Category: Starting a business

12:10:44 GMT • 14 November 2024

What to put on a personal trainer business card

16 May 2023

•

6 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

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You might think that business cards are a bit old-fashioned these days. But even in a world where the Internet and social media dominate the marketing and communication landscape, the business card still has value in reaching prospective customers and getting your enterprise noticed.

Whether you’re just starting a personal training business, or you have an existing business you want to grow, an informative and concise business card can therefore make a real difference. However, it’s very easy to get it wrong, and end up with cards that are messy, unattractive, or are simply trying to do too much.

In this guide, we’ll highlight what to put on a personal trainer business card, what not to put, and what else to consider.

What information should you include?

Obviously, your first port of call in what to put on a personal trainer business card should be determining the key contact details to include. These should comprise your name (and/or your company name if you have one), your job title, and contact details across a variety of communications methods.

You can include any of your phone number, email address, website, postal address (if you operate from a specific venue), and the addresses for your social media channels. Some of these will be more important than others, depending on which platforms you use for your marketing and communication, so it’s best to prioritise a few of them rather than including absolutely everything.

Ultimately, your card should tell people who you are, what you do and how to get in touch with you from the very first glance. Ask friends, relatives or colleagues for a second opinion if you’re not sure that your proposed design achieves this.

What should you leave out?

It’s important to remember that less can often be more with a business card. You’ve only got the size of a credit card to get your points across, and if you try to overload the card, it will end up looking cluttered and unfocused. Make sure that there is nothing on the card that doesn’t absolutely need to be there.

A good example of where something might or might not be required is information around your credentials, i.e. letters and abbreviations after your name that mean you have a degree or other personal training qualification. Depending on the nature of your business, it may be very important to point out specific qualifications or skills that you have, because they will appeal to your target audience.

But if that isn’t the case, putting all those letters onto your business card is unnecessary, and wastes valuable space. The business card is to encourage people to make first contact – let your website and social channels tell the full story of you and your business.

What should your call-to-action be?

One thing that often gets overlooked in personal trainer business card development is the call-to-action: what it is you want the reader to do when they’ve picked up your card.

Most commonly, this will be to get in touch with you via your selected channels of communication, but it could be something else. For example, you might want to promote a discounted membership, a free trial session for new customers, or direct people to health and fitness content on your website.

Whatever you choose, your call-to-action should be prominent on your business card, leaving the reader in no doubt as to what they should do if they’re interested. For specific offers or digital content, a QR code can make it as fast and easy as possible for readers to take the next step.

What should your design look like?

As well as content, you also need to consider the overall look and design of your business card. This doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming, as most business card providers have online design tools, on which you can carefully construct your card’s design and then place your order immediately.

Things to consider in this area include:

Logo and colour scheme: if you have a logo for your company, and/or an overall look and feel across website, social media, clothing and equipment, make sure they are included

Slogan: a motivational line or a short description of your services can help you get your message across – the reverse side of your card can be ideal for this

Font: play around with different fonts to find something that complements your colour choice and stands out, but without being too difficult to read.

How much should you spend on personal trainer business cards?

The good news is that business cards can be very affordable, to the point that some companies are willing to print you a limited run of basic business cards for free. While this will help you on a small-scale, these free cards may not give you the design or material options you want.

The price of your business cards will vary, depending on how many you order, how quickly you need them delivered, and the quality of the printing and card material you choose. Standard options are generally available from less than £10 per 100 cards, rising up to more than £20 for more premium alternatives. You’ll also find that buying in larger quantities will normally bring these prices down by a reasonable amount.

Get personal trainer insurance with Protectivity

A good, memorable personal trainer business card is one of the most important jobs to tackle when you’re starting out with your business enterprise. Another is making sure you’re protected against unforeseen circumstances with comprehensive insurance cover.

At Protectivity, we have decades of experience covering personal training businesses big and small, and whether a new company or established enterprise. With our affordable and customisable policies, you can make sure you don’t end up out of pocket, thanks to Public Liability cover, Professional Indemnity, and £250 of free equipment cover. What’s more, our flexible payment plans mean you can get peace of mind without breaking your budget. Take a closer look at our insurance for personal trainers.

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How long does it take to get business insurance?

4 May 2023

•

6 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

Get small business insurance from Protectivity

Gone are the days of meeting an insurance agent in person whenever you want to purchase a policy. Today, you can arrange your business insurance yourself either online or over the phone in less than an hour.

So how long does it take to get business insurance? The answer depends on the product and the type of business you run. With most insurers, you should be able to get a quote in as little as five minutes. Once you’ve decided to go ahead with your policy, you’ll need to give the insurer more information about yourself and your business, to ensure your policy covers you for what you need it to. That way, you’ll have the reassurance that your policy will cover you and your employees should the unexpected happen.

