How to price coaching services

Judith Barton, Director of Coaching

I enjoy hearing the stories of how someone gets into coaching.  This is a new profession and there are many streams to enter the river.

Working as a coach with lots of professionals from the legal world, it is obvious this is happening there as well.

Professionals often study unrelated subjects, recognise law what they want to do and move on to a vocational course such as the law conversion course, then onto a training contract with a law firm.

The coaching profession attracts entrants with both experience and knowledge.   For me it is important to develop your understanding with a balance of academic rigour and practical application – for example through an ILM programme.

Others may choose to take an alternative route, such as an MBA and then decide to take a coaching course.

Whatever the route into coaching, identifying your value within the marketplace is something many coaches struggle with, whilst on the other side of the equation some coaches seem comfortable to let the market decide and go with the flow.

This is obviously a market decision but setting off in the business of coaching needs some careful internal thought and reflection.

Here are a few tips on beginning the conversation with yourself on how to price your coaching services:

1. Where are you as a coach? – not physically, but in terms of your mental and financial readiness?
2. Financials – what sort of basics do you need to cover in order to survive?
3. What sort of restrictions, if any, are you putting on your practice – and are these the right restrictions/parameters.  For example – location and type of service you wish to provide.
4. Values – what is it that you wish to achieve through coaching for yourself and your clients?
5. How sustainable is your approach? Will this business become a business or are you there to support a particular lifestyle choice?

These 5 key questions and much more will be discussed in the ‘How to Price Your Coaching services’ CPD course.  You can read more and book your place here:  http://www.britishschoolofcoaching.com/cdp-courses/pricing-coaching-services/

BSC Coaching Network Event: October 2014

In October we launched a new series of Coaching Network events.  In these short, informal sessions we lead a seminar on an important area of coaching, followed by a chance to mix with like-minded professional coaches and share learning.

This event was led by Martin Hill, senior tutor on the ILM Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Mentoring.  Martin discussed internal coaching, strategy, confidentiality and ethics.  It was attended by delegates who traveled from as far as the UAE and France (not to mention 400 yards down the road!)

Martin’s seminar was followed by lively discussion and delegates stayed in the venue for several hours afterwards to chat over lunch.

The next Coaching Network event will run on the 17th of January – it will be facilitated by Angela Hill, who will lead a session on the role of the coach to challenge.

Book a place now here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bsc-coaching-network-spring-2015-tickets-13985959381

Visit the BSC Website for more information.

How to Win at Freelancing

Judith Barton, Director of Coaching

If you’re making the jump from a large organisation to life as a freelancer, expect at the very least a mind-set change!  Most people who make this move often feel bereft by the significant change in their lifestyle – both financially and in the change in pattern of their work.

Often leaving at the height of your career can bring additional shocks.  You may feel not only the loss of your status but the realisation that the end of the month is no longer a reliable source of money!  This seems like a very bleak picture – but think about all the other opportunities… to shape your own life; to say ‘yes’ as well as ‘no’; to think about what you want to achieve for others – as well as maybe yourself.

If you’re facing this challenge (or opportunity, depending on how you see it!) then consider these 5 important points…

1. You are it. Your work begins and ends with you.  It is unlikely at this stage that you will receive any external support  – think ‘it will only happen if I do it.’
2. Keep yourself mentally and physically fit.
3. Off days are cost days.  If you’re not able to deliver the work you’ve promised, or you’re not able to deliver any work, then that certainly becomes a cost and not a revenue.
4. Marketing never stops – whilst you’re working, you’re not getting business.  Consider how you balance the challenges of delivering and getting business – what other avenues can you use to market?   Don’t forget to exploit the opportunities that social media bring – although whilst you may have one face for Facebook, you will need to think about your business face for Facebook.
5. Manage risk.  When you set off as an independent or freelancer, funding insurance policies to cover risk may be a really difficult challenge.  Whilst you have a professional indemnity, managing any other risks may have to be about your ability rather than insurance coverage, which may be beyond your budget at this early stage.

Much more of these topics and the ability to come up with a successful freelance plan will be available through our one day programme, run by the British School of Coaching.  

We look forward to seeing you there!


Judith Barton is Director of Coaching at BSC, and is currently leading the ILM Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Mentoring in the UAE.