health coach business plan

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Health Coaching Business Plan

The health coaching business enables you to pursue your passion, take charge of your professional future, and build a company that aligns with your principles and goals along with giving you monetary rewards.

So are you intending to be a health coach? If yes, then planning everything first is a wise option.

Need help writing a business plan for your health coaching business? You’re at the right place. Our health coaching business plan template will help you get started.

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Download our free health coaching business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
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How to Write A Health Coaching Business Plan?

Writing a health coaching business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

• Market Opportunity: Summarize your market research, including market size, growth potential, and marketing trends. Highlight the opportunities in the market and how your business will fit in to fill the gap.
• Marketing & Sales Strategies: Outline your sales and marketing strategies—what marketing platforms you use, how you plan on acquiring customers, etc.
• Financial Highlights: Briefly summarize your financial projections for the initial years of business operations. Include any capital or investment requirements, associated startup costs, projected revenues, and profit forecasts.
• Call to Action: Summarize your executive summary section with a clear CTA, for example, inviting angel investors to discuss the potential business investment.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Describe what kind of health coaching business you run and the name of it. You may specialize in one of the following health coaching businesses:

• General health and wellness coaching
• Nutrition and diet coaching
• Fitness and exercise coaching
• Stress management and mindfulness coaching
• Weight loss coaching
• Corporate wellness coaching
• Describe the legal structure of your health coaching business, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.
• Owners: List the names of your health coaching business’s founders or owners. Describe what shares they own and their responsibilities for efficiently managing the business.
• Mission Statement: Summarize your business’ objective, core principles, and values in your mission statement. This statement needs to be memorable, clear, and brief.
• Future Goals: It’s crucial to convey your aspirations and vision. Mention your short-term and long-term goals; they can be specific targets for revenue, market share, or expanding your services.

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

• Competitive Analysis: Identify and analyze your direct and indirect competitors. Identify their strengths and weaknesses, and describe what differentiates your health coaching services from them. Point out how you have a competitive edge in the market.
• Regulatory Environment: List regulations and licensing requirements that may affect your health coaching company, such as licensing & certification, insurance coverage, privacy & confidentiality, scope of practice, etc.

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your health coach business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

• Personalized health plans
• Initial assessment and goal setting
• Individual coaching sessions
• Progress monitoring and adjustments
• Group programs & workshops
• Describe your approach: Describe the strategy and process you employ in your coaching practice. Highlight the guiding principles, philosophies, or methods used in your coaching. Talk about the holistic strategy you use to care for your client’s physical, mental, and emotional needs.
• Showcase your expertise: Draw attention to the areas of your expertise and any training or certificates you may have. For instance, if you have a specialty in prenatal health, stress treatment, or weight management, describe your training and expertise in these fields.
• Additional Services: Mention if your health coaching company offers any additional services. You may include services like, meal planning, educational workshops, etc.

In short, this section of your health coaching plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

• Pricing Strategy: Describe your pricing strategy—how you plan to price your services and stay competitive in the local market. You can mention any discounts you plan on offering to attract new customers.
• Marketing Strategies: Discuss your marketing strategies to market your services. You may include some of these marketing strategies in your business plan—social media marketing, Google ads, brochures, email marketing, content marketing, and print marketing.
• Sales Strategies: Outline the strategies you’ll implement to maximize your sales. Your sales strategies may include direct sales calls, partnering with other businesses, offering referral programs, etc.
• Customer Retention: Describe your customer retention strategies and how you plan to execute them. For instance, introducing loyalty programs, discounts on annual membership, personalized service, etc.

Overall, this section of your health coaching business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your health coaching business, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

• Staffing & Training: Mention your cleaning business’s staffing requirements, including the number of employees or health coaches needed. Include their qualifications, the training required, and the duties they will perform.
• Operational Process: Outline the processes and procedures you will use to run your health coaching business. Your operational processes may include client intake & assessment, goal setting & action planning, progress tracking & evaluation, etc.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your health coaching business’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

• Founders/CEO: Mention the founders and CEO of your health coaching business, and describe their roles and responsibilities in successfully running the business.
• Organizational structure: Explain the organizational structure of your management team. Include the reporting line and decision-making hierarchy.
• Compensation Plan: Describe your compensation plan for the management and staff. Include their salaries, incentives, and other benefits.

This section should describe the key personnel for your health coaching services, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

• Profit & loss statement: Describe details such as projected revenue, operational costs, and service costs in your projected profit and loss statement . Make sure to include your business’s expected net profit or loss.
• Cash flow statement: The cash flow for the first few years of your operation should be estimated and described in this section. This may include billing invoices, payment receipts, loan payments, and any other cash flow statements.
• Balance Sheet: Create a projected balance sheet documenting your health coaching business’s assets, liabilities, and equity.
• Financing Needs: Calculate costs associated with starting a health coaching business, and estimate your financing needs and how much capital you need to raise to operate your business. Be specific about your short-term and long-term financing requirements, such as investment capital or loans.

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your business plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your health coaching business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

This sample health coaching business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful health coaching plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our health coaching business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a health coaching business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful health coaching business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your health coaching business.

How to get funding for your health coaching business?

There are several ways to get funding for your health coaching business, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

Small Business Administration (SBA) loan

Crowdfunding, angel investors.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your health coaching business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your health coaching business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your health coaching business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any health coaching business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Health Coaching Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Health Coaching Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their health coaching companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a health coaching business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a health coaching business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Health Coaching Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your health coaching business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Health Coaching Business

If you’re looking to start a health coaching business or grow your existing health coaching company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your health coaching business to improve your chances of success. Your health coaching business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Health Coaching Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a health coaching business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for health coaching companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a health coaching business.

If you want to start a health coaching business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your health coaching business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of health coaching business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a health coaching business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of health coaching businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the health coaching industry.
• Discuss the type of health coaching business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of health coaching business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of health coaching businesses:

• Fitness health coaching : Fitness health coaches work with clients to improve overall health by eating balanced meals and creating a comprehensive fitness plan.
• Holistic health coaching: Coaches offer plant-based diets, along with integrated mind and body health platforms.
• Wellness health coaching: Wellness health coaches concentrate on clients’ behavioral and mind-body integration.
• Nutritional health coaching : Primarily focused on nutritional balance and performance in the body, nutritional health coaches work to reduce food allergies and other irritants to good health via selective eating plans.

In addition to explaining the type of health coaching business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, the number of cases with positive outcomes, reaching X number of successful clients, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the health coaching industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the health coaching industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your health coaching business plan:

• How big is the health coaching industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your health coaching business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your health coaching business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, families, and HR personnel in corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of health coaching business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than HR personnel in corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other health coaching businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes medical clinics, alternative healers, and fitness gyms. You need to mention direct competition, as well.

For each direct competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of health coaching business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide options for the uninsured?
• Will you offer health products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a health coaching business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of health coaching company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide holistic health coaching with a balanced program of all components: mind, body, and spirit?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your health coaching company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your health coaching business located in a busy retail district, a business district, or in a standalone office? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your health coaching marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in health and natural wellness magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your health coaching business, including answering calls, planning and providing coaching sessions, billing clients,  etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth session, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your health coaching business to a new city.

Management Team

To demonstrate your health coaching business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing health coaching businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a health coaching business or successfully running a small natural health store.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you see 10 clients per day, and/or offer packaged sessions? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your health coaching business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a health coaching business:

• Cost of equipment and office supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your office location lease or a list of insurance plans you accept.

Writing a business plan for your health coaching business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert and understand how to start a health coaching business. You will understand the health coaching industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful health coaching business.

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Health Coaching Business

Back to All Business Ideas

13 Steps to Start a Health Coaching Business

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on April 5, 2022 Updated on July 7, 2024

Investment range

$4,050 - $11,600

Revenue potential

$58,500 - $130,000 p.a.

Time to build

Profit potential

$52,000 - $117,000 p.a.

Industry trend

When establishing your health coaching business, consider these significant factors:

• Licenses and certifications — Get a recognized certification from an accredited institution, such as the National Society of Health Coaches (NSHC) , the American Council on Exercise (ACE) , or the International Coach Federation (ICF) .
• Services and offer — Decide on the range of services you will offer, such as one-on-one coaching, group sessions, online coaching, workshops, and wellness programs.
• Specialized training — Consider additional training in areas such as nutrition, fitness, mental health, or specific populations (e.g., seniors, athletes) to expand your expertise and service offerings.
• Online coaching — Use video conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom, Skype) for virtual coaching sessions. Ensure you have a reliable internet connection and quality equipment.
• Register your business — A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple. Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the best LLC services on the market.
• Legal business aspects — Register for taxes, open a business bank account, and get an EIN .
• Scheduling — Implement an efficient scheduling system to manage appointments and reduce no-shows.

Interactive Checklist at your fingertips—begin your health coaching business today!

You May Also Wonder:

How do I market myself as a health coach?

To market yourself as a health coach, you can use various strategies such as networking with other professionals in the health and wellness industry, creating a strong online presence through social media and a professional website, offering free resources such as blog posts or webinars, attending health and wellness events, and getting referrals from satisfied clients.

How do I find clients for my health coaching business?

One effective approach is to offer free consultations or introductory sessions to potential clients to help them understand what you offer and how it can benefit them. You can also use social media, online directories, and word-of-mouth referrals to find potential clients. 

How do I differentiate my health coaching business from competitors?

To differentiate your health coaching business from competitors, you can focus on a specific niche or specialization within the health and wellness industry. For example, you can specialize in weight loss, nutrition, or stress management. You can also offer unique coaching packages or programs that cater to the specific needs of your clients. 

How do I handle and manage client accountability and motivation?

To handle and manage client accountability and motivation, you can establish clear goals and objectives with your clients and track their progress through regular check-ins and evaluations. You can also offer personalized feedback and support to help your clients stay motivated and accountable. 

Can I start health coaching business on the side?

Yes, starting a health coaching business on the side is possible. However, it is important to be realistic about how much time and energy you can devote to the business while balancing other responsibilities. Starting small and gradually scaling up the business can help you manage your time and resources effectively. 

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Before we begin, it’s important to clarify what a health coach is. Health coaching involves offering advice in several different areas including nutrition, physical fitness goals, habit management, and wellness techniques like meditation or mindfulness. It may also include coaching on goal setting and problem solving, similar to a life coach.

Pros and cons

Starting a health coaching business has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.

• Do Something Valuable – Help people live healthier lives
• Good Money – Make up to $200 per hour
• Flexible – Run the business from home, set your own hours
• Education Needed – For credibility purposes you need certification
• Time – It will take time to build a reputation and client base

Health coaching industry trends

Industry size and growth.

• Industry size and past growth – The global health coaching industry was worth $14.5 billion in 2021, up 5% from the previous year.(( https://www.precedenceresearch.com/health-coach-market ))
• Growth forecast – The global health coaching industry is projected to grow nearly 80% by 2030. 

Trends and challenges

Trends in the health coaching industry include:

• Health coaching has begun to embrace the hybrid model, with clients choosing both in-person and virtual coaching.
• Health coaching is becoming broader, including nutrition coaching, physical fitness coaching, habit management, and overall wellness coaching.
• The number of corporate wellness programs is increasing, presenting an opportunity for health coaches to enter a huge new market.

Challenges in the health coaching industry include:

• The rise of online health coaching is making the industry more competitive, but it also presents an opportunity for the tech-savvy entrepreneur.
• The low barriers to entry for a health coaching business is making the industry more competitive.

Demand hotspots

• Most popular states – The most popular states for health coaches are Indiana, District of Columbia, and Ohio.(( https://www.zippia.com/health-coach-jobs/best-states/#south-dakota ))
• Least popular states – The least popular states for health coaches are Florida, Montana, and South Carolina.

What kind of people work in Health Coaching?

• Gender – 72.3% of health coaches are female, while 23.1% are male.(( https://www.zippia.com/health-coach-jobs/demographics/ ))
• Average level of education – The average health coach has a bachelor’s degree.
• Average age – The average health coach in the US is 42.2 years old.

How much does it cost to start a health coaching business?

Startup costs for a health coaching business range from $4,000 to $11,000. The largest expenses are for a website and training and certification.

You can complete a health coach training program and become a certified health coach through places like the Health Coach Institute . The program takes 6 months.

How much can you earn from a health coaching business?

Health coaching ranges from $50 to $200 per hour. When you’re first starting, if you’re certified you can probably charge $75. Your profit margin will be high, around 90%.

In your first year or two, you might work 15 hours per week, bringing in $58,500 in annual revenue. This would mean more than $52,000 in profit, assuming that 90% margin. As you ramp up your marketing and start to get referrals, you could raise your price to $100 and work 25 hours a week. With annual revenue of $130,000, you’d make a tidy profit of $117,000.

What barriers to entry are there?

There are a few barriers to entry for a health coaching business. Your biggest challenges will be:

• The time and cost of health coaching certification
• Acquiring customers in a competitive market

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Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a health coaching business, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market. 

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an opportunity

Research health coaching businesses in your area to examine their services, price points, and customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a business that offers integrative nutrition coaching, or a health coaching business that is also a life coaching business.

You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as nutrition coaching or overall wellness coaching.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Determine your coaching services

You can offer a range of coaching services including:

• Nutrition coaching
• Weight loss
• Physical fitness coaching
• Habit management coaching
• Mental wellness coaching (for example stress reduction coaching)
• Sleep coaching
• Time management coaching
• Life coaching
• Overall wellness coaching
• Corporate wellness coaching
• Coaching for educator wellness

How much should you charge for health coaching?

Prices for health coaching range from $50 to $200 per one-hour session. Check prices in your area to make sure you’re competitive. Your ongoing expenses will be very low, so you should aim for a profit margin of 90%.

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Your target market will be very broad — basically anybody who’s interested in maintaining decent health and nutrition. You should spread out your marketing to include TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Where? Choose your business premises

In the early stages, you may want to run your business from home to keep costs low. But as your business grows, you may need to hire workers for various roles and may need to rent out an office. You can find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist , Crexi , and Instant Offices .

When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:

• Central location accessible via public transport
• Ventilated and spacious, with good natural light
• Flexible lease that can be extended as your business grows
• Ready-to-use space with no major renovations or repairs needed

Step 3: Brainstorm a Health Coaching Business Name

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “health coaching” or “health and wellness”, boosts SEO
• Name should allow for expansion, for ex: “Healthy Habits Coaching” over “Heart Health Coaching”
• A location-based name can help establish a strong connection with your local community and help with the SEO but might hinder future expansion

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

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Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Health Coaching Business Plan

Here are the key components of a business plan:

• Executive Summary: A concise summary outlining the core elements of the health coaching business, including its mission, goals, and key strategies.
• Business Overview: An in-depth description of the health coaching business, covering its mission, vision, values, and the problem it aims to solve in the market.
• Product and Services: Clear details about the health coaching services offered, emphasizing their unique features, benefits, and how they address the needs of the target audience.
• Market Analysis: A comprehensive examination of the health and wellness industry, identifying trends, target demographics, and potential opportunities for the health coaching business.
• Competitive Analysis: Evaluation of competitors in the health coaching sector, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and distinctive factors that set the business apart.
• Sales and Marketing: Strategies for promoting the health coaching services, including target customer profiles, marketing channels, and sales tactics to attract and retain clients.
• Management Team: Profiles of key individuals responsible for the health coaching business’s success, showcasing their expertise, roles, and contributions to the venture.
• Operations Plan: Detailed insights into how the health coaching business will function on a day-to-day basis, covering logistics, technology, and processes to deliver effective coaching services.
• Financial Plan: A comprehensive overview of the health coaching business’s financial projections, including startup costs, revenue forecasts, and budgeting for sustainable growth.
• Appendix: Supplementary materials such as additional data, charts, or supporting documents that provide further context and information to strengthen the health coaching business plan.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to health coaching businesses. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your health coaching business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

• Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have.

Form Your LLC

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Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a  tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans : This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans : The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
• Government grants : A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Friends and Family : Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding : Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal : Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding a health coaching business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept. 

Step 8: Apply for Licenses/Permits

Starting a health coaching business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your health coaching business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability : The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property : Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance : Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation : Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property : Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto : Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability : Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP) : This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks. 

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as Healthie , HoneyBook , or better , to manage your bookings, schedule, invoicing, and payments. 

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero . 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial. 

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using website builders . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google. 

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• Professional Branding — Reflect health, vitality, and personal growth through a professional logo, business cards, and a visually appealing website that resonates with your wellness philosophy.
• Website SEO — Develop a comprehensive website that highlights your services, shares client testimonials, and features a wellness blog. Optimize the site for SEO to rank for keywords related to health coaching and wellness.
• Social Media Engagement — Leverage platforms like Instagram to share health tips and client success stories, LinkedIn for professional networking, and Facebook to engage with a wider audience.
• Content Marketing — Maintain a wellness blog with informative articles on nutrition, exercise, and mental health. Host webinars and online workshops to share valuable health and wellness information and demonstrate your expertise.
• Direct Outreach and Networking — Network with local gyms, wellness centers, and health food stores. Offer free workshops or seminars to introduce potential clients to your services and establish relationships.
• Email Marketing — Send regular newsletters updating clients and prospects on new services, health tips, and client success stories to keep your audience engaged.
• Experiential Marketing — Conduct health and wellness workshops at community centers, gyms, or health fairs. Participate in local wellness events to increase your visibility and connect with potential clients.
• Collaborations with Wellness Professionals — Partner with dietitians, personal trainers, and yoga instructors to offer comprehensive wellness packages, enhancing the value you provide to clients.
• Customer Loyalty and Referral Programs — Implement a referral program that rewards clients for bringing new customers. Offer follow-up consultations to past clients to keep them engaged and committed to their health journey.
• Targeted Online Advertising — Use digital advertising platforms like Google Ads and Facebook to target individuals specifically interested in health improvement and wellness coaching.
• Local Media and Influencer Partnerships — Collaborate with local wellness influencers or bloggers to extend your reach and credibility within the health and wellness community.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your health coaching business meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your health coaching business could be: 

• Live better with guidance from a certified health coach
• Nutrition coaching to get your health back on track
• Health and wellness coaching to help you enjoy your life 

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a health coaching business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in coaching for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in coaching. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. 

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a health coaching business include:

• Health Coaches – health coaching services
• General Manager – scheduling, accounting
• Marketing Lead – SEO strategies, social media

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Health Coaching Business – Start Making Money!

The health coaching market is growing rapidly, so it’s a good time to seize the opportunity and start your own health coaching business. You can become a certified health coach in only six months, and then get your business off the ground. Once you have some experience, you could earn up to $200 an hour, so there is good money to be made. 

Now that you’ve received your business coaching, go ahead and get your health coaching training and be on the road to entrepreneurship!

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• Decide if the Business Is Right for You
• Hone Your Idea
• Brainstorm a Health Coaching Business Name
• Create a Health Coaching Business Plan
• Register Your Business
• Register for Taxes
• Fund your Business
• Apply for Licenses/Permits
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Business Insurance
• Prepare to Launch
• Build Your Team
• Run a Health Coaching Business - Start Making Money!

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How to Create a Health Coach Business Plan

Through fostering a positive mindset around health and well-being, health coaches empower and motivate their clients to become experts on their health. Health coaches have the tools and knowledge to share with their clients about holistic health and how to enact sustainable behavioral changes.

Coaches empower clients to learn what makes them feel good, not just what they’ve been told is “healthy” or what they “should” or “shouldn’t” do as it relates to their health. They guide clients toward sustainable diet and lifestyle changes by equipping them with the mental and emotional tools to achieve great health, such as how to find the foods and lifestyle practices that work for them.

