# COACHING AGREEMENT

> **Disclaimer — not legal advice.** This template is provided free of charge, as is and with no warranty of any kind, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. It is jurisdiction-neutral: you are responsible for adapting it, for your own legal and tax compliance, and for having a qualified professional in your jurisdiction review it before you rely on it. Full terms: https://trycolo.co/terms-of-use

**This Coaching Agreement ("Agreement") is made on [EFFECTIVE DATE] between:**

**Coach:** [YOUR NAME / COACHING BUSINESS NAME], of [YOUR ADDRESS], email [YOUR EMAIL] (the "Coach")

**Client:** [CLIENT NAME], of [CLIENT ADDRESS], email [CLIENT EMAIL] (the "Client")

**Sponsor (executive coaching only — delete if not applicable):** [ORGANIZATION NAME], represented by [SPONSOR CONTACT], which pays for the coaching (the "Sponsor")

---

## 1. The coaching relationship

1.1 Coaching is a collaborative, forward-looking partnership in which the Coach supports the Client to clarify goals, explore options, and take action. The Client sets the agenda and makes all decisions.

1.2 The Coach's approach is [DESCRIBE BRIEFLY — e.g. structured goal-setting, reflective questioning, accountability check-ins]. The Coach may share tools, exercises, and observations; the Client decides what to use.

1.3 **Coaching focus:** [e.g. career transition / leadership development / launching a business / [OTHER]].

## 2. Not therapy, counseling, or medical advice

2.1 Coaching is not psychotherapy, counseling, psychiatric care, medical care, or any form of diagnosis or treatment of a mental or physical health condition. It is not a substitute for care from a licensed health professional.

2.2 Coaching is also not legal, financial, tax, or investment advice. Where those topics arise, the Coach will suggest the Client consult a qualified professional.

2.3 The Client confirms that if they are currently receiving treatment for a mental health condition, they will tell the Coach and will let their health provider know they are working with a coach. Client initials: ____________

2.4 If it appears during coaching that the Client would benefit from therapy, medical care, or other professional support, the Coach will say so and may recommend the Client seek it. The Coach may pause coaching until the Client confirms they have the support they need.

2.5 **Urgent situations.** The Coach does not provide crisis support. If the Client is in crisis or at risk of harm, they should contact local emergency services or a crisis line in their country immediately. [OPTIONAL: insert a local crisis line here.]

## 3. Program and sessions

| Item | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Program name | [PROGRAM NAME] |
| Number of sessions | [NUMBER] |
| Session length | [45 / 60 / 90] minutes |
| Frequency | [WEEKLY / EVERY TWO WEEKS / MONTHLY] |
| Format | [VIDEO CALL / PHONE / IN PERSON AT [LOCATION]] |
| Program start | [DATE] |
| Sessions must be used by | [EXPIRY DATE — e.g. 4 months from start] |
| Included extras | [WORKBOOK / ASSESSMENT / RECORDINGS — OR NONE] |

3.1 Sessions are booked [BY THE CLIENT FROM AVAILABLE TIMES SENT BY THE COACH / AT A FIXED RECURRING TIME].

3.2 Unused sessions expire on the date above. The Coach will extend the expiry once by up to [4] weeks for documented illness or emergency.

3.3 Sessions [ARE / ARE NOT] recorded. Recordings are made only with both Parties' consent and are deleted after [30] days.

## 4. Between-session support

4.1 The Client may contact the Coach between sessions by [EMAIL / MESSAGING CHANNEL] for brief check-ins, accountability updates, and scheduling.

4.2 The Coach will reply within [2] business days during [WORKING HOURS AND TIME ZONE]. Between-session messages are not a substitute for sessions, and longer discussions will be held for the next session.

## 5. Fees and payment

5.1 **Program fee:** [CURRENCY] [TOTAL], plus [TAX] where applicable.

5.2 *Choose one:*

**(a) Paid in full:** due before the first session.

**(b) Payment plan:**

| Installment | Due date | Amount |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Before first session | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |
| 2 | [DATE] | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |
| 3 | [DATE] | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |

5.3 The Client commits to the full program fee whether paying in full or by installments.

5.4 If an installment is more than [7] days late, coaching sessions pause until it is paid. Overdue amounts carry interest at [LATE PAYMENT INTEREST RATE] or the maximum allowed by applicable law if lower [DELETE IF NOT USED].

