Online Coaching Business Quick Start Guide – Best Tech & Tools Explained!
May 30
Starting an online coaching business is exciting—but when it comes to tech and tools, things can get overwhelming fast!
What software do you actually need? What’s worth the investment, and what can you skip?
I’ve tested tons of platforms over the years, and today I’m giving you the exact tools I use and recommend to run a profitable and professional coaching business.
By the end of this video, you’ll know what tech you need, what each tool does, and where to find the best resources to set up your business the right way.
Superbloom Coach Presents: The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Life Coaching Business
Start an Online Coaching Business NOW! | MUST HAVE Tech & Tools!
Hey there, I’m Moriah Riona, an award-winning luxury brand designer, luxury branding coach, and the host of the Superbloom Coach Podcast, and this is Superbloom Coach Presents: The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Life Coaching Business!
Every single day this month, I’m walking you step by step through the best strategies, tools, and resources to launch your coaching business.
Speaking of resources—I created an amazing workbook to go along with this whole series! So if you haven’t grabbed it yet, stop what you’re doing and download it now! It’s designed to help you take action on everything we cover in this series.
Why the Right Tools Matter for Your Online Coaching Business
You don’t need a million different tools to run your coaching business—but the right ones will save you so much time, stress, and money.
I see so many new coaches spending hours trying to DIY everything—sending manual invoices, writing contracts from scratch, or piecing together tech that doesn’t work together.
But you shouldn’t be wasting your time on DIY—you need to focus on 2 things:
- Getting New Clients
- Serving Your Current Clients
The tools I’m about to share will help you automate, streamline, and look professional from day one.
And bonus—I’ve secured some amazing discounts for you on some of my favorites so be sure to check the description for those details. [some may be affiliate links]
So Here are My Must-Have Tools for Your Coaching Business:
Step 1: Set Up Your Client & Contract System
In the last episode, we talked all about how to get legally legit with your coaching business—setting up your business structure, understanding taxes, and protecting yourself with solid contracts.
If you missed that one, go back and watch it—because it’s foundational for what we’re covering today.
Now let’s take that a step further and actually set up your client process so you’re ready to book clients and protect yourself from day one.
Let’s start with the most important piece:
Contracts for Your Coaching Business
Every single coaching client you work with should sign a contract—no exceptions.
A great contract protects you and your business, clearly outlines your policies, and ensures your clients know what to expect.
It should cover things like:
- Your payment terms
- Your cancellation and refund policies
- What’s included in your offer—and just as importantly, what’s not
- A disclaimer making it clear that coaching isn’t therapy, medical advice, or legal consulting
If you don’t already have a contract, don’t stress—I highly recommend starting with a legally reviewed contract template. It’s affordable, fast, and will give you so much peace of mind. You can grab the templates I trust right here:
- Coaching Legal Template Bundle →
- Coaching Contract Template →
- Mastermind Agreement Contract Template →
- Assistant Coach Contract Template →
- Terms & Conditions, and Privacy Policy →
Pro Tip: Don’t wait until you “have clients” to get this in place. Have it ready now, so when a discovery call turns into a “yes,” you can onboard them confidently and quickly!
Delivering Contracts & Invoices: Choosing the Right CRM
Once you have your contract, you need a system to send it, collect signatures, invoice clients, and track the entire process. This is known as a CRM (Client Relationship Management Software).
My favorite CRM is Dubsado—I’ve been using it for years!
I use Dubsado to automate my entire client onboarding process:
- Sending contracts & getting them signed
- Collecting payments through automated invoices
- Sending client welcome emails
- Scheduling coaching calls
- Keeping everything organized in one beautiful dashboard
It’s one of my favorite tools in my entire business—and if you’re ready to look professional and automate your admin work, it’s absolutely worth setting up early.
And you can save 20% on your Dubsado subscription using my code: moriahriona
Step 2: Build Your Website & Online Presence
Once your client system is set up, the next thing you’ll want to create is your online home—a place where potential clients can learn about you, your coaching, and how to work with you.
That means setting up your website.
Now, if the word “website” makes you feel overwhelmed, breathe.
You don’t have to have a massive site with tons of pages and custom tech. In the beginning, it can be super simple—one or two pages with your offer, your story, and a way for people to book a call.
But here’s the truth: your website isn’t just a digital brochure. It’s the foundation of your online presence—and if you want to attract high-caliber, premium coaching clients, it needs to reflect the level of transformation you provide.
That’s why I only design on one platform: Showit.
I’ve been building websites on Showit since 2010, and I’m now a proud Showit Design Partner—which means the platform has personally vetted and recommended me as one of their expert designers.
