How to Start Your Own Personal Training Business
It’s not uncommon for personal trainers to want to start their own personal training business. Whether it be due to personal reasons, or they see a need in the market, there are many benefits that come with owning or starting a personal training business as opposed to working for someone else.
However, it is important that you consider all of the factors before starting this type of business so you can have success and avoid any liability if something goes wrong. In this post we will discuss how to start a personal training business, what types of business structure you can form, how much money you’ll need, insurance considerations and more!
According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, the Personal Trainer industry will experience a 15% growth between 2019 to 2029, adding 57,600 more trainers in a decade.
Structuring Your Personal Training Business
The first step is to define your niche
Consider what type of training you want to do in your personal training business – weight loss, bodybuilding, boxing, etc.
One of the first decisions you need to make as a independent personal trainer with their own busines is what type of clients do you want to work with? You’ll want it to be something that interests you for sure, like do you want to work with beginners, fitness enthusiasts or elite athletes.
What do you know about your competitors? Do they have a niche too or are they more general in their approach?
What if you actually aren’t trained yet on how to be a personal trainer let alone starting a personal training business? A good source for you then would be How to Become a Personal Trainer. Check that out, get your personal trainer certification and then come back here when you are ready to start your own business doing something you are passionate about.
Which is the best business model for you?
Do you want to offer training both online and in-person, or do you prefer just one of those options. A hybrid option would be great because it gives customers more freedom from where they can train with all their various schedules.
You may also like an online format if your goal as a trainer and coach is simply making money through coaching without having any overhead costs associated with running a brick-and-mortar gym such as rent, utilities, taxes etc.
With the global pandemic that is taking place, an online or hybrid model may work out really well.
If on the other hand your main focus isn’t so much about what makes most financial sense but rather maximizing client satisfaction then perhaps working 1:1 might work best!
Group fitness could provide additional avenues for income while still being able to accommodate people who are interested in training with you.
Do some research! There are many tools out there that will help you gather this information. Scour the internet for reviews and testimonials, and get a feel for what your clients want.
This research should become a part of your personal trainer business plan along with all of the following items.
The Next Step is to Start Locating the Right Place for Your Personal Training Business
Do you want a retail store or gym location?
Or would you rather have an online presence where people come to work with you virtually?
Think about this carefully so that when it comes time to find office space or purchase equipment, you’ll be ready.
Create a Business Budget
Starting a personal training business is one of the most rewarding and low-cost ventures you can make.
With just a few key items, like basic equipment for fitness classes or gym sessions – such as weight lifting belts, mats (or fold-able ones), jump ropes, dumbbells from 3 to 10 pounds in either kilograms or pounds – with an initial investment under $1000 total cost; your first sale will already cover that little bit!
So, figure out how much time and money you have available for this endeavor.
Figure out how much money you’ll need for start up costs like forming your business structure and establishing proper insurance coverage.
Don’t forget to find an attorney to help you with the legal side of things with a personal training business.
What type of business will you form?
Where can you find out about different online business formation services? Will you form a sole proprietorship, LLC, C Corp, S Corp or Limited Liability Partnership?
What are the benefits of each?
Keep in mind that different types of businesses have different legal requirements.
The choice of business structure is not always easy, but luckily there are many to choose from.
A sole proprietorship has the advantage that taxes and regulations can be handled by one person with a relatively simple process; however, all personal assets could potentially go into jeopardy if your company’s finances get worse than expected.
LLCs or a Limited Liability Company will offer more flexibility in how they’re taxed–you don’t need to pay tax on any income you make up-front like sole proprietorship businesses do–but it does require some paperwork and legal fees before getting started.
A Personal Trainer will most likely start an LLC because he/she wants complete control over his/her own financial future as well as protection of assets.
Find your answers to these questions and about the differences with business structures here.
Protecting Your Personal Training Business
Get a business license
Check to see if you need a business license in your jurisdiction.
Once you get your license you may want to consider registering with Better Business Bureau.
Make sure you have a contract with your clients
Have your client sign and date the contract.
Creating a client contract that outlines the expectations of your services and what to do in case of injury is going to go a long way in protecting you and your business.
Keep all records
Records include client files, payment records, and any other paperwork related to your business.
Don’t forget to keep these records safe and secure.
Utilize online file management and backup systems like DropBox.
Also, save all emails and communications between you and your clients. You never know when this will come in handy. Gmail offers 15GB of free space which is plenty of room to store email communications.
Just be sure to set up a professional sounding email with Gmail. Or, opt for their business services suite and map your domain based email to use Gmail services. You can do that for a small fee.
Follow All Local Laws
Be aware of any state laws that may affect what you do as a personal trainer.
There may be restrictions on certain types of physical contact, so make sure to research this beforehand.
Make sure you’re following all local laws related to personal training services and certifications required by state law.
If your services are restricted by law, you will need to make sure that the person receiving these services is aware of this. Laws vary from state-to-state and it’s important to have a general understanding of what they prohibit. For example, some states require CPR certification before becoming an in-home personal trainer. Others restrict certifications for personal trainers who have a criminal background.
If you’re unsure, check with your state’s department of health or licensing board to see what is required for personal trainers in that specific area. These are the people who will be able to answer all questions related to qualifications and certification requirements.
You may also want to research any pending legislation that could impact your work.
Don’t forget about liability insurance!
It will protect you in case anything goes wrong with one of your clients – it’s worth looking into if you haven’t already gotten some coverage.
