If you are a health or life coach who feels like you’re burning yourself out trying to keep up with what everyone else says your coaching business should look like, this post is for you.

If you’re used to consuming a lot of content online, it can be very confusing and overwhelming when it comes to the ‘right and wrong’ way to grow a coaching business. Like online influencers who often portray an idealised and unrealistic presentation of reality, sometimes the same thing can be said about the online coaching space.

In this post, I’m going to help you de-influence your coaching business so you can drop the ifs and buts and focus on what is right for you and your business.

Here’s seven different ways you might feel you ‘should’ be doing something a certain way…

Listen to this episode on The Wholehearted Business Show Podcast: Listen on Apple Podcasts / Listen on Spotify

A successful coaching business should be making six or seven figures

The first belief to de-influence is that your coaching business must make six or seven figures to be successful.
Your business does not need to hit these numbers unless that is genuinely your version of success. If you want higher turnover and bigger income, that is completely valid. There is nothing wrong with that. The problem arises when six or seven figures are presented as the only measure of success.

The reality is very different from what we see online. Many successful coaches, myself included, are not at six or seven figures. Their businesses are sustainable, joyful, and worth striving for.

Not everyone is going to make it to six or seven figures, and that is okay. Success looks different for different people, shaped by your values, your capacity, and what you want your days to feel like. You get to define that for yourself.

You need a low ticket offer funnel

The next belief to de-influence is that you must have a low ticket offer funnel.

This is a common message in the online space. While a low ticket funnel can make sense in certain situations, it is not a requirement. Many successful coaches operate without one.

If building a funnel feels heavy, complicated, or unappealing to you, that is important information. You do not need to force yourself into strategies that do not suit your goals or your life. Choosing approaches that genuinely support your results is what matters.

You should be using social media

Another misconception is that you need social media to grow a successful coaching business.

I do very little on traditional social media, and most of my business runs on platforms outside of Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. You can absolutely thrive without them.

This is about discernment: understanding what makes sense for you, what feels good, and what genuinely supports your business goals. If using social media feels draining or unnecessary, you do not have to do it. Success is not tied to platforms or trends.

You need paid ads

It is also common to hear that paid ads are essential for a thriving coaching business.

While ads can be helpful and I do dabble in them myself, they are not a requirement. Many successful coaches grow their businesses without ever touching paid advertising.

This is about questioning what is relevant for you. Most tools and strategies are optional. You can choose what aligns with your business, your life, and your goals. You do not have to follow the pressure of online messaging if it does not suit you.

You need a group program or course

Another belief to de-influence is that you must have a group programme or course.

Some coaches run entirely one-to-one coaching businesses and thrive. You do not need courses, group programmes, or additional offerings to be successful. Success is about creating a business that fits your life and your goals, not matching what you see online.

Your coaching business should be full time

Many people believe a coaching business must be full time to be legitimate. That is not true.

You can run a successful coaching business alongside other work, freelance roles, or part-time jobs. My own early business was a mix of coaching, community work, and workshops. Over time, coaching replaced most of these streams, but a blended approach can work perfectly.

Your business can be a mix of roles, income streams, and projects. That variety is valid and can even be a strength. There is no one-size-fits-all model for success.

You’re allowed a cosy coaching business

Ultimately, your coaching business can be as unique as you are. I like to call this a cosy coaching business. It is a business aligned with who you are, what you want, and how you want to show up in the world.

A successful business does not have to look a specific way. Your journey can look very different from others. Some clients focus purely on joy, service, and having fun in their business, without specific income targets. Energetically, that is a powerful place to be.

If you feel pressure for your business to look a certain way, go inward and ask what success truly looks like for you. External validation is optional. You are allowed to have a cosy coaching business. Small does not mean less good or less successful.

Next steps

If any of this resonates and you are ready for one-to-one support in shaping your business, I am here for you.

Whether your goals are big or modest, you can create a coaching business that fits your life. My mentoring and coaching programmes offer personalised, collaborative support to help you build strong foundations, sustainable income, and a business that works for you.

↓Pin for later ↓