Here, we’ll explore the factors that affect how quickly you can get your business insured, the wait times for different types of coverage and how to speed up the process.

Factors that affect wait times for business insurance coverage

When it comes to your business, you’ll want to make sure it’s protected should the unexpected happen and you need some support. That’s why it’s important you get your business insurance as quickly as possible, to protect your livelihood and your employees.

There are several factors that can affect how long it takes to get your business insured, including:

Type of insurance coverage: The type of business insurance you require may take longer to be approved than others due to its specific nature. Here at Protectivity, we offer tailor-made insurance for different types of businesses, from hairdressing insurance to dog walking insurance. Certain types of insurance can take longer to get set up, such as Sports Business Insurance, whereby we need to complete a form and send it to our underwriters to approve first.
Size and complexity of the business: The larger or more complex your business, the more information you’ll need to provide, which can make the application process that bit longer.
Level of risk: When getting your quote, insurers will look at your annual turnover, as well as the number of employees you have, to determine your level of risk. The more you potentially have to lose, the longer it can take to arrange.
Availability of insurance providers: You may prefer a tailor-made approach to your insurance policy that suits the type of business you have. While these specialist niche insurance products can cover the ins and outs of your business, they may take longer to apply for. They can also be harder to find due to their limited availability. Here at Protectivity, we specialise in the niche insurance market, offering insurance for specific types of businesses to ensure you get personalised cover, tailored to your individual needs.

How to expedite the business insurance coverage process

If you’re looking to speed up the insurance application process, it’s a good idea to be prepared. Be sure to have your business’ details to hand to make the application as straightforward as possible. Insurers will usually need to know the nature of your business, the number of employees you have and your annual turnover.

It also helps to be clued up on what different insurance terms mean, and the different types of business insurance available beforehand. In the UK, it’s compulsory for all businesses to have employers’ liability insurance. You may also choose to take out public liability insurance to cover you for claims made against you by members of the public. While it’s not a legal requirement, it can help you to cover the legal fees and compensation costs if you or a member of your team accidentally causes injury to a member of the public, or damages their property. With this in mind, it’s important you know exactly what business insurance your company needs, to make the application process as straightforward as possible.

When getting business insurance, you’ll also want to feel confident that you’ve chosen a reputable and trusted provider. Be sure to investigate the insurer’s reputation and read reviews to get an idea of how likely they are to pay out in the event of a claim. Also, make sure you understand exactly what the insurer will cover you for and your policy limits. This can give you the reassurance that you can rely on your provider to pick up the pieces if disaster were to strike and you needed some support.

How soon can you get business insurance coverage?

Taking out business insurance shouldn’t be a long or complicated process. In fact, you should be able to have your insurance ready to go in no time, provided you have all the necessary documents to hand. Most insurance providers give you the option to get a quote online which should take around five minutes. The sooner you get your insurance, the sooner you’ll be protected should something go wrong. It’s also worth noting that having employers’ liability insurance in place is a legal requirement, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can fine you £2,500 for every day you’re unprotected. So it’s worth getting your insurance sorted as soon as possible.

Here at Protectivity, you can get an instant quote for most of our insurance policies. How long this process will take depends on the type of business insurance you require. For those purchasing Gym Insurance, you’ll need to fill out a form which helps us get to know you and your business a bit better, which can take between 30 and 45 minutes. If you need Sports Business Insurance, the process can take a bit longer as we’ll need to complete a form for you and send it to our underwriters. Once approved, they’ll return it back to us within 48 hours.

Get insured fast

Here at Protectivity, we pride ourselves on our quick and efficient service, so you can protect your business with ease. Request a quote for small business insurance with Protectivity and get the peace of mind you deserve.

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How to Verify Business Insurance Coverage

1 May 2023

•

4 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

Getting insured is one thing – making sure that it’s the right insurance for you, having proof of coverage, and ensuring that third parties you’re working with are also protected is another. Let’s take a look at how to verify business insurance coverage, both for yourself and anyone you might choose to work with.

What is business insurance verification?

Business insurance verification is ensuring that the correct cover is in place before embarking on a project or agreeing to work with another business. If you are in negotiations with another business to carry out some work for them, they might ask you to verify your business insurance coverage to prove that you’re covered against any accidents that might occur. This is their way of protecting themselves and ensuring that the cost of an unfortunate event wouldn’t impact them. They will most likely ask you to provide a COI – a certificate of insurance. Likewise, you might want to see a COI from them.

Verifying your business insurance step by step

Step 1

A third party has requested to see a COI to prove you have the correct protection. Make sure that you confirm with them what coverage they need to see evidence of, in case you need to expand your policy to meet their needs.

