Starting a buisness in Japan

[tokyo_joe]

Hello people, wondering if you can help me out with a few questions. Im trying to work out a few things about Japan.

Ive heard there isnt much opportunity for teachers right now and thats ok.

What id really like to do is start a personal training buisness in a large city, not sure where yet.

My plan would be to take enough money for 3-4 months and try and build up a client base.

The sort of thing id be doing is body transformations, fat loss, building muscle, training fighters, bootcamps, old people mobility, pre/post natal women.

Training people in gyms, there homes or parks with all the equipment supplied.

So id like to know firstly if personal training is big in Japan and would there be a market for it to make a living?

And secondly where would be best to set up?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[omae mona]

tokyo_joe, I think a little more information would help people answer the question. The two questions I would like to ask are:

1. Do you speak Japanese?
2. What type of visa are you planning to use to be in the country 3-4 months with permission to work?

These have a big impact on your ability to work here and a big impact on the customer base you would have available. These are probably more important questions than "is personal training big in Japan?". Even if it is a niche business, it might not be hard to break into and create a client base. But if you can't work here legally, or you can't speak to potential clients, then all bets are off.

[Mulboyne]

Omae Mona's questions should certainly be at the top of your list of priorities to deal with.

Personal training is a fairly competitive world, at least in Tokyo. A quick search turned up the links below. There are plenty more if you look yourself.

http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/516/health_beauty.asp

http://www.tokyo-fitness.com/

http://tokyopersonaltrainer.com/

http://www.fitnessjp.com/0415_ryans+private+studio

Most trainers appear to be associated with the major gyms, probably because that's where the equipment is. The kind of people who would use personal trainers might be living in apartments with enough space to work out at home but quite a few won't.

[Mike Oxlong]

I know a woman who is an aerobics instructor, and the licensing required is both time consuming and expensive, and there are various levels depending on what you plan to teach. The bureacracy alone can be a bitch. Something to keep in mind...

[wuchan]

I know a woman who is an aerobics instructor, and the licensing required is both time consuming and expensive, and there are various levels depending on what you plan to teach. The bureacracy alone can be a bitch. Something to keep in mind...

The aerobics chicks usually go to college before they try to take the test.

[tokyo_joe]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I would be coming on a 12 month working holiday visa so that should allow me to work straight away. I have no idea if this can be changed into a work visa if I manage to turn it into a decent buisness.

I dont speak Japanese but will start learning before I come including night courses at my local university.

With regards to room, I can provide resistance bands, kettlebells, gymnastic rings etc which will be enough to complete most goals bar the building huge muscles.

I suppose I could find out if I can train people at local gyms for a percentage of my fee.

I understand the language might be an issue but will especially make sure I learn fitness jargon as a priority.

Cheers

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Most trainers appear to be associated with the major gyms, probably because that's where the equipment is..

I think you may find it is because some gyms have to approve the trainer to work in their gyms and won't allow the others in.

[Taro Toporific]

... the licensing required is both time consuming and expensive, and there are various levels depending on what you plan to teach. The bureacracy alone can be a bitch...

The key here is Japan-Certificated...

Tokyo craigslist > jobs >
Fitness Trainer (Tokyo/Yokohama)

Date: 2011-01-13, 11:35AM JST
Reply to: job-fehan-2157680240@craigslist.org

Hey Everybody,

we are an international school and we are looking for somebody who can offer a weekly Fitness course at our school!
If you are a [color="Red"]certificated Fitness Traine[/color]r please apply as soon as possible!



Location: Tokyo/Yokohama
Compensation: more informations regarding payment after contacting us per mail
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

[Bucky]

Hey Joe,

Here's your opportunity: http://tokyo.craigslist.jp/trd/2184368871.html

4000 yens per hour.

[Coligny]

So tokyo_joe is a n00b but TOKYO_JOE is the source of all answerz in japan...

[TOKYO JOE]

No, but I wish him luck. And you too my friend. And I hope my series on being successful in Japan will change your lives forever.

[waruta]

So tokyo_joe is a n00b but TOKYO_JOE is the source of all answerz in japan...

It's the capitalization that makes the difference between Grasshopper and Shifu.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

Hey Joe,

Here's your opportunity: http://tokyo.craigslist.jp/trd/2184368871.html

4000 yens per hour.

4000? isn't that about how much english teachers make?

[Mike Oxlong]

For some irregular, part-time work, or for their own private lessons they should be making at least that much. For regular contract work, I doubt it. At 29.5 hours a week, they'd be pulling close to 500,000/month at that rate. Not gonna get rich that way, but I'd bet it's better than most eikaiwa sorts are doing.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

For some irregular, part-time work, or for their own private lessons they should be making at least that much. For regular contract work, I doubt it. At 29.5 hours a week, they'd be pulling close to 500,000/month at that rate. Not gonna get rich that way, but I'd bet it's better than most eikaiwa sorts are doing.

i have no idea what the going rate is for eikaiwa jobs are, but i guess i had it in my mind that they charge at least 5000 an hour.

[IparryU]

[matsuki]

Not sure what you're trying to do but I have my company registered in Nevada and pretty much run everything online. If you're getting paid from overseas, I would think this would be what you'd want to do as well.

