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Coaching Intake Form Template

The first coaching session is too valuable to spend on logistics. This template collects goals, context, and expectations beforehand, so session one starts with real work.

A coach going through an intake form with a new client

Why coaching intake forms are different

Coaching intake is less about facts and more about self-report: what the client wants, what's blocking them, and how ready they are to change. The best coaching forms are shorter than other industries' — around 10–12 questions — because reflection questions take longer to answer well.

Recommended fields

  1. Full name, email, phone, and time zone
  2. How did you hear about my coaching practice?
  3. What area do you want coaching in? (career / business / leadership / life / other)
  4. In your own words, what would you like to achieve in the next 3–6 months?
  5. What have you already tried toward this goal?
  6. What's the biggest obstacle in your way right now?
  7. On a scale of 1–10, how ready are you to make changes? What would make it a 10?
  8. Have you worked with a coach before? What worked or didn't?
  9. Preferred session frequency and availability
  10. Anything else you'd like me to know before we start?
  11. Signature and date

Tips for this template

Keep the readiness question

The 1–10 readiness scale is the highest-signal question on this form. Low numbers aren't disqualifying — they tell you where the first session should start.

Send it 2–3 days before the first session

Enough time to answer thoughtfully, not enough to forget. Attach it to your booking confirmation email as a PDF.

Don't ask for a life history

One background question is plenty. Coaching intake that reads like a medical chart makes new clients hesitate.

Looking for a different practice? See all industry templates or read the guide to writing intake questions.

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