Getting clients from the gym you work at - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[Kevin59]

Let's say you work as a trainer at a gym and also had a separate personal training business. Would the manager/owner of the gym that you are working for fire you if he/she found out that their members are discontinuing the PT sessions at their club to do PT with you at your own business becuase your rates are more affordable? Basically, they're still a member there but they're just doing PT sessions with you separate of the club. This sounds like stealing clients, but there are people who say that it's the member's choice whether they want to do PT sessions at the club or somewhere else while still being a member there. I agree to a point but I think it becomes a different story when a trainer works for that club and convinces the members there that his/her PT services are more affordable than the PT services that the club has to offer. My guess is that pulling something like this with the club you work for would get you fired in a hurry unless you do it behind their back without them knowing about it. Am I wrong here?

[standAPART]

If your club drew up a "non-disclose, non-compete agreement" and you signed it during the hiring process, you may be liable for legality issues. The members belong to the club--not the trainer. You side business doesn't seem like it is prospering on its own, seeing that you have to get a club job? I think you better "steal" as many clients as you can before you lose your job.

[Kevin59]

Yea, that's what I figured. It's not me by the way. I would need more experience before I start going on my own. That's if I dont get into the Physical therapy program. Thanks for the reply though.

[kaiserS]

I can't think of a ethical, upstanding way to do this - it just starts the training relationship on a seedy note and can't lead to any sustained success -

[oscarsanchez]

My husband is doing this. He has worked at this place for a year and a half. He looked closely in the contract to see if there would be legality issues and there won't be for his specific gym. He is ready to train on his own and his clients want to stay with him because he will be cheaper and they are happy with his service. I hope it won't be a "seedy" relationship for him. He will also be able to train a lot of them at a track or for road races which they are looking forward to. I will let you know.

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

I got away with this ONCE because my client had breast cancer and built a home gym so she wouldn't have to train in public during her treatment.

I explained to the manager what was going on and he was OK with it.

Of course when I retell this story it's viewed as I was "Stealing" from the gym owners. So I just don't tell the story any more. Even though, I was helping my client during her ordeal with cancer and treatment, most won't see that aspect.

I agree with John and Kaiser. If you signed an agreement make sure you you read it backwards and forwards before attempting something like this.

[sgibson]

I teach group fitness at a local gym. I teach at 5:30am so it doesn't take away from my personal training time and I sub when I can. In fact I was the group fitness co-ordinator when I first started my own PT business. I since let that go because I got too busy with my own business. I just kept a low profile and kept the 2 places completely separate. My personal policy was that I would not accept clients from the gym.
Now everyone knows about my business. Now if someone calls me on their own to train them, I take them no matter where they come from. However, I DO NOT solicit clients from the gym. So far it seems to be working out.