Steps to Setting up Your Christian Life Coach Business

As Christians, we should always strive to “do things right.” With a Christian life coach business, you want to be “above reproach.” Here are the essentials you need to know do that your business meets a higher standard—God’s stamp of approval.

1. Get Certified. Proverbs 11:14 tells us, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” When you are certified as a life coach, you have the comfort of knowing you are not alone. The ICF, International Coach Federation, is the largest and most recognized organization in the world and is the best place to grow as a coach as you grow your business.

Find your niche. You might feel you have experiences in many walks of life. But when it comes to business, the more defined your niche is, the easier it is for people to find you. This applies to life coaching as well. The tools used in coaching can apply to any context: personal development, career or business, health or relationships, to name a few. But establishing your expertise will help you market and promote your business to those who truly need what you have to offer.

3. Come up with a catchy business name. Do realize that God already knows the name of your business? Spend time in prayer and get his mindset. Your business’s name should reflect who you are and what God has called you to do. Keep in mind that you may want to use your name to make it easy for people to find your website and remember you.

4. Determine your business structure. In North American there are six ways to structure a business: Sole Proprietorship

These give you a variety of legal protections but also have different tax obligations. The U.S. Small Business Administration has an excellent resource explain each of these structures and much more.

5. Offering Your Coaching Services. As a “people-oriented” person, you love to work with your clients. But how will you do this? In person? Via phone calls? Skype or Zoom? Facebook live? And do you want to work one-on-one or with groups? There are pros and cons to each of these, as well as other ways to connect with your clients. Determine what works best for you but also be flexible to what your client needs.

6. A home or business office. Whether you work from home or set up a business office in your community will depend on your budget and notoriety. There are tax advantages to both, but if you happen to be a well-known locally, you may not want to keep your home life guarded.

7. The right equipment. Most coaches only need a decent computer and internet connection, and phone connection and a noise-cancelling headset. You should also have a dependable printer, a solid desk, and a couple of comfortable chairs. This is one of the advantages of having a coaching business—low overhead!

8. Staying Organized. Having an online platform that keeps your business on track is a great way to stay client-focused instead of business focused. An online platform can help you minimize your administrative duties (unless you are fortunate to have a good admin assistant). Some of the popular coaching platforms include:

· Coaches Console

· Life Coach Office

· CoachLogix

· CoachingCloud

9, Other things to consider. When starting a business, the more pieces you have in place, the greater your peace of mind. It is important to consider The following: Do you need life coaching insurance? (If so, start by comparing premiums directly through the ICF). Who will handle your accounting and tax services? Will you need legal assistance? Who will develop and maintain your online presence? How will you market your business?

As you think about setting up your Christian life coach business, remember these sage words: Take care of your business and your business will take care of you.

Are you ready to start your coaching career?

Contact Aim Higher to get started today!