Price tends to be one of the first things people want to know about executive coaching, and it’s often the hardest thing to find out. Plenty of providers only share figures once you’re on a call, which makes it difficult to compare options or put a budget together. So here’s an honest picture of what executive coaching typically costs in the UK, what pushes the price up or down, and what you should expect to get for your money.
Typical executive coaching fees in the UK
There isn’t a set rate, and you’ll see a wide spread. As a rough guide, UCL’s guidance for its own senior staff puts executive coaching at between £150 and £550 for a session of one to two hours. Coaching for directors, chief executives and board members with very experienced coaches usually sits above that, and fees of £500 to £1,000 or more per session aren’t unusual at that level.
Most organisations don’t buy single sessions, though. Executive coaching is usually agreed as a programme, often six to twelve sessions over three to six months, with one fee for the whole engagement. That’s the more useful number to compare, because it reflects what you’re actually committing to.
What affects the cost of an executive coach
Experience and credentials
Coaching isn’t regulated in the UK, so anyone can call themselves an executive coach. Credentials from the International Coaching Federation give you a way to judge depth. A Master Certified Coach (MCC) has completed at least 2,500 hours of coaching and been assessed at the highest level the ICF offers, and only a small percentage of coaches worldwide hold it. You’d expect an MCC to cost more than someone newly qualified, and for senior work the difference usually shows.
Seniority and complexity of the brief
Coaching a first-time manager through a new role is a very different piece of work from supporting a chief executive through a merger, a difficult board or a succession plan. The more senior and politically sensitive the situation, the more experience you need in the room.
Assessments and stakeholder input
Many programmes start with a psychometric or 360 assessment, such as a Hogan assessment or a leadership 360. These add to the cost, but they give the coaching a sharper starting point and something to measure progress against later.
How the work is set up
Some coaches charge purely by the hour. Others build in meetings with the sponsor, reviews part way through and at the end, and access between sessions when something comes up. Check what’s included before comparing headline fees, because two quotes for ten sessions can mean very different things.
What a good executive coaching programme should include
Whoever you choose, we’d expect to see these as standard:
- A chemistry meeting first, so the leader can decide whether they want to work with that coach.
- Clear goals, agreed with the leader and, where the organisation is paying, with their line manager or sponsor.
- An upfront agreement on confidentiality, covering what stays between coach and client and what gets reported back.
- A review part way through and at the end, so everyone can see what has changed.
- A coach who has regular supervision and works to a recognised code, such as the ICF Code of Ethics.
When a lower fee ends up costing more
It’s tempting to choose on price, especially when several coaches look similar on paper. The risk is paying for sessions that feel supportive but don’t change much. Senior leaders are often surrounded by people who are reluctant to challenge them, and a coach who never pushes back can end up reinforcing that. We wrote more about this in how to choose an executive coach.
A more useful question is what it would be worth to the business if this leader made sharper decisions, got more from their team or stayed in the role instead of leaving. Set against that, the fee is usually the smaller number.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Who exactly will be coaching, and what credential do they hold?
- Who have they coached at a similar level, and in what kind of organisation?
- How will goals be set, and how will we know whether it has worked?
- What’s included in the fee, and what costs extra?
- What happens if the relationship isn’t working?
How we work
Our executive coaching is led by experienced coaches, including our two Master Certified Coaches, Liz Connelly MCC and Paul Starbuck MCC. For chief executives and those at the very top of an organisation we also offer CEO executive coaching, which is fully confidential and shaped around what’s happening in the business at the time.
We work with leaders across the UK, Europe and internationally, online and in person. Because every brief is different, we agree the shape and cost of a programme after a first conversation rather than publishing one fixed price. If you’d like to talk through what you’re looking for, book a call and we’ll give you a clear figure.
Frequently asked questions
How many executive coaching sessions will I need?
Most programmes run for six to twelve sessions over three to six months. Some leaders keep working with a coach after that, meeting less often once the main goals have been met.
Can my employer pay for executive coaching?
Yes, and most executive coaching in the UK is paid for by the organisation. In that case the goals are usually agreed between the leader, the coach and a sponsor, while what’s discussed in sessions stays confidential.
Is online executive coaching as effective as face to face?
For most leaders, yes. Many of our clients prefer online sessions because they fit around a busy diary, and we often mix the two, meeting in person for the first session or for reviews.
What’s the difference between executive coaching and mentoring?
A mentor shares their own experience and advice. A coach helps you think your situation through and reach your own decisions. We explain more in coaching vs mentoring.
