Working as pilates instructor (as Sole Trader)

Additionally - should have added I have full right to work in EU

    Is anyone here working in the fitness industry & got any insights on - 1.  how to get insurance as a pilates instructor with a non-german qualification?  2. how hard is it to set up as a sole trader?3. insights on whether people would be ok attending a class (taught in english) I know this isn't ideal.   This is assuming a located close to a major city of course.   Thoughts? 4.  what is the general feel towards PT/fitness/pilates?  🙏        -@AussieRanga

1. 1. I have no idea.
2. As you have work rights in the EU, setting up is not hard. The harder part is running the business, accounting, taxes, health insurance, and social contributions.
3. Where I am, in Berlin, classes in English are maybe not very common but also not rare and with an ever growing expat community, more and more studios and organizations are adding classes in English to their offering. Just be aware that you will be mostly relying on expats and here and there some Germans who live/work in environs where English is very present.
4. PT is in short supply, everybody needs it, wait lists are long, but as far as I know, you need a recognized qualification. Fitness and pilates are generally popular.

To add to what ALKB wrote above:

• You said you have "full rights" to work in the EU, but you are not EU citizen. It is thus not clear whether you also have "full rights" to move here, register as resident and start a business.
• If you become resident, you can (and must) join a German health insurance, just like everyone else. This will not be cheap - and whether you must join the private or public scheme depends on where and how you are insured now.
• Even if your courses are in English, formalities like business registration, accountancy and taxation are in (difficult, buerocratic) German. You probably need to engage professionals (and bear their fees) to deal with these.

@ALKB thank you - yes definitely thinking of being near expat community thanks good to know about PT as hubby (EU citizen) is one.  appreciate your insights

@beppi - thank you

@AussieRanga

I live near Hamburg and it would be really nice to find an English speaking instructor in PT/fitness/pilates. It has been difficult to find, surprisingly. So, just a hint......advertise to people at an international school, where many expats send their kids to school. Where ever the school is located, you will find that many of the expats live around that area as well. But, as an expat, maybe you already know this. Also, you could offer the school some free classes for the parents. This will get your foot in the door. And, have coffee with the parents after class. This is an even better way to get to know the expat community. Also, if your studio is close to the school and if you work with their calendar and time schedule (have classes right after morning drop off times), then you should have a thriving business in no time! It really works!

@kubikhan - thank you so much I am currently looking for suitable locations & you tip for looking at where international schools are is very useful.

🙏

Clare

Long time yoga practitioner but NOT a legal expert on this subject but I don’t think there are special legal requirements to offer yoga or Pilates courses as opposed to doing things like physical therapy which demands specific training and a B2 level of German. For medical related professions it is really important to have the language skills. But one need not just look for expats; most Germans, especially the types and ages of people likely to be interested in such things are going to be able and often willing to have English instruction. Just important that it is presented clearly what is being offered. And cooperation with other such instructors would be a good idea; to refer people to others if they really want German instruction and (hopefully) get reciprocal recommendations for people more comfortable with English.

But of course one can imagine the market would be more viable in or near bigger communities although some might have a lot more competition. The interest in yoga and Pilates has grown over the years but so have the number of people trying to make a living by teaching it. I recently met with an old acquaintance who took early retirement as a physician and is now teaching yoga part time in a mid-sized but very well off city. She indicated that there are actually far from enough people willing to pay for such things to support all of the instructors there.  From a marketing standpoint one needs to have credentials that at least sound impressive and possibly to open one's own studio - but this can of course be a huge financial investment.