Step 2

Contact your insurance company and explain that you need a COI to verify your business insurance. They will provide you with a certificate, which you should then make a copy of for your personal records, before sending it on to whoever has requested it. While you may be charged an admin fee, the certificate itself shouldn’t cost anything.

Step 3

Ensure that the third party you are working with has received all of the proof of insurance that they need, and that you won’t need to provide any further documentation. If they have sent you a COI to verify their own insurance, confirm that you’ve received it.

Step 4

If you have to check over a COI that you have requested, you should confirm that all of the details on the certificate match those that have been communicated to you by the third party you are working with. This includes names, addresses, and registered company names. Even if they were to cancel their policy immediately after providing you with a COI, you can then safely say that at the time an agreement was made, you had evidence that they had all of the coverage that was needed.

Why do you need to verify coverage?

It is important to verify your coverage to ensure that, should something go wrong, you and anyone you’re working with have the right level of protection. When it comes to your business, this might include protecting your property, your premises, and your employees. Verifying coverage in this way minimises any potential risks, and lets you carry out your business more confidently.

When do you need to have insurance verified?

Your insurance should be verified before any work is carried out or events are held pertaining to your business, or that of the third party you are working with. Essentially, you should have verified your insurance before there is a chance for an accident to happen that could result in a claim.

Sometimes obtaining a COI can take a few days, or in the worst case scenario more than a week. This could cause a delay in reaching an agreement with the third party you want to work with, which could hurt your relationship and impact your business prospects. It’s best to be proactive and request a COI – whether from your insurance broker for yourself, or from your third party – as soon as possible.

Ready to protect your business?

Whatever your business, Protectivity can provide you with the insurance you need to keep yourself and your employees protected as you carry out your work, be it dog grooming insurance, hairdressers insurance, counselling insurance or offering holistic therapy insurance. We provide unique products and cover to suit a wide variety of niche businesses, because we understand that when it comes to your small business you might not be looking to fit the mould.

Protect your business with our small business insurance – get a free quote today.

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Employers Liability Insurance vs Personal Accident Insurance

29 April 2023

•

6 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

As a business owner, having insurance in place can give you the peace of mind that should the unexpected happen, you’ll have the support there to put wrong to right. When searching for business insurance, you may have come across the terms employers’ liability insurance and personal accident insurance. But what do these terms mean, and what is the difference between them?

Here, we’ll compare employers liability insurance vs personal accident insurance, so you can determine which type of insurance is right for your business.

What does employers’ liability insurance cover?

As soon as you become an employer, you’ll need to get employers liability insurance. In fact, it’s a legal requirement for most businesses in the UK to have (unless you operate alone or only employ family members, for example). If you don’t, you can be fined £2,500 every day you aren’t properly insured. Your policy must come from an authorised insurer and cover you for at least £5 million.

But what does employers’ liability insurance cover you for? It’s there to protect you if your employee claims compensation for an illness or injury they claim was caused by their work. Let’s say a worker was badly injured by tripping over a box left on the floor in the warehouse. Or an employee was electrocuted by faulty electrical equipment in the office. They could claim compensation against you for this happening, and the court could then order you to pay compensation for the injury, costs or other damages – which as you can expect, can be very expensive. That’s where employers’ liability insurance comes in – to cover the compensation payment and any legal costs if an employee claims compensation for a work-related injury or illness.

Like all types of insurance, employers’ liability insurance is there to protect you against the unexpected. No matter how careful you are at work, injuries do happen. If you don’t have employers’ liability insurance, it could significantly impact your business’ finances if you face a compensation claim.

What does personal accident insurance cover?

As the name suggests, personal accident insurance covers you if you suffer a serious injury or death following an accident. It’s there to protect you and your family against loss of income should you be unable to work, to help cover the cost of bills and other living expenses. It’s a type of personal insurance, similar to life insurance and income protection cover. With this in mind, personal accident insurance may be a type of cover you or your employee chooses to take out, to protect you/them financially against the unexpected.

Often, personal accident cover is included in life insurance and car insurance policies – so it may be worth you checking if you’re already covered before you take out another separate policy.

Most personal accident insurance policies will cover you for:

An accident or injury that happens at work
An injury caused by someone being violent towards you
Road traffic accidents
Permanent disability caused by an accident
The loss of your body parts or the loss of the ability to use them fully
Injuries caused by falls, slips and spillages

Pros and cons of employers’ liability insurance

When exploring your insurance options as a business owner, it’s important you know exactly what you’re covered for. Here, we’ll dive into the potential pros and cons of employers’ liability insurance:

Pros

Provides legal and financial protection should your employee or ex-employee claim compensation against you for an injury that happened at work
Helps cover the costs of employee injuries or illnesses
Without it, you could face a daily fine – so it’s a good idea to take out the insurance as soon as possible

Cons

Premiums can be expensive – especially for those working in hazardous environments that are higher-risk
Like many types of insurance, the claims process can be complex and time-consuming
For independent contractors or those who are self-employed, coverage can be limited

While there are potential cons to Employers Liability Insurance, it is a legal requirement to have so it’s important you have it in place.

