Life Coach Contract Template: Free Template and Guide for 2026
A life coach contract template is the written agreement you and a new client sign before the first session. It sets out what coaching is and is not, how many sessions they get and in what format, what they pay and when, how cancellations and refunds work, how you keep their information confidential, and what happens if their needs move beyond coaching. The free template below has 14 numbered sections with [bracketed] fill-ins, written for life coaches rather than for any freelancer, so you can copy it into your own document today and adapt it with a local lawyer.
Where you send it matters almost as much as what it says. In Coachful, the coaching platform we make, the agreement goes out with e-signature before the first call and the signed copy is stored on the client record, next to their intake answers, sessions, invoices and goals. You can also send it as a PDF, a Google Doc or through a general e-signature tool, and this guide compares those options honestly. First, the template itself, then a clause-by-clause table, a walkthrough of where the agreement sits in a client journey, the ways to send it, and a filled example for a fictional client.
Where does a life coach contract sit in the client journey?
The contract belongs between the discovery call and the first paid session. A prospect books a free call, you agree that coaching is a fit, they pay or commit to a payment plan, and they sign before you start working together. Signing after the first session is the most common gap, and it is the one that causes most disputes about refunds and missed sessions.
A typical life coaching journey has six moments, and the agreement touches several of them:
- Enquiry. Someone finds your website or a referral and books a discovery call. Intake questions on the booking form tell you what they want to change and flag anything outside coaching early.
- Discovery call. You explain how you work, your package and your fee. This is where you mention that you use a written agreement and that coaching is not therapy.
- Offer and payment. The client chooses a package. Payment can come before or right after signing, but the agreement should describe the payment either way.
- Agreement signed. The client reads and signs before the first session. You keep a copy where you can find it in 18 months when someone asks about a refund.
- Sessions and between-session work. Check-ins, habits, homework and messages happen here. The agreement says how fast you reply and what counts as included support.
- Renewal or completion. When the package ends, the agreement explains whether it renews, how to pause, and how long you keep notes.
Some coaches also use a shorter document between sessions, such as a goal commitment the client writes for themselves. That is a different document with a different purpose, covered in our client goal commitment template. The contract below is the business agreement.
What is in the free life coach contract template?
The template has 14 sections, from parties and scope through to signatures, plus a short service schedule you fill in per client. Copy it, replace every [bracket], delete what does not apply, and have a lawyer where you practise review it before you use it with paying clients.
Life Coaching Agreement
This Life Coaching Agreement ("Agreement") is made on [date] between [Your full name or business name], of [business address], ("Coach") and [Client full name], of [client city and country], ("Client").
- What life coaching is. Life coaching is a forward-focused partnership in which the Coach helps the Client clarify goals, make decisions and take action in areas the Client chooses, such as [career direction, relationships, confidence, habits, life transitions]. The Client sets the agenda. The Coach asks questions, offers frameworks and holds the Client accountable to commitments the Client makes.
- What life coaching is not. Coaching is not psychotherapy, counselling, medical care, psychiatric treatment, financial advice or legal advice, and it does not diagnose or treat any mental or physical health condition. The Coach is not a licensed [therapist, physician, financial adviser, attorney] [or: the Coach holds a [licence] but is not acting in that capacity under this Agreement]. If the Client is currently in therapy or under medical care, the Client agrees to tell their provider they are working with a coach.
- Referral and safety. If the Client describes thoughts of self-harm, harm to others, abuse, a crisis, or symptoms that need clinical care, the Coach may pause coaching and recommend a qualified professional. The Coach may end the Agreement if coaching is no longer appropriate, with a pro-rata refund of unused sessions. In an emergency, the Client will contact local emergency services [in the US: call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline].
- Services and package. The Coach will provide the package described in the Service Schedule: [number] sessions of [length] minutes, held [weekly / every two weeks] by [video call / phone / in person at address], over [number] weeks starting [start date]. Between sessions the Client has access to [check-ins, habit tracking, worksheets, messaging] through [platform name].
- Between-session contact. The Client may message the Coach [via the client app / by email]. The Coach replies within [one / two] business days, Monday to Friday, [hours and time zone]. Messages are for brief updates and questions; extended coaching happens in sessions.
