How to start a personal trainer business in 2024

Becoming a personal trainer, or PT, is a growing opportunity for British startup business founders when considering how to start a business and what type of business they want to create. The UK has become more concerned with health and fitness than ever..

A survey for 2022/23 from Pure Gym, found 58% of the UK population now exercise at least once a week, and 79% feel their health has become more important over the last three years.

That said, there are still challenges to setting up a business as a personal trainer. Building a viable venture is challenging, particularly before you’ve built your customer base. But with word of mouth, along with effective marketing, that can change quickly. 

This article will explore in eight steps what to consider if you are thinking of becoming a PT, how to create a business plan, how much you can earn, and tips for getting certified.

Should you become a personal trainer?

Training other people is an undertaking with a high level of responsibility. Many potential clients will be training as serious athletes, for a specific purpose or undergoing rehabilitation after an injury.

Firstly, you should evaluate your own health and fitness qualifications and experience, whether there is a market in your area for the business and if you have sufficient funds to cover costs linked with setting up a business as a PT.

Begin by asking yourself..

🏋️ Do you know how to train people safely?

🏋️ Do you like helping people achieve their goals?

🏋️ Are you genuinely passionate about fitness?

Secondly, you should evaluate the demand for PT services in your area. Is there a need for personal trainers in your community, or are there a lot in the area? If the market is saturated, consider an alternative or find a way to differentiate yourself from rivals.

Lastly, consider the financial aspects of starting a PT business. Do you have enough savings or access to funding to cover the initial costs of starting a business? These costs may include renting a space, purchasing equipment, and marketing your services.

How to become a personal trainer in eight steps

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start a personal trainer business and bulk up from the ground up:

1. Get your equipment

Unless you work full-time as a PT, directly for a large gym chain, to get started, you will need some equipment, access to premises, customers and a business plan. Many personal trainers operate as a mobile business. They may train clients at their homes, in a local park or other outdoor area or as a freelancer using a local gym or fitness centre after agreeing a commercial deal with the owners.

Many exercises can be completed with relatively small amounts of equipment. A mat, inflatable rubber balls, balancing aids and even a nearby wall can all be used for a range of exercises. Obviously, if you can secure an agreement with a gym, it means you can use their equipment. If you do have your own premises, you have more equipment options, including weights and other machines. This matters because it affects the type and range of services you can offer and what you can charge.

2. Research the market for opportunities

Conduct market research to find out how many potential customers there are for your personal trainer business in the local area, and what constitutes the competition for your business. Discover how many gyms operate nearby, how many personal trainers are vying for customers and what potential spaces are available for you to operate from.

Decide whether to operate as an independent trainer or as a freelancer from someone else’s premises, where you have potential customers on tap.

As an independent trainer you will need to find a training space for customers and buy your own equipment. This means higher startup costs, such as insurance and premises, but offers more scope to earn more, work when you want, specialise and brand your business.

Initially, it may be easier to gain experience as a PT and become more familiar with the business responsibilities by working as a freelancer in someone else’s premises. You won’t make as much money, but you will develop the experience and skills it takes to set up independently in the future. You pay your rent by conventional means, or by working a set number of hours for the gym.

3. Get trained up

There are many routes into becoming a personal trainer. You can start by working in a gym, gaining qualifications and aiming for promotions at the gym you work at.

Getting an apprenticeship as a personal trainer is also possible. Usually, you will be based in a gym, working directly with clients, being supervised by a qualified gym instructor as you gain a recognised qualification.

You can take a university degree in a subject like sports science, nutrition or a related subject. Try and ensure it is a CIMSPA recognised qualification as this is the industry standard.

4. Get qualified

There are a series of professional qualifications to become a gym instructor or a PT. Before you start work, you should pass a Level 2 Gym Instructor course. It teaches basic exercises, workout plans and information about anatomy and nutrition. This is the entry qualification for the sector.

“These qualifications can be obtained through accredited bodies such as The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), or Active IQ” says Sergii Putsov, a certified personal trainer, and Head of Sport Science at Torokhtiy Weightlifting.

To become a PT, you must pass the Level 3 personal trainer qualification. This allows you to work with clients on an individual basis. You will learn how to tailor fitness classes to an individual and assess the progress of clients. Once you have this qualification, you can take on clients. A level 4 course is available. This advanced qualification allows you to specialise in areas like injury rehabilitation and sports conditioning and charge higher fees.

5. Get personal training business insurance

Because of the nature of being a PT, you need to have the right professional insurance in place. You may need to show insurance providers evidence of your qualifications.

As a personal trainer, you will be providing advice and training exercises tailored to the capabilities and strengths of your clients’ bodies. Many will have a history of injuries, so you need to provide them with the right training schedule.

You will need public liability insurance. This covers you for claims arising from a third party, for instance if a client gets injured during one of your training sessions. It also covers you for any damage caused to other people’s property, for instance a weight machine at the gym you work from, by you or your clients. Without public liability insurance, the cost of repairs or replacement will be your personal responsibility.

You may also require professional indemnity insurance. This covers you if a client believes you have given them bad advice and makes a claim against you. Other types of insurance you may need include employer liability insurance, insurance for equipment you own, and personal accident insurance.

6. Launch your personal training business

Once everything is in place, you are ready to launch your personal training business. You should create a marketing campaign and set up a business email. If funds are tight, build your own social media campaign rather than focusing on paid advertising.

Before launching you also need to register your business and ensure you are complying with tax rules. Before registering, decide whether you want to register as a sole trader or create a limited company.