Pros and cons of personal accident insurance

Personal accident insurance can offer you the peace of mind that should you suffer an injury or accident, you’ll be supported. Here are some potential advantages and disadvantages of personal accident insurance for you to consider:

Pros

Provides financial protection should you suffer an accidental injury, disability or death
Can offer you peace of mind if you work in a high-risk job
If you’re no longer able to work due to injury, personal accident insurance can provide a lump-sum payment or ongoing income to support you and your dependents

Cons

You won’t be covered for chronic conditions, illnesses, viruses or diseases as these aren’t caused by an accident
You won’t be covered for conditions that develop over time and aren’t caused by a single accident, such as gradual hearing loss
Premiums can be expensive, particularly if you work in a high-risk environment or participate in high-risk activities

Which insurance is right for your business?

Which type of insurance is right for your business will depend on the level of risk for you and your employees, and legal requirements too.

As a business owner, you’ll need to ensure you have employers’ liability insurance in place as soon as you become an employer. It’s a legal requirement for most businesses in the UK who have employees, to protect you against the cost of compensation claims should an employee have an injury or work-related illness. Without it, you could face a fine of £2,500 for every day you aren’t insured. Certain businesses are exempt from needing employers’ liability insurance, such as those with no employees or family businesses who only employ family members.

As for personal accident insurance, it’s down to your employee if they choose to take out a policy. It’s designed to give your employees peace of mind – so should they suffer an accidental injury, disability or death – they’ll be financially protected. This also means if they were to die due to an accident, their family will be given a payout if they make a claim.

So, which type of insurance is right for your business depends on the nature of your business. Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement for most UK businesses. Whereas, personal accident insurance is there to protect your employees should the unexpected happen – particularly if they work in high-risk conditions.

Speak to a professional

As a business owner, having the right insurance can give you reassurance that should something go wrong, you and your employees will be taken care of. Get a quote for small business insurance with Protectivity today, for the peace of mind you deserve.

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How to get into Event Management?

28 April 2023

•

6 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

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Event management is a popular career choice for people from many walks of life, and it’s easy to see why. The satisfaction of pulling off a complex event and bringing many different elements together for success can be immense, and the best event managers around are highly sought after with high earning potential.

However, if you’re new to the events industry, then it can be difficult to know exactly where to start and how to turn aspiration into reality. To help, we’ve created this guide that covers all the basics of how to get into event management, so that you can stay on the right track as you work towards your goal.

The key steps on how to get into events management

The following six steps are intended as a general guide on how to get into events management as a whole. If you’re looking at specialising in a particular type of event or industry, then there may well be other considerations to take into account. But for most areas of event management, these tips will give you a solid foundation to start from.

Get qualifications and credentials

One of the most common questions people ask when exploring a career in event management is ‘do I need a degree?’. The simplest answer to this question is ‘not necessarily, but it definitely helps’. Businesses looking at hiring event managers will certainly be looking for evidence of degree-level qualifications when assessing CVs. So, studying for a BA in Event Management, International Event Management or Hotel And Event Management will put you in good stead. If you’re unable to commit the time and money needed to get a degree, then there are diploma qualifications and programmes that can give you good-quality certification, instead.

Volunteer for experience

Alongside qualifications, hiring businesses will also be looking for relevant experience of managing events. Of course, that can be a chicken-and-egg situation: how can you get experience of working in event management without getting a job in the first place? The best solution to this is to volunteer at events or to apply for event assistant jobs. They can not only give you real-world experience that can help you expand your skills and knowledge, but it also gives you extra selling points that you can put on your CV. What’s more, showing motivation to volunteer and be proactive will look good to prospective employers.

Develop your contact network

As is the case in most walks of life, having a large, healthy book of contacts is critical. This is especially the case in event management, where work often comes through word of mouth and recommendations. There are three ways to build up your network, and the first is to build a strong presence on LinkedIn: following businesses and people you’d like to work with in the future, and posting on the platform regularly, can help you get noticed in the future.

The second way is to attend trade shows and other relevant networking events, so that you can meet people face-to-face, talk about your and their experiences and become a recognised face in the industry. And finally, you should try and join a recognised event planning association or professional body, many of which run their own networking get-togethers.

