How to Start a Life Coaching Business From Home

Life coaching is one of the few professions where working from home isn't a compromise — it's the standard. The 2025 ICF Global Coaching Study found that over 60% of coaching sessions happen via Zoom or other video tools, and 72% of clients prefer remote or hybrid coaching. Virtual sessions are up 40% since 2020.

This shift isn't slowing down. Virtual coaching platforms are growing at a 13.8% annual rate, and the online coaching market is projected to reach $4.5 billion by 2028 (Entrepreneurs HQ, 2026). If you're considering coaching as a career, there's never been a better time to build a practice from home.

The advantages are real: zero commute and no office lease (commercial office space averages $23-$60/sq ft annually). A global client base — 72% of coaches now serve clients outside their home country (ICF 2025). Lower overhead that lets you keep more of what you earn. And schedule flexibility that makes it easier to build your practice around family or other commitments.

The coaching industry is growing rapidly. ICF reports $5.34 billion in global revenue in 2025, nearly double the $2.849 billion in 2023. In the U.S. alone, 232,000+ coaches serve clients in a $16 billion domestic market (ResearchAndMarkets, 2025). Starting from home lets you enter this market with minimal financial risk.

For a broader overview of launching a coaching business, see our full guide to starting a coaching business.

One of the biggest advantages of home-based coaching is the low startup cost compared to other professional services. You don't need a lease, equipment, or inventory. Here's a realistic breakdown of what you'll spend.

The budget path gets you to your first paying client for under $2,000 if you choose an affordable certification, use free tools, and build a simple website yourself. The professional path — with a premium certification, paid tools, and professional branding — typically runs $5,000-$8,000.

Either way, you're looking at a fraction of what it costs to start most service businesses. The SBA estimates that most small businesses cost $3,000-$5,000 to start. A home coaching practice can come in at the low end of that range.

Your tech stack doesn't need to be complicated. The ICF reports that only 47% of coaches use digital platforms beyond basic scheduling and video calls. You don't need fancy coaching software to start — you need reliable tools that work.

Video conferencing: Zoom Pro ($13.33/month) is the industry standard. The free plan works for sessions under 40 minutes, but most coaching sessions run 45-60 minutes, so Pro is worth the upgrade. Zoom Pro gives you 30-hour meeting limits, cloud recording, and AI meeting summaries (Zoom Pricing, 2026). Google Meet is a free alternative if your clients use Google Workspace.

Scheduling: Calendly ($0-$12/month). The free plan includes one event type (enough for a "Book a Discovery Call" link). The $12/month Standard plan adds unlimited event types, reminders, and integrations. Acuity Scheduling ($20/month) is a stronger option if you need built-in payment processing and intake forms (Koalendar comparison, 2026).

Email marketing: Kit, formerly ConvertKit ($0-$39/month). Kit's free plan is remarkably generous — up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited emails, and landing pages. That's more than enough for a new coaching practice. Mailchimp's free plan caps at 500 contacts, making Kit the better choice for coaches (Email Vendor Selection, 2026).

Website: Squarespace ($16/month) or Wix (free-$17/month). Squarespace has cleaner templates for service businesses. Wix offers a free forever plan if you don't mind their branding on your site. Either way, keep it simple: About page, Services page, booking link, and a blog for SEO. Domain registration is about $12-$20/year (Tech.co, 2026).

Payment processing: Stripe or Square (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). Both integrate with most scheduling tools. Stripe is more common for recurring subscription billing; Square works well for one-off payments.

Total monthly cost: $30-$60 for the essentials. That's video + scheduling + website. Email and payment processing can start on free plans. Don't buy everything at once — start with the minimum viable tech stack and add tools as your practice grows.

Pricing is where most new coaches get stuck. The good news: working from home means lower overhead, so you can offer competitive rates while still earning well.

The market range is wide. According to Bonsai (2026), certified life coaches typically charge $75-$200 per session for general coaching, while niche or executive coaches charge $300-$1,000+. The average session fee globally is $244/hour (ICF 2023). New coaches without certification often start at $50-$75 per session.

