The Only ACE CPT Exam Study Resource You’ll Ever Need (infographic)

Bonus: 4 week and 8 Week Timeline for Studying for your NASM CPT Exam

The ACE CPT exam is known to be one of the most difficult in the fitness industry. With 150 questions in 180 minutes, you’d better know your stuff if you’re going to pass this one the first time around.

When you sign up, the study materials you get from ACE include a book, some basic online materials and a “good luck” pat on the back. It is no wonder that nearly one third of all ACE CPT test takers fail.

But, you’re smart and you’re found this great resource that will help you be one of the two-thirds who passes and starts an awesome career path in personal training.

The following recommendations have been put together by me, a college professor responsible for helping 1,000s of students get their personal trainer certifications. In my many years of experience I have figured out the best study materials and have even created a few of the best ones on the market. I also have many leather bound books and my walls smell of mahogany.

Without further ado, here is an infographic on my recommendations for studying for the ACE CPT.

Download infographic

Here’s our take on the study resources tips from the infographic:

TEXTBOOK

American Council on Exercise Personal Trainer Manual, 5th Edition Textbook:

Trust me when I say that this textbook will be your best study tool as all the information you’ll find in the final exam is contained in the book.

At the time of this writing, the fifth edition is the most up-to-date version of the book. Here, you’ll find the key concepts and terms that you’ll need to prepare yourself for the exam and to become a solid personal trainer.

You’ll also find the ACE Integrated Fitness Training® Model, insight on managing a personal training business, and technical standards adopted and developed by ACE.

From the authors:

In addition to new technical standards for cardiorespiratory, functional and resistance training, the manual also features new information about managing a personal training business, engaging graphics that identify key concepts and terms, and essential exercise science information.

Although some chapters are more important than others, you’ll likely find that questions are pulled from every chapter, so it is important to read each chapter and understand its concepts.

The Essentials of Exercise Science for Fitness Professionals text is also a good asset to read and understand as it covers foundational exercise science, human anatomy, exercise physiology, fundamentals of applied kinesiology, nutrition basics, and the physiology of training.

Appendices A-C are also very important and will contain a few test questions, namely from the ACE Code of Ethics.

ONLINE TOOLS

ACE provides a few online study tools that you will want to utilize as part of their ACE Academy Elite 2018 interactive study platform. This platform includes video lessons, progress tracking, and practice quizzes to help you reduce the time you need to study.

The ACE Study Center on Facebook is a dedicated social page that allows you to connect with others preparing for the exam as well as help you find tips from candidates who have taken the exam.

STUDY GUIDES

There are numerous study guides that I have found to be useful, however, the Fitness Mentors team created most of them.

Within the ACE book, the Exam Content Outline located in the back of the book is a helpful resource.

Fitness Mentors has created a Free ACE CPT Study Guide that includes a chapter-by-chapter resource. The Fitness Mentors Premium Study Guide for the ACE CPT Exam provides you with all the specific topics that are covered on the exam, puts you through tried and true learning methodologies, and ensures you learn the topics from lots of different angles.

APPS

When looking through the App Store, whether Android or Apple, there are a total of 4 apps that aim to assist students in passing their ACE CPT Exam. Most of these are just test questions and/or flashcards created from or taken from older versions of the material. The subjects don’t change a whole lot as far as the information, but the questions from the actual exam change significantly. That being said, utilizing these tools to improve your test taking ability and question comprehension can be useful to someone who struggles at test taking in general.

Perform a simple search for “ACE CPT” and you’ll see a wide range of apps from free to $10. While I do like these apps for improving test taking ability and comprehension of concepts, I caution you to not allow the apps to build too much confidence. Reason being, ACE will do their best to alter the questions so that they are not the same ones that are littered around the internet.

The takeaway is that apps can help you prepare, but you won’t rely on them as if they are the exact test questions you’ll see on the exam. This is why it is so important to not only practice test taking, but to also ensure you understand the concepts of the book so you can interpret different styles of questions.

AUDIO LECTURES

Imagine getting ready in the shower to an extremely good-looking professor going over all the important concepts to study in for the ACE CPT exam. With the Fitness Mentors’ Audio Lectures for the ACE Certified Personal Trainer Exam, that is exactly what you get.

Why ACE has not created something like this boggles my mind. People tend to learn best when an actual human breaks down concepts in a simple to digest way they can understand and learn to apply.

For example, when you are reading the text you’ll come across ventilatory thresholds. Broken down into VT1 and VT2, the VT is the ‘point of transition between predominantly aerobic energy production to anaerobic energy production.’

Blah, blah, blah most of you will scratch your head and wonder what that even means; or if you do get the definition, applying it may be difficult.In the audio lectures, I’ll just say something like, “they are a way to measure a client’s intensity during exercise.” Here’s some further breakdown of VT1 and VT2 that is intended to be a bit more practical and applicable:

The Audio Lectures can be used similarly to the Study Guide, as you study for the first time chapter by chapter (recommended 2 months of studying), or after you have read you go back and review the material in a different light (recommended 2 weeks to 1 month of studying).When you combine the explanation of Audio Lectures with the further comprehension of the Study Guide, you get a study package set up for true understanding and success. As a teacher and continuous student of all things fitness, it is easy to stand by the 99% pass rate as a measure of effectiveness. Click here (shameless plug) to learn more about the Audio Lectures for the ACE CPT.

PRACTICE TESTS

Practice tests are an excellent way to test your knowledge and measure yourself against a clock. ACE provides two, 150-question practice tests as part of their study packages that you’ll definitely want to check out.

I’ve shared my feelings towards apps — they are good for improving test taking ability and comprehension of concepts, but I would not rely on them for memorizing similar questions on the exam.

For the most up-to-date questions that are updated based on actual test-taker feedback, you’ll want to check out the Practice Tests for the ACE CPT from Fitness Mentors. With over 400 ACE CPT questions based off of specific test topics, and organized in quiz form for every chapter as well as two final exams, they are the best test-taking resource on the web.

The Practice Tests should be used after completing your reading and other study materials on a chapter-by-chapter basis or at the finish of all studying. Once again, if you test yourself before you know anything it might not do much good. The Practice Tests for the ACE CPT should be used anywhere from 1-3 days before the exam, to 2 months prior if you choose to test yourself after each chapter you complete.

8 WEEK AND 4 WEEK STUDY TIMELINE

With ACE, you have six months from the time you buy your study materials (from them) to schedule your exam (but you can take it within nine months). While you could just read the book within that time frame and take the test, I’ve found that most students don’t have a lot of success this way.

As life tends to get in the way of studying and we can’t all remember everything we read forever, we have created a 8 and 4 Week Study Timeline. This is especially helpful for those of you that want to dive right in and complete your certification ASAP, or for those who may have struggled and have limited time left.

Of course, study timelines are not always enough if you leave it to the last minute to cram, and in this case, you’d be better suited using our practice tests, study guides and audio lectures to get up to speed.

You can also call us anytime if you have a special scenario so we can point you in the right direction and tailor a specific study program that fits your needs (424) 675-0476. Complete the form below to access the 8 and 4 Week Study Timelines for the ACE CPT Exam.

Download your FREE 4 and 8 week study timeline for the ACE CPT exam.

ONLINE COURSE

This may sounds like another shameless plug, but we are confident in our products and have worked really hard making them the best ACE study materials out there.

The Fitness Mentors’ Online Course for the ACE CPT Exam includes all the stuff we’ve discussed above — practice tests, study guides, audio lectures plus a bunch of bonus stuff we only offer in this package: PowerPoint Presentations, PowerPoint Lectures, Study Guide Answers, and a Final Exam Review. We are so confident in it we even offer a pass guarantee.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call us or feel free to leave a comment below.

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The 5 Hardest ACE CPT Test Questions (and Answers)

The 5 Hardest ACE CPT Test Questions
(and Answers)

The ACE CPT Exam is known for being one of the most difficult personal training certifications to pass. Out of the almost 800-page textbook they select 150 questions that need to be completed in a three hour time limit.

This can cause major anxiety as knowing what to study can be hard to determine. Not to mention most of the questions come from a single sentence hidden deep within each chapter [our Audio Lectures and Study Guide help to point these out].

Through teaching the ACE CPT Certification materials at a college level for over 5 years and testing multiple times, we have selected what we believe to be the 5 hardest ACE CPT test questions and have coupled them with the answer and detailed explanation. (This has been updated to reflect the newest version of the ACE CPT Exam, Edition 5)

BONUS!

If you want the head instructor Eddie Lester to text you Free ACE Test questions, study materials and bonus tips:

TEXT “ACE Questions” to 31996.

A 44-year-old man name Roger comes to you wanting to exercise. After a thorough health-risk appraisal, you learn than his father had diabetes and smoked cigarettes. He quit smoking one year ago and he alternates between exercising on the stationary bike and treadmill 3 days per week for 30-45 minutes per session during his lunch break at work. He has a BMI of 31, Systolic Blood Pressure of 142 mmHg, Diastolic Blood Pressure of 88 mmHg, and a total serum cholesterol of 187 mg/dl. What risk classification is Roger and how many risk factors does he have if any according to ACSM guidelines?
1. High risk, 4 factors
2. Moderate risk, 4 factors
3. Moderate risk, 2 factors
4. Low risk, 2 factors

You memorized all of the positive risk factors and classifications right!? It can be a lot to know every single risk factor, as most of the risk factors have more that one component. His father smoked cigarettes which means nothing. He smoked cigarettes but quit one year ago. What was the timeline again for quitting smoking? Six months which means it is not a positive risk factor for Roger. He works out 3 days per week for more than 30 minutes which means he is not sedentary, so no positive risk factor there. He has a BMI of 31, which is over the limit of 30 and is considered a positive risk factor. His systolic blood pressure is 142 which is above the cutoff of 140 so there is another positive risk factor. His total cholesterol is 188 mg/dl which is below the 200 mg/dl cutoff, so no risk factor there. This means there is a total of 2 risk factors. Did you memorize how many risk factors are associated with each risk classification? Well Low Risk is less than two so its not low risk. Moderate Risk is greater than or equal to 2 so that becomes Roger’s risk classification.

Correct Answer: C

Memorize all positive risk factors and their and their determining values including: Age, Family History, Cigarettes, Sedentary, Obesity, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, Prediabetes and the one negative risk factor High HDL Cholesterol.

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What is the rate of strength loss associated with reversibility?
1. A client who stops working out will lose strength at one-quarter the rate that it was gained.
2. A client who stops working out will lose strength at one-half the rate that it was gained.
3. A client who stops working out will lose strength at the same rate that it was gained.
4. A client who stops working out will lose strength at twice the rate that it was gained.

Remember that one statistic, from that from that sentence, in that one paragraph on reversibility? Reversibility discusses how the body loses muscle and strength when no resistance training is being performed. A basic resistance training routine can maintain muscle through aging as well as increase the amount of muscle by 3lbs in three months. Based on Faigenbaum et al., strength is lost at about one-half the rate that it was gained. It is easy for ACE to pick a question like this as it is very relevant to the field, but the likelihood of you memorizing it is low.

Correct Answer: B

What is the rate of resistance increase for progressing a client with the goal of muscular strength?
1. Once the client reaches the terminal number of repetitions increase the load by 5%.
2. Once the client reaches the terminal number of repetitions increase the load by 8%.
3. Once the client reaches the terminal number of repetitions increase the load by 10%.
4. Once the client reaches the terminal number of repetitions increase the load by 15%.

Chapter 10 focuses on teaching you how to develop and progress a training program. Did you happen to memorize how to progress each goal of training? Probably not. It is much easier to memorize information when it is organized in a chart or table, but on the ACE CPT Exam they like to find go into the middle of a paragraph and choose a statistic. Out of 800 pages the ability to find and memorize this specific of information is trying. (That’s why we recommend grabbing our Study Guide for the ACE CPT Exam as we point out what is most important to pass the exam)

Correct Answer: A

Choose the list of muscles that all externally rotate the shoulder.
1. Rhomboid major, Upper trapezius, Posterior deltoid
2. Infraspinatus, Subscapularis, Teres major
3. Latissimus dorsi, Pectoralis Minor, Teres minor
4. Infraspinatus, Teres minor, Posterior deltoid

In our opinion, ACE does not do a good job of showing you what muscles perform what movements. This can be disheartening when the ask questions like this on the exam. The text briefly discusses the rotator cuff and the internal and external rotation test, which when put together can provide the necessary information to get this right. We highly recommend utilizing another resource to learn specific kinesiology, the muscles and their functions, as multiple questions come up around muscular actions and joint motions.

Correct Answer: D

What is the exercise intensity recommended for a client with hypertension?
1. 70-80% of Maximal HR
2. 40-50% of VO2 Max
3. RPE of 9-13
4. 40-60% of VT2

The first thought on this type of question is did you memorize the suggested intensity for each of the Special Populations? Did you memorize the suggested intensity for any of the Special Populations? The second thought is what method of intensity should be used for a client with hypertension? The above question has four different methods for measuring intensity: Max HR, VO2 Max, RPE and VT2. These methods are covered in the Cardiorespiratory Training chapter and can all be used to measure intensity, but the special populations chapter tells you which method to use. The RPE scale is the recommended way to measure intensity for most of the special populations and holds true for hypertension as well.

