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life coaching contract

Looking for a life coaching contract template? Our team has drafted a life coaching contract template that is simple, easy to understand and easy to customize. Download the contract (in Word or PDF) and save your precious time in the profession of life coach.


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    Free Sample Life Coaching Contract Templates

    To help you grow your business, we've created a fairly simple yet reliable life coaching contract template in Word and PDF versions so you can use it over and over.

    What's in this model?

    • The scope of services

    • C

    • Cancellation policy

    What is a life coaching contract?

    A life coaching contract is an agreement between two parties where the client wishes to retain the professional services of a life coach. A well-drafted contract protects both the life coach and the client. It identifies the contractual relationship between the parties. It also establishes the obligations and responsibilities of each party.

    • A life coaching agreement sets the tone for the relationship between the life coach and the client.

    • The life coaching contract defines what is expected of the life coach and what is expected of the client.

    • The contract should detail the services and goals between the life coach and the client.

    What is a life coach?

    A life coach is a disciplined professional who helps clients identify their goals and develop a plan to achieve them. A life coach helps clients reach their potential and encourages them to achieve their aspirations. A life coach can offer a variety of services. The relationship between client and life coach is a creative partnership that can:

    • Help a client discover their talents and how they can implement them in their daily life;

    • Foster self-discovery and personal growth;

    • Use their expertise to create and modify achievable goals;

    • Collaborate on a vision;

    • Create an accountability plan to increase productivity;

    • Achieve self-image and fitness goals;

    • Finding a work-life balance; 

    • Embed core values.

    What are the types of life coaching contracts?

    There are many types of life coaching contracts. The most common life coaching contract is the à la carte contract. Members can choose which services and commitments they wish to pay for. The coach can also provide free valuation services and legal advice. The other types of contracts are self-service coaching, where members receive free advice, but cannot choose which advice they wish to receive. Group life coaching is also an option.

    Members can receive advice, but only in the presence of a coach. Correspondence life coaching is a type of contract in which members receive advice via email.

    Life coaching companies offer special offers, such as free trial plans, special offers and group discounts. Some offers include a free trial period. Members can receive free advice from a coach for a trial period. Some contracts include special offers and discounts for groups. In this case, members can take life coaching services at a lower cost, such as free sessions, free group coaching, or free assessment services.

    The importance of a life coaching contract?

    Online life coaching is a more modern approach to the profession. It's an effective and convenient way for life coach and client to connect while accommodating their busy schedules. According to the International Coach Federation (ICF), a coaching contract is mandatory. The Federation establishes the rules, expectations and spirit of the agreement. The life coaching contract establishes the expectations, responsibilities and conditions of the coaching.

    It is a way to avoid misunderstandings and problems and to clarify the client's expectations of the coach. A life coaching contract helps the client understand exactly what is covered by the coaching. The parties can also develop realistic expectations of the relationship.

    For a coach, it can be difficult to identify the need for a contract. However, clients may have different expectations than the coach. This is why it is important for the life coach and the client to clearly explain in a contract the expectations and limits of the relationship.

    Important Terms

    What should a life coaching contract contain?

    There are quite a few points that should be incorporated into a life coaching contract. One of the essential parts of a life coaching agreement is contact information for both parties. The parties must know how to contact each other. Also, if some life coaching sessions are scheduled over the phone, the phone number the life coach is supposed to call should be identified in the client's contact information. Other essential elements of a life coaching agreement include:

    • Objectives and purpose – The object of the contract is vital. The contract should include what the client's goals are and how the life coach plans to achieve those goals. The specific objective must be identified with the client's expectations. Without a goal, it is difficult for the life coach to perform his services. Therefore, without a purpose, the contract is incomplete. The objective must be meaningful to the client.

    • Expectations: – Both parties will have expectations of each other. The client expects the life coach to provide professional services to help them achieve their goals. In return, the life coach also has expectations. The life coach will implement a plan to hold the client accountable and establish “personal accountability”. It is important to think about what the client can expect from the life coach and what the life coach can expect from the client. A provision outlining the client's responsibilities and the life coach's obligations is an integral part of managing party expectations.

    • Degree of support – Depending on the circumstances and goals of the agreement, the life coach should incorporate the level of life coach support given to the client.

    • Scope of services and structure – The professional services that the life coach plans to provide to the client must be detailed. The coach-client relationship should be defined with the structure of the coaching plan. The structure includes the number of sessions (weekly or monthly) and the mode of life coaching sessions (in person, over the phone, or over the Internet via messaging service or video service). The contract should set out the duration of the agreement and the procedure for terminating the life coaching agreement.

    • Remuneration – Depending on the scope of services and individual circumstances, fees may vary from client to client. Remuneration terms should be part of a life coaching contract.

    • Limitations – The life coach must state the limits of the services he can provide and the services he cannot provide. For example, a life coach is not licensed to diagnose, treat, or provide therapy for mental illnesses. These services are provided by a psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor or other mental health professional.

    • Cancellation policy – Things happen, so a life coaching contract must include a cancellation policy. This protects the life coach from losing revenue in the event that a client does not show up for a scheduled session. This arrangement may also benefit the client if the life coach needs to reschedule a session. The policy should establish the notice period required for the cancellation of a meeting. This is usually twenty-four (24) hours notice.

    Common mistakes made in a life coaching contract?

    Technology has transformed the way we work. This means that a life coach is not limited to in-person sessions. Some life coaches offer their services by phone, email, messenger, or video chat. The exact location and mode of services should be included in the contract. If it is an in-person meeting, the location (including address) must be indicated.

    A life coaching contract can work as a hybrid agreement. It can provide for all modes of sessions, meet the needs of the client and the possibility of choosing the one that best suits the parties. Another element that is often overlooked is the confidentiality clause. A confidentiality clause prohibits each party from disclosing protected and privileged information. It is important to note that the life coaching contract is not protected by legal confidentiality, which means that the life coach may be required to turn over otherwise confidential information to authorities.

    Dispute resolution is a crucial part of a life coaching contract. It sets out each party's responsibility to first engage in good faith negotiations before initiating legal action. The agreement may also provide that the parties also undergo mediation or arbitration before taking legal action against the other party. It is also essential to designate the party responsible for the legal costs in the event of a dispute. 

    Speaking of legality, contacting a lawyer to review your life coaching contract is a must. The attorney knows local laws and statutes and can review your document for compliance and applicability.

    Another common mistake is that the parties forget to sign the agreement. To be a valid and enforceable contract, it must be duly signed by the life coach and the client.

    No more paperwork, no more stress: your clients sign with one click.
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