Newly certified personal trainers or trainers who want to revamp their fitness business have multiple opportunities ahead; thanks to modern technology. With the rise of online and home fitness, it is important for fitness trainers to adopt online training to stand out from the competition. As the fitness industry evolves, you must stay on the top in your niche. 

Most trainers get it wrong when they are selecting the best business model. They try “bits and pieces” of everything. They try group classes, private training, semi-private training or a mix of all. But it doesn’t work that way. 

Whether you are new to the industry or already have an established business, the more efficient your business model is in terms of operations to run and value, the easier it will be to grow and sustain. 

The need for a personal training business model

The more planning and preparation you have, the better. A business model not just defines how your business makes money. It also describes the working of the brand and what its success would be based on. Think of it just like a roadmap for your business’s success. 

With that said, let’s look into a few things most successful businesses have in common. 

Goes along with brand values and business goals

Once you have a business model in place, it defines the services offered by your fitness service. Certain business models will match perfectly with the goals and values of your fitness brand when compared to other models. Make sure you choose a business model that aligns with your goals and values. 

Robust business model

Look for a robust business model which will be effective even after a couple of years. When thinking about what business models to choose, along with considering the current needs and market trends, consider future customer trends as well. When you are choosing a training course management software, choose the ones that come integrated with robust business models. Pinlearn is one such software that is perfect to build your online training business. 

Leave space for innovation

When you are implementing a business model, you might not get everything right the first time. Ensure you leave some space for innovation. Build a business model that you can improve over time. This helps your fitness brand to adapt to the ever-changing trends of customers. 

Successful business model for personal trainers

Traditionally, the personal training industry followed the membership model. Members commit to a specific time period in return for the services offered. Over time, personal training business models have evolved, and now we have different types of business models that fitness businesses can integrate. The best part is that you don’t have to stick to one business model. It’s about finding the right balance that works for your clients and increases your revenue. 

Here are 5 proven business models to consider:

Small group training

Group training is popular right now. People crave professional guidance without the hefty price tag of individual personal training. And for those who would like to train as a team for additional motivation, group personal training is the best fit. 

Group training has evolved to Yoga, HIIT classes, Circuit training, Crossfit and more. Classes are in one-hour slots throughout the week. You can either allow clients to pay as you go or a monthly subscription package. 

Group training allows you to deliver the best quality training programs to several people at once. A standard group class can have around 10-20 clients according to the type of class and venue. 

Online personal training

Online fitness coaching is a popular way for trainers to offer personal training sessions. Trainers can coach clients over the phone through different platforms like Skype, personal training apps, and instant messaging. Being an online personal trainer, you have the capability to teach clients across the world without having to travel to the studio.

Online fitness training offers you the flexibility to work with diverse clients. You can also consider offering personalized instructions and advice, custom workout plans, and even provide nutritional advice. 

The flipside to this business model is that it might take a lot of effort to grow a loyal community. Providing the right type of service at the right price will help you bring clients to your fitness classes. 

Semi-private training

As the name suggests, semi-private training lies between private training and group training. In this type of business model, you will have to train a group of 3 or 4 clients. Personal training is offered for much smaller groups of clients and is usually offered as a personalized program with individual assessment and support. 

Clients can enjoy the benefit of working out in a group along with the close attention from the trainer. Classes would be around half an hour or an hour. Just like the group training model, semi-private training also is based on a monthly membership pricing structure. 

One-on-one private training

One-on-one private fitness training is a training session offered to clients one-on-one rather than group training. The training is usually carried out at a fitness studio, home, or virtually. The sessions are usually 1 hour long or even more, depending on the services you provide. 

Due to the pandemic scenes, the demand for private fitness training is high. This type of business model is great if you want to make a good amount of money. But it targets clients on a higher budget and might not be appealing to everyone. 

Workshops

Consider offering workshops if you want to offer something unique to your clients as a personal fitness trainer. You can target individuals or businesses to provide exclusive workshops for their employees.  

Whether it’s about programs on general wellbeing, Yoga for stress release, or exclusive sessions on nutrition, you get the ability to reach a broad audience you might not have had access to earlier. Though this might not be a full-fledged business model, it can be combined with other models to provide diverse revenue streams. 

Conclusion

No matter what type of business model you select for your fitness training business. All the business models we have discussed here complement each other and can blend together. Adopting the right business model will help you position your fitness services, differentiate from the competition, and achieve success.