Terms of Use

The Coach Exchange
Last updated: [DATE]

Draft for solicitor review. Prepared on 20 October 2026 for The Coach Exchange, run by CollaborativeBD. It is a starting point, not legal advice, and should be checked by a solicitor before launch.

1. About these terms

1.1 These Terms of Use ("terms") apply to The Coach Exchange (the "community"), an invite-only online community for business coaches at thecoachexchange.collaborativebd.com.

1.2 The community is run by Collaborative Business Development Limited, trading as CollaborativeBD, a company registered in Scotland under company number SC537302, whose registered office is at Provender House, Waterloo Quay, Aberdeen AB11 5BS ("we", "us", "our").

1.3 You can contact us at coachexchange@collaborativebd.com.

1.4 By applying to join, or by using the community, you agree to these terms, our Privacy Policy and our Community Guidelines. The Community Guidelines form part of these terms. If you don't agree, please don't apply or use the community.

1.5 The community is a business-to-business service. You use it in the course of your business, not as a consumer.

2. Who can join

2.1 Membership is by application only. To apply, you must:

(a) be at least 18 years old;
(b) run, or work in, a business coaching practice;
(c) give true, accurate and complete information in your application; and
(d) have your business based in a country we can accept applications from. We can't accept businesses based in countries where sanctions, or the rules of the payment providers we use, would stop us providing our services or selling to you in future. The countries we accept are those listed in the application form, and the list may change.

2.2 Every application is reviewed by our team, including applications from people invited by a member or by us. We decide whether to approve an application, at our discretion, and we don't have to give a reason, although we usually will.

2.3 We don't accept applications from businesses whose main purpose is to sell products or services to coaches.

2.4 Each membership is for one named person. You may not share your account or create more than one account.

2.5 If anything in your application changes in a way that affects your eligibility, please tell us.

3. Your account

3.1 You're responsible for keeping your password secure and for everything that happens under your account. We recommend turning on two-step sign-in.

3.2 Tell us straight away at coachexchange@collaborativebd.com if you think someone else has accessed your account.

3.3 We may send you messages about your account, security, changes to these terms or our policies, and essential announcements that affect every member. You can't turn these off while you're a member. You can choose which other emails you receive in your Settings.

4. Member numbers and anonymity

4.1 When you join, we give you a random member number. Other members see you by that number, not your name. Only our team can see who each member is.

4.2 We work hard to protect your anonymity, but we can't guarantee it. You could reveal who you are through what you post, for example by mentioning your business, your location or a recognisable situation. Please think about this before you post.

4.3 You must not try to find out who another member is, or reveal it if you find out.

4.4 Our team members post as "The Coach Exchange team", not by name.

5. How you must use the community

5.1 You must follow the Community Guidelines, which are set out in the Schedule at the end of these terms and shown in the community.

5.2 You must not post, upload or share anything that:

(a) is unlawful, defamatory, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, obscene or abusive;
(b) promotes your own business, products or services, or anyone else's, or tries to sell to members;
(c) includes contact details such as email addresses or phone numbers, yours or anyone else's;
(d) includes personal information about your clients or anyone else who hasn't agreed to it being shared, including anything that could identify a client;
(e) is proprietary, confidential or commercially sensitive information, yours or anyone else's;
(f) infringes anyone's intellectual property or other rights;
(g) is false or misleading, or impersonates any person or organisation; or
(h) contains viruses or other harmful code.

5.3 You must not:

(a) copy, scrape, harvest or download content from the community, other than your own posts, by any automated means;
(b) use content from the community to train or improve any artificial intelligence or machine learning system;
(c) share other members' posts outside the community without their permission;
(d) contact members outside the community using information you found in it, or try to move members onto another platform to sell to them;
(e) interfere with the security or working of the community, or try to access areas or information you're not allowed to; or
(f) use the community for any purpose other than taking part as a business coach.

6. Confidentiality between members

6.1 The community is private: discussions are visible only to approved members and our team.

6.2 Although the community is private, the team can't stop another member repeating something you've shared. Please don't post proprietary, confidential or commercially sensitive information.

6.3 Treat what other members share as confidential. Don't repeat it outside the community in a way that could identify them or their business.

7. What you post, and how we can use it

7.1 You keep ownership of what you post, including posts, replies, questionnaire answers, poll votes and feedback ("your content").

7.2 You give us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual and irrevocable licence to use, copy, store, analyse, adapt, summarise and publish your content, and to let our service providers do so on our behalf, for the purposes of:

(a) running and moderating the community;
(b) understanding the challenges coaches face, and producing findings, scores and summaries; and
(c) designing, building, testing, improving, marketing and selling software and other products and services.

7.3 When we publish findings outside the community, we only do so in a way that doesn't identify you, unless you've agreed to be named.

