For small group training 3-6 people, is it best to charge by the month or as a package of a set number of sessions?
I own a small personal training studio and I’m the only trainer. I’ve only been offering 1-on-1 training of 30 minutes sessions. I currently offer 1-on-1 packages of 5 sessions @ $150, 10 sessions @ $270, and 20 sessions @ $500. I live in a small town in a rural area with a median income of about $42,500. I want to make the training affordable for those who can’t afford 1-on-1 but I also have to cover my rent, utilities, supplies, etc. as well as the increased challenge of working with multiple people at once. Any suggestion of what I should charge for the small group based on what I charge for 1-on-1?
Hi Lesley,
The answers to your questions are completely depend on you. You need to figure out which of the two options (monthly vs. # of sessions) works best with your lifestyle, monthly living costs, business expenses, etc. If you want to have some type of income every month then charging a monthly fee is the way to go. If not, then charging depending on the number of sessions a client buys would be the best option (I prefer this one vs. the monthly).
As for the amount to charge it all depends on how much you really want/need to make. This revenue will dictate your lifestyle, business expansion, etc. Giving you a number here will not be fair to you or your clients since I have no idea about the setup you have in place, the market rate in your area and your recurring business expenses. If people like you and your program, you will be amazed how far they are willing to go to pay what you are asking (without offering any discounts). Once you have a number in mind that will be fair to you, then it’s easy to go from there. This number will also help you decide how many participants you’ll need to have in each class and how much to charge them.
Best,
Harris
Administratively, the easiest way to set this up is to get a monthly fee for 1, 2, or 3 classes per week, and get it set up as an auto-deduct from the clients’ bank accounts. Consistent revenue stream, and you don’t have to constantly sell renewals.
That said, what I do is sell a number of sessions and allow clients to attend any of my small-group classes on the schedule. It makes it less predictable for me, but more convenient for them.
I offer both payment options: a package of 12 or flat monthly which is 25% less. I might be taking a hit on that 25% off but I do find most people prefer the sessions despite the potential savings.
Be ironclad on your conditions: the flat monthly fee applies whether they come to all 12 scheduled classes/sessions or if they miss them all. This option works best on automated EFT. I have the condition on the 12 pack to: they all have to be used in 6 weeks or the remainder is void.
Just have it written out in their signup documentation along with your questionnaire and waiver.
You can allow them the change package types between packages.
Here’s what you should do:
If your current 1 on 1 rate is $30, make the group sessions $20 and no lower! If you are going to charge less, make sure you are making more.
Personal training for $20 a session is a steal, regardless of where you are. No one would bat an eye to pay $20-30 per session for a small group session of up to 6 people.
Once you have established your group sessions, you can easily charge more for private training like $50+.
You should start offering this group session ASAP at your most popular times, or whatever time is empty right now. If you have a before work crowd, make sure you offer one there.
You can offer a “Mommy” group after the kids are dropped at school, a teen group after school, etc. An after work group too.
Let me know how it goes!
Hello Lesley Sims,
It sounds as if you truly care about your community; that is great.
Here is that word again, best. The best of anything is what pertains to the situation and gains the most benefit for all involved. Therefore, I say, the best thing is to keep your business open or you won’t be able to help others. After the numbers come in to keep your head afloat, ask what your clients prefer.
Take care,
Natalie aka NAPS 2 B Fit.
I prefer to work 1 on 1. So, my group rates are reduced, but don’t overly encourage group business. I spend as much time preparing for each client whether they are in a group or in a private 1 on 1 training session. Considering your current fee schedule and community, I would advise you to decide how many participants would be your maximum for a session. Then consider how much time you plan to spend designing the program and adjusting the program. That will give you an idea of your bill-able hours per session.
Right now you might spend 2 hours on each session (one hour design/redesign and one hour in the gym) and charge $30 ($15 per hour). So say you spent the same time per client for 2 people (2 hours D/RD and 1 hour in the gym), so $15 times 3 is $45 per session. 5 sessions equals $225 divided by 2 clients $112.50 each. Or round up or down, $115 each or $110 each. That is a pretty sizeable savings for them and a decent increase in your per hour income for you.
But keep in mind that you may lose hours in your 1 on 1 client business, if they pair up to save money. So may be $120 each would be a fair cost considering the potential loss on the 1 on 1 side.