The checklist to run before buying a course or coaching program
Courses and coaching programs often cost thousands of dollars, and getting that money back after signing is hard. If you're hesitating because it's expensive — that instinct is healthy.
Work through this checklist against the sales page, one item at a time. It catches most of what buyers later wish they had verified.
① Verify who's behind it
- A legal business name, physical address, and working contact info are published
- Searching the business name turns up registrations or a real footprint beyond its own ads
- The founder's claimed track record can be verified somewhere independent
- The business has history beyond selling this course
② Verify the evidence behind the results
- Testimonials include verifiable names and situations, not just first names and stock photos
- You can see how many students succeeded out of how many total — not just highlights
- Income screenshots have dates and names, and aren't the only form of proof offered
- There's a clear answer to "what does the average student achieve, in how long, with how much work?"
③ Verify the total cost
- The full price is published before you commit
- You've confirmed in writing whether upsells, "advanced tiers", tools, or ad budgets come later
- For installment plans, you've calculated the true total including fees
- Nobody has suggested financing the purchase with loans or credit card debt
④ Verify cancellation and refund terms
- Whether and how you can cancel mid-program is stated in the contract
- Any money-back guarantee has conditions, deadlines, and a process you can read before paying
- You receive actual contract documents, not just chat messages
- You're not relying on "it pays for itself" as the financial plan
If any item fails the check
Every unchecked item is a ready-made question for the seller. A specific written answer means progress; deflection plus pressure to decide now is a complete answer too — walk away.
Keep all answers in writing. If anything goes wrong, those records are what consumer protection agencies will ask for.
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This page and our analysis results do not label any specific business as fraudulent or illegal, and do not constitute legal advice. They are reference information to support your pre-contract checks. If you remain concerned, contact your local consumer protection authority.