How do you start a sales coach business in 2027?

Sales coaching in 2027 is a healthy market — AI tools (Gong, Chorus, Clari Copilot, Outreach AI) record and analyze every call but can't replace the human pattern-recognition on why a deal stalled or how to coach a rep through call reluctance. Buyers are VP Sales, RevOps leaders, and founders selling B2B. The bar is high: prove you've personally closed deals, ideally seven figures, in the buyer's segment. Honest 5/10.

Startup costs. CRM (HubSpot Free → Pro $50-$500/mo), scheduling, e-sign $80-$200/mo. Sales-coaching frameworks: MEDDPICC, Command of the Message, Sandler, Challenger licenses $2k-$15k. LLC + E&O $500-$1.2k. Recording/analysis tool subs (Gong/Fathom for review) $30-$1.5k/mo. Website + content $500-$3k.

Credentials. None legally required. What buyers screen for: quota-carrying history with logos they recognize, top-percentile attainment (110%+ multiple years), framework certifications (Force Management, Winning by Design), or VP Sales experience. ICF helps for the coaching mechanics but won't close a deal alone.

Customer acquisition. LinkedIn — case-study posts, framework breakdowns, deal teardowns. Pavilion, RevGenius, Sales Hacker communities. Podcast guesting (30 Minutes to President's Club, Sales Gravy). Referrals from VPs you've coached. Outbound to Series B-D, RevOps leaders. Speaking at SaaStr, Pavilion CMO/CRO summits.

Revenue model. 1:1 IC coaching $300-$800/hr. Team programs $25k-$200k. Fractional VP Sales $8k-$25k/mo. Course or cohort $1k-$5k/seat.

Year-1. 2-5 team engagements + 1:1 work, $80k-$250k gross. Higher-end given B2B budgets.