How To Start a Personal Training Business in 2025

Are you passionate about fitness and helping others reach their health goals? If yes, then starting a personal training business could be the perfect opportunity for you! With more people becoming health-conscious and investing in their well-being, the fitness industry is booming in 2025. Whether you want to work with clients in-person or you prefer to teach them online, there’s a space for you in this growing market.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to start a personal training business, focusing on both in-person and online training. You will also get some useful tips, helpful advice, and statistics to support the booming business.

Why Start a Personal Training Business in 2025?

Starting a personal training business in 2025 is a great idea for several reasons:

• Growing Demand for Fitness: The fitness industry has been growing consistently. In 2020, the global fitness industry was valued at around $87 billion, and this number is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, driven by a health-conscious population.
  

• Flexibility and Freedom: When you start your own business, you have the flexibility to set your schedule and work with clients as much or as little as you want. You can decide whether to work online, in a gym, or even in clients’ homes.
  

• Personal Fulfillment: If you love fitness and enjoy helping others reach their goals, personal training can be very fulfilling. You’re not only helping others become healthier, but you're also making a positive impact on their lives.

Did You Know?

• 74% of people who had a personal trainer said they were more likely to reach their fitness goals (Source: ACE Fitness).
  

• Online fitness services have grown by 50% since 2020, making now an ideal time to consider starting an online personal training business (Source: IBISWorld).

Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Personal Training Business

Step 1: Get Certified as a Personal Trainer

Before you can start your personal training business, it’s important to become certified. Having a valid certification will help you build trust with your clients and ensure you have the right knowledge and skills to provide quality training.

1. Choose a Certification Program: Some of the most recognized personal trainer certifications include:

• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)

• American Council on Exercise (ACE)

• International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)

• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

2. Study and Pass the Exam: Certification programs usually require you to take an exam after completing a course that covers topics such as exercise science, nutrition, and business management. You can choose between online courses or in-person classes.

Step 2: Decide on Your Niche

As a personal trainer, you can choose from many niches to focus on. Some trainers specialize in weight loss, while others focus on strength training, sports performance, or yoga. Choosing a niche helps you stand out in the market and attract a specific group of clients.

Popular Niches:

• Weight loss and body transformation

• Sports training and athletic performance

• Strength and conditioning

• Yoga or Pilates

• Pre/postnatal fitness

• Elderly fitness

Step 3: Build a Strong Business Plan

A business plan is essential for any business, and starting a personal training business is no exception. Your business plan will outline your goals, target audience, services, and how you plan to market yourself.

Key Elements of a Personal Training Business Plan:

• Mission Statement: What’s your goal? For example, “To help individuals improve their health and fitness with personalized training programs.”

• Target Audience: Who do you want to train? Are you focusing on beginners, athletes, or individuals with specific health goals?

• Services Offered: Do you offer one-on-one training, group classes, or both?

• Pricing Structure: What are your rates? Will you offer packages or single sessions?

• Marketing Strategy: How will you find clients? (Social media, word of mouth, website, etc.)

Set Up Your Online Presence

In today’s digital age, having an online presence is essential, whether you’re planning to run an in-person business or an online personal training business. A website and social media pages are crucial for attracting clients.

Create a Website: Your website should include information about your services, pricing, and certification. You can also include client testimonials, before-and-after photos, and a blog with fitness tips.

If you want to create a professional website, platforms like Shopify can help you set up a user-friendly site. Shopify is not only good for e-commerce, but it can also help personal trainers create a clean and easy-to-navigate website where you can book sessions and accept payments.

Social Media: Platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook are great for promoting your services. Share fitness tips, workouts, and client success stories to engage with potential clients.

Choose Between In-Person and Online Personal Training

As a personal trainer, you can decide to either work with clients in person or start an online personal training business. Both options have their pros and cons.

• In-Person Personal Training: This is the traditional model where you meet clients at a gym, home, or park. In-person training allows you to have a personal connection with clients, and they can benefit from hands-on corrections during workouts.

• Online Personal Training: With advancements in technology, online personal training is becoming more popular. You can train clients from anywhere in the world via video calls or pre-recorded workout plans. This model allows you to reach a larger audience and work from the comfort of your home.

Starting an online personal training business can be very cost-effective, as you won’t need to rent out a physical space.

Building Your Brand as a Trainer

When you're starting a personal training business, your personal brand will play a significant role in your success. Your brand is not just your logo or website; it’s the way you present yourself to your clients, both online and offline.

