How about getting some free coaching templates, together with an outline of what you’ll need to include in your agreement and coaching agreement samples you can use as templates?
But before we go on to share free coaching templates with you, let’s talk first about what you will need for your coaching practice, including a brief checklist for your coaching agreement.
You Need A Clear Coaching Agreement
A clear understanding of the services you provide and how much they will cost needs to be covered in a written agreement. While it’s recommended you seek legal counsel for a contract template, there are various samples online.
Here’s a checklist of what should be included in your coaching agreement:
- Contact information for you and your client (address, phone, mail, etc.).
- The purpose and goal of coaching.
- How and when to expect a payment, including any payment plans you may offer, flat fees, or time-based charges (hourly, daily, monthly, etc.).
- Rescheduling and cancellation policy with clear rules for cancellations and rescheduling of sessions.
- Confidentiality and data protection.
- The coaching process such as where and how the coaching takes place, the expected time frame of the coaching, and how you will support and interact with your clients between sessions.
- What to expect and not to expect from the coach, including Information about methods and techniques that will be used.
- A disclaimer that explains your client is responsible for the outcomes by implementing action steps taken from the coaching sessions and being collaborative.
- Client responsibility statement to remind clients that they need to be accountable, act upon your coaching, and do their part to make it a success and to accomplish their goals.
- A disclaimer stating that coaching is not a substitute for therapy or medical treatment.
- Cancellation policy with specific terms for both parties describing when and how the coaching relationship is terminated.
- Refund policy with explicit information terms regarding if and when you would offer a refund.
Now that we have covered the legal part, here are some general items we recommend for every coaching practice – regardless of the niche you pick for your business. And, you’ve guessed it, that includes free coaching templates.
You Need A Session Prep Form
Before you start a coaching session, give your client an opportunity to reflect and gain clarity on what she or he wants to achieve during your call together. This will help you both prepare and makes the call much more efficient.
You can find a free coaching template for download here.
A CoachAccountable account is needed to use these free coaching templates. You can register an account for free.
If you’re looking for a particular intake form template for life, health, mentorship, or business coaching, Bonsai offers a variety of pre-built fully customizable templates here.
Use A Session Summary Form
While this is optional, it is highly recommended that you summarize the key statements and takeaways from your coaching sessions – at least for yourself. This is especially helpful once you have added dozens or hundreds of clients and thousands of coaching sessions behind you.
You can return to your notes in preparation for future calls or refresh your memory (or your client’s memory) on things you have discovered or worked on previously. People forget, but paper doesn’t.
Some systems, like CoachAccountable, allow you to store your session notes per client while also giving you the option to share your notes with your clients.
This can be useful if you covered a lot of ground and worked on an action plan. You would add great value to your client by sharing your notes while keeping your client free to focus on the call and on thinking, exploring, reflecting, dissecting, etc. as you coach and take notes. Most of the free coaching templates or template bundles below include a session summary or wrap-up template.
7 Free Template Packages For Different Coaching Specializations
Once you have determined what coaching niche to specialize in, the following template packages are free and will give you a head start. These templates require the use of the CoachAccountable platform, which has a free trial version and a low starting price if you decide you like the platform enough to continue using it. Other platforms we have extensively tested have not been as flexible, reliable, and affordable.
You can read more about coaching platforms in the dedicated chapter in this book to help you evaluate which software will work best for you. But for now, here are free coaching templates for popular coaching niches.
Free Coaching Templates for Career Coaching
This career coaching starter template pack includes:
- An automated onboarding sequence
- Predesigned courses for career coaching
- Worksheets
- Session templates
- Appointment types, e.g., full session vs quick check-in
Free Coaching Templates for Health & Wellness Coaching
This free wellness coaching template package includes:
- An automated onboarding sequence
- Predesigned courses for wellness coaching
- Worksheets
- Session templates
- Library resources to share with your client
Free Coaching Templates for Life Coaching
This free life coaching template package includes:
- An automated onboarding sequence
- Predesigned courses for life coaching
- Worksheets
- Session templates
- Library resources to share with your client, including assessments!
Free Coaching Templates for Finance Coaching
This free finance coaching template package includes:
- An automated onboarding sequence
- Predesigned courses to promote coaching success
- Worksheets
- Session templates
Free Coaching Templates for ADHD Coaching
This free ADHD coaching template package includes:
- An automated onboarding sequence
- Predesigned courses for ADHD coaching
- Worksheets
- Session templates
Free Coaching Templates for Relationship Coaching
This free relationship coaching template package includes:
- An automated onboarding sequence
- Predesigned courses for coaching success
- Worksheets
- Session templates
- Library resources to share with your client – including assessments!
Free Templates for Coaching Agreements
This free template package includes five coaching agreement templates or coaching contracts you can modify to match your business needs and branding.
Don’t Depend On Free Coaching Templates
Templates give you a great jolt to assemble your practice faster. However, don’t rely on them too much because they can also become a crutch that keeps you from doing the things that make you stand out. I
f you want to carve out your own market, get clarity on your vision and brainstorm through the challenges your clients are facing and what kind of exercises, analogies, books, or approaches during a coaching session will be most helpful. Then develop content around that. Don’t just copy someone else’s template and expect to succeed. Instead, create your own unique template based on your experience and expertise.