Coaching Agreement: 5 Clauses All Coaches Need In Their Contract

You’re a coach, right? Well, then you already how important it is to have a coaching agreement. But do you know why? And what should be included in your agreement? If not, then keep reading because we’re about to tell you!

We’re Cass and Tee, and we have spent the last 20+ combined years helping coaches and other online entrepreneurs launch their brands online. It might sound boring but trust us when we say that this article will save you time and money down the road.

You want to make sure that you are protected so there aren’t any misunderstandings or disagreements later on. Plus, having a coaching agreement makes everything easier for everyone involved – including your coaching clients!

So let’s get started with our list of clauses that every coach needs in their coaching agreement. By the end of this article, you’ll understand exactly why they’re necessary and how they can benefit both yourself and your clients. 

Let’s dive right in! 

What is a Coaching Agreement

A coaching agreement is a legal document that is signed by both you and all of your coaching clients. It is there to protect both parties from issues that might arise, and ensure that there are clear, legal agreements on what to do in particular circumstances.

This document establishes the relationship boundaries and sets out the expectations for both parties. It will keep you safe from legal problems if you ever run into any issues with your clients.

Don’t neglect this document! It is important for keeping you safe and establishing expectations on both sides. It’s about good communication, and having one is a key aspect of being a professional coach.

So, what should your coaching agreement cover?

5 Clauses All Coaches Need In Their Coaching Agreement

1. Payment & Late Fee Clauses

The first thing you should cover is a payment plan, showing the timescales in which a client needs to pay, and the expected costs they will incur. This ensures they are on the same page in terms of funds and they have agreed to your prices.

Inside this clause, make sure you include what happens if they fail to pay as the coaching agreement instructs. Detail any late fees/penalty charges so they can clearly see and agree to these.

2. Confidentiality Clause

You will also need a confidentiality clause to protect the way you work and your trade secrets. You don’t want everyone you coach to start setting up in competition with you, using your methods. A confidentiality clause binds the client to certain secrets and keeps your business safe.

This ensures they don’t pass your ideas on to others, too. If they work with other coaches in the future, you want to keep your methods safe and avoid them being stolen.

3. Intellectual property

You will likely have some materials that you pass to your clients – worksheets, questions, “homework,” etc. You need to think about who owns these materials and how they can be used.

Here, you can choose to give clients free use of these materials, or you can state that you own all materials and they may only use them for their personal journey, in their current form.

It is up to you which you decide to do, but make sure you consider the value of the materials you have produced as a coach.

4. Limit of liability Clause

A limit of liability means that if you ever get into legal problems, you reduce the maximum amount that you can end up owing to a client. You can set this limit yourself, and it is a good idea to think about what you could afford to pay in the event of a lawsuit.

Look at what other coaches add here if it helps, and consider what you feel comfortable with. A limit of liability clause can be tricky to write, but you shouldn’t skip it for that reason; it could save you a lot of money.

5. Disclaimer and Release Clause

The disclaimer and release clause reminds clients that they are proceeding at their own risk, and you are not responsible for any negative outcomes. You should add one of these at the end of the coaching agreement, absolving you of responsibility for their feelings/actions.

This encourages clients to assess their own willingness to go forward and prevents them from putting too much responsibility on you as the coach. When they sign the coaching agreement, they agree that you are not liable for their actions, just because you have agreed to coach them.

Where To Get A Coaching Agreement

1. Coaching Agreement Contract Template by Coaching Tools Company

You can buy a coaching agreement from The Coaching Tools Company. 

This template is an example of a coaching agreement that has been specifically designed to help coaches build their own contracts. It makes it very easy for you to build your own coaching agreement, specifically tailored to your situation and your clients.

It was created by coach Emma-Louise, and it is there to help coaches who are getting overwhelmed with trying to create a clear, concise coaching agreement that is not pages long and will not put clients off.

It’s perfect if you’re struggling because you can use it as a framework for filling in your own information and clauses, and it covers all of the above five sections.

Features:

This template offers:

• A 2-page example of a coaching agreement
• Reminders of client responsibility
• The disclaimer
• Payment terms
• Information on how to book and reschedule sessions
• How clients can end the contract

These will all help you craft a comprehensive document that covers everything your clients need to know.

Pricing:

The template costs $9.95, and has a 100% money-back guarantee for anyone who is not satisfied. You will receive a digital download, and no physical copy, so be aware of this before you purchase the item. 

Make sure you read the company’s licensing conditions prior to purchasing.

2. Coaching Contract Template by The Contract Shop

You can also buy this template from TheContractShop. It is designed for coaches in all areas, and is there to help out those who are struggling to build a solid, legal coaching agreement.

It means you will need to do minimal work yourself, and it will present your clients with a very professional “first taste” of working with you.

Prepared and reviewed by attorneys, this coaching agreement offers you a legal document that ensures you will have a watertight relationship with your clients, and feel protected in all areas. 

Features:

This coaching agreement template offers:

• The choice to keep or give away copyright
• A breakdown of fees and payment schedules
• A confidentiality clause
• A disclaimer
• A limit of liability clause
• Clear language that is legally binding and written by an attorney

Pricing:

It costs $455 to purchase the coaching contract template. This can be paid as a lump sum, or in four installments (with no interest charged). Again, you will receive a single license to use this, with a downloadable file that you can edit and send to all your clients.

3. Coaching Agreement Templates by Bonsai

All Bonsai coaching contract templates are free if you use their services. You can pick from a variety of legally vetted contract templates or agreement templates to get started. Then, customize them for your business and save them as your own templates. They provide personal, executive, mentoring, and other types of coaching templates. In addition, Bonsai has integrated contract e-signing to speed up the formalities when onboarding a new client. 

Features:

This coaching agreement template offers:

• Work and payment schedule information
• Ownership and license details
• A confidentiality clause
• A limit of liability clause
• How clients can end the contract
• General information
• E-signature
• Clear language that is legally binding and written by an attorney

Pricing:

All Bonsai templates are free to use if you subscribe to any of their plans. The lowest Bonsai plan is $24/month. They also offer a 7-day free trial. For this price, you will also be able to use their proposal, client intake form, invoice, and various other templates as well as their other features included in the package: scheduling, CRM, client portal, online banking, invoicing & payments, and others. 

4. Coaching Agreement Templates by Practice

Practice worked with a couple lawyers to create free, downloadable coaching agreements for any coach to use. There’s a US and Canadian version, plus a couple sample agreements from other coaches.

If you’re looking for a simple way to fill out and sign contracts, Practice offers a contract builder with digital signatures in their platform, along with many other features like scheduling, client management, file storage and even dedicated client portals.

Features:

Practice provides:

• Real-time scheduling, connected to as many Google Calendars as you want
• Client management for individuals and groups
• Client portal to centralize communication (chat, voice memos) and files
• Contract and form builders
• Digital signatures
• File storage and sharing
• Native Automations and Zapier Integration
• iOS, Android and Web apps for you and your clients

Pricing:

Practice offers a 7-day free trial for both plans. You can choose one of the following:

• Basic $28/month (billed annually), ideal for those who are just starting out
• Pro $48/month (billed annually), great for those who are scaling and streamlining their practice

Final Thoughts – Coaching Agreement

As you can see, a coaching agreement is a crucial part of running your coaching business. It looks professional and it protects both parties from misunderstandings and issues.

Running your business without a coaching agreement invites trouble. Your client will not have the basic information that they need, such as fees and scheduling information. You also won’t have protections limiting how much money you may have to pay should a lawsuit occur.

If you’re thinking about getting one or you already have a coaching agreement, let us know about it in the comments. How has a coaching agreement changed your business?