Making a living in the Fitness/BBing realm

[240 is Back]

Let us list the ways:

personal trainer
gym owner/employee

um...

[ThaRealist]

Multiple forms of consulting, seminars, modeling, supplement sales, gym equipment sales, coaching, promoting, sponsorship, guest posing.......

[240 is Back]

good stuff.  would be cool to have some kind of giant list for those folks trying to make a living in the field.

[wes mantooth]

fitness equipment refurb companies are big $$$$
equipment repair techs as well.....up to $80 an hour....

[Slintowin]

sponsorships

[Mike]

Multiple forms of consulting, seminars, modeling, supplement sales, gym equipment sales, coaching, promoting, sponsorship, guest posing.......

Get a PT studio, hire trainers, train them, pay them shit, sit back and retire....

I hear this all the time from PT's in the industry...they have no idea.

Most have already been named. 

[hooker]

I suppose you could make a living doing whatever it is that I do...

I write about steroids, design nutritional supplements, coach, and do consultations.

[The Coach]

I planned my business one step at a time, but in short I offer a varity of services besides just one on one personal training, we have women and mens boot camps, "Kids Fit" camps, strength camps, online training, individual nutrition plans, I also have a chiro, message therapist and pilates and we make money from all aspects. All camps are full, I have two personal trainers plus myself just for the one on one and all of our schedules are full (8+ clients per day each 5 days) and 8 clients total for 2 trainers on Saturdays.

I make sure that I attend at least 4-6 seminars per year around the country, attend fitness conventions and generally just keep abreast on the latest in the fitness industry and subscribe to the best fitness sites and industry journal subscriptions anywhere. If you noticed, nothing I do with my business is "bodybuilding" related, that doesn't intrest me as far as being business related, I see it as a detrament.

I have a passion for the work I do (the most important thing) and love what I do. I'm always learning something everyday.

[HUTCH]

clothing

[CQ]

Get a PT studio, hire trainers, train them, pay them shit, sit back and retire....

I hear this all the time from PT's in the industry...they have no idea.

I wasn't sure whether you are serious, or saying it cannot be done - but that is basically what I did. Took many years of much effort, but well worth it in the end.

[drkaje]

240,

You forgot websites, G4P and adult entertainment.

[trab]

240,

You forgot websites, G4P and adult entertainment.

YOu forgot steroid dealing Doc, theres currently a LOT of job openings for the next 2-10 years.

[The Coach]

Now look at the last two posts before me.......and you wonder why they can't make a living doing PT. They don't take it seriously!

[trab]

Now look at the last two posts before me.......and you wonder why they can't make a living doing PT. They don't take it seriously!

Its a tough nut to crack coach. It's The Old "Many are called and few are chosen" thing...
Naw come to think, its even worse than that. PPL go into a Biz like owning a Gym or training w/ their heart and get chewed up and spit out all the time.

Its much like the bar and restaurant biz. Hard to really make it inthe BUSINESS. And tahts exactly what and how a
gym or any other enterprise in fitness must be treated as.  You can be a great athlete, trainer etc and have plenty of starting capitol, and w/ out the right Biz experience - I'll bet they go broke. Fast.

I can think of a hell of a lot of better Biz prospects, and I'd LOVE to own a gym...
(LOVE dont pay the bills)
My congrats to anyone who pulls it off, not easy.

[drkaje]

Now look at the last two posts before me.......and you wonder why they can't make a living doing PT. They don't take it seriously!

Just because someone can show up one day in good condition doesn't mean they can run a business.

For example: Less than 10% of poets make their living soley from the sale of poetry. The fitness industry is probablyless appealing. It's great a few people get paid for doing what they love. That beng said, considering the health risks and some of the shady thins people end up doing along the way, it doesn't really sem like the best horse to bet on. Putting the same amount of energy into an education/carreer just makes a lot more sense.

A lot of people/companies make money off the fitness (Fitness, figure, bodybiling, bodybuilders, etc...) but only the top tier people make any real money.

[24KT]

Just because someone can show up one day in good condition doesn't mean they can run a business.

For example: Less than 10% of poets make their living soley from the sale of poetry. The fitness industry is probablyless appealing. It's great a few people get paid for doing what they love. That beng said, considering the health risks and some of the shady thins people end up doing along the way, it doesn't really sem like the best horse to bet on. Putting the same amount of energy into an education/carreer just makes a lot more sense.

A lot of people/companies make money off the fitness (Fitness, figure, bodybiling, bodybuilders, etc...) but only the top tier people make any real money.

Jake, it's like any other industry. You name the industry, ...especially one that spawns a huge cottage industry, ...and only that top tier will ever make any "REAL" money, ...but at the same time, many will be able to make a living, while others will barely be able to keep their heads afloat, ...and many others still unable to make ends meet.

Everyone's goals are different. Not everyone wants to break the bank. For some... making a living doing something they love is all they want or need to be happy. And if and when they do, ...they are successful, ...more so than many others making 20 - 100 X's as much money, ...but hating everything they have to do to earn that money.

