Coaching Contracts 101: The 7 Legal Templates You Actually Need to Protect Your Biz
Wondering what coaching contracts you actually need to legally protect your coaching business? I’m sharing the 7 essential legal templates you need to protect and scale your coaching practice.
As a lawyer who works with coaches every day, I know firsthand how confusing the legal side of coaching can be. When I first started working with coaches, I kept seeing the same problems: vague refund terms, major liability risks, clients overstepping boundaries — and it always came back to one thing: they didn’t have the right coaching contracts in place.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the 7 coaching contracts every coach should have to protect and scale their business, including:
The essentials you need in your coaching contracts, down to your niche, whether you need a life coaching contract template or a sports coach contract template
Your website policies and testimonial release forms to safely market your business
Group coaching terms you need when you’re ready to scale your coaching practice
Plus the essential digital product protections you need to earn money while you sleep (and not risk losing it all).
Whether you’re offering private sessions, group programs, eBooks, an online course, or all of the above, these coaching contracts will help you stay compliant, set boundaries, protect your income, and scale your business.
You’ll learn what each contract is for, why it matters, and what legal risks you’ll avoid by using it — with examples pulled straight from real issues I’ve helped coaches fix.
This post is all about the coaching contracts you need to run and scale your business without legal risk.
Key Coaching Contracts
Every Key Coaching Contract: From the Life Coaching Contract Template to Your Digital Product Terms
1. The 1-on-1 Coaching Agreement: Protect Your Boundaries & Income
The base template of the coaching contracts you need is the 1-on-1 coaching contract. This agreement sets the tone and the terms for your private coaching clients, so there’s no confusion about what you do, how you work, or how you get paid.
This isn’t just a “nice-to-have,” even if you’re paid upfront — it’s your first line of defense against when things go sideways and sets boundaries clients can’t overstep.
Here’s exactly why you need a proper coaching contract template:
Protects your income: Sets clear payment terms, late fees, and what happens if a client ghosts or misses payments
Clarifies scope: Outlines what’s included (and what’s not) so clients don’t expect unlimited access, calls, or support at 3AM
Handles cancellations + refunds: Includes a customisable refund clause and cancellation policy — so you’re not scrambling when a client changes their mind at the last minute (and have the right to keep your money when they don’t show up)
Limits your liability: Includes niche-specific disclaimers that protect you if clients don’t get results or misunderstand your role
Sets boundaries: Clearly defines how communication works, when you’re available, and how the coaching relationship ends
Without this one of the coaching contracts, you risk:
A client cancelling halfway and demanding a full refund — even though you’ve already delivered half the sessions
Getting hit with a chargeback because you “didn’t do what they expected” — even though you never promised results (and they didn’t put in the work)
Being bombarded with DMs and late-night voice notes — because the client thought they had 24/7 access to you
A client blaming you for their lack of results — and threatening to “go public” if you don’t refund them
Awkward scope creep — like a client casually asking for “just a quick extra session” every week
This one simple coaching agreement template puts a stop to all of that — that is, if you have the right one.
Included in: Basic, Pro, and VIP Coach Contracts Bundle
Want to get your coaching business fully protected? Get the Coach Contracts Bundle →
Just need a 1-on-1 coaching contract template? Get the ultimate Coaching Contract Template →
2. Legal Website Bundle: Protect Your Site, Your Content & Your Reputation
Your website isn’t just a pretty landing page — it’s legally considered a business asset. And if you’re using it to promote your coaching services or publish blog posts and free advice… then you need to legally cover yourself online.
That’s where the 3 essential website legal pages come in:
Privacy Policy — covers how you collect, use, and store client or visitor data (which is legally required by the GDPR, PIPEDA, CCPA, and a growing number of (State-specific) privacy laws)
Website Terms & Conditions — sets rules for your visitors, safeguards your content, and protects you against major liabilities
Disclaimer page — limits your responsibility for how people use your free resources, advice, or blog posts, so you can freely share your advice and opinions without losing money over it
These are essential parts of the coaching contracts you need that no one really talks about.
And here’s what could happen if you don’t have the right website policies in place (and why they’re essential coaching contracts):
You get fined — because your site collects data (emails, cookies, IP addresses) but has no privacy policy (required by law)
Someone blames you — claiming your free mindset advice, journal prompts, or hormone balancing tips triggered a negative response
You get copied or plagiarized — and have no terms that establish your rights over your content
My Legal Website Bundle includes all 3 essential legal pages plus niche-specific disclaimer options that protect you against risks specific to your coaching niche, so you’re not stuck with a vague “This is not advice” line that doesn’t actually protect you. Whether you’re a mindset, fitness, or business coach — there’s a disclaimer for you.
