Sports Nutrition Coaching

The shortcut: The wall most non-RD nutrition coaches hit isn't bad clients or weak marketing — it's writing one individualized "eat this for your diabetes" plan in a state with a dietitian practice act. Stay in performance fueling for healthy athletes, never in disease management, and the business is wide open.

Industry: Fitness & Sports | Investment level: Micro — $300-$1,000 | Time to launch: 4-8 weeks (CISSN or PN1 cert + intake-form scope language gate the first paid client) Best for: Anyone who already trains seriously, can read a peer-reviewed sports nutrition study without losing the thread, and is willing to write a clear "I am not a dietitian" line on every intake form. What you'll likely make: $400-$900 month 3, $1,200-$2,500 month 6, $2,500-$5,000 month 12. Math is in Section 4.

Market Opportunity

Most people who want to start a "nutrition business" assume the credential question is the hard part. It's not. The hard part is one sentence on your intake form: am I coaching general performance fueling for healthy athletes, or am I prescribing a diet to manage someone's medical condition? The first is wide open in every state. The second is the unlicensed practice of dietetics in 43 states plus DC, and prosecutors do bring those cases.

That sounds scary, and the surface read is "I need to become an RD or skip this idea." The opposite is true. The athletes you'd serve are almost all healthy adults who want better fueling around training, not medical nutrition therapy. That whole population is fair game for a credentialed sports nutrition coach who isn't a dietitian. The global sports nutrition market sat at roughly $50 billion in 2023, projected near $90 billion by 2031 at about an 8% CAGR (Grand View Research) — and most of that demand is performance, not pathology.

The real threats are scope creep when a client mentions a medication, supplement claims that drift past what FTC allows, and undercharging because you're scared of the first invoice. Saying the wrong sentence to the wrong client in the wrong state is what kills the business.

Launch With AI

Pro tip: The healthy-athletes-only reframing is the entire legal moat. AI handles the scope-of-practice red-team that keeps every intake form + sales page + DM out of dietitian-practice-act territory in the 43 strict-enforcement states, the FTC + FDA supplement-claim audit that protects against the single most common shutdown trigger, the per-event 8-12 week training-cycle nutrition program template, the athlete-avatar Instagram + TikTok content that drives leads without crossing into medical claims, and the Klaviyo flow that converts a $50 templated meal-plan buyer into a $150-$200/month coaching client.

Upfront honesty: AI cannot watch a marathon athlete's gait and tell them their fueling timing is off. The coaching craft + sport-specific knowledge is the entire moat. What AI does is everything around it: scope-of-practice red-team that flags every clinical-medical phrase before a Texas / California / Florida / New York / Illinois / Ohio / Pennsylvania / Georgia attorney general gets a complaint (CDR's state licensure map is the 43-state list), the verbatim "I am not a dietitian" disclaimer that lawyers want on every intake form, FTC supplement-claim audit per FTC Dietary Supplement Guidance (no therapeutic claims, no implied disease treatment), HIPAA + state medical-records-retention rules if any client mentions a diagnosis (refer out + do NOT keep the file), HSA/FSA reimbursement disqualification language (IRS Publication 502 — sports nutrition coaching is NOT eligible), 8-12 week event-prep template generation tied to training cycles (no individualized therapeutic prescriptions), athlete-avatar Instagram + TikTok content that drives leads without crossing into medical claims, and the Klaviyo flow that converts templated buyers into monthly retainers.

AI Tools You'll Use

Tool	What it does for you	Cost
ChatGPT (Plus)	Scope red-team, event-prep templates, social hooks, retainer pitches	$20/mo
Claude (Free)	Reading state dietitian practice acts + FTC supplement rules + IRS Pub 502	Free
Practice Better	Intake forms, food logs, secure messaging, invoicing	$25-$60/mo
Cronometer Gold	Accurate micronutrient analysis for client food log review	$8.99/mo
Klaviyo (Free → paid)	Templated buyer → coaching client conversion + event-prep nurture	Free → $20/mo

The Workflow

Step 1: Generate the scope-of-practice red-team (the single audit that keeps the business legal). 43 states + DC have dietitian practice acts. Telling a diabetic client what to eat = unauthorized practice of dietetics = state attorney general complaint + criminal exposure. AI generates the red-team.

