My personal training dilemma

     I got my CPT (Certified Personal Training) certification a few years ago and started training clients over this past summer. To get clients I was join local Facebook groups and with anyone showing interest I would send them a message. Some would message back, others wouldn't. Some would get past the first meeting and others would not. I even was stood up by someone before their first workout! That was a real gut punch because I met them at the gym at 5:30 in the evening and nothing. I have had two clients pretty consistently since the fall. I charge pretty low rates because 1. I had no experience. I tried the commercial gym thing and for ethical reasons I had to leave (when money became more important than fitness it was a problem for me. I do know that personal training is a business and commercial gym have a bottom line. Thats why I am comfortable with that decision.). When I started, I had a Masters in Exercise Science and CPT.

    I used my clients has a study method for the CSCS exam. We did plyometrics, sprints, and some Olympic lifts to study for the practical portion of the exam. I went well and I was able to pass. Now, going forward I look at my model. Stay cheap to keep clients coming back.... i.e. Planet Fitness model, however, with my education and experience it's a moral dilemma to raise my rates. In comparison, when I was hired at a gym my starting rate with $30 an hour. The top tier with no experience. For shits and giggles, I put my resume in Chat GPT, and it spit out $40-$80 an hour.

    Another client reached out and I could not figure out my rate. $40-$80 an hour to me is high. So, the question to me is what do I charge to have repeat customers? If I charge too high the clients could work with me for two-four weeks learn enough to work out on their own, then stop booking sessions.

    I did the math, two times a week for $40 bucks is $80, so $160 for two weeks or $320 a month. If the client stops that is a decent side hustle. To make that much for what I am charging now is $160 a month and two months of work. 

    It did occur to me that I am overthinking this, and I should charge $40 and let the chips fall where they do. I have a hard time with the money portion. When I started this endeavor, it was never about the money. It was about the fitness. It was a study method for the next cert.