So let’s say you’ve built a great looking physique. What are you going to do with it? If you’re content to wear tight shits and hit the bar scene picking up hot chicks every night, great, more power to you. But that body of yours may be worth more than just easy sex. Use it properly and you could earn some serious bodybuilding cash. The following are some of the ways that you can pad your bank account by using muscle power.

Seminars

Most pro builders earn more money from doing seminars than competing. Now you may think that you’ll need to win a major contest before you’ll be able to do seminars but not true. The key to being in demand for giving seminars is establishing a track record. Some of the best seminar speakers never won a major title. What they do have is a great method of delivery and a gift for conveying information. If you’re uncomfortable in front of an audience, try taking a public speaking course. This will help you learn to relax in front of large groups of people.

Guest posing

Although the most in demand guest posers are the top pros, again it is possible to establish a great reputation without winning a major pro bodybuilding show. Russ Testo, one of the most popular posers ever, has never won a major amateur or pro contest, but he routinely receives standing ovations when he guest poses at pro shows. Russ has taken posing to new heights. With practice and desire you could do the same. Don’t let the fact that’s you’re not 260-pounds and the reigning Mr Olympia prevent you from this potentially lucrative source of income.

Writing

It’s a fact that most of the top bodybuilding writers (i.e. Joe Weider, Robert Kennedy, Bill Dobbins, Bill Reynold’s), never won any bodybuilding contests. But they all have or had a gift for conveying information with the written word. Start out by submitting articles to the various magazines and go from there. All it takes is one published article and a book contract may be just around the corner. 

Training courses

We can thank guys like Larry Scott, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Dave Draper for popularizing training courses. While in recent years the popularity of training courses has declined thanks to magazines and the internet, it is still possible to make money by doing up courses and selling them to aspiring bodybuilders. As with guest posing you don’t need to have won a major show to be successful in selling training courses. Concentrate on offering a quality product and people will seek you out.

Supplement endorsing

We’ll be first to admit that you’ll probably need to be a successful pro bodybuilder to land a lucrative supplement contract. But supplement companies have been known to sign unknowns if they have a great physique that shows potential. So it is possible. Have a series of good quality photos done up and put together an advertising package. Hit all the major bodybuilding and fitness contests and trade shows. You never know whose eye you may catch. If you have the “look” they’re after, you’re in!

Modeling

Believe it or not, it’s far easier to land modeling jobs at a lighter weight than as a monsterous 250 pounds. With the exception of the couple of hardcore training magazines, most magazines want slimmer more symmetrical physiques. Top model Frank Zepe’s career took off when he dropped his weight from a competitive 250 pounds down to a perfectly balanced 220-225 pounds. If you have a classically proportioned physique, put together a portfolio of professionally produced photos and start selling yourself.

Personal training

The personal training industry has exploded in recent years thanks to the aging of the baby boomer generation (those born between 1946 to 1964). Unfortunately there are many personal trainers out there who don’t know a dumbell from a SWISS ball. Hopefully you’re not one of them. If you want to become a personal trainer your first step is to become certified. There are hundreds of certifications available and some carry more weight than others. Some of the best are:

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

The American Council on Exercise (ACE)

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)

The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA

Can-Fit-Pro

You have two choices of who to work for as a personal trainer, a gym or yourself! Working for a gym has the advantages of steady income, a place to train clients, and stability. The advantages of working on your own are a higher income (provided you get the clients), and a higher profile in the industry. The downside of working on your own is that you’ll have to attract all the clients yourself and you may have difficulty finding a facility that will allow outside personal trainers to use their equipment.