Ask a "successful" personal trainer/small business owner anything

[SageFit]

You mentioned you got assistance from some wealthy clients, but how much of the cost for your first place did you put up yourself? Or how long did it take you work up to this point? Was this always your goal or one you realized while PTing

The assistance was through education, not monetary. I put it all up myself.

I realized it while Pting, originally I was supposed to be a veterinarian.

[Lanithroe]

I wanted to take the time to thank you for posting an awesome thread like this. Please keep up the good work brother!

I want to take this opportunity to allow for any questions you guys may have pertaining to the business of personal training. This thread is not to brag but rather give out any information I can to help fellow enthusiasts. Some background of my self and experience.

BS Nutrition and Exercise Physiology
ACSM PT
ISSA Fitness Nutrition

I opened my first personal training studio in New York in 2009 and it quickly became a staple in the area. We now personal train over 200 active clients and do over 15000 sessions a years at $30 per 30 minutes, not even counting group classes.

Recently I opened my second facility around 15 minutes away and took to small groups of 1-10 people in a very unique setup.

I am 27 years old.

I feel as though I approached the business of training successfully and thus would like to pass on anything i've learned along the way as I know many of you have hopes of achieving something similar and I just want you all to know it IS possible. You don't have to be stuck making under 70k as a trainer.

Any questions you have please don't hesitate to ask.

If you would like to see my facilities you can go to www.sagefit.com and get an idea of the types of places we're talking about. They're a little posh, not necessarily bodybuilding, but they work and they work well.

[rockangel]

The assistance was through education, not monetary. I put it all up myself.

I realized it while Pting, originally I was supposed to be a veterinarian.

Did you go to school for vet?

My original degree was Animal Science/pre vet, and I find a lot of cross overs from that into training.

[Zody]

how important is a fitness website for a personal trainer? Considering it is important, should it be given to a professional person who is capable of building a nice professional website OR should I just create it myself with say wordpress? Also, I'm on a low budget.

How important is marketing? I am a 1:1 trainer and I train people at their homes and apartments. But finding clients is becoming really hard. I've sent out many fliers, but dint get any response from them. Any help would be appreciate. Great thread btw!

[AdamT93]

Hi, I'm currently studying for my PT qualification and my final exams are in May and I should hopefully be starting work at a local gym around June.

I was just wondering how you found the first few weeks of being a personal trainer, was it daunting going up and speaking to members of the gym?

And what would you say was the best way to start getting a client base from scratch?

How did you approach potential clients in the gym?

Any advice would be great, thanks alot

[rjm522]

SageFit - first off thanks for putting up a thread like this and answering questions. I have a few that I would like your input on:

1. I have no certifications, which one should I start with and should I get more than one?
2. While I have over 20 years of sales and management experience I have ho personal trainer experience or health club/gym experience outside of being a member. Where should I apply for that first part time PT position? Will a company hire me while I am obtaining the certification or do I have to have it in had in order to get a job? I have LA Fitness, Lifetime Fitness and a few other franchise gyms in my area.
3. The trainers I have seen at my gym are young....20's to 30's.....I am 47 yrs old. Will age be a barrier in this field?

Ultimately I would like to replace my current income with a career in the fitness industry.....a total life and employment change for me. I feel the first step to getting there will be certification and experience as a PT.

Any/all information suggestions you have would be great. I live in Metro Atlanta Georgia if that matters.

[dailob]

have you thought of expanding to other boroughs?

[Teethatyourfeet]

Not sure if this has been asked, but what do you see as becoming the next big "thing" for the fitness industry? Do you see youself getting another cert aside form your PT and nutrition?

I know CrossFit is huge around here, so plenty of trainers are looking into that. Personally, I've been reading of myofascial stretching and corrective exercises.

[justinslayer]

Good topic

For me:
I started small and grew. Opened up with about $15-$20k. I purchased all used equipment. I went commercial since rent was much cheaper and will never go retail. I have 0 employees. I have 4 independent trainers, and 4 independent group instructors. All pay me rent to use my facility. They each pay $300/month, and my rent is $1500/month.They cover all my rent, utilities and then some. Everything i make is profit, and i offer groups myself. I have a 2500sqft facility, 1 room and the warehouse. I personally see about 21 people a day at 10 hours of training. Business is about money in vs money out. I don't spend much money, except maybe an upgraded piece of equipment or so.

I use to buy into all the marketing hype, buy this, buy that. Not anymore. Everything is pretty much word of mouth, and i have a couple attractive females as sign flippers every now and then. This brings in ALOT of traffic. I don't have the headache of dealing with employees. I live very well

If you want to make real money in this business, Group training is where the money is. Train less, make more. Eventually you will get burned out training 12+ hours a day. I speak from exp. My place doesn't look like Las Vegas or a resort. It's a waste of money. My facility is a training facility, where people come to lose weight, fat and get stronger.

