10 Must-Haves for Your Group Coaching Agreement to Protect Your Money, Time & Clients
Running a group coaching program? Without the right group coaching agreement, you’re leaving yourself wide open to conflict, lost income, & even copycats.
Group coaching can be incredibly rewarding — but it also comes with more moving parts (and way more risks) than 1:1 coaching. It only takes one bad apple to derail the whole experience. That’s why you need an ironclad group coaching agreement.
As a lawyer who creates coaching agreement templates for coaches like you, I’ve seen what happens when people rely on the wrong group coaching agreement sample. And it’s all preventable with a proper group coaching agreement template.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the 10 must-haves every group coaching agreement needs to safeguard your business and your community.
This post is all about the must-haves every coach needs in a group coaching agreement to protect your money, time, and clients from bad apples.
👉 Want it all done for you? I’ve created a ready-to-use Group Coaching Agreement Template that covers all of these protections (and more).
Best Group Coaching Agreement
The 10 Must-haves for Any Coaching Agreement Template for Group Coaching
1. Confidentiality obligations for you and your clients
Whether you’re a life coach, health coach, business coach, or relationship coach, clients share their most personal struggles with you — and they expect that information to stay private.
The same goes for your methods and strategies: you don’t want clients turning around and using your material to launch their own program.
That’s why your group coaching agreement should cover two layers of confidentiality:
You keep your clients’ personal information private.
Your clients keep your materials and strategies private.
But here’s the twist with group coaching: it’s not just between you and one client anymore. Everyone in the group needs to feel safe opening up — and that only works if each client also agrees to keep what the others share confidential.
👉 Bottom line: your group coaching agreement must include confidentiality obligations on all sides. That’s how you create a safe, trusted space where transformation can happen.
💡 Want this pre-written and airtight? My Group Coaching Agreement Template already includes the confidentiality language you need to protect yourself and your clients.
2. Prohibit bad behaviour like disrespect or bullying
Nothing kills the energy of a coaching group faster than a client who’s rude, aggressive, or disrespectful. One person’s behavior can make others shut down, stop sharing, or even drop out.
That’s why your group coaching agreement should spell out clear behavior standards. It should include:
A prohibition on disparaging or hurtful comments (toward you or other clients).
A promise from each client that they’ll act respectfully and avoid any form of aggressive or disruptive behavior.
This way, everyone knows upfront what’s acceptable and what’s not — and you have the legal backup to act if someone crosses the line.
💡 My Group Coaching Agreement Template already includes coach-friendly behavior clauses — so you never have to worry about a bad apple poisoning the group.
3. The right to remove or suspend a bad apple
Even with clear rules, there’s always a chance someone crosses the line — and when that happens, you need the power to act fast. One disruptive client can derail the entire group and ruin the experience for everyone else.
A proper group coaching agreement sample should give you two tools:
Termination rights → You can permanently remove a client from the program if they breach your rules (like nonpayment or disrespectful behavior).
Suspension rights → For less severe issues — like a late payment or a one-time outburst — you can temporarily suspend their access until the problem is resolved.
And here’s the crucial part: your coaching agreement should make it clear that if you use either of these rights, the client isn’t entitled to a refund.
👉 Bottom line: these clauses protect the group as a whole, while giving you the flexibility to deal with problems and keep your money.
💡 My Group Coaching Agreement Template includes both suspension and termination rights — so you’re never stuck with a bad apple you can’t manage.
4. Accept no responsibility for what others do
You can lead the group, set the rules, and create a safe environment — but you can’t control every action your clients take. And you definitely shouldn’t be held liable for what other group members say or do.
That’s why your group coaching agreement should include protections like:
An acknowledgement that you can’t control other clients’ behavior.
A waiver stating you’re not responsible for any harm caused by other group members.
An indemnity, so if issues arise between clients, you’re not dragged into the fallout.
💡 Protect your group coaching program (without writing contracts from scratch)
With my Group Coaching Agreement Template, you’ll get:
✅ Pre-written clauses for confidentiality, behavior, and liability.
✅ Suspension and termination rights if a client crosses the line.
✅ Easy-to-use terms & conditions format (clients are bound just by submitting your form).
👉 Get the Group Coaching Agreement Template here.
5. Boundaries for group platforms (like Facebook groups)
Your coaching sessions aren’t the only place clients interact. Many programs include private Facebook groups, Slack channels, or other online spaces. And while these platforms can be great for community building, they can also get messy without clear rules.
That’s why a proper group coaching agreement template free of fluff should include:
Your right to limit access if a client misbehaves in the group.
A prohibition on posting anything illegal, offensive, or spammy.
Your right to remove posts or even remove the client from the group if needed.
👉 Bottom line: your platforms are part of your coaching experience. Make sure your group coaching contract gives you full control over how they’re used.
💡 My Group Coaching Agreement Template already includes platform rules — so you can run your community spaces with confidence and without chaos.
6. Complete control over scheduling
When you’re running a group program, it’s impossible to accommodate everyone’s calendar. The dates are set when clients sign up — and if someone can’t make a session, that’s on them, not you or the group.
