I co-founded The Coaches Console in 2004 to solve a specific problem: coaches needed organized, professional systems behind the scenes so they could show up confidently with their clients.
What I’ve learned since then is that “behind the scenes” has two dimensions. There’s the business side — CRM, scheduling, billing, pipeline. TCC handles that. And there’s the learning delivery side — structured programs, cohort management, discussion, engagement tracking.
For years, coaches tried to do both with one tool. Some used TCC’s course features for everything. Others went to Kajabi and missed the coaching-specific business tools. Both approaches involved compromise.
Here’s the setup I actually recommend.
Why do TCC and Ruzuku work well together?
The philosophy is simple — and it mirrors what I’ve always taught about coaching technology:
- TCC manages your coaching business: CRM, intake, scheduling, contracts, billing, revenue tracking, workflows.
- Ruzuku manages your learning experiences: cohort programs, per-lesson discussion, live session integration, activities, engagement tracking.
Neither tool tries to do the other’s job. Everything you need, and nothing more.
Ruzuku was built by Abe Crystal, PhD — a learning design researcher who’s spent more than a decade studying how people learn online. His platform philosophy is “ridiculously easy,” which resonates deeply with mine. Technology should disappear into the background.
One honest note: this is a two-tool setup. You’ll log into TCC for business and Ruzuku for learning delivery. There’s no deep API integration between them — they work alongside each other. For most coaches, this is simpler than it sounds because each tool handles a distinct job.
How does the TCC + Ruzuku workflow work?
Step 1: Client Acquisition (TCC)
A prospect fills out your consultation form. TCC captures their information, adds them to your pipeline, triggers your welcome sequence. See TCC plans and pricing.
Step 2: Enrollment (Either Platform)
Clients can pay through TCC’s billing or Ruzuku’s checkout (Stripe, zero transaction fees).
Many coaches use TCC for 1:1 billing and Ruzuku for group enrollment — keeping revenue streams separate.
Step 3: Program Delivery (Ruzuku)
Once enrolled, clients access your group program:
| What your clients experience | How it works |
|---|---|
| Structured lessons with exercises | Reflection prompts, worksheets, and activities are part of the course — not separate documents |
| Discussion right inside each lesson | Cohort members respond to what they just learned, and you can see every conversation |
| Zoom calls in the course | Links, recordings, and follow-up materials all in one place |
| You see who needs attention | At a glance: who’s completing, who’s discussing, and who needs a check-in |
Learn more about group coaching with cohort scheduling and discussion.
Step 4: Ongoing Coaching (TCC)
Between sessions, TCC manages the relationship: session notes, follow-up tasks, renewal reminders.
Step 5: Completion and Next Steps (Both)
Ruzuku shows completion data. TCC manages follow-up: renewals, testimonial requests, referrals.
Which coaches use TCC and Ruzuku together?
Fran Brennan (Leadership Design Alchemists) uses TCC for her coaching CRM and delivers her Flagship Course on Ruzuku. She originally used TCC’s course features for everything, then asked to migrate the learning component to Ruzuku for cohort scheduling, per-lesson discussion, and engagement visibility. The right tool for each job.
Deb Porter (HOLD: Hearing Out Life Drama) called switching to Ruzuku “the best business decision I have made to date.” Her completion rates improved with per-lesson discussion and structured activities. Read how Deb built her coaching program.
Vickie Mudra (Institute for Deliberate Practice) describes herself as “a Coaches Console and Ruzuku lifetime member”. She uses TCC for her website and Ruzuku for course hosting — and when she acquired a new coaching certification program, she moved it to Ruzuku immediately.
Amanda Hahn (Empowered Journey Coaching), a coach using TCC, added Ruzuku specifically for hybrid coaching programs: “I am using the Coaches Console, but I am very interested in being able to host Hybrid Coaching programs”.
How do you set up TCC and Ruzuku together?
- Create your Ruzuku account (free plan: unlimited courses, 5 students)
- Build your first course: Modules, lessons, activities, discussion prompts
- Set cohort dates: Start date, enrollment window
- Connect Zoom: Add meeting links to lessons
- Set up payment: Connect Stripe (zero platform fees) or use TCC billing
- Share enrollment links: Send from TCC to clients
No integration API needed. The platforms work alongside each other.
How much does the TCC + Ruzuku stack cost?
| Tool | Monthly (Annual) |
|---|---|
| TCC | Varies |
| Ruzuku Core | $83 (unlimited, zero fees) |
| Zoom | $0-13 |
Compare: Kajabi Growth alone is $199-249/month — with no coaching CRM. Adding a CRM pushes costs higher.
What does the data say about coaching platform outcomes?
From 32,000+ courses on Ruzuku:
- Coaching courses: $531 median price — highest of any niche
- Cohort programs: 64.2% completion vs. 48.2% open-access
- Per-lesson discussion: 65.5% completion vs. 42.6% without
These are observational patterns from one platform — not controlled experiments. But they’re consistent with what I’ve seen across 50,000+ coaches: when the learning experience is structured for engagement, clients get better results. And client results drive everything else.
That’s what I mean when I say: taking care of hearts while taking care of business. They’re the same goal.
Start your course platform free and pair it with your TCC account today.
Melinda Cohan is the co-founder of The Coaches Console and author of The Confident Coach, The Professional Coach, and Sustainable Success. Since 2004, she’s helped 50,000+ coaches build businesses they love — without burning out. She believes business is a spiritual playground and that behind-the-scenes systems are what give coaches the confidence to shine. Hear her discuss the elements every coaching program needs on the Course Lab podcast.