I play midstakes PLO but my problem has always been getting in volume and I thought a coaching deal could help with motivation. I have a very close friend who about once a month talks GTO strategy with me for free but I haven't asked about direct coaching. I'm pretty sure he might object to getting paid an hourly rate because we're so close but I think he'd be fine with a profit sharing deal, aka in exchange for say 90 mins coaching/week I'd give him x % of my profits for the month. My question is, what's a reasonable % (I think it makes sense to scale it according to the number of hands I play with a lower % the more I play)? Would you include rakeback (mostly euro sites so it's a pretty significant number) in the %? I'm sure I could receive his coaching for a very low % but I want to make a fair offer and was just wondering what's reasonable. I have some initial numbers in mind but I don't wanna achor anyone so I'll keep them to myself for now.

As I'm writing this I realize I could ask his hourly when playing and aim for a % that given a reasonable amount of hands gives him an EV of like 70 % his hourly (lower than 100 % as it's zero downside risk) - thoughts?

What makes you think it is a zero downside risk?

Prop bets are also good for volume.

Edit: I think a scalable % based on your volume would be bad. It could require the extra work of him checking on your volume and leaves the option open of a disagreement in the volume and damaging a friendship. Maybe a flat rate is better. I understand you want volume. Maybe get him to agree to give you an hour each week if you hit a volume number? Gl

I guess I didn't make it clear. He would receive a % of my monthly profit. In case I lost money we'd average the results with next month's results and he'd get profit based on that. Either way, the only potential money flow would be from me to him.

He's a very good friend and neither of us are too strict with money. There's 0 chance he would want to check my volume and 0 chance of me trying to angle him and he knows it.

I understood money only flows from you to him but was assuming you two play the same games if you want coaching from him? Maybe I'm wrong but helping someone improve who plays the same games as you could cost you money so I don't see it as a zero downside risk if that's the case. I think a profit sharing percentage is a good idea since then he is compensated for making the games possibly tougher for himself, I just don't know what percentage would be fair.

Since you are close friends he may not want your money but you could ask if he's willing to coach you and ask what he would charge.

Or maybe ask if he's willing to talk strat with you more than once a month if you pick up the tab for dinner or drinks or a sporting event or something for each strat session. If he likes to party maybe that's more expensive than an hourly rate lol.

Other people might have better ideas.