Starting A Coaching Business: Comprehensive Cost Breakdown & Guide (2024)

The record value of the US coaching industry has touched 13 billion dollars (How to Start a Financial Coaching Business). Starting a valuable business definitely requires good investment. This includes investment both in terms of time and finances.

This means that it is necessary to finance prior to starting your coaching business. Let’s see why this financing is important.

• Setting a Competitive Cost

You have to set a price when offering coaching services to the people. Financing will help you figure out how much financial investment is going into your business. This way you can decide the price you will be offering your services at, after keeping your profit margin.

• Paying the Taxes

Running a business not just means profit, it is followed by some extra expenses as well. One of these is the taxes that you have to pay to the government when you own a business.

Financing will help you with knowing more about your business taxes in advance for better business stability.

• Stocking Up the Inventory

Of course, you have to keep your inventory well-stocked before you launch your business. For this money is very important. Pre-business financing will let you decide your inventory stock, your sales goals, and service versatility.

By 2022 the coaching business is expected to top 1.3 billion dollars, with more than 53000 life coaches globally (How to Start a Life Coaching Business). The cost to start a coaching business can range somewhere between $62 to $38,061 (Start a Life Coaching Business).

This makes the average coaching business startup cost to be $22,173 (Start a Life Coaching Business). Different expenses are considered in deciding the overall cost of your coaching business. These include the startup costs, the business formation fees, software expenses, office space expenses, employee and freelancer costs.

Moreover, domain name and website cost, Limited Liability Company (LLC) cost, social media scheduling, invoicing and accounting, and cloud storage expenses are also to be considered.

1. Startup Costs

The startup cost includes expenses covering insurance, payroll, research, permits, office supplies, marketing, utilities, and licensing.

• Average Cost: $22,173
• Minimum Value: $62
• Maximum Value: $38,061
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

2. Business Formation Fees

It includes the fee required for turning your newly started business into a distinct legal entity.

A Patent

• Average Cost: $15,000
• Minimum Value: $5,000
• Maximum Value: $15,000
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Lawyer Fees

• Average Cost: $1,500
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $1,500
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Trademark

• Average Cost: $700
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $700
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Permit and License Fees

• Average Cost: $700
• Minimum Value: $50
• Maximum Value: $700
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Small Business Insurance

• Average Cost: $2,000
• Minimum Value: $500
• Maximum Value: $2,000
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Set up business: LLC & Corporations

• Average Cost: $500
• Minimum Value: $50
• Maximum Value: $500
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

3. Software Expenses

These include the expenses related to the equipment, services, and tools used for running software.

File Hosting Service

• Average Cost: $299
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $299
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Email marketing tool

• Average Cost: $100
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $100
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Accounting & Invoicing Software

• Average Cost: $50
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $50
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

CRM Software

• Average Cost: $300
• Minimum Value: $12
• Maximum Value: $300
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Internal Communication Tool

• Average Cost: $20
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $20
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Project Management Software

• Average Cost: $25
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $25
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Design Programs & Software

• Average Cost: $50
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $50
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

IT Support

• Average Cost: $2,000
• Minimum Value: $150
• Maximum Value: $2,000
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Payroll Software

• Average Cost: $200
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $200
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Social Media Management Tools

• Average Cost: $50
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $50
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

4. Office Space Expenses

Office space expenses include the cost of the building rent and utility bills.

Rent

• Average Cost: $50
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $5,750
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Utility Cost

• Average Cost: $1,150
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $1,150
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

WiFi and Internet

• Average Cost: $100
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $100
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

5. Employee & Freelancer Costs

This cost covers the expenditure that you have to pay to your employees and freelancers, including their salary, bonuses, etc.

Payroll Cost and Fees

• Average Cost: $250
• Minimum Value: $150
• Maximum Value: $250
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Employee Hiring Expenses

• Average Cost: $2
• Minimum Value: $1
• Maximum Value: $2
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Employee Rewards

• Average Cost: $100
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $100
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

6. Domain Name and Website Costs

Choosing a competitive domain and creating a competitive website requires skills and research. Hiring a professional website designer would be best in this case.

His service fee, costs for website and domain tools, etc are included in the domain name and website costs.

Website Hosting Costs

• Average Cost: $300
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $300
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Domain Name

• Average Cost: $200
• Minimum Value: $12
• Maximum Value: $200
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Business Email Hosting Service

• Average Cost: $15
• Minimum Value: $1
• Maximum Value: $15
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Website Builder

• Average Cost: $500
• Minimum Value: $10
• Maximum Value: $500
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Web Designer

• Average Cost: $6,000
• Minimum Value: $200
• Maximum Value: $6,000
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

Website & Live Chat Tool

• Average Cost: $200
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $200
• Source: https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/coaching-business/startup-costs

7. Limited Liability Company (LLC) Cost

This includes the cost for the corporate structure established in the US which saves the owners from being personally liable to the company liabilities and debts.

• Average Cost: $3,000
• Minimum Value: $1500
• Maximum Value: $3,000
• Source: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/consulting-startup-costs

8. Social Media Scheduling

Expenses for running your coaching business on social media, buying packages, tools, and social media management experts are included in social media scheduling costs.

• Average Cost: $5000
• Minimum Value: $399
• Maximum Value: $5000
• Source:https://blog.socialmediastrategiessummit.com/how-much-charge-social-media-management/

9. Invoicing and Accounting

The cost for the maintenance of transaction records between a seller and buyer, like receipts, is included in the invoicing and accounting expenses.

• Average Cost: $25
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $25
• Source: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/consulting-startup-costs

10. Cloud Storage

Expenses related to the storage of your coaching business data on the Internet are included in the cloud storage cost.

• Average Cost: $5
• Minimum Value: $0
• Maximum Value: $5

Source:https://smifinancialcoaching.com/how-much-it-costs-to-start-an-online-coaching-business/

Starting an online coaching business is way more affordable than starting a physical coaching business. Coaches in the US can make $30000 to $40000 yearly, making an average of $37000 (How Much Does it Cost to Start a Life Coaching Business).

To start an online coaching business the average cost remains between $5000 and $15000 (How to Start a Life Coaching Business). It also covers some on-time costs like:

• Laptop or computer
• Initial training and certification
• Website design
• Smartphone
• Headset
• Domain name registration

Yes, it is recommended to hire a business coach before starting a coaching business. Business coaches help you with identifying your blind spots in the business, be your compass for better business directions, and unlock your self-imposed limits.

Moreover, a business coach also offers unbiased third-party insights, navigates business challenges, meets the goals, and benefits your business approach with his experience.

Conclusion

This was all about the total setup cost for starting a coaching business. Before you start, make sure you plan your finances, set a budget, and run your business accordingly.

Note down the expenses regarding each category separately to keep a better record of your expenses.