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The concept of health and wellness has been around for many years. But what was once considered to be just exercise videos and fad diets has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry that is now viewed with a much broader and sophisticated lens.
The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us that health and wellness are not a luxury, but a necessity. With a growing focus on the importance of self-care, the influence of social media, and more awareness of chronic health conditions, people are increasingly looking for ways to prioritise their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
So, if this is your area of expertise and you’re equipped with the knowledge and relevant qualifications to offer the right support, then now is a prime time to put your expertise into practice and launch your health and wellness business.
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about starting a health and wellness coaching business. Let’s begin.
What is health and wellness coaching?
Health and wellness coaching is a client-centred approach that focuses on empowering individuals to take charge of their health. Coaches provide support, motivation, and accountability to help clients set and achieve their health-related goals. They work collaboratively with clients, offering guidance, education, and personalised strategies to promote sustainable behaviour change.
A recent survey by McKinsey found that today’s consumers consider the main dimensions of ‘wellness’ to be: health, fitness, nutrition, appearance, sleep, and mindfulness. These are all key areas that health and wellness coaches may choose to focus on in their offerings.
What qualifications do I need?
There are a wide range of routes you can take to become a health and wellness coach, which will largely depend on which area or areas you want to specialise in.
While a university degree is by no means essential, it can be a great way of broadening your understanding in a specific area, and may help strengthen your credibility as a coach, giving you a competitive advantage. There are numerous subject areas to choose from including psychology, health and nutrition, and sports science – to name just a few.
Alternatively, there are a range of vocational qualifications and diplomas in both health coaching and nutrition that can be completed online as well as in person. These offer a quicker entry into coaching, and may include certificates or diplomas in personal training, nutrition, health, and fitness.
You should aim to complete a course that is accredited by a recognised professional body, to gain the basic knowledge and skills required to work as a health and wellness coach, and to fully prepare yourself for a successful career as a coach.
How to start a health and wellness coaching business
Once you have the relevant qualifications and knowledge behind you, you can start to consider the steps involved with setting up your coaching business.
Follow these seven steps to get your business off to a successful start:
1. Define your coaching niche
By this point, you probably have researched and decided on your area of specialty. The more specific you can be with your chosen area of health and wellness, the more of a competitive advantage you will gain.
Some areas you may consider include weight management, stress reduction, fitness coaching, holistic wellness or resolving specific health conditions. Being able to pinpoint a niche will help you focus your marketing efforts more effectively and tailor your services to a target audience.
Once your master one niche, you can always start to expand your services to include other areas as you grow.
2. Practice your skills
Part of becoming a confident health and wellness coach is putting your skills into practice, and getting plenty of experience with your target audience, gaining their feedback and exposure to a variety of scenarios.
In your early days of coaching, it may be beneficial to offer free or discounted one-to-one consultations or group sessions in your local community, to help fast-track your experience and build your confidence.
There are also a number of online resources and groups, to help connect you with fellow coaches and industry experts and to help support you on your journey. For example, the NHS has access to a range of materials and a series of webinars designed especially for newly established health and wellness coaches.
3. Choose your business structure
Once you’ve determined your niche and built up confidence in the industry, you’re ready to officially set up and register your business.
The two most suitable options are operating as a sole trader or a limited company.
Sole trader
A sole trader is the simplest form of business structure, with the least amount of administrative responsibility and regulations.
This structure means you are the sole owner of your business and are responsible for registering for Self Assessment with HMRC and completing a tax return each year.
As a sole trader, you have complete control over your business decisions and all profits go to you. However, you are personally liable for any debts or legal claims brought against you. You also do not benefit from the same prestige or tax-saving opportunities as a limited company.
Limited company
Another popular option for health and wellness coaches is to register as a limited company.
This option provides you with limited liability for any debts or legal claims your business may face and enables you to access a range of tax-saving and tax-planning benefits.
Not only this, but limited company status can appear more professional to clients and give you greater credibility as a health and wellness coach. What’s more, raising capital and getting investors onboard is also much easier as a limited company.
That said, you will be subject to stricter filing and reporting requirements. You’ll need to register for both Corporation Tax and Self Assessment. Using a reliable company formation agent like Rapid Formations can help simplify the process and ease this administrative burden.
4. Get insured
As a health and wellness coach, insurance should be a top priority when setting up your business. There are several types of insurance policies to consider.
