How to Build a Solid Foundation For Your Coaching Business

Jessica Graiser
August 19, 2023
5 min read

How to Build a Solid Foundation For Your Health Coaching Career

“Without a solid foundation, you’ll have trouble creating anything of value.” -Erika Oppenheimer

‍Every business needs a strong foundation in order to grow and succeed. However, many coaches just starting out with their business don’t realize how much hard work and determination are needed in order to lay a strong foundation.  Skipping this crucial step can be detrimental to the start of your business. 

We know how exciting it is to start your business and get it off the ground, but don’t forget to take the smaller steps that will make all the difference down the road! Take a look at some of our tips on building a solid foundation for your business. 

Focus on your mindset 

Building the proper foundation for your coaching business starts with focusing on your own mindset and wellness.  Mindset is one of, if not, the most important part of starting a new business.  You may not think so right off the bat, but it’s true!  If we are not mentally sound, have lots of distractions, poor organization, etc., the business will not get started on the right foot.

Spend time mentally preparing yourself for the work ahead. This cannot be stated enough!  Map out exactly what needs to get done in a given day and stick to it as best you can (things come up, we know).  Remaining organized and clear on your tasks will make the day-to-day responsibilities much more digestible. 

Prioritize your self-care routine.  Easier said than done, yes, we’re aware!  This should be given a solid effort because you matter.  Your physical and mental health play a major role in your ability to run a successful business. What is self-care?  This looks different for everyone.  Reading, taking a bath, meditating, playing sports, walking your dog, anything that you enjoy!!  This will help prepare you to tackle stressors because your “cup is filled”.   

The purpose?  So your health doesn’t get put on the back burner.  You cannot successfully help others if you don’t first take care of yourself.  How many times have you heard that?

Find your purpose and vision 

‍This is a very commonly overlooked step in the foundation process. Pinpointing your purpose and vision for your coaching business helps you align your values and find your “why.” 

What are your values? 

Why did you start coaching in the first place? Think about your story.

What is your ultimate purpose with your business? 

Finding your “why” means that you have a motivation behind the steps you are taking to build your business.  Maybe, you have a family and you want to have more time-freedom to allow for quality time with your loved ones.  This is super motivating!  Being able to call the shots, work when you want, so you can spend time, take vacations, and not miss important functions is invaluable.  Everyone has a different “why” and that’s what makes this process so incredible.  There are lots of different motivators, but finding yours is key!


Once you determine what drives you, it will make finding your niche and target client more clear.  You will also discover how you want to coach your clients.  Are you wondering how we can determine that?  Okay, so we will learn what drives you based on your personal values.  Example:  You value loyalty, freedom, and empathy.  Off the bat, this tells us that you will likely coach in a compassionate way, you will attempt to make a genuine connection with your clients, and remain by their side for the length of time they work with you.  Another piece that your answer provided is “power over scheduling and counseling sessions”.  Freedom indicates that you value your time and your ability to coach what you want and how you want.  There are multiple examples such as, money, control, rapport, education, relationships, etc.  

I challenge you to think about what you value most in business and in your personal life.  Once you do, you will feel much more secure in your “why”

Narrow down your niche

When building your coaching foundation, it’s important to narrow down your niche and find out which market you are best suited to.  This is a process that takes time, patience, and looking inward.  Part of the Flowell success program is dedicated solely to niching down and then finding your target client.  Please do not mistake, this will likely not be done before you start the business.  There is a vital discovery process that will lead you to your niche destination.  

Why is this listed as part of the foundation?  It’s a great idea to think about possible niches you would enter and ones you would not.  You should not go into your business assuming you can work with any and everyone because that will become problematic. The niche you choose to start does not need to be the final one. It may change over time! But if you start out with a broad niche, you’ll have a harder time finding the audience and potential clients you want to reach.‍  That sounds like it’s backwards, doesn’t it?  Why would more people lead to less paying clients?  Because when you’re talking to everyone, it’s like talking to no-one.  If your audience is broad then that means your content is broad.  OR, what’s more, you may promote certain topics related to health coaching that your broad audience is not interested in.  Once they lose interest in your content, they lose interest in you.  Now, imagine this…

You decide to work with women over the age of 50 who struggle with hormonal issues.  Every piece of content, marketing material, educational piece, is speaking to a very specific person! Women of this demographic will feel heard and understood.  You are solving their problems! Think about how many women fall into this category (a lot!).  The niche is specific, but there is no shortage of potential clients.  


Find mentors and connections 

‍One of the most important things to remember when just starting out is that you’re not alone! There are so many people out there who know what you are going through because they’ve been through it themselves. Find a mentor within your sphere who has the experience and can guide you through the beginning stages. Start networking and building relationships! 

If this is something you struggle with, you’re in  the right place!  Flowell has an extensive network of experts and thought-leaders in the health coaching and business industries.  The coaches who join us have a dedicated mentor who meets 1:1 and in group settings.  They also have access to our entire community of experts who are available for mentorship, idea sharing, and informational sessions/presentations.  

Looking for community support for your health coaching business? Are you looking for guidance as you build the foundation of your coaching business? We’d love to chat with you!  Take a look at what Flowell has to offer when it comes to building the foundation for your business. 

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