Answers (9)
1
Hi Denise. You have just asked the "$64,000 question" for trainers! "How much do I charge?" is so dependent on a number of factors, some business factors, some personal. A lot depends on your financial situation, your goals and your philosophy. For example, is your training philosophy for your home training business to attract and work with busy "high-end" clients (e.g. doctors, lawyers) in your area, or to work with a needy and under-served population like the elderly? Your fee reflects this approach and should be designed to attract clients and make your services accessible to that population.
Within that philosophical approach, you then want to position yourself - including your fees in a way that makes you competitive with other trainers who compete with you for those same clients. Do you want to be on the low-end of pricing, or again offer the high-end services and pricing within that range?
As you can see, there are many considerations in setting your fees, including your direct and indirect expenses - which I haven't discussed here. The approach used by many trainers is to simply set a price and move on. I would advise taking your time, consider some of the factors that I've mentioned here, and then set your price.
The fees that a trainer charges are more of a marketing and strategic decision that many of us think or give it credit for!
I hope that this helps, and good luck in your new business.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com
Within that philosophical approach, you then want to position yourself - including your fees in a way that makes you competitive with other trainers who compete with you for those same clients. Do you want to be on the low-end of pricing, or again offer the high-end services and pricing within that range?
As you can see, there are many considerations in setting your fees, including your direct and indirect expenses - which I haven't discussed here. The approach used by many trainers is to simply set a price and move on. I would advise taking your time, consider some of the factors that I've mentioned here, and then set your price.
The fees that a trainer charges are more of a marketing and strategic decision that many of us think or give it credit for!
I hope that this helps, and good luck in your new business.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com
1
Hi Denise,
Both Larue and Karin are spot on in their answers. I firmly believe your education and experience should be reflected in your price point. Keeping your target demographic in mind is also essential. I have found that semi-private sessions (2-3 clients) allow for pricing at a more accessible rate. This allows you to keep your one on one sessions a little higher and more in line with your experience/education, but still allows accessibility to those without the funds to afford a private session.
Hope this helps, and good luck with your business.
Both Larue and Karin are spot on in their answers. I firmly believe your education and experience should be reflected in your price point. Keeping your target demographic in mind is also essential. I have found that semi-private sessions (2-3 clients) allow for pricing at a more accessible rate. This allows you to keep your one on one sessions a little higher and more in line with your experience/education, but still allows accessibility to those without the funds to afford a private session.
Hope this helps, and good luck with your business.
1
this is an easier question to answer than you would think.
how much money do you need to make /month?
lets say you need to make 4000$ and you have 6 hours per day to train on 5 days per week. So you have 30 hours of training/week or 120 hrs of training / month. this works out to be a minimum of $33.33 per session to make your minimum per month. I charge $60/hr but I started out at $50 with package deals that put me as low as $25 for a 6 month package payed up front. Now I don't offer deals my time is valuable to me and I have learned not to try to get every client I can but to pick the ones that I will work with best.
This is just an example and will depend a lot on what your bills are, if this is your sole source of income, how long your projections are of training full time, and your overhead.
how much money do you need to make /month?
lets say you need to make 4000$ and you have 6 hours per day to train on 5 days per week. So you have 30 hours of training/week or 120 hrs of training / month. this works out to be a minimum of $33.33 per session to make your minimum per month. I charge $60/hr but I started out at $50 with package deals that put me as low as $25 for a 6 month package payed up front. Now I don't offer deals my time is valuable to me and I have learned not to try to get every client I can but to pick the ones that I will work with best.
This is just an example and will depend a lot on what your bills are, if this is your sole source of income, how long your projections are of training full time, and your overhead.
0
Hi Denise,
LaRue makes excellent points. I looked at your profile to learn more but you have not completed it.
Much also depends on your own experience. You write that you just about to start an in-home business; do you mean in YOUR home? Or in clients' homes? Obviously when you add travel time, you need to charge extra for that.
Do you already have a client base because you train at a gym. In that case I would charge initially the same as they are already paying. You also need to find out the 'going rate' in your geographic location.
LaRue makes excellent points. I looked at your profile to learn more but you have not completed it.
Much also depends on your own experience. You write that you just about to start an in-home business; do you mean in YOUR home? Or in clients' homes? Obviously when you add travel time, you need to charge extra for that.
Do you already have a client base because you train at a gym. In that case I would charge initially the same as they are already paying. You also need to find out the 'going rate' in your geographic location.
0
The fee you charge should always be relative to the current demand in the marketplace for your services. If you have no clients, than charging say $70-100/session probably isn't wise, even if you are in a market than can afford to do so. That is, why not make your price an attraction as opposed to an obstacle if you are attempting to build a client base? On the flip side, if demand is high (or if demand gets high once you have your clients) than it is logical to charge a premium price for your services, assuming your services warrant such a price. Of course, as others have said the demographic of your target market must always be taken into consideration as well.
Simple stuff, nothing fancy. At least that is how I approach it. Good luck!
Simple stuff, nothing fancy. At least that is how I approach it. Good luck!
0
I agree with Karin: price your services comparable to what's market rate in your geographical area for trainers with your experience.
For clients I train at their homes, I usually add a $10-$20 "delivery fee" depending on how far away they are.
For clients I train at their homes, I usually add a $10-$20 "delivery fee" depending on how far away they are.
0
More often than not, it depends on education, experience and the area you work.
If you are specialized in something, and there arent too many people with that kind of education, then you can increase your price because you'll be dealing with a certain group of people.
If you are specialized in something, and there arent too many people with that kind of education, then you can increase your price because you'll be dealing with a certain group of people.
0
So many things factor into this question:
What is the "going rate" in your area?
How long have you been a trainer?
What is your background?
What is your overhead?
How much do you "need to make a year"?
Making a list of everything you do from start to finish with a client can be clarifying.
What is the "going rate" in your area?
How long have you been a trainer?
What is your background?
What is your overhead?
How much do you "need to make a year"?
Making a list of everything you do from start to finish with a client can be clarifying.
0
Advertised prices in my market are anywhere from $20-$80 per session. Maybe some FREE trial sessions to certain friends/people may help you get started, AND bring with it MUCH needed referals. Good Luck!
