Setting up Personal Training business from home

Nicola0000
Nicola0000 Posts: 531 Member
Hi!
I am a Personal Trainer, and want to train clients from my garage at home. Are there any other UK pt's who have done this that can give me some pointers? I've registered as self-employed, but can't find much info about any restrictions/ insurance that type of thing. Any help would be appreciated :-)

Replies

  • Return2Fit
    Return2Fit Posts: 226 Member
    I can't answer your direct questions, but I know much about self-employment.
    Just stay motivated and keep moving forward as though you're the owner of the most exclusive facility around.
    People respect a positive, self-assured professional and are drawn toward one who is upbeat and inspirational.
    GOOD LUCK!
    :)
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,084 Member
    You're definitely going to need good liability insurance. Try calling some small business insurers, or Googling specialist insurance services. It's not the kind of thing you'll be able to get an online quote for. Maybe creep some other personal trainers in the area and see if they list their insurer on their website.
  • AnabolicMind2011
    AnabolicMind2011 Posts: 211 Member
    It would be easier to just go train people at the gym if your really serious about this
    To make your home a legit place To train people will take the proper set up and insurances.
    Not to mention the fact that people may think because your training people out of your garage that your not good enough to open a training center of your own or work at the gym. They could expect to pay you next to nothing because after all, your training them out of a garage.
    I personally wouldn't take anyone seriously who just decided to become a personal trainer and started taking clients in their garage. I wouldn't even bother with it and would instead go to a gym or professional training facility.
    Think about it like this- if someone walked up to you and said they where a personal trainer and would like to train you in their garage, would you think they're a professional or laugh?
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    Not UK but ran my own business in the US. Insurance is mandatory. I carried an umbrella policy for $1million each occurance and $3 million total. Ran about $600 a year if I remember correctly. Also had to change my home owners insurance to cover running the business - don't let them raise the medical liabilty rider on homeowners because it is covered in liabilty already. Had another coverage but don't recall why or what it was for.

    ALWAYS get doctors permissions for exercise or a medical clearance. That can come into play in a lawsuit.
  • Nicola0000
    Nicola0000 Posts: 531 Member
    It would be easier to just go train people at the gym if your really serious about this
    To make your home a legit place To train people will take the proper set up and insurances.
    Not to mention the fact that people may think because your training people out of your garage that your not good enough to open a training center of your own or work at the gym. They could expect to pay you next to nothing because after all, your training them out of a garage.
    I personally wouldn't take anyone seriously who just decided to become a personal trainer and started taking clients in their garage. I wouldn't even bother with it and would instead go to a gym or professional training facility.
    Think about it like this- if someone walked up to you and said they where a personal trainer and would like to train you in their garage, would you think they're a professional or laugh?

    I haven't just decided to be a personal trainer. I've been one for a year now and am currently working out of a gym. I work full time in the fire service, so this is a side job as I love training people. Lots of my clients don't like the gym environment and have said they would much prefer to be out of there (the gym is male orientated and I mainly train women). I'm converting the garage to start with just for me to train out of, and have spent money painting and converting the floor and ceiling so it's a nice place to train. It was a thought that if other people wanted to train there too, that I could just do that. It's not just a dusty garage with some weights put in.
    Being good enough to open a training centre is one thing, entirely different for having the capital to do it.
  • Nicola0000
    Nicola0000 Posts: 531 Member
    Thanks for everyone's replies. I've looked it to it more, and as its a residential area, planning permission to change the use doesn't look good. So I'll have to build up the mobile PT side of the business so I can get out of the gym.
    Thanks for your help! :)