7.4 You confirm that you have the right to post your content and to give us this licence, and that your content follows these terms.

7.5 To the extent the law allows, you waive any moral rights in your content as against us and anyone we license.

7.6 The licence in this section continues after your membership ends, for content we've already used in findings, scores or product work. What happens to your posts themselves when you leave is explained in section 15 and our Privacy Policy.

8. Ideas, findings and the platform we build

8.1 The purpose of the community is to understand the real challenges coaches face and to design software that solves them. Sharing a challenge, an idea, feedback or a suggestion does not give you any ownership of, or any right to payment, royalty, credit or other reward for, anything we build, even if it's based on what you shared.

8.2 We decide what to build, how and when. Scores, votes, the shortlist and the Idea Vault help guide our decisions, but they don't oblige us to build anything, to build it in a particular way, or to a particular timescale.

8.3 Anything we say about future features, timings or pricing is a plan, not a promise.

8.4 We're free to use any feedback or suggestions you give us, about the community or anything else, without any obligation to you.

9. Questionnaires, polls, feedback sessions and the design panel

9.1 Taking part in questionnaires, polls, feedback sessions and the design panel is voluntary.

9.2 Feedback sessions and design panel sessions are held online. Other attendees and our team will see you, so your anonymity doesn't fully apply in these sessions.

9.3 The only recorder or AI note-taker used in a session will be ours, and we'll only use it if everyone attending agrees at the start. You mustn't record, screenshot or transcribe a session, or bring your own AI note-taker or recording tool. We keep recordings and transcripts of sessions as set out in our Privacy Policy, and use them only for The Coach Exchange and the software it shapes. We never publish them.

9.3 If you join the design panel or see early designs or test versions, you must keep them confidential and not share them outside the community, including screenshots.

10. Early versions and testing

10.1 We may invite members to try early versions of software before it's released. Early versions are provided "as is". They may contain errors, may change or be withdrawn at any time, and must not be relied on for your business.

10.2 Don't put real client personal information into an early version unless we've told you in writing that it's suitable for that.

11. Recognition

11.1 We'll only name you publicly, for example as someone who helped shape the platform, if you've told us you're happy to be named. You can change your mind at any time for future publications by contacting us.

11.2 Our earliest members are recognised as founding members. As the platform develops, we may offer founding members extra benefits, such as early access or preferential pricing. A benefit only applies once we've confirmed it to founding members in writing, and on the terms we set out at that time.

12. Our content and intellectual property

12.1 The community, its design, software, branding (including the name The Coach Exchange and its logo), our findings, scores, summaries and all other content we create belong to us or our licensors.

12.2 We give you a personal, non-transferable, revocable licence to use the community for taking part as a member. You may not copy, reproduce or republish our content without our written permission.

13. Moderation

13.1 We moderate the community lightly. We may, at our discretion and without notice, hide, edit (for example, to remove contact details) or remove any content, and restrict, suspend or remove anyone's access, if we reasonably believe that they've broken these terms or the Community Guidelines, or to protect members, the community or us.

13.2 Members can report posts. We review reports but can't guarantee to act on every one, or within a particular time.

13.3 We're not responsible for checking content before it's posted, and content posted by members is their own view, not ours.

14. Cost, future products and other websites

14.1 Membership of the community is free.

14.2 We may offer software or other products for sale in the future. Members will hear about pricing first, but you're under no obligation to buy anything. Any purchase will be under separate terms.

14.3 The community may include links to other websites, posted by us or by members. Links posted by members must follow the Community Guidelines, for example no links to your own business, and we may remove any that don't. We're not responsible for the content of other websites or how they handle your information.

15. Leaving the community, or us ending your membership

15.1 You can leave at any time by requesting deletion of your data in your Settings, or by emailing us. When you ask to delete your data, you can choose whether your posts stay, shown as "Former member" so they can't be linked to you, or are removed. Our Privacy Policy explains what we keep and for how long.

15.2 We may suspend or end your membership:

(a) immediately, if you seriously or repeatedly break these terms or the Community Guidelines;
(b) if you no longer meet the eligibility requirements, including if your business moves to a country we can't accept;
(c) immediately, if continuing your membership would breach sanctions or other laws that apply to us; or
(d) for any other reason, by giving you reasonable notice.

15.3 We may close the community, or change how it works, at any time. If we close it, we'll give members reasonable notice where we can.

15.4 Sections 6, 7, 8, 9.3, 12, 16, 17 and 19 continue after your membership ends.

16. Our responsibility to you

The community is free to join. It's a place for discussion and shared findings, not a paid service with guaranteed results. This section explains, as plainly as we can, what that means if something goes wrong. Each clause starts with what it means in everyday terms.

