The Business of Personal Training

Whether you are considering a career as a personal trainer or searching for ways to increase revenue and gain new clients for your existing business, you'll find The Business of Personal Training to be an indispensable reference. Written by some of the most successful personal trainers in the country, this book provides the foundation for building your personal training business.

While many books address the subject of exercise training, few have been written about the business side of personal training. This book covers the topic more thoroughly than any other existing publication, discussing not only how to build a solid business but also how to be an effective trainer.

Part I defines personal training, outlines the history of the profession, and reviews the qualifications for being a personal trainer. You'll also find important information on the certifications offered by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, American College of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research, and National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Many personal trainers have no formal business education and must learn the business aspects of their trade through trial and error. Part II helps you avoid common business mistakes, describing how to create, market, and manage a personal training enterprise. You'll learn how to
-develop a mission statement and business plan,

-set business policies,

-create strategic and creative marketing plans,

-establish prices for services,

-hire and train staff members, and

-much more.
This section also explains a personal trainer's legal and professional responsibilities, such as giving clients a health screening, obtaining informed consent, and inspecting facilities and equipment.

Part III offers techniques for becoming an effective personal trainer. Since there's more to helping your clients achieve their fitness goals than simply prescribing a program, Part III discusses
-how to maintain a professional relationship with clients,

-the psychology of personal training,

-teaching techniques and tips for improving client-trainer communication,

-how to motivate clients and help them set goals, and

-how to design appropriate, individualized exercise programs.
Nineteen sample forms in Parts II and III make it easy for you to put the ideas presented into practice.

Learn from veteran personal trainers what it takes to succeed. The practical advice provided in The Business of Personal Training is valuable for new and established trainers as well as for health and fitness administrators who supervise personal trainers.

Scott O. Roberts, PhD has worked as a personal trainer for special populations, including people with chronic disease and disabilities, since 1986. A member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE), he serves on the Committee on Personal Training for both organizations. He also helped to develop the first ACE certification for personal trainers.

Scott has spoken at many national personal training conferences and has written several books and articles on the topics of fitness and exercise science. President of Scott Roberts Enterprises, Ltd., a fitness and education consulting company, he also is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and a certified exercise program director through the American College of Sports Medicine.

Scott received his PhD in exercise physiology in 1995 from the University of New Mexico. He lives in Lubbock, where he is an assistant professor of exercise and sport science at Texas Tech.