So you’ve decided to hire a life coach — and now it’s time to figure out the investment equation. If you’ve never hired a life coach before, it can be confusing to understand how coaching packages work!
So how much can you expect to spend when hiring a life coach, and is it really worth the investment? Let’s break down how the most common life coaching pricing structures work, but also how to figure out whether the price is worth it for you.
How much does a life coach cost?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to know how much a life coach costs. Most coaches charge at least $65 per hour-long session on the low end, while some experienced coaches in high-value niches can charge up to $1000 an hour and more!
So anywhere between $65 and $1000? That’s a pretty big spectrum. However, $65 is the low-end and $1000 is extremely high-end. Most life coaches you’ll find will charge anywhere between $90-$150 per hour.
The fees for life coaching will vary depending on these factors and more:
- Where the coach is located
- The life coaching niche (relationships, financial, career, business, etc.)
- Private vs group coaching
- The types of results expected from the coaching package
- The coach’s prior experience
However, it gets a bit more complicated when you consider that not all coaching packages are structured the same.
The structure of life coaching fees
What kind of fee structures can you expect when you hire a coach? Here are some of the most common examples you’ll find.
How much does a life coach cost per hour?
The simplest life coach fee is hourly — in this scenario, you pay a set amount for an hour of the coach’s time. Once again, the pricing can vary significantly, but expect to pay at least $65 for a session.
However, you may also see these types of coaching rates as monthly instead of hourly. For instance, you may find a coach who charges $500 per month for 4 sessions.
Some coaches will also offer discounts when you book several sessions at once. So it would cost less to hire a coach for three months than to pay for a single session. Keep in mind that not all coaches follow this pricing model.
Life coaching rates for packages
Many coaches will offer a lower hourly rate when you sign up for long-term packages. Additionally, keep in mind that many experienced coaches who offer specific solutions won’t always offer single hourly sessions. Why? It’s likely their framework requires several sessions to implement change in your life.
That’s where life coaching packages come in. Instead of purchasing each hourly session à-la-carte or booking a specific number of months of coaching, you can hire your coach for a specific outcome.
Let’s picture an imaginary life coach who has developed a framework to do the following:
- Define what success means to you in your career
- Represent your value in the workplace
- Invest in the right professional relationships
- Evaluate your next best opportunity
- Navigate a big career transition
This life coach wouldn’t just help someone improve their career. Instead, they have a specific roadmap to follow with predetermined goals and sessions.
For example, this package could last 12 weeks with 1 session a week and cost $2500.
Some coaching packages may offer additional resources on top of the coaching sessions. For instance, you may get Voxer support in between sessions, or the coach may have “office hours” during which they’re available to answer questions via chat or email.
Life coaching rates for group coaching
Did you know that you can also hire a coach for group coaching sessions, too?
Group coaching is ideal for people who want the accountability and frameworks from a life coach, but who don’t have the means to hire someone one-on-one.
However, that doesn’t mean group coaching isn’t valuable. Several life coaches offer several group sessions a week to support their clients and keep them accountable.
Many other coaches with group sessions offer additional accountability and support via Voxer, Facebook groups, Slack channels, and more.
Life coaching rates for group sessions vary depending on the niche and how much support the coach offers. For instance, you may pay $1000 for an entire year of coaching, during which you’ll get unlimited support in a community group with 1 monthly group session per month. As another example, you could pay for a 3-month group program that includes 3 weekly sessions and costs a total of $1000 as well.
You may also find a life coach who offers hybrid solutions! Imagine a coach who offers every client a one-on-one session per month in addition to four group sessions. The group sessions keep you accountable and provide additional guidance, while the one-on-one session ensures you’re getting exactly the support you need to succeed.
What is the average cost of a life coach?
The average fees you’ll pay to hire a life coach will depend on all the factors above. However, looking across every coaching niche, the average is anywhere between $75 and $150 per session.
Keep in mind that life coaching fees tend to increase as the desired outcome gets “closer to the money”. That’s because you can recoup your investment directly when your outcome helps you increase your revenue.
For instance, a high-performance career coach or a business coach may charge more than a relationship coach. While healthy relationships are priceless, the desired outcome when hiring a business coach can lead to more revenue — and thus makes it easier to afford the coaching program in the first place.
How to know if a coach’s life coaching rates are worth it
Life coaching costs — and whether or not they’re worth it — are a hugely personal matter. There’s no easy checklist or formula to figure out the answer.
But it’s important to think about it carefully and not just hire someone on a whim, either!
To figure out if the price is worth it, you’ll first need to establish that this coach is a great fit for you in the first place. If you haven’t already, make sure to book a complimentary coaching session with them (or a discovery call).
By getting on that initial call with them, you’ll be able to get a feel for what it’s like to work with them. Is there chemistry? Do you feel like you can trust this person? Without trust, you won’t be able to be truthful with your coach — and without truth and honesty, you’re unlikely to get the results you’re looking for.
That’s the first test. Listen to your gut for this step, because there’s no quantifiable way to know if you’ll enjoy going through coaching sessions with this person. It’s all about how you feel.
If your potential coach passes this vibe check, it’s time to break down their offer to understand if their coaching packages are worth it for you.
In the previous section, we covered the different types of coaching packages you may come across. So first, you’ll need to ask yourself:
Does the coaching format fit my needs?
For example, if you implement better when you work with someone one-on-one, it may not be worth it for you to work with a coach who only offers group programs. Conversely, if you thrive in a community environment, you may not want to work with a coach who has no community aspect to their coaching packages.
You also need to consider not just how much the coaching will cost, but how much the final outcome will be worth to you. If you fully trust a coach to guide you towards the exact life you want… how much would that be worth to you?
That answer is unique to everyone. It’ll depend on:
- Your level of income
- The severity of the challenges you’re going through
- How important your goals are to you
To illustrate, let’s imagine you’re looking for a coach who can help you make a career move. You’re feeling extremely dissatisfied in your current role, and you’ve also maxed out your earning potential.
But if a coach could help you make a successful career move that would also increase your earning potential, imagine how much that would be worth!
On the other hand, let’s say you’re looking for a relationship coach because you’re struggling to find a reliable partner. You’re frustrated you can’t find a good partner, but you also don’t feel the burning desire to be in a relationship. It would just feel nice to have someone to come home to, even if being alone isn’t a dealbreaker for your happiness.
In that case, maybe you’re not willing to pay more than $70-$100 an hour once or twice a month for a relationship coach. It’d also depend on your monthly income.
Finally, you can consider the coach’s experience. Keeping in mind the average numbers we’ve already discussed, where does this coach fall on the pricing spectrum? And does their level of experience fit with their pricing?
For instance, a new coach with no social proof or testimonials may not be worth hiring if they’re charging $1000 an hour. But if you come across a coach with that pricing who also has dozens of happy clients backing them up, then this price could make sense depending on your situation.
Find a life coach that’s worth the investment
Trying to find a life coach who’s worth the investment? You can use CoachCompare for free to get matched with the ideal life coach that resonates with you! Try it out today.
