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In house training-I will come to you. What do you think?

by Christina Leid
(Houma, LA )

I am chomping at the bits. I want to start my own business where i go to client's homes (particularly women).

Has anyone else had experience with this or any suggestions that could be of help to me? If so, please share.

I am through with gyms that make you follow a script for each client I want to do my own thing.

Christina

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In-house training
by: Christine

I do in-house training for women only. I go to their home. It is working out great so far. Please be very selective about whose home you go to. Because there will be times when you are uncomfortable at someone's home, you may want to get a small office so you will have a place to work out of when you hit those uncomfortables.

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I do In-Home PT as well
by: Micah

I have been doing in-home personal training for the last 6 years. My business is going really well. one of the biggest advantages is that you have no inventory or overhead (other than your in-home training equipment). I always do a telephone interview with clients BEFORE I commit to going to their homes. Make sure you have a way of tracking your income like an excel sheet, quickbooks, or another form of income tracking and you should be ok.

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Taxes
by: Chris Leid

I was discouraged recently when I see the amount of self employment taxes. Wow.... is it even worth it?

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I am also thinking in home.
by: Damon

I am also thinking of doing in home trainng, I also am tired of working at gyms and they take half of the cash. One thing you have to definately think of is how to market, even the greatest trainer can not train if they do not have clients. You can go on vista print to to get a affordable web page, and all of your marketing tools. Market, market, market.

Check out my web page and let me know how I can improve it. http://hrfitness1.vpweb.com/default.html

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In Home/Mobile Fitness Training Has Unlimited Earning Potential!
by: Machelle Lee - The Invisible Gym Mobile Personal Fitness Training

Mobile fitness training is an important part of the fitness industry because it reaches those who will never join a gym or health club. Interestingly, only 14% of the entire U.S. population belongs to a gym or health club (IHRSA, 2006). That means that 86% of the U.S. population is NOT IN THE GYM!! This leaves quite a large population that is not being serviced by our industry!

Mobile training is a very easy business to get started - It doesn't require a lot of money to begin or a lot of overhead to maintain. What it does require is a trainer who truly wants to help those who need physical activity. One great benefit of mobile training is that because of the low overhead, more of the training fee will stay where it belongs - in your pocket!

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product
by: Anonymous

I am thinking of doing the same thing and recently found this product
www.TrainClientsAtHome.com

Has anyone bought this?
Tell me what you think?

Lynn

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Help for the In Home Trainer
by: Anonymous

Hi, My name is Machelle Lee and I own an In Home/ mobile fitness business called, The Invisible Gym. www.the-invisible-gym.com

I have been doing mobile training for over 8 years now and it is very safe. If for any reason you feel awkward about meeting someone at his/her home for the 1st time. (maybe you feel a bit awkward while you are talking to this potential client on the telephone) I suggest setting up a meeting at a neutral location. Local parks, beaches, even a coffee shop will work. Basically you want to be in a public place where there are other people around. I have only done this 2x the entire time I have been providing mobile training. In both situations, everything worked out fine. Also remember that during your initial consultation, you are also choosing whether or not that potential client will be a good fit for you.

We are extremely passionate about mobile training and want to see it become an integral part of the fitness industry. If anyone has any other specific questions, please feel free to contact us directly at getfit@theinvisiblegym.com

Because of the frustration of the lack of resources for the In Home Mobile Fitness Trainer, my husband and I created a manual specific for the Mobile Fitness Trainer called, The Mobile Fitness Trainers Guide To Business Success. http://www.the-invisible-gym.com/mobile-fitness-professionals.html

This manual covers everything a mobile trainer needs to know to be successful.

Good luck, the future of mobile fitness training looks bright!

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How do you get the clients
by: Kevin

I love the idea of in-home training. But had do you get a strong client base? I can see a lot of walk-ins with a national chain gym. But that doesn't seem as easy with in-home. Any suggestions.

Kevin

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Mobile Personal Training in MA
by: Anonymous

Hello, I am looking for advice on what is needed to start up a mobile personal training business in Massachusetts? Tax Id? Licensing? The business would be under my legal name, as the sole proprietor. I already have professional/general liability insurance since I am currently a trainer working out of gyms. What else would I need? Thanks in advance!

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In Home Pricing

by Kathy
(North Texas)

Perhaps I have just missed this but how do you determine what you are going to charge if you are training people in their home. It is an additional convenience. Do you have a trip charge, mileage or hourly rate for travel?

I know gyms in my area are charging around 50-80 average per hour

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What should you charge for your services?
by: Machelle Lee - The Invisible Gym Mobile Personal Fitness Training

Personal fitness training is an intangible service, so pricing it can be difficult. Establish a rate that is appropriate for your education, experience and level of service.

*Hint: You can keep your prices higher than your competitors as long as you offer better customer service than your competitor!

Knowing the fixed and variable costs is essential for determining your pricing. To do this, you need to estimate the number of training hours you plan to do each month. In the beginning this can be difficult, but it is important to estimate your number of training hours so you can get a dollar amount per hour. The accuracy of this hourly cost is only as good as the expense predictions and the trainer’s ability to reach the monthly training goals. The only part of the business that a trainer is able to charge for is the actual training time with the client, and many more hours will need to be done for administrative work. On top of figuring out the hourly costs, it is also necessary to do some market analysis and find the average training fees in the area where the business is established.