Explore your career options

If you’re looking for event management jobs, then it’s important to keep an open mind. You may not be able to find or secure your ideal vacancy at the first attempt, so building up experience with a job in a different area or specialism can at least give you a first foothold in the industry. Make sure you conduct extensive research as to the kinds of jobs and salary offerings that are out there: this can help you craft your CV to suit each vacancy and set realistic earning expectations.

Start your own business

Alternatively, if you want to branch out on your own, you could consider setting up your own event management business. This could be a full-scale operation that provides turnkey packages to businesses and organisations, where you employ a number of other people to help you. Or you could set yourself up as a freelance event manager that is hired by other businesses on an event-by-event basis. In either case, you’ll need to start by working out your target market, and setting up your website and social media channels on that basis.

Build up some confidence

Event management is a people business. You’ll need to deal with all sorts of people while running an event, and you’ll need to talk to people in order to build up your contact network and secure the work you’re looking for. All this takes a healthy amount of self-confidence, and that comes far more easily to some people than it does to others. If you feel that your self-confidence needs some work, then make the effort to take yourself out of your comfort zone. This could be by practising talking to clients over the phone, gaining experience in public speaking, and doing research into your industry so that you feel that you know what you’re talking about.

Get event insurance with Protectivity

One thing you’ll learn as you immerse yourself in the event management world is that you need to be prepared for anything. And when the unforeseen or the worst-case scenario occurs, you need to make sure you have the right response and protection in place, including comprehensive insurance for cancelled events.

For every type of event that you might be involved in running, Protectivity can give you the comprehensive, affordable insurance cover you need. Our policies include Public Liability insurance, cancellation cover, protection for equipment, and Employer’s Liability. So, if someone gets hurt, property gets damaged, or the event has to be cancelled for reasons beyond your control, your business won’t be left out of pocket.

Get Event Insurance from Protectivity

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Mediumship Training

17 March 2023

•

5 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

Get mediumship insurance from Protectivity

Mediumship is a unique and rewarding role which offers very different opportunities and experiences. It also provides a very special and valuable service to those who may be struggling with grief and loss by connecting with their loved ones who have passed, and relaying messages to them which can bring comfort, closure, relief and peace.

If you’re interested in becoming a medium, or you have some experience but want to take the leap into making a living from your abilities, then this guide will help you to find out what you’ll need to build a respectable and viable business.

Mediumship training requirements

Although there are no legal requirements for becoming a medium, it does come with a set of roles and responsibilities that should be upheld and given proper consideration if it’s a career you wish to pursue. The best way to develop your medium skills is to invest in a course that will take you through the essential knowledge and practices that should accompany any legitimate, professional medium.

Formal training to become a medium is a relatively new concept. Mediumship itself is centuries old but it’s only more recently that it has started to be recognised as a credible profession. As a result, more courses are becoming available and there are now even some accredited courses out there, meaning you can reassure your prospective clients that you are genuine and that you take your work seriously.

Mediumship training providers

If you’re looking for mediumship training, then these organisations are good places to start, whether you’re looking for a course yourself or even if you want to become a trainer further down the line:

International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine

This global holistic training provider certification board offers provides for individuals and training providers who meet their criteria.

The Spiritual Workers Association

A UK-based guild of spiritual workers and spiritualistic service providers, the SWA aims to promote excellence and improve standards in the field of spiritual work.

The Quality Licence Scheme

This UK-based scheme is part of the Skills and Education Group. They work with training providers to help them develop high-quality courses and/or training programmes for non-regulated markets such as mediumship.

Mediumship training courses

Mediumship and psychic services are finally starting to be recognised as legitimate professions. Although still currently unregulated and no formally recognised qualifications are available, there are places starting to offer accredited courses in these areas, which means you can gain a certain amount of learning-based credits and a certificate. Being able to demonstrate that you have completed an accredited course can be a great selling point to your potential clients.

Mediumship Diploma Course Level 3

This course by Centre of Excellence takes up to 150 hours to complete online. There’s no time limit for completing this course and offers lifetime access. It’s made up of 11 modules and is designed to give you all the information, skills and knowledge about mediumship and spirituality that you’ll need to become a practising medium or psychic medium. The course is suitable for beginners with no prior experience or knowledge.

Psychic Development Accredited Practitioner Diploma

This online course by Gateway Workshops allows you to study in your own time with access to the course for one year. It’s made up of 12 modules with a short test and case study assessment at the end to gain the accreditation. Although this course isn’t specifically aimed at those wanting to become a medium, it does cover all the basics of using energy and psychic abilities in various ways, including communications with spirit, and reading for others.

Specialist mediumship training colleges

You can also explore training opportunities with a college known for quality courses from top experts. Gaining knowledge and insight from well-established and respected mediums and psychics can be a great way to fine-tune and expand your own medium skills even faster.