Prompt: "I'm a [CISSN / Precision Nutrition L1 / NASM Sports Nutrition] certified COACH, NOT a Registered Dietitian (CDR-credentialed), NOT a licensed nutritionist. I operate in [state]. Apply scope-of-practice red-team to my draft intake form, sales page, retainer agreement, supplement-recommendation language, and DM responses below: '[paste].' (1) STATE PRACTICE ACT — look up [state]'s dietitian/nutritionist practice act (CDR state licensure map). For strict-enforcement states (CA, TX, FL, NY, IL, OH, PA, GA + 35 others): the line I cannot cross is INDIVIDUALIZED THERAPEUTIC nutrition advice — telling a SPECIFIC client what to eat for THEIR diagnosed condition. For minimal-restriction states (AZ, NJ, a few others): more latitude but FTC + product liability still bind. Output the [state]'s exact statute citation + the prohibited-conduct language verbatim + the carve-outs for general-wellness coaching. (2) FLAG EVERY CLINICAL-MEDICAL PHRASE in my draft — any sentence that diagnoses, treats, prescribes for, or manages a medical condition. Banned verbs: 'treat,' 'cure,' 'manage,' 'prescribe,' 'individualize for your [condition],' 'therapeutic.' Banned conditions list: diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, BED, ARFID), pregnancy nutrition, cancer, autoimmune, IBD, IBS, food allergy management, hypertension, PCOS, thyroid disorders. For each flag: tell me the exact phrase + why it's a violation + a scope-safe rewrite. (3) GENERATE THE INTAKE FORM SCREENING + REFERRAL LANGUAGE — the 6-question screening that catches a client with a diagnosis on intake (saves you from session 3 surprise): 'Do you have a diagnosed medical condition we should know about?' + 'Are you currently working with an MD, RD, or licensed therapist?' + 'Are you pregnant or trying to conceive?' + 'Do you have a current or past eating disorder?' + 'Are you taking any medications that affect appetite/metabolism/hydration?' + 'Are you a minor or under 18?' For YES on any question: the verbatim referral-out script ('Based on what you shared, my scope as a sports nutrition COACH doesn't include this. I'll refer you to [RD network] / [eating-disorder specialist] / [your physician]. Happy to coach you on general performance fueling once you have a clinical care team in place.'). (4) GENERATE THE 'I AM NOT A DIETITIAN' DISCLAIMER VERBATIM — for the intake form + sales page footer + every email signature: 'I am a [CISSN / PN1] certified sports nutrition COACH. I am not a Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) and not a licensed nutritionist. My services are general performance and wellness EDUCATION for healthy athletes. I do not diagnose, treat, manage, or prescribe for any medical condition. Clients with medical conditions, eating disorders, pregnancy, or minors must consult a Registered Dietitian and physician.' (5) GENERATE THE SAFE-LANGUAGE VOCABULARY — preferred verbs ('discuss,' 'explore,' 'educate,' 'review,' 'suggest,' 'general guideline'); banned verbs (above). Output: per-paragraph red-team + intake-form template + disclaimer + vocabulary list."

Step 2: Generate the FTC + FDA supplement-claim audit (the second-most-common shutdown trigger). Recommending creatine, protein, beta-alanine, or any supplement to a client crosses into FTC + FDA territory the moment you make a claim. AI generates the audit.

Prompt: "Apply FTC + FDA supplement-claim audit to my supplement recommendations + sponsorships + affiliate disclosures. (1) FTC ENDORSEMENT GUIDES — per 16 CFR §255: every supplement I recommend that I'm paid for OR have a free-product affiliate must include a clear, conspicuous '#ad' or 'paid partnership' disclosure on every social post + every email. The disclosure must be SAME-LINE as the recommendation (not buried in caption #4). Generate a per-platform disclosure template: Instagram in-caption first line, TikTok video on-screen text + spoken disclosure, blog/email '#ad — affiliate link below,' YouTube description first line + verbal in first 30 seconds. (2) FTC + FDA HEALTH CLAIMS — per FTC Dietary Supplement Guidance + FDA's structure/function claim rules: I cannot claim a supplement TREATS, CURES, PREVENTS, or DIAGNOSES any disease. I CAN claim it 'supports muscle recovery,' 'helps maintain hydration,' 'is part of a healthy training routine.' Banned: 'fixes,' 'cures,' 'prevents injury,' 'eliminates,' 'reverses.' Allowed: 'supports,' 'helps maintain,' 'is associated with.' Audit my draft sales page + 5 social posts: '[paste].' Flag each banned claim + rewrite in compliant structure/function language. (3) NSF CERTIFIED FOR SPORT VS UNCERTIFIED — for athletes subject to drug testing (collegiate, Olympic, professional): only recommend NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport supplements. Otherwise risk recommending a tainted supplement that gets the athlete banned + me sued. Output the per-supplement-category list of NSF-certified options to recommend. (4) AFFILIATE INCOME DECLARATION — disclose affiliate relationship at first mention, every post. Maintain a public affiliate-relationships page on my website. (5) SUPPLEMENT FACTS PANEL — if I'm not the manufacturer, I link to the supplier's panel; if I co-create or private-label any supplement, I'm now in FDA dietary supplement manufacturing territory + need to comply with 21 CFR §111 cGMP — which is a $50K-$200K annual compliance bill. Stay an affiliate, don't co-create. Output: per-claim FTC compliance audit + the verbatim disclosure templates + the NSF-certified shopping list per supplement category + the contract review for any sponsorship deal."

