There comes a time when hitting the gym or pounding the streets just isn’t enough and it becomes apparent it’s time to mix things up - usually when someone is at the start of a fitness regime and needs an intensive kick-start, or they’ve been training for a while and need to step it up a gear.
And this is where a boot camp can offer an excellent alternative for every personal trainer.
What is a boot camp?
‘Boot camp’ is essentially a high-intensity exercise program, usually taken outdoors, that uses body weight-based exercises, like pull-ups and sit-ups, combined with agility and aerobic work.
These programs are usually performed by groups of clients, ideally of similar fitness levels, and combine elements of teamwork and individual effort to complete the session.
As a personal trainer, you’ll need to assess the fitness levels of your clients and work out a suitable program that will benefit them most – If your group is made up of beginners, you won’t want to push them too hard, but everyone should be stepping out of their comfort zone in a boot camp.
Why bother with a boot camp?
From a business perspective, one of the most appealing things about running a boot camp has to be the drop in overheads - You can ditch the fitness centre in favour of the great outdoors and minimal equipment, enjoying being out in the open air.
If the weather happens to take a turn for the worse, running an indoor boot camp will still be more cost-effective than normal personal training, as you’ll be training multiple people in one session. You can still give each individual one-on-one coaching during the session – a boot camp doesn’t mean that you’ll lack that more personal working relationship with each of your clients.
Choosing a location for your boot camp
The location of your business has to be your first consideration, so pick an area or building that is easy to find and is accessible for your clients. Secondly, make sure that it has enough space to support the number of people you hope to attract.
If you do need to take your boot camp to an indoor space due to the weather conditions, you’ll need to consider the neighbours. If you’re above an existing retail space, for instance, you could find yourself in for some complaints about the noise made during the classes.
Although the overheads should be lower, you’ll still need to come up with a full business plan, as you did when you started your personal training business, to help ensure the new venture has the expected return on investment.
Identifying your target market
The final thing to consider before you launch your boot camp venture is what your target market is and how it will best suit their needs. As with any specialist venture, there is a danger of falling into the trap of ‘build-it-and-they-will-come’, and while this business model can work, it’s a risky platform to start from.
Although the overheads should be lower, you’ll still need to come up with a full business plan, as you did when you started your personal training business, to help ensure the new venture has the expected return on investment.
So take a look at your client base, identify your target market, make sure any boot camp is tailored to meet their needs and you should find yourself in business. Initially, you may find starting up your boot camp business slightly daunting, but once you’ve established a location that’s caters for your boot camp session and you’ve acquired a steady flow of clients, it will be easy and enjoyable, and it will certainly increase your cash flow.
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