Health coaches can work in many different roles including at doctor’s offices, hospitals, spas, schools, gyms, and wellness centers. Many coaches begin their journey into small business ownership by creating their own health coaching business. But creating and building a successful business doesn’t happen overnight or without hard work – and you can set yourself up for success by creating a business plan.

What is a Business Plan?

Business plans are just what they sound like: a way to guide you through the stages of starting and managing a business. Business plans act as a map for how to structure, run, and grow your business, and they can be (and should be) tailored to you and your business’s unique needs. Your business plan can also aid in securing funding or new business partnerships. Investors will look for proof they’ll see a return on their investment, and your business plan is the tool you’ll use to convince them.

What to Include in Your Business Plan

As you create your business plan, you may come across competitive advantages you didn’t know you had or discover obstacles you need to overcome before you start taking on clients. Writing a business plan is a chance to outline how you want to run your business, and it can keep you accountable down the road.

Executive summary

This brief introduction to your business plan gives an overview of your company, skills, service offerings, and how you plan to run your health coaching business. Think of this section as the highlights – it needs to be able to draw people in.

Industry overview

People not currently involved in the health and wellness fields may not know what Health Coaches are or what they do. This section should cover the health coaching industry and where you fit into it. Use facts and statistics to back up your claims – like the fact that holistic Health Coaches contribute to improving health outcomes.

Mission statement

The mission statement of your business should be a direct, short statement that highlights your overall strategy and goals for your business. Your mission statement is the “why” behind your business; it shows potential investors the person behind the company.

Business structure and operations plan

This section will show who is involved with your health coaching business and how their roles contribute to its success. If you’re the sole proprietor and are running a one-person show, you can use this section to explain your credentials and discuss your earlier experience as a Health Coach. Make a clear and compelling statement about the unique value your company brings to the market.

The operations plan should explain the organization of how your business will run. How will you gain clients? Who will handle the day-to-day operations (if not you)? How will you be generating revenue? In this section, consider how your clients will be communicating with you, how you’ll interact with them , and how you’ll turn those interactions into long-term revenue streams. Discuss how you’ll measure what success looks like for your business.

Description of services

Describe what you’re selling or the services you offer. Explain how this will help clients and how you’ll keep them on long-term. The services section can also describe what clients can achieve with the help of your coaching business. Will you offer one-on-one meetings with clients ? Meal plan and create workout regimens? Provide financial counseling? Outline every service you intend to offer.

Target market and competition analysis

This section of your business plan may have been completed much earlier on in your business development process – conducting a SWOT analysis is a smart first step when coming up with any business idea. A SWOT analysis considers the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of your business or the health and wellness community. Strengths and Weaknesses look specifically at the business’s inner workings, where Opportunities and Threats focus on your specific industry and the market.  

Once the SWOT analysis is completed, you should identify your ideal clients, target markets, and preferred customers. You can create one or two examples of the people you’re looking to attract to your health coaching business. These examples should highlight who your clients will be, what their lives and health look like, what they want to achieve, and any other demographics that can help you identify potential clients in your marketing plan.

Marketing plan

The marketing section of your business plan should explain how you’ll reach your target market through advertising and marketing. This should include what social media platforms you’ll be using (and their potential for conversion), how you’ll utilize your website, where and when you’ll advertise, if you’ll be partnering with any public relations firms or influencers, and your launch and pre-launch marketing plans. Provide examples of any flyers, ads, business cards, or branding guidelines that showcase your business.

Pricing overview

Detail the prices you will offer for your services and how they compare to your competitors. This should include any discounts you plan to offer, how you’ve come to the amount you’re charging, and any fees you anticipate having clients incur. You can also detail how you’ll coordinate bookings for appointments and point-of-sale solutions for processing payments.

Financial projections

The goal of this section is to show that your health coaching business will be successful financially. This section is incredibly important when it comes to seeking investors. They want to know that they’ll get their money back, should they support your business. Highlight featured services, explore the cost of running your business and your profit margins, and establish your revenue goals.

If you’ve got an already-established business, include income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements for the last three to five years. Use graphs and charts to tell the financial story of your business and what you hope to achieve.

The Bottom Line

Consistency is key when it comes to marketing yourself, and Integrative Nutrition’s IINBiz platform offers done-for-you content specifically curated for wellness entrepreneurs. IINBiz a premier marketing platform that provides graduates with ready-to-use marketing materials like client forms, handouts, newsletter templates, webinars, and more – to its graduates.

Starting any new business can be a daunting task, so it’s important to remember that you don’t need to be perfect to get started - but having a plan can help you start off strong. Starting with set goals, financial objectives, marketing strategies, and other targets will help keep your business on the path forward.

Katy Weniger

Related articles, how health coaches can support clients to manage stress, nine essential coaching skills for effective health coaches, what does a health coach do, the original health coaching program.

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Health Coaching Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » Medical and Healthcare

Are you about starting a health coaching company? If YES, here is a complete sample health coaching business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

The fact that people want to live healthy means that they will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal including exercising and eating right and that is where a health coach comes in. Health coaches are knowledgeable on how exercise, lifestyle and foods affect the health, physiology and well-being of a person.

They help guide people to live a healthy life. If you want to partake in this thriving industry, then you need to obtain all the necessary licenses and certifications.

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A Sample Health Coaching Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The Health Coaching Services industry includes health practitioners who have a bachelor’s degree in health science or any health related field, licensure, certification or registration and primarily advise on matters of healthcare. These practitioners operate private or group practices in their own offices or in the facilities of others, including hospitals or other medical centers.

A close study of the Health Coaching Services industry shows that the industry is thriving in the united states as a result of loads of Americans facing obesity and other health challenges, with skyrocketing levels of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases. As a result, demand for the Health Coaching Services has increased and is expected to continue to rise significantly.

Wellness, maintenance and disease prevention have become some of the buzzwords circulating among people who are becoming increasingly concerned about what they eat and how it affects their health. The industry has a positive outlook due to increasing emphasis on disease prevention through improved exercise and dietary habits. Growing focus on preventive care services and public interest in nutrition will also underpin demand.

A recent report published by IBISWORLD shows that the four regions that encompass the greatest percentages of health and wellness centers include the Southeast (22.6 percent of establishments), the Mid-Atlantic (18.7 percent), the West (16.2 percent), and the Great Lakes (15.3 percent).

Together these four regions account for 72.9 percent of total establishments. The report also shows that other regions including the Southwest and Rocky Mountains account for an estimated 9.0 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively.

Geographic analysis by state indicates that wellness centers are primarily located in California (11.0 percent of establishments), New York (7.1 percent), Texas (5.9 percent), and Florida (5.5 percent). However, the Southeast accounts for the largest region due to its high senior population. The distribution and location of establishments is strongly correlated to population spread.

The Health Coaching industry is a thriving sector of the economy of the United States of America and they generate over $10 billion annually from more than 147,506 registered and licensed healthcare consulting firms cum health coaches scattered all around the country.

The industry is responsible for the employment of over 195,499 people. Experts project the industry to grow at a 2.3 percent annual rate within 2012 and 2017. It is important to state that there is no single organization that has a lion share of the market in the industry.

The demand for the services offered by health coaches grow when public confidence declines and people’s ability to handle the issues on their own wanes. When the housing bubble burst and the US economy fell into a recession, consumer confidence plummeted.

However, as the economy slowly continues to recover and consumer confidence returns, demand for the services of health coaches is expected to grow. High-income households will serve as the primary vehicle of growth for the industry.

The key attributes needed to make good success from the trade is robust knowledge, patience, enthusiasm, passion about the specific area to be handled, and constant positivity. You are also expected to be highly proactive.

2. Executive Summary

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC is a licensed healthcare consulting firm that is specialized in helping clients overcome their health challenges and ultimately achieve their personal health goals.

The scope of our business offerings covers areas such as health coaching cum counseling, planning and monitoring exercise programs, planning and monitoring food programs, planning and monitoring nutrition programs, promoting healthy eating habits and encouraging regular medical checkups. Our business will be located in a populated residential estate in Las Cruces – New Mexico, United States of America.

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC provides broad – based health coaching related services at an affordable fee that won’t in any way put a hole in the pocket of our clients. We will ensure that we work hard to meet and surpass all our clients’ expectations as it relates to their personal health goals whenever they hire our services.

At McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC, our clients’ overall best interest would always come first, and everything we do is guided by our values and professional ethics.

We will ensure that we hire professional and certified health coaches; exercise psychologists, nutritionists and dietitians with various skills set who are well experienced and passionate in helping our clients achieve their personal health goals within record time.

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC will at all times demonstrate her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a health coaching firm, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible.

We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our clients’ needs precisely and completely.

Our overall business goal is to position our health coaching firm to become the leading nutrition consulting brand in the industry in the whole of Las Cruces – New Mexico, and also to be amongst the top 10 health coaching firms in the United States of America within the first 5 years of operation.

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC is founded by Dr. McIntosh Jason and he will run the business with his business partner, Dr. Lance Pearson. Dr. McIntosh is a certified and renowned health coach and exercise psychologist and Dr. Lance Pearson is a certified and licensed nutritionist and dietitian.

They both have a combined experience of over 20 years working with top government officials, corporate executives, celebrities and sports people both in the United States of America and Canada.

3. Our Products and Services

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC is going to offer varieties of services within the scope of the Health Coaching Services industry in the United States of America.

Our intention of starting our health coaching business is to help our clients overcome their health challenges, achieve their personal health goals and improving their overall wellbeing and of course to make profits. Our service offerings are listed below;

• Health coaching cum counseling
• Planning and monitoring exercise programs
• Planning and monitoring food and nutrition programs
• Retailing of health and nutrition books and materials

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to build a highly competitive and effective health coaching business that will become the number one choice in Las Cruces – New Mexico and the whole of the United States of America.
• Our mission is to provide affordable, professional and highly effective health coaching services to a wide range of clients that cuts across different divides.
• We want to position McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC to become one of the leading health coaching brand in the industry in the whole, and also to be amongst the top 10 health coaching firms in the United States of America within the first 5 years of operation.

Our Business Structure

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC, intends starting small in Las Cruces – New Mexico, but hopes to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading firms in the Health Coaching Services industry. We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the kind of business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operation.

At McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, creative, passionate, result driven, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff/partners and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Principal Partner / Chief Health Coach
• Health Coach (Nutritionist and Dietitian)
• Exercise Psychologist

Office Administrator

• Marketing Executives

Client Service Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Principal Partner / Chief Executive Officer:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results
• Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization

Health Coach (Nutritionist and Dietitians)

• Assess patients’ health needs and diet
• Counsel patients on nutrition issues and healthy eating habits
• Develop meal plans, taking both cost and clients’ preferences into account
• Evaluate the effects of meal plans and change the plan as needed
• Promote better nutrition by speaking to groups about diet, nutrition, and the relationship between good eating habits and preventing or managing specific diseases
• Keep up with the latest health and nutritional science research
• Write reports to document patient progress

Exercise Physiologist

• Responsible for evaluating, researching, and providing advice on coaching.
• Responsible for training
• Engage in recovery practices in all areas of exercise and rehabilitation
• Provide timely information and support on injury prevention, technique analysis, and nutrition
• Create training rosters for members
• Assist members during exercise session
• Guide members on how to make use of gym and fitness equipment
• Handle any other duty as assigned by the manager
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Defining job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carrying out induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Oversee the smooth running of the daily activities for the organization.

Marketing Executive

• Identify, prioritize, and reach out to new clients, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Documents all customer contact and information
• Represents McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for the organization
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting report
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the organization
• Serves as internal auditor for the organization.
• Welcomes clients and visitors by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the principal partners in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries
• Receives parcels/documents for the organization.

6. SWOT Analysis

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC engaged the services of a professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured health coaching business that can favorably compete in the highly competitive Health Coaching Services industry.

Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a SWOT analysis for McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC;

Our core strength lies in our ability to attract local support and frequent referrals, having a high prior success rate and recommendation/accreditation from authoritative source. So also, we have a team that are considered experts in the industry, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in the industry.

Aside from the synergy that exist in our carefully selected team members and our strong online presence, McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC is well positioned in a community with the right demography and we know we will attract loads of clients from the first day we open our doors for business.

As a new health coaching firm in Las Cruces – New Mexico, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top profile clients in the fast – growing Health Coaching Services industry; that is perhaps our major weakness.

• Opportunities:

Growing focus on preventive care services and nutrition will strengthen demand. So also, an aging population will create opportunities for industry services in institutionalized care settings.

This goes to show that the opportunities in the Health Coaching Services industry is massive considering the number of individuals who would want to overcome their health challenges and achieve their health goal. As a standard health coaching firm, we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way.

Some of the threats that we are likely going to face as a health coaching firm operating in the United States of America are unfavorable government policies that might affect businesses such as ours, the arrival of a competitor within our location of operation and global economic downturn which usually affects spending/purchasing power. There is hardly anything we can do as regards these threats other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for our good.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The trend in the Health Coaching Services industry shows that in the last half a decade, the industry has grown consistently. With the growing population of obese people in the United States, health coaching services are needed regardless of economic conditions, which insulate the industry from economic fluctuations.

Going forward, as people continue to be employed and regain a steady income, private health insurance will become more affordable, prompting consumers to seek health coaching services when needed.

The trend in the Health Coaching Services industry is such that if you want to be ahead of your competitors, you should acquire as much certifications as possible and you should be able to have loads of testimonies from your clients. The truth is that if your clients experienced huge difference in their overall well – being as a result of hiring your services, then they will be compelled to help promote your organization.

Another notable trend in this industry is the influence of technology; the advent of technology is responsible for the increase in income generated by health coaches all over the world. With technology, it is now easier for health coaches to work with their clients that are thousands of kilometers away from them. Tools like video calling / Skype, YouTube, live chat and Webcast et al are being used by health coach to coach clients in different parts of the world.

8. Our Target Market

The target market for health coaching firms is all encompassing. McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC is a professional and licensed health coaching firm that is specialized in helping her clients overcome health challenges, achieve their health personal goals.

Our target market as a health coaching firm cuts across people from all walks of life. We are coming into the Health Coaching Services industry with a business concept and company’s profile that will enable us work with the clients from different backgrounds and different status.

Below is a list of the clients that we have specifically designed services for;

• Working class adults/corporate executives
• Politicians
• Business people / entrepreneurs
• Government officials
• Celebrities
• Sports men and women
• College students
• People undergoing depression
• Senior citizens

Our competitive advantage

No doubt, the Health Coaching Services industry is indeed a very prolific and highly competitive industry. Clients will only hire your services if they know that you can help them overcome their health challenges.

We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the Health Coaching Services industry means that you should be able to deliver consistent quality service, our clients should be able to experience remarkable difference and improvement and we should be able to meet the expectations of our clients at all times.

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC might be a new health coaching firm, but the management team are highly qualified health coaches that can help her clients overcome their health challenges and achieve their personal health goal within a short period of time.

Aside from our robust experience and expertise of our health coaches, we have a very strong online presence that will enable us work with clients in different parts of the world from our online portals.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the Health Coaching industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to attract clients on a regular basis.

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC will generate income by offering the following services;

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be individuals who would need the services of health coaches in other for them to overcome their eating challenges and achieve their personal health goals and also to enable them become peak performers in their careers and in their family life. This is the major reason why the services of health coaching firms will always be needed.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in Las Cruces – New Mexico and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six months of operation and grow our health coaching business and our clientele base.

We have been able to critically examine the health coaching market, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. Below are the sales projections for McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC, it is based on the location of our health coaching firm and of course the wide range of services that we will be offering;

• First Fiscal Year: $150,000
• Second Fiscal Year: $350,000
• Third Fiscal Year: $750,000

N.B : This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are mindful of the fact that there are stiffer competitions amongst health coaching firms in the United States of America; hence we have been able to hire some of the best marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be equipped to meet their targets and the overall goal of McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC. We want to build a standard health coaching business that will leverage on word of mouth advertisement from satisfied clients.

Our goal is to grow McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC to become one of the top 10 health coaching firms in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with in Las Cruces – New Mexico.

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

• Introduce our health coaching firm by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to corporate organizations, religious organizations, households and key stake holders in and around Las Cruces – New Mexico.
• Print out fliers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, libraries, public facilities and train stations et al.
• Use friends and family to spread word about our health coaching firm
• Post information about our health coaching firm on bulletin boards in places like schools, libraries, and local coffee shops.
• Place a small or classified advertisement in the newspaper, or local publication about our health coaching firm
• Advertise our health coaching firm in relevant educational magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations.
• Attend relevant educational expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Engage direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients.

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to become the number one choice for clients in the whole of Las Cruces – New Mexico which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our business.

Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC;

• Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based events/programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our brand
• Install our billboards in strategic locations all around Las Cruces – New Mexico.
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• List our health coaching firm in local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise our life health coaching firm in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our schools’ logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Counseling and coaching services are billed on per hour billing rate and flat fees on a weekly or monthly basis as it applies. As a result of this, McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC will charge our clients flat fees except for few occasions where there will be need for us to charge special clients on hourly basis.

At McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC we will keep our fees below the average market rate by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to all our clients at regular intervals.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via mobile money
• Payment via Point of Sales Machines (POS Machines)
• Payment via check

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for our services without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

Starting a health coaching firm can be cost effective because on the average, you are not expected to acquire expensive machines and equipment. What you should be concerned about is the amount needed to secure a standard office facility in a good and busy business district, the amount needed to furniture and equip the office, pay bills, promote the business and obtain the appropriate business license and certifications.

However, this is what it would cost us to start our own standard health coaching firm in the United States of America;

• Business incorporating fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
• The budget for liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
• Acquiring an office space that will accommodate the number of employees we intend employing for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $35,000.
• Equipping the office (computers, printers, projectors, markers, pens and pencils, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $10,000
• The cost for accounting software, CRM software and Payroll Software – $3,000
• Phone and Utilities (gas, sewer, water and electric) deposits – ($3,500).
• The cost for launching an official website will cost – $500
• Amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
• Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000
• Miscellaneous – $5,000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need about one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) U.S. dollars to successfully set up a medium scale but standard health coaching firm in the United States of America.

Generating Funds/Startup Capital for McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC is a partnership business that will be owned by Dr. McIntosh Jason and his business partner, Dr. Lance Pearson. They are the only financiers of the business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business to just three major sources.

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the startup capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 (Personal savings $35,000 and soft loan from family members $15,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $100,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business, then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our health coaching services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

McIntosh Jason & Co® Health Coaching Firm, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.

We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check : Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing a standard office facility in a good location plus reconstruction: In progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating part of the startup capital from the founders: Completed
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents : In Progress
• Design of Logo for the school: Completed
• Printing of Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed software apps, furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the business: In Progress
• Creating awareness for the business in Las Cruces – New Mexico: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in various industries: In Progress

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• Health Coach

7 Steps to Create a Health & Life Coaching Business Plan

Becoming a health and life coach already holds plenty of benefits, not just in your career and financial progress, but in your holistic personal growth. 

Now, imagine these benefits multiplied when you build your very own health and life coaching business .

While building any type of business takes time and effort, these seven steps for success will help guide you to coaching glory.

What Does It Take to Have Health and Life Coaching Success? 

Having your own health and life coaching business requires a hefty amount of determination and passion. There can be challenges along the way that could discourage you from pursuing your goals. This is true for any goal worth pursuing.

But don’t let that deter you from going after your dreams of living your healthiest life and helping others do the same! If you know exactly what milestones to aim for throughout your coaching business journey, the path toward success can be a whole lot smoother. So, here’s your step-by-step guide; follow it closely and prepare to welcome in financial abundance and clients who can’t wait to work with you.

