Thinking About Selling One-on-One Coaching? Start Here.

Whether you’re launching your first coaching package or finally selling one-on-one the right way, there’s one thing you can’t afford to skip: your legal foundation.

In this video, attorney Valerie Del Grosso walks you through the core legal documents every coach needs before taking payments, booking calls, or onboarding clients. These aren’t “checkbox” documents — they’re the protections that keep your business safe when refunds, reschedules, or disputes come up (and they will).

This guide breaks down each document, why it matters, and how it protects your business legally and financially.

Why One-on-One Coaching Has More Legal Risk Than You Think

One-on-one coaching is intimate, personal, and incredibly transformational — but it’s also where the most disputes arise:

• Clients no-show and later want to “use” old sessions
• Clients schedule calls but don’t follow through
• Clients stop paying mid-package and claim they can cancel
• Payment processors side with clients over “friendly fraud”

None of these situations get resolved by your sales page or your receipts. They’re resolved by your legal documents — if they’re done right.

Let’s walk through exactly what you need.

1️⃣ Privacy Policy

Your privacy policy is required the moment you collect any personal information — even just an email address.

What it does:

• Tells subscribers how their information is collected and stored
• Covers how they can request deletion
• Helps you comply with privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA, and more)
• Supports you in disputes when clients say they “didn’t agree” to your policies

This is non-negotiable for every coach, no matter your niche or business size.

Valerie’s free course, Legal in a Weekend, includes a full privacy policy you can plug in immediately.

2️⃣ Website Terms & Conditions

Your terms and conditions form a contract between you and every website visitor — even if they never hire you.

What they do:

• Tell visitors how they can use your content
• Explain what information is collected passively (SEO tools, ad pixels, etc.)
• Set rules for interacting with your site and materials
• Protect your copyright and intellectual property

Terms & conditions are your turf rules. They’re your first line of defense for everything from stolen content to misunderstandings about what you offer.

3️⃣ Website Disclaimer

Most coaching disputes never make it to court — they go straight through payment processors like Stripe or PayPal.

Your disclaimer helps show the processor:

• What the client was responsible for bringing to the process
• What your coaching is (and is not)
• Whether licensed professionals (doctors, therapists, accountants, attorneys) are still required

A solid disclaimer helps stop refund disputes before they start.

4️⃣ Clear, Truthful Marketing Promises

No legal document can save you from inaccurate or misleading marketing.

Your marketing must be:

• Truthful
• Specific
• Not missing important context
• Aligned with actual deliverables

Coaching disputes often begin because expectations weren’t aligned up front — and the regulator that cares most about this is your government.

5️⃣ Order Form With Linked Client Agreement

Many coaches don’t realize this:

A contract is only enforceable if the client had access to it before they paid.

Your order form must include:

• A link to the full client agreement
• A checkbox or signature confirming they’ve reviewed it
• Clear pricing, payment plan, and refund terms

This one step dramatically reduces friendly-fraud chargebacks because it allows you to show:

• What the client agreed to
• When they agreed
• What they accessed afterward

6️⃣ Confirmation Email With Support Instructions

This is where most disputes begin — not because the coaching was bad, but because the process wasn’t clear.

You need a confirmation email that includes:

• Purchase confirmation
• Support email address
• Where to book calls or access the portal
• What happens next

Clients panic when they feel abandoned or confused. A great confirmation email protects your reputation and your revenue.

7️⃣ Booking & Access System (Proof of Delivery)

If a refund dispute happens, one of the most powerful tools you can have is access logs.

Your system should track:

• When clients accessed modules
• When they booked calls
• What materials were delivered

While not required, these records often determine the outcome of disputes.

8️⃣ Business Policies (Your Boundaries in Writing)

Your business policies outline how and when clients can communicate with you, including:

• Expected response times
• Where messages should be sent
• How reschedules work
• What happens with no-shows
• How long sessions last
• Boundaries around weekends or holidays

Think of these as your sanity savers — and your legal safety net.

9️⃣ Billing Policies for Payment Plans

If you offer payment plans (even as a courtesy), you must outline:

• How often clients are billed
• What happens if a payment fails
• How quickly clients must update cards
• What happens if payments stop mid-contract

Clear billing policies prevent the “I’m not using the calls, so I’m not paying” problem — which is not how contract law works.

Build a Coaching Business You Can Rely On

These documents aren’t just legal protections — they create clarity, trust, and structure so you can confidently lead clients through transformational work without fearing disputes or chargebacks.

If you need all these documents in one place, Valerie’s Coach’s Legal Starter Kit includes everything she drafts for private clients — packaged for DIY use and ready to implement immediately.

👉Get the Legal Starter Kit here

Before You Go

Like and subscribe to stay on top of your coaching legal requirements. Twice a week, Valerie shares clear, practical steps to build a business you can rely on — without legal fear or confusion.