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Like the question states.
Is it worth it to become a trainer?
- Thread starter Smokescreen
- Start date
PT's are just salespeople.. your job is to sell time to newbs and hope they keep buying time from you. i see them at my gym always on the phone with people making cold calls to try and get them to come in for a session, offering discounts and whatever to get them hooked. the guy at my gym who i always see with clients is the most social guy there, always walking around the gym shaking peoples hands, saying hi, making small talk, networking etc etc. he is in there at 5am, and i see him in there at 8pm. he lives at the gym. and he does well i'm sure for PT'ing at a franchise gym in buckwoods, FL.
when i first joined my gym they offered me a free session with a PT and i turned them down, because all they would do is try and get me to pay for more sessions.
now the PT's that work for hollywood stars or that work as strength and conditioning coaches for sports teams/athletes actually train people instead of just trying to sell them time slots. but to get to that point it helps to know people in high places ie have your dad be the head coach or athletic director of the college football team. and boom you are hired just like anything else in life.. who you know, not what you know
when i first joined my gym they offered me a free session with a PT and i turned them down, because all they would do is try and get me to pay for more sessions.
now the PT's that work for hollywood stars or that work as strength and conditioning coaches for sports teams/athletes actually train people instead of just trying to sell them time slots. but to get to that point it helps to know people in high places ie have your dad be the head coach or athletic director of the college football team. and boom you are hired just like anything else in life.. who you know, not what you know
I LOVE IT!!!!!
If you love what you do you will never work a day in your life!
But make sure you know what you are getting into before you jump into the deep end.
Im not a fan of writing up contracts, dealing w/ people who cant pay, people looking to scam you or get free rides for nothing.. etc etc
but I do like marketing and sales and helping people so it is worth it. $$$$$ aint bad either
If you love what you do you will never work a day in your life!
But make sure you know what you are getting into before you jump into the deep end.
Im not a fan of writing up contracts, dealing w/ people who cant pay, people looking to scam you or get free rides for nothing.. etc etc
but I do like marketing and sales and helping people so it is worth it. $$$$$ aint bad either
I LOVE IT!!!!!
If you love what you do you will never work a day in your life!
But make sure you know what you are getting into before you jump into the deep end.
Im not a fan of writing up contracts, dealing w/ people who cant pay, people looking to scam you or get free rides for nothing.. etc etc
but I do like marketing and sales and helping people so it is worth it. $$$$$ aint bad either
But that's the thing brother. I need to know EXACTLY what I'm getting into before I get into it.
Are the others long? Will I be working EVERYDAY? Will I ever have time off?
How's the pay like? I need pretty damn close numbers. If I get a weekly paycheck of $500. That shit ain't going to cut it! I can't live off of $500 a week. I need more than that!
Do I get benefits? Will I have medical, dental and vision benefits?
Only other thing i've done that is was as satisfying is contracting.. but as in all things if you don't do it all you have to split with someone..
Satisfying or worth it??
depends on what you want from it, do you want to walk/talk/live the lifestyle?? then yes it can be financially rewarding..
If not, then it can still be fun but more of a supplement to making a living.. unless $18k is a living to you..
Another way to make the industry work, train people to be trainers, now there is much better $$$ in that, not as rewarding sometimes but still..
Satisfying or worth it??
depends on what you want from it, do you want to walk/talk/live the lifestyle?? then yes it can be financially rewarding..
If not, then it can still be fun but more of a supplement to making a living.. unless $18k is a living to you..
Another way to make the industry work, train people to be trainers, now there is much better $$$ in that, not as rewarding sometimes but still..
Yeah $18grand isn't going to do me any good. I need "at least" $3,000 a month. NO LESS! This is take home pay. After FICA fucksyou over. LOL
whenever you start a businiess and that is how you have to treat yourself and your training you have to expect to start low and grow big.
if you dont have savings take out a loan to do it. so you can market yourself get a good website and pay yourself if necessary.
I have clients I train at 6am and others I train at 9pm at times. I have lunch time clients etc etc.. but I do have days off as well.
At first you have to expect to out work your competition. plain and simple. Dont get into a price war. Charge more money then your comopetition and provide a better value.
hmmm after reading all that im not sure if you are looking to work for someone and be a trainer.. f that.. IMO if you are gonna do it start your own business and go all in.
if you are not sure what you are getting into find a mentor or some expert or pro in your area and get advice from him. I paid a guy 300 an bucks an hour to help me and it was the best money I ever spent.
if you dont have savings take out a loan to do it. so you can market yourself get a good website and pay yourself if necessary.
I have clients I train at 6am and others I train at 9pm at times. I have lunch time clients etc etc.. but I do have days off as well.
At first you have to expect to out work your competition. plain and simple. Dont get into a price war. Charge more money then your comopetition and provide a better value.
hmmm after reading all that im not sure if you are looking to work for someone and be a trainer.. f that.. IMO if you are gonna do it start your own business and go all in.
if you are not sure what you are getting into find a mentor or some expert or pro in your area and get advice from him. I paid a guy 300 an bucks an hour to help me and it was the best money I ever spent.
The thing is I'm kind of broke right now. I have enough money to support me for a little while. Borrowing money? Ha! I'm broke with bankruptcy brother! And no job! I'm just living off of some money I had left over from my old corporation.
well.. even at $25 per hour = $500 week..
If you are looking for full time meaning 40 hours per week or more and pulling $50 - $75 per session, you need someone/thing feeding you clients..
Private inhome training is the real only way to do that, and sales companies in your area can do that for you, but you need to have knowledge and insurance.. and you'll only bill out 4-6 hours per day.. and 1/2 of the billable will go to sales ..
see the issues??
