If you’re a stay at home mom trying to start a coaching business, there’s a really good chance you’ve already done one (or more) of these on the path to getting your first coaching client:
- Rewritten your IG bio 14 different times
- Researched certifications (and maybe gotten a few)
- Signed up for 985 webinars and freebies hoping they’ll help you figure out what you’re missing, only to end up more confused and overwhelmed
- Posted something you think is AMAZING only for it to get basically no engagement whatsoever
- Sat down to create content and ended up scrolling and comparing yourself to every other coach and wondered if you’re even cut out for this at all
And meanwhile….. not signed clients or had anyone book a discovery call with you.
I’ve been in your shoes. Despite having extensive marketing training and experience prior to launching my coaching business, my first year of trying to get it off the ground was incredibly frustrating because there were very few resources for someone who was just starting – especially while juggling being a stay at home mom.
What I learned is that simplicity is KEY.
Getting your first coaching client doesn’t actually require:
- A huge audience
- A slick website
- A fancy freebie & 37 email funnel with upsells and tripwires
- A viral reel
So… what does it actually take to get your first coaching client?
One: a clear offer
Two: real conversations with people
Three: a direct invitation to them
Yes, this is really simple… and it has to be. As moms, we don’t have time for all the other stuff. So let’s talk about what this really looks like.
Step 1: Create a clear coaching offer
Before you try to get coaching clients, you need to be able to explain what you do in a way that makes sense to people.
This means:
- It needs to be in language they understand (not industry jargon/coach speak)
- It needs to be clear to them how this offer is going to help them reach their goal
For example, your client is probably not thinking, “I want a parenting coach.” But they might be thinking, “I need help potty training my toddler” or “I have no idea how to make my teen care about his grades.”
Speak to the thing that they want, and make sure it’s easy for them to understand how working with you will help them get that thing!
The clearer the outcome is, the easier it is for someone to say yes to you.
Step 2: Stop waiting for clients to find you
Most beginner coaches make the same mistake:
They focus 100% on posting content consistently…. and 0% on having conversations with people.
The reality is that when you start a coaching business, your first coaching client is most likely to come from conversations you have, not from content you post.
When you’re first starting is that your social media and website is like a storefront tucked away in an alley… not on a main road with lots of traffic. This means you have to start off by going where the people are, not expecting them to find you.
There are two streams of marketing to focus on in your business, especially when you’re new:
Fast Stream: Going where your people already are and having conversations with them
Slow Stream: Posting content to your existing audience to nurture the relationship & make offers
If you don’t have much of an audience yet, the fast stream matters the most for getting clients quickly.
If you’re a coach who is also a stay at home mom, here’s what that might look like:
- Engaging in online communities where your ideal client hangs out (Threads, reddit, Facebook groups, etc)
- Networking locally (in person) at school or community events
- DM conversations with people who have expressed interest
- Reaching out to your existing network and letting them know what you’re doing and directly asking for referrals (this is avoided by most people but is actually the top way most new coaches get their first clients)
The #1 determining factor of if these activities will work or not is if you’re actually like your normal, human self… or if you’re being a salesy weirdo. No one is trying to be a salesy weirdo on purpose, but you have to intentionally remind yourself that it’s ok to talk about your business, ask for referrals, and invite people to take the next step.
Remember: you don’t actually need 10,000 people. You just need a handful of real conversations.
Step 3: Invite people to a discovery call (without making it weird)
I recommend every coach at least start off by offering discovery calls (aka consult calls or consultations). As a new coach, you gain so much from having conversations with your ideal clients and getting to hear the words they use to describe their problem, the questions they ask you, and the way that they respond to your offer.
That said, a discovery call is not:
- a free coaching call
- a one-sided interview
- an infomercial from you
- a test of your worth
And it’s especially not a place to get a “yes” at all costs.
It’s truly a conversation between two people to see if you’re a good fit to work together – which means that a “no” is just as valid of an answer as a “yes.”
Remove the pressure to perform from the discovery call, and remember that inviting someone to book the call is just that – an invitation.
You can help them. The call is a gift you offer to someone who wants and needs that help.
Related post: start an online business as a stay at home mom
Common mistakes new coaches make:
Because most of the advice out there for growing a business is not meant for new coaches – and definitely not meant for stay at home moms growing a business online – I see a lot of people making mistakes when they first get started. I made these same mistakes, by the way!!
Common mistakes:
- Starting by building a course (especially when you don’t have any audience yet)
- Trying to create passive income before active income
- Waiting until you feel ready or everything feels “official” to get started with clients
What to do instead:
- Get really good at selling & delivering one simple coaching offer before turning it into a course or passive income
- Work with 1:1 clients while you build up your audience
- Remember that confidence comes through taking action and experience more than *another* certification or training or waiting longer
How to get your first coaching client (the simple way!)
For almost a decade, I’ve been helping moms take their skills & experience and turn them into profitable online businesses. I can help you too.
If you’re a mom who has skills, training, or life experience you want to turn into a coaching business, my course, Mama to CEO, is where we build this step by step.
I show you how to:
- Choose the right offer
- Set pricing that makes sense
- Build a simple client pipeline
- Make invitations that aren’t pushy and weird
- Lead a discovery call in a way that is natural
So that you can get your first real coaching clients without needing to grow a massive audience first.
Click here to learn more & join Mama to CEO.