There are many leading colleges for mediumship training, some involve the training being held at residential centres and online where students have the opportunity to study a variety of spiritual and psychic disciplines including mediumship.

How much does mediumship training cost?

Costs for mediumship training vary by training provider, and whether the course is online or residential. For example, a local or online workshop lasting a couple of hours may only cost between £30-50 but a weekend or full week in a residential setting may cost £300 or more.

However, opting for a recognised qualification doesn’t have to be expensive: for example, there are recognised Mediumship Diploma Courses available for £127.

Get your Mediumship Insurance today

Once you’ve gained a good level of mediumship training, you can explore business opportunities as a self-employed medium. There are many options to explore, but whichever you pick, one essential that remains constant is the need for good-quality insurance cover. As well as protecting you and your business from any unforeseen circumstances, it’s another way to reassure your potential clients that you are a serious and legitimate medium which may give you an additional edge over the competition.

At Protectivity, we offer specialist insurance policies for mediums who have obtained an accredited qualification. Our insurance includes Public Liability cover in case of injury or damage to a third party, equipment cover and Professional Indemnity. Our cover is available from just a few pounds a month, and is available through flexible payment plans, so you can get peace of mind for minimal outlay. Take a closer look at our options for mediumship insurance policies here.

Get Mediumship Insurance from Protectivity

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How To Grow Your Gym Business

16 March 2023

•

6 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

Get gym insurance from Protectivity

Gyms are as popular across the country right now as they’ve ever been. This has led to a huge rise in the number of gym businesses, and much greater diversity in the types of gyms available. Whether it’s bodybuilding and weightlifting, general fitness, on-trend lifestyle gyms or anything in between, there are gyms out there to serve every demand.

All this interest can be a curse as much as it can be a blessing. If you’re already running a gym in a saturated marketplace, it can be difficult to know how to take your enterprise to the next level and increase your membership and profitability. This guide gives you seven great tips on how to grow your gym business.

Our tips on how to grow gym business

Naturally, some of these tips will be more suitable than others to your specific needs. Some of these may be ideas that you’re already pursuing, but could perhaps do with a refresh or change of approach. In any case, these are the seven tips we’ve picked out that should help the broadest possible range of gym business owners:

Giveaways and competitions

Never underestimate just how much people enjoy a competition or a freebie. Holding regular giveaways is a great way of encouraging engagement through your existing membership, as well as grabbing attention from prospective new members, too. This doesn’t have to be a grand affair with a huge jackpot prize: it can be small, targeted incentives such as gym-related accessories, free months on memberships, or one-day gym passes. Adding welcome gifts to new memberships can also act as a powerful incentive, too.

Referrals and repeat custom discounts

Some of the most useful tools in generating more business and members are working out just outside your office door right now. Your existing customers are already positively engaged with your business, so getting them to work spreading the word is one of the simplest ways to expand your customer base. You can do this through a referral system, which gives membership discounts and offers to those who recommend a friend or relative that then takes out their own membership. Similarly, giving discounts for long-term membership will make your most loyal members feel even more positive about your brand.

Encourage email engagement

It may seem a little old-fashioned now, but emails can still be highly effective in reaching out to people with your message. Generating a regular flow of news and communications to send to people will make them feel that there’s a real buzz around your gym. This is especially the case if you can mix up your content flow with a variety of different emails: this could be your latest offers and discounts, tips on exercise and nutrition, community event details, general encouragement, or a combination of all of them in a newsletter-style email.

Maximise your website

Connected to the previous point, variety should be the spice of life on your website, too. After all, once prospective customers have gained an interest in what you have to offer, your website will almost certainly be their first port of call. They should be able to get all the information they need to know and explore lots of different types of content that shows your gym in the best possible light. Video content is especially important: creating some short promotional and longer instruction videos is a great way to connect with people: these can easily be hosted on YouTube and embedded into your web pages.

Develop your social media presence

No doubt you’ll already have a presence on a number of social media channels, but are you making the most of the opportunity? It’s your platform to share stories of satisfied customers, build a strong community, and even create workout groups that can then come together at your gym. If you employ personal trainers directly, then you may also want to explore software that allows customers to book sessions via social media, to maximise ease of experience.

Join forces with other professionals

Just because there are other gyms in your area doesn’t have to mean that they’re automatically your competitors. You may want to consider joining forces with another gym that has different facilities to yours: offering a common membership or special offers that encourage crossover between the two gyms and give customers access to more amenities and equipment. And don’t forget to keep in touch with the personal training community: they’ll have insights on what’s going on among local gym-goers, and how you can adjust your business model to take advantage of new opportunities.

