Personal training going into business for my self?

[awms]

I am a trainer and work for a large canadian chain gym. I have decided to quit my job and go into business for my self...The gym I work with takes about 50-55% of everything I bring in and since I do all of the work to get my clients and get little help from my managers I see no point in staying there.

Any way to you who are free lance PT's how much do you guys make? do you find it hard to network and get new clients? I have a very solid backround and feel its fare for me to charge around $50-60 a clients....I will be paying for studio space at a personal training studio here in Toronto ($20 a client) so that leaves me with around $30. I figure if I can get a minimum of 10 clients in my first year I should be able to clear atleast 40 grand and as I get more certifications (C.H.E.K institute, darby training ect ect) I will charge a higher rate.

Feed back would be great! thx guys!

[gixxerboy1]

i would talk to your gym and see if you can just pay a flat rate every month for rental.

[Times Roman]

are your clients a result of the gym's foot traffic, or will they follow you if you leave?

[awms]

The guy who owns the studio that I will be using wont go any lower then $20 but its a small, clean and very low key which I like since I want to bring in executive type people who dont want to work out around a bunch of other people. Its also a great location! The good thing is also that I can leave at any time so Im not stuck there.

I also want to train people from home...I can charge less and make more this way and most women prefer this. I already have one client lined up for home training, a husband and wife who want to train with me for $50 an hour at their home.

[awms]

are your clients a result of the gym's foot traffic, or will they follow you if you leave?

Im starting from ground zero for the most part because in my contract I cant take clients but I have alot of amazing leads! and I have been networking....Im trying to get in with a kiropraktor here who I know.

[Times Roman]

The guy who owns the studio that I will be using wont go any lower then $20 but its a small, clean and very low key which I like since I want to bring in executive type people who dont want to work out around a bunch of other people. Its also a great location! The good thing is also that I can leave at any time so Im not stuck there.

I also want to train people from home...I can charge less and make more this way and most women prefer this. I already have one client lined up for home training, a husband and wife who want to train with me for $50 an hour at their home.

$20 per..... what? day? hour?

[awms]

$20 per..... what? day? hour?

$20 per client...It is costly but the reason I like this studio is because it basicaly mine. He told me he only wants 1-2 people using it and that its mine to run and use as I want...small about 800-1000 square feet but it has bench press, squat rack, weights, bands and trx, and a small station with lat pull down ect ect...its clean and nice to bring clients to and I can use it how I want. I fugure if I was to own my own place nad pay rent, heating ect ect it would cost alot more! this way I am able to run my own business and not worry about all the other junk.

[gixxerboy1]

do you have a marketing strategy to get knew clients. To be that would be the biggest concern.
Thats why i would see what you can work out with the gym you are at. My gym offers a pay per client or a flat rental rate for a month and you can train people as much as you want

[spywizard]

$20 per client per session??

I have a gym here that does the same thing, but $12 per session, no membership fees.. or $375 per month unlimited use...I usually just pay that.. he does mostly female fitness and bathing suit contest prep..

And we run MMA training there as well..

but in home I usually charge more..

The idea of charging less for home sessions actually could make a lot of sense.. the issue is you will not see as many clients in a day.. but you could make mwf in the gym sessions and sat/sun for home.. just a thought..

For mma conditioning we'll do 4 people at a time $35 per person.. so it works out to $70 per hr per trainer..

[MR-FQ320]

Good luck on your venture man.

[dec11]

I am a trainer and work for a large canadian chain gym. I have decided to quit my job and go into business for my self...The gym I work with takes about 50-55% of everything I bring in and since I do all of the work to get my clients and get little help from my managers I see no point in staying there.

Any way to you who are free lance PT's how much do you guys make? do you find it hard to network and get new clients? I have a very solid backround and feel its fare for me to charge around $50-60 a clients....I will be paying for studio space at a personal training studio here in Toronto ($20 a client) so that leaves me with around $30. I figure if I can get a minimum of 10 clients in my first year I should be able to clear atleast 40 grand and as I get more certifications (C.H.E.K institute, darby training ect ect) I will charge a higher rate.

Feed back would be great! thx guys!

i charged £25 an hour 4yrs ago. there is no prediction in this industry, i wouldnt go banking on 'if i get so many clients this year, i'll make this, that and the other'.
gaining new certs doesnt = making more money either, why would an existing client care about your new industry certs? (all BS and unnecessary anyway and designed to make money off you). and you cant go charging new clients more than your existing clients or you wont be in business very long.

the best PT where i used to work wasnt the best technical PT by far, but he had good business sense and was one of the 1st to be doing it in that area. people wont give a sh1t about your solid back ground, they just want results and will pick the cheapest option. you need to look at your competition and offer value and something different

[awms]

More cert = more money to me because it opens up more doors...There are cert for golf, mma, strength anything under the sun! If somone is a golfer and they want to better there gold game then they are going to train with somone who knows gold ect ect...I can charge more for sport specific type training if the market is there. I know trainers who charge 100 plus an hour because they can and because they produce results! thats the key is results...many clients will come and go but the ones who see value in me will stay and I will always be looking for new clients. I am planning on really growing my resume in the next couple years which will help me gain clients in all diffrent fields!

[awms]

I have a few business "mentors" who are guiding me and helping me along the way...these are people who own their business and do well, I also am working with other trainers who are making 80 plus an hour to help me get going. I think haveing metors wil really help me get my business up and going!

