General advice - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[ursula2]

Im trying to weight the pros/cons of getting my PT cert and either going to a corporate gym, a small independent gym or start my own PT business. When it comes to a PT business, i must consider insurance and taxes. Also im a grad student, so i have to consider how much time to devote to this....can anyone give me some advice :?

[daniella13]

The whole thing of it is, starting out on you own can be difficult like you said taxes and finding your own clients opposed to the gym finding them for you. I say becoming NASM certified is a great idea, you learn so much valuable info. I was always told start at a gym, but the cons of a gym is the take out that they get out of your work, and the whole dealing with the business of bosses and so on. On you r own you control your money, your hours, your clients and all. You can rent a space at a local studio for trainers and get going. It all depends on where you want to negotiate/compromise. Do you want to do the work of running your own business, or let a company run it for you?

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

Since your in school Id start working at a gym. Regardless of what you do eventually the gym will help you hone your skills, and learn to work with many different people and equipment. this will help you if you start your own business - watch how the gym does it. that will help you!
Im assuming your in college for exercise science or something like that. that will help. if its a program other than fitness, then take some fitness and nutrition classes. also take a marketing class. the marketing class will help you when you go in business for yourself

Focus on education and not necessary certs. As Ive said many times on this site, your future clients will probably never ask you who you are certified by.
Joe