Kelly’s Austin Personal Training Celebrates Third Anniversary

Three years ago we opened our doors to Kelly Personal Training in Austin. When I moved to Austin I did not know a single person. I had no network or friends to help out. I was unfamiliar with all that was involved in opening a small business In Texas. After much delay we opened are doors. It was a scary being opened for business without a single customer. I offered to work people out for free the first month just to stay busy.

Gradually the business picked up and word of mouth helped the business to grow. I thank my long time clients for those initial referrals. Those who were referred made additional more referrals, and pretty soon the business grew at a healthy clip. We took on more trainers and they have thrived. We continue to add new personnel.

Our other facility, New Orleans Ultimate Fitness Training, was clipped at the knees after Hurricane Katrina. At our peak before the hurricane we had 22 trainers. Katrina changed all that. Many New Orleans businesses closed their doors never to reopen. Those that remained open lost many of their customers who had relocated. We were fortunate to escape with minimal damage, and our client base has slowly recovered post-Katrina.

Fifty percent of businesses close within the first three years of opening their doors. Eighty percent close before their tenth anniversary. During bad economic times those percentages are higher. Kelly Austin Personal Training starts its fourth year in business, and New Orleans Ultimate Fitness enters its ninth year.

In 29 years in the business I have never charged a client if they failed to show. I have never charged a cancellation fee. One customer insisted that she be charged when she had no-showed without notifying me. I told her. “It is my business and my rules; there are no cancellation charges ever. We are here for you, and if a time does not work we will simply reschedule at a time convenient for you”. We understand that the clients make our success possible, and as such, we cater to them as best we can. We are always mindful that our doors would not remain open without our clients. We thank all our valued clients for their loyalty that has enabled us to thrive.