- Fees and payment. The total fee is [amount and currency], paid [in full before the first session / in [number] instalments of [amount] on [dates] / monthly on the [day] of each month]. Payments are taken by [card through your payment processor]. If a payment fails, the Coach will notify the Client, and sessions may pause until it is resolved. [Prices include / exclude applicable sales tax or VAT.]
- Rescheduling and missed sessions. The Client may reschedule a session with at least [24 / 48] hours' notice. Sessions cancelled with less notice, or missed without notice, count as used. The Coach will give the same notice to reschedule and will offer a replacement session if the Coach cancels. The Client may reschedule [two] sessions per package. If the Client is more than [15] minutes late, the session ends at its scheduled time.
- Refunds and cancellation. The Client may cancel within [14] days of signing for a full refund, less any sessions already held at [per-session rate] [check local cooling-off rules]. After that, [unused sessions are refundable on a pro-rata basis / fees are non-refundable, but unused sessions may be used within [number] months / a payment plan stops at the next instalment date]. The Coach may cancel at any time with a pro-rata refund of unused sessions.
- Client responsibilities. The Client is responsible for their own decisions, actions and results. The Client agrees to arrive ready, complete agreed actions where they can, and tell the Coach honestly when something is not working. The Client confirms they are [18] or older [or: a parent or guardian signs below].
- No guarantee of results. The Coach does not promise any specific outcome, such as a new job, a relationship, income or a change in health. Results depend on the Client's own effort and circumstances.
- Confidentiality and its limits. The Coach keeps the Client's information confidential and will not share it without written permission, except where required by law, where there is a risk of serious harm to the Client or others, or where the Coach discusses anonymised material with a supervisor or mentor coach [for credential purposes]. The Client may share anything about their own coaching.
- Records, recordings and data. The Coach keeps session notes, intake answers, check-ins and payment records in [platform name] and keeps them for [period] after the Agreement ends, then deletes them [unless law requires longer]. Sessions are recorded only with the Client's consent [tick: yes / no]. The Client may ask for a copy of their data or its deletion. [EU/UK clients: the Coach's privacy notice at [URL] explains the legal basis and the Client's rights.]
- Testimonials and intellectual property. The Coach will not publish a testimonial, name or story about the Client without separate written consent, and the Client may withdraw that consent. Worksheets, recordings and course materials remain the Coach's property and are for the Client's personal use only.
- General terms and signatures. This Agreement is governed by the laws of [state or country]. Disputes will first be discussed in good faith, then [mediation in [location] / the courts of [location]]. If one part is unenforceable, the rest still applies. This is the whole agreement; changes must be in writing and signed by both. Electronic signatures are valid.
Service Schedule
- Package name: [for example, 12-Week Life Reset]
- Sessions: [number] x [minutes] by [format]
- Included between sessions: [weekly check-in, habit tracking, worksheets, messaging response time]
- Start date and end date: [dates]
- Total fee: [amount, currency, tax status]
- Payment schedule: [dates and amounts]
- Reschedules allowed: [number] with [hours] notice
- Recording consent: [yes / no]
Signed: Coach [name, signature, date] · Client [name, signature, date] · [Parent or guardian, if the Client is under 18]
Why does each section of a life coaching agreement matter?
Each clause answers a question a client might ask later, usually when something has gone wrong. The table explains what each one protects and what to watch for when you fill it in.
