26 Life Coaching Success Stories & Case Studies [2023]
Life coach helps people in various areas of their lives using a combination of emotional intelligence, professional knowledge, and experience.
Life coaching is a popular industry worth over $2.85 billion, and the number of life coaches has increased by 33% between 2015-2019.
This is a very profitable business and can be started at virtually no cost. You’ll need a computer, a high-speed Internet connection, and a LinkedIn account to start. Then, you can begin coaching part-time in your spare time until you build up your clientele.
Here are some real-life success stories of starting a life coaching business to get you inspired to start your own business:
1. Personal Growth Base ($120K/year)
came. One of the most important lessons I learned is that success doesn't happen overnight. It takes time, dedication, and consistency to build a successful business. Additionally, I learned the power of personal connections and the importance of over-delivering and providing value to customers.
How much they make: $120K/year
Where they're located: Vienna, Austria
Current team size: 0
A 22-year-old entrepreneur from Vienna built a $10k/month personal growth business by executing ideas quickly and targeting needs, as well as delivering quality services and personal connections to his customers.
2. GrowthMentor ($120K/year)
Fotis Panagiotakopoulos came up with the idea for GrowthMentor after realizing that hiring freelancers for mini-consultations on Skype calls was a more efficient and productive way to learn and get feedback. He saw the potential to create a platform where marketers and founders could easily book mentorship sessions with experienced growth practitioners, and thus, GrowthMentor was born.
How much they make: $120K/year
Where they're located: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Current team size: 1
GrowthMentor, a platform connecting vetted growth mentors for one-on-one calls, founded by Fotis Panagiotakopoulos, has had over 2,500 mentorship calls booked to date and has seen success in using word of mouth, content marketing, and leveraging other people's networks as the primary drivers of customer acquisition.
So... can you actually make money with a life coaching business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Grow Your Agency ($1.44M/year)
Iman Gadzhi, founder of IAG Media and Grow Your Agency, came up with the idea for his social media marketing agency (SMMA) and online course after mastering Facebook ads and personal branding. With over $1.2 million in profit in just two years and multiple successful students, Gadzhi has become a leader in the SMMA industry.
How much they make: $1.44M/year
Where they're located: London, England, United Kingdom
Current team size: 2
Iman Gadzhi made over $1.2M in profit within two years with his social media marketing agency and education company, where he teaches entrepreneurs how to start and scale a profitable SMMA, with over 45 of his students making over six figures with their SMMA, and over 300 students having quit their regular jobs.
4. Ascend Marketing, Inc ($180K/year)
Jim Ackerman, the founder of Ascend Marketing, came up with the idea for his business after realizing that many small businesses struggled with marketing and advertising. He developed a highly prescriptive coaching program that included weekly one-on-one meetings, specific assignments, and personalized feedback and accountability. The program has been successful, with over 600 businesses completing it and only one refund requested.
How much they make: $180K/year
Where they're located: Grapevine, TX, USA
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 2
Ascend Marketing founder Jim Ackerman developed a six-month 1-on-1 coaching programme to help small business owners improve their marketing, advertising, and sales systems, resulting in over 600 businesses enrolled with a unique 200% ROI guarantee and a $15k monthly profit selling 2 dozen programs yearly, and now the company provides a business opportunity for marketing professionals seeking to become marketing coaches.
So... can you actually make money with a life coaching business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. Optimize Yourself ($120K/year)
Zack's coaching business was born out of his personal desire for self-improvement. He spent years experimenting with various strategies to improve his well-being, and his successful transformation caught the attention of others. Inquiries about his methods led him to establish a coaching business.
How much they make: $120K/year
Where they're located: Los Angeles, California, USA
Current team size: 0
A Hollywood film editor and director generated over $160,000 in revenue from his online coaching program with a list of under 5000, and currently generates around $10,000/month via the program while balancing a full-time job editing television, with his flagship product 'Focus Yourself' generating $50k in part-time sales in the first year.
6. Service Based Businesses ($72K/year)
Anthony Tumbiolo, the founder of ServiceBasedBusinesses.com, came up with the idea for his business while running his multimillion-dollar digital agency, Jakt. He realized that there was a need for a community where digital agency owners could come together, connect, and learn from each other's experiences. With revenues of approximately $6k per month, Tumbiolo is focused on providing valuable resources and support to his members in order to help them grow and scale their own agencies.