Correct Answer: C

Alright guys. 5 questions down, 145 to go.

ACE can pull questions from any sentence in the book which makes the 800+ pages daunting for the unmotivated reader (Our Audio Lectures take you page by page through the text and explain everything to make this process easier). Check out more of our tips and tricks to passing the exam by signing up to receive the “5 Secrets to Passing Your ACE CPT Exam”. Also if you need more help we have some great premium materials, like our Practice Tests for the NASM CPT Exam that make this test a breeze. Check them out here. (If you can score above a 136 out of 150 on both of our practice final exams you are ready to test.) Also feel free to give us a call with any questions about your upcoming test (424) 675-0476.

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How to Create a Lead Magnet to Grow Your Online Fitness Business

Ever wonder how to get people to your website and on your email list to land your first client and grow your online fitness business?

Search the depths of the Internet for answers, and you’ll probably dig up a million different ways to do this. But there’s a key feature to include on your website that can help you bring in leads, build authority as an online personal trainer, and grow your fitness business.

Turn prospects into clients with a lead magnet

Know what it is? A lead magnet is a marketing term for a document designed to generate interest, engage prospects, and start a conversation that can turn information seekers into paying clients.

Even if you haven’t created a lead magnet before, chances are pretty good that you’ve signed up and downloaded your fair share. Check out the online fitness business gurus and personal trainers who have been in the game a little longer, and you’ll see what I mean.

For example, transformation specialist and online personal trainer Ryan Spiteri created the Fat Loss Cheat Sheet as a lead magnet to connect with prospects. When someone signs up, they download this free PDF via email, get added to his email list, and receive weekly messages that provide useful information about things like working out, dieting, and fitness goals. And mixed in with those emails are opportunities to purchase a training program.

Create your own lead magnet for your fitness business

Now that you know what a lead magnet is and how it works to help build your online fitness business, you can create your own. But I’m not a writer, or designer? Don’t worry. It’s not as hard to create a lead magnet as you might think.

By following a few simple steps, you can create a lead magnet for your fitness business to connect with the type of clients you want to work with.

1

Identify your niche

There was a time when the average personal trainer was in high-demand, had a solid book of business, and trained everybody from athlete to new mom, overweight or obese adults, and senior citizens. But online personal training has changed the game. It’s a lot harder to be successful as a general personal trainer when you’re running an online fitness business.

Here’s the reason. When people decide they want to get in shape, lose weight, train for a race, or even enter a bodybuilding competition, the Internet is typically one of the first places they look to find answers. Specializing in a specific area or niche, greatly increases your chances of being found when someone searches for, “weight loss coach,” for example.

Specializing is how online personal trainer Dave Smith found his niche helping new moms and women with weight loss, dieting, and fitness goals.

2

Do your research

Take the time to figure your target audience or niche, and you’re one step closer to creating a lead magnet that converts. Once you know your niche, you can dig a little deeper to find out more about their goals, interests and concerns, and what your niche audience is looking for help with online.

Here are some questions to think about to help you develop a topic idea for your lead magnet.

Where do your ideal clients hang out online? (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.)
What are their concerns, issues, pain points about health and fitness?
What problems are they talking about in Facebook groups, niche specific websites, and online forums that your online fitness business can solve?

Find out what people are really searching for online. Here are a couple more ways to help you research your niche to develop a lead magnet.

Use Google Keyword Planner. This free tool allows you to see the search volume and trends for key phrases people are using to search for information online. For example, while writing this post, we found that only about 100 people search for “online fitness business” a month. But “fitness business” gets about 1,000 searches a month.
Type in search terms you think your target audience is using to help you find a key phrase to help shape your lead magnet.

3

Developing your lead magnet idea

With a well-defined niche and solid research, you can start developing an idea for your lead magnet. If you’re freaking out about this step, it’s pretty normal. Don’t overcomplicate it.

At this point, you know your niche. You’ve got the credentials to be a personal trainer and run an online fitness business. And you probably already have real-world experience training clients or working out yourself.

The biggest mistake people make at this point is thinking that the lead magnet needs to be a massive resource of information, an ebook hundreds of pages long, or a week-long mini course. Yes. You could spend the time to create these types of lead magnets. But you don’t have to.

Make it as simple as possible. For example:

Create a list-style resource. (Example: HIIT On The Go: 10 quick and insanely effective workouts you can do anywhere)
Write a series of questions and answers. (Example: 40 Questions, Myths, And Truths About Nutrition)
Write a one-week diet and training plan (Example: 7 Day Fat Loss Jump Start)
Make a short video that solves a problem (Example: A Flatter Stomach in 30 Seconds)
Develop a list of quick tips
Create a series of emails (Example: 7-Day Physique Mastery Email Course)
Make an audio recording

These examples should give you some ideas to develop your own lead magnet. Obviously, you’ll need to spend some time writing or recording the content. It makes sense for most fitness business owners to try and control costs when starting out, but you could hire someone to create the content for your lead magnet.

You could also repurpose existing content (like a podcast episode, blog post, case study, series of emails, resources page, etc.) and turn it into a lead magnet

4

Designing your lead magnet

You’re a personal trainer and fitness business owner, not a graphic designer. How are you going to get your lead magnet designed (cover, page design, video/audio intro, etc.)?

Option #1. Be willing to learn something new. For example, you can use sites like Canva for free to design a lead magnet cover. And YouTube has its own video editing software and tutorials. You’ll have to spend some time learning how to use these tools, but they’re relatively user-friendly, and most are free.

Option #2. Pay someone to design your lead magnet. If you don’t already have a steady stream of personal training clients and income, you probably want to keep costs down when starting your online fitness business. But to get leads coming in, it might be worth it to pay someone to help you design your lead magnet. Fiverr.com is an affordable option, where you can find talented graphic designers with rates as low as $5 per project.

5

Go live, and start collecting leads

Once you’re done with your lead magnet, you’ll want to connect it to your website with an opt-in form to capture email addresses. You can find free WordPress plugins to do this, or pay to use lead generation tools like Lead Pages. Basically, these tools (free or paid) help automate the process. When someone submits their email address, they’ll receive your free lead magnet, and be added to your email list.

But you’ll need to do more than just post your lead magnet on your website. If you don’t have a massive email list or social media following, you need to help people find out about it. Here are some effective, and inexpensive ways to do this:

Send out an email. Even if you don’t have a big email list, you probably have a few contacts. Send an email and invite them to check out your lead magnet.
Reach out to bloggers/websites that already have a following. Offer to write a guest post about a health/fitness topic. Include a link to your lead magnet. (see tip #1 for specifics on this approach)
Be a guest on a podcast. About 57 million people a month listen to podcasts in the U.S. alone. And a lot of those podcasts cover health and fitness topics. Contact podcast hosts via email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Provide a brief bio that mentions you’re a personal trainer, and ask if they’d consider interviewing you. You’ll probably get a chance to plug your lead magnet and point people to your site in the show notes.
Answer questions on Quora. Create an account, and start answering questions about health and fitness. Include a link to your website in your bio.
Post a video on YouTube. It doesn’t have to be long. 1 to 3 minutes is fine. You can even record a decent video with your phone. Introduce yourself. Talk briefly about common health and fitness challenges people have, and how you can help. Or instead of a talking-head video, demonstrate an exercise, or how to cook a healthy dish. Encourage people to visit your site for more information.
If you do have a budget, consider spending a little money to run a Facebook ad campaign, for example, to promote your lead magnet. Or use social media to host a contest to get people to sign up for your lead magnet with a drawing for something of value like a gift card, fitness tracking device, or free coaching.

It might take a little time to develop an effective lead magnet and get it all set up on your site. But it’s a smart strategy that will help you grow your fitness business.

Have questions about creating a lead magnet for your fitness business? Let’s discuss. Leave a comment in the notes.

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Personal Trainer Courses: 5 Ways to Become a Trainer

You Might Be About to Waste Money on the Wrong Personal Trainer Certification – Here’s How to Avoid It

Let me be straight with you. There’s a mistake many new personal trainers make every year. And the sad part? Most of them only realize it after they have already spent their money and time.

Think about this for a moment. You see an ad online:

“Become a certified personal trainer today for only $69!”

Sounds like a great deal, right? Fast, cheap, and easy.

But here’s the truth most people don’t tell you: some of these “certifications” are almost useless when you try to get a real job.

Not long ago, I was reading a post in a personal trainer forum. A newly certified trainer was super excited. He had just finished an online course and was ready to start his career.

But he had one simple question.

Would gyms actually accept his certification?

He said he finished the course in just a short time and paid $69.99 for it. In his own words, it felt a little too easy.

Right away, I knew what was happening.

His certificate most likely came from what is called an unaccredited personal trainer certification. In simple words, this means big gyms and serious fitness companies do not recognize it.

So when he walks into a gym to apply for a job, there’s a high chance they will simply say no.

Money gone. Time wasted. Confidence crushed.

And sadly, this story happens again and again.

Right now, thousands of people are trying to figure out which personal training course is actually worth their time and money. Some programs can open real career doors. Others just take your money and give you a piece of paper that means very little.

That’s why I decided to break everything down in a clear and simple way. No confusing words. No sales talk. Just the truth so you can make the right choice before you commit.

Below, you’ll see five different ways people become certified personal trainers.

Three of them are accredited paths that gyms respect and trust. These can help you build a real career.

Two of them are unaccredited paths that may look easy and cheap, but can cause problems later.

By the end, you’ll clearly know which path is smart and which one to avoid.

Here’s what we’ll cover.

Accredited Options

Certification through an accredited U.S. organization
Vocational college programs
University degrees (Bachelor’s or Master’s level)

Unaccredited Options

Online courses with no accreditation
Internal gym training programs

Let’s break them down one by one so you don’t make the same costly mistake many new trainers make. 💪

Personal Trainer Courses: The 5 Options
to Consider for Your Career

1. Certification via Accredited US Company

Most major personal training certifications go through a vetting process to ensure that an unbiased, third-party organization can assure the public a safe standard. For personal training in particular, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) is the certification agency that reviews some of the most prestigious personal training courses.

Aspiring personal trainer organizations must go through a validation process analyzed by experts to ensure they meet a high standard of professionalism, health, welfare, and safety.

Some of the most popular NCCA-certified personal trainer bodies include:

NASM
ACE
NSCA
ACSM
NESTA
NCCPT
NCSF

At the time of this writing, the AFAA is undergoing the credentialing process and will soon be added to this list.

The ISSA is worth mention as well. While not NCCA-certified, ISSA is accredited through the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE), but as we note in our Best Personal Trainer Certification post, these are not as highly regarded as the NCCA.

Getting a Personal Trainer Certification through an Accredited US Company

To get a personal training certification through, for example, NASM or ACE, you have to be 18 or older, have a high school diploma or GED, and be CPR certified. From there, you can visit the website of the organizations to complete the certification process.

You’ll need to get some personal trainer study materials, prepare for the exam, and pass, to get the official license.

For a side-by-side, objective, comparison of the major certification bodies and how to go about choosing which one is right for you, check out the aforementioned blog on personal trainer certifications.

Who Accredited US Company Certifications are best for

If your goal as a trainer is to work in nearly any gym, get strong fundamentals on exercise and exercise science, and even move on to a more entrepreneurial career in personal training, this may be a route for you.

Vocational college and universities also offer accredited personal trainer courses, however, these require different financial commitments as well as time commitments. Opting to complete a personal trainer course through self-study is who this route is best for. If you don’t do well studying on your own and need constant feedback or value a school setting, the next two options may be better for you.

2. Certification via Vocational College

Vocational colleges (also known as vocational schools or trade schools) are brief, career-specific programs that help to quickly prepare you for a career in personal training. These schools partner with accredited certification bodies (ex. NASM) to develop academic programs that are specific to one type of personal trainer certification.

For example, I was a professor at California Healing Arts College (CHAC) for the Personal Fitness Trainervocational program. The objective of this program was to help graduates get into a successful personal training career with NASM certifications. This class offered two programs: one 30 weeks long, 900 clock hours, and 32 credits, and the other 42 weeks long, 900 clock hours, and 32 credits.

These timeframes are fairly standard with vocational schools, as are the opportunity to work in a professional environment while in school (externship).

The courses are in-person as opposed to online, and you can expect an experienced personal trainer as your professor. What is great about vocational colleges is that the entire course is geared towards helping you become a successful personal trainer. Contrast this to going through an accredited certification body or university, where your coursework will be geared strictly towards a certification or will include education outside of personal training, respectively.

The cost of these types of programs generally range from about $15,000 to $20,000 for a 300- to 900-hour course.

Getting a Personal Trainer Certification through a Vocational College

Perhaps the best way to find a vocational college that offers personal trainer courses is through a simple Google search. Then, find the section on Admission Requirements and follow the steps or reach out the college directly for insight.

Who Vocational College Certification is Best for

Compared to the cost of going directly through an accredited US company (generally less than $1,000), vocational colleges can be much more expensive. However, because the entire program is dedicated to helping you perform in all aspects of training, vocational programs tend to create the best trainers.

“because the entire program is dedicated to helping you perform in all aspects of training, vocational programs tend to create the best trainers.”

