Fitness Business Management

A successful fitness business is about more than burning calories and building muscles. To be competitive in the business world, you need to know about strategic planning, accounting, marketing, human resources, customer relations, and more. This course will prepare you to implement a successful business system in private or commercial health clubs, medically-based fitness facilities, community wellness centers, personal training studios, physical therapy clinics, YMCAs, JCCs, college centers,...

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6 Months / 200 Course Hrs
Open Enrollment
Offered in partnership with your preferred school

Butler Community College

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Fitness Business Management

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Course code: GES403

What you will learn

  • Learn the skill-sets and competencies that a fitness professional needs in order to be a successful entrepreneur, owner, or department manager
  • Understand how to operate a fiscally successful business in the fitness industry
  • Learn business concepts, including purchasing, contractual agreements, risk management and negligence, technology issues, and other fiscal concerns
  • Identify how branding influences consumers and creates a demand for fitness services and products
  • Understand customer relationship management methods
  • Effectively use sales techniques
  • Learn how to create strategic business plans for successful health and business ventures
  • Master the financial and accounting knowledge needed to manage a fitness operation
  • Understand sales and communication techniques needed to thrive in the professional world

How you will benefit

  • Develop the skills needed to succeed as a professional in the fitness industry
  • Explore the profession as a potential career choice with the optional field internship experience
  • Earn continuing education credits/units

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 6 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 200 course hours
  1. Business Development and Entrepreneurship in Fitness
    1. Business Fundamentals
    2. Being a Fitness Manager
    3. Understand Key Manager Skill-Sets
    4. Sales and Marketing
  2. Financial Principles and Business Concepts
    1. Major Types of Financial Statements
    2. Budgetary and Forecast Spreadsheets
    3. Apply Financial and Accounting Principles to Start a Fitness Business
    4. The Basics of the Federal Tax System
  3. Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service Management
    1. Consumer Buying Behaviors in the Fitness Industry
    2. Customer-Centric Focus
    3. Transform Customer Satisfaction to Customer Loyalty
    4. Why Customers Buy or Don't Buy a Particular Club Service
  4. Fitness Management and Business Administration
    1. The Role of the Human Resources Department
    2. The Job Description of a Fitness Professional
    3. Staff Development
    4. How Staff Development, Business Development, and Customer Service Management Work Together
  5. Elective Program: Optional Field Internship in Fitness Business Management
    1. Intern for a total of six weeks, 60 hours with professionals in the fitness and health industry for a practical experience working with members at fitness facilities and health centers
    2. Network and interact with professionals in the health and fitness industry
    3. Develop a professional goal statement and review career opportunities
    4. Improve your ability to obtain employment or operate your own health and fitness facility

Ken Baldwin

Ken Baldwin, M.ED., ACSM-H/FI has been involved in the fitness, wellness, and education profession for over 10 years. He is the senior editor, content expert, and lead author for ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer Textbook, Second Edition." He was chair of IDEA's National Personal Trainer Committee and chair of the Senior Fitness Subcommittee for the Massachusetts Governor's Committee on Physical Fitness and Sports. He serves on national committees for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), AAHPERD, and the Medical Fitness Association. His background includes operating and managing a personal training company, consulting at corporations, and lecturing at international conferences, public events, national conventions.

Prerequisites:

You are required to have CPR certification and approval by the program coordinator prior to beginning the Optional Field Internship.

Basic computer skills are required.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
  • A CD or DVD drive.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 8 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • Microsoft Word is recommended (not included in enrollment).
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
  • First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently
  • How to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life

Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.

The Fitness Business Management course offers essential educational pathways and career opportunities for:

  • Current managers who are wishing to implement successful fitness management systems
  • Current allied health and fitness professionals and personal trainers interested in establishing a fitness business or becoming a fitness manager
  • Education directors of multi-site facilities or chains who focus on staff development for fitness professionals and fitness managers
  • Companies that require the certificate program as a professional development program for employees to achieve key business goals, career objectives, and skills to advance beyond entry-level positions

No.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive six (6) months to complete the course.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.

You have three unique options for placement in a six-week, 60-hour internship experience. You may elect to intern at an approved partnered internship site, at a facility of your choice either in the U.S. or internationally (with course coordinator and instructor approval), or at a facility with which you're currently employed.

The internship program requires students to establish informational interviews approximately four weeks prior to the internship start date with several different internship site locations. An internship information packet will be provided to guide you in the process of setting up an internship, if you're interested in this opportunity. NOTE: Students do need to receive CPR certification and approval by the course coordinator prior to beginning the Optional Field Internship Program.