Online training rates - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[Christina]

For those who do online training...

How do you determine your rates? What about phone consultations?

Help! Thanks.

[sgibson]

Hey guys!
I don't mean to be 3 steps behing the rest of the world, but what exactly is online training?
Stephanie Gibson, ACSM CPT
StayFit 1on1 Fitness

[BrianB]

I'll volunteer my guess. In this wonderful electronic age you could certainly do the following online (and charge for it):

1) Risk stratification
2) Program development (prepare periodized training plan)
3) Program review and reassessment
4) Healthy weight loss education and coaching

Add phone support into that mix at an hourly rate and you might just have a decent little eBusiness.

[Christina]

Exactly, Brian. I do in home training and want to offer online training/phone consultations to people who a) are on a budget, b) are already experienced at strength training, c) travel frequently. I purchased some software a while back that would allow me to email them new programs every few weeks. (This method of training would not be available to those with preexisting medical conditions.)

How should I determine my rates? Anyone?

Christina

[sgibson]

Christina,
I guess you'd have to charge per workout that is emailed, ie $50 per workout. As for phone consultations, you could charge per minute or per so many minute consultation. How about a dollar a minute? Or maybe $30 to $50 per phone session (which is about 30 minutes)?
Let me know how it goes. I'd like to try it to. By what means would the payments be made? How do you intend to market it?

[FitnessStar]

Hi Christina,

I think that you could do it on a case by case basis. I think that leading the client is a good way to move forward. You could offer monthly packages for 30 minutes/week, two 15 minute sessions, etc. I agree that one dollar per minute is reasonable.

Also, you could offer email contact with travelers if they want to go that route. I've found that to be effective.

Hope it helps!

Carl B.

"Being healthy and staying fit is a habit, and a lifestyle commitment!"

[Christina]

Thanks, Carl and welcome! Everyone has certainly given me some stuff to think about!

Christina

[megfit]

Hi Christina,

Actually, your question makes me come back to the value that life coaching could provide for trainers! Coaching (life coaching, that is) is an excellent way to provide wellness services to people long-distance.

When I was still offering nutrition counseling services, I BEGAN by offering these services at a discounted rate over the phone. However, what I realized is that my clients were not only getting just as MUCH value, but MORE value because they could just stop where they were and 'meet'. Plus, I realized I was discounting my time for this service, which would not allow me to see in-person clients for my full rates. Therefore, I raised my nutrition rates to the same as in-person.

One service that I'm still offering (although if it would die off, I would discontinue because I'm trying to phase that part of my business out) is an online 'coaching gym', where, combined with Skype, I can see clients and they can see me. Granted, such a service is ideal for after an initial assessment, OR with clients who are already in shape and just need someone to keep them on track or help them adjust their current routines on a periodized basis. This service is on www.megfit.com.
I think it could be a great model for what you have in mind, Christina. You can set up a price for your initial assessment (I always charged a set fee for my initials), and then they can choose the program, and phone/online services could be included in that. My coaching gym is 15 minutes once a week for either $25/month or $60/3 months. Easy, affordable and something to keep people on track. We don't want them dependent on us; we just want to provide the support that best works for them.

Margie

[Christina]

Hi Margie, thanks for your insight. I actually went to your website last week to see how you did your phone/online consultations.

What I have decided to offer to clients who are more advanced is "independent personal training": for a flat fee I will go to their home once a month and show them how to properly perform their prescribed exercises. (I will also give them a printed version of their workout with pics, instructions, periodization instructions, general nutrition instructions, etc) I will allow them to contact me throughout the month via email only with any questions they may have. (This way, I do not have to set aside time to chat with them on the telephone which would take time away from training other clients.) If they want to continue to use me when the month is up then I will go to their home once again, do some assessments to see how they have progressed, show them a brand new routine, give them some articles to read, and repeat the whole thing over again.

I think this is a great solution for more advanced clients, especially the clients who've been training for a while and are ready to go out on their own. (The trainer is still making money from someone that they may have otherwise lost as a client. Plus, if the client ever falls off the bandwagon then they will be much more inclined to rehire the trainer because they didn't ever lose touch with him/her to begin with.) It is also a good solution for people who travel frequently and for clients who do not need any outside motivation or accountability.

I will probably put together some sort of kit (bands, stability ball, etc.) that I can sell to clients who do not have any equipment in their home.

I love your coaching comments. I think I mentioned this before but I am working on a fitness coaching certification through wellcoaches.

Christina

[megfit]

Great idea, Christina!

You said you would set up a program where they could pay for a month, but you'll only go there once. Makes a lot of sense.

However, something else to consider is offering them an option for a longer-term contract, and one you could bill regularly. So, for instance, if they wanted to sign up for 3 months or 6 months, or 12 months, they would get some type of break or discount or something of value that might make them see the value in the longer-term commitment.

You will learn a great deal from WellCoaches, Christina!

Margie