Insights
How Much Does Business Coaching Cost in Canada? A 2026 Guide for Entrepreneurs
What published Canadian prices actually show, how coaching formats differ, and what to ask before you invest.
By Rich Fournier, founder of Entrepreneur Performance Network™
The Short Answer
There is no single "going rate" for business coaching in Canada. Prices depend on the coach's experience, the format, the length of the engagement and what's included. A few publicly available reference points help frame the range:
- The University of Toronto Learning and Leadership Centre (opens in a new tab) suggests expecting CA$150 to $250 per hour for an experienced coach and CA$250 to $500 per hour for an executive-level coach. It describes a six-month contract (meeting every two weeks, with assessments) as typically costing CA$5,000 to $6,000, and closer to CA$10,000 for executive coaches.
- TSERGAS Human Capital (opens in a new tab) lists a three-month leadership accelerator starting at CA$4,500 + HST, a six-month executive leadership partnership starting at CA$8,500 + HST, and a customized engagement starting at CA$12,500 + HST.
- Patricia Bower (opens in a new tab) advertises a six-month executive coaching partnership with 12 scheduled conversations for CA$12,000.
These are examples, not a market survey. The University of Toronto page is coaching guidance written for its own community, not a representative study of every Canadian coach, and the two provider prices are individual published offers. Use them as reference points when you compare quotes, not as averages.
Why Prices Vary So Much
Two coaching offers with similar headline prices can deliver very different things. The biggest drivers are usually:
- Format: private one-on-one time costs more per hour than shared group time.
- Seniority and specialization: executive coaching is generally priced higher than general business or skills coaching, as the U of T guidance reflects.
- Packaging: a six-month engagement may bundle assessments, access between sessions or materials. An hourly rate usually doesn't.
- Length of commitment: the longer the engagement, the larger the total, even if the per-session cost is lower.
- Taxes: some providers list prices "+ HST," others don't say. Sales tax on services varies by province, so confirm the after-tax total for where you are.
The Main Types of Support, and How They Differ
"Business coaching" is often used as a catch-all. Before you compare prices, it helps to be clear about what you're actually buying.
One-on-one business coaching
A coach works with you individually on your goals, decisions and follow-through. The strength is focus: the whole session is about your situation. The trade-off is cost, and a single perspective. Structure usually ends when the engagement does.
Executive coaching
Executive coaching is one-on-one coaching focused on leadership: how you make decisions, lead people and handle pressure. It's often sold as a defined package, like the six-month offers above, and is typically at the higher end of the price range.
Consultants
A consultant is usually hired to diagnose a specific problem and recommend or implement a solution, such as a sales process, pricing or operations. Coaching is generally about helping you make and follow through on your own decisions. If you need specialist expertise or done-for-you work, a consultant may be a better fit than a coach.
Facilitated group coaching
A coach or facilitator works with several participants at once, often around a shared curriculum. You get less individual time, but you hear how others handle similar challenges, and the cost per person is generally lower than private coaching. For a deeper look at the trade-offs, see group coaching vs one-on-one coaching.
Mastermind groups
Masterminds bring peers together to problem-solve and hold each other accountable, sometimes with a host or facilitator. They can sharpen your thinking. Value depends heavily on who else is in the room and whether ideas turn into consistent action.
Peer advisory groups
Peer advisory groups typically gather business owners or senior leaders, in confidence and with a facilitator, to work through significant business decisions. Many have eligibility criteria and focus on company strategy more than personal execution. Our comparison of peer advisory groups and mastermind groups covers the differences.
Structured performance membership
Some programs combine a structured curriculum, facilitated cohort sessions and an ongoing peer community. The focus is on the habits, standards and follow-through behind your results rather than one-to-one advice. The trade-off: less private time, and you only get value if you participate actively.
For a side-by-side view of these models, read business coaching, mastermind groups and entrepreneur networks: how to choose.
A Sample Six-Month Cost Comparison
The table below uses only the published examples cited in this article. It's meant to show how pricing is structured, not to rank options. The formats aren't directly comparable: an hour of private coaching and an hour in a facilitated group are different products.
| Attribute | Hourly coaching | Six-month one-on-one package | Facilitated group coaching | Structured performance network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Published example | CA$150–$250/hr for an experienced coach; CA$250–$500/hr for an executive-level coach (U of T guidance) | CA$8,500 + HST starting price (TSERGAS); CA$12,000 for 12 calls (Patricia Bower) | Varies by provider; ask for the total program fee in writing | Varies by provider; EPN publishes its current fees on its enrolment page |
| How you pay | Per session | One fee for a defined engagement | One program fee or instalments | Program fee and/or membership |
| What the price buys | One person's time and attention | Scheduled sessions plus whatever the package includes (assessments, access between calls) | Facilitated sessions shared with other participants, often with materials | Structured curriculum, facilitated cohort sessions and an ongoing peer community |
| Main trade-off | Flexible, but costs add up and structure depends on you | Focused and personalized, at a higher total cost | Lower individual attention; more peer perspective | Less private time; requires active participation to get value |
A simple worked example shows why hourly rates alone can mislead. Twelve sessions over six months at the U of T guidance range of CA$150 to $250 per hour would be CA$1,800 to $3,000 for one-hour sessions, before tax. That is coaching time only. The packaged prices above are higher partly because they can include more: assessments, preparation, access between sessions or a longer runway. The opposite can also be true: a package can include less than you assume. Ask what's included rather than comparing headline numbers.