Step 3: Generate the 8-12 week event-prep template (the highest-ticket service that also stays scope-safe). Event prep blocks tied to a specific event (marathon, powerlifting meet, triathlon, hockey playoff) sell at $400-$650 per block. They're the easiest service to template and stay scope-safe. AI generates the template.

Prompt: "For [target event — marathon / half-marathon / Olympic-distance triathlon / powerlifting meet / collegiate hockey playoff / CrossFit Open], generate an 8-12 week event-prep template I can deliver to a healthy athlete. Constraints: stay STRICTLY in PERFORMANCE FUELING territory — no medical nutrition therapy, no diagnosed-condition management, no individualized 'eat THIS for YOUR condition.' (1) PHASE STRUCTURE — week-by-week phases tied to the training cycle (base building → build → peak → taper → race week → recovery). For each phase: general macro guideline ranges (carb g/kg/day for the training load, protein g/kg/day, hydration baseline) — published evidence-based ranges from ISSN Position Stand on Nutrition Timing + ACSM Joint Position Statement. (2) PRE/DURING/POST-WORKOUT FUELING TEMPLATE — generic recommendations the athlete chooses from (e.g., '30-60g carbs/hour during sessions >90 min — examples: gels, bananas, sport drinks. Athlete picks the form they tolerate'). (3) RACE-DAY FUELING SCRIPT — pre-race meal timing + during-race fueling protocol + finish-line refeed window. Written as a 'this is the published guideline + here are 4 example athletes' approach to it' framing — never 'this is your plan, follow this exact menu.' (4) CARBOHYDRATE LOADING PROTOCOL — for endurance events >90 min: published 36-48 hour loading protocol per Burke et al.. Educational only. (5) HYDRATION + ELECTROLYTE GUIDELINES — sweat-rate self-test protocol the athlete runs themselves; published electrolyte targets; sodium-cramping countermeasures. (6) WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS NOT — verbatim disclaimer: 'This is general PERFORMANCE FUELING education for healthy athletes. It is not a personalized medical nutrition plan, not a treatment for any condition, not a substitute for working with a Registered Dietitian if you have a diagnosed condition. If you have diabetes, kidney disease, an eating disorder, or any other diagnosed condition, do not use this program — work with an RD instead.' (7) INTAKE-FORM DEAL-BREAKERS — the 4 questions that disqualify a client from this program (diagnosed condition / eating disorder / pregnancy / minor). For each: refer-out script. Output: 8-12 week PDF program template + intake-form add-on + race-day script PDF. Pricing recommendation: $400-$650 for the 8-12 week block."

Step 4: Generate athlete-avatar Instagram + TikTok content that drives leads without crossing claims. Most coaches post generic 'eat protein' content that converts at 0.1%. AI writes the avatar-specific content that targets a real athlete profile.

