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X-Factor Certification by Marisa Murgatroyd: Is It Worth It?
You can be talented, experienced, and genuinely passionate about helping people and still feel like your business is stuck in a loop you cannot break.
You post content. You run calls. You deliver great work. You get kind words and grateful clients. But somehow, your income feels unpredictable. Your offers feel too custom. Your process feels messy. Your calendar feels full, yet your bank account does not reflect the level of effort you are putting in.
And the worst part is the quiet doubt that creeps in when you are alone.
You start wondering if you are missing something other people figured out years ago. You start questioning whether you are “business-minded enough” to charge what you are worth. You watch other coaches, consultants, and service providers position themselves as premium problem-solvers, and you cannot help thinking, “I can do that too… so why does it feel so hard for me?”
Most people never talk about the real problem.
The problem is not that you need more motivation. The problem is not that you need a new niche every month. The problem is not that you need to post five times a day or jump on the latest platform trend.
The real problem is that many coaches and consultants do not have a clear, repeatable, premium-worthy framework that makes clients feel safe saying “yes,” and makes referrals feel natural.
When you do not have a framework, you end up reinventing the wheel for every client. You spend more time figuring out what to do than doing it. You deliver value, but you struggle to explain your value in a way that feels concrete. So you get stuck selling your time instead of selling outcomes.
That is why programs like the X-Factor Business Consultant Certification Program exist. They promise to turn what you know into something structured, scalable, and profitable. They promise to teach you how to design experiences that make businesses grow, and then package those skills into an offer you can sell at premium rates.
If you are tired of guessing, tired of being underpaid, and tired of building your business on hope instead of a system, you will want to look closely at this certification.
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What the X-Factor Certification Is Really About
The X-Factor Certification is positioned as a business consultant certification program created by Marisa Murgatroyd and Live Your Message. It is designed for coaches, consultants, and service providers who want to grow their business by helping other businesses grow.
At its core, this program is not just about learning “business consulting” in the generic sense. It is about learning how to apply an experience design framework to real businesses, so you can help them create better customer journeys, better client experiences, better messaging, and better outcomes.
When experience design is done correctly, it does something powerful.
It makes a business feel different. It helps a brand stand out without screaming for attention. It turns customers into repeat buyers and enthusiastic promoters. It makes marketing feel easier because the experience itself becomes a story worth sharing.
For a consultant, that kind of skill is valuable because it is highly transferable across industries. Experience design can be applied to online programs, local businesses, service providers, education organizations, health practices, professional firms, and more. The idea is that if you can spot where an experience is leaking trust, retention, or excitement, you can fix it in a way that directly impacts revenue and growth.
That is the “X-Factor” promise. It is meant to give you a way to create results that are obvious, measurable, and easy to explain.
Who This Program Is For
The X-Factor Certification is best suited for people who already understand the basics of business and want to step into a stronger, more premium role.
It fits coaches and consultants who want to expand beyond one-on-one client work that depends entirely on their personal time and energy. It also fits service providers who want to shift from being “the person who does tasks” into being “the person who designs outcomes.”
If you have ever felt like you are doing too much for too little, this program is aimed at helping you change that dynamic. It is designed for people who want to work with businesses at a strategic level and get paid accordingly.
This program also makes sense if you are the kind of person who learns best through live training, practice, and feedback. Certifications like this can fall flat when they are just videos sitting on a portal, because people cannot translate theory into real-world skill. X-Factor emphasizes live calls and practice pods, which tends to work better for people who want structure and accountability.
Who Should Think Twice Before Joining
Not every certification is a good fit, even when the marketing is strong.
If you are looking for a quick “buy this and wake up rich” solution, this is not for you. Consulting requires thinking, problem-solving, and the willingness to work through ambiguity. Clients will pay premium rates, but only when you can demonstrate competence and deliver real results.
If you do not have the time to show up to live calls, practice consistently, and implement what you learn, you will struggle to get value from a program like this. It is not enough to be excited. You need to be present and engaged, because your skill is built through repetition and real application.
You should also think carefully if premium pricing makes you uncomfortable. A certification can teach you frameworks, but it cannot force you to sell your services with confidence. If you are not willing to practice sales, refine your positioning, and have real conversations about value, you may not monetize what you learn as quickly as you hope.
The Application Process and the $1,000 Application Fee
One of the most unusual parts of the X-Factor Certification is the application process.
Instead of simply enrolling, applicants go through a process that includes a 25-minute call with Marisa Murgatroyd, scheduled within a limited window. There is also a $1,000 application fee to book the call. If you enroll, that fee is credited toward the program. If you decide not to enroll, it is refundable. If you do not show up, you forfeit the fee.
