Is ACSM CPT easier than ACSM HFS????????? - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[Christina]

healthfitness2009,

1. If the trainers are working in a club they do not make what the services are being advertised for. The management/owner keeps a chunk of it. (I'm sure you know this.)
2. Curt lives in the Los Angeles area so the trainers there are going to make WAY more than a trainer working in a gym in a little town in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes the upscale clubs in California cost a few thousand dollars just to join and then a hefty monthly membership fee. Gold's Gym or 24 Hour Fitness are not even close to being in the same league as these types of clubs. People with Master's degrees don't work in clubs where a kid with no education and a weekend personal trainer certification works.
3. Most trainers do not work 40 hours a week.
4. From what I gather from your posts it sounds like you're targeting 20 year old muscle heads as your demographic. I charge $60-$65 an hour for my services depending on which package my clients buy and I work hard for every penny. I not only drive to my clients' homes and train them, but I also spend time on the phone each week reviewing and setting goals with them, I send out motivational emails, I review food journals, research handouts, and much more. My job as their trainer goes way beyond just showing up and telling them what to do. As a result, my business is going gangbusters in what is supposed to be a tough economy and at this rate I will need to hire a trainer in a few months. (I just launched my business LAST YEAR and spent some of that time taking a couple of month hiatus so I could spend time with my dad who is having some health problems.) My advice is to work hard and invest a lot of your time and energy in customer service and you'll be making a lot of money too someday. Remember: nothing comes easy.

Christina

[healthfitness2009]

I am new to all this and I just graduated with a degree but don't really have real world experience getting clients. Most people I talk with and tell them I will charge them $20 an hour they give me the look ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND :lol: . I wonder how you guys can get people to shell out $60 an hour to just get some diet plan, article on exercise and LDL and a phone call.

I m a beginner and I am working at WalMart as cashier because I can't seem to get clients and gyms wont hire me without a cert. I m sure I know if not equal but more than those 20 yr old jocks with just CPT certs. Please give me some tips and tricks because taking sh*t from idiot customers is kinda getting old. Surprisingly people don't respect associates just because they are working entry level jobs.

[Christina]

healthfitness2009,

I am going to guess you have 2 strikes against you.
1. You're young.
2. You most likely live in a small town where health and wellness is not valued.

For some reason you have it in your mind that trainers are ripping people off when they charge $60 +/hr. Try doing all the things I listed out for just ONE client and you tell me how time consuming it is. I think you would be very surprised. Your posts reflect your inexperience.

I train women between the ages of 30 and 55 and for some of them, their lives literally depend on losing weight. Some of these women have 75+ pounds to lose. Do you think $65/hour is worth it to them to see their children grow up? Do you know what it is like as a trainer to try and motivate someone who has pretty much given up on life? It's extremely difficult. Researching exercise on Google or a bodybuilding site might work for a mildly overweight "kid" but most adults with obesity and morbid obesity need professional help. Sometimes a personal trainer is their last resort. Do you know how burdensome and stressful that can be?

Please do not be offended by this because I may be way off when I say this, but if the way you express yourself on here through slang and foul language is the same professionalism and maturity you use when trying to gain a client or land a job then no wonder people don't think you're worth $20/hr! Again, I am not trying to be offensive or confrontational. I am merely pointing out an observation and something for you to think about.

By the way, hardly any kid straight out of college makes decent money. Society doesn't respect youth because young people are generally inexperienced and immature. That's life. We've all been there.

My advice to you is the same as it was when I first answered your post. Go get your ACSM-CPT, get a job at a gym, and gain some experience. I think your attitude toward this industry will change once you start working with clients.

Good luck!

Christina

[healthfitness2009]

Christina

I totally agree with you and you got 2 things correct. Online I don't really care about being so grammatically and politically correct. In real world trust me I know how to come across as a doctor. I dress and talk like a CEO but like you said I live in small town out of nowhere and I am not a 6 pack meat head. People probably think ""If he's not a meathead how in the hell he's gonna help me lose weight"" :shock: .

All things apart, how do you guys get clients and make them think you are worth $60 hr because most minimum wage people make that in a whole day working their butt off.

[healthfitness2009]

shameless bump

[Christina]

I guess am unsure what you are asking and/or why you are confused. As I and others have already said, much of it depends on location, education, and your ability to get results.

Christina

[Billy Yen]

Not sure if this clears it up even more, but like Christina and others said -- location is important as well as education and background. Location has a role in defining demographics of your target client.

You're target client is a person that probably:
1. needs results for either serious health related reasons or improved personal appearances.
2. has the income to pay your rate that you are asking which is derived from your performance, education, certs, experience and other qualifications.

You'll end up screening tons of people. This would pretty much exclude out anyone who won't pay your rate.

You may end up with 90% that who give you that "Are you out of your mind" look when you state your quoted $20 rate, but for each of that 10% that is left -- you will put a lot of time and effort into helping them obtaining results which will end up helping YOU, because if you are good at what you do, they will refer their friends to you that exactly fit that exact 10% demographic.. already pre-screened for you.

Ultimately, you need to market your qualities well whatever they are. Your historical performance on getting results, your experience, your educational background, your personal appearance. Whatever it is, the clients need to take home the message that they will achieve results by working with you -- and you need to follow through to ensure that they do -- then you will eventually build a large-ish base of clients where your rates would need to go up (otherwise you won't have enough time off?). Start small, build big.. same as muscles i suppose?.. lol

I think Kelli M was right on key when she said that "Make your service the best around and you will command whatever rate the market will support"

Read up on sales and marketing... books know more than me.