training in my garage
I am moving to another city and am losing all my clients at my current gym. I was thinking about starting my own “garage gym” and training clients at my home. I am ACE certified and hold 1 million in liability insurance. Is there anything else I would need to start training clients other than some equipment and marketing material to start accruing clientele?
Also, some towns do not allow in home businesses that require people coming in and out, many towns want to keep buinesses out of residential zones.
Check with your city, get the proper licenses prior to “opening”.
Be up front about what your intentions are, you may want to let your neighbors know ahead of time so they have a heads up about cars parking on the street etc.
Great answers above! Also, be sure that you have an emergency plan. Some states are now requiring all businesses to have an AED on site.
You should also have a plan to protect yourself. If you’ll be working by yourself, especially as a woman, you may want to meet new clients in a public area first to pre-screen them. Make sure someone else always knows your schedule and who you’ll be training when.
Be sure you have a policy that covers attire and what type of physical contact you may have with them when exercising (proper touching).
Having worked in a gym before, you had the luxury of having other people around you at all times, limiting your risk that something could happen to you or that someone could suggest improper touching (sexual harrassment). When working by yourself, in a private home-gym, these are things you’ll now have to consider and prepare for to limit your exposure.
Good luck with your new business!
Hello Victoria,
Some great advice here…also take steps to protect your home. Check your liability insurance policy and see what it does’nt cover and make sure you have adequate protection for any unforseen accidents.
Proper maintenance of your equipment is important as well. Finally…pets can be an issue too with clients allergies.
When in doubt..consult your attorney.
Wishing You Great Success!
Michael
Hi Victoria. I agree. You need to check the zoning laws in your new jurisdiction. I have an in-home studio and needed to check the zoning laws as well as get approved to have the studio in my home from the County. Some of the zoning laws can get very specific (for example as to the number of people you can train at a time or even the maximum that you can train in a day, in order to still be consider a “home business,” so be sure to read the requirements carefully.
I hope that this helps and GOOD LUCK with your new business venture!
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
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