Prompt: "Generate a 60-day Instagram + TikTok content plan targeting [athlete avatar — e.g., recreational marathon runner training for first sub-4 marathon, natural physique athlete in cutting phase, masters-level powerlifter, collegiate hockey player, CrossFit Open athlete]. (1) THE AVATAR PROFILE — 1-paragraph deep dive: age, sport, training volume, current pain point ('hits a wall at mile 18'), what they Google ('how to fuel a long run,' 'pre-workout meal timing'), where they hang out (subreddit, Strava, sport-specific Discord). (2) 30 CONTENT HOOKS in their language — 7-word patterns that stop their scroll: 'Why your sub-4 marathon is bonking at mile 18,' 'The pre-race breakfast 5 of my athletes ate before their PR,' 'Carb loading isn't pasta the night before — here's what works.' (3) PER-POST FORMAT — 3 templates per week: (a) 60-second educational reel with on-screen captions + voiceover + the published-guideline citation in the caption, (b) carousel post breaking down a specific fueling situation ('what to eat during a 90-min long run — 4 options'), (c) athlete case-study post (with permission + scope-safe framing — 'Athlete Z worked with me on race-week fueling. Here's the published-guideline framework we used.' Never 'I designed her plan' — keep it educational). (4) CAPTION TEMPLATE — Hook (first line, 40 chars) + 'Quick context' (60 words) + 'Here's the published-guideline framework' (80 words) + 'Caveat: this is general performance fueling for healthy athletes — if you have a diagnosed condition, work with an RD' (the disclaimer that protects scope) + CTA ('DM me 'fuel' for the free 1-pager on race-week fueling — for [event type] only'). (5) THE DM CONVERSION SCRIPT — when someone DMs the keyword ('fuel'): the auto-response that delivers the 1-pager + invites to a free 15-min discovery call. (6) THE 4-PIECE LEAD MAGNET — a free 1-pager titled '[Event] Race-Week Fueling Framework' that captures email + tags the lead in Klaviyo. Output: 60-day calendar + 30 hooks + caption template + DM script + lead-magnet PDF outline."

Step 5: Klaviyo templated-buyer → coaching client + event-prep nurture flow. A $50-$120 templated meal-plan buyer is your cheapest lead. AI writes the conversion flow.

Prompt: "Write a 5-email Klaviyo flow triggered after a templated-product purchase ($50-$120 macro plan or event-prep PDF). Email 1 (immediate, transactional): the product delivery + the founder credential snippet + 'Reply with one question about how to use this — I read every reply.' Email 2 (day 5, value): the 'how to actually use the template' tactical breakdown + 1 case study of an athlete who used the same template + the soft mention of the 1:1 monthly coaching ($125-$200/mo). Email 3 (day 14, social proof): athlete results carousel (with permission) + the 8-12 week event-prep block pitch ($400-$650, tied to whatever event the avatar is training for) + a 15% off code for a first event-prep block (valid 14 days). Email 4 (day 30, story): a personal story from my own training/competing + how I think about the event-prep block ('here's what I'd do for someone training for [event] — and here's the framework I use with 1:1 athletes'). Email 5 (day 60, soft close): the monthly coaching pitch — '$150/mo, 2 video check-ins, weekly messaging, food log review against published athletic ranges. If you've gotten value from these emails, this is the next step. If not, no problem — I'll keep sending the [weekly newsletter] and you can come back when the timing's right.' Subject lines under 40 chars. Tone: peer coach, never clinical. Sign every email with first name + CISSN/PN1 credential. EVERY email footer includes the 'I am not a dietitian' disclaimer + the unsubscribe link. CAN-SPAM compliance: physical address, clear unsubscribe, no deceptive subject lines."

Time Saved Per Week

Scope-of-practice red-team (one-time + per state): ~6 hrs saved + state-AG-complaint protection
FTC + FDA supplement-claim audit (one-time): ~4 hrs saved + FTC-action protection
8-12 week event-prep template (per event type): ~10 hrs saved per template + scales to every athlete
Athlete-avatar content engine (one-time per avatar): ~6 hrs saved/wk in steady state
Klaviyo conversion flow (one-time): ~5 hrs saved, then runs forever
Total: 5-9 hrs/wk back in steady state — enough to add 2-4 more monthly clients per quarter without burning out.

Total AI Stack Cost

Budget tier: ChatGPT Free + Claude Free + Practice Better basic + Klaviyo Free = $25/mo (Practice Better is the floor — replaces email/Calendly/Stripe billing for coaching)
Full tier: ChatGPT Plus ($20) + Practice Better ($60) + Cronometer Gold ($9) + Klaviyo ($20) = $109/mo
Compare: A part-time coaching admin + content person = $400-$800/mo. AI does it for $25-$109.

Your First Win (30-min action)

Run Step 1's scope-of-practice red-team on your current intake form (or the template you've been planning to use) today. Then add the verbatim 'I am not a dietitian' disclaimer + the 6-question intake screening.

Prompt to lock the legal floor before your first paid client: "Apply Step 1's red-team to: (a) my draft intake form '[paste]' + (b) my draft sales page '[paste]' + (c) my standard DM response when someone says 'I have diabetes, can you help me?' Output: the per-section flags, the rewrites, the 6-question intake screening, the verbatim disclaimer for every email signature + page footer, and the referral-out script for the diabetic-DM scenario. Then output a 1-page 'scope of practice' policy I attach to every coaching agreement."

