7 Overlooked Essentials Every Life Coaching Agreement Needs (That Most Templates Miss)
Do you need a life coaching agreement? Absolutely. But here’s the truth: most free templates miss the protections you actually need.
As a lawyer who works with coaches (mostly in your niche), I’ve seen too many coaches stuck in refund fights, ghosted by clients, or copied without credit — all because their contract was too basic.
In this post, you’ll learn 7 overlooked essentials that a simple coaching Agreement template, like the ICF coaching agreement template, won’t cover.
By the end, you’ll know exactly what to add (or make sure is already included) in your life coaching agreement — so you can set boundaries, protect your reputation, and keep your business safe.
👉 Want a done-for-you template? Grab my Life Coaching Agreement Template — all of these essentials are pre-written, ready for you to customize in minutes.
This post is all about the life coaching agreement essentials that keep your business safe and drama-free.
Best Life Coaching Agreement
The 7 Must-Haves Every Life Coaching Agreement Template Should (But Often Won’t) Have
1. Scope Exclusions (What’s NOT Included)
Most life coaching agreement templates list what’s included in your package. But they rarely say what’s not included — and that’s where problems start.
If you don’t spell this out in your life coaching agreement, clients may assume they’re entitled to extra calls, daily check-ins, or unlimited email support. Suddenly, your “one 60-minute session per week” turns into a full-time job.
My life coaching agreement template fixes this by clearly listing scope exclusions. It defines:
Which services are part of the package.
What falls outside the agreement, like:
Any additional (virtual) meetings or calls.
Emails, texts, or other forms of communication outside the agreed scope.
Any services not explicitly listed in your package.
When (and how) you can charge extra for additional work.
This way, your boundaries aren’t just implied — they’re contractually protected.
Example: A client starts calling you after hours or texting every time they need a quick pep talk. Without exclusions, it’s hard to push back. With them, you can simply point to the contract.
👉 Already pre-written in my Life Coaching Agreement Template — just customize to fit your services.
2. Client Cooperation & Availability Obligations
The average simple coaching agreement template will only focus on what the coach has to deliver. But they often ignore what the client is responsible for — and that’s a recipe for conflict.
If your client doesn’t show up prepared, cancels at the last minute, or fails to provide honest information, your coaching process gets derailed. Without clear client obligations, they may even try to shift the blame back onto you.
My life coaching agreement template solves this by setting clear expectations for client cooperation. It requires clients to:
Be available for scheduled sessions and respond to availability requests on time.
Attend meetings or provide proper notice if they need to cancel.
Provide truthful, accurate, and complete information.
Behave respectfully and avoid disruptive or abusive behavior.
This keeps the responsibility balanced — it’s not just about what you owe them, but also what they owe you.
Example: A client skips half their sessions, then complains they didn’t get results. With these obligations in place, you can point to the agreement and state that they did not hold up their end of the bargain.
👉 Already built into my Life Coaching Agreement Template — just fill in your details and you’re covered.
3. Strong Refund & Rescheduling Rules
The average life coaching agreement will only say “fees are non-refundable.” But that one-liner won’t protect you when a client demands their money back — or keeps trying to reschedule endlessly.
Without a clear refund and rescheduling policy, you risk losing both income and time. Clients may binge your program, decide it “wasn’t what they expected,” and then insist on a refund. Or they may treat your calendar like it’s flexible, moving sessions around whenever they please.
My life coaching agreement template closes these gaps with detailed rules, including:
Waiving cooling-off or withdrawal periods (which is especially necessary if you have clients in the EU to make your refund policy legally binding).
Clear cut-offs for cancellations and refunds.
Limits on how many times a client can reschedule.
Fees or forfeitures if they cancel or are a no-show.
This keeps your calendar under control and makes sure your time is respected.
Example: A client cancels a session just two hours before the start time and asks to reschedule. With strong refund and rescheduling rules, you’re not left scrambling — your agreement already spells out the outcome: You keep the money regardless.
👉 A fully customizable refund and rescheduling policy is already included in my ironclad Life Coaching Agreement Template — just adjust the timing and percentages to match your policies.
Don’t Rely on a Generic Template!
Too many coaches grab a simple coaching agreement template free of charge online or use the ICF coaching agreement template, thinking they’re covered.
But those documents leave big gaps — gaps that can cost you money, time, and peace of mind.
That’s why I created my Life Coaching Agreement Template. It’s drafted with real-world coaching risks in mind and includes protections most life coaching agreements skip.
Here’s what you’ll get with my life coaching agreement:
🚫 Stops refund disputes before they start.
⏰ Sets firm rules on cancellations and rescheduling.
🙋 Makes clients responsible for showing up and cooperating.
🛡️ Protects your reputation with brand protection clauses.
📑 Covers sensitive disclaimers for your niche.
👉 Life Coaching Agreement Template and coach with confidence.
4. Sensitive Topics & Disclaimers
Most coaching contracts fail to address the implications of sensitive or controversial topics that may arise during coaching.
They also fail to clarify that you’re not acting as a therapist, doctor, lawyer, or financial advisor.
Without these disclaimers in your life coaching agreement, a client could misunderstand your role and try to hold you responsible for things you never promised to provide.
My coaching contract template includes tailored disclaimers to protect you from these risks. It makes clear that:
You’re not providing therapy, medical, financial, or legal advice.
Coaching is for educational and informational purposes only.
Sensitive topics may arise, and you’re not responsible for how a client responds emotionally or psychologically.
