Set Yourself Up for Success With This Simple List

⌛Estimated Read Time: 8min 

You’ve been thinking about becoming a life coach, and you’re excited to start your journey.

Your success is coming! But, like any other small business owner, you might face a few bumps along the road…

Especially at the beginning!

There are 10 common coaching business challenges that I see slow or even completely sabotage success for coaches– but with persistence, passion, and the right strategies, you can overcome them and thrive.

Let’s dive in…

The 10 Most Common Challenges When Starting a Life Coaching Business

1. Thinking You Have to Have a “Perfect Life” Before You Can Help Others

Have you ever heard a little voice inside your head saying, “Why would anyone listen to me? I don’t have my own life figured out.”

That voice inside your head is doing only one thing:

Trying to keep you right where you are — inside your comfort zone.

The fact is, you don’t have to have a perfect life to make a difference in the lives of others. In fact, if I had waited until my life were perfect before I started coaching, I’d still be waiting!

No one is perfect. We only have to be one rung up on a ladder in order to reach down and give someone else a hand up.

Practical Tips:

– Instead of listening to the voice that pulls you to the familiar, make the choice to listen to the other voice inside your head: the one that encourages you to move forward with your goals and dreams. 

– Keep a diary or a record of your wins, and the times when you helped someone because you knew something they didn’t. When doubts creep in, take a look at this document and realize how much you’re helping people just by being one step ahead.

2. Confusing Sales with “Manipulation”

For some people, when they hear the word “sales,” they think of being taken advantage of or talked into something they don’t really want… 

And when they find out that they will have to use sales in their coaching business, they resist the process. They fear they’ll have to be manipulative or use ‘shady’ tactics to get people to say yes.

But the truth is that manipulation and heart-centered sales are two TOTALLY different things.

Think of it like this– Have you ever told a friend about a great movie that you saw… or a restaurant you loved… and they were so enticed by what you shared that they went and tried it for themselves? 

If your answer is YES, you already have the necessary skills for heart-centered sales!

When you speak from the heart and from a place of service, this is not “hard selling,” and it’s not uncomfortable. Your sales and enrollment process can be built around fun, powerful conversations about possibilities. They are invitations to step into a greater life… 

And that’s the type of conversations you must have with your potential clients!

Practical Tips:

– Learn about the art of heart-centered enrollment – where you make the people you speak with feel safe, warm and cared for… so that they say “YES” to investing in themselves and their dreams by means of saying “YES” to a coaching program with you.

– Build value into your sales process with helpful content, workshops, and discovery calls. Making sure the pieces of your business feel aligned and supportive will help you let go of your aversion to “selling” your services.  

3. Not Having a Proven System of Transformation

Consider this – when looking for a doctor, you want someone who is trained, certified, and who understands how the body works. You want someone who will listen to you, diagnose what the issues are, and who will then create a treatment plan that you can follow… 

People who are searching for life coaching are no different.

Your potential clients aren’t going to sign up for a program with you simply because you tell them that you’ll help them create a happier, healthier life…

They’ll want to know that you can actually deliver results!

That’s why having a proven system that your clients can follow is crucial to your success.

A transformational system takes out the guesswork when it comes to helping your clients achieve their goals. It ensures that you can catalyze changes consistently, as quickly as possible.

Practical Tips:

– Get clear on not just the results you want to offer your ideal clients, but how you will ensure that they experience those results. 

– Research life coaching training and certifications available to you. Do they offer a proven, repeatable system of transformation?

4. Trying to “Go at It Alone”

Building a small business can mean working by yourself for long periods of time…

But, if you lock yourself away in your home office and try to create success in a bubble, your progress will likely be very slow.

This is because you have a specific way of viewing things and doing things, and you can’t see your own blindspots. You don’t know what you don’t know.

To grow your life coaching business effectively and powerfully, collaborate with others who are working toward the same goals that you are, and find mentors who have already achieved what it is that you desire.

Practical Tips:

–  Seek out groups, mastermind communities, and mentors that will support and contribute to your success.

– Network in local business meetups and events or in online groups for entrepreneurs. Connect with other coaches, consultants, and difference-makers for support, celebration, and collaboration.

5. Finding Your Niche

Identifying your coaching niche can feel overwhelming. 

At first, you may feel that ‘anyone’ could use the services of a coach, or maybe you’re unsure who you want to help.

You might be tempted to cast a wide net to attract more clients, or speak to multiple types of audiences in your social media accounts, but this strategy often backfires…

Because this leads to a diluted message, making it harder for your prospects to connect with you. 

Instead, focus on a specific area where you can truly shine and make a difference.

For example, you may be passionate about helping women over 40 find their life purpose. By narrowing your focus, you can create specialized coaching programs that address the unique challenges this group faces, making your coaching services more attractive and effective.

Practical Tips:

– Reflect on your passions and strengths. What topics light you up? Where do you have the most expertise?

