6 Coaches Share Their Secrets to Building a Thriving Solo Practice

The coaching industry has exploded in recent years. It has attracted experts and professionals from every conceivable background, all launching solo practices to help others achieve their goals. 

But what separates the successful coaches from those who struggle to gain traction? 

As part of my series of Customer Showcase interviews, I spoke with six coaches, each with their own speciality, and have uncovered common threads that bind their success, and the unique approaches that set each apart.

From Gareth Marlow’s executive coaching practice to Tiara Mosley’s personal styling services, these entrepreneurs have built sustainable businesses by prioritizing relationships, staying authentic, and using technology and automation strategically. They’ve remained successful solopreneurs—keeping their revenue strong, their calendars full, and their mission on course.

I was interviewing them because they all use YouCanBookMe as their chosen online scheduling tool. I was delighted to discover that there was always a connection between how and why they run their business and why they chose our tool—and have stayed with us for many years. 

It all comes down to one thing: relationships.

Despite working in different fields—from business books to runway modeling—all six of my interviewees emphasized one fundamental principle: building authentic relationships is the backbone of any successful coaching practice. 

In other words, a coach's job is to help clients uncover their true motivations and intentions, so they themselves can start working on solutions.

This only comes about if they trust their coach and can start to open up.

“It's helping those folks to understand the value and the importance of building relationships and working effectively with other people," explains Gareth Marlow, whose engineering background uniquely positions him to help executives from the same industry develop self-awareness and emotional regulation. 

His approach considers the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of clients, a perspective that comes from understanding complex systems.

This relationship-first coaching philosophy extends beyond client interactions to how these coaches view their own entrepreneurial journey. 

Teri Smith, who specializes in business ownership coaching, uses her people skills from her HR background to set up a rapport as soon as possible with her clients:

"It's really about focusing on the client, seeing where they're at and meeting them there and then helping them along the way”. 

Her strengths-based approach helps entrepreneurs and small business owners overcome the self-doubt that often paralyzes new ventures.

Genuine connection becomes even more essential in specialized fields. Runway coach Jessica Gregory helps models, in her words, “Be, Feel, Walk, Confident,” by focusing not just on the technical skill of walking the runway, but also on building confidence and self-esteem.

As she puts it: “You wear the clothes—don’t let the clothes wear you.”

These insights are born from building client relationships where trust and authenticity are the watchwords. Whether it’s an overworked tech exec, a first-time entrepreneur, or a model preparing to own the runway, the core need is the same: confidence in themselves and in the relationships that support them.

What stood out to me was that, despite coming from very different industries, all the coaches I spoke to achieved similar results by staying committed to client transformation.

Boxing coach Nate Cruz sees fitness coaching as half body, half mind. It’s coaching, not just training.

He is a full-time firefighter, which brings a unique perspective on discipline and resilience to his role as a boxing coach. Nate’s approach focuses on continuous improvement rather than comparison: "I think that that is where I thrive. Finding what makes people tick, finding what makes people feel motivated to get up and attack whatever's happening in a given day.”

Cathy Fyock coaches authors through the process of publishing their business books, helping them tap into the motivation needed to write with purpose and achieve their strategic goals. “Expertise plus passion—that’s where the magic happens,” she emphasizes. To keep momentum high, she sets a six-month deadline to get it done.

Tiara Mosley is firm in her belief that personal styling coaching goes far beyond fashion advice. Her work helps clients develop a personal style that reflects their personality and values, with the philosophy that, "It's better to be confident than certain"—a powerful reminder that self-assurance often matters more than having all the answers.

Perhaps the most striking similarity among these successful coaches is how they continually look for ways to streamline their operations. In fact, most were early adopters of automation.

As a solopreneur, you must be able to deliver your actual service, while simultaneously allocating time in the week for other tasks: marketing, prospecting, onboarding, and client management. 

Rather than getting bogged down in administrative tasks, they’ve embraced technology to create more time for what they do best: coaching.

Gareth Marlow credits automation with transforming his practice and "saving me thousands of hours and emails." 

From initial consultations to scheduling his regular sessions and follow-up meetings, Gareth set up an impressive flow on YouCanBookMe using webhooks so his email, CRM, and scheduling are all connected.

Gareth’s setup is a great example of how coaches can use simple tools to save time and stay organized.

Our coaches' efficiency checklist:

• Ensure your website, CRM, and scheduling tools are fully integrated
• Take payments upfront
• Collect onboarding information during the booking process
• Include standard Terms & Conditions acceptance in the booking form
• Offer varied time slots to time box your week effectively
• Share booking links across all social media channels
• A coaching booking page with unified branding

Coach like a pro, schedule like a boss

Stop sweating the small stuff. From reminders to rescheduling, YCBM keeps your calendar in check—while you keep inspiring.

The collective wisdom from these six coaches offers a roadmap for anyone considering a coaching career. Their advice consistently emphasizes starting with solid foundations rather than rushing to scale your business.

Jessica Gregory emphasizes the importance of just taking the leap and starting, “Start, ask questions, automate, and delegate. That would be the most important thing. Automate, delegate, and utilize your resources.”

Tiara Mosley also wished she’d started sooner. As she shared with me, “Imposter Syndrome is real. Do not be intimidated or ashamed of that. You’ve just got to go.” In other words, don’t wait to know everything before you launch your business.

Of course, Cathy’s advice would be to write a business book and get some attention for your thoughts and ideas around your coaching practice! 

But she’s also got some gems on how she finds new coaching clients: “Community building has always been a huge tool for my business, whether it be me meeting one on one with individuals virtually or in person, or offering learning events or finding learning events where I might speak. That's a way to bring clients to me.” 

The success stories of these six coaches reveal several key principles that aspiring solo practitioners should embrace. 

First, authenticity cannot be faked—clients can sense genuine passion and expertise, making it essential to coach in areas where you have both knowledge and enthusiasm.

Second, relationships remain the foundation of coaching success, regardless of your specialty. Whether you’re helping executives build emotional intelligence or coaching models for the runway, real transformation happens through genuine human connection.

Third, automation isn't about replacing human interaction; it's about freeing you of an unnecessary burden. The most successful coaches use technology and coaching software to enhance their ability to serve clients, not to distance themselves from the work.

Finally, everyone I spoke to shared a deep passion for the people they serve—their clients—and the outcomes they help them achieve. These coaches are their clients’ biggest champions and living proof of the impact coaching can have.

The path to success isn't mysterious; it requires authenticity, relationship focus, smart use of technology, and the patience to build something meaningful over time. 

The coaching industry offers tremendous opportunities for those willing to commit to genuine service and continuous improvement. By following the examples set by these successful practitioners, aspiring coaches can build practices that not only generate income but also create lasting positive impact in their clients' lives.

Many thanks to our six coaches who volunteered their precious time to speak to me about how they run their businesses!

• Gareth Marlow - Executive Coach/Management Coach
• Teri Smith - Career Ownership Coach
• Cathy Fyock - Book Coach
• Nate Cruz - Boxing Coach
• Jessica Gregory - Runway Coach
• Tiara Mosley - Personal Style Coach/Stylist