Welcome, Austin 👋
Your financial coaching business starts here. Everything you need — in one place.
YOUR MISSION STATEMENT
"To close the wealth gap one conversation at a time — giving young professionals and underserved communities the financial tools, language, and confidence to build generational wealth."
Young Professionals
Underserved Communities
Generational Wealth
Financial Literacy
$0
Revenue Today
→ $10K/mo
12-Month Target
🗺️ Your Business Journey — Where You Are Now
8-phase roadmap from idea → thriving practice
1
Foundation & Setup
2
Brand & Presence
3
First 3 Clients
4
Refine Program
5
Content Machine
6
Scale to 10 Clients
7
Group Program
8
Full-Time Business
Active Clients
0
Goal: 5 by Month 3
Monthly Revenue
$0
Target: $2,500 mo. 3
Launch Tasks Done
0/18
Start here first
Content Pieces
0
Goal: 12 before launch
🎯 Today's 3 Priorities
PRE-LAUNCHForm your LLC — file with your state ($50–$200)
Open a dedicated business checking account
Write your coaching niche + ideal client statement
Create free coach profile on Niche.com or Coach.me
⚡ This Week's Focus Areas
Business Structure
LLC, EIN, business bank account, basic bookkeeping setup (Wave — free)
Credentialing Plan
Research AFC, FFC, or NFEC certification. Even one course builds authority.
Coaching Agreement Draft
Create your first client agreement. Use a free template from Honeybook or Bonsai.
Business Blueprint
Your complete business model — structure, positioning, delivery, and legal
🏢 Business Structure
| Business Name | Austin Wise Financial Coaching LLC |
| Entity Type | Single-Member LLC (recommended) |
| EIN | PENDING — apply at IRS.gov (free) |
| Business Bank | Relay, Novo, or Chase Business (free) |
| Bookkeeping | Wave (free) or QuickBooks Simple ($17/mo) |
| Payment Processing | Stripe + PayPal (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) |
| Contracts | Bonsai or Honeybook (client agreements) |
| Insurance | Professional Liability — Next Insurance (~$30/mo) |
🎯 Niche Positioning
💡 The riches are in the niches. Don't try to help everyone — own a lane.
Primary Audience: Young Professionals (22–38)
First-generation earners making $45–$90K who have no financial literacy, heavy student debt, lifestyle inflation, and no savings. They're smart but nobody taught them the basics.
Secondary Audience: Underserved Communities
Families and individuals historically excluded from financial advice. Often no bank account, no credit, no financial role models. High trust, high need, and underserved by mainstream advisors.
Your Differentiator (What Sets You Apart)
You speak their language. You know their experience. You don't judge where they are — you meet them there and walk with them to where they deserve to be.
📜 Legal Essentials Checklist
DO THESE FIRSTFile LLC with Secretary of State
Get EIN from IRS.gov (free, same day)
Open dedicated business bank account
Draft Client Service Agreement (CSA)
Add financial coaching disclaimer to all materials
Get Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance
Set up QuickBooks/Wave for bookkeeping
Set aside 25–30% of all revenue for taxes
🎓 Certification Roadmap
📌 You don't need a license to coach — but a certification builds massive credibility, especially in underserved markets.
AFC — Accredited Financial Counselor
Gold standard for financial coaches. ~$500–$900. AFCPE.org. Highly respected.
FFC — Financial Fitness Coach
Dave Ramsey affiliated. Quick to obtain. Great for budget/debt-focused coaching.
NFEC Certification
National Financial Educators Council. Strong for community/educational focus. Very credible.
Revenue Model
How Austin Wise Financial Coaching makes money — pricing, packages, and projections
💡 Pricing Philosophy: Price for your market but don't undervalue yourself. Young professionals CAN pay $200–$400/mo when they understand the ROI. Underserved markets get a sliding scale or group rate. Both can coexist.
