Nov 11
2
You ARE NOT ready!
I have no idea who first said that but i’m afraid its true for most bootcamp owners when they’re looking to ‘expand’ their business
It’s could also be described as Too much, too soon.
This is something that faces every bootcamp owner at some point and its also something that I get emails about pretty much EVERY day.
Having ran bootcamps for close to 8 years now, its also a subject that I’ve made EVERY mistake you can think of.
In fact, only last month- when I was still based in south shields , I was informed of two local bootcamp owners who seem to have made similar mistakes with different outcomes.
One of them is now out of business COMPLETELY, the other one has reduced their prices over the last few years from 99 down to 29- apparently to be more competitive. You guys know how I feel about that.
Although I wish to see no-one struggling in business the errors are ones I see bootcamp owners making time after time.
The Subject?
EXPANDING.
You see, contrary to many beliefs, filling a bootcamp is easy.
A piece of piss, in fact.
But filing a bootcamp for someone else to teach, keeping them interested and keeping those clients coming back?
A hole different ball game.
Think about it, what do you actually have to offer another trainer- apart from a ‘job’? that’s if you pay them an hourly rate- which I wouldn’t recommend by the way.
1- You have a logo NB- you probably don’t have a brand. People in the next town along probably don’t know who you are if your honest right?
2- You have you
3- You have a group of people that come to your bootcamp FOR YOU.
So why would a trainer come to work ‘under’ you, when they can just do that themselves?
It’s a super simple question isn’t it?
But I bet it’s one that you may be struggling to find an answer for right now.
You see, like I said earlier, it’s a position I found myself in ‘back in the day’
In fact, the first couple of trainers I took on to teach sessions for me while I worked ‘on the business’ (a cliché that you hear over and over again?) tried to steal all of my clients- and that was with my mother in the class.
One stole my boxing gloves and pads too!
Anyway, I wanted to ask some though provoking questions that will hopefull save you some stress, frustration and probably money so you don’t end up on the same path as the other bootcamp owners up there in the North East who wanted ‘too much, too soon’.
I want to ensure you don’t
“BUILD A HOUSE ON QUICKSAND”
Again, lets take another look at the earlier question:
Why would another trainer run a bootcamp for you, when they can just go and do it themselves?
Grab a pen and write down the answer.
Think about it this way- if someone approached YOU and said
“ I have a busy bootcamp and want to open up another- would you like to teach it for me?”
SURE! SOUNDS COOL MATE!
Lets look a little deeper.
You’re askng them to take an hourly rate- probably around 25-30 quid an hour? You think they wont look around and think- hang on, theres a few people here I’m getting 25 quid, the other guy is getting over 100 quid- I;m doing all of the work!
Even if you do a 50/50 profit share… they’ll be thinking ‘hang on a second….”
Thought provoking right?
At this point you’re probably thinking “ Well I’m saving them time and effort”
Fair enough.
*But how?
*What makes your bootcamp different from the rest?
*How will you get their bootcamp busy?
*How will you pay them?
*In fact, where do you find these trainers?
*Do they have a contract?
*How do you keep them loyal and motivated?
*How do you make sure they’re up to date knowledge wise?
*What do they teach in the sessions?
*Do they just make it up?
*What nutrition program do their clients follow?
*Who takes the money?
*Do they have a uniform?
*Who answers enquiries from leads?
*Who answers the email questions form their clients?
*Who’s responsible for equipment?
*Are they employed or self employed?
*What happens if they’re ill?
*Who pays for the t-shirts you give out to members?
*What happens with referalls?
*Can the trainers take cash and cheques?
*Whats the plan for when they go on holiday?
*What happens if they say ‘ I don’t want to do this any more?’
*What happens if they start up a bootcamp on their own?
*Do you have rules about them doing personal training and working elsewhere?
*What’s the deal with refunds?
*What happens if their clients aren’t getting results?
*A GREAT question- Can you multiply everything you do by 10?
Still here?
Good.
Now you might think I’m trying to put you off looking for another trainer.
You’d be right.
I am.
I case, you haven’t guessed it.
Here’s what I think is the case for ‘most’ of my readers.
YOU ARE NOT READY.
Sorry, but someone had to tell you.
Now let me clear this up, this is NOT a time thing.
Success LOVES speed.
But you shouldn’t even CONSIDER opening a new location until you have all of these things in place.
So, if you can answer all of the questions above, with clarity AND you can x it by 10, THEN you may want to think about looking for said trainer and growing your business.
If you can’t answer them, then its back to the drawing board my friend!
Let me know, what problems you’re having by stickin them in facebook comments section below… With 19 trainers myself now, I’ve made more than my fare share of mistakes but the team we have now is bad-ass.
Buenos Dias!
