Recent downturns in the financial markets and economy can make even the most confident personal trainers apprehensive about their businesses. If you are a personal trainer and are concerned about surviving (let alone thriving!) in a tough economy, take heart. There are several no-cost steps you can take to helping your business grow even during tough times. When times are perceived as being tough, the fear for personal trainers is that clients will cut back on the number of appointments they schedule or even cut out personal training services altogether. Trainers fear that their clients will see personal training as a “luxury” or “unnecessary” expense when compared to mandatory expenses like housing, food, electricity, gas, and medicines.