How much they make: $72K/year
Where they're located: Miami, Florida, USA
Current team size: 0
ServiceBasedBusinesses.com is a community for agency owners created by the founder of multimillion-dollar digital agency Jakt that provides access to exclusive resources and Q&A sessions, generates $6k/month in revenue, and serves agencies with revenues ranging from $100k/year to $2M+.
So... can you actually make money with a life coaching business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. FailTell ($13.2K/year)
Swagat Mohanty, co-founder of FailTell, came up with the idea for the business when he realized that there was no platform where people could share their "failure" stories or life experiences. Recognizing the interconnectedness of health, career, and mindset, Swagat and his co-founder Rahul Mohanty launched FailTell as a social community centered around inspiring stories. With a strong social media presence, collaborations with motivational speakers, and a revamped website offering additional services, FailTell has attracted 11,000 users and achieved profitability within just one year.
How much they make: $13.2K/year
Where they're located: Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
How much did it cost to start: $700
Current team size: 6
FailTell, an online platform offering a wide range of services for personal, emotional, and professional growth, has achieved 1,100 monthly active users, 220+ experts, and a user base of 11,000, with its most popular service - Career Mentoring - since launching a year and one month ago, offering affordable and accessible quality support to users with mental health, career, or everyday concerns.
8. Ask Holly Hall ($72K/year)
Holly Hall, a clairvoyant life coach, was introduced to the world of astrology and spiritual therapy through a book lent by a co-worker. With her unique abilities and a deep understanding of individuals, she launched her business, Ask Holly Hall, and has since garnered endorsements from esteemed figures like Dr. Shefali. With an average income of $5,000-8,000 per month, she aims to expand her reach through podcasting and publishing her book with a publishing company.
How much they make: $72K/year
Where they're located: Toronto, ON, Canada
How much did it cost to start: $200
Current team size:
Meet the Clairvoyant life coach who has built a highly successful business generating an average income of $5,000-8,000 a month through her talents as an Author, LifeCoach Astropsychologist, Spiritual Therapist, astrologer, and Clairvoyant with the ability in remote viewing to help clients understand their existence, relationships, careers, and connection with the universe or source.
9. Girl Boss Sports ($57.1K/year)
Sarah Wolfer, CEO and Founder of Girl Boss Sports, came up with the idea for her business based on her experiences as an athlete and coach in the sports industry. She witnessed gender disparities and inequality in sports and wanted to create change. By hiring over 20 women as soccer coaches, generating an average revenue of $4,700 per month, and partnering with other organizations, Girl Boss Sports is working towards increasing the number of women coaches and keeping girls involved in sports.
How much they make: $57.1K/year
Where they're located: Mariánské Lázně, Northwest, Czech Republic
Current team size: 1
Girl Boss Sports, founded in December 2018, aims to increase the number of women sports coaches while keeping girls in sports by partnering with companies and organizations, and has brought in an average of $4,700 of revenue per month over the last 6 months by hiring over 20 female soccer coaches in Greater Seattle area.
10. Holistic Wellness Coaching Academy ($180K/year)
Brittney Oliver, founder of the Holistic Wellness Coaching Academy, came up with the idea for her business after discovering the connection between gut health and mental well-being. As a board-certified health and life coach, she wrote her first book and realized the need to share her knowledge with others. She then decided to create a certification program and launched her business with little startup funds, growing it into a six-figure business within two years.
How much they make: $180K/year
Where they're located:
How much did it cost to start: $2K
Current team size: 3
A board-certified coach built the Holistic Wellness Coaching Academy from her book, growing it into a six-figure business in two short years, without using ads or campaigns, and attracting more leads with custom, digital content.
11. Tobias Young Fitness ($360K/year)
Tobias Young, IFBB Pro and Online Fitness Coach, developed his online fitness coaching business after years of personal training experience. With a focus on helping business professionals and entrepreneurs transform their bodies and lifestyles, Tobias's program quickly grew to a multi 6-figure income with clients achieving impressive results, such as losing over 20 lbs of fat within the first 12 weeks. Through email marketing and social media outreach, Tobias attracts and retains customers while continuously improving his program. With plans to scale his business through paid advertising and a dedicated team, Tobias's future looks bright.
