Become a Personal Fitness Trainer
Becoming a Personal Fitness Trainer can be very profitable. You
goal is to keep your clients from getting bored with their
exercise program. Your job would be to motivate them to continue
their training. Statistics show that Americans are physically
unfit even though they spend large sums on exercise equipment
and memberships in health clubs.
A Personal Fitness Trainer can reduce the boredom and lack of
motivation by providing individual fitness plans. There is a
great need to increase the physical fitness of Americans. If
they were more physically fit their mental health and physical
health would improve. This would reduce the probablility of
numerous illnesses such as high blood pressure and heart
disease.
If you have any specialized sports related skills, you could use
these to teach others. Such as karate, aerobics, baseball etc.
These could be taught in gyms, students homes, YMCA's or
anywhere that you would have access to a large enough room and
the equipment needed.
Start-up Costs
$100 to $5,000 depending on where you are going to do your
Personal Fitness Training.
Financial sources
Banks or Credit Unions. There is also the Small Business
Administration. Personal savings or family members.
Advertising and Marketing Tips
Yellow page advertising, business website, business cards and
newspaper advertising. Once you get some clients, word of mouth
will work very well if you are good being as a Personal Fitness
Trainer. Your website should be listed on your business card and
with your other advertising.
Essential Equipment
CD player, DVD player, TV, aerobic steps, ankle & wrist weights,
exercise balls, jump ropes, exercise mats, step-up boxes etc.
Reference books and video tapes on nutrition, weight training,
physical fitness and exercise games. Cell phone, seperate phone
line with answering machine or service, pager, brochures and
business cards.
Recommended Training & Needed Skills
Nesta is an association that covers training and certification
for being a Personal Fitness Instructor. You will need to know
nutrition, athletic training and sports psychology. Training at
your local community college or with online courses such as with
Nesta. Home study courses are offered by Distance Education and
Training Council.
Income Potential
As a Personal Fitness Trainer you can earn from $20,000 to
$80,000. This would all depend on your level of training and
what type of classes or individual courses you teach.
Target Market
Your target market as a Personal Fitness Trainer would be
professionals, atheletes or people who just want to get in
shape. Another market would be people who have been told by
their physicians to get back into shape. This holds especially
true for diabetics and people with high blood pressure.
Success Tips
For those who haven't done any exercising recently, have your
client get permission from their doctor. Get a Fitness Trainer
Business Plan. Check local zoning laws. Have your Lawyer and
Insurance agent provide liability insurance and waiver forms for
your clients.