| Section | Why it matters | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What life coaching is | Sets expectations that the client drives the agenda and does the work. | Name the areas you actually coach. A vague list invites requests you cannot meet. |
| 2. What coaching is not | Separates coaching from therapy, medical care and regulated advice. | If you hold a clinical licence, say clearly that you are not acting under it. |
| 3. Referral and safety | Gives you a written basis to pause and refer when a client needs clinical help. | Include a crisis line for the client's country, not only yours. |
| 4. Services and package | Defines exactly what was bought, which settles most "I thought it included" questions. | Put counts and dates in the Service Schedule, not in prose. |
| 5. Between-session contact | Stops unlimited messaging from quietly doubling your hours. | Give a response window and time zone you can keep. |
| 6. Fees and payment | Records the amount, currency, dates and what happens when a card fails. | State whether tax is included. Match it to your checkout. |
| 7. Rescheduling | The clause you will use most. It decides whether a missed session is lost. | Make the rule work both ways: you give the same notice. |
| 8. Refunds and cancellation | Prevents disputes and card chargebacks over unused sessions. | Consumer cooling-off rules may override a strict no-refund line. |
| 9. Client responsibilities | Places decisions and outcomes with the client. | Add an age line and a guardian signature if you coach teens. |
| 10. No guarantee | Keeps your marketing promises and your contract consistent. | Remove any income or outcome promises from your sales page too. |
| 11. Confidentiality | Explains what stays private and the few cases where it cannot. | List supervision or mentor coaching if you are working toward a credential. |
| 12. Records and data | Tells the client where their notes live, for how long, and how to get them. | Name the tools you really use and set a retention period. |
| 13. Testimonials and IP | Requires separate consent before you quote a client. | Never make a refund or discount depend on a positive review. |
| 14. General terms | Sets governing law, dispute steps and that e-signatures count. | This is the section a local lawyer should check first. |
For a deeper look at individual clauses, our coaching contract clauses guide walks through seven areas with a service schedule, and the broader 12-clause coaching agreement template covers business and executive coaching wording.
What must life coaches add that a generic contract leaves out?
Life coaches need four things a freelancer contract does not have: a clear scope line, a referral and safety clause, careful handling of sensitive personal information, and terms that fit local consumer law. Life coaching clients are usually individuals paying with their own money, often during a hard stretch of life, so these sections carry more weight than in business-to-business work.
Scope of practice
Life coaching is unregulated in most places, which is exactly why the boundary has to be written down. The ICF Code of Ethics asks coaches to explain the nature and limits of coaching and to be aware of when a client would be better served by another professional. Clients who come to you about stress, grief or a breakup may also be dealing with anxiety or depression. Our guide on whether a life coach can help with anxiety sets out where coaching fits and where it stops.
Safety and referral
Write down what you do if a client raises self-harm, abuse or a mental health crisis, and keep a short list of local therapists and crisis lines ready. In the United States, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is reachable by call or text. For clients in other countries, add their national line to the Service Schedule. Pausing coaching and referring is not a failure; it is the clause working.
Sensitive data
Life coaching notes often hold health details, family conflict and relationship history. Keep only what you need, store it in one place, and say in the contract how long you keep it. Coachful is not HIPAA-certified and does not sign a BAA, so if you also work as a licensed clinician, keep clinical records in a clinical system and use coaching software only for coaching.
Local law, insurance and testimonials
Consumer protection, cooling-off periods, tax on services and the age at which someone can sign a contract all differ by state and country. The US Small Business Administration lists professional liability insurance among the common types of business cover, which is worth pricing alongside your contract review. If you plan to use client stories in marketing, the FTC's Endorsement Guides require testimonials to be honest and reflect the client's real experience, which is why section 13 asks for separate consent. The FTC also warns consumers that coaching offers promising guaranteed results are a common sign of a scam, so section 10 protects your reputation as much as your liability.
Use this checklist to decide which additions your version needs and who should review them:
| Situation | What to add to the template | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Client is in therapy or on medication | A line asking them to tell their provider, and a pause-and-refer step | The client's own clinician, with the client's consent |
| You hold a clinical licence | A statement that you are not acting under that licence, and separate records | Your licensing body and a lawyer |
| Client is under 18 | Guardian signature, what you share with parents, safeguarding steps | A local lawyer |
| Clients in the EU or UK | A privacy notice, legal basis for data, and access and deletion rights | A lawyer familiar with data protection |
| Payment plans or subscriptions | What happens after a failed payment and how to cancel future instalments | A lawyer and your accountant |
| You record sessions | Explicit consent, where recordings are stored and when they are deleted | A local lawyer |
| You plan to use testimonials | A separate consent form the client can withdraw | A lawyer, using the FTC Endorsement Guides if you sell in the US |
How do you send and sign a life coach contract in Coachful?
In Coachful, the agreement is one step in the client journey rather than a separate file. The client books, answers your intake questions, signs the coaching agreement with e-signature before the first call, and then lands in their branded client home where sessions, check-ins, habits and programs live. The signed agreement stays on their client record. We make Coachful, so read this section as a description of how it is built, and compare it with the other options in the next section.
