:Salute: this thread.
This is my current hustle/side job right now, living in the galleria area of houston.
I got certified with NCSF and honestly, no promotion but I would recommend that cert for anyone like me who didn't go to college for a kin or sports degree and isn't trying to spend half a G or more on study materials (to make up for not having the background in anatomy/endocrine physiology) plus the exam. Mine wasn't as expensive as NASM, ACE, etc.. yet its still recognized by most/all the major chain gyms (24hr, lifetime, la fitness, etc). You do still gotta study your ass off tho.
@Malta At this point, I'm thinking of joining a major chain gym just to build a client base, like what your friend started off doing at the college. I considered skipping that step altogether but there's just too many obstacles with that if you're just starting off. Like I have the height weight (6'2, 210lb) and build so i look the part (people always assume/ask if i played football) but its more so finding a gym that wouldn't try to charge your ass an arm/leg (some gyms be charging $500+/month for use) + paying for insurance/equipment/measuring tools/business cards, etc... and none of that would be bad per se if not for likely having to start off charging on the low end. So i've been eyeing the big chain gyms in and around downtown htown. The way most of these gyms are set up, you only get a third or so of whatever the clientele is being charged but its more so the networking, word of mouth, and following you build with them so that you can inevitably bounce and take them with you.
So it definitely takes time, but if you enjoy the gym life/working out, there's not many other side hustles with as many good benefits/perks once you hit your stride (money, networking, females, health... unless your roiding or something, etc)