So, you’re thinking about becoming a life coach. Maybe you love helping people. Maybe friends and family already come to you for advice. Or maybe you’re just tired of the corporate grind and want to do something meaningful with your life.
But then, the big question hits: Can I actually make money as a life coach?
The short answer? Yes. But not by just reading self-help books and calling yourself a coach. The real key is learning how to coach effectively—so people see results and want to pay you for it.
If you’re serious about making this your career, let’s break down exactly how to get started (and get paid).
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Step 1: Understand What Life Coaching Really Is (And What It Isn’t)
A lot of people think coaching is about giving advice. It’s not.
Coaching is about helping people access their own answers. It’s guiding them through self-discovery, clarity, and action so they can create real change. That means asking powerful questions, helping clients break through limiting beliefs, and supporting them as they take action.
At our program, we teach the BETAS framework—a holistic approach that looks at a person as a whole:
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- Body Awareness (because physical state affects emotions and decision-making)
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- Emotional Intelligence (understanding and regulating feelings)
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- Thought Transformation (reframing limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns)
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- Aligned Action (taking steps that match their values and goals)
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- Spiritual Connection (finding deeper meaning and purpose in their life)
Without these layers, coaching becomes just another motivational pep talk. But with them? It becomes transformational. And that’s what clients will pay for
Step 2: Get the Right Training (Because You Can’t Fake It)
Here’s the thing: Coaching isn’t regulated like therapy. Technically, you could wake up tomorrow, call yourself a life coach, and start charging people.
But let’s be real. Coaching is a real skill that needs to be learned, practiced, and mastered. It’s not just about giving advice or telling people how to live their lives.
The right program will:
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- Teach you how to coach in a way that actually gets results
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- Give you hands-on experience so you’re confident working with real clients
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- Help you develop your own coaching style (instead of just copying someone else)
Many of our students have already trained in other programs but felt they were lacking the skills to create deep, lasting change. Our program goes beyond the basics. It trains you in both Eastern and Western approaches so you can work with clients on a deeper level.
What makes a great training program? Look for one that teaches you how to:
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- Ask powerful questions that unlock new insights
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- Listen beyond words to what clients aren’t saying
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- Guide clients through resistance and fear
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- Create a safe space for vulnerability and growth
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- Design effective coaching frameworks and session structures
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Step 3: Walk Your Talk (Because Authenticity Isn’t Optional)
Here’s something most coaching programs won’t tell you: Your clients can only grow to the extent that you’re willing to grow yourself.
Think about it. How can you guide someone through their fears if you haven’t faced your own? How can you help clients break through limiting beliefs if you refuse to examine yours?
This is where many aspiring coaches get stuck. They focus on learning techniques and scripts but forget the most important tool: their own personal growth journey.
The truth is, clients can sense authenticity from a mile away. You can’t fake being “fully alive” or pretend to have it all figured out. What you can do is:
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- Commit to your growth journey
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- Face your challenges
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- Work through your own limiting beliefs
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- Deal with imposter syndrome (yes, even experienced coaches face this)
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- Practice what you preach in your own life
Your personal growth creates a larger container to hold space for your clients’ growth. This means:
Getting comfortable with discomfort. Growth happens outside your comfort zone. When you regularly challenge yourself, you understand firsthand what your clients experience when pushing their boundaries.
Developing self-awareness. Notice your patterns, triggers, and blind spots. The more you understand yourself, the better you can help clients understand themselves.
Building emotional resilience. Coaching involves sitting with difficult emotions. Your ability to handle your own emotional landscape directly impacts how well you can support clients through theirs.
Creating new identities. As you step into being a coach, you’ll need to shed old patterns and embrace new ways of being. This firsthand experience of identity evolution becomes invaluable when helping clients create their own changes.
Step 4: Start Practicing (Even Before You Feel “Ready”)
Most new coaches hesitate to put themselves out there. They think, “What if I mess up? What if I don’t have all the answers?”
