How to Start a Personal Training Business
If you’ve always enjoyed the challenge of getting fit and working to meet goals, a career as a personal trainer could allow you to share those talents and knowledge with others. Personal trainers can make a difference in clients’ lives, helping them meet goals and improve their fitness routines. Starting a personal training business can be the first step in a fulfilling and rewarding career as you share in your clients’ successes. If you enjoy training and have an interest in learning more about fitness, this might be a great career opportunity for you.
Personal Training Industry Overview
Personal trainers help clients to meet a variety of fitness and health goals. Trainers may specialize in certain areas, like strength training or weight loss, and deliver customized guidance and support to help clients on their fitness journey. Often, personal trainers work with clients one-on-one, but they may also offer group classes. Working with a personal trainer gives clients access to workout programs tailored to their fitness levels, needs, and goals, delivering an advantage over taking group courses or working out in the gym on their own.
In many cases, personal trainers may freelance at or be employed by a gym. They may also take an independent route, building their own training business and establishing their own client roster. Most travel to meet clients, and some offer training within clients’ homes. Trainers enjoy scheduling flexibility but may need to accommodate clients’ schedules, which can mean working on nights and weekends.
According to IBIS World, the personal training industry experienced a steady 2.4% growth from 2015 to 2020. This growth was partially driven by an increased interest in and demand for weight loss and customized workout programs. An increase in per capita disposable income and a reduction in the unemployment rate allowed more people to pursue personal training. It’s expected that a continued rise in disposable income will continue to drive industry growth through 2025.
As of 2020, the personal training industry was a $10 billion industry. The 739,603 businesses in existence employed 747,365 people. While lower-cost do-it-yourself courses and training programs created competition, personal training offers a unique personalized experience and accountability that attracts clients.
Industry Trends
Many trends are shaping the personal training industry, and trainers need to keep up with these trends to continue to appeal to clients. According to the U.S. News & World Report, personal training is increasingly offered as online training. Trainers now offer online personal training sessions where clients can work out on their own schedules without any worry about having to get to the gym.
Group training is also on the rise. While personal trainers traditionally work with clients one-on-one, group training allows trainers to coach all group members at once. Trainers can take participants through a workout and ensure that they’re all doing the exercises correctly. Group training increases the number of clients that trainers can work with, but by charging less for group sessions than for private ones, group sessions can help to keep personal training affordable.
The American Fitness Professionals Association identifies many top personal training trends of 2019. These trends include high-intensity interval training, sustainable fitness, bodyweight workouts, treadmill workouts with audio-guided runs, yoga, and strength training. There’s also increased demand for fitness training for older adults that feature lower-intensity workouts. These trends are likely to continue in popularity in 2020 and beyond.
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Target Market
Personal trainers tend to target adults who want to get fit, get healthier, or otherwise meet personal goals. However, there’s plenty of room for specialization in this industry, and trainers may market to specific groups like marathon runners, professional athletes, moms who want to get fit after giving birth, people with specific weight loss goals, and more.
When starting a personal training business, it can take time to build up a roster of clients. There are a few ways that you can go about this. You might seek employment as a personal trainer at a gym, which can give you experience and help you to build up a solid reputation and plenty of references. Or, you can start on your own and can build your business part-time while staying employed elsewhere until your business takes off. Because personal training gives you great scheduling flexibility, it’s easy to balance this career with another job as you’re just getting started. You may want to focus on a particular type of group, such as bodybuilders, people wanting to lose weight or people who want to be competitive at running a marathon. If you are known in the community as an expert in a particular niche, people will seek out your expertise and often be willing to pay more than someone who has general experience.
As you better define your ideal clients and get to know them, you’ll discover the things that matter most to them. Most clients are looking for convenience, and you can deliver that by carefully structuring your business. Delivering online training courses that clients can access from their homes can make it easier for them to fit a workout into their schedules. In-home visits are also highly convenient for clients, so consider offering a few different options to help training fit into your clients’ lives.
