View Full Version : How Many Clients A Week
How many clients do you see in a week?
One trainer told me that 20 a week was max if you had to travel to their homes.
Also, what hours are you typically training?
I've heards lots of work from 5-7 AM . . . then slow . . . then it gets busy again from 5-9 PM.
By the way, I'm in Central Texas. Average fee in this area appears to be in the $50-60 range. Active Duty soldiers usually get an hour for $25.
mydamnself
06-11-2008, 12:17 PM
I generally try not to go over 25 hrs. a week, as if I do I find I'm too busy to study. You need to make your clients work with your schedule, not the other way around. You define the times you work in. Part of this is becoming skilled enough that people see the value in what you do, without question. If a trainer is jumping through hoops to accomodate a client's schedule, often the client will see this as the trainer no being in demand.
It's good that you give soldier's a discount, but that could quickly eat into your business. I would set that up as small group sessions 2-3 at the regular rate. This way they're stil getting a deal, and you're staying in business.
NDame616
06-11-2008, 01:32 PM
Do semi private training. Train two people at once, and make about 70% more money. My gym is going to let me train independantly and pay rent, and I'm gonna have all my clients pay about $35 a session....but they are paired with someone else. So, I'm gonna average over $70 an hour.
Do semi private training. Train two people at once, and make about 70% more money. My gym is going to let me train independantly and pay rent, and I'm gonna have all my clients pay about $35 a session....but they are paired with someone else. So, I'm gonna average over $70 an hour.
Sounds great . . . how many hours will you be able to fit in during the week?
nickmanzoni
06-11-2008, 05:45 PM
I train roughly 25-30 hours a week. That's 25-30 client hours.
My day starts at 10:30 am, a lull at 2-4 then 5-8. I don't work fridays saturdays or sundays.... yay me.
I get the seniors/independently wealthy types in the am, and the 9-5 grinders in the evening. I have 3 home clients I train on slower days.
my rates slide for the person's job type/ senior citizen discount (which I do give) So I charge anywhere from 45-85 an hour. My home clients are 40-50 cash an hour.
I train roughly 25-30 hours a week. That's 25-30 client hours.
My day starts at 10:30 am, a lull at 2-4 then 5-8. I don't work fridays saturdays or sundays.... yay me.
I get the seniors/independently wealthy types in the am, and the 9-5 grinders in the evening. I have 3 home clients I train on slower days.
my rates slide for the person's job type/ senior citizen discount (which I do give) So I charge anywhere from 45-85 an hour. My home clients are 40-50 cash an hour.
Congratulations, sounds like a good living!
One thing I like about becoming a Trainer is the ability to be independent. I don't know how to get there yet but I know ultimately that's the route I want to take.
nickmanzoni
06-11-2008, 07:39 PM
Congratulations, sounds like a good living!
One thing I like about becoming a Trainer is the ability to be independent. I don't know how to get there yet but I know ultimately that's the route I want to take.
Here is a good rule I've learned the hard way:
take the number of clients you have at your gym now.
Divide that by 4. That's the amount of clients that will follow you.
NDame616
06-11-2008, 07:41 PM
Sounds great . . . how many hours will you be able to fit in during the week?
Fit in and have to train are two different thing :)
It looks like I'm going to be the part owner of a huge chain of gyms, so it should make me 300K or so a year as a silent investor. i'm onyl gonna train 8-10 hours a week then.
nickmanzoni
06-11-2008, 07:56 PM
Fit in and have to train are two different thing :)
It looks like I'm going to be the part owner of a huge chain of gyms, so it should make me 300K or so a year as a silent investor. i'm onyl gonna train 8-10 hours a week then.
How old are you?
Fit in and have to train are two different thing :)
It looks like I'm going to be the part owner of a huge chain of gyms, so it should make me 300K or so a year as a silent investor. i'm onyl gonna train 8-10 hours a week then.
Congrats... What chain?
NDame616
06-12-2008, 05:56 AM
I'm 25.
I can't give out details like the chain and locations until it's finalized. Location won't be public until signage goes up at the spot (if the nearby gyms found out we were going there, they would offer killer deals to grab membersbefore we can)
nickmanzoni
06-12-2008, 06:17 AM
I'm 25.