– Conduct market research to understand the needs and desires of your ideal clients. This will help you tailor your services to meet their specific challenges.

– Test different niches by offering a few coaching sessions in each area. Pay attention to which ones resonate the most with both you and your clients.

6. Getting Discouraged After the First Obstacles

It’s easy to feel discouraged when things don’t go as planned, especially in the beginning. 

Perhaps your first workshop didn’t attract as many participants as you hoped. Or you’ve been posting daily on social media for months, and your following it’s still tiny.

You may be tempted to see these setbacks as signs that this career isn’t for you, but the truth is that every successful coaching business faces obstacles. 

The good news is that these challenges are opportunities in disguise.

Instead of giving up, analyze what worked and what didn’t. Maybe the timing was off, or the marketing could have been more targeted. Use this information to improve and course correct!

Practical Tips:

– Shift your mindset: View obstacles as learning experiences rather than failures.

– Surround yourself with a supportive community of fellow coaches and mentors who can offer guidance and encouragement.

– Revisit your marketing plan and strategies regularly to ensure they align with your goals, and make adjustments as needed. 

7. Undercharging for Your Services

Picture this: you’re talking to a potential client, and they’re enthusiastic about working with you. They’re smiling, eager to say “yes”…  

And yet, when it comes the time to reveal your rates, you panic and slash the number you had in mind by half. 

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

Many new coaches struggle with setting the right price for their coaching services. 

You might fear that charging too much will scare away potential clients, but undercharging can lead to burnout and devalue your work.

So instead of undercutting yourself, you can come up with different ways to make your offer more attractive. For example, by offering a three-month package at a competitive rate, you not only ensure a stable income but also help your clients commit to their growth.

Practical Tips:

– Research life coach pricing and what other coaches in your niche are charging. This gives you a baseline to start from.

– Understand the value you bring to your clients – your coaching skills and the transformation you facilitate are worth investing in!

– Consider offering coaching programs that provide more value and create a sense of commitment from your clients.

8. Building Your Credibility 

Successful coaches know this: when you become better known, more clients and opportunities flow your way with less effort. 

But in the beginning, standing out can feel challenging. That’s why building credibility from the start is crucial to attract and retain clients.

So if you’ve helped several clients achieve significant breakthroughs, you can use these stories to showcase your coaching skills. Sharing these wins on your website and social media, along with practical tips, can build your reputation and attract more clients to your coaching business.

Practical Tips:

– Share valuable content regularly on social media platforms or through a blog. This positions you as a knowledgeable and trustworthy source.

– Gather coaching testimonials and case studies from past clients to showcase your success stories.

– Consider writing a book, creating digital resources, or offering free webinars to reach a wider audience and establish yourself as an expert.

9. Time Management

One of the reasons why people choose to become a coach is to enjoy time freedom…

Ironically, they end up buried in work – because they overlooked the importance of time management as a small business owner!

Balancing the various aspects of running a coaching business can be daunting. From client sessions to marketing and administrative tasks, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

If you find yourself missing important events like your daughter’s school play because of work, it’s time to reassess your schedule.

By blocking out personal time and sticking to it, you can create a more balanced life that allows you to be present both in your business and personal life – and make success sustainable long term.

Practical Tips:

– Prioritize tasks by urgency and importance. Use tools like calendars and task management apps to stay organized. This essential “starting a coaching business checklist” can help you determine what is critical or not.

– Set aside specific times for different activities, such as client calls, marketing efforts, and personal development.

– Delegate tasks that don’t require your personal touch, such as social media management or bookkeeping.

10. Waiting to Get Everything Ready Before You Start

You might be waiting until your website is perfect before launching your online coaching business. 

Then, when the website is ready, you wait to complete your webinar script. And then…

Perfectionism can be paralyzing. 

Many aspiring coaches delay launching their life coaching business because they feel they’re not ready or everything isn’t perfect yet.

Instead, start by offering your services through simpler platforms like social media or local events. As you gain more clients and feedback, you can refine your marketing, services, and online presence.

Practical Tips:

– Start with what you have. Your first version doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to be good enough to begin.

– Focus on progress, not perfection. Every step you take moves you closer to your goals.

– Embrace a growth mindset. Understand that you’ll learn and improve as you go along.

Get The Support and Know-How to Start Your Business Right

If you’d love to start your journey, and you want to avoid coaching business mistakes, like getting caught up in perfectionism or procrastination, all while enjoying the support of a positive community, then I have a special invitation for you…

5 days of support, inspiration, community and insider knowledge to get your coaching business started on the right foot… 

At our FREE 5-Day Challenge: Life Coach Accelerator: Learn How to Succeed as a Life Coach in 5 Days

Inside this event, I’ll take you by the hand and guide you so that you can walk away with everything you need to set yourself up for success as a coach.

If you’d love to kickstart your coaching journey, avoid beginner mistakes, and accelerate your results… 

Then register for the next Life Coach Accelerator FREE 5-Day Challenge here!