How much should I charge for private life coaching/image consulting?

[Kung Fu Steve]

On average, entrepreneurs don't find the business that makes them "successful" until 37.

The average age of successful tech founders is 42.

Take a breath, dude. You don't need to have it all figured out tonight.

Start with going inside and figuring out what would really excite you. What do you want your life to be like? And how can you enjoy the process because it ain't gonna happen anytime soon. That doesn't mean you shouldn't start today. It means you should have a little patience.

I joined this forum after having been homeless for 2 years. MJ, SteveO, Lighthouse, Sonya, Yvkleinsky, RussH, Runum, snowbank, biopase, and literally a dozen others pulled me out of my funk. Steered me in the right direction. Lifted me up when I was down.

It's been over a decade for me with this group and it's been a hell of a journey.

All I can promise is if you stick with it, learn, read, push yourself to ask more questions, educate yourself, work on yourself -- it won't be easy... but it'll be worth it.

 

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[BizyDad]

Well, they'll pay it if you can convince them to pay it. I just have a litany of questions though.

Are these software engineers really on Craigslist?
Would a typical Craigslister want help in this area, and how much could they afford? (Craiglist is a place people go for deals, in my experience, but others might have different experience)
What's in it for them? What is the benefit they are getting here? Dating help? Career help? Fashion tips? A promotion?
Do you have any testimonials or track record of getting these things accomplished for people?
For yourself?
If not, why should someone pay you? What are you other credibility builders that would convince an engineer to give you THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS just to be able to.,.. talk to you?... 12 times?

To answer your question. I get people to trust me because someone told them the results I got for them. And how did that happen. All the way back when I helped 2 people for free for a month to prove (to them and myself) that I could get results. Those 2 sent me my next 5 clients. That was eight years ago, and one of them sent me a prospect last week.

You might want to consider doing something similar. Help transform 5 engineers in 12 weeks for free and see how good your stuff really is.

I know, I know, you need something to happen faster than that. Ok, so make it happen. But remember the forum mantra, "the market doesn't care what you need".

HTH.

 

[Kung Fu Steve]

I hesitated to respond to this but I feel for you so let me do my best...

We've all been there.

MJ said it best and it's probably something you don't want to hear right now: there IS get rich quick... just not get rich easy.

Throwing up your first long-form sales letter on a website where people sell furniture and backdoor foot massages may not get you the $1,000/month coaching client you're looking for.

I have written copy for many many years and NONE of my sales letters work the first time. It takes a LOT of time, money, and energy to turn strangers into paying customers. And it's much more complicated than I (or anyone else here) can explain in a forum post.

First things first. The good thing is you have ambition.

The not-so-good news is you need another job.

If after you're stable and at least able to afford the bills, there are plenty of people here who can help you learn to take complete strangers and turn them into paying clients (and many of us will help for free of course). But we can't slay your current 30-day monster (the bills that will come due).

When you're desperate for money, it tends to run away from you.

You have commission breath. You look, sound, and give off an energy of desperation. No matter how badly you want to help people -- that's secondary. You need their money. You'll help them after.

Business cannot be run that way.

Before you go any further -- you've got to nail this thing down.

What kind of coaching are you actually offering? Are you actually going to coach dating and relationships? Or is it software engineering? Or is it life coaching? Or... what?

If you're serious you need to ask and answer:

1. Who do you want to work with?
2. What do THEY want to know?
3. HOW do they get it?

And after all of that, I'd ask you very skeptically (but sincerely), how do I know YOU are the person to provide that 3rd one?

 

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[Kung Fu Steve]

Well, I didn't expect to be met with positive reactions to my plan. I understand it may sound desperate. And I am transferring to another company. Where I will then be making pennies STILL. Seriously. It's not fair that I have to go out and be an Amazon delivery man and only make 18 an hour, not even being able to afford a car and needing food stamps...while others can simply sit on their a$$ at the computer making 40 an hour. Life isn't fair I guess. I am underpaid and overworked. I want a way out, that isn't me jumping off of a bridge. Like I said, something better change fast. I'm 29 and I don't have time to wait.

