Personal Training Contractors Vs. Employees
You're lacking motivation...or your workouts aren't want they could be...or you just don't want to think when you're at the gym. So, you've decide to quit. No, I'm just kidding! You've actually decided to hire a personal trainer. (but first, name this quote: "I want to quit the gym!")
There are a myriad of factors to consider when hiring a trainer, such as the trainer's education, certifications, personality, ability to relate to your personal challenges, and many more. You certainly need to find a "love connection" with this person who will get to know you so well.
One factor often overlooked by training clients is the employment status of the personal trainer. Is he or she an employee of your health club, or a contractor? There is no right-or-wrong status, but it's important that you know.
Contract trainers work independently from their host health club. They might pay rent for the privilege of training, or they might pay a percentage of their revenue to the club. They come-and-go as they please, set their own prices, and have the freedom to work anywhere-and-everywhere they'd like. They typically do their own scheduling and often manage payments from their clients. In short, they are independent business people working for themselves.
Employee personal trainers are part of the same team that you see every day at your gym. The trainer works for the gym, and you are a client of that gym who happens to have a particular trainer. Prices are set by the club's management, the trainer has a boss, scheduling is likely done through the front desk on behalf of the trainer, and the trainer gets paid when services are rendered.
There are upsides and downsides to each relationship. Contractors have total flexibility in how they charge you, and where and when they train you. But they have nobody managing them, and if you think you'd like to try a different trainer, you may be on your own to break the news to your current trainer and look for a new one.
Employee trainers have to play by rules that they don't set, so they can't negotiate prices or payment terms for their clients. But, they will likely have closer management to help guide and develop their skills, and there will be a "higher authority" for you, as the client, to raise any concerns or problems that occur. Employee trainers are also likely part of larger team so that if you want to experience a new trainer, you can likely find one.
Again, there are no right or wrong business relationships among you, your trainer and your club. Just make sure you understand those relationships and think through the impact they might have on your relationship with your new trainer.