Keep Your Squats Low and Your Legal Standards High – Tips For Online Fitness Coaches!
We’ve compiled a list of key things that we think you, as a Fitness Coach, need to have in place in order to protect yourself, your clients, and your business. Let’s begin!
Do you need to be a Certified Fitness Coach?
There are no laws that require the certification of a fitness coach, so don’t worry if you aren’t a certified personal trainer! It’s more likely that you would need to be certified if you’re a hired trainer in a gym where being a non-certified trainer could extend into liability issues. You need to determine what’s right for you in regards to certification and your business.
Naming your Business?
When starting out, the name of your business is one of the most important assets you need to protect. It’s how people know you after all! There are some decisions that need to be made regarding the financial and general structure of your business, and how you want to progress in the future to protect your personal assets. If you’re trying to decide between setting up your business as a sole proprietorship or incorporation, take a look at this blog post we wrote on setting up your online business legally!
What about Contracts?
Two notable clauses to point out and include within your client contracts are a Media Release Clause and Disclaimers. A Media Release Clause will allow you to legally promote your services using testimonials, pictures, and videos from your current clients. We know that the way word gets around that you’re an AMAZING Fitness Coach is through Social Media, so why not write that right into your contract? A Media Release Clause allows for you to promote your business using those client transformation photos, without having them come back and ask for any royalties. If you don’t already have a Media Release Clause in your Fitness Coaching Agreement you can get one separately here!
A Waiver of Liability is another MUST for your Coaching Business. Unfortunately injuries happen; it’s inevitable! Even if it’s an accident, you want to ensure you won’t be held liable for any costs that might ensue. You can find a Waiver of Liability for Fitness on its own here, or in the Ultimate Fitness Coaches Bundle.
How about a Physical Assessment?
Do I need Insurance?
As a Coach you might want to put some thought and research into insuring your business, especially if you will be coaching out of your own home, or your clients. Many companies offer Sports and Fitness Insurance packages that include General and Professional Liability Policies, so it’s just about finding one that’s right for your business.
For more business tips and ways to keep your online business legally secure, follow us @contractsforentrepreneurs
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