How to Make More Money As a Personal Trainer

Getting started on your journey as a personal trainer is an exciting first step, but the real challenge will be earning a decent living. As with any other business endeavor, having the right strategy in mind makes all the difference. However, with so many different paths to follow, knowing how to make more money as a personal trainer may not be so apparent.

Well, the good news is that there are many versatile opportunities to earn a living as a personal trainer, fitness instructor, or sports coach. Training sessions might be your initial offering, but there is so much more to the business beyond that.

Not only can you increase your revenue in general, but also diversify your income. This makes your business more stable even in a fluctuating economy.

If your method is limited to selling sessions in bulk to your clients, this will not be enough. But you are in the right place to learn how to make money as a personal trainer, so sit back and let’s dive in.

Continue Your Education

There are many classes that will better qualify you in the fitness industry. Nutrition, yoga, pilates, and choreography workshops can train you in new skills. If you are looking to advance your skills to a whole new level, becoming accredited by the National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA) is also worthwhile.

In essence, any additional education will help to refine your technique and expand your business offerings. It will also provide the chance to scope out your competition. By becoming a customer, you’ll learn the going rate for classes and maybe even other personal trainer’s marketing strategies. In the end, you may find a business tactic that benefits you more than the classes themselves.

Consider getting an education in some other country, perhaps Sweden or Norway, as they are known for their strong emphasis on a healthy lifestyle. But if you plan on staying a few months or indefinitely, you should learn to speak the local language. This will enable you to get clients or join a gym as a trainer.

Acquire a Specialty

Once you’ve advanced your education, you can leverage that newfound knowledge to make your business stand out. Your qualifications can increase the rarity and value of the services you provide. The more qualified you are, the more your time is worth.

There may be personal trainers who can conduct a yoga class, but if you become trained in the art of Bikram Yoga, then you can offer something few others can. For example, there are lots of strength trainers, but being certified as a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) instructor can be much more valuable to clients. Use education to specialize yourself and increase your value.

When researching what kind of personal trainer gets paid the most, you will likely find that being an injury prevention specialist or bodybuilding coach can make you quite a good living. However, be sure to factor in where you see yourself in a few years and what field interests you the most. 

Use Membership Programs

How can you make money as a personal trainer? That’s the question that hunts many, even after they start a career in this field. While this worry is completely justifiable, many trainers don’t realize they are actually the factor that is stunning the revenue growth. 

Are booked sessions the only thing you offer to your clients? If that’s the case, this leaves you vulnerable to cancellations. It also puts you in a position where you have to constantly remind clients about payments. To resolve these issues, try changing a business model. 

Consider implementing membership plans so your clients can choose the number of sessions they want while also paying for them in advance. This way, whether they show up or decide to skip, it won’t affect your salary as much. 

Give a time limit, let’s say a month when sessions can be used, after which they expire. You can also offer quarterly plans if your clients want to save a bit and don’t mind the commitment. 

Having a platform to handle payments online would be ideal for customer convenience. The easier it is for your customers to make payments, the more likely they are to do so.

Sell Online Courses

People are busy. They want to learn and train at their own pace and on their own schedule. An online fitness trainer is ideal for the lifestyle many people have these days. So, offering online courses is the best way to cater to this clientele.

This is also an attractive option for the large population of people who prefer to work out at home. You can tap into that audience by creating a subscription that gives them access to daily online workouts.

Not only is this the most efficient way to scale up your business, but it also provides a variety of other benefits for you.

• Remote work
• Increased audience reach
• General and personal workout plan opportunities (without ever seeing a gym)
• Exponential income growth

Host Workshops

Workshops are an excellent option for well-established personal trainers. They allow you to tap further into your dedicated following of clients.

In general, workshops are multi-day events where your clients can participate. They train with you and receive a certificate upon completion.

Your workshop should have a targeted focus. Aim for a specific group of people and hone in on a specific area of your training program, such as how to maintain fitness goals after childbirth. You must provide detailed information on the subject matter. If you succeed in providing value for your clients, they will be more likely to subscribe to your other fitness programs.

