Clients who prefer to exercise in their homes do so for a variety of reasons. They may feel uncomfortable in, or simply not have time to go to, a health club. Whatever the reason, these people want a trainer to come to them. If you can find ten to fifteen clients who will workout with you multiple times per week and who live relatively close to each other, this can be a great full-time income. If that is not possible in the beginning, you can supplement your income by working in another setting such as a health club.

Why Offer In-Home Training?

There are several advantages to in-home training. First, your clients will cancel their appointments less frequently than in other settings. They will also almost never be late or not show up, because the appointment is in their home and they are already there. People who train in-home tend to be more flexible with when they can workout because they generally either own or run a business, work from home, don't work, or work only part time. You can also charge more for these appointments, as they take up more of your time due to commuting.

Equipment Considerations

With in-home training, you can expect your clients to have or purchase a certain amount of equipment. Some will have home gyms already, some will ask you to set up their home gyms, and others will wish to purchase as little equipment as possible. Available space and budget will be the two main considerations in purchasing equipment. Keep in mind that many everyday objects in the home can also be utilized during your workout. For example, coffee tables or couches may be used for benches. Stairs are also a great way to incorporate cardiovascular intervals, you could use the bottom stair in lieu of an aerobic step. Transporting equipment in and out of your clients' homes can be time-consuming and cumbersome, so whatever you bring needs to be small and versatile. Don't go overboard when purchasing equipment to bring with you. You may even be able to buy some things then sell them to your clients for them to keep. By doing this, you can increase your profit and minimize what you must transport.

You may purchase equipment on the Internet, from fitness equipment stores, or in sporting goods stores. Shop around to find the best prices and quality. Equipment from sporting goods stores is often not the best quality, and will not last long with daily use. The exception to this is dumbbells, which are pretty much the same everywhere. Fitness equipment companies that specialize in home sales will provide the best product for the price. Appendix B contains a list of reputable companies who sell exercise equipment.

In order to provide a good workout, your clients should at least have dumbbells, a stability ball, and a medicine ball. The weights will vary depending on their ability level. Exercise bands and rubber tubing are a nice substitute for dumbbells. They fold up, are easy to carry, and you can adjust the resistance to fit your clients' needs. Medicine balls, which come in a variety of weights and sizes, are another versatile piece of equipment that's portable and relatively inexpensive. Stability balls can be used in place of weight benches, abdominal machines, and squat racks. Balance pads and discs are nice to use with your better-conditioned clients to add a challenge to their workouts. While it is not necessary to purchase all of these types of equipment, they can help you keep your clients interested and your workouts fresh and exciting without putting a kink in your budget or theirs. When it comes to using home equipment, you're limited only by your imagination.

Here is an example of the potential cost of home equipment you may purchase:

Sample Equipment Costs from Perform Better

Drawbacks to In-Home Training

There is a significant amount of commuting involved in training in the home. This will take up large blocks of time, especially if you are driving in heavy traffic. You may miss or be late for appointments due to accidents, construction, etc., and if you are late for one appointment, it can throw off your schedule for the entire day. You will use a lot of gas and place a good deal of wear and tear on your vehicle as well. You will need to take these facts into consideration when setting your rates and scheduling your appointments.

Another drawback to in-home training is the size of the space you are using. Most likely, you'll be working in a relatively small area with limited equipment. Because of this, you'll have to really use your imagination and creativity to prevent boredom for both yourself and your client.