Starter
$150/mo
For underserved community clients
✓ 1 session/month (60 min)
✓ Budget worksheet + review
✓ Email support (48hr response)
✓ Access to resource library
✗ No debt payoff plan
✗ No credit review
Target: 5 clients = $750/mo
⭐ Core Program RECOMMENDED
$297/mo
For young professionals — flagship offer
✓ 2 sessions/month (60 min each)
✓ Full financial assessment
✓ Custom zero-based budget
✓ Debt payoff strategy built for you
✓ Credit review + dispute guidance
✓ WhatsApp/text support
✓ Monthly net worth update
✓ 90-day action plan
Target: 10 clients = $2,970/mo
VIP Intensive
$597/mo
For couples or accelerated transformation
✓ 4 sessions/month (all formats)
✓ Everything in Core Program
✓ Investment basics coaching
✓ Tax strategy review
✓ Full credit rebuild roadmap
✓ WhatsApp priority response
✓ Spouse/partner included
✓ Emergency "money panic" call
Target: 5 clients = $2,985/mo
📈 Revenue Projection — 12 Months
| Month | Starter | Core | VIP | Total MRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months 1–2 | 2 clients | 1 client | 0 | $597 |
| Month 3 | 3 clients | 3 clients | 0 | $1,341 |
| Month 6 | 4 clients | 6 clients | 2 clients | $3,576 |
| Month 9 | 5 clients | 9 clients | 3 clients | $5,424 |
| Month 12 | 5 clients | 12 clients | 5 clients | $7,314 |
🎯 Add a monthly group coaching workshop at $47/person × 20 attendees = +$940/mo with no extra 1:1 time.
💡 Additional Revenue Streams
🎓 Group Coaching Workshop
Monthly live 90-min Zoom. 15–30 attendees. Low prep after first run.
$47–$97
📘 Budget Starter Kit (Digital)
PDF/spreadsheet bundle. Sell on Gumroad. Passive income.
$27–$47
📊 Financial Assessment Only
One-time deep-dive. No ongoing commitment. Great entry point.
$197 flat
🤝 Corporate Financial Wellness
Partner with HR departments. 1-hr lunch-and-learn or series.
$500–$2K
🌐 Online Course (Phase 2)
Self-paced version of your program. Build once, sell forever.
$197–$497
📣 Affiliate Partnerships
Earn referral fees from Chime, Acorns, Greenlight, Rocket Money.
$25–$200/ref
🚀 Launch Checklist
18 tasks to go from idea to first paying client — in order of priority
⚡ Phase 1 — Legal & Money
WEEK 1–21. File LLC with your state
2. Get EIN from IRS.gov
3. Open business bank account
4. Set up Stripe for payments
5. Get professional liability insurance
6. Draft your Client Service Agreement
🎨 Phase 2 — Brand & Tools
WEEK 2–47. Design logo and brand colors
8. Build simple website (3 pages)
9. Set up Calendly for booking
10. Create intake questionnaire
11. Set up professional email
12. Build your client resource folder
📣 Phase 3 — Get Clients
WEEK 3–613. Post your launch announcement
14. Offer 3 free discovery calls
15. Text 20 people in your network
16. Create 3 pieces of content
17. Contact 2 local community orgs
18. Sign your FIRST paying client
12-Week Client Curriculum
The complete coaching program Austin delivers to every Core & VIP client
📘 Program Philosophy: Every session builds on the last. Weeks 1–3 = assess and stabilize. Weeks 4–8 = attack and build. Weeks 9–12 = accelerate and lock in habits. The client leaves with a living financial plan they own and understand.
📍 Module 1 — Foundation (Weeks 1–3)
Assess & StabilizeWeek 1: Full Financial Picture
Complete intake. Calculate real net worth. Pull all account balances. Face the numbers with no judgment. Set 3 goals.
Week 2: Cash Flow & Spending Audit
Where is the money actually going? Review last 3 months of bank statements. Identify leaks. Map income vs. outgo.
Week 3: Zero-Based Budget Build
Give every dollar a job. Build their first real budget together. Discuss the 50/30/20 framework and why to customize it.
📍 Module 2 — Emergency & Protection (Weeks 4–5)
Build the FloorWeek 4: Emergency Fund Strategy
Why 3–6 months matters. Where to keep it (HYSA). How to fund it fast. Automate a weekly transfer — even $25 counts.
Week 5: Insurance & Protection Audit
Review what they have, what's missing. Life, health, disability, renters. Protect what they're building before building it.
📍 Module 3 — Debt Freedom (Weeks 6–7)
Attack ModeWeek 6: Debt Inventory & Strategy
List every debt: balance, APR, minimum. Choose Snowball or Avalanche. Build the payoff order and timeline together.
Week 7: Negotiation & Acceleration
Call creditors to lower APR. Explore balance transfers. Side hustle income dedicated to debt. Automate extra payments.
📍 Module 4 — Credit Building (Week 8)
Unlock PowerWeek 8: Credit Deep Dive
Pull all 3 bureaus (annualcreditreport.com — free). Review score factors. Identify disputes. Build 90-day score improvement plan.
📍 Module 5 — Savings & Goals (Weeks 9–10)
Build WealthWeek 9: Sinking Funds & Short-Term Goals
Car maintenance, holidays, vacations — all need sinking funds. Set up separate HYSA buckets. Fund goals before they happen.
Week 10: Long-Term Goals & Investing Intro
Homeownership, retirement, legacy. Intro to 401k, Roth IRA, index funds. Make it simple, not scary. Start with $50/mo if needed.
📍 Module 6 — Income & Mindset (Week 11)
Expand ThinkingWeek 11: Income Growth Strategy
Career advancement, side hustle ideas, negotiation tactics. Nobody got wealthy by cutting lattes — income matters just as much as budget.
📍 Module 7 — Graduation & Next Steps (Week 12)
🎓 LaunchWeek 12: Full Plan Review + Graduation
Review all progress. Updated net worth. 12-month forward plan. Celebrate wins. Present certificate. Offer maintenance package or continued support.
Session Framework
How to run every coaching session — structure, scripts, and tools
🎙️ Standard 60-Minute Session Flow
0–5 min
Win Review
Ask: "What's one win — big or small — from this past week?" Always start positive.
5–15 min
Action Item Review
Review what was assigned last session. What got done? What got stuck? Accountability without shame.
15–45 min
Core Work
The curriculum topic for this week. Review numbers, build strategy, teach concept. Use shared screen on Zoom.
45–55 min
Action Plan
Assign 3–5 specific tasks. Write them together. Make them concrete, time-bound, and achievable.
55–60 min
Close + Mindset Moment
End with an affirmation or money mindset reframe. "You are capable of this." Book next session before hanging up.
🛠️ Coaching Tech Stack
| Tool | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom | Video sessions | Free / $15mo |
| Calendly | Session booking | Free tier |
| Google Drive | Client file sharing | Free |
| Notion | Session notes & CRM | Free |
| Stripe | Recurring billing | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Loom | Async video messages | Free |
| Client support texts | Free | |
| Canva | Client materials | Free |
💬 Powerful Coaching Questions
DISCOVERY
"What does financial freedom actually look like for YOU?"
ACCOUNTABILITY
"What got in the way, and what would you do differently?"
MINDSET
"Where did you learn that belief about money? Is it still serving you?"
MOTIVATION
"When you picture your kids watching you do this — how does that feel?"
Client Intake Form
Complete this before Session 1. Gives Austin the full picture before the first conversation.
👤 Personal Information
💼 Income & Employment
🎯 Goals & Motivation
⚠️ Challenges & Mindset
Marketing Plan
How Austin Wise finds, attracts, and converts ideal clients — without paid ads to start
🎯 The #1 Rule: In the beginning, your marketing IS your content and your network. You don't need ads. You need to show up consistently as the most helpful financial voice in your community.
📱 Social Media Strategy
FREEInstagram / TikTok — Primary
Short videos, money tips, budget breakdowns. Show personality. 3x/week minimum. Reels perform best for reach.
LinkedIn — Professional
Target young professionals. Share insights, client wins (anonymized), thought leadership. 2x/week. Best ROI for corporate clients.
Facebook Groups — Community
Join local community groups. Answer money questions genuinely. Never pitch directly — lead with value. Then they come to you.
CONTENT PILLARS: 🧾 Budget Tips | 💳 Credit Education | 💬 Client Wins | 🎙️ Your Story | 💡 Myth-Busting
🤝 Community & Referral
HIGH PRIORITYChurches & Faith Communities
Offer free 45-min financial stewardship talk. These communities TRUST their institutions. One talk = 3–5 clients.
Workforce Development Centers
Partner with job-training orgs. Their clients need financial coaching. Paid corporate partnerships possible.
Nonprofit Organizations
United Way, Urban League, local CDFIs. May even pay you for workshops or refer clients with grant funding.
HR Departments / Employers
Offer group financial wellness lunch-and-learns. $500–$2,000 per session. Great for reaching young professionals en masse.
📋 Content Calendar (Week 1)
MONDAY — Story Post
"Why I became a financial coach" — your origin story. The moment that changed everything.
WEDNESDAY — Education
"The ONE thing destroying your credit score" — short Reel or carousel. Teach something specific.
FRIDAY — Engagement
"What's your #1 money struggle right now?" — poll or question. Seed your audience research.
SUNDAY — Motivation
"You don't need a perfect budget — you need a starting budget." Short affirmation + CTA to book a call.
📌 Post CONSISTENTLY for 90 days before judging results. Volume beats perfection early on.
Business Metrics
Track your business health and growth — updated monthly
Active Clients
0
Goal: 5 by Mo. 3
Discovery Calls
0
Book 3 this week
Monthly Revenue
$0
Target: $2,970
Client Retention
—%
Target: 85%+
📊 Monthly Business Scorecard
| Metric | This Month | Target | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery calls booked | 0 | 8 | Start now |
| Close rate (calls → clients) | — | 50%+ | Tracking |
| New clients signed | 0 | 3 | Start now |
| Content pieces published | 0 | 12 | Behind |
| Social media followers | — | 500 by Mo.3 | Tracking |
| Revenue generated | $0 | $2,970 | Start now |
| Expenses (tools, etc.) | $0 | <$200/mo | On track |
| Net profit | $0 | $2,770 | Get clients |
🎯 12-Month Revenue Milestones
Month 3: First $1,000 month$0 / $1,000
Month 6: $3,000/mo recurring$0 / $3,000
Month 9: $5,000/mo$0 / $5,000
Month 12: $10,000/mo (full-time)$0 / $10,000
🧮 10 Core clients ($297) + 5 Starter ($150) + 3 VIP ($597) = $5,601/mo — achievable by Month 9.
Coach Mindset
The internal operating system behind an elite financial coach
AUSTIN'S COACHING CREED
"I don't judge where you are.
I celebrate where you're going.
My job is not to be your accountant.
My job is to be your guide, your mirror, and your biggest believer — until you believe it yourself."
I celebrate where you're going.
My job is not to be your accountant.
My job is to be your guide, your mirror, and your biggest believer — until you believe it yourself."
🧠 The 5 Mindsets of Elite Financial Coaches
Meet People Where They Are
Never make a client feel shame about their numbers. They came to you. That took courage. Honor it.
Value Your Expertise
Don't discount. Don't apologize for your rates. The transformation you provide is worth far more than the fee.
Always Be a Student
Tax law changes. Market shifts. Certifications help. Read one finance book per month. Your clients deserve a coach who's still learning.
Consistency Over Motivation
You will have weeks where you want to quit. Build systems, not willpower. Your clients count on your consistency.
