Coach Contract Template

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Table of contents

A strong and well-written agreement is an excellent coaching tool that provides professional businesses with legal protection making sure both parties agree to a certain set of guidelines. By defining the coach-client relationship's legal parameters including appropriate behavior, the scope of the services, and outlining the payment process, this contract serves to safeguard both your clients and yourself.

Many coaches nowadays use a coach contract template as a great way to make sure no important information is missing when signing up a new client. A pre-written template allows you to save a ton of time and quickly have a professional coaching agreement by limiting your attention to filling out the client-specific information. If you are ready to save time and begin coaching clients without fear of legal repercussions, we'll help you create a bulletproof contract template.

Read on to find out some of the essential elements you must include.

Note: Need a more efficient client intake process? Try Bonsai's all-in-one product suite to easily create professional contracts, business proposals and quotes. We have everything you need to streamline your paperwork and get the ball rolling! Claim your 7-day free trial here.

Essential Elements of a Coaching Contract Template

Remember, a coaching contract is a legal document, so when you begin to draft your template, you want to make sure all the important information is covered and pay close attention to detail. Any mistakes or omissions could lead to disagreements or even legal repercussions. Make sure both parties accept the coaching services agreed upon and establish clear expectations for the coach-client interactions.

These are the main areas you must cover.

Contact Information

To begin your coaching agreement template, add a section to provide your client's contact information as well as yours. Include the full name, phone number, email address, billing address (for your client), and any other information available.

Responsibilities and Expectations

This section is an essential part of any coaching agreement, as it helps to keep healthy coach-client relationships. First, you want to make it clear that you as their coach will not have any personal responsibility for any actions they take (or don't take) and the direct as well as indirect consequences of such. Additionally, you must specify that the services you provide are in no way to be used instead of therapy and you will not diagnose, treat or cure any mental illness.

You may also use this section to establish the commitment you expect your client to have during the coaching program, making sure that they are willing to communicate honestly, be receptive to feedback, and dedicate the necessary time and effort to properly engage with the program.

Note: Try our full-suite of small business tools. We have invoice, contract, and proposal templates for coaches. You'll also get access to our tax, task management and time tracking software to help you manage/run your coaching business. Claim your 7-day free trial here.

Coaching Services Provided

The following section of your coaching template should list the services included in your plan and exactly how they will be provided. Start by outlining the professional and personal aspects your client is looking to improve and briefly describe the strategy you will follow to get them there.

Specify how many coaching sessions are agreed upon, as well as the frequency of them and how the meetings will be conducted (video calls, in-person, phone call, etc...). Also, mention how the client will be able to contact you in between meetings and the procedure to follow in case they want to request any additional services you might offer such as writing reports or reviewing documents.

Reschedule and Cancellation Policy

Your time is valuable, so you want to make sure you don't waste it with missed appointments. For this reason, you must include a section where you outline the grace period you will provide to your clients before the session is considered 'missed'. Make sure to also explain the procedure that both you and your client must follow in case a session needs to be rescheduled or canceled and any refund policy for such cases.

Payment Terms

Next, you must outline the projected payment schedule, specifying any amount required upfront as well as how many installments will be remaining, and the specific dates when you expect to get paid. Include a list of your accepted payment methods such as credit/debit card, ACH transfers, cash, checks, etc. It's also important to discuss when your client will be charged a late fee (how many days after the invoice's due date) and what the late fee amount will be (flat rate or percentage)

Intellectual Property Rights

Your coaching program will likely contain a lot of original material created by yourself. You obviously wouldn't want your client to use this material for commercial gain or give it any other unfair use. For this reason, it's important to include a clause to clearly specify how your client is allowed to use the material provided, whether this is online tools, journals, worksheets, handouts, etc. These materials should always remain your sole ownership or intellectual property so you want to make sure they stay protected legally.

Confidentiality Clause

As a professional coach, you must ensure your clients that all of their personal information will remain private. Your confidentiality clause must state that, unless you're required to do so by law, you will never voluntarily divulge any information exchanged during the program. Keep in mind these ground rules should go both ways, as the client must also commit to keep the coaching relationship, techniques, trade secrets and any other business confidential information discreet.

