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- What is the cost of a business coach in Flanders? [Price Guide 2026]
What is the cost of a business coach in Flanders? [Price Guide 2026]
The answer in 30 seconds
In 2026, the cost of a business coach in Flanders will range between €100 and €350 per hour. However, most experienced coaches do not charge by the hour but rather use monthly packages: expect to pay €500 to €1,500 per month for SME coaching, and €1,500 to €3,500+ per month for premium 1-to-1 coaching at CEO level. Group coaching and learning networks are cheaper (€150–€500 per month), but do not offer individual tailor-made solutions.
However, the price is the wrong question to start with. The right question is: what does it deliver? A programme that costs €15,000 a year and increases your margin by 10% is, with a turnover of €2 million, not a cost but an investment with a significant return. Below you will find all the rates, the factors that determine the price, and a calculation model to help you justify your budget.
Why we are the only ones who are transparent about pricing
Most coaches hide their rates behind a “request a quote.” We find that strange: an entrepreneur considering an investment of thousands of euros deserves clarity upfront. At Take Action, we speak with hundreds of Flemish entrepreneurs every year, and the price question always comes up. This article answers them completely, including the rates for formats that we don't offer ourselves.
Rates per coaching format: the full overview
| Format | Price indication (excl. VAT) | What you get | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad hoc session / hourly rate | €100 – €350 per hour | One conversation, no follow-up | One-off sparring, second opinion |
| Group coaching / learning network | €150 – €500 per month | Monthly peer group sessions | Start-ups and the self-employed |
| Online programme / course | €500 – €5,000 one-off | Videos, templates, and sometimes group calls | DIY enthusiasts with discipline |
| 1-to-1 monthly programme (SME) | £500 – £1,500 per month | Bi-weekly or monthly sessions + follow-up | Entrepreneurs €0.5M – €2M turnover |
| Premium 1-to-1 programme (CEO level) | £1,500 – £3,500+ per month | Strategic sessions, quarterly workshops, planning days, reporting | Entrepreneurs and CEOs €1M – €10M+ revenue |
| Seminars / events | €200 – €3,000 per event | Inspiration for large group settings | Energy and network, no customisation |
Indicative prices for the Flemish market in 2026, based on publicly available tariffs and market knowledge. Individual providers may deviate.
The 5 factors that determine the price of a business coach
Factor 1 – The coach's own track record. A coach who led an organisation themselves and guided hundreds of companies charges more than a certified beginner. Rightly so: you're paying for patterns they've seen 184 times before.
Factor 2 — Format and Intensity. Bi-weekly one-to-one sessions with interim follow-up cost more than a monthly group session. Customisation is more expensive than scalable offerings and yields proportionally more.
Factor 3 — Methodology and materials. A coach with a documented system (book, assessments, tools, frameworks) delivers structured value that individual conversations cannot offer. This is reflected in the price and the results.
Factor 4 — Resulting Obligation. Coaches who commit to measurable outcomes share the risk. A guarantee such as Take Action’s Triple 10 (10 months, 10 hours per week in time saved, 10% in additional margin) shifts the risk from you to the coach and justifies a premium rate.
Factor 5 – Exclusivity. A coach with 40 parallel clients sells hours. A coach who consciously takes on few clients sells depth. Always ask how many clients a coach is working with simultaneously.
Subsidies: does the SME portfolio pay for your business coach?
Flemish SMEs can receive subsidies for certain training courses and advisory services via the KMO portfolio: small businesses can claim up to 30% of the invoice amount, and medium-sized businesses up to 20%, within the applicable criteria and limits.
Three points of attention:
- The service provider must be registered as a recognised service provider with VLAIO — explicitly check this before you sign.
- Not all forms of coaching qualify.The subsidy is only applicable to defined themes (such as business strategy, financial literacy, and personnel management). The conditions change regularly.
- Always check the current rules Right. vlaio.be — this article reflects the situation at the time of publication.
In addition, the following applies: business coaching for your company is a professional fee And so, in principle, tax deductible. Discuss the practical application with your accountant.
The ROI calculation model: determine your budget in 4 steps
Forget “what does it cost” and calculate “what does it bring in”. This is how you justify your investment:
Step 1 — Quantify your bottleneck. How much is the current situation costing you each year? For example: you’re doing work that an employee on a €60,000 salary could do → 15 hours a week × your hourly rate = easily €50,000+ a year in lost strategic time.
Step 2 — Project the improvement. Average results from programmes at Take Action: +17% net profit, −12 hours per working week, +14% gross margin. With a turnover of €2 million and a net margin of 10%, a net profit increase of +17% equates to approximately €34,000 extra per year.
