Why we don't print a price here
Executive coaching fees vary widely by format, experience, city and the seniority of the client. The live directory pages cite two dated industry surveys for hourly coaching rates; this guide doesn't repeat those figures until they have been re-checked against their sources. What follows explains what shapes the total, so you can compare proposals fairly.
What shapes the fee
- Format. One-to-one coaching is often priced per month or per engagement rather than per hour. Intensives are priced per day or as a package. Team programs are usually priced per program, depending on team size and the number of sessions.
- Length. A several-month engagement costs more in total than a short one, even at the same rate. Ask for the total, not just the rate.
- Seniority. Coaching for very senior leaders often costs more, because the coaches who specialize in it charge more.
- Setting and travel. Intensives at a retreat setting add venue, lodging and travel. A coach who travels to you may bill travel time or expenses.
- Follow-up. Check whether follow-up sessions after an intensive or a team program are included.
- Who pays. When an employer pays, the price may include reporting or a three-way goal-setting meeting. Ask what's included.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What is the total cost of the engagement as proposed, including any assessments, materials and follow-up?
- How do you bill: per session, per month, per day or per program?
- What happens if I need to pause or end early? Is anything refundable?
- For intensives: what does the fee include, and what are venue, lodging and travel likely to add?
- For team programs: how does the price change with team size?
- If my employer pays: what is reported to them, and is that included in the fee?
Paying yourself or through your employer
Many organizations pay for executive coaching as leadership development. If yours does, ask HR how coaches are chosen and what they report back, and agree confidentiality terms before you start. If you pay yourself, you keep full control of the choice and of what's shared.
Comparing proposals
Line up proposals as totals over the same period, with the same number of sessions and the same follow-up. The lowest rate isn't always the lowest total, and the best fit is the coach you'll keep meeting with.
Budgeting for a team program
For a leadership-team program, the coach's fee is only part of the cost. Count the team's own time too: an off-site day for eight senior leaders is a real investment. Ask the facilitator how they keep sessions focused, what preparation they ask of each member, and how many sessions they think your team actually needs. A shorter program with clear agreements often does more than a long one nobody has time for.
Hidden costs to ask about
Some costs only show up later. Ask whether assessments or questionnaires are billed separately, whether the coach charges for messages or short calls between sessions, and whether rescheduled or late-cancelled sessions are charged in full. For intensives at a retreat setting, ask who books the venue and lodging and whether you pay the provider or the venue directly. For team programs, ask whether preparatory interviews with each team member are included in the price or quoted separately. A clear written proposal answers all of these before you sign.
Starting small
If you're unsure about committing to a long engagement, ask whether the coach offers a shorter first phase, such as a handful of sessions or a single intensive day, with the option to continue. It costs more per session than a long package, but it lets you test the fit before committing to the full fee.
What the directory charges you
Nothing. ExecutiveBurnoutPros doesn't charge leaders who use it or take any share of what you pay a provider. Any featured or sponsored listing is labelled on the page where it appears.