1. Who do I want to work with? The people! Who need help. Who struggle with women. With life. Etc...
2. They want to know how to find love and happiness. If they haven't already.
3. They get it by making small incremental changes. It doesn't happen overnight! It's a marathon, not a sprint.
I am nearing 30 and have the life experience to back me up. 20's were all about living and learning.

I am now 29, and it has to mean something. I can't stay stuck working for a corrupt company any longer!

You said it best here: this is a marathon, not a sprint.

Can I be honest?

I'll hallucinate you said yes and you see I actually care, I'm not just being a dick.

Your three answers are so far off the mark that you're doomed to fail... for now.

Who do you want to work with:

You have to be insanely specific here. You can't (or shouldn't) try to be everything for everybody. If you study any majorly successful coaching offers they are either one of two things: someone branded themselves so well over the course of decades that people go to them for advice... OR they help SPECIFIC people with SPECIFIC problems and nothing else.

Usually coaching comes from, you had a bad experience with something, you figured it out, and now you can help other people get over it.

"I help divorced men get over their exes and back into the dating game."
"I help single mothers manage their family while dating."
"I help single nerds get dates."
"I help 50-somethings get back out there"

These are cheesy examples but they aren't that far off.

But I'm not so sure you've been in any of these experiences... so the only way you'd really be able to help is by painstakingly interviewing people who successfully did it and show others what you learned. Or develop a different skill.

It doesn't sound like your sold on dating... or helping these people at all... it again sounds like you're pissed off in the moment so you're saying "I'll help anybody with anything as long as they give me some money". There's a lot of "social media" experts and "marketing pros" who lurk on this forum who sell 1k-5k offers and then come on here and ask "how do I get clients" ... I sure as hell hope you DON'T sell anybody anything yet.

What do THEY want to know?

You guessed at these answers. You can't guess. You actually have to ask, interview, understand. Never assume you know what they want. I've done 3,000 live presentations and trainings for companies now. There's not been a single time I didn't go a pre-session talk with the boss and a couple key team members to see what their challenges are and what they really need.

HOW do they get it?

Again. Specifics, brother. Step by step. What needs to happen to move someone from "aint got it" to "got it"

The phrase "Small incremental changes" doesn't work well on instructions to an Ikea table, and not so good when someone is desperate for a date because they've been alone for years.

REALLY take some time to answer those questions. You won't get anywhere until you've written a lot out and gotten really serious about it.

Side note:

If I can give some unsolicited advice... I know you're upset right now but blaming a "corrupt company" isn't helping. If you change how you see your job, you'll change how you feel. It's a vehicle to get you to your dreams... whatever you end of deciding that is.

You've got to start getting into some personal development. I highly recommend Jim Rohn. Many of his old seminars are free on Youtube.

 

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[Kak]

Meaning I have a full week to figure out a FASTLANE business

Oh boy... a full week...

Come on man...

 

[Kak]

I've been trying to figure it since 22. Maybe I'm just meant for the rat race. What a worthless way to live.

Wow, calm down. No one said that.

First of all, no to the life coach thing.

Second of all, you are 29, you are not dead. I'll be a whopping 31 in a month. The majority of people that listen to my radio show about entrepreneurship are between 30 and 45.

There are dumb asses everywhere that get decent jobs and blow all their money. Don't long to be that person.

We know people that own a two homes, brand new cars, they are always showing off with money.... Covid hit, and the husband told me they would be fine because "they had a good March." LOL. Ah, so the last 4 weeks of your life is a big consideration to your financial solvency... got it. Geez. Those are the types of people you are comparing yourself to.

 

[biophase]

I am in a rut right now. A speedbump. Can't even buy a dang car. Having to rely on room-mates for rides. It sucks.

And tired of wasting my life away doing something I don't want to be doing.

Probably shouldn't be doing any life coaching for anyone at this point.

As a dating coach maybe you're qualified, I don't know? $1000/mo as a dating coach seems high. Professional matchmakers that go out and find you dates are around that range.

