What to Include in Your First Coaching Program (and What to Leave Out)

What to Include in Your First Coaching Program (and What to Leave Out)

Launching your first coaching program can feel overwhelming.

Should it be 6 weeks? 12? Do you need videos, workbooks, onboarding sequences, bonus calls?

Most new coaches overthink, overbuild, and overstuff their first offer—trying to make it look “professional.”

But here’s what we tell every coach inside I Love Coaching: Clients don’t pay for content. They pay for clarity. They pay for transformation.

And your first coaching program should be built with that in mind.

Let’s Start With What Not to Include

When you’re just getting started, skip:

• Bonus trainings just to “fill space”

• Lengthy onboarding forms

• Tech-heavy learning platforms

• A PDF for every session

• Discounted pricing to “earn credibility”

All of those things might feel impressive to you—but they don’t move the needle for your clients.

What your clients actually want is simple:

• To feel seen

• To feel led

• To reach a result they couldn’t get on their own

What to Include Instead

Here’s what your first program should include:

1. A Clear Outcome
   → What problem are you solving?
   Your client should be able to answer this question:
   “If I complete this coaching program, I will ______.”

   Need help defining that? Start here.

2. A Timeframe That Creates Urgency
   → 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 90 days — you choose, but it should have a container.
   Too open-ended = no urgency, no completion, and no clarity.

3. Your Coaching Framework
   → What’s your approach? Do you walk clients through a 3-step method?
   If not, create one. It can be simple—people buy clarity.

   Example:
   Week 1: Clarity
   Week 2–4: Action
   Week 5–6: Accountability + Momentum

4. 1:1 or Small Group Support
   Especially early on, coaching calls are where the value is.
   This is where you build trust, gather testimonials, and refine your offer in real time.

5. One Primary Bonus (Optional)
   If you offer a bonus, make it one thing that directly supports the outcome—like a checklist, tracker, or workbook.
   Not a library of content that confuses your client.

Simple Offer = Strong Offer

Your first offer shouldn’t feel like a curriculum.

It should feel like a bridge—from where your client is now to where they want to go.

A bloated offer says:
“I’m trying to prove I’m worth it.”

A focused offer says:
“I know how to get you where you want to go.”

Want help pricing your first coaching package? Use this guide.

Final Thought

The best first coaching programs are:

• Simple

• Specific

• Supportive

• Focused on results, not fluff

Don’t build the course you think you need.
Build the offer your client actually wants.

Then deliver the transformation.

🔥 Want help launching your first offer the right way?

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