Professional indemnity insurance, in particular, is essential for health and wellness coaches. It provides coverage for claims arising from errors, omissions, or negligence in your professional services, and protects you in case a client alleges that your coaching advice or guidance has caused them harm or financial loss.
Likewise, if you’re specialising in fitness, meeting with clients in person, or running group classes, public liability insurance is also incredibly important. This is designed to protect you in case of accidents, injuries, or property damage that may occur during your coaching sessions, or while you’re providing services at a client’s location.
We strongly recommend consulting the assistance of a professional advisor when choosing which policies are most important for your company.
5. Consider your service format
Another key decision you’ll make when starting your health and wellness coaching business is selecting the appropriate format for delivering your services. This decision will depend on various factors, including your coaching style, target audience, scalability, and personal preferences. For example:
One-to-one coaching
This format allows for deep, focused interactions, enabling you to tailor your coaching approach to each client’s specific needs. One-on-one coaching is ideal if you enjoy building strong connections with clients and providing dedicated attention. It’s also suitable if you prefer a more flexible schedule or have limited capacity to work with multiple clients simultaneously.
Group coaching
Coaching as a group brings together individuals who share similar goals or challenges and allows them to learn and grow together. It offers a sense of community, support, and camaraderie among participants.
Group coaching can be conducted through live sessions, online platforms, or a combination of both. This format is beneficial if you want to reach a larger audience, leverage your time effectively, and offer a more affordable option to clients who may not be able to invest in individual coaching.
Online courses and programmes
Creating and offering online courses and programmes is a great way to reach a broader audience and generate passive income. This format allows you to package your expertise and knowledge into self-paced courses, live webinars, or a combination of the two.
Online courses provide flexibility for clients to access the materials at their convenience. They also offer scalability, as you can serve multiple clients simultaneously without the constraints of scheduling individual sessions. However, developing and marketing online courses requires expertise in course creation and effective digital marketing strategies.
Of course, you could also combine different formats to create a hybrid approach that suits your coaching style and meets the diverse needs of your clients.
Whatever you decide, it’s important to choose a format that aligns with your coaching philosophy, values, and business goals. You can always adapt and refine your approach as you gain experience and receive feedback from clients.
6. Establish an online presence
One of the most effective ways for you to attract clients and build your reputation as a credible coach will be through your online channels, so it’s vital you invest time in building your digital presence so that it reflects a professional image.
Create a professional website
A website is an absolute must for any modern business, and will likely prove to be your main port of call for potential clients and customer queries. It’s important it’s easy to navigate and houses all the necessary information about your services and the value they provide.
Nowadays, there are plenty of user-friendly platforms offering professional and customisable templates to help you easily create an on-brand website, such as Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress.
Alternatively, it may be easier and more effective to hire a freelancer or marketing agency to help you design a website that’s completely unique to you and your services.
Leverage social media
With the right content and dedication, your social media channels can quickly grow your business exposure and drive custom. Consider posting regular insights, interesting statistics, and useful tips that will inspire and motivate your target audience. This can help get you recognised as a thought leader in the health and wellness industry and grow your reputation.
As a small business, it can be more effective to focus on one or two platforms, for instance, Facebook and Instagram, rather than to spread your content across multiple channels and wear yourself thin. Think about where the majority of your target audience is most likely to be active online and choose your chosen channels according to their behaviour and preferences.
7. Ask for feedback
Feedback is a hugely valuable tool for any company at any stage of its journey, but especially when you’re just starting out. It can help you identify areas for improvement and growth, and provide insight into your coaching effectiveness, helping you to understand your clients on a deeper level.
Anonymous client surveys sent out via email are a good way to encourage honest feedback, and gauge customer satisfaction at a glance. For satisfied clients, requesting testimonials that highlight their positive experiences and results is a brilliant way to boost your credibility and attract new clients.
Be sure to listen to any feedback you receive and be as responsive as possible, resolving any hiccups and actively fixing any areas that need improvement.
Wrapping up
So, there you have it. We hope you’ve found this guide useful and that it’s given you enough information to get started on your health and wellness journey.
We understand that setting up your first company can be a daunting and complicated process – remember, we’re always here to help. Reach out to our team of experts today for more advice on getting started. We wish you the best of luck on your new business journey.