16.1 What we can never exclude. Some responsibilities can't be limited by any terms, and nothing in these terms tries to. We remain fully responsible for:

(a) death or personal injury caused by our negligence;
(b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; and
(c) anything else that the law doesn't allow us to limit or exclude.

Everything else in this section is subject to this clause.

16.2 The community as it is. We work hard to keep the community running smoothly and securely, but we can't promise it will always be available, fast, secure or free from faults. It's provided "as is", without any promise or guarantee, whether stated in these terms or implied by law, that it will meet your particular needs.

16.3 Discussion, not advice. Everything in the community, including posts by members and by us, findings, scores and updates, is for general information and discussion. It isn't professional, legal, financial or business advice. Before you make a decision for your business, you should use your own judgement and, where appropriate, take advice. Posts by members are their own views, not ours, and we don't check them for accuracy.

16.4 What we're not responsible for. Because the community is free, and is for discussion rather than a paid service, we're not responsible for losses to your business that come from using the community, or from not being able to use it. For example, we're not responsible if:

(a) the community is unavailable, slow or has a fault, and you miss something or lose time;
(b) you act on something another member posted, or on one of our findings, scores or updates, and it doesn't work out for your business;
(c) something you posted is lost or damaged; or
(d) another member repeats something you shared, despite our rules.

16.5 The same thing in legal terms. We won't be liable to you, whether in contract, delict or tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty or otherwise, for any:

(a) loss of profits, sales, business, revenue or opportunity;
(b) loss of anticipated savings;
(c) loss of goodwill or reputation;
(d) loss or corruption of data; or
(e) indirect or consequential loss.

16.6 The most we'd pay. If we are responsible for a loss that isn't excluded above, the most we'll pay you in total, for everything to do with the community and these terms, is £100. This reflects that membership is free, and it applies however the claim arises.

16.7 Why these limits are fair. You use the community as a business, not as a consumer, and you don't pay to use it. These limits mean we can keep it free and open to coaches, and they don't affect anything in clause 16.1.

17. Your responsibility to us

You're responsible for your content and how you use the community. If someone makes a claim against us because of content you posted or because you broke these terms, you agree to compensate us for reasonable losses and costs that result.

18. Changes to these terms

18.1 We may change these terms from time to time. If we make a change that affects you, we'll email you at least 30 days before it takes effect, and at least 90 days before a change that reduces what you get or widens what we can do with your content or information, unless a change is needed sooner for legal or security reasons.

18.2 If you keep using the community after a change takes effect, you accept the new terms. If you don't agree, you can leave at any time.

19. General

19.1 Complaints. If you have a complaint, please email coachexchange@collaborativebd.com and we'll try to resolve it.

19.2 Law and courts. These terms, and any dispute or claim arising from them or the community (including non-contractual disputes or claims), are governed by the law of Scotland, and the Scottish courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

19.3 Whole agreement. These terms, the Community Guidelines and our Privacy Policy are the whole agreement between you and us about the community.

19.4 If part of these terms is invalid, the rest stays in force.

19.5 No waiver. If we don't enforce a right straight away, we can still enforce it later.

19.6 Transfer. We may transfer our rights and obligations under these terms to another organisation, for example if our business is sold. You may not transfer yours.

19.7 Third parties. No one other than you and us has any right to enforce these terms, whether under the Contract (Third Party Rights) (Scotland) Act 2017, the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 or otherwise.

19.8 Events outside our control. We're not responsible for delays or failures caused by events outside our reasonable control.

Collaborative Business Development Limited, Provender House, Waterloo Quay, Aberdeen AB11 5BS, United Kingdom. Registered in Scotland, number SC537302.

Schedule: Community Guidelines

These guidelines form part of these terms. They are also shown in the community. If the two ever differ, the version shown in the community applies.

Be respectfulChallenge ideas, not people. Healthy discussion is encouraged; personal attacks are not.
Share authenticallyHonest experiences, constructive feedback and real-world insight create the most value.
Respect confidentialityWhat's shared in the community stays in the community unless permission is given otherwise.
No selling or promotingPlease don't promote or sell your own business, products or services, or anyone else's, here or by contacting members outside the community. Sharing helpful resources is welcome: links to useful articles, templates and tools are fine, as long as they aren't your own business or offers, or something you earn from (such as an affiliate link).
Assume positive intentApproach conversations with curiosity, professionalism and respect for different perspectives.
Keep contact details privatePlease don't share email addresses, phone numbers or other contact details in posts. It protects everyone's anonymity, including yours.
No recording in sessionsPlease don't record, screenshot or use your own AI note-taker in feedback sessions. The only AI note-taker in a session will be ours, and only if everyone attending agrees at the start.
Text only, for nowPosts are text only for now. Images can easily include client names or details that identify you.

Please note: don't post proprietary, confidential or commercially sensitive information. Although the community is private, the team can't stop another member repeating something you've shared.