How much they make: $360K/year
Where they're located: Canada
Current team size: 2
Tobias Young, an online fitness coach with over 20 years of industry experience, shares his journey of starting an online fitness coaching business that now generates a multi-six figure income and his tips for attracting and retaining customers through email marketing, social media, and identifying a target audience.
12. Ruby Health and Wellness ($43.2K/year)
Lynae Smith, a body positive nutritionist and registered dietitian, started her business in 2014 after working for several years in the field. With the help of a business mentor from SCORE, she took the leap and transitioned to full-time private practice, eventually making $56k/year in her first year. Through networking and referrals, she was able to attract and retain clients in her specialized field of nutrition consulting for eating disorders.
How much they make: $43.2K/year
Where they're located: Eugene, OR, USA
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 1
Learn how a body positive nutritionist and registered dietitian grew her full-time private practice, earning $56k in her first year, through networking and getting mentorship from SCORE.
13. RDRx Nutrition ($42K/year)
they are doing, offer support, and remind them of my services. I also actively engage with my social media followers by posting informative and relatable content, hosting fitness events, and attending networking groups. Word of mouth referrals from satisfied clients have been a major driver of new business.
How much they make: $42K/year
Where they're located: Anchorage, AK, USA
Current team size: 1
RDRx Nutrition is a successful private practice that offers individual nutrition coaching, boasting profits of $1,800-$2,100 per month after just one year of business, and achieving a client base of over 2200 followers on Instagram alone.
14. Holistic Living Consulting LLC ($1.2K/year)
After experiencing the devastating effects of systemic lupus and finding healing through holistic modalities, Cassandra Hill was inspired to start her business, Holistic Living Consulting. Focused on serving professional women who are neglecting their health while building their careers, Cassandra aims to provide virtual holistic wellness coaching and products that promote healthy living. Despite limited funds, Cassandra launched her business and has since gained brand awareness through media appearances, contributing to her growth and success in the field.
How much they make: $1.2K/year
Where they're located: Osceola
How much did it cost to start: $800
Current team size: 1
Holistic Living Consulting is a virtual business that offers holistic wellness and life coaching services and products, and has gained brand awareness nationwide through its founder's media features and contributions to Authority & Thrive Global magazines.
15. TeamFFLEX ($984K/year)
Ryan recognized the limitations of gyms, from people not being able to afford it to people who aren't able to hire a trainer due to availability issues. Taking this online could be massive. Not physically fit at the time and ready to dive into self-development, Ryan started TeamFFLEX with zero dollars and a lot of drive within.
How much they make: $984K/year
Where they're located: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 0
This case study is about a former personal trainer who launched his online personal training platform, TeamFFLEX, starting with no money and a lot of drive, and grew it into a 6-figure business in less than a year, now doing $48,000 a month with potential for continued growth.
16. Expert PT LTD ($108K/year)
Andy Griffiths, the founder of Expert PT, came up with the idea for his online personal training business after realizing that he was limited in the number of people he could help through in-person coaching. Wanting to reach more individuals, he researched and trialed existing online training services, finding a serious lack of support and personalization. This inspired him to create a truly bespoke online coaching service, focusing on providing the highest quality support to help individuals achieve their fitness goals.
How much they make: $108K/year
Where they're located: Chester, England, United Kingdom
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 2
Found a gap in the Online Personal Training market and created a personalized one-on-one coaching service, which has resulted in an annual turnover of over £90,000 and a 100% revenue increase on last year, with great client retention and a high volume of referrals.
20. HighTicketCoaching ($7.92M/year)
We are an impact-driven company on a mission to help 1000 coaches help 1000 clients through our proven business strategies. Our passion is to help coaches get their message out into the marketplace.
Armin is determined to help coaches build their coaching business from scratch and raise it to 6-7 figures and provide them with his expertise in business development, marketing systems, and doing great presentations online and on stage to help maximize the selling potential of their coaching programs. Known for his uncanny ability to captivate an audience, Armin Shafee is driven to help people take possession of their own minds.
