You have decided to become a Co-Active coach and start a coaching business. Congratulations! You are embarking on an exciting journey that’s worth every moment.
Few things are more fulfilling than using an effective coaching methodology to help others reach their goals and realize their full potential. As a coach, you already understand the importance of taking a holistic approach to coaching by integrating all aspects of your clients’ lives. The same applies to building a coaching practice.
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Recognize You Are an Entrepreneur
When you start a coaching business, you immediately move from being a coach to an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs create their business vision, set goals, and develop marketing strategies. If you want your coaching practice to succeed, you will recognize you are a business owner and do the same. Your vision, goals, and strategy will align with your coaching philosophy.
You are uniquely equipped with the skills and mindset to build a successful coaching business because you understand the role of a coach and how coaches impact clients. You know the coaching journey is about learning and growing through many stages. Similarly, being an entrepreneur is an evolutionary process with continuous iterations throughout the life of your business.
The 4 Stages of a Coaching Business
Similar to how human beings move from childhood to adolescence, through adulthood into senior years, coaching businesses also naturally evolve through four stages. The paradox is that they are rarely linear and tidy.
Stage #1: Coach in Training
In the first stage, your main focus is learning how to coach, and you master skills through a training program. The goal is to improve your methods and determine how you might use coaching in your work. You will practice with clients and explore how coaching fits your professional life.
Building your confidence as a coach comes first. Income is secondary, though you will have a soft focus on marketing that you can ramp up as you complete your training. Simple marketing efforts include creating an online presence or offering free or low-cost sessions. Experiment with different niches by observing the clients and topics that resonate with you. This stage is about growth, practice, and finding your footing.
Stage #2: Startup
The startup phase is challenging but crucial. In this stage, your learning will be as intense as in coach training, but your focus shifts to defining your niche and developing your marketing strategy. You will identify the problems clients hire you to solve and tailor your message to attract your ideal audience. People are often pushed by the pain and pulled by the dream.
Use marketing channels that align with your personality and values, such as social media, content creation, or speaking engagements. The most important thing to accept — or even embrace — is that this stage of business will take time. You will stay here until you create a stable foundation for sustainable success.
Stage #3: Sustainable Success
You have reached the third stage when your coaching business thrives with a steady income and a strong brand presence. You have developed scalable offerings, established a recognizable brand, and have marketing systems to ensure a consistent stream of clients.
As you grow into this stage of business, you will create scalable coaching offers. You might offer individual and group coaching and have digital offers available on demand.
Investing in tools like internet marketing, mentorship, and administrative support will help you maintain your success and grow even further.
Other specialized activities that deliver your unique message include:
- Creating a blog
- Publishing articles or guest posts
- Writing an eBook or publish a full-length book
- Hosting or appearing on a podcast that connects your message with your market
- Crafting a couple of signature speeches that highlight your message
- Finding speaking engagements that highlight your coaching specialty
By refining your message and expanding your reach, you continue to connect with more ideal clients.
Stage #4: Legacy
As a thought leader, you are known for your expertise and have gained a loyal following. Your influence extends beyond individual coaching sessions as you help others align with their core values. With this influence comes the freedom and resources to continue impacting people on a larger scale. Reaching this stage means you have built a legacy beyond coaching — it is now about inspiring and empowering others at the highest level.
As a stage #4 leader, you have built a successful coaching business and created a lasting legacy.
Co-Active Can Prepare You to Start Your Coaching Business
Congratulations! You have decided to train to be a Co-Active Coach and start a coaching business. More than half of all new professional coaches have trained with Co-Active, so you are in excellent company. Let the experts in coach training equip you for coaching mastery and prepare you for your thriving coaching career.