It’s the platform I love and trust—and the one we use for every single client inside my Luxury Brand Leader program, where we design high-end personal brands and fully custom websites for coaches and thought leaders.
Showit gives you:
- Complete creative freedom—no coding required
- Seamless integration with WordPress—so you get the best of both worlds: stunning design plus the SEO power of WordPress
- Flexibility to grow with your business—from one offer to a full suite of services
And if you use my code (moriahriona) you’ll get your first month free!
If you’re planning to DIY your site for now, Showit is 100% the platform I recommend. And if you’re dreaming of a done-for-you, elevated experience where everything is designed for you, just know that my team and I specialize in building luxury coaching brands from the ground up—on Showit!
Step 3: Grow Your Email List & Automate Your Audience
Once your website is set up, the next step is building an email list—because if you’re relying only on social media to get coaching clients, you’re taking a huge risk.
Here’s why:
- Social media algorithms change constantly. You don’t own your followers.
- Email lets you build a direct, personal connection with your audience.
- People on your email list are way more likely to convert into paying clients than social media followers.
That’s why email marketing is essential for any coach who wants to grow a sustainable, profitable business.
Now, I’ve been using this one email marketing platform for years, and it’s the platform I recommend to all my clients. Why? Because it’s:
- Simple but powerful—perfect for coaches who don’t want to overcomplicate things.
- Automation built in—so you can nurture leads and book clients while you sleep.
One of my personal favorite things is how easy it is to embed your email forms directly into Showit—so when someone signs up for your freebie, it looks and feels like your brand instead of some generic email signup.
And if you’re wondering what to do with your email list—inside my Luxury Brand Leader program, we actually build out entire email funnels for our clients, so they have a high-converting system in place from day one.
We start by creating a high-value freebie opt-in (or lead magnet) that the audience member will exchange their email address for. Then, we create a nurture email sequence inside of kit that sends a series of 5 emails over the course of the next week to warm the new lead up to the coach and get them interested in their paid offer.
I highly recommend this is one of the first things you set up when starting your business. It’s a way to get new leads in your sleep!
Step 4: Add Funnels & Sales Automation
Now that your email list is growing and your nurture sequence is in place, the next step is turning those subscribers into paying clients—on autopilot.
This is where sales funnels and automation come in. Instead of manually selling your coaching or online offers every time, you can set up a system that works for you 24/7.
One of the best ways to do this? Adding urgency to your offers.
Think about it—when people feel like they can buy anytime, they tend to wait. But when there’s a real deadline? They’re way more likely to take action.
That’s why I use this countdown timer tool that lets me create automated deadlines for launches, lead magnets, and evergreen funnels.
And it can integrate seamlessly with your Showit website.
You can create custom landing pages inside Showit for your freebie, webinar, or paid offer—and seamlessly integrate a real, personalized countdown timer that increases conversions.
And the best part? Once it’s set up, it runs automatically. No more manually sending emails or trying to convince people to buy—it does the work for you.
If you want to start using this in your own coaching business, learn more here.
Step 5: Set Up Payments & Checkout Pages
Now that you’re growing your audience and selling your offers, you need an easy way to take payments.
ThriveCart is my go-to checkout cart platform because it makes the entire sales process seamless—plus, no monthly fees!
And bonus—if you’re planning to sell an online course or membership, their online course platform comes included, so you can host your course without paying for another platform.
BONUS: 2 More MUST HAVE Tools for Coaches
Stock Photography Membership for Your Online Coaching Business
Having a polished, high-end look for your website, social media, and marketing materials is key to attracting premium clients. My go-to stock image resource provides luxury-inspired photos perfect for branding.
Planners & Journals for Life Coaches
Staying organized is key when running a coaching business, and my favorite planner is designed specifically for ambitious women entrepreneurs.
How to Choose the Right Tools and Tech for Your Online Coaching Business
Start with the essentials:
Then, as you grow, add things like a stock photography subscription and a great planner to keep your brand and business elevated and professional.
Take Action: Start Your Online Coaching Business TODAY!
Tech overwhelm is real, but I want to help you take action today.
Comment here tell me: Which tool are you setting up next in your coaching business?
And if you have any questions about getting started, DM me over on Instagram—I’d love to hear from you!
The Next Step: Luxury Branding for Your Coaching Business
Now that you have your tech stack sorted, let’s talk about branding.
Because in tomorrow’s episode, I’m breaking down the basics of luxury branding for coaches—how to create a high-end brand that attracts premium clients.
So be sure to subscribe, grab your free workbook, and I’ll see you in the next episode!
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