[thegeneralpubli]

This is a lot of awesome information. Thanks.

[JohnSmeton]

Good topic

For me:
I started small and grew. Opened up with about $15-$20k. I purchased all used equipment. I went commercial since rent was much cheaper and will never go retail. I have 0 employees. I have 4 independent trainers, and 4 independent group instructors. All pay me rent to use my facility. They each pay $300/month, and my rent is $1500/month.They cover all my rent, utilities and then some. Everything i make is profit, and i offer groups myself. I have a 2500sqft facility, 1 room and the warehouse. I personally see about 21 people a day at 10 hours of training. Business is about money in vs money out. I don't spend much money, except maybe an upgraded piece of equipment or so.

I use to buy into all the marketing hype, buy this, buy that. Not anymore. Everything is pretty much word of mouth, and i have a couple attractive females as sign flippers every now and then. This brings in ALOT of traffic. I don't have the headache of dealing with employees. I live very well

If you want to make real money in this business, Group training is where the money is. Train less, make more. Eventually you will get burned out training 12+ hours a day. I speak from exp. My place doesn't look like Las Vegas or a resort. It's a waste of money. My facility is a training facility, where people come to lose weight, fat and get stronger.

very good advice

[JohnSmeton]

what would you recommend for someone like me who is starting from scratch independently zero clients?

I have personal training cards, one client success story with pictures, a free google website, and I have a gym to train out of

I promioe on fb sometimes and ask people sometimes however people are stretchy since I am not known

I offer introduction deals like 5 sessions for 97$ and if you're not satisfied in my sservices full money back guarantee

The gym i workout at, I am not allowed to talk to people about my services because its competition and they wont let me train there (the Y) so i stuck a deal with another gym that i dont train at, that'll let me bring clients in to train there as long as they get the clients membership

I dont want to be an employee

[SFT]

Good topic

For me:
I started small and grew. Opened up with about $15-$20k. I purchased all used equipment. I went commercial since rent was much cheaper and will never go retail. I have 0 employees. I have 4 independent trainers, and 4 independent group instructors. All pay me rent to use my facility. They each pay $300/month, and my rent is $1500/month.They cover all my rent, utilities and then some. Everything i make is profit, and i offer groups myself. I have a 2500sqft facility, 1 room and the warehouse. I personally see about 21 people a day at 10 hours of training. Business is about money in vs money out. I don't spend much money, except maybe an upgraded piece of equipment or so.

I use to buy into all the marketing hype, buy this, buy that. Not anymore. Everything is pretty much word of mouth, and i have a couple attractive females as sign flippers every now and then. This brings in ALOT of traffic. I don't have the headache of dealing with employees. I live very well

If you want to make real money in this business, Group training is where the money is. Train less, make more. Eventually you will get burned out training 12+ hours a day. I speak from exp. My place doesn't look like Las Vegas or a resort. It's a waste of money. My facility is a training facility, where people come to lose weight, fat and get stronger.

Congratulations on doing well in the business. I do see the debate of hiring employees versus independent contractors frequently. In your case, it seems to be working out well for you. What I was thinking is that some day you might not want to train people anymore, or might want to step back into more of a managerial or leadership role. This is what I am thinking anyways. Sure, you could probably do okay with reduced hours, but who knows if the independent trainers will be around forever.

I've been thinking this through myself because I will be starting up within the month.

[arian11]

what would you recommend for someone like me who is starting from scratch independently zero clients?

I'm interested to hear thoughts on this as well. Does anyone think providing free sessions would be a good idea? And I'm not talking like 1 free session. Maybe like give them 4 weeks free sessions so they can start seeing a bit of progress. Then if they stay with you, great you have a paying client now. If they don't stay with you, you can use the progress they made as a "success" story when advertising to bring in other clients.

Congratulations on doing well in the business. I do see the debate of hiring employees versus independent contractors frequently. In your case, it seems to be working out well for you. What I was thinking is that some day you might not want to train people anymore, or might want to step back into more of a managerial or leadership role. This is what I am thinking anyways. Sure, you could probably do okay with reduced hours, but who knows if the independent trainers will be around forever.

I've been thinking this through myself because I will be starting up within the month.

You can keep independent trainers around if you provide them things they can't get anywhere and make it into a family. The local gym I was going to in Oklahoma is owned by 2 people and they have about 5 independent trainers. They all stay around because they became friends, put on gym competitions with their clients going against each other, they set up gym shindigs like Thanksgiving party or something. Also, the gym owners let them advertise well. One of the trainers has been there for awhile and has a set of bodybuilding clients who compete, so now on the front window they let him advertise "Team ConVinced" for his team. Even if he can get a slightly better deal on rent at another gym sometime in the future, it will probably be too much effort to move clients there, get in good with the new owners, and get the same type of advertising there. What they have going here is too good to ever leave.

