How to Start a Fitness Boot Camp & Personal Training Business

Running a fitness business can be fun and profitable.

Starting and running a fitness-related business can be fun. Some of your clients will become good friends because of the relationship that develops between clients and their personal trainer, and they associate the trainer with the physical transformation they are undergoing. The trainer must maintain these friendships but with some distance, or clients may become difficult to train because they view workout instructions as coming from a friend instead of a trainer they are paying.

Things You'll Need

• Accountant
• Fitness certification
• Liability insurance
• Marketing strategy
• Fliers
• Marketing materials (sweat towels or t-shirts featuring your logo)
• Liability release

Instructions

1. 

   Choose a reputable fitness certification.

   Obtain a fitness certification. You have many to choose from. Decide whether your business will be a sole proprietorship or a corporation. An accountant can help with this decision. Purchase appropriate liability insurance. Determine where you will train clients. Expect to pay a fee if you train at a gym. Training from home or at the client's home will work but will require the purchase of equipment.

2. 

   Customized t-shirts make great marketing tools.

   Begin putting your marketing strategy in place. Place fliers at homes and on cars near where you will have your boot camp. Buy small items with your logo, such as sweat towels, to give out to each participant of the boot camp. Getting clients is the most difficult part of starting a fitness business. Your current clients are your best form of advertising and referrals. Print t-shirts that contain your information to give to your regular clients. Those t-shirts become walking-talking billboards for you.

3. 

   Raise your rates as your clientele grows.

   Raise your rates as you become fully booked with clients. When you are full and a client drops out, the new client pays a higher rate. This strategy eventually raises your average rate significantly. Always be on time and courteous. Give clients more service than they expect. Ask clients for referrals when you have a vacant spot. Have every client sign a liability release before any exercise. Encourage clients to visit a doctor before starting a workout program. Continue to market yourself creatively, even when fully booked. Your goal is to become the fitness expert in your community.

4. 

   You may decide to work with a specific market.

   Seek out opportunities to become more knowledgeable about fitness. Attend continuing education programs about topics you want or need to learn about. Some trainers prefer to work with only a specific segment of the market, such as the elderly or athletes. You may want to specialize. Become an expert for your market segment. Look for opportunities to speak about fitness-related topics to various community organizations. Find ways to better service your clients, and your business will continue to grow.

References

• BusinessInfoGuide.com
• Personal Training & Fitness Business Tools Helping Your Fitness Business Thrive