Spoiler: You won’t have all the answers. And that’s okay.
The only way to get better is by coaching real people. Offer practice sessions. Work with friends. Join a training program where you get supervised practice. The more you coach, the more natural it feels.
And here’s where your personal growth journey becomes crucial. As you work through your own self-doubt and imposter syndrome, you’ll be better equipped to help clients do the same. Your struggles become your strength—they give you empathy, understanding, and real-world experience to draw from.
Pro Tip: Keep a log of your clients’ results (paid or unpaid). Testimonials and success stories will be key to building your credibility as a coach.
Step 5: Build a Business (Yes, You Can Make a Living at This)
This is where many coaches hit a roadblock. They finish their training, get certified… and then struggle to find clients.
Coaching is a business, and like any business, you need a clear strategy. That includes:
– Marketing effectively: because if people don’t know you exist, they can’t hire you.
– Charging appropriately: so you’re not burning out working for free.
– Structuring your offers : so clients see the long-term value of coaching.
– Enrolling clients effectively.
A lot of new coaches undercharge or offer free sessions indefinitely because they feel guilty asking for money. But if you’re serious about making coaching your career, you need to treat it like a business.
Quick Story: One of our graduates started charging $75 per session, thinking no one would pay more. After learning how to position her coaching and communicate its value, she raised her prices—and started booking more clients than ever.
Why? Because people want to invest in transformation. They’re not just investing in you—they’re investing through you in their own growth. But it’s up to you to help them connect those dots.
Step 6: Keep Growing (Because the Best Coaches Never Stop Learning)
Great coaches don’t just get trained and call it a day. They keep growing. They work with mentors. They refine their skills. They learn new methods and adapt to different clients.
This ongoing growth isn’t just about learning new techniques. It’s about:
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- Deepening your own self-awareness
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- Expanding your capacity to hold space for others
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- Developing greater emotional intelligence
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- Building resilience to handle challenging client situations
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- Staying current with evolving coaching methodologies
What does ongoing growth look like in practice?
Regular self-reflection. Set aside time to examine your coaching practice. What patterns do you notice? Where do you feel stuck? What triggers you?
Continuous learning. Read books, attend workshops, join mastermind groups. The coaching field evolves constantly. Stay current with new approaches and understanding.
Working with your own coach. Experience the coaching process from the client side. This gives you invaluable insights and keeps you growing.
Practicing presence. Develop your ability to stay fully present with whatever arises in sessions. This might involve meditation, mindfulness, or other awareness practices.
Building community. Connect with other coaches. Share experiences, challenges, and solutions. The journey is easier with support.
Many of our students felt stuck after other training programs because they weren’t equipped to handle real-life challenges their clients faced. Our holistic curriculum helps coaches address resistance and obstacles in multiple dimensions. From emotions and thoughts to physical energy and deeper purpose.
Your growth edge is your greatest asset. When you’re actively participating in your own development, you create an energetic invitation for your clients to do the same. They can feel your aliveness, your commitment to growth, and your willingness to face challenges. This authentic engagement inspires them far more than any technique or strategy.
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So… Ready to Get Started?
If you’re serious about becoming a life coach—and actually making a living at it—the first step is proper training. But not just any training—you need a program that:
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- Teaches real coaching skills
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- Supports your personal growth journey
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- Helps you develop an authentic presence
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- Shows you how to build a sustainable business
That’s exactly why we created our holistic coach training program—to help you develop real coaching skills, build confidence, and learn how to attract clients without feeling salesy.
Want to see if it’s right for you? Let’s chat. Schedule a free call, and we’ll help you figure out if coaching is the next step in your journey.
👉 Click here to book your call
The world needs coaches who are willing to do their own work, face their own challenges, and show up authentically. If you’re ready to embark on this journey—both for yourself and your future clients—we’re here to support you every step of the way.