Professional liability insurance for personal trainers is a crucial component to any successful small business and it’s something you should never forget about, especially if your work involves meeting with clients in person or handling their valuable items. It will protect you in case anything goes wrong – so make sure that before starting out on this journey, you take care of this important detail first.
Don’t take on a single client until you have your personal trainer insurance or commercial insurance policy squared away.
Marketing & Advertising Your Personal Training Services
Market Research
Research the market in your area and see if there are any competitors or other personal trainers who might be able to help you with information about where to get started.
Find out what’s the average monthly price for a personal training session in your area. This will help you figure out how much to charge clients and also give them an idea of the quality they can expect from you.
Write down all your marketing materials – including flyers, business cards, social media posts and more ahead of time.
Begin your marketing campaign by reaching out to friends, family members, co-workers or anyone who might be interested in what you’re offering and ask them if they wouldn’t mind giving some feedback on the flyers/business cards that you
Elevator Pitch
Develop an elevator pitch for yourself so when someone asks what kind of training you offer or how much it costs to work with you.
Keep it short and succinct so you can answer those important questions quickly.
Business Brand Identity & Online Marketing
Create your logo – this should be simple yet powerful with strong visuals that will help people remember who you are.
A lot goes into creating an iconic symbol, like a logo. You need to put in some serious time and thought into it before you can even get started, but once it’s done right, the payoff can be great!
But, please don’t let lack of a logo slow you down. It’s really in your other marketing efforts and activities where the profits will come.
Create a website or blog – This is so people can find more information about what you do and optimize it for local search, SEO.
Your website is often the first impression that people will have of your business and it should give them all the information they need about what you offer.
There’s so much to think about when creating a new website for your business. It’s best to hire a good website development agency. It is possible to find one that can create you a decent web presence and optimize your new business site for search.
If you can’t afford to hire an agency for this, there are plenty of free options for creating a website for your personal training business. Google actually offers business websites for free. That’s a resource worth checking out.
Create an email list – This is very important because people want to be in control of when they receive information from you.
Find an autoresponder or email management system that suits your needs – There are plenty of options out there, but make sure it’s easy for you and the customers to use!
A really good email autoresponder service to use for this is called Aweber. You can get a free Aweber account here.
Blog – Blogging is an easy way to attract new customers to your personal training business by providing them with valuable information they need about your business or industry in general. It can also be used for creating content for attracting sponsorship opportunities!
One of the best blogging platforms out there to use is WordPress of course. Another good one to choose from is another service offered by Google which is Blogger.
Ultimately, you’ll want to include your blogging right on your new website.
Create a YouTube Channel – As a personal trainer, this option is very beneficial. You can create an account on YouTube, create a video and upload it. Share the link to your channel with as many people you can!
The video content should be super easy to create. Just make videos of some of your best exercise techniques or routines that you would use in your personal training business.
Build your social media channels – Build up an online presence through social media and blogging so that people can find out about your services easily without having to go looking themselves.
You will want a Facebook page because this is how people communicate with businesses and it has over 600 million active users. Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest are also great options for you to get in front of more potential customers.
Network – Join LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook groups that are related to what you do for networking purposes as well as community engagement with your local chamber of commerce.
Post on social media regularly– this gives you an opportunity to show the world who you are and it also helps attract new customers! There’s no such thing as too much social media engagement, but make sure to post a variety of posts that are relevant and add value.
If you don’t know how to do these things, consider hiring someone who does or take some time learn more about advertising and marketing so that you can figure out ways to promote your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I start a personal training business with no money?
How to start a personal training business with no money is a challenging question. I would recommend gathering some more information about what’s involved in this business before proceeding.
The best way to start a personal training business is by networking with other personal trainers, attending workshops and conferences for the industry, and reading books or articles online.
Once you have an idea of what it takes to start your own business, then you can make a more informed decision about how knowledgeable you are in the field. From there, you will know if it’s worth starting up without money or not (or at least delay until you save up some cash). You’ll also be able to give yourself realistic goals when determining timelines for saving money for starting out!
What equipment do I need to start a personal training business?
Legitimately, all you need to get going is a certification and to create some weight lifting classes.
You may need access to at least some kind of weight room or a way to use heavy exercise bands, weight lifting belts, mats (or fold-able ones), jump ropes and dumbbells from 3 to 10 pounds.
How much does a personal trainer business make?
There’s no easy answer to this question. Some personal trainer businesses only make $10 an hour while some make much more than that (sometimes 5x as much) depending on advanced degrees, certifications, work experience in related fields and ability to market their business effectively.
How do I start an online personal training business in 2022?
This is an excellent question and there are several ways to get started.
The first suggestion is to become a personal trainer in the traditional manner and then look for opportunities afterward.
Generate word-of-mouth referrals of friends or acquaintances to build up your portfolio before you start advertising on platforms like Facebook.
The second suggestion is to create a blog about fitness or nutrition and start posting 3 – 5 times per week with free, helpful content that includes video demonstrations from the gym or step by step guides on how someone can perform at home workouts.
Once you publish a few pieces and have some traction, you’ll be able to reach out to companies who want digital content creators for their social media channels like Instagram Stories, which may include getting paid.
Conclusion
If you’re considering starting a personal training business, hopefully this article has given you some valuable information. Remember to research this site for additional resources that will help guide your decisions and protect your investment in yourself. On our site you can learn about different online business formation services and find the best type of insurance you need to protect your new business. Start up your own fitness success story today by reading through these articles and take charge of your business goals with confidence.
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