Because many trainers work out of a fitness facility and have higher overhead costs than mobile trainers, it is likely that a mobile personal trainer can provide their services, cover their expenses, pay themselves, have profit, and still be able to provide it for less than those trainers working out of facilities -

This is the competitive advantage for mobile training!

Of course we aren’t suggesting that you do this, our advice is to keep your prices competitive and to offer better customer service than your competitors.

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website
by: Victoria

Michelle Lee- Invisible Gym Mobile Personal Training- I am VERY interested in providing Mobile and In Home Fitness Training, and would like some tips/direction. I have tried to get on your website from the address you gave above numerous times, but, cannot get anything but a blank page. I would like to use your resources but I cannot access it. Please help.
tsmack62@yahoo.com

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Personal Trainer Safety

I'm a certified trainer looking to start mobile personal training. Either clients can come to my home or I would go to theirs. I like the idea but I'm wondering how safe it is. Not necessarily in legal terms but having strangers come to my home and vice versa. Does anyone have any experience with this? Any insight would be appreciated.

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equipment effectiveness

Any suggestions on types of equipment to purchase if training out of clients homes and having to log equipment from place to place??

EX) dumbells (5,10,15 Lb or purchase 1 set of adjustable dumbell system like bowflex)

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My Recommendations
by: Brian

Check out PowerBlock dumbbells. They're sturdier and not as wide, so they don't get in the way during certain exercises. I'd also check out the Reebok Deck. It's a multi-height deck, that also functions as an adjustable bench with storage space.

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What types of equipment that work well for mobile training!
by: Machelle Lee- The Invisible Gym

The key to being a successful mobile trainer is to practice working with clients in all different locations and to imagine multiple scenarios. Although lugging a lot of equipment with you is always an option, it is cumbersome.

Learn how to be creative and utilize the environment all around you.

Listed below are some examples of things you can use to help you create exercises for your mobile training clients.

Indoor Examples : couches, chairs, countertops, walls, stairs, step-ladders and tables.

Outdoor Examples: benches, poles, sidewalks, playground equipment, grassy areas, beaches and parks.

*Also: Many in home clients already have exercise equipment at home. You will be amazed what comes out of closets, garages, spare rooms and underneath someone's bed.

What Types of Exercise Equipment Should I Buy?

Of course, we can’t deny that most fitness professional love to buy and use exercise toys, gadgets, gear and equipment. In fact, lets be honest, fitness professionals enjoy the equipment much more than our clients. Bear in mind, that the more things you buy, the more things you will have to keep track of and after awhile it will really start to weigh down you and your car. After seeing multiple clients each day it will get very tiring carrying and transporting unnecessary exercise equipment to each client for each session.

I learned this lesson the hard way. When I started training mobile clients, I operated more on the following mindset. “Hmmm, if you don’t like working out at the gym, I’ll just bring the gym to your house!” I transported a mobile gym to each clients’ home with my car. Looking back, I definitely looked like The Invisible Gym circus show driving around town. I crammed every type of exercise gadget imaginable into my small car. But thankfully, over time, I began to get comfortable using the environment around me. Now I feel comfortable working in any environment with little or no equipment. For outdoor workouts, I usually carry a medium size backpack with a tubing band and I always offer to carry my client’s water and personal items. Keeping your clients happy and feeling special are the keys to any successful business.

Equipment That I Recommend

Although we can justify any piece of equipment, below is a list of our “core” pieces of equipment that we use on a regular basis.

Rubber Tubing – We use Stroops tubes for outdoors. ( www.stroops.com) We do not have any affiliation with Stroops, but have learned that their bands last a long time and are covered with a cloth material guaranteeing safety if the band does happen to break.

Balance Apparatus- (any type) stability ball, bosu, ballast ball, balance boards, wobble boards, etc.

Adjustable Free Weights (we have one set that goes from 2.5 lbs to 50 lbs)

Mini yoga balls (filled with sand) various sizes and weights

Medicine ball(s) – various sizes and weights

Exercise Mat

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Kettlebells
by: primaljourney@rocketmail.com

I can't believe you didn't mention kettlebells! My husband has been a certified RKC Instructor for 2 years now and we use them in our training everyday. They are extremely mobile. If you have a heavy and a moderately light one, you can do a complete workout. Add some body weight moves and/or some plyo's and you are set!

Joe and Nanette Johnson
primaljourney@rocketmail.com

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Fitness Boot Camps - Finding a location/ venue

by Sarge
(New Jersey)

I'm a 12 yr veteran of the US Marine Corps. I'm also certified through both ACE and ACT as a trainer. Everything is ready to launch for my business, but the only thing holding me back is finding a location or venue to host sessions. I've contacted a couple county parks commissions and briefly explained what I'm looking to do. I've asked them if there would be any issue if I had my clients meet me at that park to train. To date, I have not gotten a response. Does their silence indicate consent?

I'd be interested to know how other boot camp trainers went about finding a venue.

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Reply to choosing venue
by: Anonymous

In Florida, the parks charge you a monthly fee, usually about $100 + tax per month. I would select a park that is convenient to you anf functional, then market to people in that area, development, etc..

Hope this helps.

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Finding a venue - public parks
by: Anonymous

Many people just show up at parks with their groups and train without asking for an ok or for permission. This is acceptable in many areas. Some parks may ask for a vendor's permit that you purchase from them for the season. Good luck to you, and thank you for your service!

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