If you create a limited company, you will need to register with Companies House to comply with UK law. If you want to operate as a sole trader, you should register as self-employed and complete a self-assessment tax return for the relevant trading periods.

Most personal trainers start out as sole traders and then often set up a limited company as they become more established and the business grows. It is helpful to set up a business bank account, but unless you register as a limited company, there is no obligation to.

7. Register the business

Decide on a trading name for your business. This could link in with other types of branding for your business. Try and ensure that  the name is catchy and memorable. It’s also advisable to link the name with the services you offer so clients have an idea of what to expect.

Check if the trading name is also registered and that the domain name is available for your website. Once you have selected the name of your business, you can think about images, design, tag lines and colours to use to create a brand.

As a personal trainer, you also need to stay relatively fit yourself and keep up with the latest innovations and trends in fitness regimes and personal training to deliver the best training for clients.

8. Promote the business

Build a brand and market your business to attract new customers and grow your business. Creating a logo and using it consistently across all channels to be recognisable on all platforms will be most effective. Use online analytics to understand which marketing tools and channels have the most impact over time.

“Join professional bodies, such as CIMSPA, for additional credibility and networking opportunities” says Putsov. “Many clients will check for affiliations before signing up for exercise classes.”

Create your own personal trainer website and populate it with useful content on health and fitness, blogs on new training tips and other information about your services and availability.

Including an interesting section about you and the business and setting out your background, skills and qualifications can help to improve rankings. Also setting our customer testimonials and  details of charges, and, crucially, your contact details will stand you in good stead.

Use social media to find customers and promote your services and brand to them. You could also include a booking system on your website to let customers book sessions or classes.

“Market your business strategically and establish your niche as early as possible” says Putsov, “Defining a niche can set you apart (e.g., athletes, weight loss, or older adults).”

How do you create a personal trainer business plan?

It is good practice to design a business plan for any new business. It should outline what the business does, what its goals are, who its customers are, what the market opportunity is and set some financial and performance targets.

Using a business plan template is the best way to get started, as it will give you the best and quickest way to collate all the information you need to start a business without you starting with a daunting blank canvas. It should include:

• Description – definition of your niche and unique selling points (USPs)
• Market analysis – details of competitors, what they charge and specific opportunities to beat them
• Customers – where will you target customers, what is your ideal audience, how you will attract the
• Marketing strategy – what marketing channels you will use to promote your services to customers
• Pricing – your service fees, including ideas for any package options, loyalty schemes or group discounts
• Financials – trading targets, when you expect the business to become profitable and ideas for growth
• Operations – your location (gym, online, mobile), scheduling system, and required equipment 
• Legal considerations – necessary certifications, insurance, licensing, and registration
• Goals – short and long-term objectives, such as client acquisition targets or income goals

What can you earn as a personal trainer?

As with many businesses, PT earnings can vary widely, depending on your skills, experience and where you operate. Perhaps the biggest influence on earnings and rates is who you train.

Personal trainers for professional athletes or sports clubs can earn in the region of £30,000 – £80,000 a year in the UK, but these positions are rare and there is a lot of competition for them.

According to Jobted, the average salary for a PT is £37,000 gross per year (£2,400 net per month), which is £7,400 or 25% higher than the UK’s national average salary.

According to Indeed, where you operate is also a factor. Indeed have reported that the cost of hiring a personal trainer in London is between £50 – £150 per session compared to £35-£75 per session in Glasgow.

Personal trainers can earn more than fitness instructors because a PT first has to gain a Level 3 qualification, whereas a fitness instructor only requires a Level 2 qualification.

Most personal trainers earn between £15,000 and £60,000 a year in the UK. Typically, a PT operating as an instructor for private clients can charge between £25 and £50 an hour for a one-to-one class.

One way to build a business is as a going concern, and  tackling the problem of getting enough clients is to offer tiered subscription packages, catering to a variety of price points.

By introducing different options you can offer loyal customers discounts, through regular packages of a specific number of classes or training sessions. You can diversify by offering specialist classes for older clients, or ones with special rehabilitation requirements.

This also helps business planning and cash flow as you have some idea of future income.

What are some top tips for becoming a certified personal trainer?

Try and combine your own fitness strengths with the ability to motivate others to reach their potential. Be understanding and considerate of the needs of your clients, creating bespoke programmes that meet clients’ needs to encourage customer retention.

“After passing your certification exam, stay current through continuous education. The fitness field constantly evolves with new techniques and insights” says Putsov.

Starting small and gradually building your business up in a sustainable way is advantageous. Using a range of venues to start with and nurturing your ambition to eventually have your own dedicated training space or gym means you need a blend of passion, practical skills and business nous to become a successful personal trainer.

“Building an online presence by creating a website, and optimising it with local search terms, means you can actively engage on social media platforms like Instagram or YouTube, where potential clients look for fitness advice” says Putsov.

Pros and cons of being a personal trainer from Sergii Putsov

Is running a personal training business worth it?

Becoming a personal trainer is challenging and there is a lot of competition in this space. However, UK attitudes towards fitness are encouraging, suggesting many opportunities are available to build a successful PT business. 

You need to create a viable business plan, conduct market research, acquire customers, build a brand and find options of where to conduct training sessions. If you do this successfully, there is huge scope to earn well doing a job you love, that has the added benefit of keeping you healthy.

Find out more about how to start a new business in our complete 11-step guide to launching a new venture.