Published on: 07-Apr-2023
You’ve completed your personal training course and you’re ready to spread your wings. However, being tied down to a single gym, or chain of gyms, just isn’t your style. You want to be your own boss and work as a freelance personal trainer, but you’re not sure how to make money without a gym’s backing.
Fortunately, personal training goes beyond standing in a gym all day and training clients. You can take your skills to the streets and start offering services that don’t necessarily require a gym. Here are five ways freelance personal trainers can make money without overly relying on a single facility:
Online Coaching
Online coaching has absolutely boomed in recent years due to covid, social media and access to the internet. It seems every fitness influencer today, regardless if they have a personal training certificate or not, have a range of online coaching services. This can be exclusive to contest preparation for a bodybuilding show or nutrition and dietary advice.
This style of coaching can be a great way to make money as a freelance personal trainer and also establish a solid financial foundation by starting an emergency fund, as your overhead costs are practically zero. The challenge is building your brand identity, which involves posting great content and getting a high number of followers. Social media provides you with the perfect platform for this and you can use it to showcase your knowledge and reach more clients.
You Can Work with Your Local Gym on a Contract Basis
Whether you’re a powerlifting coach in Melbourne or a personal trainer in the US or London, you can always reach out to your local gym and offer them your services on a contract basis. Many gyms allow freelancers to work in their gyms for a percentage of the fees clients pay.
This means you don’t have to commit yourself to a full-time position and spend all your hours hanging around in one spot. But, you can still use the gym’s resources, like showers, personal trainers’ lounge and other amenities. In return, the gym takes a percentage of your earnings or a fixed amount. This can be a great way to tap into the gym’s resources while still maintaining your freedom as a freelancer.
Naturally, not all gyms will entertain this agreement as they’ll want to utilize their own trainers. But, if you already have a few clients who prefer to train in the gym, it’s worth asking about it.
One-on-one Training
You’ve probably heard this a million times, but how would you pull it off in reality? Well, it’s quite simple. All you need is the right equipment, space and up-to-date knowledge on how to train your clients.
Freelance personal trainers can train with clients in their homes, outdoors, or in a rented studio space. As long as one party has the necessary equipment and knowledge, there’s no reason why you can’t provide one-on-one training services.
Outdoor training can be a great way to provide a fresh, exciting and different type of workout experience. You can also use local parks, beach areas or other outdoor spaces that have workout equipment available. But make sure you check with your local authorities or parks and recreation department to see if there are any permitting requirements.
Group Training Sessions
Like one-on-one coaching, group training can be carried out in your local park, a rented studio, or in the client’s home. These group sessions are exciting because they can be tailored to your client’s specific needs, and it provides a sense of camaraderie and support that comes with group training.
Group sessions can also be used as an opportunity to introduce your current clients to other services. If, for example, you’re offering HIIT workouts to your clients, you can recommend personalized diet plans, or regular online consultation to help them reach their goals.
Online Courses and Workshops
If you’ve secured a big enough following and are seen as an authority in your field, you can consider creating online courses or workshops. And it doesn’t have to be exclusive to clients wanting to get in shape, but also other personal trainers.
For example, if you’re a bodybuilding coach who’s experienced in contest preparation, you can create an online workshop on the subject. You don’t have to worry about finding a space and equipment either – it’s all done online. Your clients would pay a fee to enter the workshop, and you can coach them on the specific topic.
Final Thoughts
Freelance personal trainers no longer need to be affiliated with a gym or fitness studio in order to make money. Online training, in particular, has revolutionized the way we coach, allowing us to use technology and social media platforms to reach more clients than ever before.
However, do we still recommend becoming certified and learning the fundamentals of personal training? Absolutely! The knowledge and experience you’ll gain from doing it yourself is invaluable, and will set you up for the clients you’ll be training. While real life experience trumps all, it’s your certification that will put one foot in the door. Keep these tips in mind as you focus on becoming a successful freelance personal trainer!