7 Steps to Build a Profitable Health Coaching Business

If you’re wondering how you can ultimately build a profitable health and life coaching business, look no further. Here are seven simple steps to get you started.

1. Complete an Accredited Health & Life Coaching Course

If you are starting from scratch, the first thing you need to secure is a certification from an accredited health coach training program . 

Online courses are proliferating nowadays. However, in selecting the program that could guarantee a workable path to a successful health and life coaching business, it’s imperative to consider the accreditation the course holds.

Health Coach Institute’s Become a Health & Life Coach program is Continuing Coach Education (CCE) accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF). Both the Health Coach and Life Coach portions of the training have been reviewed by ICF and have been given program accreditation approval via the CCE designation. 

2. Get Your Health Coach and Life Coach Certificate

Most health coach training programs only award a Health Coach Certificate upon completion of the program. Health Coach Institute’s Become a Health & Life Coach program offers a dual certificate for Health Coach AND Life Coach upon completion.

Getting certified as a health coach enhances your reputation and reliability in the field. It’s a necessary step if you are committed to further monetizing your health coaching practice. In addition, having the dual certification opens doors of opportunity that other courses just don’t offer. 

3. Establish a Network With Successful Health & Life Coaches

A business, after all, depends heavily on people.

In this sense, a health and life coaching business relies on the kind of relationship you have not only with your clients but with other practitioners in the field. And in the business world, networking can be a game-changer . 

As a health and life coach, you may benefit from establishing a healthy relationship with those who have already established themselves in the profession. Doing so may give you access to strategies and industry secrets that can catapult you into a successful health and life coaching career.

The Health Coach Institute offers you the ability to connect with a like-minded community via online groups and live networking events. Your peers will support, stretch, and encourage you to build the career and life of your dreams.  

4. Successful Coaches Create a Business Plan

Once you’re ready to rock your business, you’ll want to put all the awesome thoughts and ideas bouncing around in your head onto paper, and sort them into an actionable plan that  propels you down the path to coaching success. You’ll do this by creating a business plan. (Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds.)

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan contains your specific targets and the corresponding actions you need to take so you can hit (or even surpass!) those targets.

Your business plan encompasses your SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely), budget allocations, marketing strategies and revenue projections.

Now, if some of those words make you cringe, don’t panic. As part of the Health Coach Institute’s Pillar 4 of training, you’ll receive all the tools and resources necessary to create your health coaching-specific business plan. No stone goes unturned in the training, and you can feel confident you’ll have all the info you need.

Why Should Coaches Create a Business Plan?

Business plans are imperative for you to have full control, vision, and accountability over your coaching career. They allow you to scale growth in a sustainable way. For instance, a business plan can help you figure out how many clients you’d need to take on in order to make back the cost of your health coach enrollment fee. 

A strong business plan will also enable you to set goals, measure performance and track progress. Writing down your business plan also encourages you to get extremely specific about your coaching niche, identify any potential challenges within that niche, and observe how other coaches within that niche are pricing their products.

What Should Your Health and Life Coaching Business Plan Include?

Your business plan will be personal to your professional goals, so there isn’t one specific template you should be following. Though you’ll definitely want to include information on your specific offerings, your coaching niche and a financial plan.

Other things to potentially include in your business plan:

• Coaching/company mission statement
• Overarching business plan (also called an executive summary)
• Marketplace statistics around your niche
• Target audience demographics
• 30-60-90 day goals

5. Develop a Marketing Strategy for Your Health and Life Coaching Practice

Even before you launch your business, you absolutely need to develop a viable marketing strategy that attracts your target clients. 

To market your health coaching business, study where your target market spends most of its time. Keep in mind that although digital marketing is all the rave nowadays, we cannot discredit the effectiveness of traditional marketing such as word of mouth or referrals. The latter becomes even more effective if you have built your credibility in the field. 

Health Coach Institute will give you a successful Health Coach business marketing plan to build from as part of your training. 

6. Set Up Your Website

Now more than ever, health and life coaching is in demand, and businesses (like yours!) can easily be set up online. You can even meet clients through virtual meetings and follow-up via online private messaging.

How exactly do you do it? 

Easy! Set up your website and work your way to becoming an authority in the field. Your own website is beneficial in the following ways:

• It helps your credibility
• It increases your chance to get more leads
• It makes communication more efficient
• It expands your digital marketing options

There are many ways to create your website. The most basic way is to add your business listing to Google My Business so that your services are able to be found on the web. There are also plenty of free or low-cost website builders like WordPress, Squarespace, GoDaddy and Weebly. But if you want an even more professional looking website, you can always hire an expert to take over this step. 

Regardless of which way you take, a website will increase your value as a committed health and life coach. 

7. Find Your First Clients

When all the logistics are set, you are now ready to welcome your first clients. Remember, it’s perfectly natural for this step to take some time (though you’ll learn loads of tips and techniques in your Become a Health and Life Coach training). Don’t feel discouraged if you’re not inundated with clients on day one—just keep moving toward your goals and lean on the HCI community for encouragement whenever you need it.

Here are some other great tricks:

• Conduct a workshop
• Connect with your previous clients
• Network with doctors and other healthcare professionals for referrals
• Join online forums or social media groups
• Offer a free discovery call to your potential clients 

Attracting clients for your online health coaching business on a monthly or weekly basis requires consistency but can also be really fun. When you’re showing up for yourself and your clients, your enthusiasm shines though, and can go a long way in establishing long-term client-coach relationships that lead to referrals.

Final Thoughts on Building a Profitable Health & Life Coaching Business

To become a board-certified health coach requires a real passion for helping other people. 

And while your dreams of a lucrative career may certainly become a reality, you’ll need the drive and determination to stay consistent in your business. Luckily, you’re in a career that strengthens not only your physical health but your mental wellness, too. (Plus, you’ll have an amazing community of like-minded friends to back you up!)

Sounds like a winning recipe for success, wouldn’t you say?

How to Enroll at the Health Coach Institute

Ready to start the next chapter of your life? This is the sign you’ve been waiting for. Head here to learn more about our six-month Become a Health & Life Coach program. There you’ll be able to download the course catalog, get 72-hour access to the program, and join a free upcoming live workshop. If you’re looking to talk to somebody directly, connect with a Clarity Coach at 1-800-303-2399 and they can answer your questions and address any concerns.

By: Health Coach Institute

More to explore, you might also like, how hci transformed alysha harris's coaching career, pathway to holistic wellness: laura butler's inspiring health coaching journey, from newsroom to coach: richard taliaferro's professional pivot, 3 top webinars we love, the history of health coaching, what is health coaching, why you should enroll in health and life coaching this summer, how to find a health coach, ready to learn more.

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Creating a Health Coaching Business Plan

Learn how to create a business plan for health coaching. Healthie’s all-in-one platform helps health coaches build out their offerings.

Learn how to create a business plan for health coaching. Healthie's all-in-one platform helps health coaches build out their offerings.

Steps to Creating a Business Plan for Health Coaching

Starting a health coaching business can be an exciting and rewarding venture. However, like any entrepreneurial endeavor, it requires careful planning and strategizing to ensure long-term success. One essential tool that can guide you through the process is a well-crafted health coaching business plan. Allow us to outline the steps to create a comprehensive business plan specifically tailored for health coaching. Whether you're a seasoned health coach or just starting out, this guide will help you develop a solid foundation for your business.

Step 1: Executive Summary

The first step in any health coach business plan template is the executive summary. The executive summary provides an overview of your health coaching business. It should include a brief description of your services, target market, unique value proposition, and goals. This section should capture the attention of potential investors, partners, or lenders, and provide a snapshot of what your business aims to achieve.

Step 2: Company Description

Provide a detailed description of your health coaching business. Include information such as your mission statement, legal structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.), and key personnel involved in the business. Explain your coaching approach, specialty areas, and the benefits clients can expect from working with you.

Step 3: Market Analysis

Conduct thorough research to gain a deep understanding of your target market, competitors, and industry trends. Identify your ideal client profile and demographics, their needs, and pain points. Analyze your competitors' strengths and weaknesses and determine how you can differentiate your services to stand out in the market. Use this information to develop effective marketing strategies and identify opportunities for growth.

Step 4: Services and Pricing

Describe the health coaching services you will offer and the pricing structure for each service. Outline the benefits and features of your coaching programs, including any additional resources or tools you will provide. Determine your pricing based on factors such as the value of your services, market demand, and the competition. Be sure to consider your target market's willingness and ability to pay when setting your prices.

Step 5: Marketing and Sales Strategies

In this section of the health coach business model, outline your marketing and sales strategies to attract and retain clients. Identify the channels you will use to promote your services, such as social media, website, referrals, partnerships, or speaking engagements. Develop a content marketing plan that includes creating valuable blog posts, videos, or podcasts to establish yourself as an authority in the health coaching industry. Outline your sales process, including how you will convert leads into paying clients and retain them for long-term engagement.

Step 6: Operations and Management

Detail the day-to-day operations of your health coaching business. Describe the systems and processes you will put in place to manage client onboarding, scheduling, and communication. Discuss how you will ensure client privacy and data security, particularly if you offer virtual coaching services. Outline your team structure, if applicable, and describe the roles and responsibilities of each team member. If you plan to outsource any aspects of your business, specify those tasks and the criteria for selecting reliable partners or contractors.

Step 7: Financial Projections

Create financial projections for your health coaching business, including income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets. Estimate your revenue and expenses for the first three to five years. Consider factors such as marketing costs, office space or equipment expenses, software subscriptions, and professional development. Conduct a break-even analysis to determine the number of clients needed to cover your costs and start generating profits.

Step 8: Evaluation and Monitoring

The last step in this business plan for health coaching is establishing how you will evaluate and monitor your business. Define the key performance indicators (KPIs) you will use to measure the success of your health coaching business. These may include client retention rates, revenue growth, client testimonials, or social media engagement. Establish a regular review process to track your progress against these KPIs. 

What To Do After You Have Created a Health Coaching Business Plan

Once you have written your health coaching business plan, it is time to take action and market your business to potential clients. It is time to identify your target market and build an online presence. Today, businesses with an online presence have the advantage of connecting with similar health and wellness businesses. Make good use of your new network and head to social media. Ask your new connections to collaborate on social and schedule an Instagram live or guest post. If you are in the same niche this is a great way to gain new leads. Be sure to regularly post fresh content that will generate new followers and keep your current audience engaged.

 Here are a few steps to take once you have completed your health coach business model and established your audience. 

• Review and refine : Go through your business plan and ensure all sections are clear, concise, and aligned with your goals. Update any information that may have changed since you initially wrote the plan.
• Seek feedback : Share your business plan with trusted advisors, mentors, or other health coaching professionals. Consider their feedback and make necessary revisions.
• Create an implementation timeline : Develop a timeline that outlines the steps you need to take to launch and grow your health coaching business. Assign deadlines and prioritize tasks.
• Monitor and adjust : Regularly review your business plan and track your progress. Evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies and make adjustments as needed.

By following these steps and taking action on your business plan, you will be well on your way to building a successful health coaching business. The next stip is partnering with a health coaching business platform desinged to help you scale. Healthie is an all-in-one telehealth platform tailored to the needs of health coaching businesses, and now is available to try for free! 

The Healthie platform specializes in scheduling, billing, and client engagement. With Helathie you can 

• Send forms and collect client paperwork completely electronically
• Store your clients’ notes and data in a cloud-based EMR, designed for small practices
• Send bills or pre-filled insurance claims, and receive card payments via Stripe
• Feel confident you’re maintaining complete HIPAA compliance

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Guides & Templates

Learn how to create a successful health coach business plan, learn how to create a successful health coach business plan and launch your company. we’ll also discuss why creating an actionable business plan matters..

You have what it takes to become a health and wellness coach . If you deeply understand the human body, enjoy watching people achieve their health goals, and perhaps have earned a certification in your field, you’re ready to set up shop. 

But having the skills and education necessary to excel at health coaching doesn’t mean you’re a business strategy master. And launching a health coaching company isn’t as easy as renting office space. 

Creating a business plan should be the first step of your roadmap. This plan will guide the rest of your career, laying a foundation you can tweak when necessary. 

In this article, we’ll explain how to make a health coach business plan that’ll get your company up and running as efficiently as possible. 

A guide to making a business plan for coaching

If you’re a first-time entrepreneur, we’ve got good news. Business plans are fairly standardized documents you can easily customize to suit your coaching specialty . They typically include the following sections:

• An executive summary: Provide a high-level view of your mission, services, and goals, including what makes your business unique and the purpose it intends to fulfill.
• Market analysis: Successful business owners understand their competition. Research other health coaching companies in your area, their services, and how much they cost. Figure out their target market — this is likely yours as well. This information will help you create a successful health coach marketing strategy.
• Organization and management: As your business scales, you’ll need help. Define any resources and employees you expect to take on, their roles, and expected salaries.
• Services offered: Describe the health coaching services you’ll provide and any programs or unique plans you’ll run, outlining how you plan to deliver your services (in-person or online ). Your business description may include a specific wellness focus or information on any specialized health coaching programs you offer, like a long-term stress management course . Use this space to describe the projected costs of each service.

After writing your business plan, you can use this information to plan the first steps you’ll take after launching: 

• Marketing and sales: One of the first steps after completing your business plan is looking for prospective clients. You’ll do this by implementing your marketing strategy. A twenty-first-century marketing plan needs to go beyond flashy business cards. You’ll need a website and social media accounts. You may also want to use paid online or print advertisements. Outline your target audience, the marketing tactics you plan on employing and when, and how much you expect everything will cost. ‍
• Financial projections: This section is non-negotiable — it must be included in your plan. Outline your operational costs, overhead, and any debt you accrued through an initial investment to get your business running. Set short and long-term goals and milestones you hope to reach in specific time periods. If possible, include balance sheets and cash flow statements. 
• ‍ Pitch to investors: A business plan isn’t just a guide for the person creating it — it’s a resource for investors. Once you’ve outlined what services you’ll offer and how profitable they’ll be, you can find someone to invest in your business to help you hit the ground running.

If you’re a startup that’s creating your first business strategy, try a business plan template that outlines each section and helps you organize your information. 

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The benefits of having a business plan

A business plan helps us know our next move, just as action plans help our clients. It gives us an understanding of where we’re at, what we want, and how to get there. 

Here are some specific reasons creating a business plan is worthwhile:

• It provides the information necessary to gain financial backing. If you’re looking for investors or plan on getting a bank loan, the information in this document will help them assess your financial status and how serious your business will be. ‍
• It helps you understand your audience. You’ve studied health and coaching, but not necessarily your local market. Making a business plan will help you set reasonable prices in line with what potential clients are willing to pay for this service based on where you live and how experienced you are. ‍
• It’s an opportunity to learn. The more you understand about health and wellness coaching and those that need it, the more prepared you’ll feel and the more reputable your business will become. Creating a business plan offers you the opportunity to learn more about this industry and the needs of your ideal client. 

I made my business plan. What’s next? 

Now for the exciting part: launching your business. Once it’s legally registered, you can kick off your marketing tactics. Consider offering a discount to your first clients to get people through the door. Once you’ve had a few successful experiences with clients, ask them to leave a good review online or write a testimonial for your website. 

We recommend starting with just a few clients while you get the hang of things. You can scale as you become more comfortable managing multiple plans at once. Remember to update your business plan as you gain hands-on experience and learn more about this profession.

A final tip

A business plan provides a solid foundation for starting your company, but you must also create a base for receiving new clients. 

A customer relationship management (CRM) tool will help you stay organized. Practice allows you to safely store documents such as client intake forms and coaching proposal templates , communicate directly with clients, and schedule appointments. Plus, you’ll join a welcoming community of coaches. Try it today .

Give your clients a simple and professional experience

Simple client management designed for teams, free form templates from practice.

Start your career coaching journey with this simple, easy to use client intake form. Get the information you need to begin your coaching services today!

Maximize your business success with this easy-to-use template for deep dive business coaching sessions! Get the most out of your clients with this comprehensive guide.

A professional Coaching Chemistry Session Form Template for coaches to use with their clients. Get clarity and direction in your coaching sessions with this customizable form!

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The Health Coaching Business Plan: Secrets of Ultimate Success

Health coaching is becoming a more popular way to help people improve their health. But what is the secret to success in this business? It’s not just being a good coach—you also need a solid business plan.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the key components of a successful health coaching business plan . So if you’re thinking about starting your own health coaching business, be sure to read on!

Table of Contents

What is a Health Coach?

A health coach is a professional who helps people make positive changes in their health and well-being. A health coach provides support, motivation, and guidance to help clients achieve their health goals.

A Career in Health Coaching How demanding is it?

Health coaching is a fast-growing sector with a diverse array of career prospects, from a solo practice to collaborative care with practitioners and full-time employment in hospitals and integrative medicine clinics. In the traditional healthcare system, too, health coaches play an important role in patient care.

A health coaching business proposal A health coach career offers various chances for those who wish to make a difference in the quality of people’s lives and their interactions with the healthcare system . As a health coach, you will have the option to work with clients one-on-one, in group settings, or in health coaching enterprises. In addition, you’ll have the chance to work with other healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses, and dietitians.

Health coaching is a demanding career, but it is also very rewarding. If you are interested in helping people improve their health and well-being, then a career in health coaching may be right for you.

What Is A Business Plan?

A business plan is a blueprint that explains your objectives and allows you to map out how to achieve them. A business plan does not have to be a lengthy formal document. It can be as simple as developing a strategy for how your company will operate and succeed. Your business plan will include long- and short-term business goals, sales goals, and expenditure budgets. The development of a modern business strategy, as well as the thought processes that go along with it, are the most important aspects of it. A well-thought-out business strategy is essential for success in the health coaching industry.

Why Do You Need a Health Coaching Business Plan?

There are many reasons why you need a health coaching business plan. First and foremost, a business plan provides direction. It gives your health coaching business a road map to success. You will be able to track your progress and make necessary changes along the way if needed. A business plan also allows you to measure your success. You can set milestones and benchmarks in your plan and then track your progress to see how well you are doing.

Another reason why a health coaching business plan is important is that it forces you to think about all aspects of your business. This includes your goals, target market, finances, marketing, and more. By thinking through all of these aspects of your business, you will be better prepared for success.

Finally, a health coaching business plan is important because it can help you secure funding for your business. If you are looking for investors or loans, a well-developed business plan will increase your chances of success.

The Benefits of Creating a Business Plan

The opportunities for health coaching are many and varied. But, before we explore those in-depth, let’s first understand what health coaching is and the role it plays in an individual’s health and wellness journey.

Health coaching is a process that helps people make positive lifestyle changes to improve their health. A health coach works with clients one-on-one or

in small groups to help them set and achieve health-related goals. Health coaches use a variety of techniques, including goal setting, action planning, motivation, and accountability, to help their clients make lasting changes in their health.

There are many reasons why someone might seek out the services of a health coach . Maybe they’re looking to lose weight, eat healthier, or exercise more. Or, perhaps they’re dealing with a chronic health condition and are looking for ways to better manage it. Whatever the reason, health coaching can be an extremely valuable tool in helping people make lasting changes in their health.

Now that we know a little bit more about health coaching, let’s explore some of the benefits of creating a business plan for health coaching.

1. Increased Clarity

A health coaching business plan may help you make decisions about important parts of your business, including capital investments, leasing, and resourcing. You can’t accomplish everything, and a smart business plan can help you focus on the most important company objectives and milestones.

2. Creation of a Marketing Roadmap

Any company plan must include a marketing strategy . It’s critical to establish your target market(s), target consumers, and how you’ll advertise and present your product/service in front of these markets/customers when it comes to health coaching. It will be tough to attract and maintain customers without a well-thought-out marketing strategy.