- Armin Shafee established the business coaching firm HighTicketCoaching.com.
- He built one of the industry's quickest-growing coaching businesses while working as a coach himself.
- After becoming a millionaire in just a year, he is now on a mission to use his comprehensive programs to assist 1000 coaches in serving 1000 clients.
- Armin is renowned for his high level of integrity and has developed a number of millionaires as well as dozens of six-figure coaches through his coaching and innovative business strategies.
- HighTicketCoaching.com employs a precise No-Cost strategy and a hyper-organic system and the founder uses this platform to acquire coaching clients.
Watch the full video on youtube.com ➜
21. Inner Beauty Bybel ($240K/year)
My name is Amanda, I am a Certified Life & Success Coach, Certified NLP, EFT, TIME Techniques Practitioner, and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist!.
I’m a mom, an entrepreneur, a motivational speaker, a yoga enthusiast, a wife, a cat-mom, an early riser, a coffee connoisseur, a corporate dropout, and a Master Certified NLP Practitioner and Trainer, Master Certified Success & Life coach, Master Certified Hypnotherapist, Master Certified TIME Techniques Practitioner, + EFT Practitioner.
I decided that I was going to make it my life’s mission to empower women from around the world to pursue their true calling by shifting their identities and smashing their fears, so that they too could create an authentic and fulfilling life, on their terms.
- Amanda K founded Inner Beauty Bybel, a school for business and personal development that also offers certification in money and mindset mastery.
- She wanted to start something of her own that was both meaningful and impactful because she comes from a family of entrepreneurs and her father ran a successful business while she was growing up.
- With their signature programs and resources, you can grow your online business or learn how to become a coach.
- Amanda started Inner Beauty Bybel in February 2019, charging $20 for a 20-minute mentorship session.
Read the full story on letsreachsuccess.com ➜
19. BrainSpace Optimized ($240K/year)
How much they make: $240K/year
Where they're located: Normal, Illinois
Current team size: 3
This case study highlights the journey of a corporate worker turned entrepreneur offering business strategy and mindset coaching to first-generation entrepreneurs through an ongoing program called "One Year From Now."
20. Blue Sky Coaching ($72K/year)
Carly Kay, the founder of Blue Sky Coaching, came up with the idea to start her coaching practice after receiving a coaching session at work, which sparked her interest in people development. After going through a certification program and experiencing personal and professional growth, Carly decided to leave her corporate job and start her own coaching business. The Covid-19 pandemic actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise for her, as it allowed her to offer coaching sessions online and reach a wider audience.
How much they make: $72K/year
Where they're located: Johannesburg South, South Africa
How much did it cost to start: $1.5K
Current team size: 0
Blue Sky Coaching is a personal and professional coaching practice that launched in March 2020 and has built a sustainable business through consistency in branding, nurturing relationships, and offering effective coaching services in areas such as agile working and employee engagement.
21. PlaceCoach ($120K/year)
Quincy Washington, the 29-year-old founder of PlaceCoach, came up with the idea for his business based on his passion for helping people achieve their full potential. Drawing on his own experiences with applications and auditions, he decided to offer services to help students and professionals apply to competitive universities and secure top job positions. Since its establishment in 2021, PlaceCoach has helped over 1,000 clients and earned upwards of $20,000 per month during peak seasons.
How much they make: $120K/year
Where they're located: London
Current team size: 1
Founder Quincy Washington launched PlaceCoach, a company that helps students and professionals with applications and CVs, and has since helped over 1,000 clients from 60 countries, regularly making upwards of $20,000 per month.
22. Kindfulness Coaching ($36K/year)
The founder's journey into the coaching business began during the COVID-19 pandemic, spurred by personal challenges, a transformative moment during her husband's health crisis, and a newfound commitment to self-care and well-being.
How much they make: $36K/year
Where they're located: Rochester, NY, USA
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 1
This case study article follows the journey of Jen Schwytzer, founder of KINDfulness Coaching, as she transitions from social work to coaching, develops a personalized coaching program, and launches her business on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to attract and retain clients.
Hey! 👋 I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.
Get our 5-minute email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
"An amazing network of founders that truly want to help each other grow their business."
