Negotiating Gym Rent As a Personal Trainer

Most gyms charge trainers a monthly rent or percentage of income in exchange for using their space and services.  The numbers can get confusing, but taking the time to understand them can save you money.  Knowing how to do the math and adjust the numbers helps you negotiate gym rent wisely, with confidence.   

Whether you’re looking for a gym space for the first time or re-evaluating your current situation, follow these steps.  A little preparation goes a long way.

7 Steps to Prepare for Negotiation
1) Find out what the gym fees are and any options available (rent vs. percentage).
2) Find out what the average session price is at the gym or in the general area.
3) Choose your session rate based on #2 and what you feel you’re worth (education, certifications, experience factored in).
4) Plug in the numbers and compare any options available at that gym and others.
5) Know what your income needs are (see below for help).
6) Change the numbers to meet your needs (remember to subtract ~20% for taxes).
7) Return to the gym and negotiate.

You’ve got to earn a living and the gym knows this.  The more organized you are, the easier it is to make your case to a gym owner and negotiate a reasonable rate.  When they see you understand numbers, it shows you’re on your game and responsible.  

Some gyms are willing to set up a starting rate/fee and gradually charge you less as time passes.  They may want to see your commitment and income earning capability before they “pay you more”.  Especially, if they get a lot of traffic and referrals, bringing you more business.

When I started personal training, I found it worth it to pay higher rent while building my business.  If you’re already established with a full clientele, you might be able to negotiate rent to be lower.

What are your monthly expenses?
A surprising number of my business coaching clients aren’t sure how much money is ESSENTIAL for them to live.  They spend more money than they need each month on things like coffee, alcohol, clothing, water, etc.  Going back to step #5 from above, keep your receipts for a month or two and find out the truth.  Or, use credit card statements and your bank account to estimate expenses from last month. 

Knowing what you really need to earn a living is a great way to keep more of the money you earn and essentially become more wealthy.   

Keep track of your finances the way you do your eating habits and they will both be healthy as can be!

Happy Negotiating…

Let us know if you have any questions or thoughts in the comments below

See Renting Gym Space as a Personal Trainer for more on the numbers.

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