So decide what's working for ya..
If you are looking for full time meaning 40 hours per week or more and pulling $50 - $75 per session, you need someone/thing feeding you clients..
Private inhome training is the real only way to do that, and sales companies in your area can do that for you, but you need to have knowledge and insurance.. and you'll only bill out 4-6 hours per day.. and 1/2 of the billable will go to sales ..
see the issues??
So decide what's working for ya..
kc17
New member
Yeah, this doesn't sound like any fun at all. Seems like more of a struggle just to get struggle to struggle. ROFLMAO! If that makes any sense. LOL
And I become a trainer but ONLY work for say...L.A. Fitness. I can imagine the pay will be even lower. Correct?
I had a friend a few years ago. Really huge well built dude. Was a trainer for Ballys. He fucking hated it!!! That guy was at Ballys every damn day and for HOURS!!! Yet...he dressed like shit. His car was crap. And all he complained about was NOT having any money.
Straight up told me that him becoming a trainer was the dumbest thing he did. And that he regretted it. But! That he was already in it and needed to work. Yeah...see! I don't want that.
This is why I decided to ask my brothers at EF. Why? Because he was just ONE person. With his own opinion. I needed the advice of others.
And I become a trainer but ONLY work for say...L.A. Fitness. I can imagine the pay will be even lower. Correct?
I had a friend a few years ago. Really huge well built dude. Was a trainer for Ballys. He fucking hated it!!! That guy was at Ballys every damn day and for HOURS!!! Yet...he dressed like shit. His car was crap. And all he complained about was NOT having any money.
Straight up told me that him becoming a trainer was the dumbest thing he did. And that he regretted it. But! That he was already in it and needed to work. Yeah...see! I don't want that.
This is why I decided to ask my brothers at EF. Why? Because he was just ONE person. With his own opinion. I needed the advice of others.
spywizard gave some great advice.. i didnt sell half the people that pay me. I have a bunch of people that comissions based on what type of contract the people sign up for.
this didnt happen overnight.. but it didnt take forever either.
what are you doing today? Tonight? go find a trainer and talk to him.. go ask people why they chose a trainer in your area.. research the competition in your area?
go to google and type in "myhometown personal trainer" or myhometown fitness or myhometown bootcaomps
get an idea of who you are competing against.. etc etc.
this didnt happen overnight.. but it didnt take forever either.
what are you doing today? Tonight? go find a trainer and talk to him.. go ask people why they chose a trainer in your area.. research the competition in your area?
go to google and type in "myhometown personal trainer" or myhometown fitness or myhometown bootcaomps
get an idea of who you are competing against.. etc etc.
kc17
New member
Smokescream... you from Miami right ?? so am I, I go to bally and la fitness know a few trainers in boths places , they make around $350.0 to $450 tops .. most of them are off on the weekends they do seem happy when training hotties ..a few of them live with their parents though..
That's because that pay is toooooo low. I need "at least" $600 a week to feel satisfied. Imagine, I'm a guy that used to bring home close to $1,500 a week!!! After taxes and everything! That was my take home pay. PLUS! I made an extra $500 or more per week with my other business.
Now look at me. I'm down to nothing. But it's ok! I remained positive and re-adjusted my life to live off of WAY LESS money.
But $600 a week is the absolute lowest I will go.
Its cool and all to do a job that someone really LOVES. I understand where you brothers are coming from with this. Nothing sucks more than to do a job that one FUCKING HATES! It makes life so much more harder and really takes a toll on someones sense of wellbeing/happiness.
That's how I was when I was both working for someone and owning my own business. HATED IT!!! But you know what I loved so much? That money!!! MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!
Cool to do something you love. But at the end of the week when your struggling to make payments. To eat. To spend on your girl to keep her happy. For medications and emergencies etc etc. IT'S NO FUCKING FUN! Your so called "fun" job isn't so fucking fun now is it?
you just have to be willing to let the business grow. you cant expect to set up a web page or facebook and say im a trainer and have 20 people paying you the next week. it wont work like that. you need to scrap and fight for those first 20. Once you get your first 20 you have to motivate them to get you your next 20 so you have 20 or 40 more from referrals.. then look to sales and marketing etc etc.
most people will start a business like this part time if they dont have savings, loans or a financial partner. I had all three and still worked another job to help with income for about a year now the biz is basically on auto pilot. I have a sales team, a great referral program and im dominating google for the search terms I want. I just hired another trainer.
It can be done but you need some patience and you have to be willing to endure it through the hard times..
most people will start a business like this part time if they dont have savings, loans or a financial partner. I had all three and still worked another job to help with income for about a year now the biz is basically on auto pilot. I have a sales team, a great referral program and im dominating google for the search terms I want. I just hired another trainer.
It can be done but you need some patience and you have to be willing to endure it through the hard times..
And working as a trainer for L.A. Fitness? Is this a bad move?
that is jus something I wouldnt do but it could be good experience. learn some tricks of the trade and what not but IMO the easiest part of being a trainer is the training and programming. The hard part is the business side, the marketing, the billing, the contracts, the sales etc etc.
Why would working for L.A. Fitness or Ballys be a bad idea?
When you say the easiest part is the training and programming. What exactly do you mean?
If I go to learn how to become a trainer, will they teach me how to market myself? How to make contracts? sales? etc etc?
Stryker1992
Well-known member
In the right environment they can make tons of money. It depends on supply and demand. You have to have something about you that stands out as a trainer....
Brother, do YOU work for a gym?
Makethisworkout
New member
...you'll not likely be rich but its an enjoyable job for a few years - you gotta move on eventually though
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