Offer In-Home Training

Personal trainers get their name for a reason. One-on-one lessons are some of the most lucrative options to earn good money. Any client that hires a fitness coach for in-home lessons will be willing to pay more for that convenience.

This means you’ll be able to charge more than you would for clients at the gym. You also won’t need to share any of your earnings with the host facility.

Along with that higher price, you need to provide top-tier service. Keep your clientele happy with routines and workouts that will help them achieve their goals.

After all, finding and retaining this type of client is all about the quality you offer. If your business is exemplary, you will get many referrals.

Conduct Boot Camps

Earning more money as a personal trainer means offering something almost anyone can afford. As many people may not be able to come for a one-on-one session, offering a boot camp can be a great substitute.

Boot camps have low rates, and the workouts are done in a group. When setting a price, keep it within 15-30% of a standard lesson. A group lesson means group rates. 

On average, one of these sessions will last 45 minutes to an hour. You could even have several boot camps per day. However, to really leverage this model, you must invest more in marketing. You need large numbers to sustain boot camps.

Especially if you host your boot camp at a rented facility, you must be careful to keep your expenses in check. Consider rental fees and equipment costs when determining your price.

Boot camps are also a great opportunity for new clients to meet you and see if your coaching style fits them, so be sure to put your best foot forward. Many of them may even decide to sign up for different programs or coaching sessions you offer.

Provide Personalized Workouts and Meal Plans

Nutrition is key to helping your clients meet their fitness goals, lose weight, and stay healthy. Tailoring meal plans for your clients is convenient for them and can generate extra income for you.

Your clients will be happy that you provide yet another necessary service in your industry. However, meal plans and workouts are not one-size-fits-all. Every client has different needs and circumstances, so be sure you take everything into consideration when making the plans. Tailored workout and meal plans that are designed around each client’s unique needs and goals are ideal.

Launch An App

A fitness app is well worth considering for established personal trainers still looking to expand their outreach. It scales up your business in ways in-person training can’t and adds further value for your customers. The easiest solution is to hire a freelancer to build it for you. However, this will still require you to have a design idea in mind. 

Aone-client or a group fitness app helps the clients you work with in person by providing them a way to subscribe, pay, or access content. It also opens up your business to a worldwide audience that you could never have reached otherwise.

Write eBooks

Coming up with different ways on how to make more money as a personal trainer usually includes writing an ebook or a guide. Online fitness training can be so much more successful if you dedicate time to creating engaging content as well. It must be informative and answer your audience’s questions. EBooks are one of the best ways to distribute that content online. If you already keep a fitness blog, it’s easy to repurpose that content into an eBook format.

So, if you ever wondered how to earn passive income as a personal trainer, this is a great way to secure sales or even funnel new clients to your training sessions.

Many people consume eBooks on devices like Kindle every day. Whether they are fitness enthusiasts or just starting out on their workout journey, they will likely see this purchase as a great investment. You, on the other hand, need to include actionable tips and different success stories so people are getting something valuable.

Promoting your book will require various marketing efforts. To make the biggest impact, utilize your website, email newsletters, and social media.

Include Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing is when you have a deal to promote a product, service, or brand. When someone in your audience buys what you promote, you receive a commission. Typically, this is 5-10% of the purchase price.

Affiliate Marketing is a great source of passive income but requires a good reputation. Your clients must believe that your advice is worth taking.

This means you must also choose your affiliates wisely and only promote the products you believe in. If you advertise inferior products or services, their bad reputation will rub off on you.

There are several reputable affiliate marketing websites you can partner with. They will give you part of any sale made using your promo code or through your website. This is a good source of income to expand your business further, and there is no cap on how much money you can make.

Find a Sponsor

Many brands are always looking for someone to promote their products. Different sportswear, supplements, or protein powder brands are just a few examples of companies you can work with.

The larger your audience, the more you can make from sponsors. A good way to start is by recording your teaching sessions and updating your social media every day. Consistency is key. Be sure to also present these sponsored brands to your clients in person, as they are most likely to make a purchase.

