Business: Personal Training Articles

Are you thinking of becoming an independent contractor, but you’re not sure what to expect? Navigating the ins and outs of this path can be tricky. Here are tips from Nolo, an organization dedicated to disseminating legal information to consumers and small businesses. Choose a Name. It is a go...

Part of being an exceptional leader and personal trainer is having the ability to organize and manage events throughout the year. Unfortunately, very few personal trainers have actually been taught how to manage projects, and most neglect the fine details. They wind up dealing with chaos, handling crises, feeling stressed and ending up with an event that is not as high quality as it could...

What kind of promises have you made lately? I have three kids. When I want to make sure they know I will follow through on a request, I say, “Promise, promise.” The fitness and wellness industry has never been stronger, but it needs a few more professionals not only to stand up and say, “I promise, promise,” but also to deliver, deliver, on their pledges. ...

If you are a director or manager operating on a tight budget, chances are you have spent at least some of your dwindling financial resources promoting your studio’s personal fitness training services. But no matter how much of the budget pie has been allotted to marketing those services in newsprint, radio or television ads, you’ll never succeed if your personal fitness traine...

Financial Freedom in Fitness Who are the high earners in the industry, and what are their secrets to success? "I love the fitness industry, but it just doesn't pay." "I stay in fitness even though the money is so low." "Get out of the fitness business--you can't make a decent income!" Have you heard these comments? Have you uttered them? Committing to the fitness profession does not have to mean a...

January is a time when most personal trainers gear up for an influx of new clients and a welcome increase in business. But if you’re busy scheduling lots of free consultations and enticing new clients with discounted training packages, you might be setting yourself up to lose profits in 2006—at least according to Phil Kaplan, Palm Beach, Florida–based owner of Ph...

Synergistic Systems By Kay L. Cross, MEd Wanted: Experienced Business/Life Manager Becoming a great self-manager takes practice and consistent discipline. How much fun did you have last month? Did you throw away what you didn't need, and get organized and motivated for a year of synergy? Now that the cleaning out and filing are behind you, we're on to the next step-- the search for a great busine...

Training for Growth By Sherri McMillan, MSc, and Alex McMillan Smart Cancellation Policies Establishing fair and consistent cancellation procedures is essential for business success. We've all been there. Your favorite client cancels 2 hours before her session because "something came up at work." You say, "No problem"--after all, you don't want to lose her business. The next day, another client s...

Legal & Risk Management By Sean Riley, MS, JD Respecting Your Boundaries Always remember, your job is to design exercise programs-- not to treat, diagnose or prescribe. Study after study has demonstrated that regular physical activity is important to good health. In an attempt to promote clients' well-being, personal fitness trainers (PFTs) may find themselves involved in activities that can blur...