- Consider suitable premises; home workouts, gym rentals, and long-term locations.
- Manage client load wisely to avoid burnout; stagger hours effectively.
- Leverage social media to showcase expertise and attract clients.
If you’ve got a medical degree, becoming a personal trainer can mean career freedom. You can set your own hours, take on as many clients as you like, and work in as many different settings as there are people around the world! However, offering a reliable service as a PT takes time and effort. Indeed, there are various challenges involved that people don’t tend to think about, relating to the benefits above. To ensure you don’t fall into these same traps, here’s what you need to consider.
1. Finding the Perfect Premises
Many PTs work out of their own homes; they have a space where they can set out mats, pop up some exercise equipment, and hang a mirror and a pull up bar on the wall. However, if you don’t have space like this, you’re going to have to find somewhere else.
And if you were relying on clients having their own space, don’t bet on it every single time! You may have to start out renting from a gym in your local area, and then move onto securing your own premises once you’ve got the right client load for it.
2. Managing Client Load
A personal trainer can choose to take on as many clients as they like; it’s one of the best parts of being your own boss. However, if you take on too many clients at once, you’re going to burn yourself out in a couple of weeks.
You need to stagger your working hours, especially if you’ve got clients that come in at varying times. Use software that’s capable of time tracking for healthcare to help you keep an eye on your schedule; you can set it to flag up a lack of time for breaks, which you’ll definitely need to take to keep your energy up.
3. The Power of Social Media
It’s easy to take to social media to let the world know what you’re up to. As a PT running your own business, don’t just post pictures of yourself midworkout. Make sure you’re also posting client photos and reviews (with their permission, of course).
This is the best way to show other prospective clients what you specialize in, what you’re capable of as a trainer, and the kind of person you are to work with. Anyone looking for a PT is going to want to know this information ahead of time, so make it easy for someone to find it!
4. Taking Care of Yourself Between Clients
You’re going to have quiet periods as a PT. Sometimes you may even go hours without seeing a client. In these moments, you’ll want to commit to some self care.
Using breaks constructively is the best way to keep your momentum going. Give some good thought to this. You want your clients to get the best, and that means you need to give the best to yourself. Don’t waste your time here.
If you’re an aspiring PT, remember these considerations before you book anyone in.