Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chris Boucher, owner of Custom Fitness, located in Burlington, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is in-home personal training. My main clientele are over the age of 70. Someone who was active before or is just wanting to be more mobile. I help clients with their balance, mobility, and strength. Getting in and out of a car, climbing stairs, or even just bathing gets a lot harder if you don’t have the strength or mobility that you want.

Tell us about yourself

I started as a gym floor employee, just putting weights away and keeping the gym floor clean. I liked talking to my colleagues about the body and how it works. I started studying and reading as much as I could about fitness. That was in 1990. I started my personal training business in 1996, working in a few gyms as a freelance trainer. Since 2002 I’ve always had a private training studio on my property (no matter where I lived). So I either meet my client at their own home, or they come to me. I like the way my clients are able to do more than they could before. Knowing that I’m able to help people have a better quality of life makes me happy to be doing what I do.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment has to be when I hear clients tell me what they can do now that they couldn’t do last year, month, or even week.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Always looking for clients. Even when I have a full schedule, I still need to be trying to attain more clients. It might take three months of advertising to gain one client, but a day to lose 3.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Listen to more than one business owner on how to run your business. Everyone is different.
  2. Read about the different ways to have a business that you want. (Go solo, partner, or freelance in a bigger business).
  3. You are always marketing. As the saying goes, treat others the way you want to be treated. Do you think someone what’s to hire a trainer who they just saw screaming at someone for getting their coffee order wrong…

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I try to have more than one stream of income. I taught a STIC (Stretching under Tension Including Core) class and sold the sticks I used. I sell other fitness products I believe in. (I also make activity and picture books for kids. 😁).

When someone tells you about a “new" fitness product or way of doing things, always ask why. Most people have no idea why they do things, they're just told it works. I always give my honest opinion on the latest trend or fad. Most of the time, it’s not what they want to hear. Some people have actually stopped asking me questions they don’t want to hear the truthful answer to.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.customfitness.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/customfitnesstrainer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/customfitnesstrainer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/homeexercise
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/customfitness/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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