Executive Coaching Rates Are Set by the Seat, Not the Hour
Executive coaching for VP, SVP, and C-suite leaders is priced on the impact of the seat, not the time spent. A coach who helps a Series C CEO navigate a board crisis or a CTO ship a critical platform migration is delivering organizational value that vastly exceeds any sensible hourly rate. That is why senior ICF PCC/MCC coaches often price by 6-month engagement ($25K–$80K) rather than hourly.
Credentialing matters more in coaching than in most consulting fields. ICF PCC and MCC, Hogan/MBTI/Birkman certifications, and supervision membership all serve as procurement gates at enterprise clients. They also represent ongoing overhead — renewals, CEUs, and supervision fees easily exceed $5,000/year for a serious practice.