Skills, experience, and education useful in running a personal training business
Starting a personal training business doesn’t require a business degree, but certain skills and experiences are valuable in both starting and running this type of business.
Fitness knowledge and enthusiasm. Nothing replaces a genuine passion for fitness training and firsthand experience in the field.
Training experience and education. While a degree or certificate isn’t required, obtaining a highly-respected personal trainer certification program is advisable. This experience can improve a trainer’s credibility and improve their ability to do their job effectively and well.
Knowledge of psychology principles. A background in or knowledge of psychology principles can help trainers to understand how to better motivate and instill positive habits in their clients.
First aid certification. Taking the time to become certified in first aid / CPR / AED can leave a trainer prepared to step in just if a client ever has a health emergency while training.
Interpersonal skills. Personality and interactions with clients are a valuable part of building a business and establishing long-term clients. Strong interpersonal skills are an asset in this industry.
Communication skills. People learn in different ways, so trainers need to be able to adjust their communication methods and explain things in different ways. Strong communication skills are important.
Tech-savvy skills. Technology, like apps and fitness monitors, are becoming increasingly popular in this field, and a trainer who can embrace these tools can use them to enhance their programs.
Checklist for Starting a Personal Training Business
Starting a personal training business can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it’s important to make sure you’re prepared for the challenges ahead. Use this checklist to help get your business off on the right foot.
Step 1: Write your Business Plan
After coming up with the idea, the next step in starting your fitness business should be to write a clothing line business plan. Not only will a bank require you to have a business plan, but multiple studies have shown that a business plan helps increase the odds of starting a successful business.
Related: How to write a business plan
Step 2: Name the Business
Finding the perfect business name can be challenging. Not only does the name have to resonate with your customers, but it also has to be available to use.
Related: Tips and ideas for naming a personal training business
Step 3: Form a Business Entity
A business entity (also called a business structure) refers to how a business is legally organized to operate. There are four primary business entities to choose from, which include the sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and Limited Liability Company (LLC). Each type of entity has its own pros and cons, such as liability exposure, costs, and administrative requirements.
When deciding on which business entity is best for a personal training business, it normally comes down to the sole proprietorship and Limited Liability Company.
A partnership opens the owners up to unnecessary personal liability because if a partner does something to get the business sued, or runs off with cash from the business, the other partners are personally liable to repay. The corporation can be a good choice because it separates the business assets from the owner’s assets. If the corporation is sued or certain business debts can’t be paid back, the owners aren’t personally responsible to repay them. The downside to the corporation is that it is more complicated than all the other entities and requires more administration than the LLC. If you plan on raising a lot of investment though, the corporation is usually the better choice.
That leaves the sole proprietorship and LLC.
The sole proprietorship is the least expensive and easiest entity to start which is appealing. The downside is the business owner is personally liable should anything happen to the business, which is an important consideration. The LLC offers the ability to operate as a sole proprietorship with the liability protection of a corporation. Depending on the state, the cost to form an LLC runs from $40 – $500, which is pretty inexpensive for protecting the owners from business-related lawsuits and certain debts.
Related: Guide to forming your LLC
Forming an LLC sounds complicated and expensive, but using an entity formation service guides you through the process so you know it was done right.
Some popular LLC formation services include:
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Step 4: Register for Business Licenses and Permits
There are no specific licenses for being a personal trainer; however, there are several personal trainer certifications that may build credibility with potential customers. If you plan on selling supplements or equipment, a sales tax permit may be needed, in addition to any location-specific business licensing.
Related: Common business licenses, permits, and registrations by state
Step 5: Select your Facilities
As a personal trainer, you may decide to lease dedicated space, use space in your home, or travel to clients’ homes? Opening a facility will take some more time to iron out details and prepare the space to welcome clients.
Step 6: Open a Business Bank Account
Keeping your small business and personal finances in separate bank accounts is important to track the income and expenses of your business and identify trends.
Many banks offer free business checking accounts, so be sure to find a cost-effective option for your business.