🧾 Included in: Basic, Pro, and VIP Coach Contracts Bundle
🛒 Want to protect your coaching business? Get the Coach Contracts Bundle →
🛒 Just need your website pages? Get the Legal Website Bundle →
3. Virtual Meeting Policy: Set Expectations for Single-Session Clients
Do you offer one-off coaching calls, consultations, or paid discovery sessions?
Then you need this one of the essential coaching contracts: the virtual meeting policy.
A virtual meeting policy sets clear terms for those single-session clients, so you’re not stuck dealing with no-shows, late cancellations, or people treating your 45-minute call like a full coaching session.
Here’s what this mini (but mighty) contract protects you against:
Last-minute cancellations — where the client ghosts or backs out 10 minutes before the call and expects a refund
No-shows — who try to reschedule again and again or demand a second, third, or 15th chance
Overreaching expectations — like a potential client trying to turn a 30-minute call into a coaching deep dive
Someone taking your advice completely out of context — and claiming your one-off call harmed their business or health
Even if you’re offering “just a quick call,” you’re still legally exposed. A proper virtual meeting policy protects your boundaries, sets limits on rescheduling, and includes disclaimers to limit your liability — so you can confidently book those sessions without worrying about what happens after.
Included in: Basic, Pro, and VIP Coach Contracts Bundle
Want all 3 essential coaching contracts we discussed so far? Get the Coach Contracts Bundle →
Just want to protect your one-off sessions? Get the Virtual Meeting Policy →
4. Group Coaching Agreement: Protect Your Boundaries & Your Community from Bad Apples
Running a group coaching program is a smart way to scale your income — but it also comes with very different risks than private coaching. You’re not just managing one client. You’re managing a group dynamic, expectations around access, and legal exposure on a whole new level.
This is one of the most essential coaching contracts for protecting your scalable offers, especially if:
You run a high-ticket group program with modules + live sessions
You offer Voxer, Slack, or group Q&A access
You include a Facebook or WhatsApp group with peer interaction
Here’s what can go wrong without the right group coaching agreement in place:
A participant demands 1-on-1 support — because they thought your group program included unlimited private coaching
Someone misbehaves in the group — and makes others uncomfortable or even unsafe
A member demands a refund — claiming they “didn’t get value” because they didn’t participate or do the work
Your program content gets stolen by multiple participants — because your coaching methods, strategies, and workbooks (all your IP) are not properly protected
You get blamed for someone else’s results (or lack of) — even though they didn’t attend sessions or follow the program
A proper group coaching agreement solves all of this. It:
Clearly states that group programs are not private coaching
Sets expectations for behavior inside the group space
Includes strong disclaimers for results and personal responsibility
Clarifies your refund policy
Protects your intellectual property and content from being reused, shared, or resold
Included in: Pro and VIP Coach Contracts Bundle
Want to legally protect your growing coaching business? Get the Coach Contracts Bundle →
Only need to protect your group coaching program? Get the Group Coaching Agreement →
5. Testimonial Release Form: Share Client Wins Without Legal Issues
You’ve helped your clients get amazing results. So, now you want to share that transformation! But before you post those glowing client testimonials you’ve received, you need the legal rights to use them legally and confidently. A simple permission over email just doesn’t cut it.
You need an ironclad testimonial release form that gives you the right to use client testimonials across your marketing without the risk of being asked to take them down later or, worse, getting into legal trouble.
Here’s what can go wrong if you don’t use this one of the essential coaching contracts:
A client asks you to take down a testimonial — right after your launch email featuring their quote goes out
You post a testimonial… and then get hit with a privacy or publicity claim — because you didn’t get written consent to use their name, title, logo, photo, or bio
You’re left unprotected — when someone revokes permission after you’ve already included their story in your sales page, webinar, or ad, because the client says they didn’t agree to “that kind” of use
A testimonial release form protects you by:
Getting clear, written permission to use the testimonial — and their name, business name, title, photo, bio, and logo
Giving you a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide license to share the testimonial anywhere — even in ads and paid promotions
Waiving personality and publicity rights — so the client can’t later claim you used their identity in a certain way for which they have not explicitly given permission
Making it clear they won’t be paid for the testimonial — and can’t come back later asking for compensation after they see it in an ad
Giving you the right to edit, reformat, and repurpose the testimonial — as you actually need those editing rights to share just a part of a testimonial or sentence
🧾 Included in: Pro and VIP Coach Contracts Bundle
🛒 Want all the essential coaching contracts we discussed so far? Get the Coach Contracts Bundle →
🛒 Just need this form to legally share your best client testimonials? Get the Testimonial Release Template →
6. Terms & Conditions for Digital Products: Protect Your Templates, Workbooks & eBooks
Selling digital products on your website? Then you need a separate set of Terms & Conditions for Digital Products as one of the essential coaching contracts for your business.