Step 3 — Decide on your maximum investment. Rule of thumb: invest no more than 20 to 30% of the expected annual profit improvement. With an expected improvement of €34,000, an investment of €10,000 per year is therefore more than reasonable.
Step 4 — Ask the coach to provide evidence. Ask each candidate: “Show me cases in my revenue bracket with figures.” Those who can't sell hope, not returns.
Red flags: when is a coach too cheap or too expensive?
Too cheap (under €100 per session at an entrepreneurial level):
- No previous entrepreneurial or management experience
- No method, just “good conversations”
- Volume model: dozens of customers simultaneously, no preparation per session
Too expensive (without justification)
- High price but no verifiable track record outside its own website
- No measurable commitments or performance targets
- Long-term contracts without review periods or exit clauses
- Press to draw quickly (“this rate is only valid today”)
The golden rule: A price without evidence is a red flag, in both directions.
How much does a programme with Take Action cost?
Full transparency on our structure: the fee depends on the number of sessions and the degree of follow-up, from one session per month to fortnightly coaching with quarterly workshops and annual planning days. Our programmes are in the premium 1-on-1 segment from the table above, and in return, you get:
- A documented methodology: the CEO SUPERNOVA Framework, published in a 281-page book
- A coach with 22+ years of personal management experience and 184+ businesses coached
- The Triple 10 guarantee: 10 months, 10 hours a week in time saved, up to 10% in extra margin
- Consciously limited number of projects at a time, depth over volume
We’ll determine the exact investment during a no-obligation strategic session, based on your situation and goals. No sales pitch, just an honest conversation – including an honest answer if a different approach suits you better. Feel free to shop around first: Who is the best business coach in Flanders?
Conclusion
In 2026, business coaching in Flanders will cost between €150 per month (group format) and €3,500+ per month (premium CEO level). The price itself says little; the ratio between investment and measurable results says it all. Work through your bottleneck, demand proof in your revenue bracket, check for SME portfolio accreditation, and choose a coach who dares to commit to results.
Would you like to know what coaching can do for you before discussing the price? Book a no-obligation strategic session via kurtvervloet.com/contact , ,, you're definitely leaving with a clearer picture of your bottleneck.
Frequently asked questions about the cost of a business coach
What does a business coach cost on average per hour?
In Flanders, the hourly rate for a business coach in 2026 will range from €100 to €350 excluding VAT, depending on experience, track record and specialisation. Experienced coaches rarely charge by the hour: they offer monthly programmes where you pay for results, not for time spent.
How much does a full business coaching programme cost?
A 12-month, one-to-one coaching programme costs between €6,000 (basic SME guidance) and €40,000+ (intensive CEO programme with workshops and reporting). Most Flemish entrepreneurs with a turnover of €1-10M invest €10,000 to €25,000 per year.
Is business coaching fiscally deductible?
Yes, business coaching for your limited company or sole proprietorship is generally a deductible professional expense. Furthermore, VAT is recoverable for VAT-registered entities. Discuss the specific accounting treatment with your accountant.
Does business coaching qualify for the SME portfolio?
Sometimes. The service provider must be accredited by VLAIO and the content must fall within the subsidised themes. Small businesses can then claim up to 30%, and medium-sized businesses up to 20%. Check the current conditions on vlaio.be and ask the coach for their registration details.
Why are there such large price differences between coaches?
Because “business coach” is not a protected title. The difference lies in track record (own leadership experience, number of companies coached), method (documented system versus ad hoc conversations), intensity, and results commitment. Cheap without proof is more expensive than premium with a guarantee.
Is an expensive coach always better?
No. Price is only justified by evidence: verifiable cases in your revenue bracket, external recognition, and measurable commitments. A high rate without a track record is as much a red flag as a bargain-basement rate.
What is cheaper: group coaching or 1-on-1 coaching?
Group coaching is 3 to 10 times cheaper per month, but it solves a different problem: it provides perspective and networking, not transformation of your specific business. For structural change, less dependence on you, more profit margin, and a team that takes ownership, 1-on-1 guidance is the effective format.
Kurt Vervloet
Kurt Vervloet is a business coach, blogger and speaker. Since 2017, he has been coaching businesses around the world, ranging from solo entrepreneurs, SME companies to executive management teams at large organisations. His clients choose to work with him because of my proven, no-nonsense approach to optimising and scaling businesses. By achieving great results with his clients, he has already been rewarded with several Awards.