Termination of Services

You must include a section to specify the procedure to follow in case at any point of the coaching process, you or your client need to cancel the program. This clause should specify what to do in these particular circumstances, explaining how long in advance either party should present a written notification of cancellation, as well as how any outstanding balance for the coaching services that you provided must be paid.

If you will offer any refunds for sessions not completed you should also state when and how the money will be sent back to your client.

Communication Guidelines

While you're providing your coaching services, it might get tricky to establish boundaries. You don't want your clients to be calling you at 9 p.m. on a Saturday night, so it's essential to establish clear limits regarding your availability. Use this section to outline your office hours and specify how you wish to be contacted by your clients. Of course, you don't want your client to feel like they can't count on you, so take the time to define in which situations it will be acceptable to contact you outside of the determined hours (what would be considered an urgent matter).

Additionally, you can mention an expected response time so your clients know when they will hear back from you. Whether it is 3 hours, 24 hours, or 1 - 2 business days, make sure this is doable for you in the long run as you will have to respect this throughout the duration of the contract.

Limit of Liability Clause

With a limit of responsibility, you can lower the total amount you would ultimately owe a client if you ever run into legal issues. This cap can be set by you, and it's a good idea to consider how much you could manage to pay in the event of legal action.

If it's helpful, have a look at what other coaches usually include in their contracts about this and think about what suits your style. Although it can be difficult to write, you shouldn't avoid including a limit of liability provision because doing so could cost you a lot of money.

Use Our Free Template to Create the Perfect Coaching Agreement

If you don't have time, or you're still not sure how to structure your own coaching contract, you don't have to do it yourself. Luckily, you can simply download Bonsai's free coaching contract template which you can fully customize to fit your client's coaching needs. All of our templates have been reviewed by top legal experts and thousands of freelancers in your industry, so you can be sure your business will stay protected.

Additionally, Bonsai makes it easy to follow up on all of your coaching contracts by sending you a notification when your client receives and signs the contract. We also help streamline all formalities by incorporating a legally binding electronic signature, to help you seal the deal faster and get to work right away. Get your free contract template today, and check out all of the other administrative tools that Bonsai offers you, to take your coaching business to the next level! Get your 14-day free trial now!

Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this template.

How do you write a coaching contract?

Try Bonsai's pre-made template. All you need to do is customize the contract template with the correct details. Our agreements and documents are legally reviewed by attorneys so you'll know you're covered.

How long is a coaching contract?

Coaching contracts vary depending on the client's needs. The majority of coaching contracts range from 3 to 6 months or a year.

Many factors come into play when it comes to pricing your coaching services. It really depends on your experience, track record of results and who your clients are. The majority of coaches charge ~$50-$100 an hour and the more premium coaches can charge upwards of $200-$500 or more an hour.

Many factors come into play when it comes to pricing your coaching services. It really depends on your experience, track record of results and who your clients are. The majority of coaches charge ~$50-$100 an hour and the more premium coaches can charge upwards of $200-$500 or more an hour.

Template preview

Coach Contract Template

Coaching Contract

Coaching Contract
First Name
Last Name
Acme LLC.
Client
First Name
Last Name
Corporation Corp.

This contract (the "Contract") is between Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC, a California limited liability company (the "Coach").

The Contract is dated [the day both parties sign].


1. WORK AND PAYMENT.

1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Coach to: [SERVICE DESCRIPTION]

The Client wishes to engage the Coach's services in order to achieve the following: [COACHING GOALS OR ATTACH STATEMENT OF WORK "Please see the attached Statement of Work."]

1.2 Schedule. The Coach will begin work on [START DATE] and will [END DATE OR "continue until the work is completed"]. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Coach at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 4, Term and Termination.

The Coach and Client will meet ["by telephone" or "by video conference" or "in person"] [NUMBER OF DAYS] days per [week/month] for [AMOUNT OF TIME] [minutes/hours].