 

[tpuffer]

You work in a logistics position. Do you have the ability to be the best person in that position so that you can get a pay raise? Concurrently, while busting A$$ you could further educate yourself on logistics and look to parlay that into an even higher paying position, or look to leverage your experience and newly acquired knowledge into a position somewhere else.

Another thing to remember is that throughout history it isn't the ones whom do the grunt work and bitch about it who get rewarded. It's the ones who do the grunt work, further their knowledge and compound their impact. Steve Ballmer didn't complain that he wasn't CEO of Microsoft, or that he wasn't being paid enough. He worked hard, learned, added value and over time put himself in a position to become CEO.

One last item - What's the last book you've read?

 

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[sparechange]

you don't even work and want to give out life coaching...



almost as crazy as a guy that cant even form a sentence running for president...

 

[Lex DeVille]

backdoor foot massages

The real Craigslist sales secret comes out and it's not life coaching!



I bet there are people who would pay $1,000 for it right now too, even for an amateur.

But if they lean over real close and speak too loud when they say, "remind me exactly what you will do for this $1,000.."

It's a cop!

 

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[Andy Black]

I do not think life coaching is a good idea either, but I'd still encourage you to go and try. If you succeed, good, if you crash, you'll learn a valuable lesson.

The reason why I didn’t recommend it is for the people being coached. If you’re coming from the wrong place then you could do more harm than good to someone else.

 

[Kung Fu Steve]

interesting, seems a bit late.

 

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[biophase]

To be fair I thought people that answered the thread were a bit unfair to the OP.

I do not think life coaching is a good idea either, but I'd still encourage you to go and try. If you succeed, good, if you crash, you'll learn a valuable lesson.

Is it fair to the person would paid him and is taking his advice?

 

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[BizyDad]

Tick tock. Tick tock. You said you had a week to figure this out and, near as I can tell, you've wasted TWO WHOLE DAYS.

You don't want it bad enough. You know how I know?

If there are any other suggestions for what I can do that don't require me to age rapidly over a short period of time, I'd love to hear them!

Because you are still waiting for someone to coach you to the answer.

This forum has dozens of stories of people not much different from you who really did something about their situation and now are running successful businesses.

Let's put aside the tech/e-commerce stories. You've got people who started pressure washing or landscaping or hauling trash or wrote a book or course or bought a 4plex, and on and on. Shoot yesterday I learned some guy just tweeted his way to sales. I thought Twitter was on life support. He even shared what course taught him how to do it.

This forum has answers for you. But you're spending your time waiting for the answers to come to you. You have to go and get it,no one is going to give you anything.

The people on here mean well, they are giving you the best advice they can, and it's mostly good advice. But they aren't you, which is why you keep throwing up roadblocks to all the suggestions. Only you are walking your life and only you can find the answers you seek.

So do it. And come back and tell us how it goes.

 

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[tpuffer]

I have an issue asking for pay raises. Like I am out of line or something. The thing is Amazon Drivers aren't treated the best. We are replaceable. Sad but true. Software engineers make more than us despite all the dangerous things we do and places we have to go.

Anyway, the last book I read was 'Unscripted '. I also read 'Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion' a few months back.

​

If you don't ask - you don't get.

Are YOU as an individual ALL Amazon drivers?? What can you do as a driver to stand out from the others? I already gave you one thing.

Software engineers have also worked their A$$ off to acquire a certain level of knowledge and skillset and are being paid commensurately to deploy said skillset and knowledge. Getting your license takes FAR less time. And to drive around doesn't take a high level of knowledge nor skillset.

What did you learn from both of those? Reading to say you've read is worthless - did you retain any of the knowledge or concepts?

It's an absolute necessity to acquire more knowledge and skill to do anything.

Here's my suggestion - Work whatever job you need to in order to pay the bills. Be damn good at it so you don't get fired. Work on knowledge attainment and skill attainment in your off time.

