I have been running my own business for 13 years, and spoiler: setting prices for personal training has been my biggest learning. What began as a mobile personal training business as grown into a brick-and-mortar personal training and group fitness studio as well as an online training business. It has not been easy to get to the point of having a team of trainers working for me! Working less in my business and more on my business has been an adjustment! But for me, it’s what I need to do to continue to grow. It has been a very long road, but I would not be where I am today without some great advice from many different mentors I have had over the years.

A few fitness business lessons:

• Don’t sweat the small stuff
• Stay calm when things aren’t going the way you had planned
• Making every single person happy is impossible
• Never, ever, settle for “good enough”

Being a business owner is not easy, can be lonely at times, and requires a lot of hard work and dedication; however, in the past 13 years it has been very worth it for me. Now that I have a child and another one on the way, being able to make my own schedule and spend more time with my son makes all the hard work, long hours, and constant stress worth it.

The Best Piece of Advice

Of all the business advice I have ever received, the absolute best nugget is to know your worth. Someone once told me to always charge what I know I am worth and to never worry about it. If I am good at what I do, people will pay. This has proven so true in my business! Pricing for personal trainers can be intimidating, but doing so strategically and deliberately will benefit your business long term.

Let’s be honest, we start our own fitness businesses because we love what we do, but we are also in it to make a living! Never forget that.

Revenue and Pricing for Personal Trainers

Setting your prices too low will not only cost you, but it may also create an image of a poor quality product. By setting your pricing appropriately, you will not only work harder to provide a better service, you will be happier in the long run. Having one higher-paying client who you can put more time and effort into is always more valuable than having ten lower-paying clients! Further, it’ll make a huge difference in your ability to continue to grow your business and increase your revenue.

This has taken time for me, so don’t go thinking pricing is something you will know immediately. Pricing for personal trainers requires some trial and error. Keep in mind, it’s always better to start higher than lower as it’s harder to raise your prices then decrease them.

Market research is also a large part of setting the right pricing, but in my opinion, it’s important to avoid comparing yourself or your services to anyone else. Set your own path, believe in what you are doing and set your pricing based on that. Know your worth, and never settle for anything less.

What business advice do you most cherish? Tell us on Instagram at @michellerootsfit and @trainerize!