On the flip side, life happens. If you ever need to adjust the schedule, your agreement should give you the flexibility to do so without pushback.
That’s why your group coaching agreement should make it clear that:
Clients can’t cancel or reschedule group coaching sessions.
You reserve the right to change the schedule if needed.
👉 Bottom line: your time is valuable, and your group’s progress shouldn’t be held hostage by one person’s calendar.
💡 My Group Coaching Agreement Template includes coach-friendly scheduling terms — so you stay in control of your program timeline.
7. Explicit prohibition on bringing friends
Some clients may assume that because it’s a group program, they can invite a friend or family member to join in. But that creates two big problems:
You’re essentially coaching someone for free.
That “guest” isn’t bound by confidentiality rules — which puts your whole group at risk.
That’s why your group coaching agreement should explicitly prohibit clients from having anyone else attend, listen in, or join your program without your permission.
👉 Bottom line: your clients are paying for a professional coaching experience, not a bring-a-friend freebie. Protect your time, income, and group dynamic with this clause.
💡 My Group Coaching Agreement Template already includes this protection — so you don’t have to worry about freeloaders slipping into your sessions.
8. Niche-specific disclaimers to limit your liability
Every coaching niche comes with unique risks — and if you don’t clearly state what you don’t do, clients may assume you’re giving advice outside your scope. That opens the door to blame or even legal issues when results don’t go their way.
That’s why your group coaching template should include niche-specific disclaimers, making it clear that:
Health & fitness coaches → you’re not a doctor, licensed nutritionist, or therapist, and clients should consult medical professionals before making health decisions.
Business coaches → you don’t guarantee profits, sales, or specific results, and you’re not acting as a licensed financial or tax advisor.
Relationship coaches → you’re not a licensed counselor or psychologist, and coaching is not a substitute for therapy.
Career coaches → you’re not a recruiter or HR representative, and you can’t guarantee job offers or promotions.
Real estate coaches → you’re not a licensed real estate agent or broker, and you’re not providing financial or legal advice.
Life coaches → coaching is not a substitute for mental health or medical treatment, and you don’t promise life-changing outcomes.
💡 My Group Coaching Agreement Template includes tailored disclaimers for life, business, career, health, fitness, relationship, and real estate coaching — so you’re fully protected, no matter your niche.
9. Intellectual property protections for your coaching materials
Your worksheets, frameworks, recordings, and coaching strategies are the backbone of your program. Without protection, clients could walk away and:
Replicate your entire group coaching program.
Copy your methods and strategies to coach their own clients.
Resell or redistribute your worksheets, recordings, or materials.
Publish your content online, diluting your brand and credibility.
A proper group coaching agreement template free of fluff should make it crystal clear that:
You retain full ownership of all coaching materials.
Clients can use them only for personal use — not resale, redistribution, or commercial purposes.
Unauthorized sharing, copying, or publishing is strictly prohibited.
👉 Bottom line: your coaching methods are part of your intellectual property. Protect them, and you’ll protect your brand, your income, and the uniqueness of your program.
💡 My Group Coaching Agreement Template already includes strong intellectual property protections — so clients can benefit from your methods, but they can’t copy or steal them.
10. Clear payment, refund & late fee terms
Nothing sours the coaching experience faster than money drama. Without clear payment terms, you may find yourself chasing invoices, haggling over refunds, or dealing with clients who think they can pay whenever they feel like it.
That’s why your group coaching agreement should set firm money boundaries, including:
Upfront payment → Clients must pay in full (or according to a defined installment plan) before they get access to your program.
No refunds (or a clear refund policy) → Decide upfront whether you’ll allow refunds — and under what conditions. If not, state explicitly that fees are non-refundable.
Suspension & termination rights → If payment isn’t made, you can suspend access until the balance is cleared or completely terminate the agreement (without refunding them).
Late fees → Add a percentage-based late fee or flat fee to discourage clients from dragging their feet.
💡 My Group Coaching Agreement Template already includes upfront payment requirements, refund policy options, and late fee clauses — so you get paid on time, every time.
The BEST Group Coaching Agreement Template Free of Fluff
Running a group coaching program is exciting — but it also comes with risks you don’t face in 1:1 coaching. From disruptive clients to payment disputes to protecting your intellectual property, the right agreement is what keeps your group safe, professional, and profitable.
You don’t have to piece one together from free samples that leave out the most important protections. My Group Coaching Agreement gives you:
✅ Niche-specific disclaimers tailored to your coaching field
✅ Strong confidentiality, behavior, and termination clauses
✅ Clear rules for payments, refunds, and late fees
✅ Intellectual property protections to stop copycats
✅ Easy-to-use terms & conditions format (no awkward back-and-forth contracts)
👉 Get the Group Coaching Agreement Template here and protect your money, time, and clients with confidence.
And if you also offer 1:1 coaching or multiple coaching programs, check out my Coach Contracts Bundle — it includes this template plus all the other agreements you need as your coaching business grows.
👉 See the Coach Contracts Bundle here
This post was all about the must-haves for your group coaching agreement to safeguard your boundaries, business, and clients (from bad apples).
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