HOW TO STRUCTURE A DEAL FOR NEW HEALTH CLUB OWNERSHIP WITHOUT PUTTING IN ANY MONEY OF YOUR OWN! (Part II)

by Phil Kaplan

Ironhead became a hero. All the weaklings in all of the surrounding lands started learning of the legendary Ironhead.

Masses of scrawny Ironhead worshippers began coming to the village for advice and assistance from their idol. Ironhead taught them to press, to curl, and to squat, and always with favorable outcomes. Finally Ironhead decided he was going to open a facility, one where people could, for a fee, perform the exercises that would shape their bodies. The only catch was, the poor guy didn't have any money. You see, the Personal Training craze had not yet caught on and he was charging only $5 per hour for his fitness lessons. All Ironhead had managed to save was a measly two-hundred-forty-nine dollars.

The King heard of Ironhead's plight and sent for him. "Ironhead," the king said regally, "I would like to finance your exercise facility." Ironhead could not believe it! He was going to open his own gym, without any money at all! "You shall run this gym," the King went on, "and if you do a good job, in the future there may be a piece in it for you!"

Ironhead worked hard and brought lots of members to the new gym. For a short while things were going well, but six months down the road, Bally's opened a club across the street with a "Pay as you go" membership and a very focused promotion advertising "The 30-Minute Workout." Ironhead's members ran to join this new club and the King grew angry. After summoning his advisors, he decided to bring in a management company to do battle with the powerful Bally's. The management company's best troops came in, set up a new promotion, and recommended that they put a "Professional" manager in place, one they'd bring in all the way from Health Club Land. The King fired Ironhead who became a recluse and spent the remainder of his years doing manual labor lifting rocks and cows.

Want a different ending? OK. Try this one:The club made millions. Ironhead worked hard developing a staff and taught Metalhead, his assistant, everything he knew. One day, after reviewing the annual budgets with the royal CPA, the King decided that Ironhead was obsolete so he fired him and made Metalhead manager for a much smaller salary. Ironhead became a recluse and spent the remainder of his years working as a bodyguard for Tammy Fae Baker.

Don't like that ending either? OK. One more try...The club was successful. Ironhead went before the King and with great respect and expectation asked, "Your Kingship, when do I receive my piece of the action?" The King explained that although the club is doing well, it's not doing as well as he expected, and with the economy being what it is, the monarchy is losing money on some other investments. "Maybe next year." Eleven months later, the King fired Ironhead, sold off the business for a tidy little profit, and lived happily ever after. As for Ironhead, he became a recluse and spent the rest of his years as a stock boy in GNC.

OK, we still havent' spoken about opening a health club. Are you losing faith? Don't! Just click here and go to Part III.

Note: Phil Kaplan's book, Personal Training Profits has in depth information about business planning. It's a recommended investment for anyone looking for personal training career growth. His PEAK Training seminars have already been attended by some of the most successful studio owners in the world . . . so if you're ready and prepared . . . a trip to Florida may be in your future!