4 Keys To Starting A Successful & Impactful Health Coaching Business

There are many ways to be a health coach. Once you get certified in coaching, you can go on to work for a health clinic or corporate wellness program or opt for the self-employment route.

Opening your own coaching business allows you to work from home, set meetings on your schedule, and maintain flexibility—all while helping clients make life-changing health shifts.

But a fulfilling, lucrative business won't appear out of thin air—something that Emily Woods, a health coach and business mentor, knows all too well.

The first step to becoming a health coach is to enroll in a program that teaches you the ins and outs of coaching. "Picking a great certification is the most important thing," says Woods. "That decision is your kickoff."

You'll want to look for a program that speaks to your interests and jibes with your schedule. She recommends mindbodygreen's Health Coaching Certification (HCC) program for anyone looking for a well-rounded health coaching education in just 20 weeks.

Health coaching is a more in-demand service than ever before. "For health coaches, there's a lot of success to be had. Coaching is something that people are looking for, learning more about, and directly seeking—even more than they were just two or three years ago," Woods says.

There's a wide audience of people looking for support on their health journeys—and your job is to make it as easy as possible for these people to find you!

"Posting about what you do on social media isn't enough," Woods notes. Instead, she encourages clients to treat their business like the business it is. That is, do market research, make a business plan, create an offer, work on lead generation, etc. If you're new to the business world, investing in business education and marketing programs might be worthwhile as you build your plan.

When working with new business clients, the first thing Woods does is help them find their niche within the larger umbrella of health coaching.

There are many reasons coaches will want to specialize in a particular niche—be it plant-based eating or postpartum health. For starters, Woods says, "having a niche is your gateway to getting really good at something. If you try to be good at everything, everything will be a watered-down message."

When it comes to building a stable business that can withstand the test of time, Woods says that consistency is key. This means keeping up with a steady stream of online marketing, social media posts, etc. "You don't have to go viral," she says, "but posting consistently will help you continue to grow and develop trust with your audience."

Starting your own health coaching business is a way to help others reach their well-being goals while maintaining a more flexible, fulfilling work schedule for yourself.