Foster a positive community

The community and culture within a gym can be critical to its success. For example, if a gym has a more macho, masculine feel to it (especially around the free weights area), then it’s easy for other members to feel intimidated and end their memberships. If you’re trying to appeal to a wide range of gym-goers, then a positive and inclusive atmosphere is a must. This can be encouraged by holding social and community events, expanding group exercise opportunities, or perhaps even opening a cafe/restaurant area where people can unwind.

Get gym insurance with Protectivity

However, you choose to grow your gym or personal trainer business, you’ll need good insurance to protect your financial standing and business assets. This is especially the case if you employ staff, as you’ll need to have employer’s liability insurance in place.

For more than 25 years, Protectivity has been providing gym insurance policies to businesses just like yours. Our cover includes Public Liability, Business Interruption Cover, Employers’ Liability and Buildings & Contents Cover, so however big and successful your business becomes, you can operate with confidence that you’re protected against the unforeseen. Our policies can also cover gyms that are open 24 hours a day.

Find out more on our affordable gym insurance, including flexible payment plans.

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09:49:31 GMT • 14 November 2024

How Long Do You Need to Keep Business Insurance Policies?

8 March 2023

•

3 mins read

Contributors

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Just because your business insurance policy has been renewed and the old one is no longer valid, it doesn’t mean your business should throw out those old documents. In fact, even if the documents are several years old and you’re no longer insured by the same provider, it’s important that you continue to hold on to that paperwork.

Below, we’ll answer some key questions about insurance documents, including how long to keep business insurance policies, the risks involved with not keeping them, and what you can do if yours are lost or destroyed.

How long should you keep records of a business insurance policy?

You should keep a copy of your business insurance paperwork for seven years after the end of the policy. You should also keep digital copies of your paperwork for an additional three years on top of this.

If you’ve ever made a claim on your business insurance, you should also retain any paperwork related to your claim for seven years. However, claims related to employers’ liability insurance, public liability insurance and subsidence insurance should be kept for ten years.

Benefits of keeping historic insurance documents

The biggest benefit of keeping historic business insurance documents is that you have them on file should you need to refer back to them. This can help with your business’s administrative tasks and help with any future planning.

According to Section 5 of the Limitation Act of 1980, following a legal issue, there is a deadline of six years for action to be taken. So, in the event that this happens and a claim is made against your business, you will need these documents to refer to.

However, by far the most important reason for keeping any documents related to your business’s finances is to ensure you don’t face fines from HMRC. You can face fines of up to £3,000 or be disqualified from being a company director if you’re unable to provide the relevant documents when asked.

It’s important to note that this only relates to business insurance documents. You don’t need to hold on to your personal insurance documents, and you can destroy these once they’re no longer valid.

What to do if you no longer have your documents

If your business insurance documents over the past seven years have been lost, stolen or destroyed, then it’s important to do what you can to replace them. Because you should always keep digital copies of these records, paper copies should be easily replaced. Digital documents, or printouts of these documents, should be enough should HMRC ever request them.

You may also want to alert HMRC that these documents have been lost. Alerting them means you’ve done everything in your power to stay on top of the situation should they request to see your documents in the future.

Insure your business with Protectivity

Looking to secure the future of your business? Protect your business with our small business insurance – get a free quote today.

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5 Common Risks When Starting a Business

3 March 2023

•

8 mins read

Contributors

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Starting your own business is an exciting time as you chase your dreams of becoming an entrepreneur. Many entrepreneurs are risk-takers by nature, who have to embrace the unknown as they launch a new product or service into their industry.

When starting a new business, you should have plenty to look forward to, from being your own boss to trying new things. But there are several risks to be aware of that can impact your chances of success. Here, we’ll cover some of the risks when starting a business and how to minimise them.

Common risks associated with starting a new business

If you’re considering starting a business, it’s important that you prepare for potential risks that can threaten your business’ success. Of course, some risks are difficult to avoid, such as economic decline and market demand. But if you can find ways to mitigate potential risks, this can stand your business in good stead.

Here are some of the most common risks that affect new businesses and how to tackle them:

Financial risks when starting a new business

The excitement of starting a new business can make it easy to turn a blind eye to the financial risks associated with a startup. Being aware of these financial risks can help you make the best financial decisions for your company, and help you reap the rewards.

To increase your profitability, you’ll need a strategy to grow your sales and generate revenue. You may be relying on investors to get your business off the ground, and they’ll be expecting a return on their investment. So, it’s important that you have a plan in place to generate revenue and make a profit. Offering promotions to boost volumes of sales, and developing new products or service lines can be great ways to increase your profits and ensure you’re in a comfortable financial position.

To get your business up and running, you may choose to take out a small loan to tide you over until your profits start soaring. There are several types of loans and grants available to small businesses in the UK. In terms of grants, the government offers a variety of financial support options for new businesses that need financial aid.