A more useful question than "what does an hour cost?" is "what will this cost in total, and what will be different in six months if I do the work?"
What Outcomes Are Worth Tracking
Revenue matters, but it is influenced by your market, timing and many factors outside any coaching relationship. No coach or program can honestly guarantee a financial return. More useful are measures of behaviour you control, tracked from the start:
- Weekly prospecting consistency: did you do the business-development activity you committed to, week after week?
- Decision cadence: are important decisions being made on time, or sitting for weeks?
- Delegation: are you handing off work that no longer needs you?
- Priority execution: are your top priorities actually getting done, or being displaced by easier tasks?
Write down where you are on each before you start. That gives you an honest way to judge whether the investment is changing how you operate.
7 Questions to Ask Before You Invest
- What is the total cost, after tax? Ask for the full program or package price in writing, including tax for your province, assessments, materials and any renewal or membership fees.
- What are the cancellation and refund terms? Know what happens if you need to pause, miss sessions or stop early.
- Who facilitates, and what is their experience? Ask about their background working with business owners at your stage, and how they run sessions.
- How many sessions, how long, and in what format? Clarify the number, length and frequency of sessions, whether they're live or recorded, and whether they're accessible for how you work.
- Who else is in the group? For group formats, ask how participants are selected and whether they're at a similar stage with a similar level of commitment.
- What supports implementation between sessions? Exercises, a workbook, accountability check-ins or peer support often matter more than the session itself.
- How will we measure progress? Agree on behaviour-based measures up front, and be cautious of anyone who promises specific income or results.
For a longer list, see 12 questions to ask before joining a business coaching program or entrepreneur group.
Where Entrepreneur Performance Network™ Fits
Entrepreneur Performance Network™ (EPN) is a private performance network for established entrepreneurs, business owners and high-autonomy sales professionals. It is a group model, not traditional one-to-one consulting, and it does not provide personalized financial, tax or legal advice.
Members begin with The Path to Transformation™, a 24-week program that combines recorded learning, a workbook, weekly facilitated cohort sessions and a peer community. It focuses on the habits, standards and follow-through behind how you execute. Results depend on your participation, market and circumstances; no revenue outcome is guaranteed.
EPN's current fee options are published on the enrolment page. If you have questions about cost, format or fit, you're welcome to book an introductory conversation (opens in a new tab).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a business coach cost per hour in Canada?
It varies. As one reference point, the University of Toronto Learning and Leadership Centre suggests CA$150 to $250 per hour for an experienced coach and CA$250 to $500 per hour for an executive-level coach. That's guidance, not a national survey, so compare actual quotes.
Is group coaching cheaper than one-on-one coaching?
Per person, group formats generally cost less than private coaching because the facilitator's time is shared. You get less individual attention and more peer perspective. Which is better value depends on what you need.
What is usually included in a six-month coaching package?
It depends on the provider. Published examples include a set number of scheduled sessions (Patricia Bower lists 12 conversations over six months, with access between sessions), and some packages include assessments. Ask for a written list of what's included.
How should I compare coaching costs?
Compare the total after-tax cost for the full engagement, what's included, the cancellation terms and how progress will be measured. Hourly rates alone don't tell you much.
Sources and Pricing Notes
All sources were accessed in October 2026. Published prices can change at any time; confirm current pricing directly with each provider. Where a source lists "+ HST," that is how the provider states it; other sources do not specify tax. Sales tax on services varies by province. This article does not offer tax advice.
- University of Toronto Learning and Leadership Centre, "Coaching": ulearn.utoronto.ca/coaching (opens in a new tab)
- TSERGAS Human Capital, "Executive Business Coaching & Customized Management Training": tsergas.ca/services/executive-business-coaching-customized-management-training (opens in a new tab)
- Patricia Bower, iPeople Solutions, "Coaching & Advisory": ipeoplesolutions.ca/coaching-advisory (opens in a new tab)
Is EPN the Right Fit?
If you're comparing options and want to know whether a structured group performance model fits where your business is going, an introductory conversation is the simplest way to find out. It's a Zoom call about your goals and whether EPN is the right environment for you. You can also learn more about EPN membership.
Book a Conversation (opens in a new tab)