Pricing surprises kill trust. Before you send your first invoice or enroll your first client, you want to know exactly what Coachful takes, what Stripe charges, and what lands in your bank account. This guide breaks down every Coachful platform fee — no fine print, no vague percentages.
TL;DR — Coachful Platform Fees at a Glance
- Coachful takes 0% transaction fees on payments processed through your connected Stripe account.
- You pay a flat monthly (or annual) subscription on the Growth or Scale plan.
- Stripe's standard processing fees apply directly to your account (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card charge in the US).
- A free trial is available — credit card required to start — no charge during your 7-day free trial, cancel anytime in one click.
- Legacy plan names are Starter and Pro; if you're on one of those, your pricing is grandfathered.
How Coachful's Pricing Tiers Work
Coachful operates on a subscription model. You choose a plan — currently Growth, Pro, or Scale — and pay a recurring fee to access the platform. That fee covers your coaching workspace, your custom subdomain (yourname.coachful.co), client seats, programs, squads, scheduling, messaging, video, and the website builder. Think of it as an all-in-one operating system for your coaching business, not a per-feature add-on stack.
The key distinction from many coaching platforms: Coachful does not charge a percentage of your revenue. There is no "platform cut" on the money your clients pay you. Every dollar collected through your Stripe account — whether it's a $97 one-time offer, a $500/month retainer, or a $3,000 program — flows directly to you minus Stripe's processing fee. Coachful's revenue comes from your subscription, not your success.
Growth Plan
The Growth plan is designed for coaches who are building momentum — launching their first programs, growing a client roster, and dialing in their offer. It includes the core tools: programs, 1:1 bookings, group calls, community squads, real-time chat, HD video sessions, Stripe billing, and the drag-and-drop website builder. Check the Coachful pricing page for the current monthly and annual rates, as prices are updated periodically.
Scale Plan
The Scale plan unlocks advanced capabilities for coaches running high-volume businesses — things like expanded client capacity, additional team members (coaches, editors, virtual assistants), deeper customization, custom domain support with auto-SSL, and priority support. If you're managing multiple coaches under one org or running cohort programs with dozens of clients at a time, Scale is where those workflows live comfortably.
Legacy Plans (Starter & Pro)
If your account was created before the current plan names were introduced, you may see Starter or Pro in your billing settings. These plans are grandfathered — your rate and feature set stay the same until you voluntarily upgrade or change plans. You won't be forced onto Growth or Scale automatically.
Stripe Connect: Where Your Payments Actually Go
Coachful uses Stripe Connect to handle all client payments. When you connect your Stripe account to Coachful, you become the merchant of record for every transaction. That means:
- Payments from clients hit your Stripe balance, not Coachful's.
- Coachful never holds your funds or acts as a payment intermediary.
- Refunds, disputes, and payouts are managed directly in your Stripe dashboard.
- You can issue coupons, payment plans, and multi-tier offers — all settled through Stripe.
Stripe's standard fee for card payments in the United States is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge. International cards, currency conversion, and certain payment methods (like ACH or SEPA) carry different rates. You can find the full breakdown in Stripe's official pricing documentation. These fees go to Stripe — not to Coachful.
Pro tip: If you're pricing a $500 program, factor in roughly $14.80 in Stripe fees per sale. Price to your value, then verify your net revenue looks right in the Stripe dashboard before you launch.
What's Included in Your Subscription (No Hidden Extras)
One of the most common questions coaches ask is: "What do I have to pay extra for?" Here's what's included at no additional cost inside your Coachful subscription:
- Custom subdomain — your branded
{slug}.coachful.coworkspace, live the moment you sign up. - Custom domain (Scale plan) — bring your own domain with auto-SSL provisioning.
- Programs — build structured curricula with weeks, days, tasks, goals, and habits. No per-program fees.
- Cohort squads — auto-created group spaces when clients enroll in a program.
- Community squads — always-on group chat channels for your community.
- Bookings & scheduling — built-in availability management, calendar sync, 1:1 sessions, group calls, and intake calls.
- Stream-powered chat & video — real-time HD messaging and video calls, included.
- Website builder — drag-and-drop pages, blog, lead-magnet pages, link-in-bio, and funnels.
- Michelle (AI assistant) — your AI co-pilot for answering questions and executing actions across the dashboard.
- Marketplace listing — your profile on the /find-a-coach directory at no extra charge.
- Mobile access — progressive web app plus native iOS/Android shell for you and your clients.
There are no seat fees per client on standard plans, no charges per video minute, and no surcharges for using the AI assistant. Your subscription rate is predictable.
Ready to see exactly what plan fits your business? Compare plans on the Coachful pricing page or sign in and check Settings → Billing to view your current plan and next renewal date.
Billing Cycles, Annual Discounts, and Upgrades
Coachful subscriptions renew on a monthly or annual basis — you choose at checkout. Annual billing typically comes with a meaningful discount compared to paying month-to-month, so if you're committed to building your coaching business long-term, annual is worth the math. You can switch from monthly to annual at any time from Settings → Billing → Change plan in your dashboard.
