Wheaton’s H4 Training aims to help others get in shape
An interview with Hank Ebeling, owner of H4 Training in Wheaton.
Q: Describe your business. What do you do?
A: H4 Training is a personal training studio that focuses on individualized personal training programs done in a small group setting of two to four people. We don’t have endless cardio and weight machines like most gyms but instead focus on using dumbbells, kettlebells, TRX, and other functional training equipment with an open gym layout.
Q: What made you start your business?
A: H4 Training was started with the goal of opening a quality, high-end personal training studio that cares about its clients and their results, which I found to be lacking in the suburbs. Just like our tagline, the goal is to let people “experience fitness done right.”
Q: What has been the most difficult obstacle in running or starting a small business? A: The most difficult part of opening a business is wearing all the hats at the beginning. As a new owner you are the head salesman, lead trainer, marketer and maintenance staff. As business grows, it becomes harder to balance all of these jobs as well as building the business.
Q: What do you enjoy most about operating your business?
A: The thing I enjoy most is building something from the ground up and watching it grow and expand. The whole process of starting from scratch and putting my own stamp on the business and in the industry.
Q: Is this what you pictured yourself doing when you were young?
A: I have wanted to open my own training gym since I was in high school when I was an athlete and started getting into weight lifting and learning how it could make me better and improve my performance and physique.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: What keeps me up at night? The fear of failure is what drives me and my business. So not getting enough clients into the door is always on the back of my mind.
Q: If you could give one tip to a rookie business owner, what would it be?
A: Make goals for yourself and business. Putting goals on paper will help you reach them faster and keep you focused and on track.
Ÿ Every Monday we feature a small suburban business. We want to hear about yours. Contact Kim Mikus at kmikus@dailyherald.com.
H4 Training
Address: 26W293 Geneva Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
Owner: Hank Ebeling
Phone: (630) 244-0536
Business started: Oct. 1, 2013
Web address: www.h4-training.com