Answers (8)
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I've been a full-time personal trainer and private studio owner for a little over 10 years. During that time I've had my ups and downs, but as my experience as a trainer grew and my business savvy expanded, I was gradually able to eliminate most of the fluctuating financial cycles to which the fitness industry seems prone. I'm one of those trainers who loves to train and educate but has little love for the business side of the industry. That said, I spent enough years in health club management before I went on my own as a personal trainer to acquire the know-how needed to make a living. I currently earn about two to three times what the average full-time personal trainer earns. Many people who want to enter the personal training profession are under the mistaken impression that making a good living as a full-time trainer is easy. However, it is not. If you keep a close watch on the turnover of personal trainers in health clubs, you will see faces regularly come and go. The hardest thing in our industry is getting started. I hate to sound like grandpa talking about how he had to walk 10 miles to school in the snow when he was a kid, but the point I'm trying to make is the same. Time, experience, knowledge and persistence are all needed to be a successful personal trainer long-term. Things have changed greatly since I started as a fitness trainer almost 20 years ago, when trainers were getting paid minimum wage in health clubs and having to work second and third jobs to pay the bills. During those early years I worked in other professions-such as roofing, bouncing and bank management-to make ends meet. What I did in those early years of training that has allowed me to stay in business and be modestly successful-in spite of my lack of interest in being a millionaire-was form a reputation as an expert in my area. I developed relationships with local allied health professionals that continue to this day to provide referrals, and I spent a great deal of time building up a solid resume of education, certification and hands-on experience. Building this foundation took almost 7 years, but the time spent paying my dues is the reason I am still in business today. There is simply no way to gain experience and knowledge without putting in time in the trenches. At least today trainers have access to many resources that help shorten the process a bit. If you think of being a personal trainer as your vocation, not your job, you'll do what it takes to be successful.
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I'm happy to say I make my living solely from personal training. It took me 4 years to do it-here's how. I was certified in 1995 by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). At the time, I was working a six-figure, 9-to-5 job as a computer system analyst. However I dreamed of being a trainer full-time. I had several friends who were very successful trainers, so I knew my dream was achievable. These friends coached me before my exam and gave me valuable insights. I live in a Manhattan high-rise that includes a gym and pool for residents. To obtain my first clients, I posted a note in the laundry room, advertising personal training in our gym “for residents by a resident at low rates.” The response was great. I was training two clients early in the morning before I left for my 9-to-5 job, and two to three clients in the evenings when I returned home. I also worked with a few clients on weekends. I was very tired working such hours, but I was surer than ever that I wanted to train full-time. I was growing more and more dissatisfied with my full-time job. I saved all the money I made from training in a separate bank account. This money was to be the nest egg I could use when I made the break from my computer job. I also refinanced my apartment while I could get the most favorable interest rate in order to lower my mortgage payment and reduce my living expenses. I further prepared by attaining other certifications that would boost my marketability: from the American Council on Exercise (ACE), because it is the certification that is best known to the general public; from the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA), because of the pool in my building; and pre/postnatal certification from the American Aerobic Association International/ International Sports Medicine Association (AAAI/ISMA), because of the many young moms in both my building and my neighborhood. On August 31, 1999, I resigned from my job and began my career as a full-time personal trainer. When I told my existing clients that I was now available full-time, they provided word-of-mouth recommendations to friends outside our building, and my business grew. I also connected with a nutritionist and we exchanged recommendations, gaining more clients for both of us. One of my trainer friends decided to change careers, and she offered her client base to me for a finder's fee. Sold, thanks to my nest egg! My business has continued to grow through word of mouth. I still train in my building's gym and pool, but see many more clients in their homes or in the gyms in their apartment buildings. Many of my clients work from home or are retired, so my workload is balanced throughout the day, with fewer early mornings and late evenings and no more work on weekends. I supplement my income through my work as a continuing education provider and workshop presenter for ACE and AEA. I have also created online CEC courses for which I get a percentage of each participant's enrollment fee. From time to time, I write for fitness journals and Web sites too.