Most people on here have done this. When I wanted to learn real estate I was waking up at 4:30-5 AM to study. Drive an hour ONE WAY to work. Study on lunch. Drive the hour back home. Study more.

What are your next five moves to move forward? Don't answer with more bullsh!t complaining either. We get it - life is a struggle. Get over it and craft a plan to struggle toward something that will better your situation.

 

[Kybalion]

I agree with others that life coaching might not be your thing. However, it sounds like you're good with girls so here's what you can do:

1. Find three software dudes, who want to get laid (should be fairly easy, no offense software dudes).

2. Help them get laid. For free. You mentioned you're quite the lady's man, so you'll be able to figure out how to do this.

3. Ask them for video testimonials. If you've helped them with image consulting get before and after pictures as well.

3.1 Ask for referrals - I bet every software dude knows other software dudes, who may need help with getting their hardware wet. (Obviously, start charging them)

4. Create a simple sales page and leverage the social proof from the video testimonials.

The next steps are just one of many traffic/lead generation strategies you could employ. Feel free to adjust if necessary.

6. Create content around the three dudes with a link to your sales page. You won't get a lot of organic exposure, but people who'll look you up will know you're legit.

7. Hit up forums where software dudes actually are like Reddit or something. Share your content and make sure it's easy for them to find your sales page.

8. Voila! You've got a dating coaching business. Selling an offer that generates 1k/month should not be a problem at this point.

But honestly, I think you won't do any of this. Because of this belief:

"It's not fair that I have to go out and be an Amazon delivery man and only make 18 an hour, not even being able to afford a car and needing food stamps...while others can simply sit on their a$$ at the computer making 40 an hour."

What's so unfair about it?

The fact that the delivery man has to physically move doesn't mean he provides more value than others who ''simply'' sit on their asses (sign me up for that job).

If you really think that sitting on your a$$ will get you $40/hour you're in BIG trouble...

Building a coaching business can be done from a sedentary position, but there's A LOOOOOT more involved than just sitting on a chair.

Anyways, good luck man. Having a good mindset is hard (especially during hardship), so I am not bashing you and I am sure you'll figure this out if you stick with it. Stay strong!

 

[Kung Fu Steve]

37 is the average number? Sounds like BS imo

A Study of 2.7 Million Startups Found the Ideal Age to Start a Business (and It's Much Older Than You Think)

If you're in your 40s or 50s, you might think it's too late to start a business. Wrong: It's actually the perfect time.

www.inc.com

 

[Timmy C]

Hello ya'll, I am currently laying out a plan to offer 12-week life coaching/image consulting VIA Zoom (as of now). I am planning on going to the Craigslist services section and posting my pitch (which I am currently writing copy for).

My question is, how much should I charge for private coaching like this per person? I don't want to short change myself, and I want it to be worth my time. I was thinking 1K per month, but I am still at the negative belief that people can't afford/won't pay that much, even though plenty of people who are in the software industry CAN afford that (and are probably my target group anyways, they are often sad and feel they have no purpose, can't get a date, etc.). It's a 3 month, once a week coaching service. In-depth. I also will provide proof of my knowledge and experience in the topics I will be covering each week.

Also, how should I accept payments? Paypal or CashApp? Etc? And will people pay in advance and hopefully assume I didn't rip them off? How do you have people trust you in this regard?

I got laid off of my real job, and I NEED something to happen. Any help in this regard would be appreciated, as I have never really done a service-based business before. Thank you!

As others have said, life coaching is not a good idea. For obvious reasons, others have stated.

Honestly, dude, it's a bit delusional to think you can create that sort of income that quickly from where you currently are. I know because I had the same delusions.

I have been at this for a couple of years now, and am still working a job and working on other income streams in all the spare time I have.

In those 2 years of busting my a$$, I have about $200 a month of passive income coming in. And I didn't slack off that entire time.

No one is paying you for that let me tell you, people would pay for that, they just wouldn't pay you for it.

I believe my breakthrough is just around the corner.

Get a dam job and you will get there in time.

Getting a job should be priority number 1.