[dec11]

More cert = more money to me because it opens up more doors...There are cert for golf, mma, strength anything under the sun! If somone is a golfer and they want to better there gold game then they are going to train with somone who knows gold ect ect...I can charge more for sport specific type training if the market is there. I know trainers who charge 100 plus an hour because they can and because they produce results! thats the key is results...many clients will come and go but the ones who see value in me will stay and I will always be looking for new clients. I am planning on really growing my resume in the next couple years which will help me gain clients in all diffrent fields!

dont be gullible mate, dont waste money on those cardboard certs. you should know already how to train ppl for sport specific stuff through movement analysis, how is some silly cert going to make a diff?

its all very well thinking you'll make this that and the other but its all pie in the sky until someone puts it in your hand. i PT'd in an area that has the highest concentration of millionaires per sq mile in the UK, i still couldnt charge any more than the area rate norm.

100+ per hour is getting into celebrity territory and for that you'd need to be a big sporting name. not trying to discourage you but you're best to keep it realistic for the short term. its a stressful business, clients come and go and mess you around no end.

[gixxerboy1]

^^ I agree with you dec

[Swifto]

^^ I agree with you dec

I do to an extent.

But I have done a fair few PT, nutrition, injury rehab and sports massege certificates to my name now.

Its an extremely competitive market, PT'ing.

[dec11]

I do to an extent.

But I have done a fair few PT, nutrition, injury rehab and sports massege certificates to my name now.

Its an extremely competitive market, PT'ing.

what you mentioned is completely different to mickey mouse stuff like golf, MMA and separate 'strength' certs mentioned by the OP. those are completely unnecessary and just a money spinning gimic. if you have the core fundamental knowledge then you dont need additional sport specific certs, you adapt what you should already know to the clients needs, ive trained rugby player, GAA football players, etc etc, I didnt need to go and do separate certs for those.

id of been interested in the injury rehab etc but cost for those courses in Rep Ireland arent far off what you'd pay for a fvcking degree!!! its seriously expensive here, a simple in the door PT course will set you back 2,200. i dont see a point in ppl like us doing nutrition courses, we already have a firm grip on nutrition with our training and certs dont mean much, you certainly cant call yourself a nutritionist.

[awms]

I have a very solid foundation! but Im looking at taking a few certs 1# being either paul check institute or charles poliquin PICP, 2# stretch to win which is a course that will allow me to do fascial stretching and analyse clients weak points, 3# and a TRX/rings course which is all core and body weight.

[dec11]

I have a very solid foundation! but Im looking at taking a few certs 1# being either paul check institute or charles poliquin PICP, 2# stretch to win which is a course that will allow me to do fascial stretching and analyse clients weak points, 3# and a TRX/rings course which is all core and body weight.

i personally did a standard fitness instructor level 2 (gymnasium award) and then went down the academic degree route. i worked with one guy who was forever doing this course and that course thinking he'd be coining it in and charge more, it didnt work out that way for him.

[gixxerboy1]

I agree. A major cert like swifto mentioned you can maybe charge more.
The little ones on sports specific i doubt.
The place i trained at always made us go for these little cets. I did learn some stuff but never could get any more $$ because of them. I would do them if you feel they are beneficial to your education. But i wouldnt count on any extra $$$

[SlimmerMe]

I would find a bunch of women or couples who don't want to leave their house and coddle them and make a ton of dough....IMO they could care less about your credentials. They want someone who looks good with a great humorous disposition and motivates them. IF, that is IF you are after the money and not the gym scene etc. But even if you are into the gym scene then you could get those clients outta the house and into the gym just after a few sessions I bet. This is how you could get some cash flowing for your upstart and then go from there.

[gixxerboy1]

I would find a bunch of women or couples who don't want to leave their house and coddle them and make a ton of dough....IMO they could care less about your credentials. They want someone who looks good with a great humorous disposition and motivates them. IF, that is IF you are after the money and not the gym scene etc. But even if you are into the gym scene then you could get those clients outta the house and into the gym just after a few sessions I bet. This is how you could get some cash flowing for your upstart and then go from there.

that is good. But the hardest part is to find those people. Marketing and referrals are going to be the biggest part.
Also you have to have some equipment to be able to bring to their homes since they probably dont have anything

[dec11]

that is good. But the hardest part is to find those people. Marketing and referrals are going to be the biggest part.
Also you have to have some equipment to be able to bring to their homes since they probably dont have anything

yep, or id be doing it right now

[dec11]

im at a crossroads at the moment after getting the boot from yet another crappy door job, im seriously considering going back to the PT game but the stress of building up clients is daunting me somewhat. im at assistant leisure manager level but cant get my feet in the door anywhere and cant face going into accountancy again

if only i could get paid for being an internet PT lol. i could be on the same track as you soon AWMS!!

[SlimmerMe]

im at a crossroads at the moment after getting the boot from yet another crappy door job, im seriously considering going back to the PT game but the stress of building up clients is daunting me somewhat. im at assistant leisure manager level but cant get my feet in the door anywhere and cant face going into accountancy again

if only i could get paid for being an internet PT lol. i could be on the same track as you soon AWMS!!

I bet a huge market for this....

[dec11]

I bet a huge market for this....

id think the scam artists would have it covered lol

wouldnt be the easiest thing to do, its not exactly tangible