How To Become A Life Coach- 8 Basic Steps [2025]

If you’re thinking about becoming a life coach in 2025, you’re probably pretty excited about the idea. But at the same time, it can feel overwhelming. You might not know where to start, what kind of credentials matter, or how to find your first clients.

And here’s the thing — Coaching isn’t just about helping people, it’s also a real business opportunity!

A case study by the International Society for Performance Improvement shows that coaching can deliver a 221% ROI. That’s serious value, both for your clients and your business.

This is exactly why I put together this guide.

I’ll walk you through the 8 essential steps to build your coaching career, from choosing the right niche to using marketing strategies like sales funnels and email automation to grow your business.

If you’ve been holding onto the idea of coaching but haven’t taken the leap yet, this guide will help you finally get going in a way that makes sense.

TL;DR- How To Become A Life Coach- 8 Basic Steps [2025]

Becoming a life coach in 2025 doesn’t require a degree, but it does require a clear plan.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Life coaching is a legit, growing industry with proven ROI (221%, according to ISPI).
• You don’t need certification, but learning the core skills is non-negotiable if you want to help clients and build trust.
• Start by choosing a niche you care about — confidence, career, productivity, etc.
• Train, then get certified if you want to boost your credibility (ICF, CPCC, NLP, etc.).
• Set up your business properly: name, registration, email, payment system, and scheduling.
• Build an online presence with a simple site or funnel. Add a lead magnet to grow your list and showcase results.
• Get your first clients through networking, free sessions, referrals, and follow-ups.
• Price your offers clearly with simple packages — and adjust as you grow.
• Keep learning. Coaches who stay booked are the ones who keep improving.

Want to get a head start with client acquisition? Use WPFunnels and Mail Mint to build your funnel and automate email follow-ups, so you can spend less time setting things up and more time actually coaching.

What Is Life Coaching?

Before diving into the steps, let’s make sure you’re clear on what life coaching actually is.

Life coaching basically is a goal-focused process where you help someone improve a specific part of their life, personal or professional.

It could be career changes, productivity, relationships, confidence, or even something as simple as getting their daily routine under control.

What Does a Life Coach Actually Do?

Here’s where most people get stuck — they hear the term “life coach” but aren’t exactly sure what the day-to-day looks like.

In plain terms, your job is to help clients:

• Set clear, realistic goals
• Break those goals into simple steps
• Stay focused and consistent
• Get honest feedback and accountability along the way

Remember, you’re not giving advice on everything nor fixing their life for them. You’re helping them stay on track with the things they say matter.

That’s what life coaching actually looks like: focused support, clear direction, and steady progress.

And yes, you gotta earn some good money for that, but only when you do it in the right way.

Now that you know what a life coach actually does, let’s talk about what it takes to get started, financially.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Life Coach?

Becoming a life coach isn’t free, but it doesn’t have to break the bank either. The key is knowing what to expect so you can plan for it.

Here’s a breakdown of the main costs involved:

• Training Program: Most people start with a coaching program that gives them the fundamentals. Based on industry data, expect to spend anywhere from $1,500 to $8,000, depending on the type of training, duration, and who’s offering it.
• Certification Fees: If you go through a program that offers official certification (like ICF-accredited training), you’ll likely spend another $300 to $775 in credentialing fees.
• Business Setup: Registering your business, getting a domain name, basic legal templates, and maybe a liability insurance plan will usually cost $100 to $500.
• Marketing Tools: Once you’re ready to attract clients, you’ll need tools to help with lead generation, email marketing, and funnels. Tools like WPFunnels and Mail Mint can help here. Plan for about $20 to $100/month, depending on what you use.

You don’t need to buy everything on day one. But you should have a clear budget in mind so you’re not caught off guard halfway through.

Keep in mind: This isn’t about spending more. It’s about spending smart on the things that will actually move your business forward.

**If you want a more detailed breakdown here’s a helpful guide you can check out.

8 Basic Steps to Become a Life Coach

You don’t need a fancy degree to become a life coach, but you do need structure. Here’s what your path could look like if you’re serious about turning coaching into a real career.