Think about it, ...a doctor probably makes more than a poet, but if that poet can put a roof over his head, food on his table etc., he probably enjoys his life more so than the proctologist making a 6 figure annual income, but who has to constantly stick his fingers up other people's big fat hairy butts to do it. Just a little food for thought. 

[trab]

Jake, it's like any other industry. You name the industry, ...especially one that spawns a huge cottage industry, ...and only that top tier will ever make any "REAL" money, ...but at the same time, many will be able to make a living, while others will barely be able to keep their heads afloat, ...and many others still unable to make ends meet.

Everyone's goals are different. Not everyone wants to break the bank. For some... making a living doing something they love is all they want or need to be happy. And if and when they do, ...they are successful, ...more so than many others making 20 - 100 X's as much money, ...but hating everything they have to do to earn that money.

Think about it, ...a doctor probably makes more than a poet, but if that poet can put a roof over his head, food on his table etc., he probably enjoys his life more so than the proctologist making a 6 figure annual income, but who has to constantly stick his fingers up other people's big fat hairy butts to do it. Just a little food for thought. 

Yes Yes Yes - But...     
       I personally see the Gym/ fitness field as a VERY tough one to pull a profit. (esp in the USA)

I'm not Trump, but I know what I'm looking @ re:Business.
 I been around, and Bar/ Restaurant and the Gym thing are similar in the type of people/reason they open IMO.
The number of naive folks that go in w/ their heart is staggering....
It damn well better be money and time they can burn IMO (unless they were born into it, and grew up around it)
because odds of failure are better than not.

I dont want to ruin anyones "Dream" but I dont want to see them living a nightmare. And thets exactly what most get.
The number of Foreigners thinking of opening a Bar/restrant in my wife's country are high. Many try, few last long.
They call on the phone and talk to her thinking they can swing it w/ $20-$50K  They'd be better off taking that money to Vegas.
I could prolly pull off a small gym that would be worth the trouble in her country, but it would not make tons of money. Is that a smart idea? Not for me, right now.

When you go at a venture, you plan your best to succeed, but there must be contingency for failure.
Without prior Biz experience anyone is better off involving self in ANY kind of Biz for years before making the leap to
ownership. Ive seen so many fail, even in trades they were born into and expert at.
Maturity and experience are the only hope of success. 

[drkaje]

Jake, it's like any other industry. You name the industry, ...especially one that spawns a huge cottage industry, ...and only that top tier will ever make any "REAL" money, ...but at the same time, many will be able to make a living, while others will barely be able to keep their heads afloat, ...and many others still unable to make ends meet.

Everyone's goals are different. Not everyone wants to break the bank. For some... making a living doing something they love is all they want or need to be happy. And if and when they do, ...they are successful, ...more so than many others making 20 - 100 X's as much money, ...but hating everything they have to do to earn that money.

Think about it, ...a doctor probably makes more than a poet, but if that poet can put a roof over his head, food on his table etc., he probably enjoys his life more so than the proctologist making a 6 figure annual income, but who has to constantly stick his fingers up other people's big fat hairy butts to do it. Just a little food for thought. 

The MLM motivational speech is wasted on me, LOL!

Very few poets put a roof over their heat, etc.. from poetry alone. Besides, anyone can call themself a poet, artist or whatever.... It only takes thinking you have some talent and an ego.

Most people would be reasonably happy earning what proctologists do. Compared to the G4P some bodybuilders do or the work fitness girls do just to end up in porn... sticking the occasional finger up a hairy butt doesn't seem that bad. Also, a proctologist's income isn't depending on looks, he/she makes more money with experience. People with careers that are based upon looks either have to continually reinvent themselves or keep looking for other ways to make money as their looks are less marketable.

Not saying people shouldn't do fitness, only that making a living off it will be more about brains than looks in the end.

[The Coach]

Just because someone can show up one day in good condition doesn't mean they can run a business.

For example: Less than 10% of poets make their living soley from the sale of poetry. The fitness industry is probablyless appealing. It's great a few people get paid for doing what they love. That beng said, considering the health risks and some of the shady thins people end up doing along the way, it doesn't really sem like the best horse to bet on. Putting the same amount of energy into an education/carreer just makes a lot more sense.

A lot of people/companies make money off the fitness (Fitness, figure, bodybiling, bodybuilders, etc...) but only the top tier people make any real money.

Health risks?? drkaje....I make my money in the fitness industry, not bodybuilding. Bottomline is ANYONE can make money if only they would look at it as a business rather than just some extra income. With the plan I described in my above post, our business did about $385k last year, it took time and ALOT of persistence and most of all Patience. Within 2 years we have projected gross of $500k.

It's great to have a degree, I support it 100%, but if you work for someone your income is at a ceiling with little security....no matter how long you've been there or how great they think you are.........you're still expendable, one ownership or management change and you could be gone. Again, I love my business and I love helping people and I'm very good at it.

[trab]

Coach - Congrats making a Good living at what you love.
 I bet you could also pull it off in many other ventures.