1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Coach ["a flat fee of $XXX USD." or "in milestones totaling $XXX USD" or "an hourly/daily/weekly/monthly rate of $XXX USD"]. Of this, the Client will pay the Contractor [$XXX USD] before work begins. [The milestones will be invoiced as follows: INSERT MILESTONE SCHEDULE]

1.4 Expenses. The Client [will/will not] reimburse the Coach's expenses. Expenses [do/do not] need to be pre-approved by the Client.

1.5 Invoices. The Coach will invoice the Client ["at the end of the project." or "in accordance with the milestones in Section 1.3."] The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within [NUMBER OF DAYS] day of receiving the invoice. Payment after that date will incur a late fee of [X%] per month on the outstanding amount.

1.6 Support. The Coach [will/will not] be available by telephone or email in between scheduled sessions.

2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CLIENT AND COACH.

  • A coaching relationship is a partnership between two or more individuals or entities, like a teacher-student or coach-athlete relationship. Both the Client and Coach must uphold their obligations for the relationship to be successful.
  • The Coach agrees to maintain the ethics and standards of behavior established by the [INSERT COACH'S CERTIFYING ORGANIZATION].
  • The Client acknowledges and agrees that coaching is a comprehensive process that may explore different areas of the Client's life, including work, finances, health, and relationships.
  • The Client is responsible for implementing the insights and techniques learned from the Coach.

3. REPRESENTATIONS.

3.1 Overview. This section contains important promises between the parties.

3.2 Authority To Sign. Each party promises to the other party that it has the authority to enter into this Contract and to perform all of its obligations under this Contract.

3.3 Coach Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Coach promises that it owns the work product, that the Coach is able to give the work product to the Client, and that no other party will claim that it owns the work product. If the Coach uses employees or subcontractors, the Coach also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Coach giving the Coach any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Coach's background IP and work product.

3.4 Coach Will Comply With Laws. The Coach promises that the manner it does this job, its work product, and any background IP it uses comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.

3.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Coach promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights, that the Coach has the right to let the Client use the background IP, and that this Contract does not and will not violate any contract that the Coach has entered into or will enter into with someone else.

3.7 Client-Supplied Material Does Not Infringe. If the Client provides the Coach with material to incorporate into the work product, the Client promises that this material does not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights.

4. TERM AND TERMINATION.

This Contract is ongoing until it expires or the work is completed. Either party may end this Contract for any reason by sending an email or letter to the other party, informing the recipient that the sender is ending the Contract and that the Contract will end in 7 days. The Contract officially ends once that time has passed. The party that is ending the Contract must provide notice by taking the steps explained in Section 9.4. The Coach must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice unless the notice says otherwise.

If either party ends this Contract before the Contract automatically ends, the Client will pay the Contractor for the work done up until when the Contract ends. The following sections don't end even after the Contract ends: 3 (Representations); 6 (Confidential Information); 7 (Limitation of Liability); 8 (Indemnity); and 9 (General).

5. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

The Client is hiring the Coach as an independent contractor. The following statements accurately reflect their relationship:

  • The Coach will use its own equipment, tools, and material to do the work.
  • The Client will not control how the job is performed on a day-to-day basis. Rather, the Coach is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.
  • The Client will not provide the Coach with any training.
  • The Client and the Coach do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.
  • The Coach cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.
  • The Coach is not entitled to the Client's benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).
  • The Coach is responsible for its own taxes.
  • The Client will not withhold social security and Medicare taxes or make payments for disability insurance, unemployment insurance, or workers compensation for the Coach or any of the Coach's employees or subcontractors.

6. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

6.1 Overview. This Contract imposes special restrictions on how the Client and the Coach must handle confidential information. These obligations are explained in this section.