Step 1- Choose Your Coaching Niche

This is the first thing that sets you apart from the crowd. When you pick a clear niche, it becomes easier for people to understand what you do and who you help. Instead of being just another “life coach,” you become the go-to person for a specific type of problem.

Here are some common coaching niches:

• Career coaching
• Confidence coaching
• Relationship coaching
• Productivity coaching
• Health and wellness coaching
• Executive or leadership coaching

You don’t need to overthink it. Just start by looking at what people naturally come to you for advice about. If there’s a topic you enjoy talking about nonstop, that’s a good sign it might be the right niche for you.

Step 2- Learn the Fundamentals of Coaching

Once you’ve picked your niche, it’s time to build the actual skill set. Coaching isn’t just giving advice but it’s a skill, and like any skill, you need to learn how to do it well.

Even if you don’t plan to get certified right away, you should still take time to understand how real coaching works.

Some popular certification paths include:

• ICF Certification (International Coaching Federation)
• CPCC (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach)
• NLP Coaching (Neuro-Linguistic Programming-based coaching)

But before you take the professional certification, you can build your foundation with coaching books, free YouTube channels, or paid online courses.

The important part is that you start learning how to-

• ask better questions,
• listen actively,
• and guide someone toward action, without taking over their decisions.

Learning the fundamentals early on gives you the confidence to coach the right way, even before your first client comes in.

Step 3- Get Certified (If You Want to Boost Credibility)

Once you’ve got the basics down, the next step is to decide if you want to get certified. This isn’t required to start coaching, but if you’re planning to work with high-ticket clients or corporate teams, certification helps.

It shows that you’ve taken the time to learn real coaching techniques and gives potential clients more confidence in your ability. It also helps you feel more prepared when you start charging for your time.

Here are a few of the more recognized certifications:

• ICF (International Coaching Federation) — the most widely known
• CPCC (Co-Active Training Institute) — great for relationship and personal growth coaching
• BCC (Board Certified Coach) — ideal for professionals with an academic or mental health background

This way, you need to invest

Expect to invest a few months and anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000, depending on the program. If that feels like too much right now, skip it and come back later, just keep it on your radar if you’re thinking long-term.

Step 4- Set Up Your Coaching Business

Once you’ve chosen your niche and started learning how to coach, it’s time to make it official. And if you want to charge real rates, attract serious clients, and get taken seriously, you need the basics in place.

Here’s what that looks like, step by step:

i. Pick a business name

Start with something simple, clear, and aligned with your coaching style.

Just make sure the name is available as a domain (you can check using Namecheap or GoDaddy). If the name is already taken, tweak it slightly but keep it recognizable.

ii. Register your business

Once you’ve picked a name, you’ll need to register it. This depends on where you live.

The goal is to make your business legitimate so you can open a bank account, sign contracts, and file taxes properly.

iii. Get a domain and a professional email address

Your domain is your web address — like jesscoaching.com. Once you buy the domain, set up a matching email like [email protected]. Avoid using personal Gmail accounts for business. A professional email gives your brand instant credibility.

You can get both domain + email through Google Workspace, Namecheap, or Zoho Mail — takes 15–30 minutes to set up.

iv. Set up a payment method & fix Schedules

Then, you’ll need a way to get paid easily, especially if you’re offering sessions online. Start with tools like Stripe, PayPal, or a direct bank transfer

Create a simple invoice template you can send after a session.

You can use TidyCal or Calendly Pro to collect payments during the booking process and get rid of back-and-forth scheduling.

These calendar tools let your clients see your availability and book directly.

Add your calendar link to your website or email signature so people can book sessions without emailing you five times.

v. Look into business insurance

This step is easy to skip, but if you’re coaching full-time or working with corporate clients, insurance is worth considering.

• In the U.S., look into professional liability insurance, sometimes called “coaching insurance,” from providers like Hiscox or Next Insurance.
• For local markets, ask your country’s small business support agency for legal guidance.

This protects you if a client claims your coaching led to negative outcomes.