This structure does a few things.
It filters for seriousness. It creates a barrier that discourages casual curiosity. It also signals that the program is selective, which can be appealing to people who want a higher level environment.
At the same time, you should treat this process like a real business decision. Before you apply, you should be clear on what you want the certification to do for you. You should be ready to discuss how you plan to use it, what type of clients you want, and what timeline you are working with.
This is not just an “information call.” It is a fit check.
What You Get Inside the Certification
The program includes a five-month certification experience, running from April through August 2026. The structure is built around live virtual training and practice calls, along with supporting playbooks and templates.
The key elements include live training calls with Marisa, hands-on practice pod calls, a certification exam and certificate, experience design playbooks, and plug-and-play consultant website templates.
That mix matters because it hits several layers of learning.
The live calls give you direct instruction and context. The practice pods create repetition and skill-building. The playbooks give you something tangible to follow when you are working with real businesses. The templates reduce the amount of time it takes to present yourself professionally.
If you have ever felt stuck because you know what you want to do but you cannot translate it into a clear offer and a clear process, that combination can be helpful.
And if your goal is to sell consulting services at premium rates, the ability to say, “This is my framework, this is my process, and this is what it produces,” can instantly change how prospects perceive you.
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The Live Training Calls and Why They Matter
The headline training component is a set of live virtual experience design training calls led by Marisa Murgatroyd.
Live calls are not automatically better than recordings. What makes them valuable is the ability to learn in real time and connect concepts to real situations. When a program is live, it can respond to the cohort’s needs and questions. It can address obstacles as they arise. It can clarify confusing parts of implementation before people spiral into procrastination.
If you have done programs where you watched videos, felt inspired, and then did nothing because you were not sure what to do next, live training can be a different experience.
It can keep you moving.
It can also help you internalize the way a framework is meant to be applied, rather than just memorizing concepts. For consulting, that difference matters. A consultant is not paid for knowledge. A consultant is paid for judgment and application.
Practice Pods and the Real Skill-Building Layer
Practice is where certification becomes real.
The hands-on practice pod calls are meant to give you an environment to try the tools, refine your approach, and build confidence. If you want to sell consulting services, you cannot just understand the framework intellectually. You have to get comfortable using it on real problems.
Practice pods can help you develop that comfort. They can help you learn how to diagnose a business challenge, identify where an experience is breaking down, and propose a solution that makes sense. They can also help you learn how to communicate those solutions clearly.
This is one of the strongest arguments for a program like this. Many people buy education and then freeze because they are afraid to implement it incorrectly. Practice pods create a bridge between theory and execution.
The Certification Exam and What “Certification” Really Means
The program includes a business consultant certification exam and a certificate.
In any certification program, it is important to understand what the certificate represents. This is a certification issued by the program itself, not a government license or a regulated industry credential. That does not mean it is useless. It means its value depends on how you use it.
A certificate can strengthen your positioning when it is paired with proof. Proof can be case studies, client results, clear before-and-after transformations, and confident communication of your process.
If you plan to use the certification as a badge on your website without building real experience and results, it will not carry you far. But if you use it as a foundation for a consulting practice, and then you build a track record, it can become a trust amplifier.
The Playbooks, Templates, and “Implementation Speed”
One underrated part of any premium program is whether it helps you move faster.
Playbooks and templates reduce friction. They help you avoid getting stuck on presentation, wording, structure, and setup. They do not replace your skill, but they can make it easier to get started and look credible while you are building your confidence.
If you have ever wasted weeks trying to write a website from scratch, or trying to explain an offer without a clear structure, templates can give you momentum. Momentum is not just a feeling. Momentum is what keeps you moving when perfectionism tries to stop you.
This matters because the program runs for five months. The faster you implement, the more likely you are to get a win during the program window.
The Bonuses and Why They Are Not Just “Extras”
The certification includes several bonuses designed to help participants start monetizing their skills faster and deepen their learning.
One bonus focuses on packaging business consultant services and building a premium client pipeline. This is crucial because a certification is only worth what you can turn it into. If you learn skills but do not know how to sell them, you will remain stuck.
Another bonus is an experience design book club that starts earlier, which helps people build momentum before the main program window. That can be useful for participants who want to begin shifting their thinking and collecting ideas before April.
Then there is a standout bonus: an in-person experience in Austin at Soho House, positioned as a real-world application environment where participants work in teams on solutions for featured clients. This kind of hands-on environment can matter because it helps you build proof. It helps you move from “I learned this” to “I have done this.”
That distinction is what makes consulting offers easier to sell.
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Pricing, Discounts, and What You Are Really Paying For
The program’s investment is positioned at a premium level. There is a listed full tuition and an early adopter discounted tuition, with an installment option.