How to Build Your Brand:

• Identify Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP): What makes you different from other personal trainers? Maybe you specialize in working with clients who have specific health conditions, or you have a unique approach to training. Your USP will help you stand out in a crowded market.

• Consistency is Key: From the way you communicate with your clients to how you design your website and social media profiles, consistency in your messaging and visuals will help build trust with your audience.

• Showcase Your Expertise: Create content that shows your knowledge and expertise in fitness. This could include blog posts, social media tips, video tutorials, and client testimonials.

Tips to Strengthen Your Personal Brand:

• Be active on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where fitness content is highly popular.

• Share real client success stories with before-and-after photos (with their consent).

• Start a YouTube channel or a fitness blog where you provide valuable tips, workout routines, and nutrition advice.

• Be authentic and transparent in your messaging clients are more likely to trust you if they see your genuine passion for fitness.

Setting Up Your Training Space (For In-Person Training)

If you decide to focus on in-person personal training, setting up a proper training space is critical. Whether you're training clients in a gym, at their home, or even outdoors, the environment you create will directly impact the effectiveness of your training sessions.

Setting Up a Home Gym or Studio:

• Invest in Quality Equipment: Depending on the type of training you offer (weight training, cardio, yoga, etc.), you'll need to invest in appropriate equipment. This could include dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, yoga mats, etc. You don’t need to buy everything at once; start with the essentials and grow your equipment over time.

• Create a Comfortable Space: Whether you’re using a gym, park, or a dedicated room at home, make sure the environment is clean, organized, and inviting. Comfortable flooring, proper lighting, and ventilation can make a huge difference in the training experience.

• Client Safety: Ensuring that your training environment is safe is crucial. Always check the equipment for wear and tear, and ensure clients understand how to use it properly.

Tips for Home-Based Trainers:

• Keep your equipment organized and easily accessible.

• Maintain a high level of hygiene by disinfecting equipment after each use.

• Provide a welcoming and motivating environment by playing energising music or using mirrors to help clients track their progress.

Starting an Online Personal Training Business

With the rise of digital tools and online platforms, online personal training has become an incredibly popular business model. This allows you to reach clients from anywhere in the world and offer your services more flexibly.

How to Start an Online Personal Training Business:

• Choose Your Online Platform: Various platforms allow trainers to provide virtual sessions, such as Zoom, Skype, or fitness-specific apps like Trainerize or TrueCoach. These platforms make it easy to schedule, train, and communicate with clients.

• Create Custom Training Programs: A big advantage of online training is the ability to offer personalized training programs to clients based on their fitness levels, goals, and preferences. You can create video tutorials, downloadable workout plans, and meal guides for clients to follow.

• Set Up an Easy-to-Use Booking System: Whether you’re doing one-on-one sessions or group training, it’s important to have an easy-to-use booking system for clients to schedule appointments. Platforms like Acuity Scheduling or Calendly are great tools for managing appointments.

Tips for Running an Online Training Business:

• Use a professional website to offer online training packages and collect client testimonials.

• Offer a free trial or a consultation to attract new clients and showcase your expertise.

• Create online challenges or community events to keep clients motivated and engaged.

• Consider using fitness tracking apps to monitor clients’ progress remotely.

Legal Considerations and Insurance

Running a personal training business comes with certain legal responsibilities. It's important to understand the legal aspects of starting a business, particularly regarding client safety, contracts, and insurance.

Legal Considerations:

• Create a Waiver or Liability Release Form: This form protects you from any legal claims in case of injury during training. It's essential to have clients sign a waiver before beginning any fitness programs.

• Set Up Your Business Structure: You can operate as a sole proprietorship, LLC (Limited Liability Company), or other business structures, depending on your country’s laws. An LLC, for example, can protect your assets in case of any lawsuits.

• Tax Obligations: Keep track of your income and expenses. Consult with an accountant to ensure you are paying the right taxes and keeping good financial records.

Insurance for Personal Trainers:

• Liability Insurance: Personal trainer liability insurance protects you in case a client gets injured during a session. This is an essential form of insurance for anyone offering personal training services.

• Professional Indemnity Insurance: This insurance covers you in case a client sues you for negligence or providing incorrect advice that leads to injury.

Networking and Collaborations

Networking is a vital part of growing your personal training business. It’s important to connect with others in the industry, whether they’re other trainers, gyms, fitness bloggers, or health-related businesses.

How to Network in the Fitness Industry:

• Join Fitness Communities: Engage with online fitness communities on platforms like Reddit, Facebook, or LinkedIn. You can exchange ideas, collaborate, and learn from other personal trainers.

