⚽︎ The Best Payment Gateways for Private Football Coaches (No More Cash!)
Let’s be honest — getting paid as a private football coach shouldn’t be harder than coaching the session itself.
You finish a great training session, the player has improved, everyone’s happy… and then comes the awkward bit:
“Did you bring the cash?”
Or worse:
“I’ll transfer it later.”
And we all know how that one goes.
You end up chasing payments, checking your bank account, sending reminders and wondering whether you should really have to spend your evening doing admin instead of planning your next session.
That’s why I’m a big believer in using a proper payment gateway for private football coaching.
It makes getting paid easier — and, importantly, it makes your coaching business feel much more professional.
So, let’s look at some of the best options.
Why should private football coaches use a payment gateway?
If you’re currently taking cash or asking parents to make bank transfers, you might be wondering whether it’s worth changing.
In my experience, the biggest advantage is simple:
You get paid without having to chase people.
A good payment system can allow you to:
Accept card payments
Take payments online
Send payment links
Set up recurring payments
Take deposits
Manage bookings
Keep a record of transactions
Reduce the amount of cash you handle
Give parents a quick and easy way to pay
And think about the experience from the parent's perspective.
They book a session.
They receive a payment link.
They pay.
Done.
No cash. No forgotten bank transfer. No “I’ll sort it tonight.”
That’s exactly how it should be.
1. Stripe
If you want a flexible payment system that can grow with your coaching business, Stripe is one of the first options I’d look at.
Stripe allows businesses to accept card payments online and offers tools such as payment links and recurring payments.
For a private football coach, that can be incredibly useful.
Imagine you offer:
1-to-1 coaching — £40 per session
Instead of arranging payment manually every week, you can send the parent a payment link.
Or, if you run monthly coaching packages, you can potentially set up recurring payments.
That means less admin for you and a much smoother experience for the parent.
Why coaches might like Stripe
Professional payment experience
Payment links
Card payments
Recurring payment options
Good flexibility as your business grows
Useful integrations with other software
The downside?
Stripe can feel a little more complicated if you're not particularly tech-minded.
If you're just starting out and want something extremely simple, there may be easier options.
2. PayPal
Most parents have heard of PayPal, which is a big advantage.
You don't necessarily have to convince someone to use an unfamiliar payment platform.
You can request payment or send a payment link, depending on how you've set things up.
For a coach who wants something straightforward, PayPal can be a useful option.
It's particularly handy if you're working with clients in different countries because PayPal is widely recognised internationally.
The downside?
Fees can vary depending on the type of transaction, currency and location.
So don't simply look at how easy a platform is — make sure you understand what you'll actually pay for each transaction.
3. SumUp
If you regularly coach in person, SumUp is another option worth considering.
This is particularly useful if you want to accept card payments at the pitch.
Instead of saying:
“Sorry, I don't take cards.”
You can potentially take payment there and then.
For some coaches, that alone can make life much easier.
SumUp is especially interesting if you're the type of coach who doesn't want to build a complicated online payment system.
You can keep things relatively simple while still moving away from cash.
4. Revolut Business
If you're based in Europe, Revolut Business may also be worth investigating.
Depending on the country and account setup, it can provide business banking and payment-related tools that may be useful for coaches and small businesses.
One of the biggest benefits of using a business-focused financial platform is having your coaching income separated from your personal finances.
That sounds like a small thing.
It isn't.
When your coaching business starts growing, having clear records of what you're earning and spending can make your life considerably easier.
5. GoCardless
Now, this one is slightly different.
If you're running a coaching business where clients pay you regularly, GoCardless can be interesting because it specialises in recurring payments via bank debit.
Think about a player who trains with you every Tuesday.
Instead of asking the parent to remember to pay every week, you can set up an agreed recurring payment arrangement.
That can be particularly useful if you've moved from individual sessions towards monthly coaching memberships or programmes.
It's probably more than you need if you're coaching just a handful of players occasionally.
But if you're building a proper coaching business, it's worth knowing about.
So which payment gateway should you choose?
This is where I'd keep things simple.
Don't choose a payment platform just because another coach uses it.
Think about how you actually get paid.
For example:
If you mainly coach 1-to-1 sessions
You might prioritise:
Payment links + card payments + simplicity
If you run monthly coaching programmes
You might prioritise:
Recurring payments + subscriptions + automation
If you take payments at the pitch
You might prioritise:
A card reader + contactless payments
If you coach international clients
You might prioritise:
Multi-currency support + international payments
The important thing is matching the system to your business.
Don't forget about payment fees
Here's something I wouldn't ignore.
Every payment provider has its own pricing structure.
You may have transaction fees, monthly fees, currency conversion costs or other charges depending on the service you're using.
So before choosing one, work out your numbers.
Let's say you're taking £2,000 per month in coaching payments.
Even a relatively small difference in fees can add up over a year.
But don't make the mistake of choosing purely based on the cheapest transaction fee.
If one system saves you several hours of admin every month, that has value too.
Your time is part of the cost.
The real goal: stop chasing payments
For me, this is the biggest reason to move away from cash.
It's not really about being fancy.
It's about getting rid of unnecessary admin.
I'd much rather spend my time:
Planning sessions
Coaching players
Speaking to parents
Creating training programmes
Finding new clients
Improving my business
…than sending:
“Hi, just a reminder about yesterday's session.”
over and over again.
A good payment system should make getting paid almost boring.
And honestly?
That's exactly what you want.
What I'd do if I were starting from scratch
If I were setting up a private football coaching business today, I'd aim for a really simple system.
I'd have:
1. A booking process
Parents choose a session or package.
2. An online payment option
They pay when they book, or automatically according to the agreed schedule.
3. Automatic confirmation
The parent receives confirmation that payment has been received.
4. Clear cancellation terms
Everyone knows what happens if a session is cancelled or rescheduled.
5. Business records
I can see what I've earned without digging through messages and bank statements.
That's it.
No envelope of cash.
No chasing.
No awkward conversations.
No wondering who still owes you money.
As private football coaches, we're running businesses — even if we're only coaching a few hours a week.
And the more professional we make the boring parts of the business, the more time we have to focus on what we're actually good at:
Coaching football.
Cash might have worked for us in the past.
But with parents booking sessions from their phones and expecting everything to be quick and convenient, there's really no reason to make payment harder than it needs to be.
So, if you're still collecting cash after every session, maybe it's time to make a change.
Pick a payment system that fits the way you coach, make it easy for parents to pay, and stop chasing your money.
More coaching.
Less admin.
And, hopefully, no more cash!
Want to Make Your Coaching Business Easier?
If you're a private football coach who's tired of chasing payments, managing bookings, or spending your evenings dealing with admin, let's have a chat.
I'm offering a free 15-minute call to help you look at your current setup and identify simple ways to make your coaching business more professional, organised, and easier to manage.
No sales pitch. No obligation. Just a straightforward conversation about where you are now, what's frustrating you, and what you could improve.
Book your free call today below and let's see how I can make your coaching business work better for you.