O.k – so it’s Monday morning… you’ve just completed your personal training certification and you’re ready to embark on your new career.
You’re excited and looking forward to setting up your new personal training business.
So, what now?
We’ll be before you get to all the fun stuff like setting up your website, Facebook page and business cards… there’s a few finer details that need to be taken care of first.
I know, I know… I’m not a big fan of paperwork or conforming to regulations either. But, business is business and these things must be taken care of first.
As a fitness professional, it’s important you look professional, so get started on these 6 steps before you continue.
We’ll get to the fun stuff later, I promise.
So, here are the 6 Steps to Starting Up Your Personal Training Business.
Step#1: Set up Your Legal Entity.
Protecting your personal assets from litigation is the first thing you need to take care of, so many trainers overlook this and risk losing everything if there is an accident, or if the business doesn’t go as planned.
I’m not a lawyer, so I can’t give you specific advice on which entity is best for you, but please take the time to speak with your lawyer and accountant to find your best option. A few dollars spent now could save you a fortune later on.
Step#2: Public Liability Insurance
Although not a legal requirement in the UK, all members of the Register at levels 2, 3 and 4 are required to hold adequate public liability insurance which covers your legal liability for death, injury or illness to others and loss of, or damage to, third party property.
The Register requires you to hold an annual liability policy. To become a member of REPS, you must be able to show that you are either insured through your employer or have an insurance liability policy with a minimum indemnity of £5,000,000.
The following insurance packages can be purchased through REPS by its members:
£55 per year: £10 million public liability insurance for fitness instruction
£95 per year: £10 million public liability insurance for fitness instruction and sports massage.
These policies cover the registered fitness professional to instruct in any area (in the context of exercise and fitness) in which they hold an approved qualification. The policy will not cover the following:
- Sports Coaching
- Dance
- Physiotherapy
- Tai Chi
- Martial Arts
- Boxing
Step#3: Register Your Business Name
Before you begin training clients you’ll want to register your business name so you can collect cheques and payments.
Sure, you can just use your name.
But, like I said earlier, it’s important you look professional so register your business name and create a business bank account.
This will also make your bookkeeping much easier, there’s nothing worse than at tax time having to go through bank statements to separate your personal expenses vs business expenses.
Step#4: Accepting Credit Cards
Gone are the days of cash in hand, these days everyone wants to pay by credit card.
Personally, my favourite credit card processor and the one I recommend to you is Stripe.com. Easy to use, great looking interface and reasonable fees.
And, just a quick tip about structuring your programs and billing clients. Set your clients up on monthly programs with monthly billing, i.e have a few different membership levels your clients can choose from.
For example;
Bronze level: 4 workouts per month = $XYZ
Silver level: 8 workouts per month = $XYZ
Gold level: 12 workouts per month = $XYZ
This way you just put their credit card details into your payment processor which bills them every 30 days. You don’t have to worry about collecting payments each month and you can focus your time and energy on getting your clients great results.
Step#5: Set up Your CRM
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Manager. Basically, it’s a piece of software that helps you manage your clients and keep track of the prospects in your sales funnel.
Even if you’re just starting out, I recommend you begin using it now so you have all your systems in place before you start applying the marketing strategies taught inside of Online PT Supremacy.
There is an excellent CRM you can use for FREE called Zoho.
Step#6: Join Your Governing Body
Different countries and different regions of the world are governed and controlled by different governing bodies and registers. http://www.icreps.org is an international partnership of these bodies that register exercise professionals across four continents.
The following countries currently operate exercise registration bodies that are partners of ICREPs – therefore; qualifications approved by any of these bodies are transferable and recognised in each of the partner countries:
- United Kingdom – http://www.exerciseregister.org/
Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) for UK
- Ireland – http://www.repsireland.ie/
Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) for Ireland
- Europe – http://www.ereps.eu.com/
The European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPs):
- USA – http://www.usreps.org/
U.S. Registry of Exercise Professionals (USREPS)
- Australia – https://fitness.org.au/
Fitness Australia
- New Zealand – http://www.reps.org.nz/
Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) – New Zealand
- South Africa – http://www.repssa.com/
Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) – South Africa
- United Arab Emirates – http://www.repsuae.com
Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) U.A.E
- Canada – http://www.repscanada.com/
Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) – Canada
Fitness professionals must register with the register of the country/ region where they obtained their qualification and then if working in another country, transfer their membership to the new register.
In the UK and Ireland, Gym Instructors and Personal Trainers need to be registered with REPS – The Register of Exercise Professionals. To become registered with REPS, you need to be able to show that the fitness qualification you obtained is accredited by them. Once you have gained a recognised qualification from an approved training provider, you may then become a member of REPS at the relevant level. Membership costs £40 per year.
Throughout the rest of Europe, EREPS is the governing body for fitness professionals.
Benefits of joining the register are that potential clients can find you on the REPS directory and will have confidence in knowing that you have been trained to a competent level. This gives you the credibility to begin training people and shows that you are certified.
REPS requires its members to show that they are continuing with their professional development, ie you are required to up skill over time to keep your knowledge up to date with the constantly evolving industry.
That’s it for todays lesson, keep an eye out for my next email where I’ll be discussing choosing your niche.
Yours in health
Dan Clay
P.S – If you have any questions please feel free to hit me up inside the PTSupremacy Facebook group.
