10 Non-Negotiable Clauses Every Coaching Contract Must Include (That Most Templates Get Wrong)
Looking for a coaching contract — but not sure what you actually need in one?
Most coaches don’t run into problems because they don’t have a contract.
They run into problems because the coaching contract they found online looks professional — but then completely fail when a client misses sessions, asks for refunds, pushes boundaries, or stops paying.
I’ve reviewed and drafted coaching contracts for coaches across many niches, and I see the same issue over and over again:
Most coaching contract templates don’t clearly define scope, payment rules, refunds, rescheduling, or responsibility — which is precisely where misunderstandings turn into disputes.
In this post, I’ll walk you through 10 key clauses every coaching contract needs that the average simple coaching agreement template either skips entirely or gets dangerously wrong.
By the end, you’ll know how to spot the difference between a contract that’s just a shell — and one that actually protects your time, income, and boundaries.
This post is all about the key terms your coaching contract needs to give your business real clarity and legal protection — but that most templates miss.
👉 Get the 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template that includes all 10 essentials — fully customizable to your coaching business and niche.
Best Coaching Contract
The 10 Key Clauses Your Coaching Contract Template Needs But Most Get Wrong
1. Clear Scope of the Coaching Program (What You’re Actually Providing)
A proper coaching contract needs to clearly spell out what the client is paying for — and just as importantly, what they are not.
❌ What most coaching agreement templates get wrong
This is where most coaching contracts quietly fail.
Their scope section will either be:
too vague (“coaching services”), or
left completely blank, leaving you to define your services from scratch without any legal guidance (How do you know how to legally define your services?).
When the scope isn’t clearly defined, clients fill in the gaps themselves. They start assuming things like:
unlimited access to you
longer or extra coaching calls
constant voice notes or DMs
ongoing support whenever they feel like they need it
That’s how boundaries get blurred — and disputes start.
✅ What a solid coaching contract should include
A clear scope clause should define:
how many coaching sessions are included
how often they happen (weekly, monthly, etc.)
how long each session lasts
how sessions are delivered (Zoom, platform, etc.)
whether check-ins are included — and how often
what materials (if any) are provided
Just as important: it should clearly state that anything not listed is not included.
💡 My 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template already includes a clear scoping structure — you just customize it to your program.
2. A Fee Structure That Matches How You Actually Coach
This is another place where a generic, simple coaching agreement template will quietly create problems.
Many coaching contract templates either:
lock you into one pricing model, or
vaguely say the client “agrees to pay a fee” — without clearly tying payment to access, timing, or consequences.
❌ What most coaching contract templates get wrong
Most templates:
don’t clearly distinguish between one-time fees and recurring fees
fail to specify whether fees are earned upfront or over time
leave room for clients to argue when payment is actually due
✅ What a proper coaching contract should include
Your fee clause should clearly state:
whether the fee is one-time or recurring
if it’s a one-time fee; when payment is made (upfront)
if it’s a recurring fee; when upfront recurring payments are charged (weekly or monthly)
that payment must be made before coaching services are provided
what happens if payment is late or fails
Clear fee terms protect your cash flow and prevent payment-related disputes later.
💡 My 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template includes structured fee options — so you choose the model that fits your coaching business.
3. Remedies for Non-Payment, Late Payments & Chargebacks
Most coaching contracts include termination as the only remedy in case of non-payment.
But, in real life, coaches usually don’t want to terminate the contract the moment a payment fails. You want to pause the coaching, stop delivering sessions, and give the client a chance to fix the issue — without continuing to coach for free.
❌ What most coaching contract templates get wrong
Most coaching contracts:
treat non-payment as a termination issue only
don’t allow temporary suspension
force an all-or-nothing choice: keep coaching, or end the contract
That leaves coaches stuck delivering sessions they haven’t been paid for — just to avoid blowing up the entire agreement.
✅ What a proper coaching contract should include
Your coaching contract should clearly state that if payment fails, is cancelled, or just late, you may:
suspend (in other words, pause) the coaching program immediately
cancel upcoming sessions while payment is outstanding
stop access to materials and support
resume the program once payment is fixed
but still leave you the choice to terminate the coaching relationship at your sole discretion.
💡 My 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template includes suspension as a separate remedy — so you keep control without immediately terminating the relationship.
