Renting a space for your personal training business
If you’re ready to take your personal training business off the ground, it’s time to rent a space that’s perfect for training clients. This won’t happen overnight, so be sure to get through this checklist to make sure you’re on the right track to securing the perfect space.
One of the biggest mistakes I see trainers make is waiting for the perfect situation before making the jump. The same way we tell our clients to take baby steps, we need to do the same thing.
After years of training experience, I rented space from dance studios and rec centers before committing to a long lease. I still remember carrying my equipment in and out for every single session! I was able to pay these locations by the hour to avoid having a massive overhead. This allowed me to save up my money and eventually get my ideal location.
You don’t need to have the best of the best when it comes to equipment. You don’t need to have the biggest, fanciest space. You need to have love for the game and a crazy work ethic to keep taking those baby steps that will eventually lead to your dream location.
Reach out to everyone! Don’t be shy! Just because a location is not advertising rental space, does not mean they will say no!
What will You Need?
To rent out the right space for your business, you’ll need clientele, a budget, and an established brand.
- Clientele
If you haven’t already, set the scene to attract the attention of potential clients. You won’t want to rent out a space until you’re already making some money in the business.
Start with people you know and trust and consider offering a first free session to hook new clientele. It’s always a good idea to start off working for bigger gyms and having mentors before jumping out on your own.
Focus on customer experience to help spread the word, and consider where your clients live when choosing a training space.
- A Budget
Every business needs a budget, personal training included. Calculate your costs and the maximum amount you’re able to pay for a training space. Know how many clients you’ll need to maintain your business, and try to keep your personal budget separate from the one at work.
- Websites and Social Media Accounts
Nowadays, if your business isn’t online it is going to lose hundreds of potential customers. Set up your website and social media accounts to show what you offer. If you’re tech-savvy you could also start your own website. Like with everything, it will not be perfect. But you have to start somewhere.
- An Established Brand
In conjunction with your social media, you’ll need to clarify your brand. This includes a clear and easily-remembered brand name, mission, and target audience. This will also help you choose the location and amenities of the personal training space you’re looking for.
- What to Consider
Now that you’re ready to browse spaces, it’s time to figure out what kind of personal training space you’re looking for.
- Price
Pricing is perhaps the most important factor when choosing your personal training space. It will vary a lot based on location and the type of studio.
Some gyms will allow you to rent out space by the hour, where others will do this by the week or month. I strongly suggest finding a location that will allow you to pay by the hour if you are just getting started. Nothing worse than paying a ton of money, and not being able to get clients.
If you’re looking at open spaces instead of gyms, you’ll need to account for the cost of equipment. If your business or the gym requires things like liability insurance from the state, you’ll also have to factor in these costs.
- Square Footage
Do you plan to do group training classes or one-on-one sessions? Will your clients be doing cardio or focusing on weight-lifting? All of these things will impact the size of the space you need.
- Equipment
There are hundreds of exercises you could teach as a personal trainer. The equipment varies greatly and will depend on your chosen training methods.
We recommend assuring that the space you rent has the main equipment you plan to use. Purchasing and transporting equipment otherwise – unless you’re renting out a private space long-term – can be very ineffective, expensive, and tiring.
Some gyms won’t let trainers use all of their equipment, so clarify this before signing a contract with a gym.
- Location
If most of your brand’s followers live in the city center but you rent a space out in the suburbs, don’t be surprised when your clientele doesn’t follow you to your new training spot. Consider your clients – both current and future – when looking for potential training spaces.
How to Negotiate Price
As with all businesses, networking is key for personal trainers. If you can develop a relationship with the owner of the space, you’re likely to get breaks in pricing.
You could consider volunteering to teach a class for them in exchange for a discount or offering your personal training services to their members at a discount. This won’t work for all situations, but networking will always come in handy somehow.
IN SUMMARY
Renting a space for your personal training services is a vital step towards solidifying your business. Once you have established your brand, potential clientele, and personal training goals, you can start to find the right space by considering your budget, necessary equipment, space sizing, and location. With a little negotiation and networking, you’re sure to find the space that meets your needs and helps progress your business goals.
If you are looking to rent space for your fitness business in the Williamsburg, VA area send me an email or text! My studio, Results Performance Training, might be the perfect fit!
If you are a trainer looking to make a career out fitness but don’t know where to start, set up a FREE consultation with me to Learn more about my coaching services. TEXT 757 589 7028 or email [email protected]
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