3. Support for Obtaining Funding

A business plan is essential if you’re looking to obtain funding for your health coaching business. Investors and lenders want to see that you have a clear idea of what your business is, how it will operate, and what its financial projections are. A well-written business plan will increase the likelihood of obtaining the funding you need to get your business off the ground.

4. Development of Operational Processes

A health coaching business plan can also help you develop operational processes for your business. This includes things like defining your target market, creating marketing and promotional materials, developing client intake forms and agreements, and creating policies and procedures. Having a plan for how your business will operate on a day-to-day basis is critical to its success.

5. Improved Client Retention

Another benefit of having a health coaching business plan is that it can help you improve client retention. By clearly defining your target market and what you offer, you can more easily attract clients who are a good fit for your business. In addition, having operational processes in place will help to ensure that your clients have a positive experience working with you, which will lead to them being more likely to continue working with you long-term.

Things You Should Include in Your Health Coaching Business Plan:

There are many different elements that you can include in your health coaching business plan. However, there are a few key elements that should be included in all plans. These key elements are:

– An Executive Summary:

This is a brief overview of your health coaching business and your business plan. It should include your company’s mission statement, an overview of your products and services, and your goals and objectives.

– A Market Analysis:

This section should research and analyze your target market. You will need to identify your target market’s needs and wants, as well as understand the demographics of this group. This information will help you create a marketing strategy that will reach your target market.

– A Competitive Analysis:

In this section, you will research and analyze your competition. You will need to identify who your main competitors are and what they are doing well. You will also want to identify any weaknesses that you can exploit. This information will help you create a marketing strategy that will give you an advantage over your competition.

– A Sales and Marketing Plan:

This section of your health coaching business plan should outline your sales and marketing strategies. It should include your plans for advertising, public relations, and social media. This section should also include a sales forecast, which is a detailed estimate of your expected sales for a specific period of time.

– A Management and Operations Plan:

This section of your health coaching business plan should outline your management team and their roles . It should also include a description of your business’s operations, as well as your plans for scaling your business in the future.

– A Financial Plan:

This section of your health coaching business plan should include your company’s financial statements , such as your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. This section should also include a detailed budget for your health coaching business.

Remember, a health coaching business plan does not need to be long or complicated. However, it is important to include all of the key elements that will help you succeed. By taking the time to develop a well-thought-out business plan, you will increase your chances of success as a health coach.

Final Thoughts

A health coaching business plan is an important tool that will help you launch and grow your business. By including all of the key elements, you will create a roadmap for success. In addition, a well-written business plan will help you attract investors and secure funding for your health coaching business. So, what are you waiting for? Get started on your health coaching business plan today!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what is the current market size for health coaches throughout the world.

⇒ According to Precedence Research, the worldwide health coach industry was worth USD 13.6 billion in 2020 and would be worth over USD 25.95 billion by 2030.

2. Is it difficult to begin a coaching business?

⇒ Starting an online coaching business takes a lot of time and effort. Sure, it’s thrilling, but it can also be terribly isolating. You can not operate a business on your own, no matter how hard you try.

3. Do health coaches earn a living?

⇒ Health trainers can make $50,000 to $100,000 per year, or $25 to $100 per hour, according to research from 2021.

4. Is it necessary for a health coach to be certified?

⇒ Certainly not. The same may be said of health coaches. Because clients commit their health to a health coach, it’s critical that the coach has proven training and credentials. Certification is the first step in working as a CWC professionally (Certified Wellness Coach).

5. Is health coaching a regulated profession?

⇒ Because health coaching is still relatively new, it isn’t “regulated” in the sense that most states don’t have any rules that apply specifically to health coaches.

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How to Start a Wildly Successful Health Coaching Business

• By Luisa Zhou
• Coaching Business
• Updated: July 24, 2024

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Want to start your own wildly successful health coaching business?

Good news: You’re closer to your goal than you might think.

If you want to help your clients create transformational and impactful change in their lives, read until the end. Today, you’ll learn how to become a health coach and get results like these (here’s what one of my health coaching students had to say):

Want to learn more? Let’s get started.

How to become a health coach: 

1. Find your niche

2. Create a health coaching brand

3. Plan your business

4. get certified.

5. Create a health coaching package

6. Market your health coaching business

7. get your first clients.

8. Scale your business

Get the Ultimate Guide

For building a 6-figure coaching business so you can achieve more freedom, what is a health coach .

As a health coach , you help people reach their health goals by giving them advice and guidance based on your expertise. In the process, you help them improve and transform their lives.

There are tons of health coaching niches and not all of them are about helping people get slimmer. 

For example, you could help your clients with things like: 

• Reducing stress
• Managing chronic health conditions
• Reaching their fitness goals

My own health coach clients work in various niches. As you’ll see further down, they get paid to help their clients eat right, become more energized, and, well, basically change their lives for the better.

Take my student David , who helps people use herbs to take charge of their health. 

He started his business after a family health emergency and having gone through his own weight loss struggles. Today, he’s helped 50+ clients lose a total of 1,000+ pounds.

The best part? You can replace your 9-5 income fast. The internet is FULL of your ideal clients who can’t wait to start working with you to achieve their health goals. 

In fact, the health coaching market is expected to be a $24.94 billion market by 2029 . 

And by offering a premium health coaching package, you can quickly get a few clients and replace your income.

For example, if you sell a health coaching program at $2,000, you only need five clients to earn $10,000. 

You do the math – you don’t need THAT many clients to get started. 

But it doesn’t stop there. You can help even more people by offering online courses, group programs, workshops, books, retreats, talks, cookbooks, corporate wellness programs, or meal plans. 

Sounds exciting? I thought so. It doesn’t even have to be overwhelming. 

In this post, I’ll walk you through the exact steps you need to take.

Next, can YOU become a health coach? 

Are you qualified to become a health coach? 

Do you need a health coach certification or a degree? 

It depends. Some health coaching niches do require one. 

However, most of the time, your qualifications as a health coach are based on something else: 

The results you help your clients get.

You see, most of the health coaches I’ve coached didn’t start by getting a degree. Instead, they started helping people get results, and that way, their businesses grew. 

And the same applies to you.

Your experience and results matter for your clients, not your certifications.

Did you achieve a personal health goal? Have you helped others get results? 

If the answer is yes, you’re qualified to become a health coach.

But you might be wondering:

“Can I become a health coach?”

That’s what we’ll look at next.

How to start a health coaching business

To start a thriving health coaching business, you need to be strategic from the start. What do I mean by that? 

Instead of building your health coaching website, designing a logo, or ordering business cards, figure out your business first. 

And what are the first steps you need to take? 

Find a profitable health coaching niche. Here’s how to pick a niche you know WILL work :

1. Find your health coaching niche

Now, why can’t you just call yourself a health coach? 

Because that’s way too general!

But if you go for something more specific, like a running coach, a weight loss coach, or a stress coach, your clients will instantly see the value you offer.

You also need to find your target audience.  

A mistake people make? They target everyone. Or they niche down but end up with an audience who will never pay for their services.

I don’t want you to go through that! So choose an audience who is WILLING and ABLE to pay.

Think about it. People in secure jobs are much more likely to pay for your health coaching services than recent college grads who are still searching for their first job.

For example, my friend Nagina runs her multi-six-figure business where she teaches women how to lose weight with spices. 

To find a profitable niche you know will work, ask yourself:

What health coaching experience do you have? What results have you helped people get?

Note that “experience” doesn’t necessarily mean work experience. You can use the skills you’ve taught yourself on the side. 

For example, if you’re a runner and have trained for marathons, that’s a skill you’ve developed and can teach others. 

Once you have a niche figured out, make sure it’s something people want. 

How? Go to sites where your audience hangs out. These could be Facebook groups, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, or Google.

Are people already selling the service you want to get started with? Great, that’s a sign that there is a market for your service. 

Need some inspiration? 

Let’s look at a few different health coaching niches. But remember that there are tons of very specific niches you could focus on. 

1. Fitness coaching business

As a fitness coach , you help your clients stay fit. For example, you can work as a private trainer (PT) and design workout programs. Or focus on a specific niche, like helping people build muscle or train for a marathon. 

2. Nutrition coaching business

As a nutrition coach , you help people eat right. You might work with more general meal plans to help your coaching clients eat a balanced diet or lose weight. Or you can work with more specific nutritional needs, like allergies. 

3. Weight loss coaching business

As a weight loss coach , you help people who struggle with losing weight. You might do it with exercise and/or nutrition plans.

4. Stress coaching business

As a stress coach , you help your clients overcome stress in their lives. You can work with their overall health and mindset. 

5. Sleep coaching business

Sleep coaches help people who struggle with insomnia or sleep quality. They might also help children and/or babies. 

6. Health coaching for midlifers

As a health coach, you can target a very specific audience (after all, as people age or their life situation changes, they need help in different ways). For example, you might work with midlifers…

7. Health coaching for baby boomers

…Or an audience like baby boomers. See how they are completely different audiences with their own needs and goals?

8. Productivity/habit coaching business

Lots of people struggle with productivity or maintaining healthy habits. As a health coach, you can help them change that, for example by keeping them accountable . 

9. Health coaching for families 

Just like you might focus on midlifers or baby boomers as an audience, you can focus on families as your target audience and help them live healthier lives. 

10. Vegan health coach

Or why not work with an audience like vegans, who want to keep to specific diets AND live healthily? 

11. Wellness coach

Other niches include: 

• Nurse health coaching
• Mindfulness coaching
• Anxiety coaching
• ADHD coaching
• Mental health coaching
• Lifestyle coaching
• Behavioral coaching

2. Create a health coaching business brand

Now that you know WHO to target and WHAT to offer, the next question is:

How do you stand out with your health coaching offer among all other health coaches?

In this quick video, I share my best strategies:

Take me as an example. 

When I started this business, I wasn’t sure how to stand out as a business coach.

The market was SO saturated. What did I have that wasn’t already out there?

But after digging a bit deeper I realized:

I DID stand out even if I am pretty “normal” without a rags-to-riches story. For example, my background is in engineering so my approach is very analytical. And I even stand out with tiny personality traits, like the fact that I love TV shows. That makes me feel more human and real. 

One of the best ways for health coaches to stand out? 

Think about how you help your clients get results, your “secret sauce.”

David, my student, helps his clients lose weight with herbs. 

My friend Nagina does it with spices. 

Kayla Itsines, a multi-million dollar fitness personality, started her business by offering a program that only requires 30 minutes every day and can be completed anywhere (including your living room). 

Another of my clients offers customized trainings. 

And yet another uses the power of mindset.

Ask yourself:

What’s YOUR secret sauce? How does what you offer your clients differ from what other health coaches offer?

The next step to becoming a successful health coach? 

Set up your business. 

Decide on your: 

Business structure and licenses 

The most common business structures are LLC and sole proprietorship. LLCs offer benefits like tax breaks and legal protection, while a sole proprietorship is simple to start. 

Next, look up whether you need to get licenses and certifications. In most cases, you don’t need them, but some health niches are more regulated than others. 

For more information, take a look at the SBA website.

You can also read more about health coaching insurance here . 

What do your business finances look like? 

Set up a business bank account so that you keep your private and business financials separate. 

And make a plan for when you’ll go full-time as a health coach. 

That time is typically once you’ve doubled your monthly salary.

Why doubled? Because you’ll have money to spend on business expenses and taxes so you don’t have to stress about your income.

But if doubling your income feels far off, don’t worry. It’s closer than you might think.

Let’s say you price your package at $2,000 (more on that in a bit). 

That means just four clients to get to $8,000. And if you raise your prices from there, you’ll soon get to $10,000 by working with two to three clients.

I talk more about building a business on the side of your full-time job here.  

If you want (or need) to get certified, then look at credible programs accredited by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is another recognized accreditation organ. 

Alternatively, look at programs by reputable universities. 

After all, the coaching certification industry isn’t regulated and you could end up spending both time and money on a useless certification. 

Here are a few certifications to research: 

• Integrative Health Coach Training (Duke University) : Duke University’s remote, 10-week program is one of the first health and wellbeing coaching certification courses and one of the first NBHWC-accredited courses. Price: $6,940. 
• Wellness Coach Training Program (Mayo Clinic): This NBHWC-accredited program is a 12-week program. On top of that, you’re expected to complete 50 hours of coaching to earn your certification. Price: $4,900.
• Health Coach Certification (American Council on Exercise): This program is accredited by NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies). You’ll need three to six months to go through the program. Price: $1,649. 

I share more health coaching programs here.

5. Create a health coaching package 

Next, figure out what you offer. 

Your coaching offer

This is where most people make a mistake that keeps them from making any sales and growing their businesses. Instead of selling what people WANT, they offer them what they NEED.

Think about it:

YOU know that your clients need to take certain steps to solve their problem and live a healthier life. It’s easy to think that’s what you should offer them. 

But THEY don’t know it. They want the outcome. A flatter stomach, abs, more energy, or glowing skin. And that’s how you need to phrase your offer.

Plus, your offer needs to be tangible. 

You don’t just help people feel less stressed. Instead, you help them reduce their stress in two weeks with a few simple steps. 

For example, remember my student David? He doesn’t help people “get healthy” or “lose weight.” Instead, he helps them “jumpstart their weight loss with the right food (without eating less or moving more).”

This is key to being able to position your coaching package as a premium offer.

Your pricing model

How should you price your health coaching offer ? 

The average hourly rate is $40/hour .

However, I strongly recommend you use package pricing because you’ll be able to help your clients get far better results. 

Now, in the long run, $2,000, $5,000 or even $10,000 health coaching packages are quite normal.

(That’s right. People do care about their health and are willing to pay for it!)

But we all need to start somewhere.

When I first started my first coaching business , I priced my package at $5,000. I had chosen that price based on my hourly salary at the time.

While my first client said yes without hesitation, I had trouble getting more people to sign up.

I would regularly get messages like these…

Why? Because I hadn’t built up enough trust. People needed to see that my services were worth it… But how could they when I hadn’t worked with other clients and proved myself?

That’s why I decided to lower my rate to $1,500 for a three-month commitment, even though that rate was lower than what I was making at my job at the time.

Once I had a few of those clients, I went back to $5,000… And never looked back.

Today, most of my clients, health coaches included, start with a three-month coaching package priced at $1,500.

It’s easier for people to say yes and you can earn that social proof you need to increase your prices. And three months give your clients enough time to see results. 

What’s the first thing on your list of marketing activities to get clients ?

Not a website! That’s right. Instead, as a coach, you first need to build trust and relationships by providing as much value as you can.

That’s what I did with my first client. I gave her an insane amount of free information and support until she asked if we could work together. 

Note that I didn’t have a website until I had signed several clients. And even then, it wasn’t the fanciest website out there.

But how do you provide value to people at scale? So: How do you not get stuck in helping people one by one, hoping one of them will convert? 

Choose one marketing strategy:  

• Social media: Not just ANY social media. Instead, a platform where your clients already hang out. Whether that’s Facebook, Quora, Pinterest, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or YouTube. 
• Podcasts: Get interviewed on podcasts. Pitch smaller, relevant podcasts to get in front of your audience. And yes, they DO want to interview you because you have valuable experience to share with their audience. 
• Your network: Do you have family, friends, or co-workers who might be interested in your services? Have people asked for your advice before? 
• Events and partnerships: Go to relevant events where your clients hand out. (Check out events on sites like Meetup.com.) Or, partner up with other coaches or service providers who share your audience. For example, are there gyms in your area where you might be able to promote your services? 

How do you get your first client? 

While you can use any of the marketing strategies above, let’s take a look at social media as a strategy . 

For example, let’s say your audience hangs out on Reddit. 

Go to Reddit and type in a relevant keyword in the search box. If you’re a weight loss coach, that keyword could be “weight loss.”

You’ll now get a list of groups where your clients are. 

The same goes for Facebook. Type in a health-related keyword and you get several groups full of your ideal clients.

Once you’ve found those platforms and groups where your audience spends their time, you want them to notice you.

 And not just notice, but think: “Oh, wow! This resonates SO much with me. Wonder if there’s a way for me to work together with this person?”

How do you do it? With these three steps:

#1: Answer questions

Be helpful and answer relevant questions. By giving helpful advice, people (who are struggling with what you help them with) will quickly notice your expertise.   

#2: Post valuable content

Post content in groups and start discussions with people. But not just any content. You see, most people will go for “informational” content.

I know because I did it when I first started marketing my business in Facebook groups.

But here’s the thing:

On social media, people want to be entertained. Give them short, fun, and interesting content and you’ll quickly get noticed by your ideal clients.

#3: Livestreams 

If you use a platform that lets you broadcast live videos, use them to your advantage.

That’s what I did early on: 

Because video is a powerful tool for building engagement , livestreams are a great way to quickly connect with your audience and show you’re an expert.

In fact, when I was new to coaching, a lot of my own private clients found me after watching my livestreams.

#4: Keep consistent

The MOST important piece of the puzzle?

Keep consistent with your social media plan. If people start seeing you in their newsfeeds on a regular basis, they’ll be a lot likelier to notice you and see how much value you give.

Want to learn more? Take a look at this quick video:

8. Scale your health coaching business

Once you have a few health coaching clients, you’ve replaced your income, and your health coaching business is growing nicely, it’s time to scale your business.

You see, you can only scale so much with a one-on-one coaching offer because you can’t really add extra hours to your day. 

That’s what happened to me. 

When I had grown my first coaching business to six figures, I had a problem.

I couldn’t continue growing that business because I only had so many hours every day to use on client calls.

At the same time, I wanted to scale my business faster and create a more flexible schedule for myself. One that didn’t require me to be on every sales call or work one-on-one with every client.

That’s where group programs and online courses are your best friend.

You see, with these offers, you can help more people without taking on a lot of extra work.

To put this into perspective:

With my first coaching offer, I made six figures. In my first year, I made a million with two online courses. I couldn’t have done that by personally working with every client. 

While scaling your business, I recommend that you keep your offers lean. You don’t need a ton of different offers and programs. Still today, I only work with a few different offers – one-on-one coaching , a group program, and a few flagship online courses.

Group programs 

Group programs work much like your one-on-one offer, except you’re now helping a group of people who also benefit from getting to know like-minded people.

You basically take your health coaching one-on-one program and apply it to a group with group calls instead of individual coaching calls.

See how this helps your clients get amazing results while you scale your business?

Online courses

An online course fully detaches you from your offer. Your customers download your training material as an e-course and learn by themselves. 

After having worked with your private clients, you can quickly set up your courses. You see, you can use your coaching outline and create your online course based on that.

For example, the courses my clients have created based on their coaching offers include weight loss courses and courses that help people with their nutrition.

Meal plans and other digital products

But what about meal plans and other digital products you can create as a health coach? Maybe a membership site? Recipe ebooks?

What do I recommend? Wait with creating those. You first want to focus on products that let you scale your business.

An online course can be priced at around $500-$2,000.

A recipe book or a meal plan? About $20-$200.  

It’s MUCH easier to first scale with your online courses than with smaller offers. So stick with online courses until you have a manageable five- or six-figure business!

Read more about digital products here.

Health coaching business examples

Want to see how others are doing it? 

Here are some of my students who are using their expertise and results to build their health coaching businesses (and yes, they’re crushing it).

1. Jamie Ballew helps stressed-out entrepreneurial women improve their energy levels 

My client Jamie started her business after she experienced a car crash that made her feel drained and miserable but that ultimately helped her realize she could turn her life around. 

Today, she helps other women implement habits in their lives to get great health results.

2. Cristina de la Fuente helps leaders apply mindfulness and neuroscience

Cristina helps people apply mindfulness and neuroscience to become better leaders. She improves their wellbeing, while having a real impact on how organizations are led.