That single red-team typically takes 60 minutes + protects every future client interaction from the single most common shutdown trigger. That's the entire 'first paid client without a state complaint' path.

Product / Service Offering

You're selling three distinct things with very different price points:

1-on-1 performance fueling coaching — monthly retainer, two video check-ins per month, weekly messaging, food log review. The economic core. Built around training cycles, not weight loss.
Templated macro/meal planning packages — one-time digital downloads (a marathon-fueling primer, a cutting-phase macro template for natural physique athletes, a hockey team pre-game meal sheet). Passive revenue, zero clinical risk if framed as general education.
Event prep blocks — 8-12 weeks tied to a goal event (a half-marathon, a powerlifting meet, a triathlon). Defined endpoint, easier to sell than open-ended monthly coaching.

Skip "weight loss coaching" as a category. It's the fastest route to a scope-of-practice complaint — half the people who reach out have a medical reason for the weight in question and you won't know until session three.

Revenue Model

Unit economics for a non-RD sports nutrition coach working online, no employees, no rented space:

Service	Price	Variable cost (platform + payment fees)	Time per month	Take-home per booking
Monthly performance coaching (athlete)	$125-$200/mo	$8-$15	90-120 min	$115-$185
8-week event prep block (one-time)	$400-$650	$15-$25	6-8 hrs total	$385-$625
Templated macro plan (digital download)	$50-$120	$2-$5	0 (built once)	$48-$115
Group webinar or team contract (sports club)	$300-$800 per session	$20-$40	90 min + prep	$280-$760

Your first $1K month = 6 monthly clients at $150 + 1 templated plan at $79 = $979. Roughly 12 hours of delivery work. Your first $3K month = 12 monthly clients at $150 + 1 event-prep block at $500 + 4 templated plans at $90 = $2,660. Push a single team contract at $400 and you clear $3K.

Track payment processing through Stripe at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. For event-prep blocks paid upfront, keep the cash in a separate operating account so a refund request doesn't drain rent money.

Startup Costs

Certification: CISSN exam at roughly $200-$300, or Precision Nutrition Level 1 at $999-$1,999. CISSN is the science credential athletes recognize. PN1 is a coaching framework that markets well to general-fitness clients but is not sports-specific. Many coaches stack both over year one.
Coaching platform: Practice Better starts around $25/month for solo coaches and includes intake forms, food log imports, secure messaging, and invoicing. Trainerize at $35/month for 5 clients if you also want workout programming integration.
Tracking tools for clients: Cronometer Gold at ~$8.99/month for accurate micronutrient data, or free MyFitnessPal if your clients already use it. You don't pay the client subscription — you point them to it.
LLC + EIN + insurance: $35-$500 LLC filing by state (LLC University 50-state table), free EIN at IRS EIN Online — never pay a third party — and $300-$1,000/year for general + professional liability through Insureon or a fitness-specific carrier.
Attorney-reviewed intake form + scope disclaimer: $150-$400 one-time. Do not skip this. A fill-in template from the internet is the single line item most likely to save your business.

Realistic all-in: $300 if you already hold a cert and DIY the LLC; $1,000 if you sit the CISSN, file the LLC, bind insurance, and pay an attorney for the intake.

Legal & Formation

Business entity. A single-member LLC is the right default before you take the first paid client. It separates personal assets from a future scope-of-practice complaint or a bad-supplement-recommendation lawsuit, and the filing fee is recoverable in your first month of coaching. Sole prop is acceptable only for an unpaid pilot phase. Get your EIN free directly from the IRS — services charging $50-$300 for "EIN filing" are reselling a free five-minute form.

Licenses & sales tax. No nationwide license to coach sports nutrition for healthy athletes if you're not calling yourself a dietitian or nutritionist (where the title is protected). The CISSN and PN1 are credentials, not government licenses. Coaching services are not usually sales-taxable, but digital products (your templated macro plans) often are in your state — your booking platform will collect and remit if you enable it. CPR/AED through the American Red Cross at $80-$120 is not required for online-only coaching, but most insurers price your liability premium lower if you hold one. Get it.