This one of the coaching contracts applies to standalone digital products, like:
Downloadable workbooks or journals
eBooks or digital guides
Downloadable guided meditations or audio tracks
Spreadsheets or checklists
Templates
If these are included inside your paid coaching program, then your 1-on-1 or Group Coaching Agreement should cover that. My coaching contract templates do cover all the materials you share in your coaching program. However, not all of them are that comprehensive, so make sure the materials shared in your coaching program are also protected.
But the moment you sell these digital products separately — as part of your passive income strategy — you need different legal terms at checkout.
Here’s what can go wrong if you don’t have proper digital product terms:
Someone copies or resells your PDF (as if it’s their own) — and you have no enforceable contract to stop them
You get hit with refund demands — even though your sales page says “no refunds” (which isn’t legally binding on its own)
A customer blames your workbook for their failed launch, anxiety spike, or lack of results, and hits you with a legal claim for damages
This contract protects you by:
Prohibiting sharing, copying, reselling, or repurposing your digital downloads
Making your refund policy legally enforceable (whether it’s “no refunds” or a limited guarantee)
Including niche-specific disclaimers for different coaching areas, so you’re protected against risks specific to your niche
Included in: VIP Coach Contracts Bundle
Selling templates, eBooks, or downloads? Get the Coach Contracts Bundle →
Just want this protection for your shop? Get the Digital Product T&Cs Template →
7. Terms & Conditions for Online Courses: Set Boundaries & Protect Your Course Content
If you’re selling an online course — whether it’s self-paced or includes live sessions — you need a separate set of Terms & Conditions for Online Courses.
This one of the essential coaching contracts is not optional if you’re running a course platform, launching evergreen funnels, or hosting your course on platforms like Kajabi, Thinkific, Teachable, or Podia.
You need legal terms tailored to online education.
Here’s what can go wrong without course-specific T&Cs:
A student demands a refund halfway through — even though they binge-watched half your modules
A student uses your course to create their own — and there’s nothing stopping them
A student behaves inappropriately in a course forum or live session — and you have no policy in place to remove them
You get blamed for someone’s lack of results — even though they skipped lessons or didn’t apply what they learned
This course contract protects your business by:
Limiting liability for results — including if students don’t complete or apply the course, and other (niche-specific) liability risks for coaches in areas like business, wellness, fitness, or mindset
Setting behavior rules for live sessions, communities, and course platforms
Prohibiting sharing, copying, or reusing your content in any form
Making your refund policy clear, detailed, and legally binding
Included in: VIP Coach Contracts Bundle
Running an online course? Get the Coach Contracts Bundle →
Just want this course contract? Get the Online Course T&Cs Template →
The Ultimate Bundle with 3 Tiers: From a Simple Coaching Agreement Template to Digital Product Terms
Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your coaching business with courses and digital products, my Coaching Contracts Bundles are designed to grow with you.
Here’s how to choose:
The first option is the Basic Bundle, which is best for coaches just getting started with 1-on-1 clients. It includes:
1-on-1 Coaching Agreement
Legal Website Bundle (Privacy Policy, Website Terms, Disclaimer)
Virtual Meeting Policy
The second option is the Pro Bundle, which is best for coaches running group programs and collecting testimonials. It includes:
Everything in Basic PLUS
Group Coaching Agreement
Testimonial Release Form
The second option is the VIP Bundle, which is best for coaches taking their business to the next level and selling online courses or digital products. It includes:
Everything in Basic and Pro PLUS
Terms & Conditions for Digital Products
Terms & Conditions for Online Courses
🛒 Want to get fully protected — and done with legal drama?
Choose the best Coach Contracts Bundle for your coaching business →
Still deciding? You can also grab the individual templates anytime — but the bundles give you more value (and better protection) for less.
This post was all about the coaching contracts you need to protect your coaching business while scaling it.
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