Career Coach

Startup Costs: $2,000 - $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.
Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? Yes

Do people come to you for advice? Do you know how to pull out of the weeds and see the big picture? Are you the person who always seems to know the right person to connect with to problem-solve? Your leadership skills and job experience could be the foundation of a lucrative career coaching side hustle. The potential client base spans from those looking for a pre-retirement gig to recent grads looking to get their foot in the door to veteran executives looking to change industries entirely. As far as the skills you'll need, being a good listener and understanding of the markets your clients are operating in are key. A background in counseling, psychology, or human resources could also serve you well. In addition to long-term clients, you could offer one-off consultations, give paid speaking engagements and create content around the topic that just about everyone is interested in: Finding a job that brings them a better paycheck and more personal fulfilment.

How much money can you make as a career coach?

The average career coach salary is $43,275, according to careers site PayScale. Similarly, Glassdoor puts the average salary for career coaches at $45,390. 

Related: Get the No.1 Guide to Starting Your Own Business

What’s the most important thing to know about this business?

“Try answering for yourself ‘Personally, what can I offer my client in terms of an area of expertise in addition to the professional training as a coach?’ Once you have established your main area of coaching like business, personal or career coaching, you can zero in on a niche within that to build subject matter expertise and a reputation that people seek out. This will help you become a sought-after coach from a targeted population who are seeking out those kind of experiences which only you can offer.” - Safiyah Satterwhite, performance coach for wellness and social entrepreneurs 

How to Get Started

 Nida Leardprasopsuki explains on Entrepreneur.com: "I got certified as an Associate Certified Coach by the International Coach Federation and started coaching. After a while of searching for a website designer but being unsatisfied with anything I saw on the internet, I started building my very own website at 1 a.m. with one of those website template builders and finished around 4 a.m. Over the years, I kept learning and adding more tools to my toolbox.

"Don't get me wrong: You don't need extensive credentials to become a successful coach. I started running ads to my landing pages. Since then, I have gotten my Professional Certified Coach Credential from the ICF and just recently I received the highest coach credential, the MCC Master Certified Coach credential. I had imagined from the beginning that it was very possible that one day I'd get my MCC, but when I actually got it, it wasn't really about receiving the credential: It was about the valuable journey that I had gone through to master my skills as a coach.

"Over the course of my journey as a coach, I've explored several coaching niches. I designed my own coach-training program and got it accredited by the ICF. I became a master coach and trained other coaches. Since I had so much experience in business and marketing and have been consulting for businesses for decades, I eventually chose to specialize in helping other coaches, consultants and experts build their one-of-a-kind expert-based businesses."

Book a one-on-one session with a career coach expert to get your business underway.