All I'm saying is,  just like you said, it's a Biz. And people blow it all the time trying to turn a love into a job.

Can I ask if you had prior Business experience, or grew up around  a family run Business?
There is SO much advantage to that.

Another issue is that It get tougher and tougher in the USA as there is MORe and More regulations
to contend with. Its just prohibitive. Liability issues allone for the novice starting out are a minefield.

Again, congrats, its not a easy field. That makes it all the better for thems that make it though  .
I do NOT dig the USA commercial gym trend one bit. I doubt I'm allone. There is a niche there.

[24KT]

The MLM motivational speech is wasted on me, LOL!

Very few poets put a roof over their heat, etc.. from poetry alone. Besides, anyone can call themself a poet, artist or whatever.... It only takes thinking you have some talent and an ego.

Most people would be reasonably happy earning what proctologists do.

Ya, but having to stick your fingers up big fat hairy butts to do it detracts from the pleasure...
unless you're into that?    (by the way Jake, ...it's OK if you are... you know I'd never condemn you for it)     

Compared to the G4P some bodybuilders do or the work fitness girls do just to end up in porn... sticking the occasional finger up a hairy butt doesn't seem that bad.

But they wouldn't be making a living in fitness would they? They'd be ...ummm, "supplementing" the income. 

Also, a proctologist's income isn't depending on looks, he/she makes more money with experience. People with careers that are based upon looks either have to continually reinvent themselves or keep looking for other ways to make money as their looks are less marketable.

A career in the fitness / gym industry isn't dependent upon looks. Look at T. Harv Ecker! 

Not saying people shouldn't do fitness, only that making a living off it will be more about brains than looks in the end.

Making it in any industry is always more about brains than looks, ...even in such superficial industries as modelling.

[24KT]

Yes Yes Yes - But...     
       I personally see the Gym/ fitness field as a VERY tough one to pull a profit. (esp in the USA)

...you're talking to someone who made a very successful living in both the film/TV & network mktg industries for 20+ yrs. A little challenge, or overwhelming odds of failure is hardly something that I would ever perceive as a deterrent. You forget who you're talking to my friend.

I dont want to ruin anyones "Dream" but I dont want to see them living a nightmare. And thets exactly what most get.

You can't ruin anyone's "Dream". If a harsh word or negative suggestion from you was enough to talk them out of it, ...it clearly wasn't their dream, ...and you've done them a huge favour, because the first set back will knock the life out of them faster than 10 rounds with Mike Tyson.

The number of Foreigners thinking of opening a Bar/restrant in my wife's country are high. Many try, few last long.
They call on the phone and talk to her thinking they can swing it w/ $20-$50K  They'd be better off taking that money to Vegas.
I could prolly pull off a small gym that would be worth the trouble in her country, but it would not make tons of money. Is that a smart idea? Not for me, right now.

Speaking of Thailand, ...there's something going on there. We need to chat.

When you go at a venture, you plan your best to succeed, but there must be contingency for failure.

Sometimes that contingency for failure is the very reason for failure. If the results of failure are worse than the blood, sweat & tears of success, ...you find the strength to make it work. Failure goes off the table as an option.

Without prior Biz experience anyone is better off involving self in ANY kind of Biz for years before making the leap to
ownership. Ive seen so many fail, even in trades they were born into and expert at.
Maturity and experience are the only hope of success. 

There are very few businesses or industries out there that will allow someone the luxury of failing forward.
I can think of one tho... Wanna know what it is? 

[drkaje]

Ya, but having to stick your fingers up big fat hairy butts to do it detracts from the pleasure...
unless you're into that?    (by the way Jake, ...it's OK if you are... you know I'd never condemn you for it)     


But they wouldn't be making a living in fitness would they? They'd be ...ummm, "supplementing" the income. 

A career in the fitness / gym industry isn't dependent upon looks. Look at T. Harv Ecker! 

Making it in any industry is always more about brains than looks, ...even in such superficial industries as modelling.

Doctors with less than glamourous jobs safe many lives. I love women but don't envy OBGYNs.

I'm specifically referring to:

The guys who work out and think owning a gym would be a fun/easy way to earn a living.

Guys/girls who are addicted to steroids or have body dimorphic disorder and will do anything for more juice.

Fitness/figure/BB types who end up hanging with schmoes or doing porn after years trying to get a pro card. The demographic is pretty narrow but it seems like people could find easier ways to do porn than competing.

The top tier athletes weren't really considered but I don't know what kind of money they make from endorsements. Since 240 wrote 'making a living in the fitness/bbing realm', not 'making a living from the fitness/bbing realm' it seemed he was speaking more about competitors, 'competitors' and wannabes.

[trab]

I think it important that some ppl w/ real Biz experience tell the tough news before someone
leaps at a dream....

Ive seen plenty of ppl go broke on const trade related Businesses that they are experts at.
Conversely, Ive seem some do well that are not that skilled at the field they choose.

Total commitment and long hrs is the rule.

[The Coach]

Total commitment and long hrs is the rule.

Exactly, plus you have to love what you do, if you love what you do, the money will follow.