How to Start a Relationship Coaching Business

A relationship coach offers helpful, actionable tips about how to strengthen relationships with romantic partners. A relationship coach may work with husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, or single people. It’s unequivocally different from couple’s therapy in that it focuses more on the behavior patterns of the relationship and not as much the thought patterns. It doesn’t require couples to delve into their past, or to open up about their innermost desires and fears. It is not designed to address serious underlying issues like mental illness or domestic violence. It’s a method of helping couples or individuals find the motivation they need to tweak their habits, so they can survive and thrive. It helps single people identify what they need in a relationship, and separate those needs from what they want. Coaches help communities by resolving conflict, promoting domestic harmony, and establishing healthier coping skills.

You may also be interested in additional side hustle ideas.

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Start a relationship coaching business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Relationship Coaching Business
  2. Form your Relationship Coaching Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Relationship Coaching Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Relationship Coaching Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Relationship Coaching Business
  7. Get Relationship Coaching Business Insurance
  8. Define your Relationship Coaching Business Brand
  9. Create your Relationship Coaching Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your relationship coaching business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Relationship Coaching Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a relationship coaching business?

Costs can be very low to start, and may only involve the renting of a small office space. Depending on your location, this could be as low as $400 (or less) a month. Most couples are willing to be counseled without a lot of material comforts. You can even conduct your business online or from your home to further reduce costs.

What are the ongoing expenses for a relationship coaching business?

Relationship coaches typically have the following expenses:

  • Rent
  • Advertising materials
  • Professional license renewal fees
  • Commercial insurance (if in a physical space)

Who is the target market?

The target market can be literally anyone who wants to have a healthy romantic relationship. Single people benefit by identifying what they need, and what the roadblocks are to getting what they need. Couples can identify how better to cope with common strife that everyone encounters on a daily basis.

Or you may wish to only focus on a particular type of person when it comes to your coaching business, depending on your preferences. For example, divorced women over the age of 40, or professional couples who work very demanding schedules. This type of specific branding can help your target demographic if you’re advertising yourself online because relationship coaching is a broad term that may unearth a number of irrelevant services. 

How does a relationship coaching business make money?

Coaches make money by charging for their time, either by half hour, per hour, or per monthly package. In general, coaches are known for doing monthly packages because they’re trying to get their clients to commit to a better lifestyle.

How much can you charge customers?

Relationship coaches charge anywhere from $50 an hour to more than $300 an hour. How much you charge is based on your reputation, results, and target demographic.

How much profit can a relationship coaching business make?

Relationship coaches can make plenty of profit, considering the overhead is exceptionally low. An online business may cost you as little as $20 a month or less for web hosting fees. With even just three clients a day, you could make about $130 an hour if you charge $50 an hour.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Relationship coaches may consider expanding their services to include couples retreats or group counseling to increase their profits. In addition to gaining you more clients, group counseling is also an excellent way to give people the coaching they need at a reduced price.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your relationship coaching business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your relationship coaching business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

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Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a relationship coaching business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Services Contract

Relationship coaching businesses should require clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership. Here is an example of one such services agreement.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Relationship Coaching Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Relationship Coaching Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a relationship coaching business

You should be promoting yourself as a way for people to clarify any ongoing problems they may seen in their relationship. You should not promise results (because it’s ultimately up to the people to take your advice), but you should speak directly to people’s need for a convenient solution.

For example, if you specialize in unmarried couples with kids, promote yourself as someone who understands their lifestyle. Your advertising should convey your ability to ensure that everyone in the relationship feels secure and supported. This can be done either online with an intuitive website and active blog, or through physical print ads in newspaper or flyers in popular places throughout the area you serve. Use real client testimonials whenever possible to back up your claims. 

How to keep customers coming back

The best way to get customers coming back is to listen to them and respond directly to their needs. Your mannerisms and communication techniques need to instill confidence in clients that you understand how to coach them through this difficult time. 

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is good for those with excellent listening skills, and for those who enjoy the idea of coaching other people through their problems. Entrepreneurs who start this business should want to promote a better understanding of why people do what they do, and how to better respond in stressful situations.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a relationship coaching business?

A typical day may consist of the following in a relationship coaching business:

  • Counseling clients
  • Completing intake paperwork
  • Advertising online/physical print
  • Learning new coaching techniques

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful relationship coaching business?

In addition to having good people skills, you’ll also need either formal coaching experience, a master’s degree, or a Ph.D in a relevant field such as Psychology. 

What is the growth potential for a relationship coaching business?

Growth potential is high when it comes to this service, due to the inherent human need for better relationships. The divorce rate for marriages is around 50%, and it’s clear that many of those relationships can be saved with professional insight and a better approach to solving problems. Small slights and misunderstandings add up over the years, and can contribute to serious mental blocks when it comes to relating to the people we love. The growth potential stems from gaining the perspective necessary to let hurt feelings go and face tomorrow with realistic expectations.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a relationship coaching business?

One of the keys to success is differentiating yourself from a therapist. You are much more like a personal trainer for relationships than an analyst for the human mind. This can help those who are naturally averse to therapy see the value of your services. In addition, be open to the idea of connecting with clients either online through video chat or over the phone. While it does help to be able to be in the same room with the other person, it’s not strictly necessary to establish a real bond with your clients. This is one of the best ways to open up your client base for a more profitable practice.

You should also be clear about what your services are. Never promise to save a marriage or to keep a family together. Have easy-to-understand contracts printed out for each client at the beginning of the session, and go over the basics with them before they sign. 

How and when to build a team

Most relationship coaches operate their businesses themselves, but when demand grows, you may consider hiring equally qualified coaches to establish a presence and brand in a particular neighborhood. 

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading