If you’re looking to start or grow your coaching business, one thing’s for sure: you need a solid coaching intake form.
It’s not just some boring paperwork – it’s your first chance to connect with clients, set clear expectations, and show that you have your stuff together.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly what a coaching intake form is, why you need an intake form for any niche (from life to business to health coaching), and how to create a coaching questionnaire that feels less “fill out this form” and more “I’m here to help.”
Plus, I’ll share 90 example questions for 18 niches where you can customize your life coach intake form for your clients and your coaching style. By the end, you’ll have a simple, professional coaching intake form that helps you kick off every coaching relationship on the right foot.
Let’s make your client intake form easy, practical, and something that gets actual results.
Table of Contents
What is an Intake Form?
A coaching intake form is a simple questionnaire your clients fill out before their first session. It gives you insights into your client’s basic information, goals, challenges, and expectations, so you’re not starting from scratch. Whether you’re a life coach, health coach, or career coach, having this life coach intake form is a no-brainer.
The life coach intake form helps you map out their “current state” (where they are) and their “future goals” (where they want to be).
90 Coaching Intake Form Questions
A coaching intake form is where you gather the basics, understand your client’s goals, and figure out how to play to their strengths before your first call.
Below are 18 niche-specific questions to include in your life coach intake form.
1. Life coaching
Life coaching is about helping people hit their personal goals. Your intake form should uncover what drives them and what’s holding them back.
Examples:
- What’s the one thing in your life you wish you could change right now?
- What do you feel is your biggest obstacle to happiness?
- On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with your work-life balance?
- What personal goals do you want to achieve in the next six months?
- Describe a time when you felt completely fulfilled – what was happening?
2. Health coaching
Health coaches guide clients toward physical and mental well-being. Your questions should identify their current habits and what they want to improve.
Examples:
- What’s your biggest health goal right now?
- How would you describe your current eating habits?
- Do you have any dietary restrictions or allergies?
- How often do you exercise, and what type of activities do you enjoy?
- What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to staying healthy?
3. Career coaching
Career coaching focuses on professional growth, transitions, and goal-setting. These qualifying questions should help your clients identify their strengths and aspirations.
Examples:
- What’s your dream job, and why?
- How satisfied are you with your current role?
- What skills do you feel you need to advance in your career?
- Describe your ideal work environment.
- What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career so far?
4. Executive coaching
For executives, the focus is on leadership, decision-making, and team dynamics. These questions dig into their role and challenges seamlessly.
Examples:
- What’s the toughest decision you’ve had to make as a leader?
- How do you measure success in your role?
- What leadership skills do you want to develop further?
- Describe a time you struggled with team dynamics – what happened?
- What’s your vision for your team or organization in the next year?
5. Business coaching
Business coaches help entrepreneurs and leaders grow their businesses. Your intake form should uncover where they’re thriving and where they need help.
Examples:
- What’s your biggest business challenge right now?
- What does success look like for your business in the next 12 months?
- How would you describe your current marketing strategy?
- What’s your target audience, and what problem do you solve for them?
- Do you have systems in place for scaling your business?
6. Nutrition coaching
Nutrition coaching is about helping clients create a healthier relationship with food. Your questions should focus on eating habits and goals.
Examples:
- How would you describe your daily diet?
- What are your biggest struggles with food or nutrition?
- Are you currently following any specific diet plans? How long have you been following it?
- How do you feel after meals – energized or sluggish?
- What’s one food-related habit you’d like to improve?
7. Wellness coaching
Health and wellness coaching takes a whole-person approach to health and lifestyle. These questions uncover areas where your clients need support.
Examples:
- How do you currently manage stress in your life?
- What does self-care look like for you right now?
- What’s your sleep schedule like?
- What are three things you do regularly that make you feel good?
- What’s one area of your life that feels out of balance?
8. Leadership coaching
Leadership coaches work with managers and executives to refine their skills and strategies. These questions help you gauge their leadership style.
Examples:
- How would your team describe your leadership style?
- What’s one leadership skill you’d like to improve?
- How do you handle conflict within your team?
- What motivates you as a leader?
- What’s your biggest leadership challenge right now?
9. Mindset coaching
Mindset coaching helps clients develop positive and productive mental habits. Your intake form can uncover their thought patterns and limiting beliefs.
Examples:
- How do you typically respond to challenges or setbacks?
- What negative thoughts or beliefs often hold you back?
- What does success mean to you, and how do you envision achieving it?
- How do you stay motivated when working toward goals?
- What’s one mental habit you’d like to break?
10. Parenting coaching
Parenting coaches guide clients in navigating the challenges of raising kids. Questions should uncover their parenting style and key struggles.
Examples:
- What’s the biggest challenge you face as a parent?