[Coligny]

Iparryu you are such a fooking party pooper...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

[wagyl]

[IparryU]

Not sure what you're trying to do but I have my company registered in Nevada and pretty much run everything online. If you're getting paid from overseas, I would think this would be what you'd want to do as well.

The company is just going to process documents and forward them back and fourth between companies and people. Drones more or less.

The guy I am working with said the some thing you had just mentioned. This is most likely going to be what we do. Currently working on getting the accounting and tax procedure set up.

We are just trying to get everything set up so we can have clean taxes in the US and Japan as the company paying us is not a US or Japan company.

Any heads up on what I should expect for accounting/taxes?

[matsuki]

The company is just going to process documents and forward them back and fourth between companies and people. Drones more or less.

The guy I am working with said the some thing you had just mentioned. This is most likely going to be what we do. Currently working on getting the accounting and tax procedure set up.

We are just trying to get everything set up so we can have clean taxes in the US and Japan as the company paying us is not a US or Japan company.

Any heads up on what I should expect for accounting/taxes?

If I were you I'd just set up a US company in a place like Nevada. (you don't need anything physically there) and then sub the work out to baito or whatever here. Keep off Jappy radar and you'll only have to deal with with US taxes and accounting. Don't overcomplicate it

[IparryU]

[wagyl]

We are just trying to get everything set up so we can have clean taxes in the US and Japan as the company paying us is not a US or Japan company.

If this is what it is all about, I hear the British Virgin Islands are delightful this time of year.

[IparryU]

If I were you I'd just set up a US company in a place like Nevada. (you don't need anything physically there) and then sub the work out to baito or whatever here. Keep off Jappy radar and you'll only have to deal with with US taxes and accounting. Don't overcomplicate it ]
that is what i am leaning toward right now. Not really sure about the difference between Nevada or Delaware... but it all can be done on line in one business day with all the docs expressed to my Japan address.

If this is what it is all about, I hear the British Virgin Islands are delightful this time of year.

I was thinking of doing a hybrid company at first... then realized that would be more hassle than I want.

I would love to let this discussion go on... but His Fuckedness, Ultra, just announced that our lives finish tomorrow.

[matsuki]

Choko, how do you do your taxes in Japan? and how does having a Japan office affect that?

As far as the J-gov is concerned, I don't have a Japanese office. I keep all the money going direct to the US bank accounts. The few times I have customers that need to pay in Japan, I receive the funds and then immediately wire all the funds out of the cuntry. If they ever look back at what I've done, there is nothing to tax me for. (I run it this way because an Aussie friend of mine got attacked by the tax nazi's and he was keeping his profits in Japan and only wiring out his expenses. (experience nearly ruined his life) The tax nazis did not care or do anything about the transactions in which zero funds remained in Japan. Hence, I keep nothing here, deal with taxes stateside. In your case, get paid in the US and never deal with Japanese taxes...they won't tax you on wiring personal funds to Japan from the US. (which you can pay the baitos or whatever with cash moneyz)

[IparryU]

As far as the J-gov is concerned, I don't have a Japanese office. I keep all the money going direct to the US bank accounts. The few times I have customers that need to pay in Japan, I receive the funds and then immediately wire all the funds out of the cuntry. If they ever look back at what I've done, there is nothing to tax me for. (I run it this way because an Aussie friend of mine got attacked by the tax nazi's and he was keeping his profits in Japan and only wiring out his expenses. (experience nearly ruined his life) The tax nazis did not care or do anything about the transactions in which zero funds remained in Japan. Hence, I keep nothing here, deal with taxes stateside. In your case, get paid in the US and never deal with Japanese taxes...they won't tax you on wiring personal funds to Japan from the US. (which you can pay the baitos or whatever with cash moneyz)

That sounds great. I would have to declare my global income starting this tax year, which sucks major ass.

The admin girl I have on board now needs official payslips and what not so she can do her taxes. I am just going to reimburse her for the nenkin and other required stuffs that Japan employers are supposed to pay. I just need to pay her so the tax nazis done come after me for her income taxes...

bank wise, I was just going to get an HK account.

anyone have any pointers for banks? HK vs US?

I can use an offshore bank account (already got one) but I don't want nothing with USA written on it associated with offshore stuff... Angry, jealous Uncle Sam is like a hopped up, drunk gorilla in heat.

[Samurai_Jerk]

The admin girl I have on board now needs official payslips and what not so she can do her taxes. I am just going to reimburse her for the nenkin and other required stuffs that Japan employers are supposed to pay. I just need to pay her so the tax nazis done come after me for her income taxes

Whether or not you have to worry about her taxes or pay half of her pension and health insurance depends on the number of employees you have, how your company is incorporated and what kind of employment contract you have with her.

[IparryU]

Whether or not you have to worry about her taxes or pay half of her pension and health insurance depends on the number of employees you have, how your company is incorporated and what kind of employment contract you have with her.

She is an intern now. Once everything gets official we will get the contract in place.

Contracts are my next step.

[matsuki]

She is an intern now. Once everything gets official we will get the contract in place.

Contracts are my next step.

Independent Contractor, you can print her a (personal) paystub each time. Taxes, insurance (and if she's cute, I) will be on her.