How to start a personal trainer business

What does your daily routine look like? Chances are, working out is a part of it – whether that’s a gym session, going for a run, or taking a fitness class.

And you’re not alone – as a nation, we’re becoming increasingly health-conscious in the UK, suggesting the health and fitness industry is a potentially profitable sector in which to start your own business.

Below, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to become a personal trainer.

What does being a personal trainer involve?

Personal training comes in many different forms, but it mainly involves helping people reach their fitness goals through nutrition and correct exercise.

Becoming a personal trainer is a top business idea and comes with loads of scope to explore alternative fitness business avenues, too, such as hooping and yoga.

Part of the appeal of setting up your own personal training business is the flexibility it offers – you can run it part-time as a side hustle or work from home.

Being a personal trainer (PT) involves:

• Offering short- and long-term advice and goals on training, as well as nutrition and well-being
• Measuring heart rate and body fat levels, as well as assisting workouts
• Ensuring the training equipment is used correctly

There are many options when it comes to deciding which type of personal training business you’ll run. You could offer general training or a specialism. We recommend thinking about:

• The format of training – It could be virtual, such as via email and Skype
• Where the training takes place – Traditionally this is in gyms, although parks, offices and homes are other options too (be aware of some public parks charging PTs)
• How many clients you work with – You could offer one-on-one and/or small group sessions, or offer larger bootcamp style classes for community or corporate organisations
• Which advanced qualifications you may want to achieve – For instance, a level four course to work with medical patients
• A specific niche – Such as providing specific pre and post-natal training sessions

Personal trainer qualifications: what do you need to know?

You will need to obtain official qualifications before you can become a personal trainer. 

To become a personal trainer, you will need to have two necessary qualifications:

• A level two certificate in fitness instruction
• A level three diploma in personal training

You may need to gain some experience in leading gym classes to progress between the levels, however, there are several different courses and options available to you. Once you’ve completed level three training, you’ll be able to work as a personal trainer.

How are personal training courses delivered?

Courses are available over different time lengths, from full-time study over several days to part-time study over a few weeks or months. You can do one course after the other, or the two levels combined in one study programme.

It’s also possible to study in person or do distance-based learning, as well as study during the evenings or at weekends.

Course content is generally delivered as a mixture of online modules and in-person training sessions.

What specialist qualifications or courses are available?

If you want to offer a specialism (for example, boot camp training, nutritional advice, or outdoor training) you can take a specific course for this as part of your continuous professional development (CPD).

Similarly, if you want to be able to accept referrals from GPs, you’ll need to take a level four course to get an advanced personal trainer qualification.

How much do the courses cost?

The diplomas cost between £500-£1000+ approximately, depending on the level and expertise achieved upon completion.

Briant says: “To be a personal trainer you first need to become qualified as a level two fitness instructor and then after that you would need to become a level three personal trainer.

“You would also need public liability insurance to work with your future clients, as well as first aid training.

“I think it’s also really important to have a natural interest in health and fitness and an inherent curiosity to learn more about the industry.

“The personal training qualification is a great stepping stone into training clients but in my opinion, it’s just the first step – the real learning starts after!”

What professional organisations are there?

Once you’ve achieved your qualifications, you can also register with organisations, such as the:

• Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs)
• National Register of Personal Trainers (NRPT)
• Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMPSA)

Costs and making money: top tips

The rates you charge your clients will depend on a number of different factors. 

While you may be interested in becoming a personal trainer because it comes with minimal expenses, there are still some costs to consider when putting your business plan together.

Personal trainer business costs: a breakdown

Here’s what to factor into your personal training budget and fees:

• Equipment costs
• Gym space rental or other location fees (if applicable)
• Travel/petrol and transport expenditure
• Training and knowledge
• Insurance cover

How much does a personal trainer earn?

How much you’ll earn can vary but generally, personal trainers earn £20-£100 an hour. Personal trainers earn by the hour on a per-session basis.

The higher end of this scale is likely to be for more experienced PTs who work with high-profile clients, or if you offer small-group training then you’re likely to charge a higher fee.

Briant adds: “If you’re prepared to put in the hours then there’s money to be made. The early stages can be hard work, especially trying to form that initial client base. But like with any new business, prospective clients need to be able to trust you and your brand before they commit to investing their own money in training with you.

“So initially be prepared to work hard; don’t be afraid to potentially give away some free sessions or pointers with the view that it may lead to future paid work.

“Also there are a million and one trainers out there – think of a way to differentiate yourself to stand out and be the best at that particular style of training or method. Make sure it’s a genuine passion of yours and you’re far more likely to be successful and the money will come.”

How to find clients

After completing a personal training course and creating a budget for your business, the next step is to actually find clients to train! How? Here are some of the key ways to promote your personal training business.

• Create a website: this acts as a central resource for your company showcasing the types of training you offer, as well as your qualifications and experience. When designing your website, you can hire a professional or do it yourself – have a look at our best website builders for some inspiration.
• Use social media: using YouTube or Instagram for your business is key for promotion. Base posts and videos around training advice or nutrition tips and while you may initially offer this for free, in time you may consider monetising these channels through ads or affiliate links. Check out our Instapreneur business idea for more information. 
• Sign write your vehicle: turn your vehicle into a mobile advert, including your business name and contact details (and ideally a logo or image too).
• Referrals and recommendations: once your customers start seeing results, they’ll want to spread the word, recommending you and bringing in referrals. You could consider offering discounts or rewards for existing customers to incentivise them to do this.
• Be aware of seasonal demands: people will likely be more motivated to start training at certain times of the year, such as in January or in the run-up to summer. Target these seasonal periods to increase your client base.

How to grow your personal training business

Once you’ve secured a few clients and you’ve got a steady schedule of training sessions, you may want to consider expanding your business further. Some ideas include:

• Develop an app – Offering sessions and workouts via an app means that you can reach potential clients all over the world. You’ll need to hire a web developer to create the app itself.
• Target international customers – If you’ve always wanted to work abroad, then consider offering your services overseas. Just be sure that your training and qualifications are recognised outside of the UK too.
• Accept medical referrals – If you complete a level four qualification, you’ll be able to offer personal training sessions to medical patients.

What are the next steps?

From reading this article, you’ve learned more about what you need to do to become a personal trainer, including the different types of personal training available and which regulations you need to comply with. Plus, we’ve looked at the costs involved and potential sources of income, as well as how to find clients to work with.

So where do you go from here? The next step is to actually get going and start your personal training business. But remember – success in the fitness industry doesn’t happen overnight. It takes effort, persistence and continuous learning to stay ahead and offer value to your clients. With the right mindset and perspiration, you can turn your passion for fitness into a thriving career.