Industry-specific risk: scope of practice is the entire game. Forty-three states plus DC have dietitian practice acts that restrict individualized therapeutic nutrition advice to credentialed RDs. The strict-enforcement states include California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia(https://www.cdrnet.org/state-licensing)]. Arizona and New Jersey are among the few with minimal restrictions. The line you cannot cross in a strict state: telling someone with diabetes, kidney disease, an eating disorder, cancer, or any diagnosed medical condition what specifically to eat to manage that condition. That is medical nutrition therapy, and only an RD/RDN can deliver it. What you CAN do: discuss general macronutrient roles, explain pre-workout fueling timing, walk through hydration strategy, recommend evidence-based recovery protocols, and review food logs against published athletic performance ranges. What you CANNOT do: write a 1,800-calorie diabetic meal plan, prescribe a renal diet, or tell an active-eating-disorder client what to eat. Put this on your intake form verbatim: "I am a certified sports nutrition coach, not a licensed dietitian. My guidance is general wellness and performance education for healthy athletes. I do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any medical condition. Clients with medical conditions must consult a registered dietitian or physician." Refer out the moment a client mentions an active diagnosis. Supplement recommendations fall under FTC health-claim rules (FTC dietary supplement guidance) — no therapeutic claims without clinical backing, even if the brand label makes them. HSA/FSA reimbursement is also off-limits unless you become an RD (IRS Publication 502).

Marketing & First Customers

The athletes who pay best are not on Instagram looking for nutrition tips. They're on Strava posting splits, in subreddit communities for their sport, and at local race expos. Generic nutrition Instagram is brutally crowded. Sport-specific niches are not.

Your first 15 clients come from three sources, in this order:

Your own training community — the running club, masters swim group, jiu-jitsu academy, or CrossFit box you already train at. Offer the first three a 4-week pilot at $50/month in exchange for a written testimonial. Three testimonials from real athletes in your sport beats a year of cold content.
Local endurance event expos — half-marathon, triathlon, century-ride, and Spartan-race expos let you table for $200-$500 per event. Bring printed templated macro guides as lead magnets. Capture emails. Convert 5-10% over the next 60 days.
Referrals from movement-only trainers — most personal trainers actively avoid giving nutrition advice for the exact scope reasons above, and they need someone to refer to. DM five trainers in your city per week with your scope statement and your prices. One good referral relationship is worth a year of cold content.

FTC endorsement rules (16 CFR 255) apply the moment you post a sponsored supplement or paid collaboration. "#ad" or "#sponsored" in the caption is the bare minimum. The athlete audience calls out undisclosed sponsorships fast — one bad post can torch trust with a whole sport's community.

First 90 Days

Week 1. Register for CISSN exam or enroll in PN1. File LLC. Get EIN. Buy domain.
Week 1-2. Draft scope statement. Pay attorney $150-$400 to review intake form. Bind general + professional liability.
Week 2-4. Study and sit the CISSN, or complete the first PN1 module. Renew or earn CPR/AED.
Week 4-5. Set up Practice Better with intake form: credentials disclosure, PAR-Q, allergen list, medication list (so you can flag medical-condition referrals).
Week 5-6. Launch three pilot clients from your training community at $50/month for 4 weeks. Goal: three written testimonials, not revenue.
Week 6-8. Build first templated macro plan in your sport. Price at $79. Post on two sport-specific subreddits with a free preview.
Week 8-10. Raise rates to full $125-$200/month. Convert pilots or release them with grace. Target: 4-6 paying monthly clients.
Week 10-12. Table at first race expo. DM 5 movement-only trainers per week. Target: 8-10 paying monthly clients by day 90, roughly $1,200-$1,500/month gross.

Common Pitfalls

Crossing the scope line for one "easy" diabetes client. They'll feel like a nice referral and the meal-plan ask will sound reasonable. One complaint to the state board ends the business in California, Texas, or Florida. The fix: a hard no every time, with three local RDs ready to refer to.
Recommending supplements with therapeutic claims. Saying "this creatine treats fatigue" or "this protein helps insulin resistance" violates FTC health-claim rules whether or not the label says it. The fix: stay descriptive — "this brand third-party tests for banned substances" — and never claim a treatment effect.
Underpricing because the first client felt awkward. $75/month is what unlicensed Instagram coaches charge, and clients at that price quit at month three. The fix: $125-$200 from client one. If they balk, sell the templated macro plan instead.
Treating health intake casually. You're not a HIPAA-covered entity as an independent coach, but food logs plus medication lists plus injury notes is exactly the data set a class-action lawyer dreams about after a breach. The fix: encrypted intake (Practice Better, JotForm HIPAA tier, or Google Workspace with a signed BAA) — never plain email, never a shared Google Doc.

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