Many newly qualified trainers enter the industry sub-contracted to, or employed by, one of the major franchise gyms. Whilst this may seem attractive due to the extensive range of equipment and the potential for customer contact, these arrangements have their drawbacks.
Fitness First, for example, charges a weekly rent which may seem reasonable to a well established trainer charging London rates, but £85 per week can seem an insurmountable obstacle to a newly qualified trainer with a small client base. Fitness First claim to off-set this by starting the rent on a sliding scale in return for the trainer working as a gym instructor (with no pay) for a reducing number of hours for the first few months. Often, the trainer is not allowed to work on their own business during these hours and may end up having to work excessive hours in order to make any money at all.
An additional problem is that Fitness First has its own targets and agendas: they sell a product called "Get Results" which is often marketed as "Personal Training" when it is, in fact, a gym programme with a half hour personal training "taster" at week four. Because the sales and fitness teams get commission for selling these, and because they are set aggressive targets, it is not in their interests to support personal trainers with building up their own client base. In fact, there is an unhealthy internal rivalry which forces many trainers out of business.
Other large gyms have their own systems (David Lloyd, for example, uses a combination of salary and commission). Where the trainer is an employee they lose many of the tax benefits of self-employment and don't reach anywhere near the hourly rate they could make as freelance trainers.
One solution is to set up your own training facility, although this is a costly risk. If your budgeting and marketing is out you could end up in trouble. Attracting new clients to this sort of venture is going to be extremely hard at first, although once you are established word will get around and you will hopefully have testimonials to circulate.
F.I.S.H. (Fitness Instruction for Strength & Health) Personal Training Studio in Eastbourne was set up to provide a solution for new trainers just starting out and to offer an alternative to gym-shy or busy clients who do not want to queue up to get on a particular piece of equipment.
F.I.S.H. is an exclusive Personal Training studio with regular staff to act as mentors to newly qualified trainers. The new PTs will be asked to undergo competency assessments and will be offered ongoing support and supervision. The F.I.S.H. team is a community for nurturing new trainers and developing the highest levels of technical skill, exercise and nutrition knowledge, and client-trainer relationships.
F.I.S.H. does not charge a weekly rent but does require a percentage of the trainer's earnings (currently this is £7.50 per session the trainer conducts). We encourage trainers to follow our suggested pricing structure, which generally leaves them making a profit of £22.50 per session (which is good considering there are no overheads).
The only financial outlay required is an initial registration fee of £20 to cover the production of a profile board for in-studio, web-site, and brochure advertising. Trainers are also encouraged to order a uniform training top.
The F.I.S.H. studio is equipped with top quality free-weights, exercise balls, mini trampoline, cables, power rack, dip and chin bars, heavy duty benches, full length mirrors, body composition scales, and a height measure. Trainers and clients have access to our extensive range of supplements and fitness clothing and are encouraged to use F.I.S.H. documentation (which they are free to photocopy at their own expense).
All enquiries from prospective trainers should be directed to:
Derek Prior
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