| I was listening to an audio seminar conducted by a | | | | this, your costs could be zero to $200-$300. |
| personal trainer for personal trainers who wanted to | | | | 3. What will your marketing materials be? |
| make serious money from personal training. | | | | If you plan on sticking to just business cards and |
| One of the points he mentioned was that a personal | | | | brochures (which you should have regardless of |
| training business could be started for $1000 or less. | | | | starting a business or being an employees), you still |
| That got me thinking. | | | | need to figure out the cost associated with everything |
| I have a degree in Business Administration and I have | | | | marketing material you want printed. This is still |
| been doing a fair amount of research over the last | | | | important even if you print them yourself (which I do |
| five years about starting businesses and I was not | | | | not recommend). |
| sure if he was right. | | | | I had 1000 business cards printed by a chain office |
| When you listen to one of these audio seminars, you | | | | supply store and it cost me about $54. I designed the |
| are supposed to believe the presenter because they | | | | card on their website and placed an initial order for |
| are the expert. Well, I would have to say that the | | | | 500. Then I found a coupon on their website that |
| answer to the question is yes and no - and here are | | | | allowed me to get another 500 printed for free. It was |
| three questions to help you figure it out. | | | | a great deal and you should consider things like that |
| 1. Are you certified? | | | | when starting your own personal training business. |
| If you have not been certified by an NCCA (National | | | | Brochures, matching letterhead, etc. will all have their |
| Commission for Certifying Agencies) accredited | | | | own prices. If I had ordered the matching letterhead |
| program and have your adult CPR certification from | | | | with envelopes, that would have been another $80. |
| the American Red Cross or American Heart | | | | But, that is just one store. So, just for business cards |
| Association, then your costs will go up. Expect to | | | | and potentially matching stationary, that cost is $134. |
| spend at least $500 depending on your previous | | | | And I still need brochures. |
| experience for the cost of testing, study materials, and | | | | Just adding those three categories together, we get a |
| your CPR certification. | | | | total of $934. That is assuming $500 for certifications, |
| 2. What equipment do you already own? | | | | $300 for equipment, and $134 for business cards and |
| This is of most importance if you plan being a personal | | | | matching stationary. Your costs, of course, will differ, |
| trainer who trains clients in their home. If you are going | | | | but the important thing is to realize that, just like any |
| to work at a gym, club, or studio, then this cost will not | | | | business, you could spend top dollar for everything or |
| apply to you. | | | | next to nothing for only the absolute necessities. |
| However, many of us who become trainers have a | | | | One final thing to remember: if you really want to start |
| fair bit of equipment. However, if you feel there is | | | | your personal training business for $1000 or less, you |
| something you need to add, it can usually be picked up | | | | will want to consider running it from home so that you |
| used through classifieds and garage sales or brand | | | | do not incur additional costs associated with leasing a |
| new at a discount from an equipment store. So, for | | | | space. |