Andrea Thatcher

Special Guest post by: Andrea Thatcher

The personal training industry is booming!  The demand for Personal Trainers is exceeding the number of available trainers!! I am a very busy girl teaching and certifying new trainers here in Calgary to keep up with the demand. With that in mind, many new trainers are eager to get started right away, and would rather work on their own vs. work for a gym. There is no right or wrong choice here. One must decide what works best for them when embarking in this amazing profession.

For those of you who do decide to start your own business and want to work from home, there is more to consider than you may be aware.  Incorporation, Registration, Licence, Permit, Insurance, Banking, Accounting, Legalities, Waivers, Policies/procedures, Services and Fees, Marketing and Promotion, Tracking, Website, Administration…the list is endless.  With so much to consider, you may think, “I’ll just do it part time, and train a few clients out of my basement”.  BEWARE….

Firstly, the City of Calgary requires a permit to run a business from your home. This will require you to register your business name and register your business (as a Sole Proprietorship or Incorporation) before you apply for the Permit with the city.

Secondly, if your business is identified as requiring a business licence, you should take steps to ensure the licence is in place before operating your business.  If you are found operating your business before the licence is issued, you could be subject to charges.

Liability Insurance also needs to be considered when running a home based business of any kind.  This insurance can only be obtained once you have completed your certification.  I suggest you have this in place before you begin training to avoid hassles, complications or worse…lawsuits without insurance!

Now that you’ve got your home based gym, you’re certified, insured and permitted by the city…What’s next??

Before clients will feel confident and safe training with you it’s imperative that you establish you policies and procedures. This not only keeps you safe, but your clients also.

For example,

Do you bill a client who missed a regularly scheduled appointment?  What if a client’s payment does not clear?  What forms do you have in place to not only collect information from your client, but to show a clear outline of your policies and procedures? Will a waiver really protect you if you are negligent and do you need a lawyer to draft it?

Marketing, Promoting, Building clientele….The list really does go on for days.

This is merely the tip of the iceberg of various questions you need to answer before you decide to begin training on your own.  I have always said that just because one is an amazing Personal Trainer, does not mean they are an amazing business person, and this IS a business. (A super duper fun one that is more rewarding than you can imagine!) 

Personal Training and Business are two entirely different professions. But with the right education and coaching you can excel in BOTH.

In a city of 1Million people and more personal trainers joining the ranks every day, it’s critical that you set yourself apart. If you’re starting out and want to become one of Calgary’s elite Personal Trainers it’s critical that you either hire a someone to help with the business start-up or you can simply attend the “Build Your Business” workshop and learn how to not just manage your business, but how to make it the SUCCESS YOU DREAM of!!

Sports Insurance Link http://www.sportsfitnesscanada.com for more information on insurance