This short walkthrough shows the client journey from the coach's side:
Step 1: collect intake answers when they book
Add intake questions to your discovery call or first-session booking page. Ask what they want to change, what they have tried, whether they are currently working with a therapist or doctor, and how they prefer to be contacted. Those answers sit on the client record, so you read them before the call and spot anything that needs a referral before a contract is signed. If you want ready-made question sets, see coaching forms and questionnaires.
Step 2: send the agreement before the first call
Turn your finished template into a coaching agreement and send it for e-signature before the first session. The signed agreement is stored on the client record, and the Agreements tab also accepts a signed PDF if a client signed elsewhere, which helps when you move existing clients over. More on the feature is on the coaching contracts page.
Step 3: take payment through your own Stripe or Razorpay account
Payments run through your own Stripe Connect or Razorpay account: one-time, subscriptions or payment plans, with coupons, refunds, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Each transaction produces an invoice, and you can create manual invoices too. Coachful charges a 0% platform fee on payments, so only your processor's fees apply. Match section 6 of the contract to what you set up here.
Step 4: deliver between sessions with check-ins, habits and programs
Section 5 of the template promises between-session support, and this is where it happens. Coaching flows include welcome flows, morning and evening check-ins and multi-week journeys. Clients track habits with streaks, work on goals with progress bars, and follow multi-week programs with weekly goals and daily tasks.
Step 5: what the client sees
The client uses one branded app inside the Coachful app: next session, programs, progress and documents in one place, with their habit tracker a tap away. They are not juggling a PDF in email, a calendar link and a separate payment page.
Step 6: keep everything on one client record
Goals, check-ins, habits, notes, intake answers, tags, payments and sessions all sit on the client record, with a status of thriving, active, quiet or at risk. When a client asks how many sessions they have left or what they agreed to about refunds, the answer is in one place. You can export all client data as a ZIP, which supports the "copy of your data" promise in section 12. If you are working toward an ICF credential, Coachful also counts coaching hours and clients against ACC, PCC and MCC thresholds, as explained on ICF hour tracking.
What Coachful is, and what it does not do
Coachful is a coaching platform for coaches who deliver programs, not only sessions: booking, payments, contracts, programs with habits and check-ins, courses, community, a website with funnels and email, and an AI assistant called Michelle, with one login for you and one branded app for your client. It suits solo life coaches replacing four to six tools and those growing into a small team. It is not HIPAA-certified, does not support PayPal, has no permanent free plan, and the client app ships under the Coachful listing with your branding rather than under your own App Store account. To start, use a free trial, then pick a plan (current plans: Lite: $29/month for up to 5 clients; Solo: $49/month for up to 20 clients; Pro: $99/month with unlimited clients; Studio: $199/month with unlimited clients). More on the life coaching setup is on our page for life coaches.
Why Coachful stands out: a free white-glove service. From Create, choose "We'll build it for you · FREE" and describe what you want: a website, a booking funnel, an offer page, a program, a form or worksheet, an email sequence and more. You can attach up to 8 reference links and up to 10 files, such as your logo, photos and existing copy. The Coachful team builds it inside your own account, usually within about 24 hours, and leaves gaps for you instead of inventing credentials, testimonials or prices. A leadership coach with a Squarespace renewal days away, for example, got one clean homepage with a repeated "talk with me" button. Read more about the free white-glove service.
What are the ways to send and store a life coach contract?
You can send a life coach contract as a PDF or Word file, as a Google Doc or form, through a general e-signature tool, through a client-management CRM, or inside a coaching platform. The right choice depends on how many tools you want the client to touch. Prices below are as listed on each vendor's pricing page in October 2026.