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I received my ACE personal training certification in 1996 when I was in college. After earning this certification, I started personal training part-time at a health club in Milwaukee. Before graduating from college in 1998, I became director of personal training at the health club. But in 1999 I ended up moving to Rockford, Illinois, for my husband's job. After the move I had to work very hard to build a good reputation as a credible, effective personal trainer. I make my living solely from personal training, but it took 4 years after moving to Rockford to build up a clientele big enough to make me feel I didn't need to pursue a part-time job to make ends meet. Unfor-tunately, insurance benefits, paid vacation and sick days are hard to find for personal trainers. My husband's job provides insurance benefits for us both, so that is very helpful. Instead of filling my time with two jobs when I moved to Rockford, I decided to personal train and, at the same time, increase my awareness in the health and fitness field. I found that pursuing additional certifications and expanding my knowledge in the industry enabled me to market myself to more individuals. I strongly believe that continuing my education through seminars and workshops-in sport-specific training, core conditioning, flexibility, postrehabilitation, and balance and proprioceptive training-is responsible for getting me where I am today. Another strategy that has helped me build my reputation and clientele has been networking with physicians, chiropractors and physical therapists. Establishing referral relationships with these health care professionals has been an invaluable tool. Writing introductory letters and then following up with office visits and thank-you letters are excellent ways to communicate effectively when trying to build rapport. Now in 2003 I am a sole proprietor in a private personal training studio in Rockford, and I work full-time. Nearly 8 years of hard work and dedication to my career have gotten me where I am today. I continue to set high standards for myself and will take the proper steps to meet my professional goals so I can continue to do what I love.
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I don’t make a living solely as a personal trainer, but it is a major part of the business. Our company has been in business for over 10 years. For the first 7-1/2 years, we provided corporate fitness and health promotion services, such as staffing, management, seminars and health screenings. Then we expanded the business to open a personal training studio. After about 1 year the studio reached the break-even point. Until then, we were able to use the income from our other business services. We will continue to provide the corporate fitness and health promotion services, since all of these areas complement each other.
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I am a fairly new trainer that knows the struggles of the business side. I managed to land two different places to do small group classes but the personal training side of things is slow to say the least. I decide to trade training in exchange for a marketing agent. Well needless to say it is the best thing I have done thus far. The new Presidential initiative called Joining Forces that ACE is involved with was just the thing I needed according to my marketing agent. I am already very active with helping within my community and this was just perfect. I landed in the newspapers promoting Joining Forces and myself :D. I am going on television next week doing a small segment on Joining Forces and doing a small boot camp (ON TELEVISION! a little overwhelming). You have to put yourself out there in whatever capacity you are able to. We are about helping people so even working for free is very rewarding in itself...getting to know your community is wonderful! If you are ACE certified I suggest you check into Joining Forces and do exactly what I did and go to television, radio, and the newspapers with it. Volunteer your time! This campaign is worth the effort! If we all pull we together we could make a huge difference. Working for free will get you experience, potential future clients, and give you a little professional street credit all while doing what you started out to do...help people.
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Yes! The first year my schedule was very scattered: 6am, 2pm, 6pm clients a few days a week, you have to be flexible. By staying connected to other local trainers, the 2nd year I "inherited" some clients when they moved out of town and filled in some of the gaps. Eventually my days were too long and by the 3rd year I was able to adjust my schedule to a 6am-noon time period so I could enjoy the San Diego weather the rest of the day. I moved the afternoon/evening folks around or set them up with another trainer.
I started teaching college courses at night, because I enjoy it and I like the additional income. Making a living off personal training is very achievable, but not for everyone! You have to be flexible in the beginning and hard working, then business savvy in the middle and know yourself well as you continue, so that you can make changes, set goals and know how to use your free time when the schedule is occasionally scattered.
I started teaching college courses at night, because I enjoy it and I like the additional income. Making a living off personal training is very achievable, but not for everyone! You have to be flexible in the beginning and hard working, then business savvy in the middle and know yourself well as you continue, so that you can make changes, set goals and know how to use your free time when the schedule is occasionally scattered.
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I knew I wanted to transition from a high tech career into one where I could support myself as a personal trainer and Pilates instructor. While working fulltime, I earned several credentials including ACE personal trainer and 2 Pilates mat and 2 Pilates apparatus through independent education providers. After a few years, I knew I had the following to quit my fulltime (high paying) job to support myself. It was a huge drop in annual income to do this, but a priceless reward in my happiness quotient.
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I do, and it took 3 years before I was able to pursue fitness as my sole income. Moving to 3 different states in 3 years landed me in Tennessee where I made a home and set up shop. Two more years later and I owned my own studio, now, my own gym?