5.5 Where a Sponsor pays, the Sponsor is responsible for payment and the Coach will invoice the Sponsor on [TERMS].

## 6. Rescheduling, cancellations, and pauses

6.1 Either Party may reschedule a session with at least [24 / 48] hours' notice.

6.2 Sessions cancelled with less notice, and missed sessions, count as used. The Coach will waive this [once] per program.

6.3 If the Client is more than [15] minutes late without notice, the session is treated as missed. Late arrivals end at the scheduled time.

6.4 If the Coach must cancel, the session will be rescheduled at no cost.

6.5 The Client may pause the program once for up to [4] weeks; the expiry date moves accordingly.

## 7. Confidentiality

7.1 The Coach will keep confidential all information the Client shares during coaching, and will not disclose it without the Client's consent, except:

- (a) where there is a risk of serious harm to the Client or others;
- (b) where disclosure is required by law, court order, or a regulator; or
- (c) as agreed in clause 7.2.

7.2 **Sponsor reporting (executive coaching).** The Coach will share with the Sponsor only: [ATTENDANCE / AGREED PROGRAM GOALS / THEMES APPROVED BY THE CLIENT]. Session content is not shared. Three-way meetings take place [AT START AND END OF PROGRAM].

7.3 The Coach may discuss anonymized coaching situations with a coaching supervisor for professional development, without identifying the Client.

7.4 The Coach stores notes securely and deletes them [12] months after the program ends, unless the Client asks earlier.

7.5 The Client will keep confidential any proprietary materials and exercises the Coach shares.

## 8. Client responsibilities

8.1 The Client is responsible for their own choices, actions, and results, in their life, career, business, health, and finances.

8.2 The Client agrees to be honest, to attend prepared, and to tell the Coach if the coaching is not meeting their needs.

8.3 The Coach does not guarantee specific outcomes, including income, promotion, health outcomes, or relationship outcomes.

## 9. Refunds and termination

9.1 *Choose one:* (a) The Client may cancel within [7] days of signing for a full refund, provided no session has taken place. (b) The program fee is non-refundable once the first session has taken place.

9.2 Either Party may end the coaching relationship with written notice if it is no longer helpful. If the Coach ends it for reasons other than the Client's breach, the Coach will refund fees for unused sessions.

9.3 If the Client ends the program early, fees already paid are [NON-REFUNDABLE / REFUNDED FOR UNUSED SESSIONS LESS [PERCENTAGE]%], and installments due remain payable [DELETE IF NOT APPLICABLE].

9.4 The Coach may end coaching immediately if the Client behaves abusively, or if the Coach considers continued coaching inappropriate under clause 2.4.

## 10. Materials

10.1 The Coach owns all worksheets, frameworks, and program materials. The Client may use them for personal purposes but not share or resell them.

## 11. Liability

11.1 The Coach's total liability under this Agreement is limited to the fees paid, except where the law does not allow that limit.

## 12. General

12.1 **Governing law:** [GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION].

12.2 **Entire agreement:** this Agreement forms the whole agreement. Changes must be in writing.

12.3 **E-signature:** this Agreement may be signed electronically.

---

## Signatures

| Coach | Client | Sponsor (if any) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Signature: ____________ | Signature: ____________ | Signature: ____________ |
| Name: [YOUR NAME] | Name: [CLIENT NAME] | Name: [SPONSOR CONTACT] |
| Date: [DATE] | Date: [DATE] | Date: [DATE] |

---

### How to use this template

1. Fill in the program table and choose one payment option in clause 5.2.
2. Keep clause 2 in every version; ask the client to initial 2.3.
3. Add a local crisis line in 2.5 for the client's country.
4. For executive coaching, agree clause 7.2 with both client and sponsor before the first session.
5. Have a lawyer in your jurisdiction review your filled-in version once before reuse.

*Template provided by Colo (trycolo.co). Not legal advice — review with a qualified professional in your jurisdiction.*