How to move from free to fee

As a business coach or personal coach, I would hazard a guess that you are someone who naturally wants to connect with people and offer support and is generous with your time.

Many coaches I meet often offer free coaching sessions to attract new clients.

I guide my clients to build their coaching practice in alternative ways so that you minimise the amount of time you spend offering "free coaching" and instead create strategies and systems where you increase the number of high quality leads to your coaching practice and turning those leads into more clients and then profits.

One of the things we have to develop in ourselves is the confidence to be able to turn down some of the "free coaching" opportunities.

Remember that every time you offer your coaching services for free, you are directing your time, energy and resources from other opportunities.

Don't get me wrong, there are times where it is appropriate to speak for free for example, as long as you have integrated this marketing strategy into your overall business strategy and you know how to effectively move this free speaking opportunity to profits for your coaching practice for example through selling information products at the event.

I often get asked, how do you turn down these opportunities without offending the people who are asking you yet staying true to your personal values of wanting to support people.

So why not try this script:

Thank you for asking and offering me the opportunity to ........ (add here what opportunity you have been offered).  I know I have a reputation for being generous with my time and advice.

However on this occasion, I am afraid I must decline the offer to ....... (add here what opportunity you have been offered) as it does not connect with my strategy and current business plan.

Thank you for considering me and I hope we have the opportunity to work together on another assignment in the future.

Try this approach and amend the script to fit your personal style. I am sure that this approach will help you leave the conversation feeling you have demonstrated integrity, recognised the value in your expertise, your time and your personal resources and have left the door open should future opportunities arise.

What's more, it demonstrates to the person asking you for free coaching that what you have to offer is valuable, requires investment and that you value yourself. I am sure that they will respect you for taking that approach.

Do let me know if you try this approach and what the reaction is that you receive. Perhaps you have an alternative script that works for you?