 

[Ronak]

You really have to stop with all the negative self talk.....




THAT....










Right there!










STOP!









Pause......











Deep breath.....








In.....












Out....








Notice what just happened. All the mental chatter, the emotions, the feelings.






Are they helping or hurting?




This takes some practice, but the first step is noticing what's happening inside your mind.



Then you will be able to regain control of the situation.









That'll be $999

 

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[Deleted78083]

The reason why I didn’t recommend it is for the people being coached. If you’re coming from the wrong place then you could do more harm than good to someone else.

Fairness is not a factor when you are trying to be successful and better yourself. Everyone is being real with the OP in that he needs to have the right mindset and put in the work and that it will be a struggle.

No one born in this world is guaranteed everything - live to old age, good health while living, success (whatever that definition is). The guarantee in life is that it will be a struggle whether you work hard to add value or don't work hard to add value.

OP needs to take care of their mindset to properly move forward. I believe that is a fair assessment.

Is it fair to the person would paid him and is taking his advice?

I didn't think about it because I thought the OP would realize it is not a good idea before getting a first client.

My comment was based on the principle that it is better to pursue in a wrong direction, make mistakes, and adjust, than being paralyzed, but maybe it was wrongly applied in this context.

My bad.

 

[Devilery]

I'm by no means an expert in the field, but what most people here have tried politely tell you is - you can't be a life coach if your own life is a mess. You worked a low-paid job (which you didn't enjoy), and are now unemployed. You 'guess' that life is unfair, and are not doing well nor financially nor mentally.
And on top of that, in a business-context - will you seriously try to find software developers who will pay you $1000 to talk to you on Craiglist? That's where you get cheap second-hand lawnmovers.

Who are the people you want to (and can) coach?
What problems do they have? You can't solve them all. Be specific. Is it life coaching, career development coaching, dating coaching? Pick one.
How are you going to deliver? Do you have any formal or practical background to do so? How will you 'convince' someone that your coaching is worth any money? What makes you credible?

These are hard questions and certainly not fun answer, but you must to avoid an even harder slap in the face when you realize that no one is paying you.

Find your audience. (Talk to people!)
Find a common, incredibly painful, problem. (Ask them!)
Develop your value proposal.
Learn how to deliver.
Try & fail & learn for free to build up your track record.

And only then, start your coaching business.

Edit: just got an idea that might help. I believe many coaches offer free introductory consultations. Sign up for a few! Learn how established coaches work, and also sign up on their emaiI lists.

Another one, very simple. Create a 'value post' with a genuine intention to help in some way and share it on a related subreddit. Be helpful, answer to all the commenters. If a longer discussion sparks, send a DM and offer your help in exchange for a testimonial. You will learn and build track record. And you can get started right now!

 

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[Johnny boy]

Hello ya'll, I am currently laying out a plan to offer 12-week life coaching/image consulting VIA Zoom (as of now). I am planning on going to the Craigslist services section and posting my pitch (which I am currently writing copy for).

My question is, how much should I charge for private coaching like this per person? I don't want to short change myself, and I want it to be worth my time. I was thinking 1K per month, but I am still at the negative belief that people can't afford/won't pay that much, even though plenty of people who are in the software industry CAN afford that (and are probably my target group anyways, they are often sad and feel they have no purpose, can't get a date, etc.). It's a 3 month, once a week coaching service. In-depth. I also will provide proof of my knowledge and experience in the topics I will be covering each week.

Also, how should I accept payments? Paypal or CashApp? Etc? And will people pay in advance and hopefully assume I didn't rip them off? How do you have people trust you in this regard?

I got laid off of my real job, and I NEED something to happen. Any help in this regard would be appreciated, as I have never really done a service-based business before. Thank you!

Terrible terrible long term plan

you need to be making content and building an audience

how much would you pay for Tony Robbins training if he was on Craigslist? Jack shit probably.

 

[BlackSuperman]

Is there any reason you can’t just get another job while you build your business? Let me tell you, I had huge comp experience for a decade and even now, I’m still building my business. As these others above said, it’s a marathon not a race. Take a chill pill man and don’t worry too much.

