Private Training-- in a gym

[JG4JC2105]

What is needed to train privately?

I'm considering going out on my own because the gym is taking over 60% of my clients pay. I'm relatively new in training but have several prospective immediate clients that would love to train with me privately. I think I need to have private insurance but don't know much about it. Please Help.

Joe G

[bigfrog]

You need a lot of stuff. Insurance is just a small piece. You need equipment, a place (unless you contract). You'll need business name. LLC. Licenses etc. There's a lot involved. All the right forms.

Don't let all discourage you though. Going independent was best choice I ever made. Took work, but well worth it...

[Takuan]

my gym takes 75% of mine.

[notsostrong]

Originally Posted by bigfrog

You need a lot of stuff. Insurance is just a small piece. You need equipment, a place (unless you contract). You'll need business name. LLC. Licenses etc. There's a lot involved. All the right forms.

Don't let all discourage you though. Going independent was best choice I ever made. Took work, but well worth it...

could you please go into more detail. i am not a personal trainer but i am very interested in the "going independent" part of personal training and all the work that needs to be done.

[Rap_Rocky]

Damn @ 75%?!

I'd go to the police station and file a rape incident for that.

[dave134]

Originally Posted by notsostrong

could you please go into more detail. i am not a personal trainer but i am very interested in the "going independent" part of personal training and all the work that needs to be done.

There's no requirement to be an LLC, just a good idea long term....to get started ASAP just get the insurance and you are good to go.

[CSmit724]

Originally Posted by Rap_Rocky

Damn @ 75%?!

I'd go to the police station and file a rape incident for that.

I worked in a place once that charged $100 for a session with a trainer and the trainer saw $20. Needless to say I didn't work there long.

[DontSleep]

Originally Posted by dave134

There's no requirement to be an LLC, just a good idea long term....to get started ASAP just get the insurance and you are good to go.

Yeah this is why I would suggest for the time being. You definitely need insurance. Check with your certification company to see if they can refer you to a good insurance company. Thats what my certification company did.

Like the above quote said, the LLC is something to consider in the future though. Especially if you plan to do this long term. It will help you in terms of taxable income and it protects your personnal assets in the event you were ever sued, unlike a sole proprietorship. (Hopefully that will never happen but its always smart to CYA!) Bu then you need to think about, waivers, will you accept credit cards or cash only, rent/lease, etc...

Another thing is to invest in a business plan. Though I will be running my own PT company in my basement or garage (so I am not looking for any investors, which is a large reason for a business plan) it really opens your eyes to what it will take (patience, scrifice, commitment, etc...) to run your own studio. It is a guided map that will let you know in what direction you have to go through to be your own boss!

A good book that will help you with writing a business plan is "The ABC's of Writing Business Plans", by Garrett Sutton, ESQ who is a corporate attorney. It is part of the Richdad Poor Dad Series owned by Robert Kiyosaki.

[JG4JC2105]

Originally Posted by DontSleep

Yeah this is why I would suggest for the time being. You definitely need insurance. Check with your certification company to see if they can refer you to a good insurance company. Thats what my certification company did.

Like the above quote said, the LLC is something to consider in the future though. Especially if you plan to do this long term. It will help you in terms of taxable income and it protects your personnal assets in the event you were ever sued, unlike a sole proprietorship. (Hopefully that will never happen but its always smart to CYA!) Bu then you need to think about, waivers, will you accept credit cards or cash only, rent/lease, etc...

Another thing is to invest in a business plan. Though I will be running my own PT company in my basement or garage (so I am not looking for any investors, which is a large reason for a business plan) it really opens your eyes to what it will take (patience, scrifice, commitment, etc...) to run your own studio. It is a guided map that will let you know in what direction you have to go through to be your own boss!

A good book that will help you with writing a business plan is "The ABC's of Writing Business Plans", by Garrett Sutton, ESQ who is a corporate attorney. It is part of the Richdad Poor Dad Series owned by Robert Kiyosaki.

few things... what is an LLC?

and basically, what i NEED is private insurance and i'm good to go??

[dshinton]

Originally Posted by JG4JC2105

few things... what is an LLC?