I can't give out details like the chain and locations until it's finalized. Location won't be public until signage goes up at the spot (if the nearby gyms found out we were going there, they would offer killer deals to grab membersbefore we can)
How long have you been personal training?
NDame616
06-12-2008, 07:42 AM
About 3 years.
Fit in and have to train are two different thing :)
It looks like I'm going to be the part owner of a huge chain of gyms, so it should make me 300K or so a year as a silent investor. i'm onyl gonna train 8-10 hours a week then.
Uhh . . . are you hiring?
Seriously . . . Congratulations!
nickmanzoni
06-12-2008, 01:17 PM
About 3 years.
Something doesn't add up.
You've been personal training for 'about' three years. You're nasm cert'd
you're now a 'silent partner' in a new chain of gyms and will be making 300k a year.
and you post this:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=654684
and this:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=710052
If someone were to put your story on paper, and tried to sell it PLUS a year supply of gasoline for 5 dollars....I still wouldn't buy it.
Code_B
06-12-2008, 02:21 PM
Something doesn't add up.
You've been personal training for 'about' three years. You're nasm cert'd
you're now a 'silent partner' in a new chain of gyms and will be making 300k a year.
and you post this:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=654684
and this:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=710052
If someone were to put your story on paper, and tried to sell it PLUS a year supply of gasoline for 5 dollars....I still wouldn't buy it.
His family could just be rich. I'm assuming he went to Notre Dame by his username and that place aint cheap. But yeah seems weird to me too.
NDame616
06-12-2008, 02:24 PM
Wow Nick, you really have it out for me! You're digging up posts I made in 2005. Ha! That's cute.
I've been certified since February of 06. I was informally training people prior to that (probably a no no in retrospect). In fact, I have to get my CPR re-newed because my extension period for my NASM ends in early July. If you want, I can send you a copy of my cert. Let me know?
And I didn't say I was the silent partner at a chain. I said it was in the works. Nothing in final yet. If you prove to someone you're a good worker, and you're looking to invest a ton of money into a gym, they will listen!
If the deal goes through, I'll gladly e-mail you the business agreement, LLC set up, the days Boston Globe, and my smiling face :)
Some people are just haters...
nickmanzoni
06-12-2008, 03:23 PM
His family could just be rich. I'm assuming he went to Notre Dame by his username and that place aint cheap. But yeah seems weird to me too.
Yeah, I would say so too.
I mean, despite how long this kid has been training and has been a trainer, it ticks me off when people anonymously spout what "should" and "shouldn't" be as far as working in the personal training field.
NDame616
06-12-2008, 03:31 PM
I know enough to know trainers shouldn't use machines :)
I've spent tons of time studying under the best trainers in the industry. So I have more to learn, sure. But I think I'm doing well so far!
I know enough to know trainers shouldn't use machines :)
I've spent tons of time studying under the best trainers in the industry. So I have more to learn, sure. But I think I'm doing well so far!
OK, I'll take the bait.
"the best trainers in the industry" . . . such as and how did you manage to work for them.
I've approached several via e-mail and all have blown me off.
(Must be my charming personality.)
NDame616
06-12-2008, 06:53 PM
No, it must be i met them at the Ryan Lee Bootcamp, I started a fitness mastermind group that had alwyn as a guest speaker (I have the F'n audio on my laptop...) and I've talked to these people.
By study under them, I mean I've read every article/blog they've ever written, bought their ebooks, seen them in seminars, planning to see them in other seminars, aligned myself with friends of theirs, etc.
I consider Alwyn Cosgrove the best trainer in the industry when it comes to fat loss. He owns a studio in CA, and is a genius. He oversees, I think, 30,000 programs a year. You think you're a good trainer? Have a five minute discussion with him and he'll make you feel differently. If I said to him "I've read all your stuff since 2006. I met you at the Ryan Lee Bootcamp. I would love to fly out to CA and see you in person, and see you in action....." he would let me.
Same with Mike Boyle, who is THE coach when it comes to athletes. Being a random dude e-mailing them is one thing. I've met, directly and indirectly, these men.