When you upgrade mid-cycle (say, from Growth to Scale on day 15 of a 30-day billing period), Coachful prorates the difference. You pay only for the days remaining on your new plan in that current cycle. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing period — you keep access to your higher-tier features until the cycle closes.
Free Trial
New coaches can explore Coachful on a free trial without entering a credit card. The trial gives you hands-on access to the platform so you can build out a program, configure your scheduling, and set up your branded workspace before committing to a paid plan. When the trial ends, you'll be prompted to choose a plan to keep your workspace active. Client data and programs you've built are preserved when you upgrade.
Coupons, Payment Plans, and Offer Types
Coachful's billing integration with Stripe Connect supports flexible offer structures so you can sell the way your clients want to buy:
- One-time payment — client pays a single amount to access a program or service.
- Recurring subscription — monthly or annual billing, ideal for ongoing retainer-style coaching.
- Multi-tier offers — different access levels at different price points for the same program.
- Payment plans — split a lump-sum price into installments (e.g., 3 × $400 for a $1,200 program).
- Coupons — percentage or flat-amount discounts, perfect for launch promotions or referral rewards.
None of these offer types incur additional Coachful fees. You configure them inside Coach → Offers → Create offer, connect them to a program or service, and Stripe handles the rest. The only fee on a discounted or installment sale is Stripe's per-transaction charge on each actual payment collected.
Team Members and Org Roles
On the Scale plan, you can add team members to your coaching org. Coachful supports the following org roles: super_coach (owner), coach, member, and virtual_assistant. Adding coaches or staff to your org allows you to delegate program management, client communication, and scheduling without sharing your login credentials.
Additional seat pricing (if applicable to your plan tier) is shown in Settings → Team → Invite member. Always verify current seat limits and any associated costs on the pricing page, as these details can change with plan updates.
Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting
My Stripe fees are higher than 2.9% + $0.30 — why?
Several factors can increase your effective Stripe rate: international cards (Stripe adds 1.5% for non-domestic cards), currency conversion, card-present vs. card-not-present processing, and premium card types (certain corporate or rewards cards carry higher interchange). Log in to your Stripe dashboard and check the fee breakdown on individual charges to identify the cause. This is not a Coachful fee.
I see an unfamiliar charge on my bank statement
Charges from Coachful will appear as COACHFUL or a similar descriptor. Your subscription renews automatically — check Settings → Billing → Billing history in your Coachful dashboard for a full invoice log. If the charge is from Stripe (e.g., related to a payout or refund adjustment), check your Stripe dashboard directly.
I upgraded but I'm not seeing Scale features
After upgrading, do a hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R) and log out then back in. Subscription changes sometimes require a session refresh to propagate across the UI. If features still aren't visible after 5 minutes, contact support via the chat widget in your dashboard.
My client was charged but I never received the funds
Stripe payouts have a standard processing window (typically 2–7 business days for new accounts, 2 business days for established accounts). Verify your payout schedule in Stripe Dashboard → Balance → Payouts. Also confirm that your Stripe account has completed identity verification — incomplete KYC can pause payouts. Coachful does not hold or delay your funds.
Can I use a different payment processor instead of Stripe?
Currently, Coachful's billing infrastructure is built on Stripe Connect. There is no native integration with other processors (e.g., PayPal, Square) at this time. Stripe is available in 46+ countries — check Stripe's global availability page to confirm your country is supported before signing up.
What happens to my clients if I cancel my Coachful subscription?
If you cancel, your workspace is deactivated at the end of your current billing period. Clients lose access to the platform and their program content. Before canceling, export any critical data and notify your clients in advance. Active Stripe subscriptions you've set up for clients will continue to bill unless you manually cancel them inside Stripe — Coachful canceling your plan does not automatically cancel your clients' subscriptions.
Pro Tips for Managing Your Coachful Billing
Go annual early. The discount on annual billing typically saves the equivalent of 1–2 months of subscription cost per year. If you've completed your free trial and you're confident in the platform, switching to annual on day one is usually the highest-leverage billing decision you'll make.
- Use the Michelle AI assistant to quickly answer billing questions without digging through settings — just ask "What plan am I on?" or "When does my subscription renew?" directly in the dashboard.
- Set up Stripe payout notifications so you get an email every time funds land in your bank. Go to Stripe Dashboard → Settings → Notifications.
- Test your checkout flow with Stripe's test mode before going live. Coachful supports test-mode Stripe keys — use them to run a mock enrollment end-to-end before your first real client pays.
- Review your offer pricing against Stripe fees quarterly. If you've added payment plan options since launch, recalculate your effective net revenue per installment to make sure margins still make sense.
Ready to Run a Transparent, Profitable Coaching Business?
Understanding your fees means understanding your margins — and confident margins lead to confident pricing. Coachful's 0% transaction fee model means every pricing decision you make is based on your value and your costs, not a platform tax on your success. Your subscription covers the tools; Stripe covers the payment processing; everything else is yours.
If you're not yet on Coachful, start your free trial and build your first program, set up your offers, and connect Stripe — all before you pay a cent. Already a member? Sign in to your workspace and check Settings → Billing to review your plan, download past invoices, or upgrade to Scale. For more guides on billing, offers, and Stripe setup, browse the full Coachful help center.