I know it's almost bonkers-holiday-sales time, Reader...

And your inbox is overstuffed with promos.

However, this is also the time to plan your biz strategy for Q1&2 of 2026, so I'm dropping in with some data-driven tips on creating offers.

Whether your main offer is coaching or providing some kind of service (or both like me!), we have to ask ourselves this question at some point:

Should I aim for high-ticket 1:1 clients or launch a group in order to reach my financial goals?

I've done both many times, and this came up twice this week on client calls, so I thought, "Time for an overview!"

Short answer? It depends on your stage of business, your capacity, and your vision for how you want to serve.

⬇️ But let’s break it down so you can decide what’s right for YOU, at the season of business you're in.

→ 1:1 WORK: A BEAUTIFUL STARTING POINT

If you’re in the earlier stages of business, or refining your niche, I recommend starting with 1:1 sessions. These private conversations help you shape your core offer by highlighting where you get the best results and can give you gold for future iterations of your work.

• You get to deeply understand what your clients need
• You can iterate in real time
• It requires minimal infrastructure (think: Calendly, Zoom, Stripe --> done)
• It helps build confidence in your process + testimonials

BUT…

❌ Your income is capped by your calendar
❌ It can be energetically draining if you overbook or undercharge
❌ You're still trading time for money

Still, if you're just getting clear on your signature framework, this is the quickest path to cash, clarity, and confidence.

→ GROUP PROGRAMS: SCALE, COMMUNITY, & STRUCTURE

If you’re looking to increase your income without increasing your hours, groups are the way to do that.

• You can serve more people at once
• You create a repeatable system (hello, legacy assets!)
• The community vibe adds value beyond just your coaching
• It often means a lower barrier to entry for potential clients
• You can scale without working more hours

BUT…

❌ It requires more prep (curriculum, onboarding, systems)
❌ You need a warm audience to sell to
❌ Managing a group requires different skills - facilitation, boundaries, communication

My rule of thumb: If you’re already confident in your offer and have taken 5+ people through it 1:1, you’re probably ready to scale it up into a group model.

My preference: I love learning in community and groups are an incredible way to find your tribe and feel a less alone as you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. But, for core offer building where the client needs my help to actually log in and set up automations, it has to be one-on-one.

✨ Important reminder: You don’t need to choose just one forever.

You just need to choose what makes the most sense for January - March of next year.

If you're brand new in business - start simple. Get paid. Refine your method. THEN scale.

Your 1:1 offer is the fertile ground. Your group program is the garden that grows from it. 🌱

And if you want help mapping out your signature offer, I’ve got room in my calendar for exactly ONE more 1:1 client before the end of the year (soonest start is Dec. 17th).

Three of my clients who started in September are currently selling new programs this week!

📩 Hit reply and tell me a bit about what you’re building. I’ll let you know if I can help.

You don’t have to guess your way through this.

Let’s simplify, streamline, and get you paid.

xo,
Deborah

PS. 👀 Coming Soon: Ready to craft your signature offer, structure your lead flow and sales into a sustainable and profitable marketing operation? Had your eye on the Foundations Group Coaching program? Then keep your eyes peeled for my annual 12 days of Business holiday promos. From Dec. 1 - 12th I'll be sharing the best ways to build digital assets, automated systems and launch new offers in 2026, for the lowest price of the year and I'll be enrolling for a Jan 5th cohort!

🎧 Listen to this week's episode of Mindset to Market: #97 - Open Your Big Mouth: How to Write Copy That Converts with Taylor de la Fuente​