These programs are best for students who enjoy a school-like setting, the ability to interact with professors and their peers, benefit from hands-on experience, and who might be intimidated by self-study programs. These programs tend to be a lot shorter and less expensive than the final accredited option: going through a university.

3. Certification via University Programs with Bachelors or Masters

The most expensive and time-consuming route for a personal trainer course is by far going through a University. If you opt for this approach, expect 4+ to get a bachelor’s degree and 6+ years if you want a master’s degree.

As mentioned before, your coursework will not be entirely focused on personal training. For the bachelor’s, the first two years will have semi-focused coursework, then the final two years will have a few personal trainer classes sprinkled in. The degree is not in “personal trainer” per se, but rather something like kinesiology.

For example, Louisiana State University (LSU) offers a BS in Kinesiology, with several different areas of concentration including:

Fitness Studies
Human Movement Science
K-12 Health & PE
Physical Activity and Health

For the Fitness Studies concentration, the focus is to prepare students for careers in “personal training, strength and conditioning, corporate wellness as well as hospital, government and community-based fitness settings.”

Check out the course requirements on this program to see how it mixes general studies (ex. English, math, science, biology) with kinesiology courses and fitness studies concentration courses:

Source: LSU

sIf you were to continue your studies into the graduate level, your master’s wouldn’t be in personal trainer either. It would be a Masters in Kinesiology, or some other specific science (physical therapy, athletic training, exercise physiology).

Getting a Personal Trainer Certification through a University Program

Should you decide that going through a University is the right career path for you, you’ll have to check out the initial admissions requirements of the university you want to attend and apply to get in. Once in, you’ll have to satisfy the coursework for that particular concentration of study. Go to the website’s of the universities with personal trainer-like programs, and get in contact with the school to ensure it matches up with your career goals and to get guidance.

Going through the university route is a bit more daunting than the other accredited options on this list, however, a quick call to the admissions office will help you determine if a program is right for you and how to go about getting in.

Who University Programs are Best for

If you are in a rush to get into the personal training industry and want to get to work fast, it should be obvious that four to six years of school is not going to get you there. This is not to say you can’t xenical orlistat price work on your personal trainer certification with an accredited US company while in college, but if you want to focus on your education this method clearly takes the longest.

University programs tend to be best for people who want to experience college, round out their knowledge in other areas, like the idea of having an actual degree to fall back on, or who want to pursue higher education like a master’s degree.

However, a master’s in Kinesiology or other health and fitness science won’t really get you anywhere as a personal trainer in my experience; this is best suited for those who want to be more involved in research-style work or athletic management-style work. If you just want to be a personal trainer, a master’s degree is likely and overextension of your time and money and is unlikely to attract more clients than a trainer with a bachelor’s, a vocational degree, or a certification from an US accredited program.s

4. Certification via Unaccredited
Online Options

Compared to the previous three options, the title of this approach, “unaccredited online options,” may seem like a terrible choice. However, like many things, it has its place for certain people. I am not one of those people, but perhaps you are!

We learned above about personal trainer credentialing agencies like the NCCA, an organization that stands to uphold standards of professionalism, health, welfare, and safety. These standards are important to gyms and other types of employers, and should be important to you if you want a job at an established fitness institution.

A personal trainer may not be held in the same regard as an attorney with a law degree and who has passed the bar exam, or an accountant who has a CPA recognition, but the credibility behind these certificates is meaningful. With an unaccredited personal trainer certification, you’d kind of be like a person who takes a nutrition class and claims they are a nutritionist.

“if you were trying to get private clients who didn’t care if you had credentials, this certification would be fine.”

On the other hand, if you were trying to get private clients who didn’t care if you had credentials, this certification would be fine. But, like our friend from the forum who speculated that his online certification was a bit too easy, you’d probably be ill-suited to represent personal training and may be doing a disservice to your clients due to your lack of knowledge.

Getting a Personal Trainer Certification through an Unaccredited Online Option

The obvious way to find one of these unaccredited personal trainer courses is by a Google search for “online personal trainer certificate” or some equivalent. If you stumble across an online personal trainer course and are not sure if it is accredited, you’ll probably know because of the inherent low cost of entry. You should also be able to do some research on the site to see if the program is credentialed or not.

Who Unaccredited Online Certifications are best for

Again, this type of certification might work for you if your clients really don’t care about your credentials or if you don’t want to get a job at a formal fitness intuition like a 24-Hour Fitness, L.A. Fitness, or some other professional industry setting.

If you want to do the minimum to have an essentially worthless certificate, an inexpensive, non-credentialed option might be for you.

5. Certification via Gym Program

Most corporate gyms have in-house programs to help their trainers utilize skillsets and approaches that are important to the gym. However, while these programs may help you to progress within a specific gym or brand, they will not necessarily transfer to other gyms and will not mean you are accredited.

“these programs may help you to progress within a specific gym or brand, they will not necessarily transfer to other gyms and will not mean you are accredited.”

One of the best examples we’ve found of an internal gym program is the Equinox Fitness Training Institute (EFTI) available at Equinox gyms. Equinox, like other gyms who offer internal personal training programs, teach you specific skills that relate to Equinox, almost like an internship where the student pays.

There are a lot of pros to this type of program, you’ll learn lots of skills and concepts to help you become a good trainer and benefit from a well-thought education format (as is the case with Equinox). The cons, however, are that you’ll have to pay for a non-accredited program (Equinox charges $1,399 for non-members), you don’t get a personal trainer certification, and the certification of completion you get from the gym won’t transfer to other gyms should you seek employment elsewhere. Furthermore, many of these types of programs want you to get an accredited certification after you complete their program anyway.

To learn more about the Equinox experience, and to give you a good idea of what to expect within these gym-specific programs, we reached out to a friend of ours who was a trainer at an Equinox in New York. Jamie Wolff, now an Integrative Health Coach with Walnut Health, shared some insight regarding her experience at Equinox:

On choosing Equinox?

Jamie, like many trainers looking for some specific PT course or path that would provide her real-life experience, was new to the industry. When she heard Equinox had a training program, she went for it.

“It was the only gym I knew of that really invested education in their trainers – which I needed as a newbie. The beautiful space motivated, as opposed to many other gyms, which are dark and less-than-inspiring.”

On skills learned

Most gym programs will help you learn about sciences like anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, strength and cardiovascular training, and design personal training programs for your clients. The gym program also taught Jamie sales skills that are difficult to come by on your own:

“I was blessed with a wonderful manager (which isn’t always the case) who understood my strengths and weaknesses. But I also learned some basic sales “skills” like the need to move slightly beyond your comfort zone – which helped me.”

On getting an accreditation

Jamie already was NASM-certified before she joined Equinox, but mentioned you can also get hired if you haven’t finished an accreditation course. She did say that the gym had a requirement to get an accredited certification within a few months of completing their program, however.

Getting a Personal Trainer Certification through a Gym Program

Programs like the ones offered at Equinox and other corporate gyms don’t actually provide you with accredited personal trainer certs. As mentioned on the Equinox site, “Equinox Academy is a training program, not a certification.”

With these programs, you get a certificate of completion, not an actual license that is recognized at other gyms.

However, as we learned with Jamie, the experience of working with a gym to hone your skills can be rewarding. If you are interested in this path, contact the local corporate gyms you’re interested working at and inquire about their programs. Similarly, you may be able to find information on these programs online.

Who Gym Programs are best for

Gym programs are best for the personal trainer newbie who wants to be brought into an environment where they will be able to interact with other experienced trainers as well as potential clients. The programs will provide a soft introduction to national certifications and help you establish some knowledge of the coursework within national certs such as exercise science, anatomy, program design, and other concepts.

Many aspiring trainers look to these programs as guaranteed pathways to careers with gyms, however that is not the case. Equinox notes this on their website, and mentions their program is designed to help novice trainers but does not guarantee participants with jobs at their gyms.

Think of the gym program as an introduction to personal training under a live setting.

Which Personal Trainer Course is Right
for You?

Choosing the right personal trainer course is not the same for everyone. The best option really depends on a few important things in your life.

For example, think about your career goals. Do you want to work in a big gym? Start your own coaching business? Or train people online?

You also need to think about time. Some programs can be finished in a few months, while others may take years. Then there is the cost. Some courses cost a few hundred dollars, while others can cost thousands.

Another thing to consider is how you like to learn. Some people enjoy studying on their own online. Others prefer a classroom where teachers guide them step by step. And finally, think about the experience you want before becoming a trainer, because some paths give more hands-on practice than others.

Let’s break down the main paths so you can clearly see which one may fit you best.

Accredited Certification (The Most Popular Path)

For most people who want to start working as soon as possible, a nationally accredited certification is the smartest and most practical choice.

Programs like ACE, NASM, and NSCA are widely accepted in the fitness industry. Many gyms and health clubs look for these certifications when hiring new trainers.

Here’s why this path is popular:

You can usually finish the program in 3–6 months
The cost is often much lower than college programs
Most gyms recognize and trust these certifications
You can study online at your own pace

These programs also teach the core skills trainers need, such as:

Exercise science basics
Workout program design
Client safety and injury prevention
Basic nutrition guidance
Coaching and communication skills

For someone who wants to start training clients quickly and build experience fast, this path is often the best choice.

Vocational College Programs (Structured Learning)

If you prefer a more organized classroom-style environment, a vocational college program might be better.

These programs usually run through fitness schools or technical colleges. They offer structured lessons, regular classes, and sometimes hands-on practice in gym settings.

Benefits of this path include:

A clear learning schedule
Teachers who guide you through the material
Hands-on practice with equipment and clients
A more traditional school learning experience

However, these programs often take longer to complete and may cost more than national certification courses.

Still, they can be a good choice if you learn better with direct instruction and real-life training practice.

University Degrees (Long-Term Career Path)

Some people choose to study fitness through a university degree, such as exercise science, kinesiology, or sports science.

This path usually takes three to four years, but it provides very deep knowledge about the human body, movement, and health.

A university path can open doors beyond personal training, including:

Strength and conditioning coaching
Fitness management
Sports performance training
Rehabilitation support roles
Corporate wellness programs

It’s a strong option if you are already planning to attend college and want to build a long-term career in health, sports, or fitness leadership.

However, it is the most expensive and time-consuming path, so it’s not always necessary if your main goal is simply to start training clients.

Unaccredited Online Courses (Be Careful)

Now let’s talk about the option that often causes problems.

Many websites offer very cheap online personal trainer courses. They promise fast certifications and quick results.

But the problem is simple: many of these programs are not accredited.

This means:

Most gyms will not recognize the certificate
Employers may refuse to hire you
The education may be very basic or incomplete

The only situation where this might still work is if you plan to do private personal training and your clients do not care about formal credentials.

Even then, building trust without recognized education can be very difficult.

So while these courses may look attractive because they are cheap and fast, they often do more harm than good.

Internal Gym Training Programs

Some gyms offer their own internal training programs for new trainers.

These programs can actually be helpful because they allow you to:

Learn inside a real gym environment
Gain hands-on experience with clients
Understand how gyms operate
Improve your coaching skills quickly

But there is one big limitation.

Most of these programs do not give you an accredited certification. The training is usually only recognized inside that specific gym.

Because of this, the best strategy is often to combine both paths:

Get a nationally accredited certification
Gain real experience through a gym training program

This combination can help you build both knowledge and practical skills, which is what great trainers really need.

FAQs:

Do all personal trainer certifications let me work at any gym?

Not all of them. Only accredited ones like NASM, ACE, NSCA, ACSM are widely recognized by gyms and fitness institutions. Unaccredited online courses or internal gym programs usually won’t open the same doors.

What’s the fastest way to get certified?

If your goal is speed and cost-efficiency, going through an accredited US company like NASM or ACE is the quickest route. You can often complete self-paced study and the exam in a few months.

Are vocational college programs worth it?

Absolutely if you prefer hands-on learning, school structure, and mentorship. They’re more expensive and take longer than self-study certifications, but they prepare you thoroughly for a career in personal training.

Should I get a university degree to become a personal trainer?

Only if you want a broader education, managerial opportunities, or advanced research roles. A bachelor’s or master’s in kinesiology is time-consuming and costly and isn’t required to become a competent personal trainer.

Can I do private training with an unaccredited online certification?

Yes but only if your clients don’t care about formal credentials. These courses are inexpensive and fast but won’t be recognized by gyms or professional institutions, and the knowledge may be limited.

What about internal gym programs?

Gym programs, like Equinox Academy, are great for experience and skill-building in a live environment, but they don’t provide an accredited certification. Often, gyms require you to pursue a national certification alongside their program.

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Selling Personal Training with a Sales Dialogue: a 4-Step Guide

Selling Personal Training with a Sales Dialogue:
4-Step Guide

How to pitch personal training

Client: Sell me this pen.

Trainer: It has a great grip for your fingers and a smooth rolling ball point for writing.

Now, you’re probably thinking, ‘What does this dialogue have to do with how I close personal training clients?’ The answer is: everything.

You see, if you substitute the pen with the clients wants and needs, and your answer with what you do to sell specifically to their wants and needs, you’ll close more deals.

The scene in The Wolf of Wall Street with Leonardo DiCaprio is a perfect example of this, the dialogue goes something like this:

Leo: Sell me this pen (hands salesmen the pen).

Salesman: Do me a favor, write your name down on that napkin.

