Factors that Affect the Price of Personal Training Sessions
Want to know how to set your personal training prices? Check out these 7 factors that will help you position your price correctly in your locality, set yourself apart and ultimately attract and convert more PT clients.
1 – Your Personal Trainer Qualification
When it comes to your fitness qualification both the personal trainer certificate and diploma course provide everything you need to become a REPs accredited personal trainer. The diploma does however cover two extra modules giving you a more in-depth qualification coupled with more practical experience. At the start this additional level of expertise will enable you to charge a small premium for your service.
2 – Years of Expertise
You wouldn’t expect a junior stylist to charge the same for a new haircut as a creative director, or a retail shop to charge the same for a new outfit as a designer one. The same applies to personal training and in this practical client focused industry, experience counts. Whilst there are fitness industry qualifications such as the level 4 personal trainer that demonstrate this additional experience and skill, never underestimate the power of client testimonials that showcase what you can deliver for their investment.
3 – Your Area
If you are in an area where there are lots of other personal trainers be very specific about the types of PT clients you want to attract and research the minimum and maximum price points. If you are in an area where you’re one of a few personal trainers think about the impact your price has on attracting new clients to your personal training service.
Then consider your strategy. Is it to price high, undercut what’s already on offer charging a lower rate, or sit somewhere in the middle. There’s no right or wrong answer here and you may have to try a few different approaches, so go with what feels right for your business and be willing to be flexible along the way.
4 – Specialist Services
If during your training to become a personal trainer you’ve branched out into qualifying in specialist services then don’t be shy of charging a premium for these. Examples include; assessment work, sports specific personal training, nutritional consultation and food planning and cardiac rehab training.
5 – Complexity of Client Needs
Some client cases encountered by personal trainers involve a significant amount of behind the scenes research, consultation and referral work with other specialists. In complex cases be prepared to charge for this work which is essential to client welfare and attainment of agreed goals. It is for these reasons that we advocate pricing that states from £x per hour enabling you to clearly explain to clients who present more complex needs what’s involved.
6 – Package Discounts
To get results from working with a personal trainer a level of commitment is involved on the part of your client. For some this may be a course of sessions, such as 12 weeks, with a weekly appointment slot. For others it may be training with you 3-5 times a week to help them achieve the physical and holistic health changes they are seeking. Package discounts enable you to offer a reduction in your hourly rate in return for the purchase of a block of sessions.
7 – Travel Time
If you’re a mobile personal trainer and visit clients in their own homes then your number of available hours per day will be lower than a PT working from their own premises or a gym. Think about the impact this has on your pricing, perhaps having 2 hourly rates depending on whether your client comes to you or you go to them.
The Academy of Fitness Professionals provide the gold standard in accredited personal training courses with state of the art training fully endorsed by REPs, Skills Active and the NCFE. Their specialist knowledge features in the UK health and fitness media including the Mirror, BBC2 and Women’s Running. This is the ultimate learning destination for those serious about their fitness industry education and long term career as a Personal Trainer.
T – 0845 270 1990
E – info@aofp.co.uk
W – www.academyoffitnessprofessionals.com