Turning a hobby or passion into a career isn’t as easy as charging for services. The difference between amateur and professional isn’t so much about the skill level but structure. For those considering becoming certified as a personal trainer, this additional effort proves difficult.

Much like the personal training they intend to impart to clients, it takes a combination of knowledge and effort to make a business successful. The best personal trainers won’t shy away from a difficult task nor will they overreach without knowing what they’re doing. 

To operate as a paid personal trainer, regardless if it is within a larger environment or as a solo-practitioner, they need to learn about the certification process, the financial costs, and the regulations governing the industry.

Also you need to consult a good personal trainer accountant.

The following elaborates on all of this and offers tips on marketing as well. 

Investing in a Personal Training Career

Getting fit reaps dividends in a person’s professional and private life. Personal trainers bridge the gap between interest and results. 

The UK currently boasts 69,000 people working as personal trainers. Firm interest by the public in their health pushes that number up an average of 1.2% per year. Though the past year has offered challenges, it’s not shrunk the industry significantly. 

Health and fitness are important fields, which is why we offer low-cost services to keep these professionals financially fit. 

What Makes a Good Trainer?

To excel as a personal trainer, a person needs to embrace their skillset and be ready to attend to the needs of their clients. In a corporate or employed sense, this means meeting the specific guidelines laid out by the business. For a solo-practitioner, this means setting and maintaining a set of standards.

Trainers are expected to be positive and upbeat about the progress a client is making and could be making. After all, it’s difficult to exercise consistently, to eat right, and to engage with a self-improvement process.

A good trainer offers communication and compassion to keep their clients going through the difficult stretches. 

A firm knowledge of physiology and nutrition help a trainer apply proper information. This knowledge base also helps engage with clients that have restrictions in diets such as allergies or face restricted movement from past injuries. 

A trainer that engages with passion, communicates well, is knowledgeable, and knows how to be flexible to individual needs make the best trainers. 

Cons of a Career in Personal Training

Starting a career in personal training isn’t all workout clothes and a positive attitude, like any job, it comes with downsides.

Expect to deal with a flexible pay rate. Whether solo or employed the pay ranges drastically from one client to the next and one trainer to the next. A new trainer may set out hoping for £80 an hour but end up settling for £10. 

Training is all about selling. Every day trainers need to resale the client on their services. They need to keep a steady supply of clients that are motivated and working.

On top of that, a trainer also needs to be looking for new clients to take over for those that quit, complete goals, or fade away.

Scheduling is a nightmare for personal trainers. Most people who look for a trainer also work jobs and maintain schedules, this leaves only a few peak hours that everyone wants help. Trainers work a lot of nights and weekends.

Pros of a Career in Personal Training

Before it sounds too dire to become a trainer, the profession also comes with many upsides and perks.

Working with clients all day means the trainers stay fit, it’s hard to preach what one isn’t practising. Seeing the growth and improvement in clients is a rewarding experience. Trainers get to bask in the glow knowing that they’ve added years to the lives’ of their clients.

Trainers work with positive, high-minded individuals and form relationships with them. Many a trainer finds they serve as a counsellor and sounding board for issues in their clients’ lives. They also form lifelong friendships with those they’ve worked with.

Certifications and Licensing

To make the bigger per-hour and to establish one’s self as a dedicated professional, a personal fitness trainer needs to go through a certification process. 

Becoming certified open doors for employment and provides important safeguards for acquiring insurance in a freelance operation. 

Trainers obtain certifications through tests with several different organizations with national and international recognition. These organizations offer classes online. Check out the programs through the Registry of Exercise Professionals (REPs) or the European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS).

Minimum requirements for certification include the following:

• a graduate diploma from a secondary school or equivalent,
• at least 18 years old
• a CPR or emergency first aid certification

After courses, a test is required to complete a program. Depending on the offering body, the fee for the test and the course materials (including workshops and hands-on days) are included. 

Career Opportunities

Certified personal trainers make up the bulk of the personal training industry and are considered the standard. They find employment around the world and can expect high demand for the services as community health becomes a focus.

Corporate Opportunities

Within the corporate world, the bulk of jobs are split between commercial gyms and resorts.

Trainers at gyms work long hours for lower pay but they gain the benefit of a consistent schedule and paycheque.

Working for an in-house health club within a company pays better and is often more rewarding, but is a harder job to obtain.

In the hospitality area, trainers find work at resorts, in spas, and on cruise ships. These jobs pay better and have more perks but are demanding on personal time.

Freelance Opportunities

Other trainers work on their own in a freelance capacity. They start fitness clubs, work one-on-one with clients, and often work mobile, going to the client’s location for training.

Working freelance comes with more financial headache and paperwork but allows a trainer to eke out their own niche and set their own schedules. 

Accounting for Personal Trainers

Keep your business financially fit by engaging fitness industry accountants.

We’ll help you find the right fit for your training business. 

KG Accountants work with a number of self-employed health & fitness professionals including personal trainers, Fitness, Yoga & Zumba instructors.

We help complete and file your Tax return and provide financial advice on all business matters. This also includes limited companies and sole traders.

Our Typical Fitness professional Includes:
Fitness Instructors & Presenters.
Personal Trainers.
physiotherapists’
Zumba Instructors
Yoga Teachers
Alternative Medicine

Arrange a FREE initial consultation.

Call your Personal Trainer Accountant today on 0207 953 8913 or complete our enquiry form in order to book a FREE initial consultation.

Categories: Fitness Industry, fitness industry accountants, PERSONAL HEALTHY ACCOUNTING FOR FITNESS PROFESSIONALS, Personal Trainer

Tags: accounting for personal trainers, fitness industry accountants, personal trainer accountant