Step 5- Create Your Online Presence

Now that you’ve set up the backend of your business, it’s time to show up online, because it’s 2025 and your website is your office right now!

Here, people find you, learn about what you offer, and decide whether they trust you enough to book a session.

But the good news is: you don’t need a fancy brand or expensive website. All you need is a clean, clear setup that helps people understand who you help and how to get started.

Here’s what you need to do:

i. Build a simple website (or landing page)

You can use WordPress or a funnel builder if you want something faster and more focused.

You can start with a one-page site and just include:

• A clear headline like “Helping working moms regain confidence and balance — without burnout.”
• A short bio
• A few lines of social proof (testimonials, beta client results, or even screenshots from DMs)
• A “Book a Free Session” button linked to your calendar

ii. Use a funnel builder if you want to make this easier

If you don’t want to deal with designing an entire site, you can build a simple funnel with 3 core pages:

• Landing page with your offer
• Booking form with a calendar
• Thank you page with next steps

To create a simple funnel more easily, have a look at WPFunnels, which lets you build a funnel in less than 15 minutes!

iii. Add social proof, even if it’s small

If you don’t have a bunch of testimonials yet, start with beta client feedback. Even one line like “Our sessions helped me finally start my business” goes a long way.

Step 6- Build Your Client Base

Now that everything’s set up, your business, your website, your calendar, it’s time to start finding people to coach. This is the part where you stop preparing and actually start coaching.

You don’t need a big following or an ad budget to get started. You just need to put yourself out there in small, intentional ways so people know how you can help.

Here’s what you’ll do next.

i. Start with beta clients

Begin by offering a few free coaching sessions, maybe 3 to 5. This helps you gain confidence, test your coaching process, and collect real testimonials.

People will start showing interest. After each session, ask them for quick feedback, one or two sentences you can use as a testimonial.

Even something as short as:

“Jess helped me prepare for a tough conversation with my manager — and I actually did it.”

That’s all you need to start building trust.

ii. Ask your circle for referrals

Even if your friends or coworkers don’t need coaching, they probably know someone who does. Reach out personally, but keep it casual and honest.

Send a message like this:

This works better than posting the same thing publicly every week, because it feels more personal and thoughtful.

iii. Run a simple workshop or free session

You can also offer a free 30-minute Zoom session or live training. The topic doesn’t need to be huge — just specific and helpful.

At the end of the session, you can invite attendees to book a free discovery call if they want deeper support. This lets people experience what working with you feels like and makes the next step easier for them to take.

iv. Post content where your people hang out

You don’t need to be on every platform. Pick one — maybe LinkedIn if your clients are professionals and show up once or twice a week.

Share short tips, real stories from your beta sessions, or lessons from your own career.

v. Build and nurture your email list

If someone isn’t ready to book but you still want a way to stay in touch, you can offer lead magnets as:

• A free checklist (like “10 Habits to Build Confidence in 30 Days”)
• A short video or mini-training
• A downloadable worksheet

And then connect this freebie to your email list using an email marketing tool like Mail Mint. It’ll send the freebie automatically, then follow up with a short email sequence to warm up leads while you focus on coaching.

Step 7- Set Your Prices and Packages

Once you’ve worked with a few beta clients, you’ll need to start charging for your sessions.

And here’s the thing: your pricing doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be clear and easy to say out loud without hesitation.

If you’re coaching people like you, working professionals trying to gain confidence, your prices need to feel doable for them and worth your time.

Here’s how to structure it:

i. Start with a single-session rate

Keep it simple at first. One 60-minute session, one price.

Let’s say $75 for a one-on-one call. This keeps the barrier low and helps you ease into sales conversations without stress.

Once someone books one, you can always offer a deeper package afterward.

ii. Add a basic coaching package

After a few sessions, you’ll notice patterns. People usually need more than one session to make lasting progress. That’s when you introduce a package, like 4 or 6 sessions over a month or two.

If your single session is $75, a 4-session package could be $280. Slightly discounted, but still profitable.

