With increased living costs and flexible working arrangements, more people are turning to side hustles in an attempt to make more money and enjoy a better work/life balance.

If you’re passionate about fitness and would like to help others, becoming a part-time personal trainer could be a great career move. Personal trainers help clients meet their weight and fitness goals, providing both short—and long-term support.

Plus, when you study for a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma online, you can enjoy a flexible learning experience and develop your skills independently.

In this post, we’ll reveal how to balance your full-time job with a personal training side hustle.

Why choose a personal training side hustle?

It’s a great time to become a personal trainer. Research published by The Guardian shows that gyms and health centres are busier than ever, thanks to health-conscious Gen Z demographics.

However, many people seek convenience, and opting for a personal trainer offers more bespoke support. When you get certified, you can enjoy a range of benefits, including:

• Recognition: All Fitness Circle courses are CIMSPA accredited, which is an internationally known organisation. You can demonstrate your credentials to part-time employers and prospective clients.
• Versatility: As a personal trainer, you can work in a physical gym or health centre or set up your own home gym. There’s also the opportunity to provide online support, including creating bespoke fitness plans.
• Flexibility: You can also set your hours and fit personal training around your current job. For example, some trainers only work weekends, while others offer evening sessions.
• Opportunities: Aside from being able to work in a range of settings, online personal trainers support clients worldwide. Some even offer group classes, where people join via software and participate in sessions.

How to become a personal trainer

Becoming a personal trainer is easy when you study online. These courses are designed to give you a complete learning experience while also offering convenience. However, you’ll need an entry-level qualification if you’re new to the industry.

The Level 2 Gym Instructor certification gives you foundational fitness knowledge, or you can invest in our complete Personal Training Diploma, which combines both the Level 2 and Level 3 courses.

Once you get certified, you can begin developing your side hustle.

5 Steps to a successful PT side hustle

1: Choose a niche

Trying to be a Jack (or Jill) of all trades might seem like a good idea, but choosing a niche positions you as an expert and ensures you stand out to prospective clients.

For example, some trainers enjoy working with overweight individuals, while others focus more on enhancing athletic performance.

There are also opportunities to work with pre and postnatal women, children, and seniors.

Think about who you enjoy helping, and the types of training you excel in. For example, are you best with strength training or prefer creating cardio plans?

2: Assess your abilities

Starting a business – even a side hustle – requires significant time investment. While you can use affordable DIY website builders and social media, you’ll also need to inject some cash into your marketing efforts.

Before embarking on your side hustle journey, consider how much time you can dedicate to building a business and whether you’re experienced enough to work with certain clients.

3: Build a presence

There are plenty of ways to build an online presence as a personal trainer, but it takes time. Nobody sees success immediately, and it’s important to focus on activities that will promote sustainable long-term growth.

Luckily, there are plenty of budget-friendly marketing strategies for personal trainers to explore, and once you attract some clients, you’ll develop a reputation in the industry.

4: Set your schedule

Personal trainers must motivate clients and maintain energy throughout each session, which can lead to burnout. If you’re balancing personal training with a full- or part-time job, it’s vital to set your schedule and ensure it’s not too much.

For example, if you work a traditional 9 to 5, setting aside two evenings a week or one day over the weekend can boost your income without sacrificing your emotional and mental health.

5: Know your limits

Once you begin personal training, you’ll be able to see whether you’ve taken on too much or can work with more clients. Knowing your limits and avoiding saying yes to everything is important, as this can lead to high stress levels.

By pre-recording sessions and streamlining your systems, you can eliminate unnecessary admin work and free up more time. This can also enhance your potential profits.

Navigating the challenges of a personal training side hustle:

• Slow Growth: In an ideal world, you’d become a personal trainer, create a few social media posts, and the clients would flock to your website. Unfortunately – as with any business – building a client list can take a long time, and patience is key.
• Imposter Syndrome: It’s common to develop imposter syndrome initially, but training with The Fitness Circle gives you everything you need to succeed. Don’t be afraid to showcase your knowledge and position yourself as an expert.
• Burnout: As mentioned before, personal trainer burnout can – and does – happen. Know your limits, and don’t say yes to every opportunity.

The bottom line

If you’re ready to follow your passion and become a part-time personal trainer, we have a range of courses to support your journey. From the Personal Trainer Diploma to specialist courses, our students receive ongoing support from an expert team of tutors.

Whether you plan to freelance by visiting gyms and health clubs to offer online training for global clients, obtaining an accredited PT qualification is essential.

Once qualified, you can enjoy more flexibility in a highly lucrative industry. Plus, you can always ditch your day job and focus on personal training full-time once you attract some clients.

Please book a free call with our experts today to discuss your goals. We’ll help you find the perfect course and offer flexible payment solutions.