What Every Coach Should Include in A Client Agreement

Wondering whether you need a client agreement for your 1-on-1 clients? What are the most important parts of a contract anyway?

After I left the law in 2016 to become a health coach, I realized all coaches (I’m looking at you, career coach and life coach friends!) needed affordable, approachable and easy-to-use resources that actually fit what they do in their coaching businesses.

I designed your DIY Coaching Contract template specifically for coaches after hearing from so many friends and colleagues asking “What’s a contract for? And what’s supposed to be in it?” I answered the “whether you need it” question for you in this blog post (hint: yes!).

What Is A Client Agreement?

The thing I love most about having a clear and concise coaching contract is that it sets out the expectations between you (the coach) and your client regarding your coach client relationship. We don’t have to rely on a bunch of random emails back and forth, something that got misinterpreted through text or over the phone, or what we thought the client understood about our services. It’s all clearly laid out in a written agreement with terms and conditions that I think is one of your greatest coaching tools.

Plus, goodness forbid you face any legal issues down the line, it sets the stage as a clear outline of what was (& wasn’t!) offered to your client throughout their coaching process.

I know what you might be thinking. “Can’t I just copy and paste from someone else’s contracts or website policies online?“

No, you can’t just copy and paste or borrow a friend’s contract. Or at least that’s not the best thing for you and your business. If you want to be #LegallyLegit and you take your business seriously, it’s best to craft your own legal contract or website policy that actually addresses your business’s unique policies and needs. As I always tell my clients, borrowing someone else’s contract that isn’t tailored towards you is basically like having nothing at all.

Here are just a few of the *most* important aspects of a coaching agreement…

Payment Terms

This one is super important, right? Not only do you want to make sure you have terms that clearly outline what you’re owed, but also what the payment terms are. It’s all about expectations, people! This is why I drafted this DIY Client Agreement just for you coaches. I wanted to give you the language (aka. the power) to have clear, concise language to use with your clients. That way, you both are on the same page about what’s due & when.

Description of Services

Be super clear about what your program/health coaching services include so there’s no miscommunication. What do your coaching sessions look like? Do you have weekly or twice monthly calls? How long are they? Where do they take place? What does the coaching relationship/coaching practice look like? Do you know the extent of client responsibility? What else do you include in your program? Here’s your chance to lay it all out.

Client & Coach Expectations

I like to include a section for client and coaching journey. Set out what you expect from your client (i.e., being on time and communication) and what you’ll offer your client in return (i.e., being present & non-judgmental, helping them with goal setting, etc.). It’s a great way to set the tone for your coaching program.

Disclaimer

This is SO, so important and worth the price of the DIY Coaching Agreement template alone. I started this company after hearing from so many of you health coaches about feeling scared & vulnerable! But there’s an easy way to protect yourself by using a disclaimer. Here, you set out who you are, what you do, what certifications you have, and which you DON’T (i.e. a medical degree, license, etc.). This disclaimer is totally different from the disclaimer you need on your website.

Cancellation & Refund Policies

This was one I learned the hard way when I first became a health coach. I figured if people signed up for health coaching, they obviously would use their sessions & show up each time! Wrong. Protect yourself and make sure your time is respected with clearly outlining your cancellation and if you offer refunds in your client agreement.

There are so many other important parts of a client agreement, but these are some of the big ones! My DIY Coaching Contract template was designed and written specifically for coaches who work 1-on-1 with clients! And it’s not just for health coaches – it works for any coach or consultant who offers services online or in-person. You can grab your coaching contract template on its own here or as part of my Ultimate Bundle™ program (it’s 1 of the 10 contracts and policies included!).

Ready to legally protect your business but feel like you don’t know where to start?

Watch my free on-demand workshop ‘5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business’ by entering your details here:

In the 1-hour free training, I’ll teach you…

• The mindset shift you have to make when it comes to legally protecting your business (HINT: Fear is blocking your revenue, my dear.)
• How registering your business protects you personally
• What your website needs to be legally protected
• How contracts can totally save your (vegan) bacon
• The #1 way to keep copycats from stealing your content (It’s not what you think!)

…plus, I’ll give you real case studies so you can see how my customers have used my training and support to feel confident and protected in their business.

Oh, and you know what’s really different about this workshop?

You can watch it right now.

Because this knowledge is WAY too important to just host on a one-time livestream and let you miss out if you’ve got a schedule conflict. To get instant access to the workshop now, just enter your details here

My DIY Coaching Agreement includes every single one of the components above, plus SO many more! It’s easily customizable to fit your specific coaching program, needs, coaching rules/terms, and more. It’s also included as 1 of the 10 DIY Legal Templates inside the Ultimate Bundle™!

If you have any questions, just ask! Get in touch here.