How to become a coach in the UK

If people have always told you that you’re a good listener, you love helping people and believe everyone has the power to do amazing things - you have the potential to be a great coach.

What do coaches do?

Coaches work with clients (these can be individuals, couples, groups or teams), helping them move forward with their goals. They help them come unstuck, gain clarity and know what action to take via ongoing coaching conversations. In the UK, awareness of coaching is growing and more and more people are turning to coaches for support. 

There are plenty of areas coaching can help people in, whether it be business, personal development or health. You can explore some of these areas yourself in our coaching A-Z section. Perhaps you have experience in a particular area and are keen to use that experience in your work? You may even be intrigued by the idea of NLP (neurolinguistic programming) and be interested in becoming a practitioner.

However you’ve arrived here, if you’ve decided you’d like to become a coach, this guide will take you through the necessary steps to set yourself up for success.

Do you need qualifications to be a coach?

The first question many people ask when considering a change in career is what qualifications are needed. Coaching itself is currently an unregulated industry. This means that you do not need a qualification to call yourself a coach. Some people take the approach of ‘expert by experience’, choosing to use their lived experience in their work without having further training. 

For others, getting training and credentials helps them learn more about coaching and builds valuable skills. Some training programmes will also discuss setting ethical boundaries and the importance of supervision.

“​​Supervision provides valuable time to look at positive coaching experiences, to reflect on coaching patterns, approaches, styles and how they may have impacted outcomes for the client.”

Tessa Dodwell - coach and supervisor

Having qualifications can also offer a sense of reassurance for clients. Joining a coaching professional body is another step that can fortify this trust. Professional bodies such as The Association for Coaching (AC) and UK International Coach Federation (ICF) will often have a code of ethics its members are bound by, and a complaints procedure should a client need it. 

Finding the right training for you

When it comes to choosing a coaching or NLP course, understanding which qualifications are recognised within the UK and the general industry standard is a great place to start. 

What to look for in a coaching course

There are a lot of coaching and NLP training organisations out there and trying to navigate them can feel a little daunting. Asking the following questions when researching can help:

• What qualification will I receive after completing the course?
• Is this qualification recognised in the UK?
• Does this organisation offer any further qualifications?
• Can I get insurance with this qualification?
• Is the course/organisation accredited by a professional body? (Coaching and NLP courses do not have to be accredited, but it can add credence to the qualification).
• What size are the classes? What is the learning environment like?
• What approaches are taught? Is this one that I want to learn?
• How experienced are the trainers?
• Does the organisation offer ongoing support?
• Does the training course or organisation have any testimonials?

Many training organisations will have this information available on their website. If you can’t find this information or are unsure, contact the training organisation to ask for more information.

We have affiliated with a number of training organisations, so exploring this list is a great place to start. If you opt to train with one of our affiliate organisations, we recommend that you check that their courses/outcomes meet your needs and expectations before starting your training, as we cannot be held responsible for any information provided by our affiliates.

Although we see they supply a relevant qualification that we can accept, a listing with us does not mean that Life Coach Directory endorses or accredits that organisation, or every qualification offered by each organisation. Please read our terms and conditions for further information. 

Choosing your coaching specialisation

Coaching itself is a skill. Once you have learnt it, you can apply it to a wide array of different areas. Figuring out your niche, who you want to help and what you want to help with is an important step to take before launching your services. 

You may already know exactly what this is, or you may find it helpful to get started with some general coaching training and consider how you want to apply it. Often, coaches will have a pre-existing passion for an area. 

Some people work in a particular industry (for example, the creative arts) and decide they want to combine their expertise with their coaching skills to coach people in that same industry. You may have experienced something difficult in your life, like the loss of a loved one, and decide you want to support others through grief coaching.

If you’re feeling unsure of what your specialisation could be, consider the following questions:

• What topic lights you up when you talk about it?
• Is there anything in particular you notice friends come to you for advice on?
• Have you experienced a transition in your life and want to help others navigate the same thing?
• What are your hobbies and interests?

How much do coaches earn?

The amount you can earn as a coach or NLP practitioner will depend on several factors. Here are some things that can impact your earning potential:

• demand for coaching in your area/niche (the higher the demand, the more you may be able to charge)
• location (cost of living in certain areas may define how much people are willing to pay)
• experience (having a lot of experience in either your niche or as a coach can impact how much you’re able to charge)
• the area you work in (for example, business and leadership coaches may be able to charge more and work directly with companies)
• capacity (the more capacity you have for clients, the more you may be able to make)
• other income sources (some coaches sell workshops, courses or group programmes alongside one-to-one coaching to create more income)

How much you can charge for one session is up to you and in coaching, this can range from £50 per session to £300+. Running your own coaching business opens the door to more flexible working and income as you become your own boss. 

Effectively marketing your business is key to attracting clients and earning money doing what you love.

How to start a coaching business in the UK

When you are feeling confident in your coaching skills and know who you want to help, you’re ready to start your business and launch your services. 

Legal steps for setting up a coaching business

To set up a business in the UK requires a few legal steps, including registering yourself as self-employed and registering your business with Companies House. Getting insurance is essential too - this will include public liability and professional indemnity. Finally, research what your tax and VAT obligations are and what needs to be done under the PAYE system.

Once you are all set up, it’s time to advertise your services to potential clients. 

Marketing your coaching services

There are lots of different ways you can market yourself. Many coaches set up their own website and/or join an online directory, like ours. This helps you to gain an online presence and be visible to clients.

Marketing your business may involve posting on social media, creating written, visual or audio content, joining networking events or hosting your own events. You may choose to meet with local business owners or other communities in your area if you want to work face-to-face.

Word of mouth can go a long way in coaching, so encouraging clients to share testimonials or tell their networks about you can be a big help. To begin with, why not email your connections telling them about your coaching business and ask if they can share with anyone they think may be interested? This is a simple step that can have a big impact, especially at the start of your career. 

To break it down, here are the steps you need to take to get your coaching business up and running:

• find the right training course for you
• decide on your specialism/area of coaching you want to go into
• plan what services you want to offer and how much to charge for them
• carry out any legal steps required to set up your business
• market your business

Laid out like this, it looks very simple but we know it isn’t quite this easy. There can be a lot of questions along the way, such as ‘How much should I charge as a coach?’, ‘What type of content will market my coaching business best?’ or ‘What do I do if I’m not getting clients?’.

We are here to help with this. Once you’re qualified, you can join our directory to advertise your business. As well as a directory listing, you’ll gain access to our members-only marketing hub with tools and resources to promote your business, our weekly networking events, CPD opportunities and tailored advice to get the most from your profile. We also offer space for you to publish articles and any events you’re running.

Find out more about joining us and how we can support your coaching business.