As a wellness lawyer, I hear all kinds of complaints from all kinds of different stakeholders in the wellness industry. Lately, I have been hearing from people wronged by health and business coaches. These individuals have been hurt emotionally and financially by unethical coaches. This emotional or financial injury may occur because the coach oversteps […]
On May 9, 2023, the IRS Office of Chief Counsel issued Memorandum #202323006 which clarified whether certain wellness incentive payments are subject to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) and federal income tax withholding (FITW), or collectively known as “employment taxes. The scenario described by the IRS is this: An […]
As you embark on your new career path as a health coach, making sure that your business remains in compliance with Florida health coach laws will be essential. Failure to do so could be devastating for your new business and put you at risk of penalties. However, these laws can often be complex. Our health […]
In December 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a document entitled Health Products Compliance Guidance. Any wellness professional, whether you are a health coach, functional medicine provider, integrative health provider, holistic health provider, naturopathic doctor, chiropractor, or wellness business owner, should understand the FTC guidance. This is particularly true for those wellness providers who […]
The way you structure your business as a personal trainer or other wellness professional could be one of the most important decisions you make. Like many in your position, you may have narrowed your options down to an S Corporation or an LLC. However, you can’t just make this decision blindly — each of these […]
Ever heard this one before? “I saw a Facebook ad for a supplement that’s supposed to be great for weight loss. Should I try it?” Most health coaches hear this from a client at some point. It’s such a common question that many health coaches even find themselves thinking about selling the supplements to clients […]
Many health and wellness coaches obtain free legal templates through their coaching certification or training programs. These templates might include services agreements, waiver or disclaimer documents, and even privacy policies or other essential legal documents for a compliant coaching practice. The essential question about these free templates is whether they are worth using? Are the […]
This is an interesting question, as many organizations lump the terms “health and wellness” together when talking about coaching. As a wellness lawyer who serves a lot of health coaches and wellness providers, I do think there is (or at least should be) a difference. Health coaches try to help clients achieve health goals. This […]
As a lawyer who represents a lot of different health and wellness coaches, I have seen some very successful coaching businesses. These coaching businesses make a lot of money, but the best part is that they help a lot of clients in need. Clients want services from these coaches. So much so that some of […]
Health and wellness coaches are not legally required to have certain credentials to serve as health, life or wellbeing coaches or consultants. The advantage of serving clients as a health, life or wellness coach is that unlike licensed professionals, no state in the United States regulates the practice of health or wellness coaching. That means […]