How many clients should a new trainer take on?
Hi Callie,
Are you a new trainer on your own or do you work for a gym? You are the best person to answer that question based on your schedule and time available. However, there are a few things that I would take into consideration before taking on new clients:
–In addition to how many clients you take on, it may also be what kinds of clients you take. Are you prepared to take on special populations with orthopedic or other issues? Sometimes you may need to refer potential clients to another trainer for specialties that you may not have, and that shows good judgement on your part if you are not experienced in a certain area.
–Do you have a set schedule for yourself? When I first started training, I took on new clients and tried to accommodate their schedules and develop a client base. That meant all different hours of the day which can be exhausting. Now that I am busier, I set limits as to when I train and try to balance that with my family. If you don’t set limits you may burn out quickly.
–It is the quality of your training, not necessarily the quantity of clients you have that is just as important. You want to make sure you can meet each individual’s needs and learn from them.
I hope some of these suggestions help you. Good luck to you! Training is very rewarding and you will also find a niche where you excel, it just takes some time.
Christine
Hello Callie,
this question rarely presents itself because new trainers usually do not have a line of people anxiously waiting to train with them. I also do not think that there is a number that one can give.
For me, seeing 5 or 6 clients makes for a full day that is still balanced with other activities I like to engage in.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com
Hi Callie,
There is no right answer to this one. It all depends on your availability and how comfortable you are with training various types of clients. You are in this business to make money, so I think the more clients you can handle the better for your income. Everyone has a breaking point (burnout), so unless you already know yours there is only one way to find out. When I was training out of a gym, I was averaging 10 clients a day, six days a week. That lasted for a few years until I started my own company and became mobile where due to travel time I’m now averaging 6-7 clients/day. For you that number might be different. My suggestion for you, is to find a balance between your professional and personal time, so you can enjoy life while still making some good money.
Best,
Harris