| Option | How the client signs | Where the signed copy lives | Price as listed (October 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coachful | E-signature before the first call, inside the client journey | On the client record with intake answers, sessions, invoices, goals and check-ins | Lite: $29/month for up to 5 clients | Life coaches who want booking, contract, payment and between-session delivery in one login |
| PDF or Word file | Prints, signs and scans, or types a name | Your email and a folder you organise yourself | Cost of your office software | A first client or two while you set things up |
| Google Docs or Google Forms | Types a name and ticks a consent box | Your Google Drive or a response sheet | Included with a Google account | Testing wording before committing to a tool |
| General e-signature tool | Signs online with an audit trail | The e-signature account, separate from scheduling and payments | Varies by tool and plan | Coaches who already have a separate stack |
| HoneyBook | Contract inside a proposal or project | HoneyBook project | Starter $29/mo billed annually; Essentials $59/mo; Premium $129/mo | Service businesses focused on proposals and invoices |
| Dubsado | Contract in a client workflow | Dubsado project | Starter $35/mo; Premier $55/mo | Coaches who like detailed workflow automation |
| Paperbell | Contract attached to a coaching package | Paperbell client portal | $97/mo single plan | Solo coaches selling session packages |
| CoachVantage | E-signature with contract templates | CoachVantage client record | Clarity $39/mo (4 e-signatures a month); Aha! $59/mo | Coaches who want a coaching CRM with contracts |
| Practice Better | Forms and agreements in the client portal | Practice Better client chart | Free plan for 3 clients; Starter $35/mo; Professional $69/mo | Wellness and nutrition practitioners who chart |
A short note on the other tools
HoneyBook and Dubsado are client-management CRMs for service businesses. Both handle contracts, invoices and scheduling well, but neither delivers coaching: no programs, habits, check-ins or client community. HoneyBook's scheduler and automations start on Essentials, and its card fees appear as "2.7% + 10¢" in the FAQ and "2.9% + 25¢" in the plan comparison, so check before you sign up. Dubsado's Starter plan has no scheduler or automations. Paperbell covers booking, packages, payments and contracts for solo coaches at one price, without courses, community or habit tracking. CoachVantage's Clarity plan caps e-signatures at four a month, which matters if you sign several new clients in a busy month. Practice Better is built for wellness practitioners who chart, with a free plan capped at three clients. Side-by-side detail is on our comparisons of Coachful vs HoneyBook, Coachful vs Dubsado and Coachful vs Paperbell.
What does a filled life coach contract look like?
Here is the template filled in for a fictional client. Every name, date and amount below is an example, not a recommended price. Use it to see how specific the wording should be, not as a contract to copy as written.
Example only: fictional coach and client.
- Parties: Maya Okafor Coaching (Coach), Leeds, United Kingdom, and Daniel Reyes (Client), Manchester, United Kingdom. Dated 3 November 2026.
- What coaching is: Coaching focused on Daniel's goals of deciding whether to leave his teaching career, rebuilding a weekly routine after moving cities, and setting boundaries with family.
- What coaching is not: Maya is not a counsellor, doctor or careers adviser regulated by any body. Daniel mentioned on his intake form that he saw a counsellor last year; he agrees to tell any current provider he is working with a coach.
- Referral and safety: If coaching becomes inappropriate, Maya may pause and refer, with a refund for unused sessions. Crisis contact: NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
- Package: 12-Week Life Reset. Six 60-minute video sessions every two weeks, starting 10 November 2026, plus a Sunday evening check-in and a habit tracker for two habits Daniel chooses.
- Contact: Messages through the client app, answered within one business day, Monday to Thursday, 9:00 to 17:00 UK time.
- Fee (example figure): £900 total including any VAT due, paid in three monthly instalments of £300 on 3 November, 3 December and 3 January.
- Rescheduling: 48 hours' notice; two reschedules per package; sessions missed with less notice count as used.
- Refunds: Full refund within 14 days of signing, less £150 per session already held. After that, the remaining instalments stop if Daniel cancels, and no further sessions are booked.
- No guarantee: Maya does not promise a career change, a new job or any specific result.
- Confidentiality: Maya may discuss anonymised material with her mentor coach for her PCC application.
- Records: Notes and check-ins kept for 12 months after the last session, then deleted. Sessions not recorded.
- Testimonials: None without a separate signed consent.
- Governing law: England and Wales. Mediation first.
Notice what makes the example work: dates instead of "weekly", a named crisis line for the client's country, a response window with a time zone, and a refund rule that does the arithmetic for both people. For a second filled example with eight sections, see our coaching agreement template guide.
