The Staff of Entrepreneur Media - Start Your Own Personal Training Business: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success

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Entrepreneur Press, Publisher

Cover Design: Andrew Welyczko

Production and Composition: Eliot House Productions

2016 by Entrepreneur Media, Inc.

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ebook ISBN: 978-1-61308-345-1

Table of Contents

Contents

S ince the third edition of this book there has been an increased focus on health and fitness. Research continues to show that even moderate amounts of exercise and small changes in diet can greatly improve health. Millions of Americans continue to try to lose weight and live longer, healthier lives.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) backs up the need to address the obesity problem. According to the CDC, more than one third of Americans are obese. That is 78.6 million people. That is a huge market for those who might need help with weight reduction and physical fitness.

As a personal trainer you have both a great opportunity and a significant challenge. You are in demand to help people not just wade through all of the information, but to inspire them to apply it and improve their lives. Being overwhelmed by too much information and lacking motivation to carry through with a fitness program are two areas where personal trainers can really help people struggling to lose weight and lead more healthy lives.

Starting a personal training business offers a satisfying combination of financial reward and a career in which you can make a profound difference in the lives of others. A skilled trainer who also has good business knowledge and judgment can earn a substantial income.

At the same time, because many people still face troubling weight and healthy lifestyle issues, new approaches are needed if fitness professionals are to reach these individuals.

Fortunately, the fitness business is rising to the challenge by creating innovative ways to do just that. This means that you have new avenues to entrepreneurial success through strategies that will grow your business by making fitness relevant and accessible for more and more people.

In this updated edition, we give you information that will quickly get you up to speed on exciting directions in the fitness industry and show you how you can take advantage of them. From boutique studios to faith-based programs to partnerships between public and private entities (for example, schools and private trainers), the trends may change, but that most Americans would benefit from better eating and more exercise is still a key message.

Since the third edition, social media continues to expand the ability to revolutionize your business. Having a website is now fundamental, and being active on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms is now not only the norm but expected. But while being expected to be active on social media, it is also no longer enough to be haphazard. Social media needs to be planned and executed systematically like any other part of your business marketing.

As with previous editions, this book focuses on the business side of personal training. This is not an instruction book on training techniquesthere are plenty of certification and education programs where you can find thatbut a guide through the business side of fitness.

But we realize that youre interested in exercise, athletic performance, and how science is exploring ways that we can become fitter and healthier. You wouldnt be a personal trainer or a soon-to-be trainer if you werent. So weve added sidebars throughout the book giving you Stat Factsyoull find these fascinating, were sure. But theyre also perfect tidbits of information that you can pass along to your clients to enhance your reputation as a reliable source of health and fitness knowledge.

This book also covers the nitty-gritty details of starting and running any service-oriented business. Whether youre looking to launch a solo concern with minimal investment or open your own studio and hire other trainers, this book will help you. More specifically, you will get an overview of the personal training industry and potential client markets, as well as a step-by-step guide to setting up and operating your fitness business. Youll learn about startup costs, marketing, and how to track and manage your companys finances. Successful personal trainers and industry experts will share the insights theyve gained through years of experience.