Private one-on-one career coaching in Toronto usually costs between $125 and $250 an hour, and Toronto rates run a little higher than the national average, at around $200. Most families book several sessions; four sessions at those rates works out to roughly $500 to $1,000. Group workshops and short programs cost less per student. Ours, for example, are $325 + tax for a half-day in-person workshop and $960 for a four-week small-group program. School guidance is free, but counsellors are stretched very thin.
That's the short answer. Below is what each option really costs, what's included, and when it's worth paying at all.
Option 1: School guidance (free)
Every Ontario high school has guidance staff, and they know things no outside coach does: graduation requirements, prerequisites, your school's course calendar and the application process.
The catch is time. Ontario high schools with guidance staff average 396 students for every guidance counsellor, and in one in ten schools that number climbs to 826. (People for Education, 2018.) Counsellors also carry a growing share of mental health support. They do a great deal with very little time, but a long, open-ended conversation about who your teen is and what might suit them is hard to fit in.
Best for: course selection, prerequisites, OUAC and college applications.
Cost: $0.
Option 2: Free online quizzes and career tests ($0)
Search "career test for high school students" and you'll find dozens of free quizzes. They're quick and they can start a good conversation.
What you don't get is anyone to help make sense of the results. A quiz that tells a 17-year-old "you'd make a great dentist" without explaining why, or what to do next, often leaves them more confused than before. Many free tools are also personality quizzes rather than validated assessments, and the difference matters when a decision is riding on it.
Best for: a low-stakes first look.
Cost: $0, though some "free" tests charge before you can see the full report.
Option 3: Private one-on-one career coaching ($125–$250 an hour)
Across Canada, career coaching typically costs $125 to $250 an hour, with an average around $175. In Toronto, average rates for career and business coaches are closer to $200. (Bark, Canadian coaching price guide.)
Most coaches work in packages rather than single sessions. As a rough guide, four sessions at $175 comes to $700 before tax. Assessments are sometimes extra, so ask.
Best for: students who need fully personalized attention, or who are dealing with something specific that doesn't suit a group.
What to ask: How many sessions are typical? Are assessments included or extra? Does the coach work with teenagers specifically, or mostly with mid-career adults?
Option 4: Group workshops and small-group programs ($325–$1,200)
A well-run small group sits between a free quiz and private coaching. Students get proper assessments and a trained facilitator to help them interpret the results, and they also hear how other students their age are thinking about the same questions. That second part matters more than people expect. Teens often say things to each other they won't say to an adult.
Here is exactly what ours cost and include, so you can compare.
Half-day high school workshop (grades 10–12), in person in Toronto
$325 CAD + tax per student
Upcoming dates: November 29, 2026 and January 24, 2027, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at The East Room, 507 King Street East
Includes the YouScience aptitude assessment, a values assessment, a team project, a personal action plan, and lunch and snacks
Volunteer hours provided
Four-week small-group program, virtual
$960 CAD winter pricing until February 28, 2027 (regular price $1,200 CAD)
Four 90-minute sessions on Tuesday evenings, maximum 10 participants
All assessments included, plus a private one-on-one follow-up session with a facilitator after the program
Next cohorts start January 12 and March 2, 2027
Details and registration are at beyoumedia.ca/highschool and beyoumedia.ca/cohorts.
The options side by side
School guidance: free. Strong on courses and applications, with little time for open-ended conversations.
Free online quizzes: free. A quick starting point, with no one to interpret the results.
Private one-on-one coaching: $125–$250 an hour. Fully personalized, but the highest cost, and assessments are often extra.
Group workshop: $325 + tax (ours). Assessments, a facilitator, peers and a plan, with less one-on-one time.
Four-week small group: $960–$1,200 (ours). Depth over several weeks plus a one-on-one session, but a multi-week commitment.
When it isn't worth paying
Honestly, not every student needs a paid program.
If your teen already has a clear direction and just needs help with applications, school guidance is the right place to start, and it's free. If they're reasonably curious and you have the time, a free assessment plus a few good conversations at home can go a long way.
Paying makes most sense when a student is genuinely stuck, when the stakes of the next decision are high (a program choice, a gap year, switching paths), or when conversations at home have started going in circles. Sometimes a teenager needs to hear the same question from someone who isn't their parent.
And if what you're seeing looks more like low mood than indecision, start with your family doctor rather than a career program. Career work isn't a substitute for mental health support.
Questions to ask before you pay anyone
Which assessments are used, and are they included in the price?
Who interprets the results with my teen, and what training do they have?
How many sessions, how long, and how big is the group?
What will my teen leave with? Look for something concrete, like a written plan.
Is tax included in the price you've quoted?
Is there any follow-up afterwards?
Frequently asked questions
How much does a career coach cost in Toronto?
Typically $125 to $250 an hour, with Toronto averages near $200. Most people book a package of several sessions.
Is career coaching for teenagers worth it?
It can be, when a student is stuck and facing a real decision. It's less useful for a student who already knows their direction and just needs application help, which school guidance does well for free.
Is there free career counselling for high school students in Toronto?
Yes. Your teen's school guidance office is free, though counsellors support hundreds of students each. Free online assessments are another starting point.
Why are group programs cheaper than private coaching?
The facilitator's time is shared across a small group. Students still get the assessments and a trained person to interpret them, with less individual time.
Prices for Be You Media programs are current as of November 2026. Market rates for private coaching are drawn from Bark's Canadian coaching price guide; individual coaches' rates vary.
Sources
People for Education, Guidance counsellors: Expanding roles, limited access (2018): peopleforeducation.ca
Bark, How much does Business Coaching & Career Coaching cost?: bark.com