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How Do I Start a Successful Coaching Business? I'm really interested in starting a success coaching business. I'm really good at giving advice to my friends--and their friends, family, etc. What do I need to know in terms of marketing? And will people take me seriously, since I'm so young?

By Karen E. Spaeder

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

For starters, one of the things you can do is be a peer mentoror work for a Boys & Girls Club where students give advice andact as role models for younger students. Visit their Web site atwww.bgca.org tofind a local club and get more information. You can also join theGirl Scouts or Boy Scouts and become a counselor. These would begood ways to hone your skills and prepare yourself for businessownership.

You should find a mentor, someone who is already a successcoach, who can guide you through the process of starting this typeof business. A good mentor is invaluable in learning the skillsneeded not only for, say, success coaching, but also for successfulbusiness ownership--namely, the ins and outs of marketing, sales,pricing, image (as you've indicated, you don't want yourage to be a deterrent to potential clients), accounting and soon.

Finally, there are coach training programs available--Coach U isone of the more well-known programs. Their Web site tells you allabout their programs and can also help you find a coach (if youjust want to talk to a few coaches before you jump in and start abusiness). Coach U even has teleclasses available where you can"attend class" over the phone.

Karen E. Spaeder is a freelance business writer in Southern California.

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