How to Start Your Own Personal Training Business
How to start your own personal training business?
That question is a bit tunnel visioned so let’s make it broader to include personal training services as well as other services you may want to offer:
How to start a fitness business?
The answer is:
It takes more than a cool-looking website.
It takes more than helping a few friends in the gym.
It takes more than looking good in the mirror.
You might think buying a franchise would be the easiest way to start a fitness training business. Before you make that jump, learn about the differences between owning your business and becoming a franchisee.
Let’s re-phrase this question one more time to represent what you most likely really want to know:
How to have a successful fitness business?
There are the 7 basic steps to opening your own business.
Step 1: Identify the type of business you want to own.
- Boutique studio
- Spin studio
- Powerlifting gym
- Yoga studio
- Pilates studio
- Online only
- Hybrid – online and one of the in-person choices
Step 2: Get certified
The fitness industry isn’t strictly regulated but there are certain associations whose certifications are highly regarded such as American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Research these and others, and choose the one or ones that best fit you.
Step 3: Write a business plan that includes
- Executive summary
- Company description
- Market research and potential
- Competitive analysis
- Product and service descriptions
- Marketing and sales strategies
- Business financials
- Organization table
- Funding needs
- Appendix for additional documents
Step 4: Choose a type of business structure
Some examples are sole proprietorship, partnership, and limited liability corporation (LLC).
Step 5: Get an Employee Identification Number
Step 6: Obtain insurance and any applicable permits
Step 7: Apply for funding
Additionally, starting your business also includes identifying your ideal clients (this step alone drives many of your other decisions), creating targeted marketing, managing contacts and communication, and about 100 other things.
Does this sound daunting? It should if you want to be successful at building your own fitness business!
You can stumble through this on your own and piecemeal it, or if you want help doing this, and doing it quickly, choose our Fit Biz In a Box program. This complete solution is both for those taking the first steps and for those who have started but found themselves struggling.
This is your business, your future, your legacy. Do everything you can to make sure you succeed so you can live the lifestyle you dream of.