Sell packages, not hours. Most successful coaches sell packages rather than single sessions. A typical starter package: 12 sessions over 3 months for $1,500-$3,000. This gives clients accountability (they've committed to the process) and gives you predictable income.

Do the math backward. If your target income is $60,000/year and you coach 10 clients at a time with 12-session packages at $2,000 each, you need to close about 30 clients per year (cycling every 3 months). That's 2-3 new clients per month — a realistic target for a home-based practice.

Don't undercharge. Low prices signal low quality. They also make your business unsustainable — remember, as a self-employed coach, you're covering your own taxes (15.3% self-employment tax alone), insurance, and retirement savings. Price at least 20-30% above what you'd need as a salaried employee.

Raise rates as you grow. Start where you're comfortable, then increase by 10-20% annually as you accumulate testimonials, credentials, and results. The life coach salary guide has detailed benchmarks by specialization and experience.

This is the part that makes or breaks a new coaching business. Certification doesn't bring clients — marketing does. Here's what actually works for home-based coaches.

Start with your personal network. Your first 3-5 clients will almost certainly come from people who already know you. Tell everyone — friends, family, former colleagues, LinkedIn connections — that you're now coaching. Offer a few free or heavily discounted "founding client" spots in exchange for testimonials and feedback.

Offer free discovery calls. A 20-30 minute discovery call lets potential clients experience your coaching style with zero risk. This is the single most effective conversion tool for coaches. Most coaches convert 30-50% of discovery calls into paying clients, according to industry benchmarks.

Build referral relationships. Therapists, HR professionals, financial advisors, and business consultants serve the same audiences you do. Reach out to professionals in adjacent fields and propose mutual referrals. One strong referral partner can fill your entire calendar.

Leverage LinkedIn (especially for B2B coaching). For executive, leadership, and career coaching, LinkedIn is the highest-converting platform. Share insights, engage with your target audience's content, and use your profile as a coaching-focused landing page.

Speak and teach for free. Offer a free 45-minute virtual workshop on a topic in your niche. Use Zoom webinar or a Facebook Live event. Deliver genuine value, then offer coaching to attendees who want to go deeper. This positions you as an expert and generates warm leads.

Be realistic about timelines. Coaches who actively network and market typically land their first paying client within 30-90 days of launching. Building a full-time practice usually takes 12-24 months. Many coaches start part-time while keeping other income — a smart approach that reduces financial pressure.

For more strategies, see our in-depth business startup guide.

One of the biggest financial perks of running a coaching business from home is the home office tax deduction. As a self-employed coach, you can deduct a portion of your housing costs from your taxable income.

Who qualifies: You must use a portion of your home regularly and exclusively for business. The space must be your principal place of business or where you regularly meet clients (virtually counts). The IRS requires that the area be used only for coaching — a desk in your bedroom doesn't qualify unless that area is used exclusively for business (IRS Topic 509).

Simplified method: Deduct $5 per square foot of your home office, up to a maximum of 300 square feet. That's a maximum deduction of $1,500 with no receipts or calculations required. Just measure your office, multiply by $5, and report it on Schedule C, Line 30 (IRS Simplified Method).

Actual expense method: Calculate the percentage of your home used for business, then deduct that percentage of your rent/mortgage interest, utilities, insurance, internet, and repairs. This requires Form 8829 and careful record-keeping, but can yield a larger deduction than the simplified method if your office is large or your housing costs are high.

Other deductions home-based coaches can claim:

Business equipment: Computer, webcam, microphone, ring light, and office furniture. Software subscriptions: Zoom, Calendly, website hosting, email marketing tools. Professional development: Continuing education, workshops, and mentor coaching ($100-$300/hour). Business insurance premiums. Professional association dues (ICF membership is $245/year). Marketing costs: Website, domain, business cards, paid advertising.

Self-employment tax reminder: As a self-employed coach, you'll pay 15.3% in self-employment taxes (Social Security + Medicare) on top of your income tax. Set aside 25-30% of your coaching income for taxes. Consider making quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid penalties.

This is general guidance, not tax advice. Consult a CPA or tax professional familiar with self-employment for your specific situation.