HOW TO WORK FOR YOURSELF AS A PERSONAL TRAINING !

A lot of trainers talk about working for themselves one day. That is the goal for most but don’t rush into it. Trying to fly solo to early requires tons of work and patience of building your business. This includes attending fitness event, socialising (yup, I’ve found some of my client while partying), creating content and reaching out to the masses on a daily basic to promote yourself. It would also takes years of running around different locations to train your clients. The first couple of years, you my friend wouldn’t have the upper hand, if your client fancy training at 5 am and your next client is at 2 pm , you better say YES! 




I wish school taught us how to register a business, run it and  file our income tax. I had to learn it all by myself the hard way, mess up my digits and wished i had more knowledge about business. Trial and error and shared knowledge with my peers was the only way how i figured it all out( or somewhat so ) 


When you are ready to venture out on your own, these are a couple of steps to take to ensure for legal business requirement.


1)REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS. 
Head over to acra.gov.sg and register as self- employed. 


2) FIND A GYM OR GYMS 
Find a gym that you would like to work in, there’s a lot of boutique gyms that offer rent-based payment or pay as you go. Join club gyms that helps you find clients while taking a cut of your salary as commission or simply use your client’s gym, to cut on cost. Cant get enough numbers; do both, spend your morning at people’s houses and your afternoon at a specific gym. This way your spreading your visibility as a Coach. It;s never a 9-5 job sometimes it could be a 5-9 Job but if you are passionate about it, it doesn’t feel like work!


3) COMPULSORY CERTIFICATION 
Working for yourself also means sorting your own CPR/AED certification to ensure safety if anything goes wrong. Ensure that all the location that you work provides a safety aid. All the other fitness certification wont matter if anything happens to your clients and your completely clueless of what to do. 


4) INSURANCE
Dont get me started on how many trainers who dont own any personal insurance let alone a public liability insurance, not only does it covers yourself but also your clients when you are training them. Better be prepared as anything could happen in the gym. 


5) TEMPLATE OF SALES AND FINANCE 
Since you have to file your income tax, you would need data of your sale, expenditures and all the nitty gritty for it. It’s also for your to know how how much you have profited every single month therefore could be more prepared. Before the lockdown January -May would be the highest amount of sales but in June due to holidays, sales do dwindle down. With data you can make adjustment to your business and look at other source of income during the dryer month.




6) HOW MUCH TO CHARGE AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
Of course these are all subjective to your own product, how much value you can provide and also locations. The standard of the gym also influence your pricing. Ensuring your clients know the terms and condition of the package is highly important else be prepared to have multiple cancelation a day without getting paid. Time is money, money is time. You could help another individual if you know that you had an early cancellation instead of a last minute one. 


7) CREATING YOUR IDENTITY 
Be it a website, or social media, make sure you’re always reaching out to your target audience. Digital marketing is free once its all set up and its easier to reach the masses. Create content for potential clients and not just of your bum in Ibiza. A logo isn’t necessary but if you do want, go for it( will talk more about creating content on my next post) 


8) OUTSOURCE 
If you dont know how to do it outsource. Yes it would cost more money but a website designer would know how to garner attention from users. Saves you time and headaches , you’re better of spending that energy elsewhere.


9)CREATE A COMMUNITY 
Let your clients know your other clients and your clients know other trainers. Even if its not your client make a effort to know their name, build a community at wherever you work. Being part of a community gives people a sense of purpose within that environment and they would enjoy being in that location . Greet everyone you see and help one another out. See a client or trainer looking for something , help them out. All these little details will spiral down to a bigger outcome in time to come. 


10) PLAN PLAN PLAN
Giving yourself a target of how busy you want to get for that month would make it easier to come up with a plan of action. Do i need to provide promo for this month to reach out to people? Should I ask for referral from my clients ? 
Should I be spending my free time giving out flyers? or should i organise a free group class by the park to get in touch with more people? 
All of this action matter. 


There is definitely more aspect to working yourself but if you think you are ready , go for it and learn along the way. Just remember that you never fail you just learn something new. 
​