3. Cristina Cantu is a naturopathic doctor 

As a naturopathic doctor, Cristina helps her clients treat things like allergies, boost their immunity, and overcome stress and headaches. 

4. Adrienne Ngia is a nutritionist

Adrienne is a registered dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), and MSc in nutrition. With more than seven years of experience as a dietitian, she has coached thousands of clients and helps busy professionals lose weight for good and build a healthy relationship with food. 

Frequently asked questions about becoming a health coach

How much income can you make as a health coach .

A normal health coach salary?

That’s a trick question because there isn’t one. Instead, you decide how much you earn.

You can do this as a side business or you can build your business to a five-, six-, or even seven-figure business. 

How do I know it’s possible?

Because so many of my health coaching clients have been where you are today. They’ve gone on to create a life that lets them work with what lights them up while earning more than they did in their 9-5.

Is health coaching profitable? 

You can start a highly profitable health coaching business because you’re selling your existing skills. Plus, your business doesn’t have a lot of startup costs. And, as it’s an expert-based one-on-one service, you can charge a premium price for your services. 

How much does it cost to start a health coaching business? 

Want to build your own health coaching business.

Feel pumped and ready to get started? You should because YOU can become a health coach and get all those things you want in life, whether that’s income, impact, or time.

But, you might be worried about making mistakes that will hold you back…and you don’t want to figure out everything on your own. (After all, that will take years… )

Get my FREE blueprint where I share the exact steps thousands of my students have used to start their own coaching businesses on their own terms. 

Get it now!

Read more: 

How to Create a High-Ticket Coaching Funnel

The Top Coaching Products to Sell

How to Use Email Coaching

About Luisa Zhou

Luisa Zhou has helped thousands of students build and scale their own profitable online Freedom Business. Fun Fact: She used to work as an engineer for the Space Station and holds a B.S.E. from Princeton. Click here to learn more about Luisa.

Hope you enjoy this blog post.

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17 Responses

I haven’t started my Health Coaching business yet. I’m in the learning stage gathering as much information as I can. The niche that I have chose is helping individuals transition to a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle.

Good luck Chelsi. I started my health coach certification in September 2017 and I had some family issues to take care of. I am just going back to it again and love all the content. Can’t wait to finish so I can jump in here to learn more with Luisa and finally quit my 9-5.

So sorry to hear about your family issues, Patti. Love that you’re jumping back in and enjoying the content! 🙂

Hi Chelsi, that’s awesome! (A close friend of mine recently made this transition and has been telling me a lot about it so I’m especially interested in seeing more coaches get out there and share this with the world.) Hope you got a lot of good info out of this blog post!

This is interesting. So many people have taken an interest in health and fitness and this is a great path to start influencing people.

I haven’t started my health and nutrition coaching yet. But the niche that I am leaning towards is transitions to vegetarian or vegan diet, I am trying to get as much information as I can and see really how to structure my packaging, for me I think that’s where I am having troubles. This post was very informative. Thank you

Hi I am currently studying to be a health coach, I am not sure exactly about my niche but I would love to help working moms find time for themselves as they are juggling with their work, kids and husbands.

Hi I am in the beginning stage of my health and fitness coach. I am doing a lot of researching and getting educated without going to school. You really helped me a lot. Thank you. My niche will be about health and fitness just haven’t thought of what to actually use as my niche. I’m sure I will figure that out as I do more research.

Of course you will! Happy you found this helpful! 🙂

Thanks Luisa for putting so much thought into this article and for the useful information! I have my health coach certification and I actually work as a weight loss coach for a company. We help members with emotional health, nutrition, exercise and sleep. I really want my own coaching business, as I’m barely getting by on this salary and want more control over my schedule and content-creating. I love all of these areas we coach people on, as they all encompass wellness, so how do I choose just one for my niche? Maybe the area I enjoy coaching on the most? For all the other aspiring coaches here, I can tell you it is very rewarding and I wish you the best!

I read blood panel (CBC, CMP, Lipid, Iron, Thyroid) results and help people determine why they still feel sick, even when the tests come back ‘normal’. The numbers don’t lie, you just have to read them correctly. Started my business as a stress relief coach and found out the internal stress determines how we react to the external stress.

This sounds incredible and is something that I think has always felt like a pipe dream to me. However, edging on almost 40 myself and having lived much fo my live with chronic health conditions (in part due to kidney disease, dialysis, and two kidney transplants amongst other health challenges), I seek a better work-life balance where I can have my own working time and more dedicated family/life/personal time balance. I really would love to embrace my chronic health experiences along with being a Registered Nurse for almost 16.5 years and channel that into being a health coach for those around my age and older that are living with chronic illness and trying manage them better and have the best quality of life. I really hope it’s something I can do and work towards and seek guidance on how to get started!

I haven’t started my coaching business yet in health and wellness but I am eager to start. I have 2 BAs one in health and wellness and the other in complementary and alternative health plus a certified health coaching from ISSA. I still want to know what my niche is because I have helped many women in the past as an intimate specialist through retail. I have so many ideals but not sure of what it is that I can offer to clients.

Hi, I am the energy healer and my huge headache is how to transform my business from “single session one” (Ihave beed there definitely too long) to more program-oriented one. I am aware that most my present clients simply will quit. Somethimes they expect discounts for single session so no way they will pay for programs. How to do such business transition? Do you offer any courses/training what can be helpful? Thanks

Hi! I am in the process of completing my health coach certification and absolutely want to start my own coaching business. After working as a nurse/nurse practitioner for 16 years, the chronic diseases that keep rearing their ugly head are diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. I’m thinking my niche may be to focus on clients with those specific health conditions and work with them on the 3 factors that commonly fall into causing those issues/making them worse (smoking, diet, exercise). Not sure if that’s fine tuned enough, but I’m working on it. Is that too broad?

I enjoyed reading your post. I haven’t started a coaching business yet. I was introduced to coaching and Podcasts only 2-3 years ago. I have listened to so many coaches and Podcasts, which has been very inspiring and motivating but I noticed one thing that lacked in all of that was living with chronic autoimmune disease, and that is my niche. I have been grappling with diseases for a few years, of which I have many, and my mind was all over the place until I decided it was time to self-coach and did my coaching certificate on mindset. I became determined that being ill was not going to define me and I have learned certain tools to live with disease and not lose “me” in the process. I am uncertain if I should host coaching programs, or stick to blogs and Podcasts, or write a short book that people can purchase and read and learn in their own time and apply the coaching model I will discuss. There is definitely a life with lupus and I am proof of that. My program is titled “The elegant mindset” with a touch of Je Ne Sais Quoi. I have had my first book published in 2021 titled “Living Life Lupair” where I wrote about my lupus journey. It was an amazing feeling achieving this but honestly speaking it wasn’t the hit I thought it would be. So am ready to jump back on the wagon with a different approach.

Thank you, Luisa. This was the information I have been looking for. I am just starting my health coaching business and have found it overwhelming. I have been a nurse for 15 years with the last year working in Chronic Care Management. My 9-5 is helping people make lifestyle changes to improve their health due to chronic diseases such as CKD, hypertension, and diabetes. It seems the babyboomers and my generation (I think I’m generation x) are the first two generations with increased health risks showing up in later years due to poor lifestyle choices. Across the board, I have noticed that with lifestyle changes these people are improving their life and health. So, that is my niche. Just not sure how to narrow it down.

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4 keys to starting a successful & impactful health coaching business.

There are many ways to be a health coach. Once you get certified in coaching, you can go on to  work for a health clinic or corporate wellness program  or opt for the self-employment route.

Opening your own coaching business allows you to work from home, set meetings on your schedule, and maintain flexibility—all while helping clients make life-changing health shifts.

But a fulfilling, lucrative business won't appear out of thin air—something that  Emily Woods , a health coach and  business mentor , knows all too well.

Here are Woods' top four tips for bringing your health coaching business from concept to reality:

Invest in the right education and certification program

The first step to becoming a health coach is to enroll in a program that  teaches you the ins and outs of coaching . "Picking a great certification is the most important thing," says Woods. "That decision is your kickoff."

You'll want to look for a program that speaks to your interests and jibes with your schedule. She recommends mindbodygreen's  Health Coaching Certification (HCC) program  for anyone looking for a well-rounded health coaching education in just 20 weeks.

Through live lessons, online videos, and real-time practice sessions hosted by world-class health care experts, HCC teaches the fundamentals of holistic health, along with the  positive psychology and mentorship skills  needed to empower clients to reach their health goals.

Treat your business like the business it is

Health coach certification.

The most comprehensive curriculum, taught by world-class faculty in just 20-weeks.

Health coaching is  a more in-demand service than ever before . "For health coaches, there's a lot of success to be had. Coaching is something that people are looking for, learning more about, and directly seeking—even more than they were just two or three years ago," Woods says.

There's a wide audience of people looking for support on their health journeys—and your job is to make it as easy as possible for these people to find you!

"Posting about what you do on social media isn't enough," Woods notes. Instead, she encourages clients to treat their business like the business it is. That is, do market research, make a business plan, create an offer, work on lead generation, etc. If you're new to the business world, investing in business education and marketing programs might be worthwhile as you build your plan.

Figuring out these details takes time, so Woods encourages aspiring health coaches to get a head start even before they officially get certified.

Find your niche

When working with new business clients, the first thing Woods does is help them  find their niche  within the larger umbrella of health coaching.

There are many reasons coaches will want to specialize in a particular niche—be it plant-based eating or postpartum health. For starters, Woods says, "having a niche is your gateway to getting really good at something. If you try to be good at everything, everything will be a watered-down message."

By finding a niche that's well suited to your skills, passion, and personal history, you'll also create a business that's totally unique to you and will stand out among the crowd. Not to mention, having a specialty that lights you up will help you stay excited about the work that you're doing for the long haul. This brings us to the last point...

Stay consistent—but don't feel like you need to do everything yourself

When it comes to building a stable business that can withstand the test of time, Woods says that consistency is key. This means keeping up with a steady stream of online marketing, social media posts, etc. "You don't have to go viral," she says, "but posting consistently will help you continue to grow and develop trust with your audience."

This can be tedious at times, but remember that you don't need to go it alone. Woods recommends building a team of mentors, advisers, teachers, and potentially employees to help you stay on track. No successful health coaches reach their goals alone, she notes—even if you can't tell from their marketing, they almost certainly had a team supporting them.

The takeaway

Starting your own health coaching business is a way to help others reach their well-being goals while maintaining a more flexible, fulfilling work schedule for yourself.

Investing in a high-quality certification, making a solid plan, finding your niche, and staying consistent with your offerings can help get your business off the ground—so you can get to work  changing lives for the better .

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Starting your own business can be intimidating, but this cheat sheet can help. It was created to guide you with clarity about how to make your business thrive without leaving you feeling overwhelmed. And the less overwhelmed you feel, the more you can focus on effectively coaching your clients.

First Steps

To get started, you should:

• Determine which structure best suits your business (e.g., a limited liability company or other designation).
• Register your business in the state in which you live and work. More information on this is found at your Secretary of State’s website.
• Set up a Federal EIN (Employer Identification Number).
• Get a checking and savings account set up for your business to keep finances separate.
• Acquire some type of business insurance.

NOTE: All of the above should be discussed with a legal and tax professional to confirm that you are set up legally and correctly.

After establishing the framework for your business, your next step is to acquire your first client (or keep a steady flow of clients). This is where this cheat sheet will come in handy, as it provides an outline of what you need to do and how to do it to earn your first clients and keep additional clients streaming into your business so you can help more people.

As you read through these tips, remember two rules:

• Establish relationships. Be genuine in your desire to coach people; work to build a connection with clients to establish meaningful and trusting relationships. This helps to set the stage for open and honest collaboration between the client and coach.
• Deliver meaningful coaching experiences. Offer the best coaching possible and make every interaction client-centered. And always seek excellence in your coaching by asking your clients how you can better serve them and make their experience better.

Here are the first major steps to building your health coaching business:

1. Identify your ideal client

If you try to help everyone , then you will likely help no one. You will have a more difficult time helping people, because your focus will be too spread out across client types. Instead, having a clear understanding of who your ideal client is makes it easier to seek out the clients you can help the most.

Ask yourself the following questions to create an ideal client avatar for your business:

• Who are the ideal types of clients I would like to coach?
• What are the main issues they have when it comes to their health?
• What is the average age? Gender?
• What do they do for a living? Are they full-time employees, entrepreneurs, students or retired?
• What are their hobbies?
• What activities do they enjoy?
• What are their common goals when it comes to health? What is the number one thing you will help them with in their coaching journey?

Once you answer these questions, it will give you a clear idea of the kind of clients you will pursue in your health coaching business.

2. Find out Where Your Ideal Clients Like to Hangout

Looking at your ideal clients’ hobbies and favorite things, where do they like to spend most of their time in-person and online? What are their favorite shops, grocery stores, retail locations, brands, social media platforms, etc.? Identify at least one or two favorites in each category and start connecting with these places or with the social media group pages related to these things and offer advice if questions are asked. Of course, be sure to follow the groups’ rules or risk being banned or presenting yourself as disingenuous instead of as someone wanting to help people (remember rule number one, above).

3. Create Content that Answers your Ideal Clients’ Questions About Health

Sit down and think of at least 20 questions that your ideal client has about health and fitness — all of these questions are ideal topics for your content. The key here is to create social media content for your ideal clients’ questions, and not to create content for your peers. You are seeking to establish trust with your ideal clients, not impress your peers and other coaches. Remind yourself of this often.

4. When your Clients get Good Results, ask for Testimonials

Do not hesitate to ask for testimonials from your clients. To prove that you help provide results, you need to have a body of proof, and testimonials are a great way to earn trust from others. Ask for referrals as well. This is one of the best ways to build your business, because friends trust their own friends and will more easily contact you for coaching upon a friend’s recommendation.

5. Thank your Clients Often

Working with a coach is a personal journey that requires trust, patience, acceptance, and open communication to be effective. Your clients have likely opened up to you during the coaching relationship about personal challenges and successes they may not share with others. Be thankful for sharing in this experience with them. Offering a small token of appreciation, such as a journal, your favorite book or something that reflects something the client loves can add to the overall experience and may set you apart from other coaches.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it is enough to get you started in the right direction. Start with identifying your ideal clients and you may be surprised at how much clarity that offers you going forward.

Jen  (Pn2, NASM-CPT, ACE Certified Health Coach) has been a coach in the fitness industry for almost 15 years.  She's the host of the podcast  Making Shift Happen  and the owner of Shift Human Performance ( www.shifthumanperformance.com ), both of which allow her to share her purpose to help others create their best lives without spending countless hours in the kitchen and gym.  In her spare time outside of the gym, she enjoys mountain biking, spending time outdoors in Colorado, and spending time with her family and silly rescue pup. Follow  Jen  on Instagram (@shifthumanperformance), Twitter (@shiftyourselfup), or contact her at  jen @shifthumanperformance.com .

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How to start a health coaching business in 2024

Starting your own nutrition & health coaching business can be a very rewarding experience, both personally and professionally. It can be a great way to help people improve their health and well-being while also making a good income. Nutrition coaching is a rapidly growing industry, with more and more people looking for help in making healthy lifestyle changes. If you're passionate about nutrition, health, and helping others, then starting your own business in this field could be a great option for you. This guide is for aspiring wellness, nutrition and health coaches; it will give an overview of what is needed to start a nutrition coaching business. Let's get started!

Note: If you are starting a nutrition coaching business, access all the tools you need to run it with Bonsai's software. We have time tracking, task management, intake form templates, tax tools and much more. Start streamlining your business for 7-days free today .

What is Nutrition Coaching?

Nutrition coaching is a structured approach to helping people make lasting changes to their diet and eating habits.

Unlike traditional dietitians or nutritionists, who focus on providing information and education, nutrition coaches work with their clients to set goals and create a business model for reaching those goals.

Nutrition coaching is not a one-size-fits-all approach; instead, it is tailored to each client's individual needs.

As such, nutrition coaches typically have a background in health and fitness, counseling, or other related fields.

Services Offered by Certified Nutrition Professional

Nutrition coaches typically offer a variety of services to their clients, including

Individualized nutrition counseling

This is a service in which the nutrition coach works with the client to create a personalized plan for reaching their goals. This may involve goal setting, meal planning, and more.

Group nutrition counseling

Here, the nutrition coach leads a group of clients through a series of sessions focused on making healthy changes to their diet and lifestyle. This may be offered as a one-time workshop or as an ongoing series.

Online nutrition coaching

This is similar to individualized nutrition counseling, but it is done online (via Skype, email, or another platform). This can be a convenient option for clients who live in remote areas or who have difficulty making it to in-person appointments.

Executive Coaching

This service is designed for busy professionals who want to improve their health and well-being but may not have the time or resources to do so on their own. The nutrition coach works with the client to create a plan that fits their unique needs and lifestyle.

Cooking classes

Many nutrition coaches offer cooking classes to their clients as a way to help them learn how to prepare healthy, delicious meals. A meal is as good as it's nutrition, and a cooking class will help clients meal-prep like a pro.

Grocery store tours

This is a service where the nutrition coach takes the client on a grocery store tour, teaching them healthy food choices and how to read labels.

How To Start A Nutrition Coaching Business - Steps by Step

Now that you know a little bit more about nutrition coaching, let's discuss how you can start your own business. Below are the steps you need to take to get started:

Get Your Nutrition Coaching Certification

The first step is to get certified as a nutrition coach. This will give you the knowledge and skills you need to be successful in this field.

There are a variety of certification programs available, so be sure to choose one that is reputable and accredited.

Some of the most popular certification programs include the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), Certified Nutritional Consultant (CNC), Board Certification in Holistic Nutrition (BCHN), Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), and the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM).

Identify Your Business Vision

The next step is to identify your business vision. This will help you determine what services you want to offer and how you want to operate your business.

Do you want to work with individuals, groups, or both? What type of services do you want to offer? What are your goals for your business? Once you have a clear vision for your business, you can begin to put together a plan.

Choose a Business Name for Your Nutrition Coaching Services

Now it's time to choose a name for your nutrition coaching business. This should be something that is memorable and reflects the services you offer.

Once you have a name, you will need to register it with your state or local government.

Register Your Business

The next step is to register your business. This will ensure that you are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

You will need to choose a legal structure for your business (such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation), and you will need to obtain a business license.

You may also need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

A sole proprietorship is good when starting your coaching business with low funds because it is the cheapest and easiest business structure to set up. You will be considered the only owner of the business and you can report all business income and expenses on your personal tax return.

A partnership is created when two or more people work together to run a business. Partnerships can be either general partnerships or limited partnerships. A limited partnership has one or more general partners and one or more limited partners.

Limited partners are not involved in the business's day-to-day operations and are only liable for the amount of money they have invested in the business.

So, you will need to decide if you want to be the only owner of your business or if you want to partner with someone.

Set Your Documentation Straight

This includes creating a business plan, obtaining insurance, and setting up accounting and bookkeeping. A business plan is a document that outlines your business goals, strategies, and objectives (check out our coaching business plan template here ).

It should also include a financial analysis of your business. Insurance is important to protect your business from liability. You will need to choose the right type of insurance for your business, such as property and casualty, liability, or errors and omissions.

Accounting and bookkeeping are important to track your business finances. You will need to set up a system to track your income and expenses , and you will need to keep accurate financial records.

Choose Your Specialty

The next step is to choose your specialty. This will help you focus your business and attract the right clients.

There are a variety of specialties you can choose from, such as sports nutrition, weight loss, and disease prevention. Once you have chosen a specialty, you can begin to develop your coaching skills.

Develop Your Coaching Skills

This includes learning about nutrition, developing a coaching style, and creating a system for tracking client progress.