Step 7: Get your Marketing Plan in Place
Personal training businesses rely on marketing to bring in new clients. Common marketing activities include flyers and networking in local gyms, paid online advertising, print advertising, radio advertising, and maintaining an active social media presence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Establishing a referral program or a loyalty program can also be effective.
Be aware that demand tends to peak at the beginning of the year, with “New Year’s Resolutions,” so this is often the best time to be marketing personal training services.
Related: Low-cost ideas to market a new business
Every business is going to need a logo. Make a professional logo in no time with the free logo makers from BrandCrowd and Canva.
Step 8: Get Business Insurance
A personal training business will need several different insurance policies:
– General liability insurance protects the business if a client is ever injured. This policy can help to cover expenses like medical bills and legal fees.
– Professional liability insurance protects personal trainers against claims from clients like those of negligence and malpractice.
– Commercial property insurance protects the business if an event like fire damages equipment or property.
– Worker’s compensation insurance is only needed if a business has employees. It can help protect the business if an employee is injured while on the job and may cover expenses like lost wages and medical bills.
Insurance policies vary in cost depending on variables like the value of the business’ equipment. To get the most accurate idea of insurance policy costs, request quotes from multiple providers. When comparing the quotes, look beyond just how the premiums compare and consider other factors like differences in coverage limits, exclusions, and deductibles.
Step 9: Hire Employees
While most personal training businesses are run entirely by their owner, some businesses may expand into hiring multiple personal trainers. According to Glassdoor, personal trainers earn an average of $36,140 per year, though salaries can range from $18,000 to $65,000.
If a business hires employees, then salaries are just one of the expenses that need to be included in the budget. Paid time off, health insurance contributions, and worker’s compensation insurance are also often necessary.
Related: Hiring your first employee
Step 10: Set up an Accounting System
Setting up an accounting system for your personal training business is critical to the long-term success of your business.
Staying on top of taxes not only keeps the business out of trouble with the government but the numbers can be used to track and monitor trends and cash flow in the business and maximize profits.
StartingYourBusiness.comHow much does it cost to start a personal training business?
Starting a personal training business is often highly affordable, especially if your business model involves working with clients at their homes or gyms. Personal trainers may choose to purchase some portable workout equipment, but often, the largest cost of starting a training business is investing in a reliable vehicle if you don’t have one already. Most personal training businesses cost as little as $2,500 to start.
Common startup costs for a personal training business:
– Exercise and training equipment
– Training journal or recordkeeping software for each client
– Website
– Reliable vehicle
– Workout clothes or branded clothes
How profitable is a personal training business?
Personal training businesses can be highly profitable and rewarding ventures.
According to the International Sports Trainer Association, most gyms charge around $50 per session, and the trainer will be paid anywhere from $6 to $25 per session. A typical session will last from 30 minutes to an hour.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, personal trainers earned an average of $40,390 per year or $19.42 per hour. While data on individual business profits isn’t available, keep in mind that many factors will affect a business’s profits. Location, specialization, rates, and an overall business model can all influence potential earnings.
According to the National Federation of Professional Trainers, the average hourly rate for independent personal trainers ranges from
$35 to $65 per hour.
Be sure to budget appropriately in your business to avoid surprises. Client demand tends to be highest at the beginning of the year, however, as the year continues, clients will drop off. Additionally, there is often a slump in the summer when people take off on vacation.
Are there grants to start a personal training business?
It’s extremely rare to find a grant to start a personal training business. If you search for business grants, you will come across a lot of scams and misinformation. Occasionally an organization will offer grants to start a business, however, be skeptical and don’t provide any sensitive personal information or pay money to get more information.
Legitimate federal grants can be found at Grants.gov and you can check on your state’s economic development office to see if they have any grants available.
What is the NAICS code for a personal training business?
The NAICS code for a personal training business is 812990.
The NAICS code (North American Industry Classification System) is a federal system to classify different types of businesses for the collection and reporting of statistical data.
Resources:
Athletic Business
American Fitness Professionals Association
National Exercise Trainers Association
National Strength and Conditioning Association