4. No Rollovers (Why Unused Sessions Should Expire)
Unused sessions are one of the biggest sources of friction in coaching — and one of the easiest problems to prevent.
If your coach contract doesn’t clearly say what happens to unused sessions, clients will assume they can bank sessions indefinitely.
❌ What most coaching contract templates get wrong
The average simple coaching agreement template does not explain what happens if sessions aren’t used.
That leaves room for arguments like:
“I paid for these — I’ll use them later.”
“Can we extend the program?”
“Let’s just add them to next month.”
✅ What an airtight coaching contract should include
A clear no-rollover clause should state that:
weekly/monthly sessions and check-ins must be used within that week/month
missed or unused sessions automatically expire
cancelled sessions don’t carry over
the term of the coaching contract is not extended because sessions weren’t used
This protects you from open-ended obligations and prevents emotional labor from piling up after the program ends.
💡 My 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template includes a clear no-rollover rule — so sessions don’t linger indefinitely.
5. Clear Rescheduling Rules (Before Your Calendar Turns Into Chaos)
Rescheduling sounds harmless — until it isn’t.
If your coaching contract doesn’t clearly set rescheduling rules, clients will assume they can move sessions around freely, often at the last minute.
❌ What most coaching contract templates get wrong
Most templates:
don’t set notice periods
don’t limit how often sessions can be moved
That’s how calendars turn into moving targets, and boundaries slowly disappear.
✅ What a solid coaching contract should include
Your rescheduling clause should clearly state:
whether rescheduling is allowed at all
how much notice is required
how many times a session may be rescheduled
what happens if notice isn’t given (extra fee or automatically cancelled?)
Clear rules prevent last-minute changes from becoming the norm.
💡 My 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template includes structured rescheduling options — so flexibility doesn’t turn into chaos.
6. Lateness Rules (Late Still Ends on Time)
If your coaching contract doesn’t address lateness, clients will assume lost time can be “made up” later.
That’s how a 60-minute session slowly turns into 2 hours.
❌ What most coaching contract templates get wrong
Most templates:
don’t mention lateness at all
don’t clarify what happens if a client joins late
don’t give the coach the right to end or cancel the session
That leaves coaches feeling pressured to extend sessions or sit and wait until the client finally shows up 20 minutes later.
✅ What a proper coaching contract should include
A clear lateness clause should state that:
sessions start and end at the scheduled times
late arrival does not extend the session
the coach is not required to wait indefinitely; sessions may be cancelled if the client is too late
This protects your time boundaries and keeps sessions predictable.
💡 My 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template includes clear lateness rules — so late doesn’t quietly become longer.
7. A Real Refund Policy (Not Just “No Refunds”)
A lot of coaches think a refund policy means one line that says “no refunds.”
That’s rarely enough.
Refund disputes usually don’t come from clients who didn’t read the policy — they come from policies that don’t explain when refunds are excluded, when they might apply, and why.
❌ What most coaching contract templates get wrong
The average coaching agreement contract relies on a generic “no refunds” sentence, which leaves room for arguments like:
“I changed my mind.”
“I only attended one call.”
“I didn’t use everything!”
✅ What an ironclad coaching contract should include
A strong refund section should clearly state:
whether refunds are excluded entirely or only in certain situations
what happens if the client cancels before the coaching program starts or during the coaching program
what happens if the coach terminates early
that digital materials are non-refundable once access is granted
This gives the client complete clarity and no room to negotiate refunds you don’t allow.
💡 My 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template includes a structured refund policy with clear scenarios — not just a one-line disclaimer.
8. Termination for Unsafe or Abusive Client Behavior
As a coach, you need the right to walk away when a client’s behavior makes the coaching relationship unsafe, hostile, or unreasonable to continue.
However, not all coaching contracts allow you to do that...
❌ What most coaching contract templates get wrong
The average coach contract:
does not address client behavior at all
assumes problems will only be financial
offer no clear exit if a client becomes abusive or aggressive
That leaves coaches feeling stuck in situations they never agreed to tolerate.
✅ What a solid coaching contract should include
A proper coaching contract template free of fluff should clearly allow termination if a client:
behaves aggressively, abusively, or harasses you
engages in unlawful or fraudulent behavior
makes continuation of the coaching program unreasonable or unsafe
This protects your safety, mental space, and professional boundaries — without needing to justify or argue your decision.