Leo: I don’t have a pen.

Rudimentary? Yes. Applicable? Yes.

How does the selling the pen trick dialogue help you as a personal trainer sell more deals? It capitalizes on some major sales skills that you’ll need to develop to create effective dialogues with your clients that help you to close more deals.

Today, we will learn how to sell personal training services better using a proven personal trainer sales dialogue that I have used again and again to close more deals and gain more clients.

In this lesson taken straight from the Fitness Mentors Business and Sales: The Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer CEU course, you’ll understand how to:

Gather information about your prospect
Respond to the information you gather
Deliver information effectively
How to close/ask for the sale

Below we will take a look at an actual dialogue that I’ve had with a prospective client and how I incorporated the above four techniques to sell her personal training. Hint: I sold her what she wanted, not some predefined package that I defined.

1. Gather information about your prospect to sell them personal training packages

The information-gathering aspect of the dialogue builds the sale up. The goal here is get an idea of what your potential client wants and needs, therefore creating an easy environment to build the sale.

Trainer: So, what is your biggest fitness goal right now?

Client: Well, I am really focused on losing about 30lbs.

The information here is straightforward yet highly revealing. If weight loss of 30 pounds is her focus, you know that she probably has low self-confidence and perhaps a negative self-image. You already know this is likely what you will be selling – not personal training per se, but the self-confidence that comes from losing weight.

At this point you’ll want to continue to gather more information.

Trainer: When did you last feel as if you were in great shape?

Client: About four years ago.

Trainer: What has changed in the last four years that has led to where you are now?

Client: I was working out more often, I was a stay at home mom for my two kids.

Here I took the opportunity to learn more about her personal life as I know that obviously, her kids are important to her. I learn about their ages, the schools they go to, and their names.

If her kids are the most important thing in her life, I want to know as this aids my sales process. I also want to get some more insight as to why she is not a stay at home mom.

Trainer: Are you working now? (Notes: this is an easy way of asking why she is no longer a stay at home mom.)

Client: Yes. When my husband and I got divorced I had to restart my consulting business, which takes up most of my time. (Notes: I engage in a bunch of small talk about her consulting business. This might help me determine her financial status and potential schedule for our future sessions.)

2. Responding to the information you gather to guide your prospect down a sales path

At this point you’ve learned quite a bit about your prospect. You know what their fitness goals are, a little about their personal life, and some of the restrictions or challenges in their life that have held them back from a more dedicated fitness lifestyle.

Now, you are ready to respond to this feedback with additional questions that will lead your prospect to the realization that you are the solution to their problems.

Trainer: So your work and schedule has made it tough to find time for exercise?

Client: Yes, that’s why I have added the weight for sure. It’s been a tough transition, but I recently saw a picture of myself that made me realize I need to make my health a priority.

You know now that time is a problem and potential barrier to exercise. Her divorce was troubling but she is feeling better now. It appears she is serious about getting back into shape and wants to make health a priority (HUGE SELLING POINT!).

This will be the focus of my customized pitch. If she is truly ready to make her health a priority we can start tomorrow. Also, her old self looked good, so I must find an emotional attachment to how she felt when she looked good.

Trainer: Would you say that you were in the best shape of your life at that point?

Client: Yes. I wasn’t very active growing up, but at that time I was doing Pilates and Yoga four times a week so I loved the way I looked.

Here I made xenical vs alli some small talk about Pilates and Yoga and try to find out why she enjoyed it. I also try to learn more about why she loved the way she looked, asking specific questions to get specific answers.

I then respond with a small selling pitch to how I utilize those methods of training to build core strength, which is selling directly to something she attributes to looking great (selling to the customers wants/needs).

She loved the way she looked at that point in her life and I am speaking directly to that because I know what she used to do when she liked the way she looked. Keep in mind I am not talking about weight training or some other exercise when I have established she really liked Yoga and Pilates.

Now, I want to deliver more information but I want to do it in a way that is effective to my, and her, end goal.

3. Delivering information effectively to communicate that you are the solution to her goals

I will continue to ask questions that I already (somewhat) know the answers to. The goal with this information delivery is to allow her to connect with an emotion of how she felt when she looked good with how she will feel when she trains with me.

Trainer: So if we got you back to that look in 4-6 months how would you feel?

Client: I would be so happy to have that body back. It feels so far away though.

Here I am showcasing information that I know the timeline it will likely take to reach her goals (4-6 months). From the client’s response “It feels so far away though,” I see that there is a lack of confidence with her ability to reach that goal. At this point I still need to sell self-confidence. I will do this efficiently and then try to close the sale.

4. How to close the sale with your personal training prospects

At this point you’ve done a lot of legwork. You’ve gathered information about your prospects fitness goals, why they have not been able to meet them, learned about their personal life and schedule, and guided your prospect down a path that lets them know how you can help them.

Now, it’s time to close the sale and try to get them to sign on the dotted line.

Trainer: I actually just finished with a client looking to drop 30 pounds of baby weight. With a little bit of sacrifice we were able to get her there in five months. I know it may be tough to imagine now, but when you’re back in that body in a similar timeline, I know you’d feel amazing. Would that be something you’d be willing to work for?

This series of statements and questions leads up to the sale inquiry. Let’s break it down piece-by-piece so you know exactly how to use this for your clients.

First, I’m addressing the concern my prospect mentioned above, “It feels so far away though.” I use a story of my past experience of a similar client, in a similar timeframe, to build credibility and empathize with her.

Then, I use a confidence building statement to encourage the emotional attachment, “when you’re back in that body in a similar timeline, I know you’d feel amazing.”

At this point I’ve done pretty much all I can and am ready for my soft ask, “Would that be something you’d be willing to work for?” I am simply asking her to take action on the emotion she expressed. If the prospect is truly ready to make her health a priority like she said, she will allow me to schedule her first session.

Selling your personal training “pen”

You may be familiar with the sales technique that says “Sell Benefits, Not Features.” Another way of remembering this is “features tell, but benefits sell.”

If you take away one thing from this article, take away that. In my example, you see nothing about me selling my pre-existing packages or some cut-and-paste plan that I created. I don’t sell any specific personal training product, I sell self-confidence because that is what my services provide.

You need not create some desire, just sell around existing desires. The way to do this is using the four-step process outlined above:

Gather information about your prospect (What is your biggest fitness goal right now?)
Respond to the information you gather (Your work and schedule has made it tough to find time for exercise?)
Deliver information effectively (I can get you back to your good looking self in 4-6 months using the techniques you used before that you enjoyed)
How to close/ask for the sale (I just did the same thing with a similar client; are you willing to put in the work to get the same results?)

I want you to try this selling technique on your next prospect and then come back here and write a comment about exactly how it worked for you. I promise you that you’ll generate more sales this way and learn how simple-to-use this technique really is.

For more awesome business and sales advice, check out the Business and Sales CEU course today.

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7 Best NASM CEU Courses

Top NASM CEU Courses:

As a NASM-certified personal trainer you are required to recertify your CPT every two years. You’ll need to get 1.9 CEUs (19 hours) through a course or seminar to fulfill this requirement in addition to earning 0.1 CEUs (1 hour) by maintaining your CPR and AED certifications (20 total credit hours).

Just a few years ago, personal trainers only had one option for recertification and this involved finding and visiting in-person workshops. Today, trainers have the option to do their continuing education in-person or get their necessary credits online.

While in-person and online CEUs each have their pros and cons, it’s nice to have options. Here is a breakdown of the five best NASM CEU courses that includes both in-person workshops as well as online courses.

Best NASM CEU Courses

NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist

Our top pick for NASM-specific certifications, the Corrective Exercise Specialist teaches you how to be a trainer that can minimize injury while still focusing on strength and athleticism. Learning about muscular imbalances makes you an extremely valuable asset to your clients and often provides trainers the confidence to charge more for their services.

While the CES certification is available online, the face-to-face time you’ll get with a live person is highly recommended and is why we recommend in-person workshops over online learning for this specific class. The material is quite in-depth, meaning that you’ll likely be challenged and having an instructor next to you to answer your questions can be a valuable asset.

Cost: $899 for Self-Study

Enrollment Period: 365 days a year

CEUs: 1.9

Small Print: At a price range of $899 the CES course is fairly expensive. Because the course is so intense (and lends itself well to the progression of your career), having solid CES study materials are recommended to ensure completion the first time around.

FM-Certified Online Personal Trainer

There has never been a better time than now to become an online personal trainer as the world of in-person personal training has been challenged by COVID-19. The Fitness Mentors Certified Online Personal Trainer course is the best college-level course for trainers who are serious about training clients virtually.

From learning how to start an online personal training business, to learning the online mediums to sell, to generating online leads, and growing a business while you sleep, this is the ideal CEU course for the new world of online training.

Cost: Only $699

Enrollment Period: 365 days a year

CEUs: 2.0 (or 20 hours)

Small Print: The FM-COPT fills a growing need in the personal training world due to the rules of social distancing. It is also the only online certification that is recognized by the National Board of Fitness Examiners

Business and Sales: The Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer

Successful business owners are created, not born. The often unfortunate case with many trainers is that they don’t know how to structure their businesses for success or put leads into a sales funnel, leading to their ultimate failure. The Business and Sales: The Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer was created by a successful personal trainer for exactly that reason and helps lead trainers down a path to financial growth.

Trainers have plenty of options for continuing education that have to do with physical fitness or nutrition, but little when it comes to actionable advice on how to create a system that generates sales. With coursework touching on creating a personal brand; creating and registering a business entity locally, statewide and with federal agencies; how to give away free information to get the attention of your chosen market; how to engage prospects and how to close, this class covers it all.

Cost: Only $249

Enrollment Period: 365 days a year

CEUs: 1.9

Small Print: This class provides valuable real-world business advice and might be less fun than exercise-based classes. It also forces you to be an actionable business owner, so it might not work for the moonlighting personal trainer who just wants CEUs and nothing else. At $249, this is definitely one of the least expensive NASM CEU courses out there.

NASM Certified Nutrition Coach

The NASM CNC is hands-down the most well-regarded nutrition certification in the fitness industry. Adding a nutrition-based certification to your NASM-CPT will give you the confidence to make client recommendations and possibly even charge more for your services.

The other great thing about the NASM CNC certification is that it requires no recertification so you’ll have it for life. You know that without proper nutrition, exercise programs won’t work to their full potential. Add this certification to your list to help your clients accomplish all their health and fitness goals.

Cost: $899

Enrollment Period: 365 days per year

CEUs: 1.9

Small Print: Not a great option for those looking for last minute CEU options.

Bonus: Free NASM CEUs

Looking for some free NASM CEUs to round out your criteria for the two-year recertification period? As a bonus to the other five listed on this page, check out Build Your Marketing Muscle: The FREE Guide to Marketing for Personal Trainers. This coursework is entirely online and focuses entirely on marketing.

NCSF Certified Strength Coach

Just as Precision Nutrition’s Level 1 is the most highly regarded course of its kind in the nutrition industry, the NCSF Certified Strength Coach course is true to athletic training. If your goal is to work for a university or at the professional athlete level, it is likely you’ll be required to have this exact certification as a prerequisite for getting the job.

The coursework covers sport-specific training for America’s most popular professional and college sports, and also covers exercise techniques, how to design sport-specific programs, and organizational and administrative elements that are essential in professional environments.

Cost: $475 plus study materials

Enrollment Period: 365 days a year

CEUs: 1.9

Small Print: Detailed and loads of science so mentally prepare to study.

Best NASM CEUs Recap

Furthering your continuing education is a requirement, but shouldn’t be viewed as one. Rather, NASM CPTs should view this obligation as an opportunity to further their interests in fitness and training and increase the ways in which they can help their clients. If you are unsure how to go about choosing the next CEU course for your career, we invite you to consider the “three P’s:

Purpose: How will you use the knowledge you learn from a specific course or workshop?
Population: Who will benefit from the new skills and education you receive? Is this the target population you want to work with? Is the population you want to target abundant in nature?
Passion: Will you actually enjoy learning about this topic?

If you have questions about which NASM CEUs are right for you we would love to help. Leave a comment, call (424) 675-0476, or email us directly. We are always here to assist you in choosing the most successful path for your fitness career.

For more information on becoming a successful personal trainer click the below link and check out our business and sales course.

Business and Sales: The Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer

Foods in Nature Lecture

Recently there has been a lot of interest around the quality of food and how that might affect the body. We wanted to share with you a lecture delivered by Fitness Mentors CEO, Eddie Lester to help clear up some confusion around how foods exist in nature and how processing xenical 120 mg might be an issue. His recent visit to California State University Long Beach was to help students understand how certain foods might work for you, while some might work against you.

Click play below and let us know what your thoughts are by commenting below.

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How Personal Trainers Will Know When They’re Ready to Open a Gym

Thinking about opening a gym? This guide walks personal trainers through the financial benchmarks, personal traits, and business skills you need before making the leap from employee to gym owner.

Opening a gym is the goal that lives quietly in the back of many personal trainers’ minds. You’ve spent years building expertise, earning client trust, and developing your training style and at some point, the idea of building something of your own starts to feel less like a dream and more like a logical next step.

But knowing when you’re truly ready is not just a gut feeling. It requires an honest assessment of your financial situation, your personal drive, and whether you have or can acquire the business skills needed to sustain a fitness business beyond the first year.

