JMJ, ATLANTA, DOUG, GABY, BILL,Somagenesis San Diego Personal Training…
I am trying to understand why the talk about the $100.00 training session. This fee may sound over the top…however I believe professonal fees SHOULD NOT be looked at based on what the market bares in a specific region. When a franchise has a training company…they will dictate the fee structure. The synergy is made up of the client fee, the trainer pay, and the head trainers commission. When people hear the fee, they are on auto pilot with the thought that this is what a trainer charges for said service globaly Like a virus unseen the word spreads…from there all fees higher are now equated as out of what the market bares. Who mandates that market…The national board of fitness examaners does not mandate, why should the general public…based on a trainers fee in a specific region. I believe professional fees should not be based on what the market bares, or what an industry leader charges. Professional fees are dictated by results, rewards, service intensity, nuturing, pamparing, follow-up, giving more then expected, going beyond the typical 1-hour session. Our clients are not time slots..not numbers, they are not amex cards, visa, or renewals that are due. They are the bloodline, backbone, neron pools responsable for our livelyhood. When you offer more…MORE than any other…and you prove, show it..then you set the stage for the service fee rendered. Write your own ticket…and ask for what you are worth. I believe there are those one-size-fits-all-rent-a-buddies..they can’t hide behind the mask of dysfunction. However for the rest of us who are confident, not cocky…let people / clients wonder why you charge $50.00 more a session than any other trainer. Now if I may gang…When I travel my fee is $250.00 per 90 minutes. I have six clients per week outside my center. In my center my fee is $150.00. I have 22 sessions at that rate per week. My staff $75.00. All sessions are paid prior to the 1st visit. No payment plans…and most are on the one year retainer fee of $7000.00 per year…thats three times per week with my staff. When you give the service that is so uncommon…the word spreads, and the phone rings. I would love to talk more..but up at 5:30am off to westchester NY…THE POINT…I am training a husband and wife team. I was on vacation when we met. I talked about my field of choice…they hired, paid, and set a date. I educated them on information that was never told before. I will design a program module, short talk on proper eating patterns…all for the small fee of $500.00 for two hours. My lesson is stop thinking of the typical 1-hour in the gym session…create a relationship based on what the client really wants in their life…not a segment of their life. It’s late… I hope I came across like a team player…

Good night Gang!
Love to talk anytime…

DAVE~

Yeah APT, in certain environments $100 is the norm – it’s not questioned – I certainly saw this in some time I spent on the upper east side a few years ago – every trainer charged $100 per session – it really blew my mind open to what was possible in this business – these trainers were just regular guys and gals, not superheros – the price tag just came with the territory – and the trainers were not trying to justify it – the had that psychological aspect, like you said –

HAHA – sharp comments – really got some good ideas spelled out here for everyone to see already, and a nice build-up for part 2 – with all the overall input, this should be a very valuable topic and couple of posts -

Hey Doug! Welcome back – how much are you renting sleeping space for out there?!?!? Yeah my brother went out to take it all in and he said it’s nuts! –

Yeah, it’s a line you’ve got toe, but there are ways to do it – since high level trainers that really get this business are few and far between, the factors are really in the trainers favor to create a situation where they can make at least $100 session – just takes a little work and balls!

Finally back to reading your blog myself. Came straight off a 2 week vacation into the January surge of clients and Inauguration Madness in DC, but getting caught back up! Some good comments here-there’s several ways to sell the $100+ session. Like Bill mentioned, it can be achieved through a half hour session price, and Rivak touched on the package discount price. I see several trainers in my area charging $100+, but at closer glance, their packages are priced the same as mine! They charge a little more than me, but discount their sessions much more than I do. I was already close to this rate, and I may be raising my rates later this year to put me there. You do have to watch your market and what it will tolerate like Rivak said, but I think it’s probably more doable than many trainers realize. The important thing is to emphasize what people are getting for their money vs your competitors-experience, specialties, etc.