Final Thoughts on How to Make More Money as a Personal Trainer

In our comprehensive guide on how to make more money as a personal trainer, we covered some of the best practices for boosting income. Ultimately, it’s up to you to apply these strategies in your fitness business. This process doesn’t have to be overwhelming or overly complicated. Just start one step at a time and work your way up the ladder.

Even if you implement only one of these strategies, that alone will improve and expand your business. Whether you are a new or already established personal trainer, these strategies will surely yield results. 

And if you need any additional help, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to sell personal training to clients. We also wrote about how to make a personal trainer business plan, which is a foundation for a successful business. 

FAQs About Making Money as a Personal Trainer

1. What is the average salary of a personal trainer?

The location, level of experience, and type of clients someone works with all have a significant impact on how much money a personal trainer makes on average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2023, the median yearly salary for fitness instructors and trainers was $46,480.

2. How can personal trainers increase their income?

Personal trainers can raise their income by adding group sessions, online coaching, and starting a store for products like supplements or exercise equipment. Also, establishing a strong reference and testimonial network will help you draw in more customers and boost your earning potential.

3. What are some effective marketing strategies for personal trainers to attract more clients?

Creating a strong online presence via social media and a website, joining up with neighborhood companies or organizations, providing free trial sessions, and delivering excellent service to current clients can all be useful marketing techniques for personal trainers.

4. How to earn passive income as a personal trainer?

There are lots of ways as to how you can earn passive income as a personal trainer. Many opt to sell supplements, protein powders, and workout gear in their online shops. Another great tactic is to offer an online course people can purchase or write an ebook or informative guide. Lastly, consider partnering with a specific brand or website you can promote and get a small percentage once your clients make a purchase.

5. Is it necessary to have a certification to become a personal trainer, and how does that affect income potential?

Although personal trainer certification is not legally necessary to start working, most employers and clients prefer to work with trainers who have obtained their certification from a recognized body like NASM or ACE. A certification can boost a trainer’s credibility and open doors to better-paying employment.

6. What is the role of social media in the income of a personal trainer?

Personal trainers may use social media effectively to attract more clients and boost their income. By sharing informative content, providing free resources, and demonstrating their experience, trainers can develop a loyal following and attract new customers interested in their services.

7. How can personal trainers manage their finances to maximize their income and minimize expenses?

Personal trainers can control their spending by making a budget, keeping track of their earnings and outgoing costs, investing in continuing education, and looking into tax breaks and other financial advantages accessible to self-employed people.

8. What are some common mistakes that personal trainers make when trying to increase their income?

Personal trainers frequently overcharge clients, refuse to invest in their own professional growth, and perform a poor job of marketing themselves when attempting to raise their income. These are some of the most common mistakes that can significantly stun your revenue and cost you your clients. 

9. What are some alternative income streams that personal trainers can explore?

Other sources of revenue for personal trainers include writing and selling online courses or eBooks, facilitating seminars or retreats, or collaborating with nearby companies to provide corporate wellness programs.

10. How do personal trainers price their services, and what factors influence their pricing decisions?

The cost of living in the trainer’s location, the level of expertise the trainer has, and the services they provide are all factors that affect the price a personal trainer charges. Other factors that may influence pricing decisions include competition in the market, demand for services, and the trainer’s unique education.

11. What are some challenges that personal trainers face when it comes to making a sustainable income?

Personal trainers struggle to maintain a steady income due to factors like market competition, the need to continually entice new clients, the expense of marketing and promotion, and the strenuous nature of the work. To succeed over the long term, personal trainers must also be able to handle their finances well and balance their income with their expenses.

12. Can you make six figures as a personal trainer?

Yes, you can definitely make six figures as a personal trainer, but this will require a lot of dedication and hard work. You must get expertise, invest in continuous education, and build a premium client base. Besides this, you will also need business management skills and marketing knowledge. Once you put all of this to use, it will take some time, but with proper consistency, you are on a good way to making that six-figure mark.