Personal Training Business Success. A Post By Pat Rigsby.
By now you may know that Nick and I, along with Brian Grasso and Sara Nylander, launched a youth fitness & athletic development franchise called Athletic Revolution.
We’ve been very deliberate with our expansion (we have 7 locations so far) because we are committed to building the premier youth fitness & athletic development franchise in the world – and we can’t do that haphazardly 
Because we spend a lot of time focusing on building Athletic Revolution the right way, we put a lot of thought into what goes into a successful fitness and personal training businesses. While I can’t share the details of everything we’ve uncovered as some of it is proprietary and exclusive to AR franchisees – I can share the key components that go into any successful personal training business.
To build a successful personal training business, you need:
1. A training system. If you don’t have a training system you’re not going to be able to build and maintain a successful business. Ever wonder why no one else talks about that? I do.
Kind of like telling someone to market the heck out of a restaurant – but who cares if the food sucks.
2. You need operational systems. No operational systems mean that you’d better plan on running your personal training business, camp or facility until you’re 80.
No vacations, no sick days – no expansion.
If you want to ever grow beyond trading time for dollars – operational systems are a must.
3. Fitness Marketing & Sales Systems. This is the one that gets the most attention from everyone else, but without the other two – it can’t create a successful personal training business.
But if you have the foundation of the other two in place – the right marketing and fitness sales systems are what propel you to a 6 or 7 figure business. The reason you’ve not seen tons of marketing for Athletic Revolution yet is that we are committed to making sure that #1 and #2 are just as ready to handle 70 or 700 franchisees as they are 7.
Honestly, most people don’t do things that way.
Lots of sizzle – not so much steak.
Heck, we had to fire some ‘advisors’ of ours because they were entirely focused on #3.
To heck with #1 and #2.
But I *promise* you…if you slight training and operations you’ll be looking for the next fad or new get rich scheme before long and the trainers that mastered the ‘trifecta’ will be thriving.
Dedicated to your success,
Pat Rigsby
Pat Rigsby is a Co-Owner of the International Youth Conditioning Association & the youth fitness franchise Athletic Revolution as well as a fitness industry consultant serving thousands of personal trainers and fitness entrepreneurs. Sign up for his fitness business free newsletter to discover proven marketing, sales and business strategies, along with blog updates, news, and more! While you’re at it, follow him on Twitter.
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Solid gold right there Pat, solid gold
So excited for you and Athletic Revolution! Such an important cause, great work!
Simple but effective! Great info. Pat, if more trainers ran their facility like a business and not like a job we would see the whole industry change!
Honestly, working with Pat, Nick, & Jim has propelled my business to 6 figures in 1 year!!!!
Thanks Guys,
Steve Krebs
I doesn’t get much more straight forward than that! I am spending a good deal of time right now refining our own operations manual.
It takes away all the guess work and keeps things growing…even without #3 above.
Keep up the great work!
Art
There’s a reason so many businesses fail. It’s because they don’t have any idea what they’re doing.
Listen to Pat. He knows what he’s doing!
And I know from working with him that hardly anyone realizes the value Nick brings to the table.
AR is in very good hands with these two at the helm.
Constantly refining all three components. Now it’s time to watch this thing grow.
Another great article to make you think. I am not yet to the point of starting my own business. I’m working in youth fitness with a large national organization and feel that I don’t have enough time in the day to start my own business. Your article makes me think about the possibilities and dreams that I do have for a business endeavor. It also shows me how ignorant I am in business skills… not even knowing the term “operational systems,” having to google it. I Stay inspiring : )
It is a balance. You can tell when one thing is out of place.
You do #3 and get the people there but ignore #1 and they don’t like your program so they don’t stick around…..
You do #1 and #3 but ignore #2 you become a slave to your business…. that sucks. (Been there)
We still need some work on #2 but we are getting there
)
Pat. This is awesome and an answered prayer. I have been stuck at #1 for what seems like forever. I’ve been successful at the application of the training system but retention makes me feel otherwise. its kinda like the old saying ‘if you don’t have anyone following you, you’re just takin a walk’.
my question is how do you get an operating system up and running without the people to make it happen? heck without a ‘system’. just bein a little transparent…
Another great article to make you think. I am not yet to the point of starting my own business. I’m working in youth fitness with a large national organization and feel that I don’t have enough time in the day to start my own business. Your article makes me think about the possibilities and dreams that I do have for a business endeavor. It also shows me how ignorant I am in business skills… not even knowing the term “operational systems,” having to google it. I Stay inspiring : )
+1