• Partner with Local Gyms: If you're new to the industry, partnering with a local gym or fitness center can help you get your first clients. They may offer you space to train clients or refer people to you.

• Attend Fitness Conferences: Fitness conferences and expos are great opportunities to network and learn more about the industry. You can meet potential clients, collaborators, and even suppliers for fitness equipment.

Also Read - How to Boost B2B Sales with Shopify: Tips and Tricks

Scaling Your Personal Training Business

Once you’ve successfully launched your personal training business and have a steady stream of clients, it’s time to scale. Here are a few strategies to help you grow your business:

Ways to Scale Your Personal Training Business:

• Hire Other Trainers: As your business grows, you may want to bring in other trainers to help you. You can either employ other trainers or work with them as independent contractors.

• Offer Group Classes: Expanding from one-on-one sessions to group classes is a great way to increase your income. You can offer classes for different fitness levels, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

• Create Digital Products: Consider creating workout plans, fitness challenges, or even an app for your clients. Digital products allow you to earn passive income while helping a larger audience.

• Expand Online: If you’re primarily offering in-person training, you can start offering online training to reach clients across the globe. Alternatively, if you’re already running an online business, consider offering hybrid models to cater to both local and international clients.

Tips for Scaling:

• Invest in automation tools to manage bookings, payments, and client communication.

• Focus on building a strong online presence through consistent content creation and client success stories.

• Continue to upskill by taking advanced courses in fitness and business management.

Market Your Business

Now that you’re set up, it’s time to attract clients. Marketing is one of the most important aspects of growing your personal training business.

• Create an Attractive Social Media Presence: Social media platforms are great for marketing your personal training business. Share workout videos, success stories, fitness challenges, and tips that appeal to your target audience.

• Offer Free Content: Offer free fitness tips on your website, blog, or social media. This will showcase your expertise and encourage potential clients to trust you with their training.

• Use Paid Advertising: If you’re willing to spend some money, you can run ads on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to target people interested in fitness.

Pricing Your Services

Your pricing should reflect the value of your services, the market demand, and your expertise. It’s important to research what other trainers in your area or online are charging and adjust accordingly.

• Hourly Rates: You can charge by the hour for in-person sessions. Rates typically range from $30 to $100 per hour, depending on experience and location.

• Packages: Offering training packages can be more appealing to clients. For example, offer a discount if a client buys a package of 10 sessions.

• Online Training Fees: For online personal training, you can charge monthly rates ranging from $100 to $500 depending on the type of service you provide (e.g., one-on-one coaching, group coaching, or pre-recorded programs).

Tips and Notes for Success

• Stay Updated with Fitness Trends: The fitness world is always changing. Stay updated with new workout trends, nutrition science, and health technologies. Consider taking additional courses to expand your knowledge.

• Client Retention is Key: It’s not just about attracting clients but also keeping them. Offer great customer service, build strong relationships, and motivate your clients to keep coming back.

• Networking is Important: Connect with other fitness professionals, attend workshops, and join fitness-related groups to build your network.

• Invest in Good Equipment: Whether you are working online or in person, investing in quality equipment will help you deliver better results for your clients.

FAQS

1. What is a personal training business? 

• A personal training business is where you help people get fit by designing exercise plans, giving training sessions, and offering advice on staying healthy. You can do this in person or online, depending on your business setup.

2. How do I become a personal trainer? 

• To become a personal trainer, you need to complete a certification program. These programs teach you about exercise, nutrition, and how to safely help clients. After passing the exam, you can start working as a personal trainer.

3. Do I need to be certified to start a personal training business? 

• Yes, it’s a good idea to get certified. Certification shows that you know how to train people safely and effectively. It helps you build trust with clients and shows that you’re professional.

4. How do I choose the right niche for my personal training business? 

• Think about what you enjoy the most. You could specialize in weight loss, helping athletes, training seniors, or even doing yoga. Picking a niche helps you stand out and attract clients who need your expertise.

5. Should I offer personal training online or in person? 

• You can do both! If you like working with people face-to-face, in-person training is a great choice. If you want to reach more people and have more flexibility, online personal training is a great option. Some trainers even do both!

Conclusion

Whether you decide to focus on in-person training or venture into the world of online personal training, there is no better time than now to turn your passion for fitness into a business. With dedication, the right knowledge, and a clear plan, you can be on your way to becoming a successful personal trainer in 2025!

Ready to start your personal training business online? Tameta Tech is here to help! As a trusted Shopify Development Partner, we can create a professional website for your business. Contact us today, and let’s build a site that attracts clients and helps your fitness business grow!