This guide covers the three core pillars of gym ownership readiness for personal trainers: financial development, personal development, and business skillsets. By the end, you should be able to answer the questions that actually matter before signing a lease or registering an LLC.

Four Questions to Answer Before Opening a Gym

Do I know my estimated monthly operating costs in detail?
Is my current client revenue strong enough to sustain both my income and early business expenses?
Do I genuinely have the drive, resilience, and personality traits that entrepreneurship demands?
Do I have the core business skills to run a gym, or can I afford to outsource the ones I lack?

If you cannot answer these with confidence right now, keep reading. That’s exactly what this guide is for.

Who This Guide Is Written For

Before we dive in, let’s establish who this guide is aimed at. We’re assuming:

You’re planning to open a small studio, specialty gym, or private training facility not a large commercial box gym.
You’re currently a solo trainer or part of a small team and are ready to stop working under someone else’s roof.
You have a defined fitness niche CrossFit, yoga, Pilates, sports performance, strength training, weight loss, martial arts, or similar.
You’re thinking 1–3 years out. Opening a gym is a planned process, not an impulse decision.
You already have a consistent client base you’d bring with you.

If you’re still building your clientele or haven’t yet identified your niche, that’s your first priority not a lease.

Part 1: Financial Readiness for Opening a Gym

Money is where gym ownership dreams most often hit a wall. The good news for personal trainers: you already have a built-in revenue stream from your clients. The challenge is understanding exactly how much you need to earn before adding the overhead of a physical space.

The Minimum Income Benchmark

A practical rule of thumb for trainers considering a small gym: you should be consistently booking at least 30 sessions per week at your going rate. At $50 per session, that’s approximately $6,000 per month in gross income.

Why $6,000/month? Because in a lean early-stage gym model, a meaningful portion of your income will go back into the business. You need enough left over to cover your own living expenses without dipping into business capital.

Note that this figure varies significantly by location. In a high-cost market like New York City or San Francisco, $6,000/month may barely cover rent. In lower-cost markets in the Midwest or South, the same income gives you considerably more runway.

Startup Costs to Plan For

1. Leasing Commercial Space

For an early-stage personal training studio, plan on spaces in the 500–1,500 square foot range. This is enough room for one-on-one sessions, small group training, and basic equipment without taking on more rent than your early client volume can support.

Before committing to a location, research commercial rents in your target area. A resource like CBRE’s commercial real estate platform allows you to look up market rents by neighborhood and get a realistic picture of what you’ll be paying. Always lease before you consider buying you need to prove the business model first, and commercial real estate loans for first-time business owners without a track record are difficult to secure.

2. Equipment Costs

Equipment investment scales with your training model:

Yoga or Pilates studio: Relatively low equipment cost primarily specialized flooring, mats, props, and mirrors.
CrossFit or functional training gym: Equipment can be sourced in the $8,000–$15,000 range if you’re strategic about purchasing.
General personal training studio (1,000 SF): Budget $15,000–$30,000 for a well-equipped setup racks, benches, cable machines, free weights, and cardio equipment.

If your equipment needs push past what you can pay for upfront, consider leasing. Equipment leasing reduces your initial capital outlay, typically includes maintenance support, and gives you the option to upgrade as your revenue grows.

3. Fixed Utility Costs

Utilities are predictable monthly expenses that you should get actual figures for before signing a lease ideally from the previous tenant or the landlord directly. These include:

Electricity
Water and sewage
Trash collection
Internet, phone, and any TV service
HVAC (confirm what’s included in the lease vs. what you pay)

4. Business Insurance

Personal trainers opening a gym need two distinct types of insurance coverage:

Personal trainer liability insurance: Covers you if a client is injured during training. These policies can be very affordable some as low as $0.50/day but they are non-negotiable. Look for policies that include general liability, professional liability, and optional add-ons like products liability.
Business renters insurance: Required by most commercial leases. Covers damage to the property you rent and protects your equipment against theft or damage. Speak with a licensed commercial insurance broker to understand exactly what coverage your lease requires and what additional coverage makes sense for your specific setup.

5. Build-Out Costs

Many commercial spaces are raw shells that require work before they’re functional as a gym. Changing rooms, a small reception area, rubber flooring, mirrors, and lighting can all represent significant costs and the question of who pays for these varies by lease.

Before signing, negotiate build-out responsibilities. Some landlords will cover or subsidize tenant improvements; others push the cost entirely to the tenant. Anything agreed upon must be specified in the lease contract. Verbal agreements mean nothing get it in writing.

6. Marketing Budget

The U.S. Small Business Administration recommends that early-stage small businesses allocate approximately 7–8 percent of gross revenue to marketing. For a gym generating $6,000/month in revenue, that’s roughly $420–$480/month dedicated to attracting and retaining clients.

Think of your marketing budget not as an expense but as a client acquisition investment. The channels most relevant to fitness businesses include:

Local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization
Social media content (Instagram and Facebook especially for fitness)
Paid digital advertising (Meta Ads and Google Ads for local reach)
Email marketing to existing clients for referrals and upsells
Community partnerships and local event sponsorships

7. Staffing

In the early stages, you will wear many hats trainer, admin, cleaner, marketer, and accountant. That’s normal. But as your client base grows, your time becomes a finite resource, and tasks that don’t require your direct expertise start costing you money by pulling you away from revenue-generating activities.

A part-time front-desk or admin hire even at minimum wage can free up significant time if they handle scheduling, client communication, and basic operations while you train. The question to ask is simple: will having this person here allow me to generate more revenue than I’m paying them? If yes, hire.

Part 2: Personal Readiness — Do You Have What It Takes?

Financial planning is the easier part. The harder conversation is about who you are as a person and whether the traits that make a great personal trainer overlap with or conflict with the traits that make a successful business owner. They don’t always.

Drive and Long-Term Thinking

Entrepreneurship rewards people who can delay gratification, sustain motivation through slow periods, and make decisions that are good for the business even when they’re personally uncomfortable. Ask yourself honestly: have you demonstrated the ability to work toward a goal for 12–18 months without an immediate payoff?

A useful benchmark: are you currently booking 30+ sessions per week? If yes, you’ve already demonstrated the discipline and client relationship skills that translate to gym ownership. If you’re struggling to fill your schedule now, opening a gym doesn’t solve that problem it amplifies it.

If you can’t consistently attract and retain clients as an independent trainer, a physical location won’t change that. Your marketing and relationship skills need to be strong before you take on overhead.

Financial Discipline

Business owners who thrive are rarely the ones who spend every dollar they make. Are you currently saving a meaningful portion of your income? When you have a good month and bring in extra revenue, do you reinvest it or spend it?

Opening a gym means there will be months especially in year one where unexpected expenses hit, a client base temporarily dips, or rent goes up. Your personal savings and your ability to keep business expenses lean during those periods will determine whether you survive them.

Time and Sacrifice

The myth of the business owner with unlimited free time is just that a myth, especially in the early years. Personal trainers operate on client schedules, which means your working hours are largely dictated by when your clients want to train. When you’re not training, you’re handling the business: marketing, accounting, vendor calls, gym maintenance, and everything else.

For the first two to three years of a gym, expect to work more hours than you ever did as an employee. If that trade-off more work now for more autonomy later genuinely excites you rather than drains you, that’s a good sign.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Gym ownership is a relationship business. You need to be able to attract new clients, retain existing ones, communicate effectively with vendors and landlords, and potentially manage staff. Personal trainers who thrive as business owners tend to be naturally outgoing, genuinely interested in people, and skilled at making clients feel seen and supported.

Introversion isn’t disqualifying, but if maintaining energy through client-facing interactions is something you currently find difficult, scaling a gym where you’re responsible for the experience of every person who walks through your door will require conscious effort and systems to compensate.

Part 3: Business Skillsets You Need Before Opening a Gym

You don’t need an MBA. But you do need functional competence or the ability to hire someone who has it in several core business areas.

Basic Accounting and Financial Tracking

You should understand the difference between revenue and profit, how to read a basic profit and loss statement, and how to keep personal and business finances completely separate. Software like QuickBooks or Wave makes this manageable even without an accounting background.

For year-end tax filing, quarterly estimated taxes, and anything involving payroll, hiring a CPA is strongly recommended. The cost is modest relative to the protection it provides, and many firms offer periodic accounting software training for new business owners.

Negotiation

Every significant business relationship involves negotiation your lease, equipment purchases, vendor contracts, and any marketing partnerships. Going into these conversations with a clear understanding of your walk-away point, the other party’s incentives, and what you’re willing to trade makes a significant difference in the outcomes you get.

A foundational text worth reading before negotiating a lease or major contract: Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury. The core insight that the best negotiations focus on interests rather than positions will serve you well across every business relationship you build.

Contract Literacy

You don’t need to be a lawyer. You do need to read contracts before signing them, understand what you’re committing to, and identify terms that expose you to long-term risk. For leases and contracts involving significant sums, engaging a business attorney for a review is a worthwhile investment typically a few hundred dollars versus the risk of being locked into terms you didn’t fully understand.

Pay particular attention to lease length, termination clauses, rent escalation provisions, and who is responsible for maintenance and build-out costs.

Marketing and Client Acquisition

For most small gym owners, marketing is the activity that most directly determines survival. The trainers who build sustainable gyms are the ones who can consistently generate new leads and retain existing clients not just deliver great sessions.

At minimum, you should have a functional strategy across the following:

Local SEO: Your Google Business Profile should be fully optimized and actively maintained. Most people searching for personal trainers or gyms in their area will find you (or not) through Google.
Social media: Consistent, authentic content on Instagram and Facebook builds visibility and community before your gym even opens. Your personal brand as a trainer is the gym’s most powerful marketing asset.
Referral systems: Word-of-mouth is still the highest-converting source of leads for fitness businesses. Build a formal referral program early.
Graphic design: Your visual brand matters. Tools like Canva make professional-looking materials achievable without design expertise. For logo and brand identity work, platforms like Fiverr offer affordable freelance design options.

Time Management

When you’re doing everything, the ability to prioritize ruthlessly is what separates productive days from chaotic ones. The Eisenhower Priority Matrix which categorizes tasks by urgency and importance is a practical framework for deciding what to handle yourself, what to delegate, and what to eliminate.

The trainers who build successful gyms are not the ones who work the most hours they’re the ones who spend their hours on the activities that most directly grow the business.

Knowing When to Hire Professionals

Some business tasks have a steep enough learning curve that attempting to DIY them costs more than outsourcing. Common examples for gym owners:

SEO and website optimization: If ranking locally in search engines is important (it is), this is typically worth outsourcing to a specialist, at least initially.
Accounting and tax filing: The IRS doesn’t grade on a curve. A good CPA pays for themselves.
Legal contract review: One bad lease term can cost you far more than an attorney’s review fee.

The goal is to spend your time on what you’re best at training clients and building relationships and to hand off the rest to people who can do it better and faster than you can.

Are You Ready to Open a Gym? An Honest Self-Assessment

The criteria for gym ownership readiness are partly objective and partly personal. On the objective side: consistent 30+ sessions per week, a clear financial picture of your startup costs and monthly overhead, and a defined niche with an established client base you’d bring with you.

On the personal side: demonstrated drive, financial discipline, willingness to sacrifice free time in the short term, and an honest answer to whether you have the personality and skills that running a business requires or the plan to develop them.

Opening a gym is rarely a spontaneous decision made by the most successful gym owners. It’s typically the result of 1–3 years of deliberate preparation. The planning phase is not a delay it’s part of the process.

If you’re not quite there yet, the most useful thing you can do is double down on building your client base, strengthening your financial habits, and developing the business skills that will serve you once you make the leap. That foundation is what separates gyms that make it past year two from those that don’t.

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How to Transition from Gym Trainer to Private Personal Trainer

Many personal trainers start their career working inside a commercial gym. It’s a great place to learn the basics. You meet different clients, practice coaching, and gain real experience on the gym floor.

But after some time, many trainers begin to notice a problem. Even though they are doing the hard work, the gym keeps a big part of the money from every session. For example, a client might pay $70 for a session, but the trainer may only take home $20–$30. Over time, this can feel frustrating, especially when you already have strong coaching skills and loyal clients.

This is why many trainers start thinking about becoming a private personal trainer. Private training gives you more freedom. You can set your own prices, choose your working hours, and work directly with your clients without the gym taking a large cut.

Another reason private training is growing is convenience. Many people now prefer working out at home, in a private studio, or even in a nearby park. Busy schedules, family life, and crowded gyms make personal home training a great option for many clients.

Still, moving from a gym job to private training can feel confusing at first. You may wonder how to find clients, how much to charge, or how to start building your own training business.

The good news is that the transition does not have to happen overnight. Many successful trainers start by slowly building a small private client base while still working at the gym. Step by step, they grow their reputation, gain more referrals, and eventually move into private training full time.

In this guide, you will learn the exact steps to move from gym trainer to private personal trainer. From finding your first clients to setting your rates and building a strong training business, this guide will help you make the transition with confidence. 💪

Number of participants in home gym exercise in the United States from 2006 to 2013 (in millions)*

What Is a Private Personal Trainer?

A private personal trainer is a fitness coach who works independently instead of working for a gym. This means the trainer works directly with clients and is not tied to a commercial fitness center.