💡 My 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template includes clear termination rights for inappropriate or unsafe client behavior — so you’re not forced to continue a bad situation.
9. Client Representations & Cooperation Obligations
A coaching contract shouldn’t just list what you have to do.
It also needs to clearly state what the client is responsible for.
Without this, clients can shift blame when things don’t go as expected.
❌ What most coaching contract templates get wrong
Most coaching contracts:
focus almost entirely on the coach’s obligations
don’t require the client to cooperate or participate properly
say nothing about honesty, readiness, or respectful behavior
That makes it easy for clients to claim the coaching “didn’t work” — even when they didn’t show up, didn’t engage, or ignored guidance.
✅ What a proper coaching contract should include
Your coach contract should require the client to:
actively participate and cooperate
provide accurate and honest information
show up on time and prepared
behave respectfully and safely
take responsibility for their own decisions and actions
This shifts responsibility back to the client, where it belongs.
💡 My 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template includes clear client representations and cooperation duties — so expectations are mutual, not one-sided.
10. Niche-Specific Disclaimers (Because Coaching ≠ Regulated Advice)
One generic disclaimer is not enough for coaching.
Different coaching niches carry different legal risks. A mindset coach, health coach, business coach, or career coach does not face the same liability exposure — but most coaching contract templates treat them as if they do.
❌ What most coaching contract templates get wrong
Most templates:
use one vague, catch-all disclaimer
don’t reflect the coach’s actual niche
fail to clearly separate coaching from regulated professions
That’s how coaches accidentally drift into medical, mental health, legal, financial, or career advice territory without protection.
✅ What a fully customizable coaching contract should include
A proper coaching contract template should include niche-specific disclaimer options that match the type of coaching you offer, for example:
A mindset or trauma-adjacent coach should clearly state that they are not a psychologist, therapist, counsellor, or mental health professional, and that the coaching does not constitute therapy or mental health treatment.
A health, wellness, or nutrition-focused coach should state that they are not a doctor or licensed nutritionist, and that the coaching does not provide medical or nutritional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
A business or money coach should state that they are not a licensed financial, tax, or legal advisor, and that the coaching does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice.
A real-estate-focused coach should state that they are not a licensed real estate agent, broker, or professional, and that the coaching does not involve real estate representation or professional advice.
A career or leadership coach should state that they are not a career counsellor, recruiter, or HR professional, and that the coaching does not include job placement, hiring advice, or HR services.
On top of that, the contract should clearly state that all information is educational only and does not replace professional advice, even if the coach holds qualifications in a related field.
That’s what prevents clients from later claiming they relied on your coaching as regulated advice.
💡 My 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template includes selectable, niche-specific disclaimer options — so your contract reflects your coaching niche without over- or under-disclaiming.
The ULTIMATE Coaching Contract Template Free of Fluff
A coaching contract isn’t there to make things complicated. It’s there to make expectations boringly clear — before problems start.
If your contract clearly covers scope, payments, scheduling, refunds, boundaries, responsibility, and disclaimers, you don’t have to argue, explain, or renegotiate later.
You just point to the contract.
Get a Coaching Contract That Covers All 10 Clauses (Without Guesswork)
If you want a coaching contract that already includes every clause you just read about — written clearly, structured properly, and ready to customize —
👉 Get the 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template
This template is built to protect you when clients:
assume unlimited access
miss sessions or show up late
reschedule last-minute
stop paying or trigger chargebacks
ask for refunds, you don’t allow
push boundaries or behave unreasonably
expect results you never guaranteed
treat coaching like regulated advice
Instead of reacting case by case, your contract already answers these situations.
👉 Get the 1-on-1 Coaching Contract Template here
Want Full Coverage Beyond a Simple Coaching Agreement Template?
Running group programs, offering one-off calls, sharing testimonials, or selling workbooks or courses alongside your coaching?
The Coach Contract Bundle includes the 1-on-1 Coaching Contract — plus the additional legal documents coaches usually realize they need after something goes wrong.
👉 Explore the Coach Contract Bundle
This post was all about what actually belongs in a coaching contract (and what most templates miss).
Other posts you may like:
