What should a coaching intake form ask?

What the client wants to change and why now, what they've already tried, how they'll know coaching worked, what support looks like at its best for them, and practical logistics. The 'why now' question routinely produces the most useful answer of the engagement.

Should coaches use a written agreement?

Always. Scope, confidentiality, cancellation and rescheduling policy, and payment terms in writing protect the relationship — most coaching disputes trace back to mismatched expectations that a one-page agreement would have prevented.

How long should coaching onboarding take a client?

About 20 minutes of honest reflection. Encourage clients not to rush it — their written answers become a baseline you'll both return to when measuring progress later.

Coaching

Coaching Client Onboarding

Goals, current situation, expectations, scheduling preferences, coaching agreement, and first payment — a clean start for every engagement.

4 steps12questions & requests~24 min for your client

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The first coaching session is too valuable to spend on logistics. When goals, history, and expectations arrive before session one, you start coaching on day one — and the client feels the difference immediately.

This template collects the reflective groundwork, sets expectations in writing, and handles the agreement and payment, so the engagement starts with momentum.

Who it's for: Business, executive, career, and life coaches running 1:1 or small-group engagements.

What's inside

The full flow your client walks through, step by step. Everything is editable in the builder before you send it.

Step 1 of 4

Welcome & Contact

Welcome — I'm looking forward to working together. These questions take about 20 minutes of honest reflection, and they're where the coaching actually begins.

Your full name
TextRequired
Best email for project updates
EmailRequired
Company / business name
TextRequired
Phone number (optional, for quick questions)
Phone

Step 2 of 4

Goals & Background

What do you want to be different — and why now?
Long answerRequired
What have you already tried, and what happened?
Long answerRequired
Six months from now, how will you know this worked?
Long answerRequired

Step 3 of 4

Working Together

What does great support look like for you?
Direct challenge — push me · Accountability and structure · A thinking partner — questions over answers · Encouragement first
Single choiceRequired
Preferred session cadence
Weekly · Every two weeks · Monthly · Let's discuss
Single choiceRequired
Anything else I should know before we start?
Long answer

Step 4 of 4

Agreement & Payment

Service agreement
E-signatureRequired
Project deposit
PaymentRequired

Why this template works

Reflective questions clients complete before session one
Expectations and boundaries agreed in writing from the start
Coaching agreement and payment in the same sitting

Frequently asked questions

What should a coaching intake form ask?: What the client wants to change and why now, what they've already tried, how they'll know coaching worked, what support looks like at its best for them, and practical logistics. The 'why now' question routinely produces the most useful answer of the engagement.
Should coaches use a written agreement?: Always. Scope, confidentiality, cancellation and rescheduling policy, and payment terms in writing protect the relationship — most coaching disputes trace back to mismatched expectations that a one-page agreement would have prevented.
How long should coaching onboarding take a client?: About 20 minutes of honest reflection. Encourage clients not to rush it — their written answers become a baseline you'll both return to when measuring progress later.