You will need to learn about the different nutrients that are essential for good health, and you will need to understand how the body uses these nutrients.

You will also need to develop a coaching style that is supportive and motivating. Finally, you will need to create a system for tracking client progress. This can be done using software, online coaching tools , or paper-based systems.

Determine the Costs of Your Nutrition Coach Business

The next step is to determine the costs of your nutrition coach business. This includes start-up costs, operating costs, and marketing costs.

Start-up costs include the cost of renting office space, purchasing equipment, and hiring staff.

Operating costs include the cost of supplies, utilities, and insurance. Marketing costs include the cost of advertising, public relations, and website development.

Set Up Your Nutrition Programs and Pricing

The next step is to set up your nutrition programs and pricing. This includes developing nutrition programs, setting up a payment system, and determining your fees.

Nutrition programs can be designed for individual clients or groups of clients. You will need to determine the length of each program, the number of sessions per week, and the number of weeks per program.

You will also need to set up a payment system, such as a monthly fee or a per-session fee. Finally, you will need to determine your fees. Fees can be based on the length of the program, the number of sessions, or the number of clients.

Discover how to develop a health coach package here.

Purchase Your Nutrition Coaching Equipment

Now that you have your business plan and pricing in place, it's time to purchase your nutrition coaching equipment. This includes a computer, printer, fax machine, and phone.

You will also need office furniture, such as desks, chairs, and filing cabinets. Finally, you will need to purchase supplies, such as paper, pens, and business cards.

Develop Your Marketing Plan

This includes deciding how you will market your business, such as online marketing (including social media platforms), offline marketing, or a combination of both.

You will also need to decide what type of advertising you will use, such as print, television, or radio ads. Finally, you will need to develop a budget for your marketing activities.

Connect with Other Like-minded Entrepreneurs

One of the best ways to grow your business is to connect with other like-minded entrepreneurs. You can do this by joining an entrepreneurial group or networking with other small business owners.

This will allow you to share ideas, resources, and advice. Also, by connecting with other entrepreneurs, you will be able to build relationships that can help you grow your business.

Online Nutrition Coaching Business

Unlike a brick-and-mortar business, an online nutrition business has very little overhead. This means that you can run your business from anywhere in the world.

All you need is a computer and an internet connection. Plus, by running your business online, you will be able to reach a larger audience. Online nutrition coaches can also offer their services to clients in other countries.

Bonsai’s Tools for Small Businesses

Now that you have your nutrition coaching business up and running, it's time to start using Bonsai’s tools to help you manage your business.

Bonsai offers a variety of tools, such as time tracking, invoicing, and task management. These tools will help you save time and money, and they will also help you keep your business organized.

Task Management

Bonsai’s task management tool can help you keep track of your to-do list, set deadlines, and assign tasks to team members.

Time Tracking

Bonsai’s time tracking tool can help you bill clients by the hour, track employee hours, and manage project timelines.

Bonsai’s invoicing tool can help you create and send invoices, track payments, and manage clients.

Bonsai’s accounting tool can help you track expenses, manage invoices, and run reports.

Bonsai’s client CRM can help you track leads, manage clients, and send marketing materials.

These are just a few of the tools that Bonsai offers to small businesses. To learn more about Bonsai’s tools, visit their website .

Starting a Nutrition Coaching Business - Summary!

Starting a nutrition coaching business can be a great way to help people improve their health and achieve their fitness goals.

However, before you start your business, it is important to develop a business plan, choose a specialty, and determine your fees.

Additionally, you will need to purchase equipment and supplies and develop a marketing plan. Finally, by connecting with other like-minded entrepreneurs, you will be able to grow your business.

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How to Start a Successful Health Coaching Business

Curious about how to start a health coaching business? Find out the type of education, business planning, and marketing tips you may need.

Get the Holistic Health Coach Career Guide

Is 'mentoring others' your superpower? Discover if a career as a holistic health coach aligns with your strengths, plus get a career roadmap!

Clicking the "Get the Survey Now" button constitutes your express request, and your express written consent, to be contacted by and to receive automated or pre-recorded call, texts, messages and/or emails from via phone, text, and/or emails by Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts at the number(s)/email you provided, regarding furthering your education and enrolling. You understand that these calls , texts, messages and/or emails may be generated using an automated or pre-recorded technology. You are not required to agree to receive automated or pre-recorded calls, texts, messages or emails as a condition of enrolling at Escoffier. You can unsubscribe at any time or request removal of street address, phone number, email address via Escoffier website .

If you’re infatuated with the world of health and intrinsically enjoy helping others reach their wellness goals, becoming a health coach could be the right path for you. Plus, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , of health education specialists and community health workers in particular is expected to keep growing at an exponential rate of 12% until 2031, which is much faster than the average of all occupations.

With the right research, education, and planning, you can also establish exactly where you want to work—potentially including the flexible option of self-employment. If this piques your interest, let’s explore how to start a health coaching business and the next steps you can take.

1. Get the Right Education and Training

As a health coach working directly with clients, you likely won’t concentrate on just one aspect of health, such as fitness. Health coaches may examine the wider wellness picture that encompasses everyday nutrition , lifestyle, movement, stress management, and more. In order to become well-versed in all of these concentrations and help clients professionally, it’s critical to get the right education and training first.

Although there isn’t a concrete degree requirement to begin a health coaching business, getting an education in health and wellness can help you grasp the fundamentals and could prepare you for The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching national certification—an accolade that most health coaches strive to secure before working one-on-one with clients.

So what type of credible education can prepare you for this certification? Students enrolled in Escoffier’s Holistic Nutrition & Wellness program can dive into a well-rounded curriculum that starts with a foundation in healthy cooking methods. From there, they can explore essential entrepreneurial skills , such as pitching a business idea to investors, coaching, and interpersonal influence.

“A distinguishment of the Holistic Nutrition and Wellness programs is the intersection of multiple disciplines: we can teach classical culinary techniques alongside foundational nutrition information and integrative approaches to wellness. We’re uniquely positioned to help students navigate cooking for health and how other forces influence a person’s lifelong well-being. Learning these skills can help students pursue multiple avenues relevant to health and wellness – from being a part of a culinary team that creates dishes for companies or organizations looking to nourish their employees/customers, community food education programs, coaching, and health educators.”* Stephanie Michalak White, Escoffier Lead Chef Instructor

2. Start Business Planning

Once you feel confident with your education and training, it’s time to develop an action plan for your health coaching business. Even though this might seem tedious in the beginning, drafting a business plan could help you build a rock-solid foundation and help keep you on track before making important decisions. You can also find several business planning templates online that can help you architect the structure of your business plan.

Here are a few planning components to consider when devising a business plan.

“When you’re putting together a business plan, always account for little stuff [like light bulbs, payroll taxes, and liability insurance]. All these little nickel-and-dime things start to add up.”* Lead Chef Instructor Jason Goldman

Identify Your Target Audience

Who are you passionate about helping? When beginning your business plan, it’s critical to first identify your ideal target audience, so you can eventually tailor your branding and messaging toward them. For example, maybe you choose to work only with professional athletes—devising nutrient-rich meal plans and strengthening the competitive mindset from a holistic point of view . Or perhaps your expertise is assisting working professionals in corporate nutrition—giving valuable presentations at large corporate conferences centered around healthy lifestyle choices.

The world is your oyster, but it can certainly help if you can get crystal-clear on your ideal client archetype—which could quickly set you apart from other health coaches. Knowing who your target audience is could also help shape your health coaching mission statement and value proposition down the line.

Formulate SMART Goals

When it comes to fleshing out additional details of your business plan, consider keeping the SMART goal framework in mind:

• Specific : The more detailed your goals are, the higher your chances might be of actually achieving them.
• Measurable : It’s critical to also add criteria to your goal and quantify them to the best of your ability.
• Achievable : Your goals should be challenging, yet not impossible to achieve.
• Relevant : Ensure that your goals align with your business objectives and mission statement.
• Time-Bound : To increase the probability of success, it’s pivotal to include a deadline to complete your goals.

At this point, you’ve likely discerned your niche, but there are several more questions to address, especially when it comes to being an independent health coach.

Health Coach Business Planning Questions:

• What type of schedule works best for my circumstances?
• How many clients do I want during my first month of practice?
• What is my personal client capacity six to 12 months from now?
• What type of client environment do I want to cultivate?
• Do I need to develop additional resources for my clients to flourish?
• What will my overhead costs look like?
• What should my annual income look like?
• What will my hourly rate be to hit my annual income goal?

By answering these questions, you could be on your way to developing SMART goals that fit exactly what your dream health coaching business looks like. As your business continues to grow, you may need to revise your answers to these questions on an ongoing basis and find a practice that works for you.

Research and Apply for Licenses

Although it’s best to speak with a lawyer before registering for a health coaching business license, you can conduct your own preliminary research to ensure you’re following the proper regulations. Keep in mind that in order to legally establish a business, you’ll need to double-check state, city, county, and federal laws .

At this point, you may also need to determine how to register your business. For example, there might be benefits to starting out as a Sole Proprietor first, instead of a Limited Liability Corporation, or vice versa. Again, one of the most effective ways to check these boxes is by seeking small business legal advice to grasp the difference between each option.

3. Develop a Clear Communications and Branding Strategy

After you work through the important business development details for your health coaching business, it’s time to create a succinct communications and branding strategy. Here are a few essential components to consider.

Pick a Business Name

As an entrepreneurial health coach, you are establishing a trustworthy personal brand from the beginning. The business name you choose should reflect your personality, core values, and your niche. It should also be easy to remember and not too difficult to spell. Keep in mind that longer, more complex business names are more challenging to promote on social media. Lastly, before settling on this, do a bit of research to see whether that name is trademarked and the website domain is available online.

Start a Brand Guide

Now it’s time to tap into your creativity. Similar to a business plan, a brand guide is another essential planning tool that will help you clearly speak to your target audience. You also don’t need to be a professional graphic designer or brand marketer to create one, since there are plenty of user-friendly branding tools out there, such as Canva .

One of the first steps is to create your logo, which can be done in a platform like Canva, or you may want to hire a professional graphic designer to exactly execute your vision.

Aside from the logo, you may want to include critical elements such as:

• Brand colors
• Tone of voice
• Specific verbiage
• Color palette
• Font and sizes
• Additional logo guidelines
• Layout design and key visuals

Design a Website

With a brand guide in place, you can begin to design a website that incorporates all of the key elements that can help you stand out. The great news is that there are a plethora of user-friendly website design platforms available that already give you customizable layout options—you can simply plug in your logo and messaging.

Here are a few most commonly used website platforms:

• Squarespace

4. Devise a Marketing Plan

Once you launch your health coaching business, you may want to think about how to reach your ideal clients through a strategic marketing plan . Your first few clients will likely be through personal connections and word-of-mouth.

However, a marketing plan can help you expand beyond this first phase of clientele. Also, with so many marketing tools and strategies available, try to approach marketing with an open mind and be willing to test the waters to see what delivers the best return on investment.

What social media planning may look like when building a health coaching business.

Social Media Marketing

Where does your demographic spend most of their time? Chances are, you might already know the ins and outs of your target market, which could help you pinpoint what social media platforms to post on. Regardless of the platform, you may want to plan your content a week or even a month out and define a consistent posting schedule.

Known as “effective frequency,” most people need to see a message around three times to take action, which underscores why consistency is key. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with types of content. For example, if Instagram is your primary social media hub, consider posting reels, photos, and IG live videos. You can even incentivize followers to sign up for exclusive content through Instagram subscriptions .

Pro Social Media Marketing Tips:

• Consider automating your content schedule through apps like Planoly .
• Aim to engage with everyone who comments or interacts with your content.
• Instead of resharing content from other users, try to create original content that displays your branding and that highlight your unique health coach tips. When others share your unique content, this naturally drives new traffic to your social media account.
• As you’re starting out, testimonials can hold the power to bring in several more client inquiries. Consider prioritizing this as you develop your content plan.

Email Marketing

Just like social media marketing, sending frequent emails to new or existing clients is key to keeping them engaged with your health coaching business.

With automated email marketing platforms like MailChimp , you can easily use existing templates and plug-in content, such as the following:

• Business updates
• Discount offers
• Client testimonials
• Health coaching advice

You may also want to consider creating complimentary materials, known as “lead magnets,” that incentivize future prospects to sign up for your emails. These lead magnets are usually PDF guides that are educational in nature, such as a 7-day meal plan or meditation tips.

Paid Advertising

When it comes to the world of paid advertising, there are a litany of options to try that could increase your visibility online, such as Google Ads or AdRoll .

Or if your budget allows, it could be worth hiring a professional advertising agency to set up paid ads for your business. Keep in mind that depending on the parameters set, paid ads usually reach brand-new individuals who are not familiar with your health coaching services. Because of this, it’s pivotal to highlight what makes you different from other health coaches and come up with a strong call to action to entice future clients to “act now.” Perhaps your hook is a complimentary 15-minute consultation call to get started.

In-Person Marketing

Your future clients are likely looking for a health coach who’s confident, trustworthy, and knowledgeable. One of the best ways you can interactively build credibility and spread the word about your health coaching services is through in-person events.

In-Person Event Ideas for Health Coaches

• Hosting a wellness retreat
• Starting a nutrition-focused meetup group
• Attending a health and wellness tradeshow
• Setting up a community wellness workshop

Although events entail lots of planning, you can consider lightening the load by co-hosting an event with a colleague in your field, or even conducting an online event to cut down on logistics and costs.

5. Build Your Own Support Network

As an entrepreneur, building your own business from the ground up can sometimes feel like an isolating journey. This can be especially the case as a health coach—constantly striving to find solutions and help others in your nucleus. That being said, it’s important to take care of yourself too, and find a network or mentor who can be there to support you. Perhaps this looks like joining a meetup group specifically geared towards health and wellness entrepreneurs or finding your own life/business coach who can guide you.

Finding a support network is critical in building a successful health coach business.

At Escoffier, mentorship is naturally woven into the structure of the Holistic Nutrition & Wellness program. To graduate, students must participate in one to two hands-on industry externships that allow them to work in a real-world setting and build a solid network of professionals in the health coaching field. In turn, this can give them access to long-lasting mentors, as well as connect with like-minded individuals who could provide long-term support.

Launch Your Own Health Coaching Business With Confidence

Although starting your own health coaching business doesn’t happen overnight, you can take the next step by planning ahead. Perhaps you’re ready to create a first draft of your business plan, or maybe your first step is to expand your health coaching skill set, so you can feel 100% confident when working directly with clients.

Escoffier’s Holistic Nutrition & Wellness Program could be the best place to start, helping you to promote healthy lifestyles with a foundation in crafting delicious, balanced meals. If you’re ready to turn your entrepreneurial vision into reality, contact us today to discover more about our programs.

Enjoyed this health coaching article? Try these ones next!

• What Does a Holistic Health Practitioner Do?
• What Is a Holistic Diet?
• Is Getting a Degree in Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Worth it?

*This information may not reflect every student’s experience. Results and outcomes may be based on several factors such as geographical region or previous experience.

Additional Content

• What Is Holistic Nutrition and Wellness?
• What Is Holistic Health?
• How to Start a Career in Holistic Health
• 5 Holistic Nutrition & Wellness Careers You Should Consider
• How to Become a Holistic Nutritionist
• Dietitian vs. Nutritionist: What is the Difference?
• What Does a Nutrition Coach Do?
• How Long Can It Take to Become a Nutritionist?
• Which Degree Do You Need to Become a Nutritionist?
• How to Become a Health Coach
• What Can I Do With a Degree Focused on Health and Wellness?

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How to Start a Health Coach Business in 7 Steps

Reading Time: 7 minutes

DATE: 2023-12-19

Health coaching is needed now more than ever. Sixty percent of adult Americans have at least one chronic disease, with 40% having two or more. (1) Chronic health conditions are also present in more than 40% of children and teens. (2) As a health coach, you can help all types of individuals live their best—and healthiest—lives possible. And one way to do it is with your own health coaching business. 

Here you’ll learn the seven foundational steps for creating a strong health coaching business from the ground up. We also share actions you can take to grow your business once it’s started. But first, setting up a health coaching business the right way takes time. That makes it important to reaffirm that this is what you want to do.

Signs That Health Coaching Is Right for You

If you’ve already been working as a health coach for another business, you may know that you enjoy helping clients reach their health goals. In this case, beginning your own health coaching business is one way to progress in your career.

For some, health coaching is an extension of other types of coaching. You might be a personal trainer, for example, and want to expand your services to include health coaching . Or you’re a nutrition coach and want to delve deeper into other areas with clients who have health issues. In this case, providing both nutrition coaching and health coaching can help these clients get higher-level results.

Others are new to health coaching altogether. If this is you, here are a few signs that you’re on the right career path:

You have a passion for healthy living and like to keep up on the latest health news.

You enjoy the idea of helping others learn and practice better health habits. 

Friends and family members often come to you for help with a healthy lifestyle change.

You look forward to devising your own signature health and wellness programs.

You have a positive mindset and believe that any challenge can be overcome.

Do you still feel like health coaching is a good career choice for you? Good. Then let’s get started on building your health coaching business.

How to Start a Health Coach Business: 7 Key Steps to Take

Ask any independent health coach the steps they took to start their business, and they’ll likely rattle off dozens, if not more. While it’s true that you’re not going to set up a finalized version of your health coaching business in just a few steps, some steps are so foundational that they’ll at least get you up and running. 

At that point, you can start providing coaching services, then add to your business as you go. So, what are the seven key steps to take right now, when first starting out?

Step 1: Decide If You Will Be an In-Person, Online Health Coach, or Both 

If you plan to offer health coaching in person, you’ll need to decide where. You could buy or rent a dedicated space, have clients come to you, or you could go to your clients. Any of these options will work. It’s more about deciding the best one for you and your future clients.

Maybe you want to offer online health coaching instead. In this case, you’ll need to decide what type of video platform you’ll use. You’ll also need to set up a space in your home where you can work. Of course, a good internet connection is critical when offering online health coaching services.

A third option is to offer both. You might see some clients in person and others online. This may be preferred if you like face-to-face interaction but don’t want to limit your client range to your geographical area. Or maybe you can leave the house for coaching sessions in the morning but not the afternoon. Offering both options enables you to continue to work as a health coach in the evenings without leaving home.

Step 2: Identify Your Ideal Client

The reason this is a foundational step is that you can’t effectively help a health coaching client until you know who they are. This includes figuring out what keeps them up at night, what their biggest challenges are, their education and income levels, and more.

Identifying your ideal client also helps you create a more effective marketing strategy. You’re able to talk directly to them because you know what they’re thinking and what is important to them.

It can be helpful to create a persona or image of what your ideal client looks like. Picture their age, gender, height, and weight. Also consider what makes them happy, sad, angry, or frustrated. Maybe they have a specific chronic health condition. The more you understand them and their pain points, the greater your ability to help.

Step 3: Create a List of Your Health Coaching Services

The next step is to decide what type of services you’ll offer as a health coach. These can vary from one client to the next depending on their situation, health challenges, and goals. 

Services to consider include those related to:

physical activity or exercise

stress management

time management

quitting tobacco 

When deciding your services, you’ll also want to set your rates . The more value a coaching package offers, the more you can charge for it.

Step 4: Develop Your Signature Health Coaching Program 

Some health coaches like to offer their own specialized coaching program. If you want to do the same, now is a good time to develop that program (if you haven’t already) because it will help you when you get to the next couple of steps.

Start with a broad outline, then go back and fill it in. Decide what topics you’ll cover and in what order. If there are any handouts or forms that you want to include, create those now as well.