LLC stands for Limited Liability Company. Essentially, it allows you to separate your business from your personal life. This is a good idea because if you hurt someone you train, they sue your company and not you, which limits your liability for paying damages out of your own pocket. There are also tax advantages as well: depreciating equipment, deducting mileage, deducting CEC expenses, etc.

Originally Posted by JG4JC2105

and basically, what i NEED is private insurance and i'm good to go??

I would say you need the following items as the bare minimum:

1. Personal Trainer insurance (You can call ISSA or look on http://www.issatrainer.com to see who ISSA recommends as an insurance provider)
2. An informed consent waiver
3. A physicians release form
4. A PAR-Q form
5. Adult CPR/AED certification

[bigfrog]

Originally Posted by notsostrong

could you please go into more detail. i am not a personal trainer but i am very interested in the "going independent" part of personal training and all the work that needs to be done.

Um, I'd get certified first if I were you.

As for running/owning a business, you'll need state regulations, bylaws, licenses. Insurance, the LLC, Budget plans, advertising etc. Equipment, lease/rent space if needed.

Even if it's a franchise you'll need this stuff with the llc exception.

If you went the direct marketing route (which I do as well for a 2nd income stream) you won't need a lot of this stuff as it's already provided.

[MVP]

Originally Posted by JG4JC2105

What is needed to train privately?

I'm considering going out on my own because the gym is taking over 60% of my clients pay. I'm relatively new in training but have several prospective immediate clients that would love to train with me privately. I think I need to have private insurance but don't know much about it. Please Help.

Joe G

Going independent, you will need insurance. You'll need to decide if you're going to work out of a private studio, your garage, their place, or outdoors.

It doesn't get crazy until you lease a spot and are actually running a business. This is down the road, if you feel you will be in this business for the long haul. It's well worth it, and it's the best accomplishment a trainer can do, business wise

[mikeylhc]

ON ANOTHER NOTE


If training on your own, but want to use a commercial gym for some training sessions, how would you go about doing that? Do they just charge you a usage fee?

[DoItUp]

Originally Posted by CSmit724

I worked in a place once that charged $100 for a session with a trainer and the trainer saw $20. Needless to say I didn't work there long.

thats actually not a bad place to be if you're looking to break off independantly. Once you build up your clientel you break off and charge the clients 80-90 bucks an hour. the client save 10-20 dollars and you ame 80-90 dollars. The only downside is that you have to stay with the gym long enough to build up your clientel

[dasixthsun]

Originally Posted by JG4JC2105

What is needed to train privately?

I'm considering going out on my own because the gym is taking over 60% of my clients pay. I'm relatively new in training but have several prospective immediate clients that would love to train with me privately. I think I need to have private insurance but don't know much about it. Please Help.

Joe G

where at in nj are you located? i just seen some decent stuff on craigslist if you are in the south jersey area.

[JG4JC2105]

Originally Posted by dasixthsun

where at in nj are you located? i just seen some decent stuff on craigslist if you are in the south jersey area.

hey- down in south jersey in the mays landing area!

[unauthorized]

Speaking of insurance

Do you know there are many independent trainers, that do not carry insurance?
Do you know there are many independent trainers, who don't have the piece of paper that says "certified personal trainer"

What does this tell you?

[jules_d1]

Originally Posted by unauthorized

Speaking of insurance

Do you know there are many independent trainers, that do not carry insurance?
Do you know there are many independent trainers, who don't have the piece of paper that says "certified personal trainer"

What does this tell you?

its tells me there are many independent trainers, that do not carry insurance and there are many independent trainers, who don't have the piece of paper that says "certified personal trainer"

[Cheftepesh]

look in your area for a gum that offers you a rent to pay where your a private vendor or look for a Fitness Together where you are paid be the session

[John Prophet]

Originally Posted by JG4JC2105

What is needed to train privately?

I'm considering going out on my own because the gym is taking over 60% of my clients pay. I'm relatively new in training but have several prospective immediate clients that would love to train with me privately. I think I need to have private insurance but don't know much about it. Please Help.

Joe G

probably the best thing to do is call your city business licensing office and just ask them whatever you need to know. You could find out the particulars of either training people at their home or at yours. (at least as far as licensing goes).

for instance, where I live you can run a business out of your home as long as you just have 1 client there at a time.

another approach is to find someone who is already doing it and ask them how they got started