One of the ways personal trainers can benefit from technology is by setting up a virtual personal training business. This allows them to work from home and access more clients. Expanding your horizons to virtual personal training can lead to more profitability, work-life balance, and schedule flexibility.

It’s no secret that many people who love fitness and nutrition are looking for experts to help them achieve their goals. Starting a business is challenging, but with a guide, you can begin work as soon as possible. Here is a step-by-step process on what you need to do:

Completing Certifications

Personal training is a lucrative yet highly competitive business. One of the things you’ll need are certifications to prove your credentials. Since there is no standard for personal training, you’ll have to think about it in the way gym trainers may have qualifications on display. The more certifications you have, the higher your credibility.

At the most basic level, you need a certificate proving you have the knowledge and skills required to be a personal trainer. Going after established organizations that award these certificates is a must. You can go even further by gaining certificates for:

• Teaching virtual/online courses
• Setting up and managing a business
• Creating training programs
• Other specializations

One way to stand out from the crowd is through specialization. Choosing the right specialty will maximize profits because you cater to a specific need. For example, some personal trainers offer workout regimens to achieve the Hollywood look and body.

Establishing a Business Structure Like an LLC

Your business structure will affect how you handle aspects of your business, including taxes and liability. An LLC is an entity formed through your state. One of the benefits of using an LLC is that it exists as a separate entity from its owners. That means it handles obligations as a business and will not hold the owner liable.

One reason why many virtual personal training businesses use LLCs is that they have more tax options. Liability protection is also essential for personal training businesses. This way if someone gets injured or disgruntled, then the LLC is what will get sued while your personal assets will be protected.

To get these awesome protections from the LLC, you need to do it the right way. This includes registering in your home state, setting up a separate bank account, and getting an operating agreement.

One of the best ways to ensure you have everything you need for an LLC application is by using a service like Drafted Legal. This will ensure that you’re fulfilling the required documentation without hiring an expensive lawyer.

Setting Up a Website

Your online presence will be essential to attract potential customers and land contracts. Every business can attest to having an online anchor, a website. When naming your website, make sure it aligns with your business name. One of the biggest challenges is choosing a domain name because it can affect your online visibility.

You want to strike a balance between something that fits your branding and something easy to remember. Your website name should also make it clear that you’re offering personal training. The faster someone can remember it, the easier it will be to land clients.

Think of your website as an investment. As such, you don’t want to hire someone without much experience creating one. Every form of marketing and communication you’ll have in the future will lead to the website, which is why you need it to be at its best. A professional designer and developer can help make your vision a reality through modern marketing strategies.

Ideally, you want a visually pleasing website that is easy to navigate, fast loading, and intuitive. A good website will give off professionalism and show that you are an authority in the field. The website will also speak volumes about how you present yourself as a trainer. Other than that, it can also display content that will further attract customers:

• Workout and nutrition guides
• Testimonials and reviews
• Blog posts on various fitness and training topics
• Certifications and experience
• Proof of results from previous clients

You may also want to hire a professional copywriter to keep your website up-to-date and active. Again, your website is an investment. It pays to keep it alive because it will entice leads to return for your services.

Marketing Your Business

With your website established, what you need now is marketing strategies. These will help you find more clients and pull them into your website. Your website is a form of marketing, but it’s not the only available channel. Here are some of the most popular ones you can use:

Pay-per-click (PPC) Advertising

PPC advertising is one of the most expensive marketing options available, but it can bring results fast. It’s best for providing that immediate boost in visibility to your website and services. You have to implement a strategy to manage the resources you use for PPC because it can eat up your budget fast.

You can expect a steady stream of interest online with a good strategy. The two most popular options for PPC include Google and Facebook advertising.

Email Marketing

You can use your website and social media to ask for email signups for your clients to receive marketing newsletters. Emails are a great way to engage with leads and find new ones. For one, you can send content emails that establish your authority and expertise. It can also be a way for you to remind them of your services, and offer any promotions you may be running.

Social Media

Social media is one of the best ways to market because you have the assurance of a steady stream of users. The platform you use will depend on your target audience and how you’d like to present yourself. You can use it to post content and even engage with users. Don’t be afraid to interact and show that you are ready to meet leads head-on. Some popular platforms for social media include:

• Facebook
• Reddit
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Twitter
• TikTok

Contracts

Now that you’ve managed to land several people ready to commit to your services and programs, you need to establish a contract. These are essential because they are necessary for legal and business documentation, and they can protect you in case of liability and become an assurance for payment.

However, the challenge with most businesses is that they don’t know where to start. One of the best ways to kickstart your contracts is by using a service like Drafted Legal. You can use their templates for creating contracts and agreements. That way, you don’t have to use up large portions of your budget to draft a contract through a lawyer.

Putting It All Together

Starting a virtual personal training business isn’t easy, but as long as you take it one step at a time, you’ll get to where you want to go. You want to see what other successful businesses are doing and understand why their moves make them successful. This guide acts as a way to make sure you have all your bases covered, especially with business and contracts. Take the time to begin planning your path toward running a new virtual personal training business.