their life coaching business. This training can be invaluable in preparing a future coach for the demands and realities of working with real clients.

Some coaches also become certified as a life coach. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is widely recognized as the leading organization in life coach credentialing. Becoming credentialed as a life coach can provide confidence to new clients that the coach meets certain standards and qualifications.

Marketing

Coaches who are credentialed by the ICF or another accrediting body have a marketing advantage over coaches who are not credentialed. Announcing any formal coach training or credentials on business cards, letterheads, and websites can help to build credibility. Credibility is everything in a business where people are paying for an opinion or advice.

A business website is essential for a life coach. The website provides an opportunity to introduce yourself to potential clients, detail your qualifications, training and credentials, and to explain what services you offer and how you can help your clients. Including a blog or e-mail list subscription form on the website can be a great way to build credibility and authority. Readers who learn to trust your advice and counsel on your blog or e-mail list may in time become paying clients.

Business cards are also important for a life coach. Professionally printed business cards help to build credibility and present an image of professionalism. Business cards also allow the life coach to pass along their contact information to a potential customer at any time or location.

Life coaches who focus on a particular specialty can target advertising and marketing efforts to the particular audience that they are trying to reach. Life coaches with a specialty in business coaching may benefit from joining the local chamber of commerce. A life coach who specializes in parent-teen relations may advertise in a local parenting publication or participate in Internet discussion forums for parents of teenagers.

Cautions

Life coaches who plan to have clients come to their home for coaching sessions should have business liability insurance in case a client is injured at the coach's home. Insurance can also protect the life coach in the event that they were to be sued over some particularly bad advice or counsel given to a client. Insurance needs should be discussed with a qualified insurance agent.

Conclusion

Starting a home-based life coach business can be a great business idea for people who like helping others, are excellent communicators, and who are passionate about helping people to improve their lives. A life coach business can be operated as a home-based business and requires little money to start other than the cost of any training or certifications that the coach pursues.

SOURCES

Laura M. Sands. How to Become a Life Coach: Starting a Professional Coaching Business. Suite101.com. Site accessed on 20 November 2010.

Alyssa Gregory. Life Coaching Small Business Idea: The Pros and Cons of Starting a Life Coaching Business. Small Business Ideas. About.com. Site accessed on 20 November 2010.

Doug Nau. How to Become a Life Coach. Self Improvement Site on the Internet. Site accessed on 20 November 2010.