One of the most common questions I hear is quietly practical and deeply human:
“I want coaching… but I’m not sure how I could afford it.”
That question isn’t about money alone.
It’s about worth. Permission. Timing. Trust.
Often, the resources are closer than we realize—waiting to be named and redirected with intention. Here are a few creative places people often discover room to invest in their own growth:
- Professional development or leadership funds through work
Strong leaders in your organization understand their responsibility to continue developing you as a leader. Advocate for yourself. If there isn’t a designated fund established for leadership development, ask the board or Human Resources to consider developing one. It isn’t selfish to ask for their support. Your growth strengthens you as a leader, and the organization and the leaders above you benefit from your increased capacity to lead.
- Wellness or mental-health stipends
Similar to professional development funds, pay attention to the benefits offered as part of your employment. Ask the Human Resources office about possible funds. Sometimes companies will have a pool of funds that is not designated for a specific person. Get curious—ask questions—advocate for yourself and others. Just by asking questions, you help change the organization and those who serve with you.
- Grants from organizations, foundations, and the government
This is where curiosity really comes into play. Get curious, do research. Look for grants for things like professional development, wellness, and leadership. Search inside and beyond your particular area of expertise—i.e., ministry, women, mothers, LGBT+, entrepreneurs, education, etc. When searching for grants, it is important to search for very specific options directly related to your job, lifestyle, and community. At the same time, seek broader support. Don’t edit the search initially. You may be surprised to find a grant for your very unique situation or you may find a grant with broad enough possibilities that you can find yourself inside its parameters. Be curious.
- Seasonal income, like tax refunds or bonuses
Plan. What financial situations happen with regularity that you could plan to allocate funds to your growth? End-of-year bonuses, tax refunds, or even taking a short-term extra job to create a little extra income can be a great way to leverage your way to a series of coaching sessions.
- Ministry, clergy care, or faith-community support funds
Do you belong to a professional organization? Ask about hidden benefits for your growth, care, and support. Ministers often struggle to ask for help for themselves. They also have access to more resources than they know of through denominational connections, grants, or sponsorships. Ask, share your story, and allow others to come alongside you. What is your area of specialization? Start searching options today.
- Coaching as a legitimate business or professional expense
Can you identify specific areas of weakness in yourself or in the company you lead? Do you need a coach to help you work out the next steps in the strategy, crisis response, or people management issues? These are only a few reasons hiring a coach may be a necessity—and not something you have to carry personally. If hiring a coach benefits the work you do for the company, this is an indication that it is a company expense and not a personal luxury.
- Payment plans that spread the cost over time
Breaking the cost up into a payment plan seems simple enough, but have you asked? Many coaches want to work with you to make it financially feasible for you to benefit from their work. Ask what is possible. Perhaps they are willing to see you less often for a lower price. For example, a coach can’t meet with you 4 times a month for $25, but they may be willing to drop the price from $150 to $100 one time a month. Perhaps the cost of an intensive group coaching package for a few weeks could be spread over six months. This would break you out of the “I can’t” into, focused, intentional work for a few weeks each year. Over time, you will benefit from this arrangement—and so will the coach.
- Reclaiming funds from subscriptions or habits that no longer serve
This one has great potential but will also require discipline and a willingness to change even before you start working with a coach. Do you realize that a month of coaching sessions for $150 breaks down to $5 per day? How many things do you do every day—or almost every day—that you could stop to be able to hire a coach?
- A special coffee a day
- A streaming service
- Junk food
- Unused gym membership
- New clothes
Little expenses add up quickly. When we get into spending habits, it is easy to begin thinking we couldn’t do without that special morning coffee. Learn to make it at home and see how much you can save to pay your coach. You got this! Growth is hard work that begins even before you hire a coach.
- Support from a partner or family member who believes in this season
Who’s your back? Who is in your cheering section? Would they be willing to come alongside you to sponsor coaching sessions because they believe in you? I understand it is hard to ask people for financial support. I get it. Being strong and independent is what we desire, but sometimes, we need help. Likely, the people in your cheering section know what it is like to depend on someone else’s help. By asking them to participate with you in your development, you allow those you love and trust to be blessed. Don’t deny a blessing just because you are too stubborn to ask for a sponsorship from someone who is already hoping for your best.
- Savings set aside for “someday” that can support who you’re becoming now
Is this your “someday”? Only you can decide. Leveraging resources you are protecting may be the smart thing to do. Will coaching allow you to grow in such a way as to move to the next level of your career, or will it make you more content in your current responsibility? Either of these might be answered in a way that leveraging those resources now could be the smart choice. Don’t spend your emergency fund on coaching—this isn’t an emergency. Take some time and explore the best next move. Only you can decide based on your priorities.
- Bartering
Personally, I love bartering. I think it is a shame our society has become so dependent on cold, hard cash that we miss out on the dynamic of building relationships and expanding our network through the exchange of expertise.
Currently, I’m in several different bartering arrangements. I’m just launching my coaching business, so I don’t have any such arrangements for coaching services – yet. However, with my laser engraving business, I have exchanged laser services for a handyman, webmaster, and advertisement.
Here is my advice. Don’t think about arrangements in the same dollar-for-dollar exchange as when paying cash. Keep the arrangement fair. Don’t take advantage of the other person. Remember, bartering should build our relationships, not use and abuse another’s generosity. Look beyond your current network. Does your brother’s best friend offer a service you need but can’t exactly afford financially right now? Think about what his family may need or enjoy. Would a neighbor be willing to exchange taking the monster trashcan out each week for a plate of homemade cookies once a month? Bartering doesn’t have to be only about professional services, but it can be.
In my case, by exchanging something I have—laser engraving time for a webmaster—it is easy to create a professional-to-professional arrangement. In this case, they provide the raw materials, and I provide my time and engraver. It works smoothly for both sides. Each of us gets the added benefit of free marketing, as long as we do quality professional work. I find bartering arrangements are not only fun but also create greater gratitude. In every case I’ve bartered, the collaborators have told more people about my services, resulting in additional paying clients.
- Simply choosing yourself—intentionally, without apology
I’ll say it—this is hard for some of us. When I started therapy, I had all kinds of excuses why I didn’t have time or resources. It didn’t take long to see the benefit. After that, my commitment to therapy was uncompromising, even when it was a sacrifice to show up.
You deserve to be coached, even if now you don’t see all the ways it will benefit your life and work. Go ahead, prioritize yourself for once. If you need to, then give it a set trial run. Do a series of sessions and re-evaluate.
You are worth the investment.
This isn’t about pressure or urgency.
It’s about discernment.
Get others to buy into the benefits of you being coached. Tell your story. Let others in your community—job, ministry, groups—participate in your journey. The good news is they may benefit from your growth, especially if they are impacted by your personal or professional life.
Sometimes the most meaningful investment isn’t in fixing something but in creating space to listen, clarify, and move forward with integrity.
If you’re curious about coaching but unsure whether this is the right season, you don’t need to decide anything yet.
A conversation can simply be a place to name what you’re carrying, explore what you’re sensing, and listen for what’s next.
If that kind of space feels supportive right now, I’d be honored to hold it with you.
Own your worth. Forge your path.
Start the conversation
- View the pricing guide at: https://www.thepathsmith.com/about/pricing-guide/
- Make a appointment at: https://tinyurl.com/Schedule-January
- Send me an email to: tammy@ThePathsmith.com
Coaching creates space to clarify what you’re carrying—and move forward from a deeper sense of worth.
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