- How do you typically discipline or set boundaries for your children?
- What values or lessons are most important for you to teach your kids?
- How do you balance parenting responsibilities with your personal needs?
- What kind of relationship do you hope to have with your children as they grow?
11. Spiritual coaching
Spiritual coaching supports clients in exploring their spiritual journey, practices, or beliefs. The questions should center on their spiritual goals and values.
Examples:
- What does spirituality mean to you?
- Do you currently practice meditation, prayer, or mindfulness?
- What spiritual goals are you hoping to achieve?
- How do you find meaning or purpose in your life?
- Are there any spiritual challenges or questions you’re facing?
12. Creativity coaching
Creativity coaches help clients unlock and nurture their creative potential. Your intake form should explore their artistic goals and challenges.
Examples:
- What creative projects are you currently working on?
- What inspires you to create?
- What challenges do you face when starting or finishing creative projects?
- How do you typically overcome creative blocks?
- What’s one creative goal you’d love to achieve this year?
13. Productivity coaching
Productivity coaches work on time management, focus, and achieving goals. The intake form should explore habits and priorities.
Examples:
- How do you currently structure your day?
- What’s your biggest time-management challenge?
- How do you prioritize tasks and goals?
- What tools or systems do you use to stay organized?
- What’s one productivity habit you’d like to develop?
14. Trauma coaching
Trauma coaches support clients in processing and moving forward from past traumas. Intake form questions should be sensitive and allow clients to express their experiences and boundaries.
Examples:
- What motivated you to seek support for healing from trauma?
- Have you worked with a therapist or coach before? If so, what was your experience like?
- Are there any specific triggers you’d like me to be aware of?
- What does “progress” look like for you in your healing journey?
- How do you typically cope during challenging emotional moments?
15. Recovery coaching
Recovery coaches assist clients in overcoming addiction or rebuilding their lives after a major setback. Questions should focus on their current state and goals for recovery.
Examples:
- Where are you in your recovery journey, and what’s your biggest challenge right now?
- What support systems do you currently have in place?
- What does success in recovery look like for you?
- Are there any specific triggers or stressors you’d like to address?
- What activities or habits help you stay on track with your recovery?
16. Motivational coaching
Motivational coaches help clients overcome procrastination and take action on their goals. The intake form should identify blocks and sources of inspiration.
Examples:
- What’s a goal you’ve wanted to achieve for a long time but haven’t started?
- What motivates you when you’re feeling stuck or unmotivated?
- Are there any habits or beliefs that hold you back from pursuing your goals?
- What would achieving this goal mean for your life?
- How do you usually celebrate small wins?
17. Empowerment coaching
Empowerment coaches focus on building clients’ self-confidence and resilience. Questions should uncover areas where they feel disempowered and their desired outcomes.
Examples:
- What area of your life do you currently feel least confident in?
- What’s one thing you’d like to feel more in control of?
- Who or what inspires you to feel empowered?
- How do you typically handle criticism or setbacks?
- What’s one belief about yourself that you’d like to change?
18. Academic coaching
Academic coaching supports students in achieving their educational goals. Your intake form should explore study habits, time management, and challenges.
Examples:
- What’s your favorite subject, and why?
- What’s the biggest challenge you face with schoolwork?
- How do you usually prepare for exams or assignments?
- What are your academic goals for this year?
- How do you manage your time between studying and other activities?
Why Do You Need a Coaching Intake Form?
A coaching intake form is there to gather the basics you need to help with a streamlined process. Here’s what it does:
- Customize your approach: You’ll know what your clients need, their goals, and what’s holding them back – all before your first session.
- Keeps everything organized: From tracking progress to storing essential details, a form acts like your playbook, keeping you in control. And if you’re setting up sales funnels or creating a coaching email template, the data you gather here feeds directly into those systems, helping you stay consistent and on message.
- Builds trust: Asking thoughtful questions is your way of letting them know you’re genuinely invested in their success.
Common challenges without an intake form
Now imagine coaching without one. It’s like trying to coach a team without knowing the players’ strengths or positions. Here’s what can go wrong:
- Awkward first session: You spend more time getting basic personal details than actually helping your new client.
- Missed opportunities: Without clarity, you might ask repeatable questions or overlook key areas your new client may need help with.
- Unpreparedness: Walking into a session blind can leave you fumbling for direction.
When to Share Your Intake Form
Sharing your life coach intake form at the right moment helps set the tone for your client relationship and keeps things running smoothly during your first coaching session.
Before the session
New coaching clients fill out the life coach intake form questions at least one day before the first session or kickoff call, which gives you plenty of time to review their responses. You’ll know your client’s needs and can set up your coaching session efficiently. This prep work not only makes you look professional but also helps clients feel you’re ready to tackle their goals.
