How to Become a Successful Fitness Entrepreneur

When I first got myself involved in this fitness business endeavor of mine I must say I was pretty clueless about any other aspect of the business except fitness, bodybuilding, and nutrition. I thought that my knowledge and experience in the mentioned fields are more than enough for becoming up-and-coming young entrepreneur – and I couldn't have been more wrong. As luck would have it, a few years ago I was attending a sport supplements lecture in Sidney, Australia together with Josh Panebianco of SMSF - the man who really turned the tables for me. In addition to his blooming fitness business, Josh is handling a superannuation-based financial firm – two fields I thought of as apples and oranges. I learned a lot from this incredible guy and in this text I would like to share a few pearls of wisdom I picked up from him. The following tips are based on the successful running of a fitness business but they could be applied to other businesses as well.

1. Set Goals
There's no success in business if an individual does not have clearly defined goals to strive for each day. In a fitness business, the goal is to train, to reach you own goals, and, of course, help each client reach their personal goals. In business, as in sports, your goals have to be set high, but still stay achievable. Now, I know a lot of you would say that this goes without saying but you would be surprised how many people (including yours truly) overlook the basics. For example, a business will need a certain number of clients to earn a certain amount each month to acquire the total amount desired for a year. When these figures are broken down, it will show you how many prospects you will need each month to obtain your goal. Then, you will need to find ways to acquire these prospects. You can take action by using several options for reaching out to new clientele. A website is the top tool for spreading the word about the business as well as networking and referrals from satisfied customers.

2. Use Direct Debit to Make More Money
The way an individual charges their clients can make the difference between success and failure. Direct debit will yield more income than any other methods. For instance, in a fitness business, never use packages for the business. Instead, charge each client monthly by direct debit to make more money. By charging someone with a direct debit each month, the business will still be paid if the client does not show up. I'm telling this from my personal experience since I've been burnt more than once this way. Direct or auto debit saves a business time and money since the business will not have to keep signing up the same person over and over. The clients that are on direct debit will help your business meet that preset goal of having a certain number of clients per month.

3. Obtain More Qualified Clients
When a prospective client calls to find out about the services offered, ask them questions about what they want to know or do. By asking questions you can learn more about the client and be better able to personalize the answer to the client’s questions. For instance, when people are asked what they want to do, they will say that they want to lose weight and be fit. You can then ask questions like why this goal is important to them. With these questions you are trying to discover the real reasons why the client wants to achieve these goals. Some clients will choose to lose weight due to an emotional issue such as a father dying with a heart attack. They do not want to end up the same way. The more you know, the better your approach will be. Once the questions have been answered you can then discuss prices and schedules for fitness training to help your new clients achieve what they came for.

4. Control Working HoursIt is important to set a time schedule for working. At a fitness center, the clients should not be the ones to control when a fitness owner works. The fitness owner should set his or her own working hours. It will be easy to get burnt out if the working hours are not controlled by a time schedule. Each and every personal trainer I ever discussed this issue with had the same problem and some of them still haven't managed to resolve it to this day. Being flexible is a good practice - being a slave to your job and clients is not.