To evaluate whether it is worth it, you should ask a more practical question.
What would you need to earn for this to be a smart investment?
If you plan to sell premium consulting packages, the math can work quickly. If you package your services at a few thousand dollars per client, you do not need dozens of clients to break even. You need a small number of well-fit clients and a clear method.
This is where many people get tripped up.
They look at the price and forget to evaluate the business model. If you intend to charge low rates and do high-volume work, a premium certification can feel heavy. If you intend to do premium consulting with fewer clients and deeper engagements, the investment can make more sense.
The key is whether you have the willingness to sell your skills and build a pipeline.
The “Momentum + X-Factor” Deal and When It Might Matter
There is an additional discount mentioned for people who do Momentum and X-Factor together.
This is a strategic bundling move that can make sense for people who want both training and a broader support system while they implement a new revenue stream.
The question is whether you need both at once.
If you already have a strong implementation rhythm and you just need the framework and certification, you might not need a second container. But if you know you struggle to stay consistent, or you want a supportive environment while building and selling your consulting offer, the combined approach could be useful.
The deciding factor is not the discount. The deciding factor is whether the combination helps you execute.
What Results Should You Expect?
No certification can guarantee outcomes. Business results depend on multiple factors, including your experience, your ability to communicate value, your sales skills, your consistency, and your willingness to do the work even when it feels uncomfortable.
That said, you can look at what outcomes are realistic if you fully engage.
A realistic outcome is that you finish the program with a clear consulting process and a consulting offer you can sell. You also gain a structured framework for diagnosing business problems and designing experience-based solutions.
A strong outcome is that you land one or two premium clients during or shortly after the program, using what you learned and the assets you built. Another strong outcome is that you develop enough confidence and clarity to position yourself as a consultant rather than a general service provider.
The program’s messaging also emphasizes that Marisa’s private clients pay premium rates for similar work. That is not a promise you will charge the same. It is a signal of market value when the work is done well.
What Makes This Different From Generic Consulting Training
Most consulting training falls into one of two buckets.
It is either high-level strategy talk with no real implementation support, or it is tactical business advice that does not give you a distinct positioning.
The X-Factor angle is experience design. Experience design is a differentiator because it affects how people feel when they interact with a business. It affects retention, loyalty, referrals, and conversion. It can influence everything from onboarding to content delivery to customer support and beyond.
When you can improve a business’s experience, you are not just giving advice. You are shaping outcomes in a way that clients can see and measure.
That can make it easier to justify premium fees, especially when you can demonstrate before-and-after improvements.
Pros of the X-Factor Certification
A major benefit is the structured, repeatable framework that can help you stop improvising and start consulting with confidence. When your work is structured, your value becomes easier to explain.
Another benefit is the live training and practice environment. Many people do not need more information. They need a container that forces them to apply information until it becomes skill.
The assets and templates can also speed up implementation and make it easier to present yourself professionally. That matters if you want to start selling quickly.
The in-person Austin experience is a compelling proof-building element, especially for people who want real-world application and a stronger story to tell in their marketing.
Cons and Potential Drawbacks
The price point is significant, and it is not a casual purchase. If you are not prepared to monetize what you learn, you may feel pressure or regret.
The application fee structure creates a high-commitment environment. Some people like that. Others will find it uncomfortable.
The program is also time-intensive. A five-month live program requires consistent participation. If your schedule is unpredictable or you are already overwhelmed, you may struggle to keep up.
And as with any certification, the credential itself does not create results. Your willingness to implement, sell, and deliver is what creates results.
Who Will Get the Most Value From This
You will get the most value from X-Factor if you are already committed to building a premium consulting offer and you want a clear framework that helps you deliver repeatable outcomes.
You will also get strong value if you thrive in live environments and you want practice and feedback to build real confidence.
This program is especially suited to people who want to shift from being “the helper” to being “the strategic partner,” and who want to work with businesses in a way that feels meaningful and financially rewarding.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
The X-Factor Certification can be worth it when you treat it like what it is: a business investment that requires execution.
If you commit to the calls, use the practice pods, build your offer, and actively pursue clients, the program can give you something many consultants never develop: a clear framework, a clear process, and a clear story that makes selling easier.
If you do not implement, it will not matter how good the training is. The value is unlocked through doing the work.
So the real question is not whether the program is good.
The real question is whether you are ready to become the kind of consultant who uses a framework, shows up consistently, and builds a premium pipeline.
If you are, then this can be the kind of certification that changes how you see your business, how clients see you, and how you price your work.
👉 Click Here Get X-Factor Certification + Bonus at a Discount Price