6.2 The Client's Confidential Information. While working for the Client, the Coach may come across, or be given, Client information that is confidential. This is information like customer lists, business strategies, research & development notes, statistics about a website, and other information that is private. The Coach promises to treat this information as if it is the Coach's own confidential information. The Coach may use this information to do its job under this Contract, but not for anything else. For example, if the Client lets the Coach use a customer list to send out a newsletter, the Coach cannot use those email addresses for any other purpose. The one exception to this is if the Client gives the Coach written permission to use the information for another purpose, the Coach may use the information for that purpose, as well. When this Contract ends, the Coach must give back or destroy all confidential information, and confirm that it has done so. The Coach promises that it will not share confidential information with a third party, unless the Client gives the Coach written permission first. The Coach must continue to follow these obligations, even after the Contract ends. The Coach's responsibilities only stop if the Coach can show any of the following: (i) that the information was already public when the Coach came across it; (ii) the information became public after the Coach came across it, but not because of anything the Coach did or didn't do; (iii) the Coach already knew the information when the Coach came across it and the Coach didn't have any obligation to keep it secret; (iv) a third party provided the Coach with the information without requiring that the Coach keep it a secret; or (v) the Coach created the information on its own, without using anything belonging to the Client.

6.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It's possible the Client and the Coach each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Coach each promise that it will not share with the other party confidential information that belongs to third parties, unless it is allowed to do so. If the Client or the Coach is allowed to share confidential information with the other party and does so, the sharing party promises to tell the other party in writing of any special restrictions regarding that information.

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

Neither party is liable for breach-of-contract damages that the breaching party could not reasonably have foreseen when it entered this Contract.

8. INDEMNITY.

8.1 Overview. This section transfers certain risks between the parties if a third party sues or goes after the Client or the Coach or both. For example, if the Client gets sued for something that the Coach did, then the Coach may promise to come to the Client's defense or to reimburse the Client for any losses.

8.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Coach agrees to indemnify the Client (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of: (i) the work the Coach has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Coach of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Coach of the promises it is making in Section 3 (Representations).

8.3 Coach Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Coach (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of a breach by the Client of its obligations under this Contract.

9. GENERAL.

9.1 Assignment​. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Coach. Neither the Client nor the Coach can assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the other's written permission.

9.2 Arbitration. As the exclusive means of initiating adversarial proceedings to resolve any dispute arising under this Contract, a party may demand that the dispute be resolved by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules.

9.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Coach must agree to that change in writing and sign a document showing their contract. Neither party can waive its rights under this Contract or release the other party from its obligations under this Contract, unless the waiving party acknowledges it is doing so in writing and signs a document that says so.

9.4 Notices.

(a) Over the course of this Contract, one party may need to send a notice to the other party. For the notice to be valid, it must be in writing and delivered in one of the following ways: personal delivery, email, or certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested). The notice must be delivered to the party's address listed at the end of this Contract or to another address that the party has provided in writing as an appropriate address to receive notice.

(b) The timing of when a notice is received can be very important. To avoid confusion, a valid notice is considered received as follows: (i) if delivered personally, it is considered received immediately; (ii) if delivered by email, it is considered received upon acknowledgement of receipt; (iii) if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), it is considered received upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt. If a party refuses to accept notice or if notice cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then it is considered received when the notice is rejected or unable to be delivered. If the notice is received after 5:00pm on a business day at the location specified in the address for that party, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice is considered received at 9:00am on the next business day.

9.5 Severability. This section deals with what happens if a portion of the Contract is found to be unenforceable. If that's the case, the unenforceable portion will be changed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, unless that change is not permitted by law, in which case the portion will be disregarded. If any portion of the Contract is changed or disregarded because it is unenforceable, the rest of the Contract is still enforceable.

9.6 Signatures. The Client and the Coach must sign this document using Bonsai's e-signing system. These electronic signatures count as originals for all purposes.

9.7 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this document shall be governed by the laws of the United States of America.

9.8 Entire Contract. This Contract represents the parties' final and complete understanding of this job and the subject matter discussed in this Contract. This Contract supersedes all other contracts (both written and oral) between the parties.



THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO THE FOREGOING AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW.

Coaching Contract
First Name
Last Name
Acme LLC.
Client
First Name
Last Name
Corporation Corp.