As a coach or service provider, offering both 1:1 and group programs is a smart way to diversify your income and support clients at different levels.
1:1 services give you the ability to really get to know your client and dive into their problems specifically so you can offer customized solutions that they can use. Group programs on the other hand give you a chance to coach 1 to many and still help a select group of people experience results based on your expertise.
But here’s what many coaches overlook: the contract you use for a private coaching client shouldn’t be the same one you use for a group coaching program. This is true regardless of the type of coaching you provide!
Because while yes, both arrangements involve providing your expertise, each offering comes with very different dynamics, risks, and expectations. That’s why each offer needs a tailored contract designed specifically for that format.
To help you understand the difference between 1:1 and group coaching from a legal perspective, keep reading!
What Makes 1:1 Coaching Unique (and What the Contract Needs to Cover)
In a 1:1 coaching relationship, your client has direct, personalized access to you. The structure, communication style, and expectations are typically more intimate and customized.
Because of this it’s important that your 1:1 coaching contract includes:
Coaching Session Logistics: How long are the 1:1 coaching sessions? How many coaching sessions are included? How are they scheduled?
Your contract should cover this information so that your 1:1 client is completely clear on their allotted coaching time, how many sessions are included in their package, and they know exactly how to schedule their sessions.
Communication Boundaries: Are you available via Voxer, Slack, email, or text between sessions? When can they expect a reply?
When you’re coaching a 1:1 client, it’s very common to include a form of communication outside of the sessions so they can ask questions, report their wins, etc. But if you don’t clarify when and where they can communicate these things, things can get murky real quick.
Your 1:1 coaching contract should include where they can communicate with you and your communication hours so that they have clear expectations around your replies.
Rescheduling and Cancellation Policies: What happens if they miss a session or need to reschedule?
One of the biggest things you need to expect when coaching a 1:1 client is that things may come up and they may need to reschedule or cancel their sessions. When this happens, you don’t want to come up with a response or solution on a whim. Instead, have a pre-determined plan for these scenarios and include them in your contract!
Payment Plans and Refund Policies: Is payment due upfront or in installments? Are refunds allowed?
Like anything in the business world, you want to ensure that your policies regarding payments are crystal clear from the very beginning. 1:1 coaching is typically higher priced than group coaching, making payment plans very common.
If you offer payment plans, make sure that you outline the details of those in your contract and ensure that your refund policy is easily accessible so that there’s no confusion if it ever comes up. And if you don’t offer refunds, that’s totally fine! Just make sure that your “no refund” policy is clearly defined.
Overall, because the coaching is 1:1, you’re dealing with a single relationship, which makes the logistics (and the potential issues) more contained. This is why your 1:1 contract should reflect a direct, personalized service agreement that protects your time, sets boundaries, and ensures mutual accountability.
What Makes Group Coaching Different (and What Needs to Be in That Contract)
Now let’s get into a group coaching offer – it’s a whole different ballgame. Even if the curriculum is similar to your 1:1 work, you’re now working with multiple participants at once and that introduces more complexity and more potential for things to go sideways.
Here are a few group-specific considerations:
Shared Spaces + Participant Conduct
When clients are interacting in shared environments, whether that’s live calls, a Slack channel, or a Facebook group, you need clear expectations around behavior.
As a leader of the group program, it’s important that you determine what’s considered appropriate conduct AND have a plan for what happens if someone is disruptive or disrespectful.
Without clear terms, you may find yourself dealing with conflict or needing to remove someone without having the contractual authority to do so.
Confidentiality Across the Group
In 1:1 coaching, confidentiality is a two-way street between you and one client. In group coaching, the stakes are higher because you can’t control what other participants hear or repeat. It’s for this reason that having a clause in your group coaching contract for confidentiality is EXTREMELY important!
Your group coaching terms should make it clear that while you’ll do your part to keep information private, you can’t guarantee confidentiality among participants. This helps manage expectations and protect you from liability.
Access + Availability
In 1:1 coaching, your availability is often more direct, but in group coaching, however, you’ll likely have specific windows for Q&A or feedback. Maybe you have specific days where you respond to questions or there may be set live calls where they can ask you questions.
It's important that you clearly define when and how participants can reach you upfront so there’s never any confusion or misled expectations when clients are joining. If you don’t spell this out, people may assume they have unlimited access to you and get frustrated when they don’t.
This frustration can lead to refund requests, payment refusal, chargeback requests, and ultimately unhappy customers that could affect your reputation as a business owner.
No Guarantees of Results
This applies to both 1:1 and group coaching, but it’s especially important in a group setting, where results can vary even more widely based on participant engagement.
This is where a disclaimer clause in your contracts can come into play stating that results aren’t guaranteed and are dependent on the participant’s effort, involvement, and other individual factors.
A clause like this can protect you BIG TIME in the instance that a group coaching client isn’t happy with their results and it can remove you from being at fault.
Your One Stop Shop For All Coaching Contracts
Overall, even though both coaching models are part of your business, using the same contract for each one is risky. Group programs have additional layers of responsibility and without the right language, you could be exposed to:
- Disputes over access or communication
- Participant conflict or inappropriate behavior
- Misunderstandings about the nature of the group experience
The bottom line is that you need contracts that are just as tailored as your offers – the good news is that The Boutique Lawyer Contract Template Shop has you covered on all fronts! 🙌🏼
➡️ For the business owner running a group coaching program: my Group Coaching Terms + Conditions Template was made just for you.
It’s a customizable agreement that outlines:
✔️ The scope of your program
✔️ When and how you'll meet
✔️ Communication expectations
✔️ Payment and refund policies
✔️ Group behavior and confidentiality expectations
It gives you the legal foundation to run your group container with clarity and confidence—while also making sure your clients know what to expect.
➡️ For the business owner offering 1:1 coaching: you need the 1:1 Coaching Terms + Conditions Template!
This customizable agreement includes sections for:
✔️ An outline of the services you're providing
✔️ When & where you'll meet
✔️ Coach and Client responsibilities
✔️ A coaching code of ethics
✔️ Protection for your intellectual property (handouts, guides, etc.)
✔️ Protection for non-payment and chargebacks
If you’re offering BOTH, Group Coaching and 1:1 Coaching in your business, you can grab the Coaching Bundle so that you’re legally protected for both offers!
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