Learn something:
Alwyn Cosgrove's blog: http://alwyncosgrove.blogspot.com/
For you lazy folks, articles here: http://www.alwyncosgrove.com/Articles.html
If you have one hour and you can read everything, it will change your life. Yes, he pitches products, whatever he wants a living. He also gives out A LOT of information.
Mike Boyle's free articles:
http://www.strengthcoach.com/public/department51.cfm
He's a science geek. He's about 5 foot 6 and a buck fifty soaking wet. And he knows more science about athletes then anyone in the world.
These two men are gods when it comes to health and fitness. There's them....and everyone else.
Also, read t-nation.com. They both write on there. There's actually some good stuff there....depending on your goals.
Shucks, now you've made me want to fly out to see Alwyn!
No, it must be i met them at the Ryan Lee Bootcamp, I started a fitness mastermind group that had alwyn as a guest speaker (I have the F'n audio on my laptop...) and I've talked to these people.
By study under them, I mean I've read every article/blog they've ever written, bought their ebooks, seen them in seminars, planning to see them in other seminars, aligned myself with friends of theirs, etc.
I consider Alwyn Cosgrove the best trainer in the industry when it comes to fat loss. He owns a studio in CA, and is a genius. He oversees, I think, 30,000 programs a year. You think you're a good trainer? Have a five minute discussion with him and he'll make you feel differently. If I said to him "I've read all your stuff since 2006. I met you at the Ryan Lee Bootcamp. I would love to fly out to CA and see you in person, and see you in action....." he would let me.
Same with Mike Boyle, who is THE coach when it comes to athletes. Being a random dude e-mailing them is one thing. I've met, directly and indirectly, these men.
Learn something:
Alwyn Cosgrove's blog: http://alwyncosgrove.blogspot.com/
For you lazy folks, articles here: http://www.alwyncosgrove.com/Articles.html
If you have one hour and you can read everything, it will change your life. Yes, he pitches products, whatever he wants a living. He also gives out A LOT of information.
Mike Boyle's free articles:
http://www.strengthcoach.com/public/department51.cfm
He's a science geek. He's about 5 foot 6 and a buck fifty soaking wet. And he knows more science about athletes then anyone in the world.
These two men are gods when it comes to health and fitness. There's them....and everyone else.
Also, read t-nation.com. They both write on there. There's actually some good stuff there....depending on your goals.
Shucks, now you've made me want to fly out to see Alwyn!
Well, that's actually pretty good avice, it sounds like.
I don't even have a certification; just looking into this from a career standpoint. I've approached a couple of guys about "mentoring" me into the business and have gotten nowhere. I suppose they get asked that about 20-30 times a week. Or like I said . . . could just be my charming personality isn't working.
So READING and STUDYING what they say (I suppose) is a good second-best.
No question in my mind that the cert is only a very basic first step and the learning will come later.
Thanks
carl.c
06-13-2008, 11:00 AM
Ndame616: Me thinks somethign stinks about your story or you have a problem with exsateration. You first say you studied unders the best in the industry, yet your reply to the challenge is you have read their material and gone to seminairs. Sorry but thats not studying under.
20-25 for me. I have 2 good trainers who do 15-30 a week.
It's easy to find clients, but hard as heck to find good trainers
1 is just ISSA certified, and other is AFAA and ISSA certified. Very good trainers!
NDame616
06-13-2008, 12:23 PM
Ndame616: Me thinks somethign stinks about your story or you have a problem with exsateration. You first say you studied unders the best in the industry, yet your reply to the challenge is you have read their material and gone to seminairs. Sorry but thats not studying under.
...is that English?
I've met, talked to, watched in action, seen in person, had phone conversations with, read the products of, read every blog and article written by, and copied the training philopsphy of....the best in the country. Is that ok?
God, some people.....
My original statement: "I've spent tons of time studying under the best trainers in the industry." I guess I considered "studing under" to mean what I just stated above...and stated before.
nickmanzoni
06-13-2008, 12:52 PM
...is that English?
I've met, talked to, watched in action, seen in person, had phone conversations with, read the products of, read every blog and article written by, and copied the training philopsphy of....the best in the country. Is that ok?
God, some people.....
My original statement: "I've spent tons of time studying under the best trainers in the industry." I guess I considered "studing under" to mean what I just stated above...and stated before.
your boy alwyn has a pornstar as a girl posing in a cheerleader outfit in his articles link you posted.