Step 5: Set Up Your Health Coaching Website

Even if you don’t plan to offer health coaching online, you still want a website. In 2022, 77% of consumers searched online for a business once a week or more. (3) If they can’t find your health coaching business in their search, they’re going to move on to your competitors.

When setting up your website, keep your prospective clients in mind. Consider the type of information they will want to know and make sure it’s prominent on your site. Incorporate important keywords, such as “health coach in (your city or town)” to climb higher in their search results.

You may even include a scheduling option on your site. This would allow current and prospective clients to book sessions with you easily and with greater convenience.

Step 6: Define Your Marketing Strategy

Once your website is live, you can move on to your marketing strategy. This involves deciding how you’re going to increase awareness of your health coaching business and program options. What will you do to better connect with your potential client?

Marketing avenues to think about include:

setting up a business page on social media sites

adding a blog to your website (it helps to create a content strategy so you can time your blogs with major holidays and events, such as promoting cardiovascular health in February, which is American Heart Month)

creating an email marketing campaign

setting up a booth at local health fairs and expos

holding seminars or webinars about what a health coach does and how they can help

Step 7: Set Your Business Up Legally  

Just because this is last on the list doesn’t mean that it is less important. It is incredibly important that you take the time to set your business up legally. This may involve registering your health coaching business locally and/or in your state if required. Getting adequate insurance coverage can provide protection as well. You’ll also want to open a new bank account solely for business purposes.

Also, talk to an attorney or accountant for advice about how to structure your business. While it may be tempting to skip or delay this step, doing so could put your health coaching business at risk. It can also put you at risk personally. Ask whether you should set your business up as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), or use another structure. They can advise you based on your situation and needs.

Tips for Growing Your Health Coaching Practice

Of course, creating a successful health coaching business requires constant attention and effort. Once yours is set up, you’ll want to work on growing it. This increases the likelihood that you’ll be in business long-term.

Here are a few tips to help:

Determine how many clients you can fit into your schedule, then aim to add 1-2 each month until you get to that amount.

Take at least one action each day to promote your health coaching business—even small actions count!

Continue expanding your marketing strategy over time, adding more avenues or pursuing certain ones more in-depth.

Taking additional steps such as these can help get you one step closer to being a successful health coach.

Ways to Stand Out in the Health Coaching Industry

Another way to increase your health coaching success is to find ways to stand out. There are an estimated 23,000+ health coaches in the U.S. alone. (4) This makes it important to differentiate yourself in a way that appeals to potential health coaching clients.

Some healthcare professionals stand out by offering a specific type of health coaching. Maybe you have an interest in holistic nutrition. Why not take this interest and offer services as a holistic health coach?

You can also stand out by completing health coach training. Taking this route serves a few purposes. One, it tells potential clients that you take your business seriously. Two, it also tells them that you know how to help them reach their health goals. 

Plus, when you can market yourself as a certified health coach, you are typically perceived as more knowledgeable than coaches who lack this credential. A health coaching certification adds credibility to your services. The continuing education courses required to keep that certification also help you expand your knowledge, which benefits your clients even more.

ISSA offers Health Coach Certification . This course is 100% online and teaches you the skills and tools needed for effective health coaching. You also gain access to a variety of templates you can use in your health coaching business.

Featured Course

ISSA | Certified Health Coach

ISSA's Health Coach certification is for personal trainers and other health professionals who want to help clients overcome physical and mental health barriers to achieve their optimal wellness.

Chronic Diseases in America . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, December 13). https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/chronic-diseases.htm 

Managing Chronic Health Conditions in Schools . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, October 20). https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/chronicconditions.htm 

Paget, S. (2023, September 1). Local Consumer Review Survey 2023: Customer Reviews and Behavior . BrightLocal. https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/ 

Health Coach Demographics and Statistics in the US . Zippia. (2023, July 21). https://www.zippia.com/health-coach-jobs/demographics/ 

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10 Proven Strategies for a Thriving Health Coaching Business

“plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan.” – margaret thatcher.

1. Carve Your Niche

Discover your passion for health coaching, define your ideal client, research the competition, 2. establish a robust online health coaching presence.

Creating a User-Friendly Website

Utilizing social media, applying seo techniques, 3. network effectively, attending industry events, participating in online communities, partnering with local businesses, 4. launch a health coaching referral program.

5. Host Free Health Coaching Workshops or Webinars

Demonstrate your expertise, reach a broader audience, 6. collaborate with other health professionals, form alliances, learn from others in your field, 7. showcase health coaching client testimonials.

Build Trust and Credibility

8. cultivate a strong brand identity, create a compelling brand story, consistent visual branding, 9. offer diverse health coaching packages, tailor packages to different needs, 10. stay updated and continually educate yourself, embrace continuous learning, for more tips from health coaches in the industry, be sure to visit the integrative health coach success podcast ..

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Starting a Health Coaching Business

A health coach combines a variety of wellness techniques to give their clients a better outlook on their bodies and their lives. They help the community by spreading positive change and wellness techniques that can be used by more people than just their direct clients. This business is all about finding customized solutions that fit an individual’s lifestyle, so they’re more likely to stick with a plan.

You may also be interested in additional low cost business ideas .

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee. Northwest ($29 + State Fees) DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a health coaching business by following these 10 steps:

• Plan your Health Coaching Business
• Form your Health Coaching Business into a Legal Entity
• Register your Health Coaching Business for Taxes
• Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
• Set up Accounting for your Health Coaching Business
• Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Health Coaching Business
• Get Health Coaching Business Insurance
• Define your Health Coaching Business Brand
• Create your Health Coaching Business Website
• Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your health coaching business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Health Coaching Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name , we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability .

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Find a Domain Now

Powered by godaddy.com, what are the costs involved in opening a health coaching business.

Overhead will be low to open a health coaching business. Typically, you’ll visit your client’s homes to observe their daily challenges so you can get a sense of their unique barriers to achieving their goals. You will need to budget for advertising though, which should include both online and in-person outreach to potential clients.

What are the ongoing expenses for a health coaching business?

Health coaches should prepare their budget with the following in mind:

• Website upkeep
• Cost of ongoing education
• Exercise equipment upkeep (if applicable)
• State licensing costs

Who is the target market?

Your target market is anyone who wants to live better. You are not solely looking for those who want to lose weight or exercise more, thought that's likely the primary concerns people will approach you with. A better body may be a byproduct of health coaching, but the primary market is someone who wants to make the long-term changes that will put them on a path toward a more productive life.

How does a health coaching business make money?

Health coaches charge for each session they give. When owners set their prices, they need to factor in not just the time spent with the client, but also the amount of money it costs to both get and keep the client. This includes time spent researching and drumming up business, as well as money spent for advertising.

Clients are willing to pay to make changes in their lives they can’t make themselves. Some health coaches charge up to $500 an hour for their services, though most start with different monthly packages. Look to see what other health and lifestyle coaches charge in your area, but beware not to dramatically undercut your numbers. This may make you look like an amateur amongst professionals.

How much profit can a health coaching business make?

Standard average salary is about $43,000 for a health coach a year, but in wealthy areas that have a lot of life-work balance problems (e.g., San Francisco, San Jose) the salary increases dramatically to about $63,000 a year.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Health coaches can make a lot of money if they expand their services to fit the needs of companies. While health coaching is primarily one-on-one, the advice can be tailored to larger groups. However, the advice will need to be industry specific and relevant to a work setting.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your health coaching business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they're a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business's debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business's liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your health coaching business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We've negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

Form Your LLC Now

Note: If you're interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a health coach business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses .

Services Contract

Health coach businesses should require clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Health Coaching Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Health Coaching Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a health coaching business

The key is to form strong relationships with clients, regardless of how you meet them. Beyond just professional conduct, you need to keep what you say in line with your own personal brand. Find out what makes your services unique, so you can market to the right people. Are you more of a friend or a drill master? Once you know what your style is and what your ideal client is, you can start finding out more about where they live (either physically or online).

When you’re starting off with no clients, the first thing you’ll want to do is create content that stays on brand. Start a YouTube channel or Facebook page that promotes what you do, and how you do it. Emphasize that the best course for change is not to consult endless websites that all say the same thing. People need personalized plans that work around their schedules. You may even want to offer a few sessions for free to companies in the area if you're just starting out.

How to keep customers coming back

The best way to get customers to come back is to be the motivation to make noticeable change in their lives. Focus on the techniques that create results, and then hone those skills with each client. Take your business seriously, and they’ll have reason to do the same.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

• All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
• Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
• Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is excellent for people who love to give practical advice to everyone they meet. Health coaching has everything to do with finding goals that work from an individual, so health coaches need to be emphatic listeners and excellent communicators. They should also be comfortable with authority, as clients hire coaches to take charge. Entrepreneurs should also have a strong sense of how to achieve a balance between diet, exercise, and everyday life.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a health coaching business?

Health coaches primarily work on the schedules of their clients. Their job may include the following duties:

• Initial consultations with prospective clients
• Coaching sessions with clients
• Developing personalized plans
• Scheduling and billing
• Researching new trends in nutrition and exercise
• Outreach and customers engagement

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful health coaching business?

Having a background in counseling, nutrition, and wellness will definitely come in handy. The right person doesn't necessarily need to have gone to college, but you may find it's far more difficult to get off the ground without formal education. Owners should also be excellent at demonstrating specific results their clients have achieved.

What is the growth potential for a health coaching business?

A health coach is many things all at once: a therapist, a nutritionist, a life coach, and an ally. The growth potential is high, especially given that many people need external motivation to succeed. While it will be easier to grow in a wealthier area, health coaches have plenty of opportunities to branch out by giving online sessions or by expanding their travel budget.

TRUiC's YouTube Channel

For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a health coaching business?

Successful health coaches stress that you need to devote yourself to your clients even before you have any. Owners need to learn exactly people may chose to hire a life coach, and then work towards altering their services to fit the needs of the community. A vague promise of helping someone to lead a better life isn't going to be enough to spark the kind of interest you need to thrive.

Develop very specific goals of what you want to achieve, so you (and your clients) don’t end up losing focus. For example, you may want to concentrate on work-life balance for clients, or small habit changes that clients will actually stick to.

Finally, ensure you're signing contracts with clients that specifically detail the terms of service to avoid confusion down the line.

How and when to build a team

Health coaches generally work on their own, but there are ways to delegate website work and social media postings to other people. Should you reach your own client capacity, you can consider hiring other people who have the same background (in terms of education and values) as you.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

• International Association of Health Coaches
• National Society of Health Coaches
• International Association of Wellness Professionals

Real World Examples

• Food for the Soul
• Julie Woodward
• Elissa Goodman
• Rachel Feldman

Further Reading

• Tips for starting this business
• Additional tips
• Even more tips

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

Health Coaching: Your Ultimate Template Toolkit for Success

Health and wellness coaching involves working with individuals and groups and empowering them to achieve self-determined goals centered around wellbeing (Moore et al., 2016).

Coaches encourage clients to increase wellbeing and wholeness and ensure their essential needs are met (Arloski, 2014).

This article explores health coaching and introduces templates and tools to assess and motivate clients on their path toward wellness.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients create actionable goals and master techniques to create lasting behavior change.

This Article Contains:

8 skills of effective health coaches, 3 techniques for your sessions, how to use motivational interviewing, 9 health coaching templates, forms, and worksheets, 10 extra tips to become the ultimate health coach, 7 helpful assessment tools you can use, most fascinating health coaching books, resources from positivepsychology.com, a take-home message.

Effective coaches support clients in maximizing their personal and professional potential. And yet, clients are not always ready or willing to make the changes needed to improve their health (Moore et al., 2016).

Moore et al. (2016) suggest that health coaches should go beyond improving diet and exercise to address the whole person and avoid ordering, providing solutions, shaming, or arguing with their clients.

Therefore, being successful requires a set of advanced and overlapping skills, including the following (Moore et al., 2016):

• Assisting clients in figuring out what they need and want
• Helping them find their way through nonjudgmental yet challenging and stimulating engagement
• Supporting the client as they “carve away life’s clutter to reveal their best selves” (Moore et al., 2016, p. 13)
• Helping foster the ideal conditions for the client’s brain to adapt, grow, and change
• Eliciting intrinsic motivation (rather than extrinsic self-motivation) in the client (for example, exercising because they want to rather than being told)
• Working with the client to build their confidence by fostering positive emotions
• Engaging authentic positivity and using it as a resource for recovering from obstacles and setbacks
• Coaching clients toward achieving health goals by structuring processes and tracking progress

When the client is reasonably confident and self-motivated, they will begin to make changes – even small ones – that will further improve their confidence and motivation (Moore et al., 2016).

• Accept and respect that patients are resourceful.
• The coach is an enabler rather than an expert.
• Health coaching should take a whole-life approach.
• The client owns and brings the agenda to the session.
• Coach and clients are equals in the coaching process.
• Coaching is for change and action.

When combined, these principles assert the client’s ability and capacity to be resourceful and ultimately responsible for their health (Rogers & Maini, 2016).

Creating a wellness plan

Co-creating a wellness plan with the client is invaluable in providing a clear map for health-related change and coaching sessions. Rather than the coach telling the client what to do, the client must take “responsibility for their own health and wellness” (Arloski, 2014, p. 155).

Therefore, rather than being prescriptive, which is typically ineffective, the wellness plan becomes a tool to help clients (Arloski, 2014):

• Identify and capture ways they would like to work on improving their lifestyle
• Plan how to measure and track progress on their journey
• Secure the support needed
• Define target outcomes so they know when they’ve reached their destination

The wellness plan should also consider the client’s motivation, obstacles that may get in their way, and available support.

Create a wellness vision

Coaches and clients should work together to arrive at a vision of what wellness looks like to the client. The client creates a list of qualities they would like in their ‘best possible lives,’ such as (modified from Arloski, 2014):

• Healthy relationships with friends, partners, and coworkers
• A healthy body, ability to move effortlessly and vigorously, ability to enjoy sports and activities they love
• A sense of meaning and purpose
• Being free of tobacco or reducing unhealthy eating and alcohol intake (as appropriate)

The client can use the list to create a wellness vision statement, such as:

My vision is to become fit and active so that I can enjoy playing and engaging in activities with my young children while maintaining good health as I age.

The client uses their personal and specific statement to create a crystal-clear picture of what wellness and being healthy mean to them.

Determine and live client goals

The client chooses several areas of focus for wellness (for example, increasing variety in their diet, improving physical fitness, reducing reliance on alcohol, etc.) and arrives at goals that define success in each area.

The client and coach can break these goals down into a series of action steps, such as taking a vigorous walk with the dog each morning or increasing the number of vegetables they eat.

The following questions can help the client focus their attention (modified from Arloski, 2014):

• Desires – What do you want from each area of focus?
• Current location – Where are you now with this area?
• Destination – Where would you like to be?
• Committed course – What are you committing to do?
• Challenges – What are you up against?
• Strategies – How will you overcome the obstacles you meet?
• Support – Who can provide you with support along your journey?

SMART goal setting can ensure realistic, specific, achievable, challenging, and time-based goals.

Download 3 Free Goals Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients create actionable goals and master techniques for lasting behavior change.

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“Motivational interviewing (MI) is used to evoke and reinforce individuals’ inner motivation to change their behavior toward better health” (Hagger et al., 2020, p. 661). It is non-confrontational and client centered yet discourages cognitive dissonance.

Practitioners using motivational interviewing must be proficient in the following (modified from Hagger et al., 2020):

• Relational skills and adopting the spirit of MI
• Applying MI-consistent techniques
• Increasing the frequency of client utterances about behavior change – known as change talk
• Reducing the frequency of talk that sustains problematic behaviors – known as sustain talk

MI can be a standalone intervention or a motivational prelude to other behavioral change techniques and includes the following (Hagger et al., 2020; Miller & Rollnick, 2013):

• Affirmation The coach clearly affirms the client’s actions and personal attributes. For example, “With your busy day and the bad weather, I really appreciate it that you made the appointment.”
• Elicit–provide–elicit The coach asks to talk about a subject then asks (elicits) what the client already knows.
• Identify strengths The coach identifies strengths by what the client says, then repeats them back. For example, “You are great at following through on the promises you make.”
• Desire – “I really want to stop drinking alcohol.”
• Ability – “I could cut down.”
• Reason – “I would be healthier.”
• Need – “I have to stop now.”
• How would you like to make a start? (commitment)
• What are you ready to do now? (activation)
• When and how will you take this step (taking steps)

3 Best forms for your sessions

1. focusing health choices.

Clients often arrive at health coaching with some idea, consciously or unconsciously, of the lifestyle they seek.

Use the questions in the Focusing Health Choices worksheet to capture a complete list of the health and lifestyle choices the client would like in their lives.

2. Wellness Map

A wellness map focuses both client and health coach on planning and charting coaching success (Arloski, 2014).

Use the Wellness Map to capture desired changes, readiness for change, actions to be taken, and success indicators.

3. Health Coaching Foundations

The client is the expert regarding their health coaching needs and “comes from a unique place in their thinking and their interactions with their world around them” (Arloski, 2014, p. 293).

The Health Coaching Foundations worksheet supports the coach as they get to understand what the client wants and how best they can be helped. It lays the foundation on which to build the coaching plan.

Coaching agreement templates

• Use this free Instructor Feedback Form to organize and obtain feedback for clients to understand and agree on the intention and value of coaching sessions.
• The Behavior Contract identifies and captures behavior aligned with improved wellbeing and environments that offer support.
• Use and modify the free intake form to capture the reasons for seeking treatment and any indicators or triggers that require immediate action.

Crafting a session plan: 3 Examples

While session plans are specific to the needs of the client, the following general coaching tools will help.

The free Goal Planning and Achievement Tracker is a valuable tool for recording weekly goals, accomplishments, and successes and crafting session plans.

Try out the SMART+ Goals Worksheet for setting and delivering specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely goals.

The Session Feedback Form is highly effective for planning future coaching sessions that ensure the client’s needs are met.

World’s Largest Positive Psychology Resource

The Positive Psychology Toolkit© is a groundbreaking practitioner resource containing over 500 science-based exercises , activities, interventions, questionnaires, and assessments created by experts using the latest positive psychology research.

Updated monthly. 100% Science-based.

“The best positive psychology resource out there!” — Emiliya Zhivotovskaya , Flourishing Center CEO

One of the most critical factors for a positive outcome from health coaching is to “create a powerful clinical consultation” where coach and client are partners (Rogers & Maini, 2016, p. 43). The following coaching skills can help (Rogers & Maini, 2016; Starr, 2021):

• Create the right first impression You never get a second chance, so make sure that you are professional and friendly when meeting a client.
• Build rapport The client is unlikely to take risks in sharing what is going on for them or engaging fully in coaching conversations without rapport.
• Create a relationship of equals Coaching conversations require you to suspend judgment and recognize that the client is the expert in their consultation.
• Talking about yourself Some judicious sharing of personal details may be acceptable and helpful but can easily lead to swapping roles.
• Effective goal setting is crucial Goals should be co-created with the client and restricted in number.
• Keep language positive Negative comments, even a throwaway remark, can have a lasting and harmful impact.
• Active listening Pay attention to verbal and nonverbal cues – how the client sits, their tone, and their gestures – and take what they say seriously. Read more here about Active Listening techniques .
• Use intuition Know where to take a conversation and when to redirect.
• Practicing effective questioning “Remove barriers, unlock hidden information and surface potentially life-changing insights” (Starr, 2021, p. 88). The best coaching questions have a simple purpose yet open doors to a smooth flow of conversation.
• Giving constructive feedback Support client self-awareness and learning.