What are the most common mistakes in life coaching agreements?
The most common mistakes are signing too late, leaving the scope line vague, and copying a refund policy that local law does not allow. Each of these is easy to fix before your next client.
- Signing after the first session. If the client has already had a session, they are negotiating terms after receiving the service. Send the agreement with the booking confirmation.
- A scope line that only says "not therapy". Add what you do if therapy-level needs come up, and who you refer to.
- Unlimited messaging. "Unlimited support" sounds generous on a sales page and becomes a second job. Give a response window.
- Payment terms that do not match the checkout. If your checkout runs a three-month plan and the contract says "paid in full", the contract loses.
- A blanket "no refunds" clause. Cooling-off periods for consumer contracts can apply in some countries. Check with a local lawyer.
- Outcome promises in marketing. If your website promises a "new life in 90 days", section 10 will not save you. Keep the two consistent.
- Quoting clients without consent. Get a separate, withdrawable testimonial consent.
- Storing signed copies in three places. Keep the signed agreement next to sessions and payments so you can find it.
- Using a business-coaching contract for individuals. Executive and business clients are often companies; life coaching clients are usually consumers with different protections.
Is this life coach contract template legal advice?
No. This template is general information to help you prepare a draft, not legal, medical or financial advice, and laws on consumer contracts, refunds, data, electronic signatures and minors vary by state and country. Have a lawyer licensed where you practise, and ideally where most of your clients live, review your final version before you use it. If you coach clients with health conditions, or you hold a clinical licence, ask a clinician or your licensing body how to keep coaching and clinical work clearly apart. For tax on coaching fees, check with an accountant.
If you are still setting up your practice, our guides on how to become a life coach and life coach qualifications and the law cover registration, credentials and insurance in more depth, and what to expect from a life coach is a useful page to send prospects before they sign.
Frequently asked questions
Is this life coach contract template free to use?
Yes. The template on this page is free to copy and adapt for your own practice. Replace every bracketed field, remove sections that do not apply, and have a local lawyer review it before you use it with paying clients. You can also generate a starting draft with the contract generator.
What is the difference between a life coach contract and a life coaching agreement?
In practice they mean the same thing. "Agreement" sounds softer and is common in coaching, while "contract" is the legal term. What makes it binding is the content and signatures, not the title.
Do I need a contract for free or pro bono life coaching clients?
Yes. Scope, confidentiality, safety and data clauses matter whether or not money changes hands. Remove the fee and refund sections, and note that the coaching is pro bono so the hours are recorded correctly for credentials.
Can a client sign a life coaching agreement electronically?
In most countries electronic signatures are valid for this kind of service contract, which is why section 14 says so. Some documents and some jurisdictions have exceptions, so confirm with a local lawyer. Keep a dated copy of the signed version.
Should my contract mention therapy if I do not offer it?
Yes. Many life coaching clients come during transitions and stress, and a clear line saying coaching is not therapy, plus what you do if therapy-level needs come up, protects both of you. It also tells the client you will refer them rather than stretch beyond your training.
How long should a life coach contract be?
Most work in two to four pages. Long enough to cover the 14 sections above in plain language, short enough that a client actually reads it before signing. Move package details into a one-page service schedule so the core terms stay the same for every client.
Can I coach teenagers with this template?
Only with changes. Add a parent or guardian signature, explain what you will and will not share with the parent, and check the age of contract capacity where you work. Safeguarding expectations are higher with minors, so get a local review.
Where should I store signed life coaching agreements?
Store each signed agreement with the rest of that client's record so you can find it when questions about sessions or refunds come up. In Coachful the signed agreement is stored on the client record alongside sessions, payments and intake answers. Keep your own dated copy as well.
What is Coachful's free white-glove service?
It is a done-for-you build included on every plan. You describe a website, funnel, program, form or email sequence, attach up to 8 links and 10 files, and the Coachful team builds it inside your account, usually within about 24 hours. It does not include video recording, logo design or ad management.
Does Coachful replace my lawyer for contract wording?
No. Coachful sends, collects signatures on and stores your agreement, but the wording is yours. Use the template here as a draft and have a lawyer where you practise review it.
