How Much Do You Charge For Your Personal Training Services? How Did You Arrive At This Price Point?

I’ve been a personal trainer for 24 years and was formerly a physical director of a YMCA. I have owned a private studio in my home for the past 11 years, and I work strictly with women one-on-one. My fees are $45 per hour for a package of five sessions or $50 for a single session. (I love my studio in my home; I don’t have far to go to work!) If I travel to a client’s home, I charge $75 per session.

I train women in their homes, and every week I write each client a new workout plan specifically for her. I have extensive training in pre- and postnatal fitness, so I often train pregnant women. I also have a client who has a pacemaker and requires a very specialized program. I am an ACE-certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, and I’m also Spinning® certified. I earned my lifestyle fitness coaching specialist continuing education from DSWFitness. Currently, I am working toward my holistic fitness specialist certificate through the Academy of Holistic Fitness. Since I travel to clients’ homes, create specific programs and am always taking continuing education, I feel that my rate of $100 per hour is a fair price.

I train individuals in their homes. My rates are $45–$75 per hour, depending on how far I have to travel. However, I am flexible with my prices, and due to the economic downturn (Phoenix has been hard hit) I have had to lower my fees. The clients I train could never afford me if I charged higher prices. In addition, I would rather charge a lower price and keep clients longer, rather than having to find new ones.

I surveyed other personal trainers in my city. If you are an excellent trainer, you should be spending money on education, which is quite expensive. I take into account the costs of education plus my business costs when determining my rate. I charge $85 per session. I say work smarter not harder.

I charge from $65 to $80 a session, less for friends and clients who have been with me since I started training. I charge less for clients who train three times a week and charge $35 per person for group sessions. My full-hour personal training sessions cater to my clients’ individual needs and goals and include myofascial release and passive stretches.

My rates vary from $50 to $75 per session. Each session is 50 minutes, including a 10-minute cool-down and stretch. A session once a week costs $75, twice a week costs $60 and three times a week costs $50. If clients want or need to do a 30-minute session, I charge them $40 for once a week, $35 for twice a week and $30 for three times per week.

I charge $75 per hour for my training services. How did I decide on this rate? Through a combination of the rates charged by other trainers in my area ($50–$60); my credentials and excellent standing in the Puerto Rico fitness community; the hours I have available to train each week; my waiting list of clients; the other fitness-related activities I do that yield higher income; and the disposable income of my clientele (how much I think clients would be willing to pay for a personal trainer).

For one on one services I charge $75/session. I researched my area and came up with that figure.

However, even on my Fitness Connect profile, I encourage people to consider small groups so that they still get trained, but pay less money per session.

And, honestly, as a trainer, you want the small groups because you will make more money per session and the clients have someone to suffer, I mean exercise with, to keep them motivated!

I have always struggled with charging people for what I consider vital to their life. However, I wouldn't stay in business long if I didn't. I charge anywhere from $50 to $30 for an individual session, depending on commitment level (price alters for every 3 months of commitment) and I should charge way more. I have a studio at home so my overhead is low and travel expenses are non-existant. Most of the people I am trying to reach cannot afford this to be expensive so I keep the price down for those that are dedicating some substantial time to their goals. I don't really need much in life so I'm not trying to become a 1%'er off of this but, I do find myself wondering if I underestimate the financial capabilities of others. Some past clients have seen a decrease of thousands of dollars in medical expenses (mostly in medication costs) after obtaining many of their goals. I'm actually considering raising my low limit to $40 but I always wonder who I am turning away from a potential life enhancement.

I found Thomas Plummer's textbook the Business of Fitness very helpful.

1. I learned from reading his book that I live in a level-one market.
2. I took the time to find out what the capture rate of the area I am running my business in.
3. I took the time to learn and understand the total population and affluence of the area where I am operating my business.
4. I looked at my experience and credentials in the industry and cost compared with other fitness professionals with the same experience and education.
5. I did a SWOT analysis.
6. I discovered my strengths.

Based upon the above, I was able to arrive at my price point.

$50 for my home gym (they travel to me), $60 for them to travel to a studio that I train out of (I have to travel and pay a fee). I personally want to charge more but the median income of the available market is too low for anything higher right now.