Fall launches are just around the corner and if you’re a business coach getting ready to promote a new or existing coaching offer, LISTEN UP!
I know your to-do list is probably already a mile long between finalizing the offer, mapping out your marketing plan, writing content, and getting the backend logistics all squared away, but the one thing that might not be on your list?
Client contracts. You know… the legal stuff.
The thing with any kind of launch is that it ALL feels important – your offer needs to be right, the marketing has to be on par, and you definitely don’t want any backend hiccups.
My intent isn’t to negate those things! I’m simply here to make sure that you don’t leave out another important thing that could actually cost you BIG time down the road.
Because let’s just be real for a second… if an email fires at the wrong time, sure it can confuse your audience and feel frustrating for you. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s not the end of the world and it’s fixable.
But if someone purchases a 1:1 coaching spot from you and later decides they want to cancel with no notice and you don’t have the right contracts in place stating your cancellation policy? Talk about a big mess. 🫣
It’s situations like that that I really want to help you avoid, so in this blog post I’m breaking down what every business coaching contract needs to include and why it matters.
Whether you work exclusively with 1:1 clients, run group programs, or a mix of both, having the right clauses in place can be the difference between a smooth, drama-free coaching relationship and a situation that turns messy (and expensive) fast.
What Should I Include in My 1:1 Business Coaching Contract?
First, let’s start with the 1:1 coaches in the house!
1:1 coaching is an extremely common service that business coaches provide and, as a business owner myself, let me just say – your services are SO needed.
But unfortunately a 1:1 coaching relationship is a super common scenario where things can start to go sideways if certain things aren’t spelled out in a contract from the very beginning.
To help you avoid some of the most common 1:1 Coaching Contract mistakes, make sure you include the following clauses:
Payment Terms
If you’re giving someone 1:1 coaching advice, you want to get paid for it, right? DUH! 💸
1:1 coaching can be a time consuming service and the last thing you want is to spend your time on Zoom calls and crafting individual strategies just to receive a “payment failed” notification.
To get ahead of any payment problems, make sure your 1:1 Coaching Contract details the total cost of your program, payment schedule, accepted payment methods, and any applicable late fees.
And if you offer payment plans, be sure to specify due dates and what happens if a payment is missed.
Overall, clear payment language helps you avoid chasing down overdue invoices and ensures both you and your client are on the same page about financial commitments.
Scope of Services
Following your payment terms, one of the most important things to specify in your 1:1 Coaching Contract is the scope of your services – and that’s just a fancy way of saying what’s included in your client’s package.
Things like number of sessions, length of each session, communication channels, and any additional resources or bonuses.
The purpose of this section is for the client to know EXACTLY what they’re getting when working with you – if it’s not listed, it shouldn’t be expected.
Including your scope of services prevents “scope creep,” where clients unintentionally (or intentionally) start asking for services outside the agreed-upon package.
Refund and Cancellation Policy
Remember the example above where I mentioned that a coaching client could request a cancellation with no notice and it could send you into an absolute spiral? 😵💫
Wellllll, that’s where this is avoided!
In your refund and cancellation policy section, you need to address whether refunds are available, under what circumstances (if any), and your process for client cancellations or rescheduling.
This is especially important if you operate a no-refunds policy (which many coaches do), so clients know upfront before they invest!
Disclaimers
In 1:1 coaching relationships, it’s very common for the client and coach to get very close and for the coach to know very specific and sometimes intimate details about their clients. But it’s important to remember that business coaching is not therapy, legal advice, or financial planning (unless you’re licensed in those areas).
And that’s where a disclaimer comes into play! Your disclaimer clause should state the nature and limits of your services to avoid potential liability if clients expect results outside your control.
Termination Clause
And lastly, every 1:1 coaching relationship must come to an end eventually, so it’s important to define the parameters around termination.
For this clause, be sure to include a provision for ending the agreement early, whether by you or the client, and under what conditions. This might include non-payment, breach of contract, or misconduct.
