Executive & Leadership Coach

Coach executives, directors, and senior leaders on effectiveness and leadership

Startup Cost
$8,000-$25,000
Difficulty
Advanced
Time to Profit
10-18 months
Profit Potential
$17,000-$83,000/month

Overview

Executive coaches charge $250-$750 per hour or $3,000-$15,000 monthly.

Coaching 6-15 executives generates $200,000-$1,000,000+ annually with 80-90% margins.

In 2025, C-suite executives, VPs, and senior leaders hire coaches for leadership development, navigating challenges, and improving effectiveness.

Services include leadership development and skills, executive presence and communication, strategic thinking and decision making, managing and developing teams, navigating organizational politics, work-life integration for executives, supporting transitions (new roles, promotions), and addressing specific challenges.

Successful executive coaches typically have corporate leadership experience, understand organizational dynamics, maintain confidentiality, provide safe space for vulnerable conversations, and work at strategic level.

Many have 15+ years corporate experience before coaching.

ICF PCC or MCC certification valued.

Often work with single executives in 6-12 month engagements.

Corporations frequently sponsor and pay for executive coaching.

Marketing through LinkedIn, speaking at leadership conferences, and referrals from HR leaders and other executives.

Some coaches get certified in assessments (360 reviews, DiSC, Hogan).

Required Skills

  • Leadership Experience
  • Executive Presence
  • Organizational Dynamics
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Confidentiality
  • Business Acumen

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Very high rates for executive-level work
  • Intellectually stimulating strategic work
  • Corporate-sponsored coaching provides steady flow
  • Long-term engagements (6-12+ months)
  • High professional satisfaction

Cons

  • Requires significant corporate leadership experience
  • Long credibility-building process
  • Need advanced coaching credentials (PCC/MCC)
  • Limited client capacity (6-15 executives)
  • Corporate bureaucracy for sponsored coaching

How to Get Started

  1. Build 15+ years corporate leadership experience
  2. Get ICF PCC or MCC certification
  3. Develop executive coaching methodology and frameworks
  4. Get certified in leadership assessments (360, DiSC, Hogan)
  5. Build LinkedIn presence targeting executives and HR
  6. Network with corporate HR and talent development leaders
  7. Start with director-level clients and grow to C-suite

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