Client onboarding
Sharing an intake form to your client onboarding process is about creating a strong first impression. Adding an intake form can be a key part of this onboarding process. It formalizes the start of your relationship and gives you the details you need to tailor your coaching to their needs during onboarding.
Ongoing client check-ins
You can use updated versions for ongoing check-ins to gather information, track progress, and reassess goals. It keeps your coaching program relevant and helps clients see how far they’ve come. Regular check-ins also show your clients you’re paying attention and committed to helping them succeed.
How to Create a Coaching Intake Form
You want something that has the right details you’ll need and questions you’ll ask without overwhelming your clients. Keep it simple, focused, and flexible enough to fit your coaching style.
Tools for building your coaching intake form
Pick a program that works for your coaching program and your clients’ needs. Remember, the goal is to make tool sure this tool works for both you and your clients.
- Google Forms: Free, simple, and does the job. Google Forms is perfect for new coaches who want to keep things basic.
- Jotform: Flexible and customizable, with free templates for almost any niche.
- Notion: If you’re into organizing data, this tool lets you create forms and track questionnaire responses in one place.
Coaching Intake Methods
A coaching intake form is where you gather the information that sets the tone for your sessions. But how you handle the intake process can make a big difference in how smoothly everything runs.
Paper vs. digital
Paper forms are straightforward and don’t rely on tech to collect information. They’re great if you coach prospective clients in person or prefer creating your life coach intake by hand.
Digital forms are perfect for online coaches or anyone who wants to keep their coaching experience streamlined and professional. Plus, answers to coaching intake questions are saved automatically, so no more digging through a pile of papers.
Using coaching software
Coaching software can make your life way easier. Tools like HoneyBook combine intake forms with scheduling, invoicing, and client management. It’s like having a full coaching kit at your fingertips.
Coaching Intake Form Template
A coaching intake form is your go-to tool for starting off client relationships. A solid template helps you ask the right intake questions without overcomplicating things.
Here’s a framework to help you create your own template, inspired by JotForm’s life coach intake form:
- Personal details: Name, email, and phone number. Keep your life coach intake form simple but accurate.
- Background information: Ask about their current situation and what brought them to coaching. For example: “What’s one area of your life you’d like to improve?” or “Have you worked with a coach before? If yes, what was your experience?
- Goals and challenges: Ask every client what they want to achieve and what’s holding them back. For example: “What’s the biggest goal you want to accomplish in the next six months?”
- Logistics and preferences: Find out practical details, like availability for the first session, client onboarding, and any preferences for coaching methods (e.g., video calls, worksheets, group settings).
- Availability: Find out when they’re free for sessions to avoid back-and-forth scheduling headaches.
By keeping your intake form simple yet targeted, you’ll start each coaching client relationship on the right foot. The great part? You can easily adapt this template questionnaire for any niche, whether you’re coaching in health, business, life, or beyond.
Examples of Intake Forms
These questionnaire examples show how asking the right intake questions can create a coaching connection that builds trust and sets life coaching clients up for progress. If you’re going to start out as a coach, use these as inspiration to craft your own questionnaire.
Life coaching intake form
Life coaching is about uncovering what’s holding people back and helping them create the life changes they want. GLOBECoRe’s coaching intake form doesn’t just ask questions on personal history or the client’s personal information – it sparks reflection.
Types of questions like “Is your life one of your choosing? If not, which parts are being chosen for you?” dig deep into a client’s struggles. These aren’t just surface-level inquiries on personal history – they’re conversation starters that help clients identify where they’re stuck.
Executive coaching intake form
For executives, time is money, and Judy Elkin’s intake form respects that. Her template dives straight into what matters most with follow-up questions on the spot: professional challenges, strengths, and goals. Questions like “What two steps could you take immediately to make the biggest difference in your current situation?” encourage action.
Creativity coaching intake form
Creativity coaching thrives on curiosity, and Firefly Creative Writing’s form reflects that. This intake form works because it feels playful yet purposeful, with follow-up questions like “If you could eat ANY meal with ANY person tonight, who would it be?” These questions tap into a client’s current imagination while revealing what blocks their creative flow.
Financial coaching intake form
Money matters can be daunting, but this financial coach intake form from Foundation Communities makes things straightforward.
Clients start by ticking boxes to indicate what they need – budgeting, credit improvement, saving for goals – and answer practical questions like “If you had an unexpected expense, how confident are you in making ends meet within a month?”
Turn Your Insights into Action
A well-designed coaching intake form isn’t just paperwork – it’s the starting point for meaningful transformation. By asking the right questions, you set the stage for deeper connections, actionable insights, and measurable results that keep clients coming back for more.
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