[JohnSmeton]

I'm interested to hear thoughts on this as well. Does anyone think providing free sessions would be a good idea? And I'm not talking like 1 free session. Maybe like give them 4 weeks free sessions so they can start seeing a bit of progress. Then if they stay with you, great you have a paying client now. If they don't stay with you, you can use the progress they made as a "success" story when advertising to bring in other clients.

dont give free sessions. I have personal trained before. do a free 30 min session to show them exercises and run though your rotuine on how youll progress though the program and try to sign them up

[GVM]

Somewhat of a shameless plug but I have done design work for successful trainers and a solid logo + brand identity is important. Feel free to send me a message. 10% Miscount's all around!

[SageFit]

Hey guys i've been a little backed up with work but i'll get on sometime soon to answer more questions.

[RevolutionFF]

Great thread Sage. I haven't the time to go through it all atm.

What would you say to a business owner, who sub lets space from another company in terms of local marketing? What is the best way to get into the local businesses and community to build brand awareness and in turn more sales?

I am currently at 10 hours a week, but need 20 hours before I start thinking about savings for my own site in the next few years.

[ForrestFitness1]

I might have to stop by your studio, I actually live in Astoria, Queens. I'm also a QC alumni too.

2 questions:
1. How is your time scheduled? Do you still spend time training clients and running classes or are you entirely behind the desk running the business?

2. Are you selling anything online through your site? Training, products, affiliate links, etc? Or do you find the storefront with training services to be the biggest source of revenue?

[sgtmom1]

I just launched my facebook site yesterday. I will be linking it to my bodyspace. I am not paying for ads they are not in the budget. I am looking to make a small income to offset the loss while my husband is down for surgery and his recovery. I have had my DBA for almost ten years now. Sole Proprietor. But have had issues with kids and my health recently that have not allowed me to expand it to full potential. But I have done a ton of pro-bono work Granted I am very rural at this point. But the farmers wives are willing to go to the gym, believe it or not.
When we purchased this property, we would first build the 5 car garage with living space above-2500 sf each.
Then later we would build our home to live and the upstairs would become my gym/studio/office. I would still have to have a space in the garage for tall equipment and outside too.
My equipment purchasing plan is watching the local air force base as they get rid of equipment. The fitness outlets here are good too. I am just down the road from ICON Fitness in Logan.
My Original overall plan had me doing Color and Image Analysis, Personal training, and working as a Master Herbalist with nutritional supplements. Here is the kicker that I decided, Anything I did could not have me in debt other than my Educational loans. All of my costs had to be zero overhead.
Love doing the Color and Image Analysis, my mentor said I was quite good, but I am really allergic to the makeup. If I can't wear how can I sell it?
So I have not done anything except for family with that for a bit.
Personal Training-Got my BS Exercise Sport Science-University of Utah 2000; NASM-CPT/PES-2004(was looking to work at a gym-we moved);
MS Health Promotion and Exercise Science: Emphasis Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention-California University of Pennsylvania-2005,
NASM-CES-2010. Sharecare.com cert-2010. dotFit.com cert 2012.
I am considering the NSCA-CSCS my BS was geared for that cert. My MS was geared to the PES, which I already had.
NASM now does the certification for life it is a good deal. They have several niche certifications now. I am considering some of those. My other option is to go work for a University sport program, a clinical setting, or just go strictly online for PT.
The Nutritional/Herbal end has come out to be my main source of self-care when I am sick. I am allergic to most, if not all binders in OTC meds and Rx meds. Most of mine are compounded and made so I can take them-it gets expensive real fast. Herbs are not a quick fix but take time to work. I am trying to save to money to get the Master herbalist. But I continue to read and learn constantly. I have added the element of essential oils (EO), Specifically doTERRA. I have used EOs off and on for years, but not with good results. ( That would take another post to explain.) When I started using doTERRA EOs, it is definitely different, my kids and husband actually reach for these EOs or ask which one do I use for and upset stomach. These products if you use them consistently and give them a chance they sell themselves. I believe alternative health care has it's place right next to orthodox medicine, both just need to be used wisely. Yes I was going to go to medical school, only needed 6 classes after my MS. BUT those kids are a priority-so no school.
That is my plan in a nutshell. I had to do the detailed one for my MS.

What I really enjoy is seeing people be successful and knowing I was able to help motivate them.
Thanks in advance. Any suggestions to improve on the above? I am still recovering from three surgeries so....