In this video, I show how you can start a personal training career, part-time, with 3 key tips.
If you're a new personal trainer or just thinking about getting certified and working in the fitness industry, this video is for you.
One of the top questions I'm asked on my channel by new personal trainers or by people who want to become a personal trainer is this:
"How to/can I start doing PT part-time"?
This video starts with why I recommend starting your career in the fitness industry part-time, and why working another job/side-hustle is a smart idea.
I then give recommendations for part-time jobs that work for new personal trainers with flexible schedules. These options are low-commitment ways to make quick cash so you can cover expenses while building your PT business on the side.
When I started personal training in 2008, I bartended on Friday and Saturday nights to cover my basic needs and put cash in my pocket.
Next, I discuss a VERY IMPORTANT tip that no personal training coaches ever discuss: are you an AM or PM trainer?
The reality is that you can't work mornings, afternoons, and nights for long when you're starting your training career. You'll burn out. No one wants to train with a low-energy, burnt-out personal trainer.
Then, I give some key tips and strategies to decide what schedule you'll want to work. Trust me, this advice will save years of frustration and headache.
The last tip I give is how to move your schedule from part-time to full-time, once your fitness business has picked up enough clients. The worst thing you can do is make your schedule available at all hours of the day.
YOU are the authority with your personal training business.
You need to set boundaries in place for your own health, fitness, nutrition, lifestyle, and sleep. If you take clients at any time of the day, you won't last long as a trainer.
Career PTs treat their schedule with respect by blocking off time for training clients, and time for themselves.
No one wants to train with an out-of-shape trainer! You have to look out for number one.
As a PT, I've worked with over 1,000 clients. I've taught kettlebell and fascial stretching certifications to other personal trainers, I've owned a boot camp/CrossFit style gym, I've worked in big box gyms, and I've been an independent personal trainer for the last 10 years.
This is exactly what I would've wanted to hear when starting out as a new trainer.
My goal is that if you're a brand new PT or if you're thinking about a career in the fitness industry, you take this advice and use it to guide better decisions when beginning your journey.
Work a job. Keep making an income while you start your training business. Get so busy part-time that you NEED to move to full-time personal training.
Better to have 2 days a week where you're killing it with your PT business, helping clients, and making money, than to have 5 days where you only have 1 or 2 PT clients.
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TIME STAMPS:
00:00 - Can you start PT part-time 01:02 - Additional income stream 1:33 - Start in the busiest gym you can 2:17 - Tips for Independent PTs 3:05 - Part-time job/side-hustle options. 3:26 - Freelance sites for part-time work. 4:56 - Savings in the bank will help you during consultations. 6:11 - AM or PM trainer 7:27 - Condense your schedule. 8:06 - Minimum clients you should train daily. 8:52 - Prioritize you 10:33 - Deliver the best customer experience. 12:48 - The best schedule for PTs. 13:20 - Sales tip every PT should know. 13:47 - How to go from part-time to full-time. 14:06 - Avoid big gaps. 14:56 Additional services for PTs 15:39 - Grind two days/week 15:55 - Advice every PT needs to hear.
The BEST advice I can give to new personal trainers is this:
- Strength is the 'mother quality'. Focus on strength first with your personal training clients. - Become an expert at something. Specialize and solve a big problem for a particular niche. - Education is key. Be a life-long student of the personal training business. - Perfect your craft in every way. This includes training, sales, and marketing. - Trust your gut. Don't second-guess yourself.