• Assessing clients’ Basic Needs Satisfaction is a powerful way to understand their intrinsic motivation for change.
• The Five A’s were created as a framework for assessing and intervening in clients’ unhealthy habits.
• The Decisional Balance worksheet offers a simple assessment tool for capturing the pros and cons of health-related change.
• Assessing Life Wants is an excellent way to better understand the health-related changes a client would like to see in their lives.

3 Questionnaires for health coaches

Health coaches need to form a clear understanding of their clients’ existing lifestyle and the changes they would like to see in their lives.

• SurveyMonkey’s Health Coaching Questionnaire provides a series of questions to capture which areas clients would like to work on.
• The WDEP (Wants, Doing, Evaluation, and Planning) Questionnaire is particularly helpful for understanding what the client wants from health-related changes, what have they tried so far, and what they plan to do
• Use the Abstraction Worksheet to capture in detail the goal of health behavior change and the steps needed to get there.

We have included three of our favorite books on health coaching below.

1. Masterful Health and Wellness Coaching: Deepening Your Craft – Michael Arloski

The book focuses on the theory and tools required to ensure the hoped-for lifestyle changes for the client and the opportunity for a successful future.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. Coaching for Health: Why It Works and How to Do It – Jenny Rogers and Arti Maini

This combined approach aims to provide a radical new message for health coaching that focuses on reducing the coach’s stress while ensuring the best outcomes for clients.

The authors provide clear explanations for working with virtually any client to ensure they gain the confidence required to manage their health.

3. Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness – Dawn Clifford and Laura Curtis

The authors discuss the value and power of motivational interviewing in regular interactions with clients and in working through ambivalence to create lasting and positive health behavior changes.

This helpful book shows the potential of moving from ‘sustaining’ behavior conversation to ‘changing’ behavior conversation.

Health coaching techniques can help clients regain control of their health and lifestyles.

Why not download our free goal achievement pack and try out the powerful tools contained within? Some examples include:

• Realizing Long-Lasting Change by Setting Process Goals Setting and working toward goals is a powerful technique for behavioral change.
• Goal Visualization Visualizing the changes we wish to achieve can motivate changes and reduce the likelihood of relapse to unhealthy lifestyles.

Other free resources include:

• Self-Care Checkup Practicing self-care and self-compassion can be the first steps toward adopting new, healthy behaviors.
• The 14-Day Commitment Use this commitment tool to track healthy habits over two weeks.

More extensive versions of the following tools are available with a subscription to the Positive Psychology Toolkit© , but they are described briefly below:

• Step one – Begin by rating satisfaction levels across 10 categories.
• Step two – Identify low scoring areas and clarify what this need means to you.
• Step three – Identify the actions required to work toward getting those needs met.

The wheel provides a visual and intuitive way to track positive change.

• Preparing for Change Motivation interviewing can enhance intrinsic motivation for encouraging health-related changes. Use the DARN acronym for a series of open-ended questions that uncover the client’s desire, ability, reasons, and need to make positive changes.

Besides mentioning all the skills a health coach has, you would find our article sharing 5 Best Wellness & Health Coaching Certification Programs equally useful.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others reach their goals, check out this collection of 17 validated motivation & goal achievement tools for practitioners. Use them to help others turn their dreams into reality by applying the latest science-based behavioral change techniques.

17 Tools To Increase Motivation and Goal Achievement

These 17 Motivation & Goal Achievement Exercises [PDF] contain all you need to help others set meaningful goals, increase self-drive, and experience greater accomplishment and life satisfaction.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

We often have more control over our health than we recognize. Even relatively straightforward changes in health-related behavior, such as drinking and smoking less, eating more healthily, and exercising more, can dramatically influence our wellbeing.

Health coaching involves the client partnering with a coach to make behavioral changes that encourage wellness and living according to their lifestyle goals.

Maximizing our potential is never easy. Coaches must help the client figure out what they want, create the ideal conditions for meeting their psychological and physical needs, and build confidence to transform their lives.

The coach and client co-create a plan and a vision for a new way of living that supports wellbeing. Techniques such as motivational interviewing can be particularly effective at engaging in more positive and helpful ways of looking after themselves.

This article introduces some of the skills needed to be a successful health coach, valuable tools to bring out the best in each session, and books for further reading. We hope you enjoyed it and that it will be instrumental in living healthier.

Don’t forget to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free .

• Arloski, M. (2014). Wellness coaching for lasting lifestyle change . Whole Person Associates.
• Arloski, M. (2021).  Masterful health and wellness coaching: Deepening your craft.  Whole Person Associates.
• Clifford, D., & Curtis, L. (2015). Motivational interviewing in nutrition and fitness. Guilford Press.
• Hagger, M. S., Cameron, L. D., Hamilton, K., Hankonen, N., & Lintunen, T. (2020). The handbook of behavior change . Cambridge University Press.
• Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing: Preparing people for change . Guilford Press.
• Moore, M., Jackson, E., & Tschannen-Moran, B. (2016). Coaching psychology manual . Wolters Kluwer.
• Normand, M. P., & Bober, J. (2020). Health coaching by behavior analysts in practice: How and why. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice , 20 (2), 108–119.
• Rogers, J., & Maini, A. (2016). Coaching for health: Why it works and how to do it . McGraw Hill Education.
• Starr, J. (2021). The coaching manual: The definitive guide to the process, principles and skills of personal coaching . Pearson Education.

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6 Key Steps to Start a Financial Coaching Business

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Introduction.

Having dedicated years to mastering the art of personal finance, you now feel prepared to pass on your knowledge to others. The prospect of launching your financial coaching business is both exhilarating and overwhelming. 

Financial distress is a growing issue in the US, with 70% of Americans feeling stressed about their finances . As a financial coach, you can tackle this challenge by offering personalized support and practical solutions, making a real difference in your client’s lives while creating a rewarding career for yourself.

Starting the venture of establishing a financial coaching business presents an opportunity for a gratifying career, allowing you to aid others in attaining financial independence while securing a sustainable livelihood for yourself.

Whether transitioning from a corporate finance role or driven by a fervor for assisting individuals in effectively managing their finances, this guide is designed to meticulously outline the fundamental steps required to launch your business.

Let’s break down the essentials of how to start a financial coaching business and turn your expertise into a prosperous enterprise.

What is a Financial Coaching Business?

A financial coaching business involves providing personalized guidance to individuals or small businesses to help them better manage their money.

Unlike financial advisors who focus on long-term planning and investments, as a financial coach, your job is to educate and empower clients to make smart decisions about their everyday finances.

As a financial coach, you work with clients on:

• Debt management
• Savings strategies
• Achieving financial goals.
• Financial freedom
• Retirement planning

You are like a guiding light and a supportive partner in their quest for financial well-being. 

Also Read: Best Financial Coaching Tools & Software in 2024

Financial coach vs. Financial advisor

Let’s understand the differences between a financial coach and a financial advisor.

What are the Types of Financial Coaching Businesses?

When considering how to start a financial coaching business, you must recognize the various types of coaching you can offer. Each type is designed to meet the unique needs and preferences of your clients.

Here are a few of the most common types of financial coaching:

Personal financial coaching: Personal financial coaching involves working one-on-one with individuals or families to create budgets, manage debt, and set financial goals . You help them understand their spending habits and develop strategies for saving and investing.

Small business financial coaching: In small business financial coaching, you focus on helping small business owners manage their finances, including cash flow management, financial planning, and understanding business expenses. Your expertise can guide them in making informed financial decisions to grow their business .

Credit coaching: In this niche, you help clients improve their credit scores by teaching them about credit management, debt reduction strategies, and how to use credit wisely. Your guidance can be crucial for clients looking to qualify for loans or better interest rates.

Wealth-building coaching: Wealth-building coaching focuses on helping clients accumulate and grow their wealth. You provide strategies for investing, tax planning, and asset management, aiming to enhance their overall financial health and wealth.

Financial literacy coaching: Financial literacy coaching involves educating clients about the basics of personal finance. It’s often aimed at younger clients or those new to managing their finances, helping them build a strong foundation for their financial future.

Understanding these different types of financial coaching businesses is important. It can help you choose a niche that aligns with your expertise and passion, setting you up for a successful start to your financial coaching venture. 

How To Start a Financial Coaching Business in 6 Steps

These steps will give you a brief idea about how to start a financial coaching business:

Step 1: Identify your financial coaching niche

When figuring out how to start a financial coaching business, the first step is to define your niche. Identify the specific area of financial coaching that energizes you and where you have the greatest proficiency.

Whether it’s personal finance, small business finance, or wealth building, having a distinct focus will enable you to appeal to the right clients and differentiate yourself in the market.

Consider the particular challenges you can address and the distinctive value you offer. This clarity will inform all your future business choices.

Step 2: Create your business plan

Creating a strong business plan is important when you’re starting out with a financial coaching business . It’s a way to lay out your business goals, think about who your main audience is, decide what type of help you want to offer, figure out how much to charge for your services, and plan how to get the word out. 

A good place to start is by writing down a mission statement that shows what drives you and what you want your business to achieve.

Next, identify your target market.

Who are the clients you want to serve?

Understand their needs, challenges, and how your services can benefit them. Then, detail the services you’ll offer.

Will you provide one-on-one coaching, group sessions, workshops, or online courses?

Establishing the right pricing strategy is crucial for your business. It’s essential to carefully assess the value you provide and the financial capacity of your target market. 

Furthermore, creating a robust marketing plan is vital to effectively reach your audience. By utilizing a combination of online and offline strategies, you can effectively build awareness and attract clients.

Step 3: Get the necessary certifications and training

In your journey on how to start a financial coaching business, obtaining the right certifications and training will add value to your profile. While you might have extensive experience in finance, formal certifications can add credibility and trust to your business.

Look into certifications such as:

• International Coaching Federation (ICF)
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
• Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)
• Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI)

Obtaining certifications not only boosts your expertise but also demonstrates to potential clients that you are competent and dedicated. It’s also beneficial to stay informed about new training and professional growth prospects.

The commitment to continuous learning will help you stay current with the latest financial advancements and best approaches, enabling you to deliver exceptional service to your clients.

Also Read: Best Financial Coach Certification Programs in 2024

Step 4: Set up your coaching business structure and operations

Establishing a business structure is a fundamental step in how to start a financial coaching business. Begin by deciding on the legal structure of your business.

Will you operate as a sole proprietor, LLC, or corporation?

Each choice you make has different effects on things like taxes, responsibility, and paperwork. So, pick the one that fits your needs best, and if you’re not sure, talk to a legal expert for advice.

Next, make sure to officially register your business with the state and local government. You’ll need to get any permits or licenses required to operate your business legally. Opening a separate bank account for your business to keep your personal and business finances separate.

Don’t forget about business insurance. It helps protect your business from potential risks and claims. Once you’ve taken care of the legal and financial side of things, focus on setting up smooth operations, including creating easy ways to bring in new clients, organizing your schedule , and keeping track of your client’s progress.

Step 5: Create an online presence

Starting with a professional website is a great way to clearly outline your services, showcase your expertise, and make it easy for potential clients to get in touch with you. It’s important to ensure that your website is user-friendly, mobile-optimized, and includes client testimonials or case studies to help build trust.

To connect with a wider audience, you may want to consider utilizing social media platforms. Opt for platforms where your intended audience is most engaged, like LinkedIn , Facebook, or Instagram. 

Make it a point to share useful content consistently, such as financial advice, stories of achievement, and thoughtful reflections, to truly resonate with your audience and establish yourself as a trusted figure in your industry.

Moreover, think about starting a blog or podcast to offer thorough guidance and build strong connections with potential clients. Using email marketing can also be beneficial in maintaining a close relationship with your audience and guiding leads into becoming clients.

Upload your contacts into Simply.Coach – they remain private and visible only to you. You can easily send updates, promotional emails, and requests for testimonials or referrals. Simply.Coach offers email integration, enabling you to schedule and send bulk emails while gaining valuable insights.

Step 6: Network and market your financial coaching business

The final step in how to start a financial coaching business is to network and market your services effectively. Getting started by attending local business events, financial planning seminars, and community gatherings can help you build valuable connections.

You can consider joining professional organizations like the Financial Planning Association (FPA) or the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) to connect with peers and potential clients.

Don’t forget about the importance of your existing connections and reaching out to them for referrals and reviews . Their recommendations can be impactful in this field. Also, think about teaming up with other businesses like accountants, real estate agents, or mortgage brokers. These partnerships could result in beneficial referral exchanges for all involved.

Successfully marketing your business requires a mix of online and offline techniques. Implement search engine optimization (SEO) to boost your website’s visibility for key search terms such as “how to start a financial coaching business.”

Additionally, consider investing in online advertising on platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads to effectively connect with your target audience.

Hosting seminars, giving presentations at local associations, and distributing printed materials like flyers and brochures in your area can make a big difference. It is imperative to ensure that your marketing collateral effectively articulates the advantages of your services and includes a compelling call to action.

How Much Does a Financial Coach Make?

It’s important to remember that a financial coach’s income depends on various factors, such as expertise, location, and marketing efforts.

PayScale reports that the average annual salary for a full-time financial coach in the United States is approximately $44,219. However, this number encompasses both salaried and self-employed coaches; those who have their practices may experience higher or lower earnings based on:

• Target market: To increase your earnings, consider focusing on serving high-net-worth individuals or entrepreneurs rather than working with clients dealing with financial challenges.
• Pricing strategy: Some coaches may charge by the hour, while others may offer inclusive high-end packages.
• Location: Financial coaches who live in pricier areas can charge higher fees for their services. However, offering coaching online allows them to work from anywhere and connect with clients all over the world!

Building a successful financial coaching business takes time and effort, so be sure to give yourself grace as you work toward your goals. Effective self-promotion is key since marketing plays a crucial role in attracting new clients. Real-Life Case Studies

Here are 3 real examples of financial coaches in the US whose journeys can inspire and motivate:

Kirk Chisholm

Image Source: Innovative Wealth Management

Kirk Chisholm, based in Boston, MA, is a financial coach and wealth manager with extensive experience in the financial industry. He helps clients with investment strategies, retirement planning, and financial goals. His approach combines financial expertise with personalized coaching to help clients achieve long-term financial success.

Rachael Cruze

Image Source: Ramsey Solutions

Rachael Cruze, based in Nashville, TN, is a financial coach and author focusing on helping individuals and families build a strong financial foundation. Her work emphasizes budgeting, debt reduction, and savings.

Alyssa Davies

Image Source: Clever girl finance

Alyssa Davies, a financial coach from Philadelphia, PA, is the founder of the blog and platform Clever Girl Finance. Through workshops and personalized coaching, she provides guidance on budgeting, saving, and financial planning.

You’ve now got the essential steps to learn about how to start a financial coaching business. If you feel inspired to help others manage their money and secure a bright financial future, there’s no better time to begin.

Coaching offers immense rewards, both personally and professionally. With the guidance provided here, you’re well-prepared to launch a successful business that empowers people to achieve their financial goals.

Simply.Coach is an all-in-one coaching platform designed to streamline your business and empower you to deliver exceptional financial coaching experiences.

Book a free Simply.Coach demo today and experience the difference firsthand!

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About Simply.Coach

Simply.Coach  is an enterprise-grade coaching software designed to be used by individual coaches and coaching businesses. Trusted by ICF-accredited and EMCC-credentialed coaches worldwide, Simply.Coach is on a mission to elevate the experience and process of coaching with technology-led tools and solutions.  

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Christian Business Sued Because Its Health Insurance Does Not Pay for Employee’s Gender Dysphoria Treatment

by Jorge Gomez • 4 minutes

Turbocam, Inc ., a private company owned by a Christian family, is being sued for choosing a health insurance plan that excludes coverage for gender dysphoria treatment in accordance with its owners’ religious beliefs.

An employee who’s worked for Turbocam since 2019 recently filed a lawsuit in federal district court because of the exclusion in the insurance policy.

We represent Turbocam as co-counsel in the lawsuit.

Based in New Hampshire, Turbocam specializes in manufacturing “flow path components for aviation, rocketry, automotive turbocharger, and power generation.” Marian Noronha and his wife, Suzie, founded Turbocam in 1985. They have openly operated the business in accordance with their sincere Christian beliefs. On its website, the company makes clear its mission is “to honor God, create wealth for its employees, and support Christian service to God and to people.”

The company offers a generous self-funded insurance plan for its employees. For employees who don’t want to participate in the company insurance it provides a generous opt-out bonus that allows the employee to choose the health care coverage or services they desire. Many of Turbocam’s employees choose this option.

Turbocam is no different from countless employers and businesses all across the country that operate and offer insurance coverage consistent with their mission and values. It chose an insurance plan that reflects its religious beliefs, which includes a provision saying the company will not cover gender dysphoria treatment in its plan.

In November 2023, however, a transgender employee represented by an LGBT advocacy group sued in court accusing Turbocam of unlawful discrimination. They’re also suing the third-party administrator (TPA) that handles Turbocam’s health plan, claiming the gender dysphoria exclusion violated a provision of the Affordable Care Act, aka, Obamacare.

In addition to defending the claims made against Turbocam, First Liberty has asked the court to allow Turbocam to help defend the claim against its TPA, as well.  If the current TPA can no longer administer Turbocam’s employee health plan with the exclusion for gender dysphoria, Turbocam will face a Hobson’s choice. Turbocam will need to either: (1) remove the exclusion and pay for gender dysphoria treatment, violating its religious beliefs in the process; or (2) stop offering its employees health insurance at all.

Federal law protects employers like Turbocam who operate in accordance with their sincere religious beliefs. The U.S. Supreme Court made clear in the landmark ruling Burwell v. Hobby Lobby that Americans do not lose their religious freedom when they open a business. Closely-held corporations have a right to choose insurance plans that reflect their religious beliefs, and to abstain from funding treatments or procedures that will violate their conscience.

This isn’t just about the law protecting Turbocam and similar businesses. The company and its owners care for this employee and all their employees and condemn unlawful discrimination. Turbocam has consistently provided as much support as possible consistent with its faith and the law. Even after a catastrophic drop in orders in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Turbocam laid off only a small percentage of its employees—the first time it had laid off any employee. To preserve as many jobs as possible, Turbocam sold shares in another company and a house that was used for visiting staff. Three Noronha family members took significant wage cuts, with two of them taking wage cuts of 100%.

Turbocam understands that its employees have different health care needs. That’s precisely why it provides a substantial bonus to employees who opt out of its health plan so they can choose the health care services they desire.

Humble Beginnings and Doing Business with a Higher Purpose

Today, Turbocam is a tremendously successful company creating wealth for about 900 employees. Its components and parts even fly on the International Space Station.

But that success didn’t happen overnight. It took Marion Noronha many years of work and dedication to build a profitable business.

Noronha was born and raised in India. He left there in the 1970s to attend engineering graduate school in North America, and remembers landing in Montreal with something like six dollars in his pocket.

He has certainly not forgotten his company’s humble beginnings. And throughout the years, he’s always worked with a higher purpose in service to God and people. It’s why the company still credits its success to God’s grace and seeks to “honor God by honoring his people and reflecting to them the same love that God has for them.”

Between 1999 and 2000, working with churches in rural Nepal, Noronha and his wife bought 42 slave families in Nepal out of slavery. They also bought land in Nepal and established villages for their settlement. Their efforts helped spark the abolishment of slavery in Nepal in 2000, which freed about 200,000 people. Turbocam has funded all its efforts in Nepal for over 25 years, and employees from all of its divisions have contributed to the building of schools, water treatment systems, teaching and transferring technology and equipment, and teaching in the churches.

News outlets report that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz pushed for harsher treatment of churches during the pandemic and faced multiple lawsuits accusing him of infringing on religious liberty.

Seventh Day Baptist Church had to close its free food distribution ministry, but not because it did anything wrong. City officials are abusing a local ordinance to target the church.

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