Another risk to be aware of is sustaining your business over time. Making sure you have a financial plan in place that shows income projections, expected return for investors and how much cash you’ll need to break even can offer you peace of mind. Without planning ahead you could risk financial strain or even bankruptcy – so it’s vital that you have a roadmap in place to ensure financial security.

Regulatory risks for business owners to consider

When starting a business, it’s important that you meet the standards of your industry and any compliance requirements. Here are just some of the regulatory requirements for business owners to consider:

Industry regulations: Depending on the industry you work in, there may be industry-specific regulations that you must adhere to. For example, if you’re setting up a business in the finance sector, you will need to be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who have strict guidelines you must follow.
Finance regulations: There are business compliance rules you must follow around tax, payroll, record-keeping and accounting, as well as dealing with HMRC. It’s important that you follow these regulations carefully to avoid being penalised.
Workers rights: There are several workers rights that you must follow, but the main three include national minimum wage (and being protected against unlawful deductions of pay), statutory minimum level of paid holiday and rest breaks, and protection against unlawful discrimination, unfair dismissal and unfair treatment for being a part-time worker.
Health and safety: There are several regulations around health and safety at work, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The act requires businesses to ensure staff have adequate health and safety training, a safe work environment that is properly maintained and adequate welfare provisions for staff at work.
GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation came into effect in 2018 to provide a legal framework for companies to keep everyone’s personal data safe. This requires businesses to have strong data protection processes in place for handling and storing personal information.

Operational risks to consider

Another potential risk to be aware of when starting a business is what are known as operational risks. These include processes, systems or events that disrupt business operations. If not handled correctly, operational risks can threaten business success. Some examples of operational risks you need to be aware of include:

Fraud: Whether it be internal fraud where employees misappropriate company resources, or external fraud where independent parties outside your business attempt a cyberattack, bribery or theft – fraud can seriously affect your business’ livelihood.
Technology: Deficiencies or failures in your computer systems or software.
Safety: Violating or the risk of violating workplace safety measures, either physically or mentally.
Natural disasters: Harsh weather conditions, fire or other disasters that can put physical assets at risk, leaving it difficult for employees to perform their daily tasks.

Reputation management – how do I do it?

Your brand or company’s reputation can undoubtedly influence your customers’ decision to purchase. So having the unexpected strike can cause damage to your business’ reputation, leading to a decline in sales and profitability. Ensuring you have a plan in place to maintain your reputation can help mitigate the risk of a bad scenario occurring and your reputation being at stake.

Reputation management is a way for you to monitor how your customers perceive your business and take the necessary steps to improve your brand’s image. Often, this is centred around monitoring your company’s reputation in reviews and through social media like Instagram. But there are other steps you can take such as:

Understand your values: Know what your company stands for and make this clear to your employees, so they can ensure these standards are sustained. Make sure each member of staff knows what your company’s message is and how to reflect it to help maintain your brand’s reputation.
High customer service: Your customer service is the key to making a lasting impression on your customers, so ensure that it’s high quality. Great customer service increases customer loyalty, leads to referrals and helps maintain a good reputation of your brand and its values.
Plan for bad scenarios: Make sure you have a plan in place of how to deal with a potential bad scenario. Brainstorm potential scenarios that could damage the public’s perception of your business and how you would take action. For example, if a customer were to complain about the cleanliness of your premises, this would indicate that the standards need to improve.

Business protection – keep your business safe

You’ve put a lot of time, money and effort into bringing your business to life, so it’s only right that you’ll want to protect it. Here are some ways you can help to keep your business safe for long-term success:

Cybersecurity: Whether your business runs from just one computer or all members of staff work from individual devices, it’s important to ensure all technology is protected against cyberattacks. Not only do you need to secure your business’ data and financial information, you also need to adhere to GDPR by protecting your customers’ and employees’ data.
Outsourcing: If you need to outsource certain areas of your business to another company, you’ll need to ensure you aren’t liable for their misconduct.
Business insurance: While you may think you’ll never need to use it, business insurance is there to protect you against the unexpected. It will protect your business financially if you were to get sued by a third party, as well as additional extras you can add to your policy that are tailored to your industry. With the right cover, you can enjoy the day-to-day of your job with peace of mind, knowing you’ll have a helping hand available should disaster strike.

Get a quote for your small business with Protectivity

Here at Protectivity, we specialise in business insurance for small businesses across various industries. Our tailored business insurance can protect you against the unexpected, so you can embrace your new challenge to the fullest. Perhaps you’re a personal trainers needing personal trainer insurance who is starting their own business. Our affordable business cover can give you the peace of mind you need to open your new business with confidence. Get a quote for your small business insurance today.

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