Instead of relying on a gym to provide clients, a private trainer builds their own client base and manages their own training schedule. This gives them more control over how they work and how much they earn.

Private personal trainers also have the freedom to choose where and how they train their clients. Training sessions can happen in many different places depending on what works best for the client.

Common places private trainers work include:

Client homes – Many people prefer working out at home because it saves travel time and feels more comfortable.
Local parks or outdoor spaces – Outdoor workouts are great for bodyweight exercises, running, and group training.
Private studios or small fitness spaces – Some trainers rent a small studio where they train clients one-on-one.
Online coaching – Trainers can also guide clients through video calls or training apps.

Another big difference is that private trainers set their own prices. Instead of sharing revenue with a gym, they decide how much to charge per session, per package, or for online programs.

Private trainers are also responsible for managing their own clients. This includes scheduling sessions, tracking progress, planning workouts, and building strong relationships with the people they train.

Because of this independence, many trainers see private training not just as a job, but as their own small fitness business. With the right approach, it can lead to more freedom, better income, and stronger long-term client relationships.

Private Trainer vs Gym Trainer

Many people start their fitness career working as a gym trainer, but over time they start thinking about becoming a private trainer. Both paths involve helping clients get stronger and healthier, but the way the job works is quite different.

Let’s look at the main differences.

Gym Trainer

A gym trainer works as part of a commercial gym. The gym handles many things like equipment, space, and sometimes marketing.

However, there are a few limits.

The gym keeps a large percentage of the session fee. If a client pays $60–$80 for a session, the trainer may only receive a part of it.
The schedule is often fixed. Trainers usually work shifts and must follow the gym’s working hours.
The gym helps provide clients. Many gyms give trainers new members or leads, which makes it easier to start building experience.

For beginners, working at a gym can be a great way to learn coaching skills and gain confidence.

Private Trainer

A private trainer works independently and manages their own training business.

This comes with more freedom but also more responsibility.

Full control over schedule. Trainers can decide when they want to work and how many clients they take.
Higher earning potential. Since there is no gym taking a large cut, trainers keep most of the session income.
They must find their own clients. Private trainers usually rely on referrals, social media, and local marketing to grow their client base.

In simple terms, a gym trainer works as part of a system, while a private trainer runs their own small fitness business. Many trainers begin at a gym to gain experience and later move into private training when they are ready for more freedom and better earning potential.

Why Many Personal Trainers Leave Commercial Gyms

Working at a commercial gym is a great way for new trainers to start their career. It gives them a place to coach clients, learn how to create workout programs, and gain confidence on the gym floor.

But after some time, many trainers begin to feel limited by the gym system. Even though they enjoy helping clients, they may realize that their growth, income, and freedom are controlled by the gym they work for.

Because of this, many trainers eventually decide to move toward private personal training, where they can work more independently and build their own business.

Here are some of the most common reasons trainers leave commercial gyms.

Limited Income Potential

One of the biggest reasons trainers leave gyms is the limit on how much they can earn. In many gyms, trainers are paid per session, and the pay rate does not increase much over time.

Even if a trainer becomes highly skilled and has many clients, their income may stay almost the same. This can make it difficult for trainers who want to grow their career or earn more from the time and effort they put into coaching.

Private training allows trainers to set their own prices, which often leads to higher earning potential.

Gym Commissions and Fees

In most commercial gyms, the gym takes a large share of the training session fee. For example, a client might pay a high price for a session, but the trainer only receives a small portion of that payment.

This system helps the gym cover costs like equipment, marketing, and space, but it can feel frustrating for trainers who are doing most of the work with the client.

By becoming a private trainer, many coaches prefer keeping the full value of the service they provide.

Lack of Schedule Flexibility

Another challenge many trainers face in commercial gyms is schedule control. Trainers often need to follow gym shifts, early morning hours, or late evening schedules.

While this works for some people, others want more control over when they work and how many sessions they take each week.

Private trainers can build their own schedule and work at times that fit both their life and their clients’ needs.

Wanting to Build a Personal Brand

Many trainers also dream of creating their own fitness brand. They want their name, coaching style, and training results to be recognized by clients.

In a commercial gym, the gym brand usually comes first. Clients often see the gym as the main service provider instead of the individual trainer.

Private training gives coaches the chance to build their own reputation, online presence, and loyal client community. Over time, this personal brand can help them attract more clients and grow a long-term fitness business.

Signs You Are Ready to Become a Private Personal Trainer

Not every trainer should jump into private training right away. Working in a gym helps you learn many important skills first. But after gaining some experience, many trainers start feeling ready for the next step.

If you are thinking about leaving the gym and starting private training, there are a few signs that show you may be ready. These signs usually mean you have the skills, confidence, and support needed to begin working independently.

You Already Have Loyal Clients

One of the biggest signs you are ready is having clients who enjoy training with you and keep coming back for more sessions.

Loyal clients trust your coaching and like the results they are getting. Some of them may even ask if you offer training outside the gym or if you can coach them privately.

When clients want to continue working with you no matter where you train, it shows that your coaching is valuable and people believe in your ability to help them reach their goals.

You Understand Program Design Well

Private trainers need to create training plans that fit each client’s goals and fitness level. This means you should feel comfortable designing workout programs for different types of people.

For example, you may train clients who want to lose weight, build strength, improve mobility, or simply stay active. Understanding how to adjust workouts for different needs is an important skill when you train people one-on-one.

If you can confidently plan sessions and adapt workouts when needed, it’s a strong sign you are ready for private coaching.

Clients Trust Your Coaching

Trust is a huge part of personal training. When clients listen to your advice, follow your workout plans, and ask for your guidance, it means they see you as a reliable coach.

Clients who trust you are more likely to stay consistent, follow your programs, and recommend you to their friends or family. This kind of relationship is very important when building a private client base.

The stronger your client relationships are, the easier it becomes to grow as a private trainer.

You Want to Build Your Own Business

Many trainers eventually feel the desire to create something of their own. Instead of working under a gym brand, they want to build a business that reflects their coaching style and personality.

Becoming a private personal trainer allows you to grow your own brand, choose your training methods, and create the type of service you believe in.

If you feel excited about managing your own clients, setting your own rates, and growing your own fitness career, it may be the perfect time to start your journey as a private personal trainer.

Step-by-Step Guide to Transition From Gym Trainer to Private Trainer

Moving from a gym job to private training does not have to happen all at once. The smartest way to do it is step by step. This allows you to gain confidence, build clients, and grow your income slowly without taking big risks.

Below are simple steps many successful trainers follow when making the transition.

Step 1 – Build Experience Inside the Gym

Before starting private training, it is important to gain strong experience while working at the gym. The gym environment helps you practice coaching and learn how to work with different types of clients.

Focus on improving a few key skills.

First, learn coaching techniques. Pay attention to how you explain exercises, correct form, and motivate clients during tough workouts.

Second, learn client psychology. Every client is different. Some need encouragement, while others need structure and accountability. Understanding how people think helps you become a better coach.

Finally, track client results. Keep records of progress like weight loss, strength gains, or improved endurance. When clients see results, they are more likely to stay with you and recommend you to others.

Step 2 – Identify Clients Who Prefer Private Training

Not every gym member wants private training, but some people prefer a more personal experience. These clients are often the best fit for home or private sessions.

Look for clients such as:

Busy professionals who don’t have time to travel to the gym
Parents who prefer working out at home while managing family responsibilities
Home gym owners who already have equipment but need guidance

These people often value convenience and personal attention, which makes private training a great option for them.

Step 3 – Start Offering Home Training Sessions

Once you identify interested clients, you can begin offering private sessions outside the gym. Many trainers start by coaching clients in their homes or nearby parks.

Home workouts can be very effective. Many exercises use bodyweight, resistance bands, or simple equipment. The goal is to design workouts that match the equipment your client already has.

Another big benefit of private training is flexible scheduling. You can arrange sessions at times that work best for both you and your client.

Private sessions also provide more personal attention. Without the busy gym environment, you can focus fully on one client and help them perform exercises safely and effectively.

Step 4 – Set Your Private Training Rates

One of the biggest changes when moving to private training is setting your own prices. Instead of receiving a fixed pay from a gym, you decide how much your service is worth.

Several factors can affect your pricing.

Your experience level plays a big role. Trainers with more knowledge and results can often charge higher rates.

Your location also matters. Training in large cities or high-demand areas may allow higher prices compared to smaller towns.

Finally, session length is important. Some trainers offer 30-minute sessions, while others provide 60-minute or even 90-minute sessions. Longer sessions usually cost more.

Take time to research what trainers in your area charge so your rates stay competitive.

Step 5 – Gradually Transition Your Schedule

The best way to move into private training is slowly. There is no need to quit your gym job immediately.

Many trainers start by keeping some gym clients while adding a few private clients each week. As your private client list grows, you can reduce your gym hours.

This gradual transition gives you time to build a stable income and strong relationships with your new clients.

With patience and consistency, many trainers eventually reach the point where their private training business becomes their main source of work and income.

How to Find Your First Private Personal Training Clients

One of the biggest worries trainers have when moving into private training is finding clients. When you work at a gym, the gym often helps bring people through the door. But as a private trainer, you need to start building your own client base.

The good news is that you don’t have to start from zero. Many trainers already have access to people who trust them and are interested in their coaching. With a few simple steps, you can begin attracting your first private clients.

Start with Your Existing Gym Clients

Your current clients are often the best place to start. These are people who already know your coaching style and have seen the results of your training.

Some of them may prefer more flexible sessions outside the gym. Others may want the convenience of training at home or in a quiet environment.

By simply talking to your clients and explaining that you offer private sessions, you may discover that some of them are interested in working with you outside the gym.

Ask for Referrals

Referrals are one of the most powerful ways to grow your client base. Happy clients often have friends, family members, or coworkers who are also interested in improving their health.

You can politely ask your current clients if they know anyone who might benefit from personal training. Many trainers find that one satisfied client can lead to two or three new clients through simple word-of-mouth.

Over time, referrals can become one of the strongest ways to grow your private training business.

Offer Free Consultation Sessions

Some people feel unsure about hiring a personal trainer, especially if they have never worked with one before. Offering a free consultation can help remove that fear.

During the consultation, you can talk about the client’s goals, fitness level, and lifestyle. You can also explain how your training program can help them improve their health and reach their goals.

This short meeting helps build trust and gives potential clients a chance to see how you work before committing to regular sessions.

Use Local Social Media Groups

Social media can be a great way to connect with people in your local community. Platforms like Facebook often have neighborhood groups where people discuss local services, events, and recommendations.

You can share helpful fitness tips, answer questions, or mention that you offer private training sessions in the area. When people see useful advice and positive interaction, they may become interested in your coaching.

The key is to be helpful and genuine rather than overly promotional.

Partner with Local Businesses

Another smart strategy is working with other businesses in your community. For example, you could partner with:

physical therapy clinics
yoga studios
wellness centers
health food stores

These businesses often work with people who care about their health and fitness. By building friendly relationships, they may recommend your training services to their clients.

Local partnerships can help you reach new people while also building a strong reputation in your community.

Creating the Perfect Private Training Experience

Private training is more than just taking clients through exercises it’s about giving them a personalized experience that they can’t get in a busy gym. When clients feel supported, motivated, and see real results, they are more likely to stay with you long-term and recommend you to others.

Here’s how to create an experience that makes your private training stand out.

Personalized Workout Programs

Every client is unique. They have different goals, fitness levels, and schedules. As a private trainer, you can design custom workout programs that fit each client’s specific needs.

For example:

A client recovering from injury might need low-impact exercises.
Someone training for strength may need a progressive weightlifting plan.
Busy professionals may prefer short, high-intensity workouts that fit their schedule.

By tailoring programs to the individual, you show clients that you understand them and care about their progress.

Home Gym Equipment Planning

Many private clients train at home, which means you often work with limited equipment. Part of your value as a trainer is helping clients use what they have effectively or recommending affordable additions to their home gym.

You can:

Design workouts using bodyweight, resistance bands, or dumbbells.
Suggest small, budget-friendly equipment upgrades.
Teach clients how to set up their space safely and efficiently.

This planning ensures that clients get effective workouts without needing a full commercial gym.

Progress Tracking

Tracking results is one of the most motivating parts of private training. Keep records of:

Strength improvements
Weight or body composition changes
Endurance or mobility progress

Sharing these results regularly shows clients that their efforts are paying off. It also helps you adjust their programs as they improve, keeping the workouts challenging and effective.

Accountability and Motivation

Many clients struggle to stay consistent with workouts, especially outside a gym. As a private trainer, you provide accountability and motivation:

Checking in between sessions
Celebrating achievements
Encouraging clients to push past plateaus

When clients know someone is guiding and supporting them, they are more likely to stay committed. This is one of the key reasons private training is so valuable and why clients are willing to invest in it.

Combining At-Home Training With Online Coaching

In today’s world, private training doesn’t have to happen only in person. Many clients enjoy the flexibility of hybrid coaching, where they get guidance both at home and online. This allows you to provide consistent support, keep clients accountable, and help them reach their goals faster even when you aren’t physically there.

Hybrid coaching is especially helpful for clients with busy schedules, long commutes, or limited access to equipment. It also lets you manage more clients without stretching yourself too thin.