Great thing about being human? We can adapt to most living situations.

 

[Andy Black]

Maybe these might help:

• From Flat-Broke to Financial Freedom: How to Get Started When You Have No Money
• When your back's against the wall...
• Who have you helped?

You're doing a lot of driving then? Do you get a chance to listen to podcasts?
Here's one similar to MJ's:

• www.tropicalmba.com/services

I don't recommend you do life coaching.

1. Get your own head right first.
2. Gary Vaynerchuk: How to build a personal brand from nothing

 

[csalvato]

I am an Amazon delivery boy.

This is your first problem. You don't have any skills aside from driving and dropping off packages (or are otherwise not using them, which would be a head scratcher).

You need to develop skills that other people will pay a lot of money for. Like accounting, painting, powerwashing, lawn mowing, computer programming, copywriting, etc.

This job is so physically demanding (i.e. you can't do anything while delivering aside from delivering) that it closes off your options to work on other businesses.

Your first priority should be to learn a higher valued, more marketable skill, imo.

Having a life coach who is making their living from delivering Amazon packages seems horribly misguided to me.

 

[biophase]

I refuse to get into a job where I am underpaid and it ages me. I refuse. Not when I know there are people who can simply work from home with their laptop. Nah cuz. That's what I want to do.

And yes, I am good with the ladies. The only thing stopping me from my true potential is my logistical situation.

If other people on this site can retire early, so can I.

You know many people here worked jobs before they ran a business full time. All you do is want this and that, but you won't do the work to get it. How about you get a job where you aren't underpaid and stressed. What does that job look like to you and are you qualified to do it?

You can move out if you get a job, then you can get all the ladies that you want. So you are saying that you are keeping yourself from your true potential because you don't want to take a certain job?

 

[sparechange]

On average, entrepreneurs don't find the business that makes them "successful" until 37.

The average age of successful tech founders is 42.

Take a breath, dude. You don't need to have it all figured out tonight.

Start with going inside and figuring out what would really excite you. What do you want your life to be like? And how can you enjoy the process because it ain't gonna happen anytime soon. That doesn't mean you shouldn't start today. It means you should have a little patience.

I joined this forum after having been homeless for 2 years. MJ, SteveO, Lighthouse, Sonya, Yvkleinsky, RussH, Runum, snowbank, biopase, and literally a dozen others pulled me out of my funk. Steered me in the right direction. Lifted me up when I was down.

It's been over a decade for me with this group and it's been a hell of a journey.

All I can promise is if you stick with it, learn, read, push yourself to ask more questions, educate yourself, work on yourself -- it won't be easy... but it'll be worth it.

37 is the average number? Sounds like BS imo

 

[BlackSuperman]

I can and I am. It's just hard to find the time to build a biz when you work.

I get you man. But plenty of individuals here work full-time while also building a business. Shoot I work at a retail store and I still run an agency.

you can do it man!

you just need to not rush success. Do everything you can to up the chances. But remember it’s a process. Not an event. And not a week event otherwise there would be no need for MJ’s book.

I tried the lifecoach image consultant thing. It isn’t as great as you think. If you really want to succeed in a week’s time, get really good at identifying a problem 50% of the world needs and would pay for. Otherwise, be patient, get your job, work on a side hustle to free yourself from that job, and use the extra time from your side hustle to create a fastlane business.

When you get on a freeway, do you immediately get in the fastlane? Or do you merge yourself to the fastlane?

 

[Raoul Duke]

Oh boy... a full week...

Come on man...

 

[csalvato]

Now you know why I want this so badly. Spending your 20's being emotionally abused will do that to you.

I get it.

I think you're just making the case even stronger as to why you shouldn't be coaching someone else.

What are your unique strengths? What can you be the best in the world at? And who is paying for that?

Identify the answer to these questions, and you will go a long way.

It does not sound like coaching someone on any level is playing to your strengths or experiences, from what I can tell.