The Ultimate Client Onboarding Form Template for Life Coaches 

Life coaches play a vital role in guiding individuals towards self-discovery, personal growth, and achieving their goals. For both seasoned and aspiring life coaches, effective client onboarding is the cornerstone of a successful coaching relationship. The client onboarding process sets the stage for a productive and harmonious coaching experience.  

Creating a seamless and comprehensive customer onboarding form is a fundamental step in this process. It not only helps life coaches gather essential information about their clients but also demonstrates professionalism and care.  

In this article, we’ll provide you with the ultimate client onboarding form template designed specifically for life coaches. 

The importance of client onboarding 

Client onboarding is more than just paperwork; it’s the foundation of a meaningful coaching partnership. Here’s why it’s crucial: 

• Building trust 
  A well-structured client onboarding process shows your commitment to understanding your clients. It sets the stage for a trusting and open relationship. 

• Setting expectations 
  Onboarding forms help clarify what clients can expect from coaching and what is expected of them. 

• Customized coaching 
  The information gathered in the customer onboarding form allows you to tailor your coaching approach to each client’s unique needs. 

• Legal Protection 
  It’s important for life coaches to have a record of each clients’ agreement and informed consent, which the client onboarding process can provide. 

The ultimate client onboarding form template for life coaches 

1. Personal information 

• Full name 
• Date of birth 
• Contact information (address, phone, email) 

2. Background 

• Briefly describe your background, including education and career. 
• What are your primary life goals and aspirations? 

3. Coaching goals 

• What specific outcomes do you hope to achieve through coaching? 
• Are there any specific challenges or obstacles you would like to address in coaching? 

4. Previous coaching experience 

• Have you worked with a life coach or counselor before? If so, briefly describe the experience and outcomes. 

5. Expectations 

• What do you expect from your life coach in terms of support and guidance? 
• What communication methods work best for you (e.g., in-person, phone, video, email)? 

6. Commitment 

• How committed are you to making changes in your life to achieve your goals? 
• How often are you willing to meet with your life coach (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly)? 

7. Informed Consent 

• Are you aware that coaching is not a substitute for professional therapy or counseling? 
• Do you understand that the coaching relationship is confidential, with certain exceptions? 

8. Agreement 

• Do you agree to participate actively and honestly in the coaching process? 
• Do you agree to pay the agreed-upon coaching fees promptly? 

9. Signature 

• Signature and date to confirm understanding and agreement with the terms and conditions of coaching. 

Tips for using the onboarding form 

• Personalize the form  
  Customize the template to reflect your coaching style and philosophy. Consider whether you’re an independent coach or a coaching company with multiple coaches; the language will need to change accordingly. 

• Keep it simple 
  Avoid overwhelming clients with too many questions. Only include what’s essential. 

• Review together 
  Go over the onboarding form with your clients during your initial consultation to address any questions or concerns. 

• Secure storage 
  Safeguard the collected information in compliance with privacy laws and regulations. 

• Continuous update 
  Periodically revisit the onboarding form to ensure it reflects the client’s changing needs and goals. 

Digitizing the client onboarding form 

Coaching is a business that will always need the establishment of a strong personal rapport. Because coaching engagements have traditionally been conducted in person, coaching tools & forms – like the client onboarding form – have also traditionally been executed on paper. With coaching moving online, and more coaches conducting business (not just sessions) online than ever before, coaching forms are now also often executed online, with tools such as Google Forms. 

Digital coaching platforms like Simply.Coach, however, are the ones truly taking the execution of forms, surveys, and exercises online to the next level.  

With Simply.Coach, for example, you can create your own custom form from scratch – designed to look just like your on-paper form if you so choose – or from templates provded by Simply.Coach. 

With the platform, you can send out the form, automatically gather responses, and have beautiful visual reports created for you if needed. It creates convenience and efficiency not only for you, but for your client, and ultimately results in a much-improved client experience. 

A well-structured client onboarding form is the first step towards a successful coaching relationship for all life coaches. It sets the stage for understanding, trust, and a clear path toward your clients’ personal growth. By using the provided onboarding form template and customizing it to your coaching style, you can ensure that the client onboarding process is efficient, effective, and professional. 

Remember, it’s not just a form; it’s the foundation for helping your clients achieve their dreams and live a more fulfilling life 

About the author

Vaidehi Mirashi

Content Marketing Consultant @ Simply.coach

Vaidehi is a content marketing consultant with a decade’s experience handling over 80 brands and multiple award-winning campaigns under her belt. When not working, you’ll find Vaidehi spending time with family, binge watching Netflix shows, and baking.