Here’s how to make hybrid coaching work effectively.

Workout Tracking Apps

Workout tracking apps are a game-changer for private trainers. Apps like MyFitnessPal, Trainerize, or FitNotes allow clients to log workouts, reps, weights, and duration.

When clients track their workouts:

You can see their progress in real time.
You can adjust programs based on their performance.
Clients feel motivated because they can see their own improvement.

Using these apps makes it easy to stay connected and ensures clients stick to their plan.

Weekly Progress Check-Ins

Even if your client trains mostly on their own, weekly check-ins are essential. These can happen via video call, phone, or messaging.

During check-ins, you can:

Review progress from the past week
Adjust workouts based on performance
Celebrate achievements and motivate them for the upcoming week

Regular communication helps clients feel supported and accountable, which leads to better results.

Nutrition Accountability

Fitness isn’t just about workouts nutrition plays a huge role in achieving results. Encourage clients to log meals, track water intake, and follow healthy habits.

When you guide clients on their diet without being too strict or judgmental, they are more likely to make consistent, long-term improvements.

Example:

Suggest healthier swaps for cravings
Remind them about portion control
Celebrate small victories like choosing fruit over sweets

By helping clients stay accountable with nutrition, you improve their results and show your value as a private trainer.

Online Workout Plans Between Sessions

Sometimes you won’t be with your client for every workout. Providing online workout plans lets them train safely and effectively between your sessions.

You can:

Send video demonstrations
Provide written workout instructions
Include options for different equipment availability

This ensures that clients stay consistent, stay motivated, and see progress even when you aren’t physically present.

Combining at-home sessions with online coaching creates a flexible, personalized experience. Clients feel supported, stay accountable, and achieve results faster all while giving you the freedom to manage your schedule and grow your private training business.

Equipment You Should Bring to Client Homes

One of the things that makes private training different from working in a gym is you don’t have access to all the equipment. To make sure your sessions are effective, it’s important to bring a few essential tools that are portable and versatile.

Here’s a simple list of equipment I always bring to client homes:

Resistance Bands – Great for strength training, mobility exercises, and warm-ups. They are light and easy to carry.
Jump Rope – Perfect for quick cardio sessions or warm-up circuits.
Suspension Trainer – A compact tool that lets you do bodyweight exercises anywhere, even using a door frame or tree.
Kettlebells – Useful for strength, endurance, and functional movements. You don’t need many; a few different weights are enough.
Mobility Tools – Foam rollers, massage balls, and stretch straps help clients recover and improve flexibility.

Bringing your own equipment ensures every session is productive, no matter what your client has at home. It also makes you look professional and prepared, which builds trust with your clients.

How Much Money Private Personal Trainers Can Earn

One of the most exciting parts of becoming a private personal trainer is the potential to earn more money than you would at a gym. Unlike gym jobs where a large portion of your fee goes to the facility, private training allows you to keep most of what you earn.

Here’s a simple breakdown to help you understand earnings:

Average Session Pricing

Private training rates vary depending on experience, location, and session length. On average:

30-minute session: $30–$50
60-minute session: $50–$100
90-minute session: $80–$150

These are just examples, and many trainers adjust their prices as their experience and reputation grow.

Weekly Earnings Example

Let’s say you train 10 clients per week with 60-minute sessions at $70 per session:

10 clients × $70 = $700 per week

If you gradually add more clients or offer multiple sessions per day, your weekly income can increase significantly.

Monthly Revenue Example

Using the same example, if you consistently train 10 clients per week:

$700 per week × 4 weeks = $2,800 per month

If you scale up to 20 sessions per week, your monthly income could easily reach $5,600 or more, depending on your rates.

The key is that private training gives you control over your income. The more clients you serve, the more sessions you can schedule, and the higher your earning potential becomes. With experience, referrals, and a strong reputation, private training can become a very profitable career.

Common Mistakes New Private Trainers Make

Even with experience, many trainers face challenges when moving into private training. Knowing the common mistakes ahead of time can save you time, money, and frustration. Here are some pitfalls I’ve seen and some I experienced myself so you can avoid them.

Transitioning Too Quickly

Some trainers quit their gym job too early before building a solid private client base. This can create financial stress if there aren’t enough clients to support you.

I always recommend gradually adding private clients while keeping some gym sessions until your business is stable. This makes the transition smoother and less risky.

Underpricing Sessions

A lot of new private trainers make the mistake of charging too little. It might feel easier to attract clients, but low pricing can undervalue your skills and make it hard to grow.

Instead, set rates that reflect your experience and the value you provide, and don’t be afraid to adjust them as your reputation grows.

Not Building a Brand

Many trainers forget that private training is also a business. Clients often choose trainers they recognize, trust, and feel confident in.

Not building a brand online presence, personal style, and consistent messaging can make it harder to attract new clients. Your brand helps people know who you are and why they should train with you.

Ignoring Marketing

Finally, some trainers rely entirely on word-of-mouth or hope clients will find them. While referrals help, consistent marketing is essential to grow your client base.

Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated it can be as simple as posting workout tips on social media, sharing client success stories, or networking with local businesses.

Tips to Build a Successful Private Personal Training Business

Running a successful private training business requires more than coaching skills. You also need strategy, consistency, and focus on results. Here’s what I’ve learned works best.

Build a Strong Personal Brand

Your brand is your reputation. Show people who you are, what you stand for, and the results you help clients achieve.

Use social media, a simple website, or client testimonials to make your brand visible. When clients know your story and see your expertise, they are more likely to trust you.

Focus on Client Results

Results are the foundation of your business. The better your clients do, the happier they are, and the more likely they are to recommend you.

Track progress, adjust programs when needed, and celebrate small wins. Results speak louder than any marketing message.

Use Social Proof and Testimonials

Happy clients are your best marketing tool. Ask satisfied clients to leave testimonials or share their progress photos.

Social proof shows potential clients that you are capable and trustworthy. It’s one of the fastest ways to attract new clients.

Stay Consistent With Marketing

Even if you have some clients, consistent marketing keeps your business growing. Simple steps include:

Posting weekly fitness tips or videos
Sharing client success stories
Engaging in local online groups
Networking with nearby businesses

Consistency builds recognition, trust, and eventually a strong, steady flow of clients.

💪 By avoiding mistakes and following these tips, you can build a thriving private personal training business that grows steadily and rewards your effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Personal Trainers Work Independently?

Yes! Many trainers work independently without being tied to a commercial gym. Independent trainers set their own schedules, choose their clients, and run their own small fitness business. Private training allows more flexibility, control over earnings, and the ability to create personalized experiences for clients.

How Do Private Trainers Get Clients?

Private trainers usually find clients through a combination of strategies:

Starting with existing gym clients
Asking for referrals from satisfied clients
Offering free consultation sessions
Using social media and local online groups
Partnering with local businesses like wellness centers or yoga studios

Consistency and personal reputation are key once you help a few clients achieve results, referrals and repeat clients often follow naturally.

How Much Should a Private Personal Trainer Charge?

Rates vary depending on location, experience, and session length:

30-minute session: $30–$50
60-minute session: $50–$100
90-minute session: $80–$150

Your pricing should reflect your experience, results, and the value you provide. Over time, you can adjust your rates as your reputation grows.

Do Private Trainers Need Certification?

While requirements vary by country, having a recognized personal trainer certification is highly recommended. Certification not only gives you credibility but also ensures you know how to train clients safely and effectively. It also makes clients more confident in hiring you.

Is Private Personal Training Profitable?

Yes! Private personal training can be highly profitable. Unlike gyms that take a large cut, private trainers keep most of their earnings. Depending on the number of clients, session pricing, and consistency, many trainers earn significantly more than they would in a gym. With the right approach, marketing, and client base, private training can become a full-time, high-earning business. 💪

5 Personal Trainer Selling Personalities (with Effective Sales Tips)

I believe every trainer already has what it takes to close more sales. Most just haven’t been taught to use their natural personality as the asset it truly is.

Understand your selling personality to close more sales

As a personal trainer whose focus is to sell their services to gain new clients and grow your business, it makes sense to understand your “selling personality” and how it affects your closing rate.

According to Psychology Today, there are five personality dimensions that define us. These include agreeableness, conscientiousness (a desire to task well), extraversion, openness and neuroticism (a negative emotional state).

It is said that our personalities are defined by the temperaments we had as babies and the life experiences we had as kids.

Your selling personality is your most valuable asset as a trainer and today I’m going to help you identify the type of selling personality you have, where it can work against you, and exactly how to fix it.

Keep in mind, the goal here isn’t to change who you are. It’s to help you understand the way you naturally sell, how clients perceive you, and how a little self-awareness can unlock a whole new level of closing confidence.

Below are five common types of personal trainer sales personalities, where they go wrong, and how to fix them.

1. The Instant Friend

I see this personality more than any other and honestly, it’s one of the most lovable selling styles a trainer can have.

The Instant Friend is the most agreeable of all personal trainer sales personalities. They engage potential clients as if they’re already the best of friends, looking to form an immediate social connection. Their personality is warm and inviting sometimes to a fault.

The Instant Friend can be among the most successful personal trainers out there. They naturally attract clients who want someone they enjoy being around, someone who gets them not just a trainer barking reps at them.

Where It Goes Wrong:

Here’s what I see happen too often with this personality type. They build such a genuine connection that the professional line starts to blur. Clients begin to see them more as a friend than a fitness expert and with that comes less respect, more cancellations, and fewer commitments.

The Instant Friend also tends to hold back on the sale because they never want to come across as pushy. And I get it that feels uncomfortable when you care about people. But here’s the truth: not making the ask isn’t being a good friend. It’s leaving someone without the guidance they actually came to you for.

Take Freddy, for example. He meets Rich, a potential client full of questions about bulking up. Freddy, being the genuinely helpful guy he is, keeps answering freely giving away his time and expertise. But he never invites Rich to take the next step. In the end, Rich walks away feeling informed enough to go it alone, and Freddy never gains a client.

How to Fix It:

If you recognize yourself as The Instant Friend, here’s what I want you to remember: your warmth is a gift don’t dim it. Just pair it with intention.

After every great conversation, follow it with a clear call to action. Invite them to a free assessment. Give enough to build trust, but not so much that they feel they don’t need you anymore. Your personality will open the door make sure you’re also walking them through it.

2. The Guru

I have a lot of respect for this personality type the knowledge, the dedication, the relentless pursuit of expertise. But I’ve also watched The Guru talk themselves right out of a sale, and it’s one of the most frustrating things to witness because it’s so preventable.

The Guru selling personality leads with analytical data, research, and logic rather than emotional connection. Where The Instant Friend wins hearts, The Guru wins minds and there’s a real market for that. They attract driven, goal-oriented “Type A” clients who want results backed by science, not just good vibes.

This is the trainer who doesn’t just meet the continuing education requirements they blow past them. Multiple certifications. Conference circuits. Dog-eared research journals. The Guru doesn’t just want to know the latest in fitness science they and to be the person in the room who knows it first. And that level of dedication, when channeled correctly, is genuinely impressive.

Where It Goes Wrong:

Here’s where I see The Guru lose the room. They walk into a sales conversation armed with everything except the one thing the client actually needs to feel heard.

The Guru has a tendency to lead with expertise rather than empathy. They’ll drop industry terminology, reference specific studies, and map out training methodologies before the client has even finished explaining why they walked through the door. And while all of that knowledge is real and valid, it creates distance instead of trust.

People don’t just want a smart trainer. They want a trainer who makes them feel smart and more importantly, understood.

Take Gary and Gina. Gina is drawn to Gary’s analytical approach initially it feels credible, authoritative. But as the conversation continues, Gary keeps pivoting back to studies and frameworks that Gina doesn’t fully understand. She starts to feel like a case study rather than a person. The connection breaks down not because Gary lacks knowledge, but because he hasn’t made his knowledge feel relevant to her life, her goals, her story.

There’s another layer here too. The Guru can sometimes come across as subtly condescending not intentionally, but when someone consistently redirects the conversation back to what they know, the unspoken message to the client is: what you’re saying isn’t as important as what I already know. That perception, even when unearned, quietly kills the sale.

How to Fix It:

If you’re The Guru, here’s what I want you to sit with: your knowledge isn’t the problem it’s the sequencing.

Before you lead with what you know, lead with what they feel. Ask deeper questions. Listen beyond the surface answer. When someone tells you their goal, resist the urge to immediately map it to a study or a system. Instead, reflect it back to them first. Let them feel like you truly understand before you demonstrate that you’re the expert who can get them there.

Think of your knowledge as the destination, and your listening as the road that gets you both there. A client who feels genuinely understood will lean into your expertise rather than feeling overwhelmed by it.

The Guru’s edge when used well is incredibly powerful. Pair that credibility with curiosity about the person in front of you, and you’ll not only close more sales, you’ll build the kind of loyal, long-term client relationships that fuel referrals for years.

3. The Fitness Consultant

I’ll be honest, when I see this personality type, I see enormous potential. The Fitness Consultant is the closest thing to a complete seller that exists in personal training. They have the warmth to connect and the knowledge to impress, and when they’re firing on all cylinders, they’re almost unstoppable.

