Is this a scummy business practice?

[etherHATESether]

From what I've heard, a lot of independent trainers will basically make a deal with gym/studio owners, where the trainer will either pay monthly rent or pay X amount of money per client trained. Totally legit.

However, I know a trainer that kind of foregos any kind of agreement with the owner. The trainer will sign up for a membership and proceed to independently recruit clients within the gym, with the gym obviously not receiving a cut. Is this legit or foul-play?

[Cdt_Richards]

From what I've heard, a lot of independent trainers will basically make a deal with gym/studio owners, where the trainer will either pay monthly rent or pay X amount of money per client trained. Totally legit.

However, I know a trainer that kind of foregos any kind of agreement with the owner. The trainer will sign up for a membership and proceed to independently recruit clients within the gym, with the gym obviously not receiving a cut. Is this legit or foul

-play?

Depends on the gym. If it its in their actual specific policy that you pay, then it is very foul play. If nothing is legally set in done, its fair game

[Footballa_19]

I have never seen a gym that openly allows PT going on without some kind of cut from it. You are direct competition, using their equipment. I have to tell guys trying to train in the gym I work at that they can't do that all the time. Never had anyone get upset over it, but I always recommend talking to the gym owners. It is more professional from a business point of view and sometimes just asking and showing that respect to small business owners will get you a good deal or free gym use (as long as your client gets a membership or something for example).

[etherHATESether]

I have never seen a gym that openly allows PT going on without some kind of cut from it. You are direct competition, using their equipment. I have to tell guys trying to train in the gym I work at that they can't do that all the time. Never had anyone get upset over it, but I always recommend talking to the gym owners. It is more professional from a business point of view and sometimes just asking and showing that respect to small business owners will get you a good deal or free gym use (as long as your client gets a membership or something for example).

Repped.

So, I guess if you want full access to a gym facility as an independent contractor, interfacing with the owner is a must. Generally you want to bring in your own clients, that way you're not stepping on the toes of the in-house training staff?

[Footballa_19]

Repped.

So, I guess if you want full access to a gym facility as an independent contractor, interfacing with the owner is a must. Generally you want to bring in your own clients, that way you're not stepping on the toes of the in-house training staff?

Exactly, it's just a business thing.

[IAVA31]

Foul

[cdurflinger]

It is completely all game unless there are rules printed in your membership agreement discouraging this. I believe that all gym's should get a cut of your training or at lease require your clients to be a member before you train them. I would strongly recommend talking to the owner before you try to train someone though. When you get called out on in front of a client you just might lose that client because they think that you are unprofessional and not to mention you may have just embarrassed them.

[WoofieNugget]

Repped.

So, I guess if you want full access to a gym facility as an independent contractor, interfacing with the owner is a must. Generally you want to bring in your own clients, that way you're not stepping on the toes of the in-house training staff?

Yes. And the owners will not let you do it unless they are the type of place that allows outside trainers, which is very rare.

If you know a trainer that gets a membership and then recruits clients at that gym, he's either training them somewhere else or the people who run that gym are really stupid. At most gyms if you were spotted/overheard recruiting clients as an independent trainer you would get kicked out and membership revoked pretty fast.