What Do I Need To Legally Protect My Coaching Business?

  Our   life coaches   are life savers!   Life coaches   help us improve our life, identify the disconnect between where we are now and where we want to be, eliminate negative self-talk, get us out of our own darn way, and much much more! As a  life coach , you help improve the lives of others, so let us help improve your business life a little! THE “C” WORD Oh, you know that word:  Contract . The word “ Contract ” can create a number of reactions in our life coaches, from fear to confusion to distrust. You do not want to pass these negative connotations on to your client when you are about trust and positivity and clarity! And legal is synonymous with expensive, stuffy, and “the old boys club.” Why would you want to spend hours trying to figure what legal protections your  coaching business  needs while you can be doing what you love-coaching! Well, here is a myth buster: Your  life coaching contract  can set the tone, expectation ...

  As we are in the thick of gifting season, it seems like a good time to reflect on what is, or more importantly, what is  NOT  a gift. The short answer: it’s not a gift if it costs you money. What do I mean? And what does this have to do with  Coaching  and  coaching agreements  or  contracts ?  Well, let me explain. You’ve done training and continuing education courses. Attended seminars and workshops. At some point, in any decent training or workshop, the topic of  client agreements or contracts  comes up. Maybe the subject is  retreat agreements  or 1:1  coaching agreements . Perhaps it is mentioned in passing or elaborated on.  But rarely does the workshop host or trainer tell you where to get an agreement, other than “ hire an attorney .” I get it – coaches of coaches aren’t lawyers and likely want to safely shy away from seeming to give  legal advice . It’s a sensible approach. Point out that it’s an ...

Full disclosure   — as a lawyer, I am ALL ABOUT making sure your legal ducks are in a row. UGH — legal. I know, I know. Every coach I have met is intuitive, empathic, creative. They have these attributes that serve them well as coaches. They are driven to serve. Otherwise, they are in the wrong profession! But as business owners, it’s important to occasionally take off the creative, service-provider hat and focus on the business side of your business. What’s the saying? There is time to  w ork  IN  the business and time to work  ON  the business. The first and foremost item on your “Work ON the Business To-do List” should be getting your legal foundation in place to protect the business you are building. So what does protecting your business include? Here are the basics for a solid foundation to protect your business: Create a legal entity . A legal entity creates a separation between the debts, obligations, and risks of your business and your personal asse...