The Fitness Consultant is the best of both worlds a natural blend of The Instant Friend and The Guru. They can sit with a data-driven client and speak confidently about science, research, and methodology. Then turn around and connect deeply with a client who just wants to feel supported and understood. That range is rare, and it’s genuinely powerful.

This personality invests in themselves the way elite performers do. They’re collecting CEUs, attending conferences, reading the latest research not out of obligation, but because they genuinely care about being the most credible, most helpful version of themselves for their clients. And socially, they’re just as invested. They tell stories, ask meaningful questions, and build the kind of trust that turns a first consultation into a years-long relationship.

Where It Goes Wrong:

Here’s the thing I want The Fitness Consultant to hear having range is a strength, but losing your balance is a real risk.

What I see happen is this: The Fitness Consultant gets comfortable. They drift. In one conversation they slide too far into Instant Friend mode talking freely, laughing easily, building great rapport but never steering the conversation toward a commitment. In another, they flip into Guru mode leading with credentials, rattling off jargon, and losing the client in a sea of information that feels impressive but not personal.

The danger is that both feel natural in the moment. That’s what makes it hard to catch.

Take Cary and Caitlin. Caitlin had mentioned in passing that she was impressed by credentials so Cary, picking up on that cue, launched into a detailed breakdown of her Precision Nutrition training and the depth of her programming knowledge. But Caitlin didn’t want a résumé. She wanted Cary to look her in the eye and say, “Here’s exactly how I would help you specifically.” The credibility was there but it was pointed in the wrong direction.

There’s also a subtler issue. Because The Fitness Consultant is so naturally likeable, clients feel comfortable saying no to them. The friendly dynamic that opens the door also makes it easier for people to brush off an invitation to a one-on-one assessment without feeling guilty about it. The very warmth that builds connection can soften the urgency that closes the sale.

How to Fix It:

If you’re The Fitness Consultant, here’s what I want you to practice: lead with the person, not the package.

Before you decide whether to be the friend or the expert in a conversation, pause and ask yourself what does this person actually need from me right now? Let their energy guide which side of you shows up first. And whichever direction you go, keep circling back to them their goals, their story, their vision.

When it comes to knowledge, think of it as a tool for personalization, not a showcase. Don’t tell a client how impressive your nutrition certification is show them what it means for their specific situation. That shift from general expertise to personal relevance is what transforms a curious conversation into a signed client.

And always move toward the one-on-one assessment. Your likability makes the ask feel natural. Use it. A simple “I’d love to sit down with you properly and build something around your goals specifically” lands differently coming from you than from almost any other personality type. That’s your superpower. Own it.

4. The Network Builder

I’ll tell you something when it comes to sheer hustle, nobody in the room outworks The Network Builder. This personality type has cracked something that many talented trainers never figure out: that building a business is a contact sport, and showing up consistently is half the battle.

The Network Builder thrives where others feel uncomfortable. Networking events, social mixers, community gatherings this is their arena. They work the room with confidence, hand out business cards like they’re going out of style, and have a genuine gift for making strangers feel like old friends within minutes. They’re not afraid to ask for referrals, and because of that boldness, they often build a surprisingly strong book of business through sheer volume and visibility.

This is the trainer people remember. Not always for the deepest conversation, but for the energy, the follow-up text the next morning, and the consistent presence that keeps them top of mind when someone finally decides they’re ready to get serious about their fitness.

Where It Goes Wrong:

Here’s what I want The Network Builder to sit with: knowing a lot of people is not the same as building a business. And this is where I see this personality type quietly limit their own ceiling.

The Network Builder is exceptional at casting a wide net but the real value in personal training lives in the depth of the relationship, not the size of the contact list. The more time spent chasing the next handshake, the less time there is for the one thing that actually generates long-term income: truly knowing your clients, understanding their goals, and delivering results that make them want to refer everyone they know.

There’s another blind spot I see consistently with this type. Because leads come relatively easily, The Network Builder can start to deprioritize continuing education and skill development. Why spend a weekend at a certification course when the calendar is already full? But here’s the truth referrals dry up when results plateau. The Network Builder’s greatest long-term risk isn’t a lack of leads. It’s a lack of depth to back up the brand they’ve built.

And then there’s the moment I see play out again and again with this personality the missed sale hiding in plain sight.

Take Nancy. Three events a week, 25 business cards per event, a follow-up system that most sales professionals would envy. But when Neil a warm, genuinely interested lead told her he was ready for an assessment, Nancy noted it and moved on to the next conversation. She was playing the numbers when the number she needed was already standing right in front of her.

There’s an old saying I keep coming back to: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Nancy had the bird. She just didn’t stop to close her hand.

How to Fix It:

If you’re The Network Builder, here’s the shift I want you to make stop counting conversations and start qualifying them.

Not everyone in the room is a potential client, and that’s okay. But when someone shows genuine interest when they lean in, ask specific questions, or mention a fitness goal that’s your signal to slow down. Put the business cards away. Give that person your full attention and build enough rapport in that moment to walk away with a commitment, not just a follow-up promise.

Think of every event less as a numbers game and more as a search for three to five real conversations. One meaningful connection that converts is worth more than twenty card exchanges that go cold.

And I’d challenge you to reinvest some of that networking energy back into your craft. Book the certification. Read the research. The deeper your skillset, the stronger your reputation becomes and a strong reputation is the kind of referral engine that no amount of business cards can replicate.

Your energy and your courage to connect are genuine gifts. Now let’s make sure the follow-through matches the hustle.

5. The Hard Seller

I want to be careful how I talk about this personality type because the instinct is to villainize it, and I don’t think that’s fair or accurate.

The Hard Seller gets a bad reputation, and sometimes it’s earned. But underneath the pressure tactics and the relentless prospecting is a trainer who is genuinely driven, highly resilient, and completely unafraid of rejection. Those are real skills. The problem isn’t the hunger it’s what happens after the sale is made.

The Hard Seller is often forged in the high-pressure environment of big box gyms, where quotas are real, deadlines are weekly, and the ability to overcome objections is the difference between keeping your job and losing it. That training creates someone who is exceptionally good at reading hesitation, reframing resistance, and finding the angle that finally lands. They’re adaptable, persistent, and relentless in a way that most other personality types simply are not.

And in the right context, that persistence genuinely helps people. Sometimes a client needs someone to push past their own excuses and commit to something that will change their life. The Hard Seller does that better than anyone.

Where It Goes Wrong:

Here’s the truth I need The Hard Seller to hear: closing the sale is not the finish line. It’s the starting gun.

What I see consistently with this personality type is a fundamental misalignment between how they pursue a client and how they serve one. The skills that make them exceptional at getting the signature urgency, pressure, persuasion are the exact opposite of what builds the long-term trust that keeps a client renewing month after month.

The Hard Seller wins the battle and loses the war. They fill their roster and then watch it quietly empty out, because the clients they brought in never felt truly seen or understood. They felt sold to and people don’t stay where they feel like a transaction.

Take Harry and Hazel. Harry was convincing enough that Hazel signed a package even when she wasn’t fully sure. And in the short term, that looked like a win. But Hazel spent that entire month waiting for Harry to show her that he actually understood what she came to him for. That moment never came. So when the package ended, so did the relationship and worse, Hazel told her friends exactly why she left.

That last part is what I really want The Hard Seller to think about. In personal training, your reputation travels fast. A client who feels genuinely cared for becomes a referral machine. A client who feels pressured into a sale becomes a warning story at dinner parties.

How to Fix It:

If you’re The Hard Seller, here’s what I want you to know you don’t have to soften your drive. You just have to redirect some of it toward the relationship.

The single most powerful thing you can do is have what I call the expectations conversation and have it early. Ask your new clients directly: What does success look like for you? What do you need from me as your trainer to feel like this was worth it? Then tell them what they can expect from you in return. Lay it all out. When expectations are named and agreed upon, trust has a foundation to grow from.

From there, build check-ins into your process. Not just fitness assessments real conversations. How are you feeling about your progress? Is this what you imagined it would be? What would make this even better? These questions do something the hard sell never can: they make the client feel like a priority rather than a number.

The goal isn’t to stop being persistent. It’s to point that persistence at retention just as fiercely as you point it at acquisition. Because a client who renews three times is worth more than three clients who each leave after one package in revenue, in referrals, and in the reputation you’re building one relationship at a time.

Your drive is your greatest asset. Now let’s make sure your clients feel it working for them, not just on them.

What Selling Personality do You Use?

The good news for those of you who feel somewhat trapped by your selling personality is that you can change them for the better. According to the Psychology Today article, simply recognizing that we can change our personalities can mean more effective treatment of people, and in the trainer’s case, potential clients.

If you are motivated to alter your selling personality to become a more effective seller/trainer, first identify the type of selling personality you possess. If you identify with some of the areas where these selling personalities go wrong, try to understand how you can adjust your approach so that you can work on getting better at identifying with potential clients.

For more information on becoming a successful personal trainer click the below link and check out our business and sales course.

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The Guru selling personality uses analytical data and logic rather than emotional selling to attract clients who value that type of credibility. They often seek to attract the opposite type of client than The Instant Friend as they are less interested in forming a social connection and more interested in goals.

Their sales technique involves sharing lots of information on research studies, effective workout methods, data and other logic-driven examples to install confidence in “Type A” clients who desire that type of expertise. The Guru is the type of trainer that far exceeds the continuing education requirements of personal trainers, has multiple certifications, and attends more conferences than anyone because they crave knowledge and want to utilize it.

Goes Wrong:

The Guru goes wrong because he is conceded, a know-it-all, and is not personable enough to convert. He doesn’t focus on the client as much as the training. The Guru might dominate the conversation by speaking based on their experience and knowledge – which is well-referenced – however lacks the listening and communication skills to truly resonate with the client and what they are trying to tell him about their fitness needs.

When increasing value to clients, understand that people desire to feel important, and if they don’t (as is often the case of The Guru), they don’t feel valued. When this happens, client retention suffers.

For example, Gary is a Guru personality, and meets Gina, a potential client. Gina likes that Gary is analytical but feels that sometimes Gary is more interested in talking about specific studies or flexing his fitness knowledge than actually listening to what she has to say. Often times, Gary will talk about a specific industry study that is somewhat relevant to what Gina has mentioned but Gina, not understanding industry jargon, gets lost in the conversation and feels that Gary is perhaps not really understanding her goals, therefore losing interest and confidence in him as her potential trainer.

Can be Fixed:

If you have The Guru personality style, be sure to take the time to know the person and their needs. Very often Guru’s assume they know what the client wants too quickly and blows the sale by not listening to the client’s needs and interests.

The Guru needs to keep in mind that training goals are personal ones, and part of their value is catering their training to show value in terms of personalization.

Fitness Mentors CEO Eddie Lester Featured On AccuroFit Blog

Check out the Expert Interview Series of Fitness Mentors CEO Eddie Lester as featured on the AccuroFit.com Blog. He delivers some great insight into personal training and how to incorporate technology into your training.

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Business and Sales: The Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer by Eddie Lester

Business and Sales: The Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer
by Eddie Lester

Over 4,000 personal trainers have used this guide to grow their income, fill their schedule, and finally build the business they set out to create. You’re next.

In Business and Sales: The Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer, Eddie Lester cuts through the noise and gives you a clear, step-by-step roadmap to turning your passion for fitness into a profitable, sustainable career.
Most trainers are exceptional at what they do inside the gym but struggle the moment business enters the conversation. Prospecting feels awkward. Pricing feels uncertain. Closing feels pushy. This guide was written to change all of that.
Here’s what you’ll walk away with:
A certification strategy that builds credibility — because passion alone won’t convince a client to hand over their credit card. Learn how to position your credentials to instantly build trust.
A personal brand that attracts your ideal clients — define your niche, identify your target demographic, and show up in a way that makes you the obvious choice in your market.
A sales approach that feels natural, not slimy — hone your selling personality, craft a pitch that connects, and make a first impression that clients remember for all the right reasons.
Eddie’s “Power Questions” — a proven framework for uncovering what truly motivates a prospect, so you can speak directly to what they actually want and close with confidence.
A pricing structure that reflects your value — stop undercharging. Learn how to set rates that position you as a premium professional and sustain long-term growth.
Business checkpoints to keep you on track — real milestones to measure your progress and stay focused as you scale.
The most important lesson in this entire guide? Discipline. The same relentless drive you bring to your clients’ transformations is the exact fuel your business needs. Eddie shows you how to channel it.
If you’re ready to stop winging it and start building a personal training business with real strategy behind it this is the guide that gets you there.

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How to Create a Lead Magnet to Grow Your Online Fitness Business

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Personal Trainer Courses: 5 Ways to Become a Trainer

Personal Trainer Courses: The 5 Options to Consider for Your Career

1. Certification via Accredited US Company

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2. Certification via Vocational College

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Getting a Personal Trainer Certification through a University Program

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Accredited Certification (The Most Popular Path)

Vocational College Programs (Structured Learning)

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FAQs:

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Selling Personal Training with a Sales Dialogue: 4-Step Guide

How to pitch personal training

1. Gather information about your prospect to sell them personal training packages

2. Responding to the information you gather to guide your prospect down a sales path

3. Delivering information effectively to communicate that you are the solution to her goals

4. How to close the sale with your personal training prospects

Selling your personal training “pen”

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