Results Are Everything
One client paying off $5K debt is your best marketing. Track wins obsessively. Testimonials build your business.
📏 Your Non-Negotiable Standards
For Every Client
Show up on time. Review their numbers before every session. Send session recap within 24 hours. Never let a client go 2 weeks without a check-in.
For Your Business
Post content 3x/week regardless of how you feel. Track revenue weekly. Review your own finances monthly — coaches with money problems underserve clients.
For Yourself
Celebrate your clients' wins out loud. Your success IS their transformation. Keep investing in your own education and mental health. You can't pour from an empty cup.
📚 Required Reading & Study
| Book | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| The Total Money Makeover — Ramsey | Client language, debt payoff framework |
| The Automatic Millionaire — Bach | Automation strategies for clients |
| I Will Teach You to Be Rich — Sethi | Young professional mindset + language |
| The Color of Money — Baradaran | History of financial exclusion. Essential for your niche. |
| Rich Dad Poor Dad — Kiyosaki | Asset vs. liability framework for clients |
| The Coaching Habit — Stanier | How to ask better coaching questions |
Weekly Schedule
Ideal weekly structure for running your coaching business while working or part-time
⏰ Reality Check: If you're still working a full-time job, carve out 15 hrs/week minimum. 5AM mornings + evenings + weekends. Most coaches launch part-time. That's completely valid — but you have to protect the hours.
Monday
6–7 AM: Content creation
7–9 PM: Client sessions (2)
Tuesday
6–7 AM: Business admin
7–8 PM: Study / certification
Wednesday
6–7 AM: Content creation
7–9 PM: Client sessions (2)
Thursday
6–7 AM: Marketing/outreach
7–9 PM: Client sessions (2)
Friday
6–7 AM: Content + social
Evening: Protected time off
Saturday
9–11 AM: VIP / deep sessions
11 AM–12: Weekly review
12–1 PM: Batch content
📋 Weekly CEO Time (Saturday 11AM)
Review weekly revenue and expenses
Check in on all active clients
Schedule next week's discovery calls
Send session recap emails if not done
Post social media content for coming week
Set 3 business goals for next week
⚡ Time Allocation Breakdown
Client Sessions40%
Content & Marketing25%
Business Admin15%
Learning & Growth15%
Sales / Discovery Calls5%
Client Materials
All worksheets, templates, and handouts Austin provides to clients
📊
Net Worth Worksheet
Assets and liabilities tracker. Client fills out before Session 1.
💰
Zero-Based Budget Sheet
Monthly budget template built for session 3 together.
🔗
Debt Payoff Tracker
Snowball or avalanche tracker. Color-coded for motivation.
⭐
Credit Audit Worksheet
Log all 3 bureau scores, factors, and dispute notes.
📝
Session Notes Template
Austin's internal note format for every client session.
🎓
Graduation Certificate
Printable certificate for clients completing the 12-week program.
Tools & Tech Stack
Every tool Austin needs to run a professional coaching business — mostly free
💡 Start lean. You need maybe $50–$100/month max to launch. Don't over-invest in tools before you have clients paying for them.
📅 Scheduling & Meetings
Calendly — Free
Clients book their own sessions. Sends reminders. Syncs to Google Calendar. No back-and-forth.
Zoom — Free (40-min) / $15/mo
All coaching sessions. Screen share to review budgets together. Record sessions with permission.
💳 Payments & Billing
Stripe — 2.9% + $0.30
Recurring billing, one-time payments, invoices. Clients pay by card. Funds hit bank in 2 days.
Wave Accounting — Free
Track all income and expenses. Connect your bank. Generate P&L reports. Perfect for solo coaches.
📁 Client Management
Notion — Free
Build a simple CRM. One page per client. Session notes, action items, goal tracking. Everything in one place.
Google Drive — Free
Share worksheets, budgets, templates. Create a client folder for each person. Professional and organized.