The Main Contract Differences Between 1:1 Coaching and Group Coaching
Now that we’ve covered the most important clauses for 1:1 Coaching Services, let’s talk group coaching, because again, this is a very common service offering for business coaches and oftentimes they’re doing BOTH.
If that’s you, it’s important to understand that you can’t use the same contracts for your 1:1 clients and your group clients.
While the must-have clauses discussed above typically apply to group coaching agreements, there are a few extra considerations unique to group settings that you want to include:
Confidentiality
In a 1:1 setting, it’s just you and the client, but in a group coaching setting, there are multiple people sharing personal or business details, which creates greater risk for confidentiality.
With this in mind, it’s important that your Group Coaching Contract addresses maintaining a safe, respectful environment and outlines confidentiality expectations for all members.
Scheduling and Access
Unlike 1:1 coaching relationships, group programs often run on fixed dates, with little flexibility for rescheduling. Because of that, it needs to be clear that missed sessions won’t be refunded or rescheduled individually.
Community Guidelines
Many group programs often include a special community element, such as a Facebook group, Slack channel, or other online space.
While this can be great for members to connect with each other and ask you questions in an organized way, it also opens the door for disruptive behavior OR unwarranted communications, like self promotion, etc.
To maintain a community element that is helpful and enjoyable for all members, your Group Coaching Contract should spell out behavior expectations and what is (and what’s not) allowed in the space AND consequences for violations.
Intellectual Property Use
Lastly, if you provide templates, workbooks, or other materials with your group coaching offer, make sure you specify that they are for personal use only and cannot be redistributed or sold.
Overall, by customizing your business coaching contract template for each type of program, you protect yourself while also giving clients a clear roadmap for what they can expect!
What Happens if You Don’t Use a Business Coaching Contract
So now that you know the must-have clauses for 1:1 coaching contracts and the differences between 1:1 coaching and group coaching, you might be wondering, is it really that serious?!
And trust me, I get it! Skipping contracts might seem like a time-saver in the moment, especially if you’ve never had an issue with clients before, but the risks are too big to ignore!
Without a legally backed contract that clearly defines all that we discussed above:
👎🏼 Payment disputes become harder to resolve because there’s no written proof of your terms
👎🏼 Scope creep becomes the norm, leading to burnout and resentment
👎🏼 Client expectations may go unchecked, creating frustration on both sides
👎🏼 You have less legal protection if a client claims your services were misrepresented or ineffective
A clear, legally sound coaching contract prevents misunderstandings from escalating and gives you the confidence to focus on what you do best — coaching your clients to success.
But like I said earlier… your to-do list is already crazy long with launch to-do’s, so I’m here to make this legal task a little less time consuming with my lawyer drafted coaching contract templates.
Each contract is lawyer drafted and peer-reviewed complete with an attorney walkthrough video from yours truly, Word and Google Doc versions (so you can easily edit in whichever platform you love best), a customization guide that you can follow step by step, AND future updates included if the legal landscape ever shifts.
* * *
If you like what you just read and want more cool lawyer things in your life, here’s a few ways to stay connected:
Let’s be pen pals! Subscribe to my email list to receive all of my best biz tips and behind the scenes goodies to keep your business bringing in sales (legally of course).
Binge the blog to get all of the legal information you need about running a business in a way that actually makes sense to your non-legal brain.
Come hang with me on the ‘gram! I often do AMA’s on stories, so you can submit your specific questions when they come up.
And if you’re in need of legal resources that you can ACTUALLY understand? Here’s a few ways I can help:
Step into TBL’s free library of legal resources for creative entrepreneurs where we throw open the doors and spill the tea on what works and what doesn't when it comes to legal protection, systems and sales.
Browse the contract template shop to find what’s missing in your biz and easily implement it with a plug and play template!
Need something else? Send me a DM! Always happy to lend a legal hand when I can.