Now I am not above knowing a pornstar, but is THAT the image an all around best trainer in the world should be doing???
I doubt he got a release from her...
NDame616
06-13-2008, 01:03 PM
"my boy" alwyn writes for t-nation. Some of those articles, pictures and all, were taken directly from the site. As a matter of fact, now that I'm looking at his site, it probably redirected you to t-nation.
go to www.t-nation.com and you'll see some of the pix they have on many of their articles. Some of them are actually pretty funny.
Oh, and here are the magazines hes been in . http://www.alwyncosgrove.com/magazine-articles.html
I think he knows his stuff.
nickmanzoni
06-13-2008, 01:11 PM
"my boy" alwyn writes for t-nation. Some of those articles, pictures and all, were taken directly from the site. As a matter of fact, now that I'm looking at his site, it probably redirected you to t-nation.
go to www.t-nation.com and you'll see some of the pix they have on many of their articles. Some of them are actually pretty funny.
Oh, and here are the magazines hes been in . http://www.alwyncosgrove.com/magazine-articles.html
I think he knows his stuff.
Everything he has written that I had access to is pretty much common knowledge (to me), he has pretty much the same concepts in training as I do. BUT: I'm not a pompus ass about it.
And guess what, I think it's a direct quote from him: "PAPER AND PENCIL PROGRAMS
There are some people out there who write programs/articles that are absolutely ****. They are so desperate to see their name in print that they come up with fictional garbage just to sound cool. Just because it looks good on paper, doesn't mean it will work worth a **** in real life."
Which basically means as paraphrase: anyone can write something and can get it published. I refer you to 90% of bb.com's main page articles, and 99% of yahoo.com health articles.
NDame616
06-13-2008, 01:24 PM
Are you really comparing someone who gets on this website to someone who has a monthly feature in dozens of magazines? OK.
And I'm glad that you know most of the stuff he writes. It makes sense to me too. however, if you've been doing this for awhile you gotta know that there's tons of ****ty trainers out there. Doesn't sound like your one of them. But do you think the "average" trainer who lazily walks his overweight client around doing bicep curls and tricep kickbacks in a 3 sets of ten with 1 minute of rest between sets knows this stuff?
You seem like you know your stuff, and that's good. The world needs good PTs. However, you have to admit, 90% of the trainers in the world do not use theories like Alwyn.
nickmanzoni
06-13-2008, 01:28 PM
Are you really comparing someone who gets on this website to someone who has a monthly feature in dozens of magazines? OK.
And I'm glad that you know most of the stuff he writes. It makes sense to me too. however, if you've been doing this for awhile you gotta know that there's tons of ****ty trainers out there. Doesn't sound like your one of them. But do you think the "average" trainer who lazily walks his overweight client around doing bicep curls and tricep kickbacks in a 3 sets of ten with 1 minute of rest between sets knows this stuff?
You seem like you know your stuff, and that's good. The world needs good PTs. However, you have to admit, 90% of the trainers in the world do not use theories like Alwyn.
I agree.
I couldn't agree more. And no, I don't compare alwyn to bb.com article writers.
But you can see where I'm coming from. Let's agree to disagree about machines in their place for routines, and let's agree that most of the trainers we'll ever meet are just totally inadequate.
carl.c
06-14-2008, 12:43 PM
NDame616: To say you have studied under someone is to suggest you have direct instruction form them in person. I study ripptoes, ploiquin and defrancos programs and training philosophies, yet I would never claim to have studied under then.
As far as your ****ty trainers coment, the sad truth is you are right.
dcw3672
06-14-2008, 02:45 PM
I absolutely have to agree about doing "semi-personal" training. If you want to make decent money in this business - you HAVE to train 2-3 people at a time. The only exception are the big time trainers in Hollywood that can charge $150/hour......but obviously there are not many of those.
If I had to do it over again, I would just start out doing NOTHING BUT 2-3 at a time. I'm the busiest trainer at my gym, but I get totally burned out training 45-50 hours per week.
I'm now moving everyone over to semi-personal but it takes some time and you will lose some clients. They get used to the one-on-one and they do not like the change. But if you start that way from the beginning - they wouldn't know any better.