Tools and Resources for New Coaches

Are you ready to start you online coaching business but you're overwhelmed by all the different tech tools? Don't know which ones are essential and which you can wait to purchase until after you have a few paying clients. Here’s a list of tools that every coach needs…

A Website

Unless you plan on coaching the Amish, you need a website. There’s no shortage of options available to new coaches. Two of the best tools for the job are WordPress and SoloBuildIt. WordPress is free open-source software you can use to get a website up and running. But you may have to pay for themes and plug-ins if you want maximum functionality. You will also need to pay for your domain name and hosting fees. Your domain name will cost around $15-25, depending on where you register. Your hosting fees should be between $10-20 per month. 

SoloBuildIt does come with a monthly charge, but includes almost everything you need, including domain registration, hosting, email, analytics, and more.

An Appointment Scheduler

Scheduling your own appointments seems like an easy task on the surface. A potential client finds a time that works for them and asks to meet you then. But you’ve already booked that slot or you’re in a different time zone and that’s 3:00 am your local time. Using a scheduler takes the hassle out of appointments.

You simply select which times and days you’re available for coaching. Then a potential client sees your scheduler and picks the time that best fits his or her schedule. It’s simple and convenient for both of you.

Two good appointment schedulers are Calendly and SimplyBook.me. But if you’re a health and wellness coach, you may need a HIPPA compliant scheduler like Schedule Once or Acuity Scheduling.

Your Virtual Office

If you plan to be a virtual coach, you’ll need a place to conduct your appointments. You can use free or paid meeting tools like Skype or Zoom. One of the advantages of using digital meeting tools is that you can share your screen with your client. This can be useful if you need to show your client how to do a technical task.

Financial Software

No matter what type of coach you decide to be or where you choose to specialize, you’ll need a way to track the money you’re earning. Two of the most popular options are FreshBooks and QuickBooks.

Both apps allow you to send invoices to clients. Even better, you can set up recurring invoices that are generated automatically every week or month. This saves you time and keeps you from having to manually message your clients to get your payments.

Don’t get overwhelmed with all the tools and options that are available. Start with the basics recommended above. Once you’re comfortable with them, you can expand and start adding more apps to your coaching toolbox!