Any changes in the client’s beliefs, decisions, or behaviors are their responsibility — not yours.
These disclaimers keep the boundaries of your role clear and protect you from being blamed if a client misinterprets your guidance.
Example: During a session, you explore limiting beliefs, and a client feels upset when confronted with a difficult truth about their mindset. Later, they claim your coaching caused them emotional distress. With disclaimers in place, you make it clear that their emotional response — and any decisions they make afterward — are their responsibility, not yours.
👉 Already built into my Life Coaching Agreement — just select the disclaimer that fits your niche.
5. Non-Disparagement & Brand Protection
Almost no life coaching agreement mentions what happens if a client badmouths you. But in today’s world, one negative review or false accusation can seriously damage your reputation.
A non-disparagement clause protects you from clients who might post unfair, misleading, or defamatory comments about you or your business. It makes clear that clients can’t make unsubstantiated claims or ruin your credibility online.
My life coaching agreement template includes this protection — and it goes beyond a basic “no bad reviews” rule. It also prevents clients from:
Misrepresenting their relationship with you (e.g., claiming endorsements you never gave).
Sharing information in a way that causes confusion about your services.
Using your materials or name in ways that harm your brand.
This clause doesn’t stop clients from sharing their honest experiences — but it does give you legal leverage if someone crosses the line.
Example: A client posts on Instagram that you are a terrible coach because they never got the results they wanted (even though they didn’t put in the work). With a non-disparagement clause, you have contractual grounds to address the situation and have them take the post down immediately.
👉 Already built into my Life Coaching Agreement Template — so your reputation is protected, not just your income.
6. Intellectual Property Protection That Clients Actually Understand
Many coaching agreements include a generic intellectual property clause — full of legal jargon that no one really understands. The problem? Those vague clauses don’t clearly stop clients from reusing or reselling your work.
That means your coaching strategies, frameworks, and workbooks could end up in someone else’s program — with your name nowhere in sight.
My life coaching agreement makes it crystal clear that clients cannot steal, copy, or repurpose your materials. It spells out that:
All coaching methods, strategies, and workbooks remain your intellectual property.
Clients may only use materials for their own personal growth.
They cannot copy, resell, share, or republish your content in any way.
Any misuse is a breach of contract.
This takes the guesswork out of protecting your work — and gives you the leverage to stop clients from taking advantage of your content.
👉 Already included in my Life Coaching Agreement — so your methods and materials stay yours.
7. Client Warranties About Health & Behavior
Most life coaching agreements don’t include client warranties—warranties given by the client. But without it, you could end up working with clients who aren’t fit for coaching or who treat you disrespectfully — with no contractual way to handle it.
My life coaching agreement requires clients to give clear warranties about their health, conduct, and cooperation. This means they confirm that:
They are mentally and emotionally fit to participate in coaching.
They will provide truthful and accurate information.
They will behave respectfully and avoid abusive or disruptive behavior.
These warranties shift responsibility back where it belongs — on the client. You’re protected if they misrepresent themselves, act aggressively, or try to blame you for results they didn’t achieve.
Example: A client repeatedly shows up angry and makes disrespectful comments. With clear behavior warranties, you have the right to end the agreement and keep your money because they breached the contract.
If you didn’t have these client warranties in your life coaching agreement, you would have to refund them (part of) the money for coaching services you didn’t provide (due to their disrespectful behavior!). But now, you have the right to end the contract and keep your money.
👉 Already built into my Life Coaching Agreement Template — so you can work with clients who respect both you and the coaching process.
The Ultimate Life Coaching Contract Template (That Goes Beyond the Average Simple Coaching Agreement Template)
Most coaching agreements miss the protections that actually matter. Your coaching business deserves more than vague promises — it needs clear boundaries, clear rules, and clear protections. That’s exactly what my Life Coaching Agreement Template delivers.
It’s not just another generic contract. This template is drafted for real-life coaching situations — refund disputes, no-shows, disrespectful clients, stolen materials, and more. And because it’s written in plain English, it’s easy for you to use and for your clients to understand.
With it, you’ll have a contract that:
🚫 Stops refund and rescheduling drama.
⏰ Keeps your calendar under control.
🙋 Makes clients responsible for cooperation.
🛡️ Protects your reputation with brand protection clauses.
📑 Covers sensitive disclaimers for your niche.
Every day you coach without strong protections, you leave yourself exposed. Don’t wait for a problem client to show you why this matters.
👉 Get the Life Coaching Agreement Template today and coach with confidence, knowing you’re legally covered.
Need More Than Just a Life Coaching Agreement Template?
If you’re running group programs, masterminds, or selling digital products alongside your 1:1 coaching, one contract isn’t enough. Each offer comes with its own risks — and you need the right agreements to cover them.
That’s why I created the Coach Contracts Bundle. It includes my Life Coaching Agreement Template plus the other essential contracts every coach needs.
Here’s what you’ll get inside the bundle:
📑 A 1:1 Coaching Agreement to protect your private sessions.
👥 A Group Coaching Agreement that prevents clients from disrupting your program.
🔒 Website Terms, Privacy Policy & Disclaimer Page to cover your online presence.
💬 A Virtual Meeting Policy for one-off coaching calls.
And much more!
Together, these contracts protect every part of your coaching business — not just your 1:1 clients.
👉 Get the Coach Contracts Bundle here and run your business with complete legal protection.
This post was all about the 7 overlooked essentials every life coaching agreement needs to protect your coaching business.
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