You can list this clearly on your site or your funnel:

“4 sessions for $280 — perfect for working through specific goals over 1-2 months.”

iii. Consider a monthly retainer (later on)

Once someone’s worked with you for a while, they might want ongoing support. That’s when a retainer model works well, like 2 sessions per month for a set price, plus email check-ins.

This works great for clients in leadership roles who want regular accountability without committing to a huge package upfront.

iv. Increase your rates gradually

Start with beta pricing. As you gain experience and get stronger results, raise your rates every few clients. You don’t need to wait until you’re booked out, just raise when the quality of your coaching rises.

There’s no pressure to charge $200 per hour right away. Just don’t stay stuck at beginner pricing forever.

The thing is- you’re not just selling your time, you’re selling the outcome. And as long as that outcome gets clearer and more consistent, you have every reason to charge more for it.

Step 8- Commit to Continuous Growth

Getting clients is just the start! If you want to stay booked and keep delivering real results, you’ll need to keep growing your skills, too.

Here’s how to make that part of your routine:

i. Keep learning every month- Set aside time each month to read, watch trainings, or join a live class. Focus on topics that help you serve your niche better: confidence, leadership, mindset, etc.

ii. Join a coaching community- Find a Facebook group or peer circle where other coaches share ideas and challenges. This gives you new perspectives and keeps you from feeling isolated.

iii. Reflect on your own sessions- Look back at the wins and struggles your clients had. What worked? What could improve? This helps you adjust your process and get better results.

iv. Invest like a professional- As your business grows, invest in your own coaching, certifications, or advanced training.

That’s it. Keep getting better, even if no one’s watching. That’s how you build a long-term coaching career that people trust and refer.

Is Life Coaching a Good Career in 2025?

By now, you’ve seen the full path to becoming a coach.

Let’s talk about the big picture—whether this is actually a career worth pursuing.

Life coaching has gone from being a side hustle to a legitimate full-time business. And in 2025, it’s still growing.

The biggest reason is that more people are actively seeking personal growth, accountability, and support. And most of them would rather talk to a coach who understands their specific challenges than read another self-help book.

But it’s not just about one-on-one sessions anymore.

Coaches are expanding into:

• Online coaching programs (using platforms like Teachable or TutorLMS)
• Digital products like templates, worksheets, or guided journals
• Group coaching sessions that scale better and serve more people at once
• Email courses and funnels that help you sell while you sleep

You don’t have to do all of that on day one. But it’s helpful to know that you’re not stuck trading hours for dollars forever. This can grow into something bigger if you treat it like a real business and keep showing up consistently.

So yes, life coaching can be a great career. But only if you’re willing to commit, get the basics right, and stay focused on delivering real results to the people you coach.

Ready To Start Your Life Coaching Career?

Every coach starts from scratch. The ones who succeed aren’t the ones with the most polished brand — they’re the ones who show up, stay consistent, and keep learning as they go.

You’ve got a clear path now: pick your niche, learn the skills, set up your business, and start bringing in clients. But to keep things moving, you need a simple way to present your offer and get people to book sessions.

That’s exactly what WPFunnels helps you do. It gives you a straightforward setup to guide potential clients from your landing page to your calendar, so you can focus more on coaching and less on figuring out how to sell.

FAQs

1. What qualifications do you need for a life coach?

You don’t need a formal degree to become a life coach. But getting certified through programs like ICF or CPCC can boost your credibility and help you attract clients.

2. How do I get started as a life coach?

Start by choosing a niche, learning basic coaching skills, and offering a few free sessions to build experience. Then set up your business and begin life coaching marketing.

3. How do life coaches get paid?

Most life coaches get paid per session, through coaching packages, or monthly retainers. Payments are usually collected via Stripe, PayPal, or direct bank transfer.

4. Can anyone be a life coach?

Yes, if you’re good at listening, asking the right questions, and helping people take action. The key is taking it seriously and continuously improving your skills.

5. How long does it take to become a life coach?

You can get started in a few weeks, especially if you begin with free or beta clients. Certification programs typically take 3 to 6 months if you choose to pursue one.