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Personal Trainer Salary Ontario Canada

I have been a personal trainer for 7 years and run my own business in Ontario. I make around $55K per year. There are many keys to my business' ongoing success. One factor (and one benefit of working for myself in my own home based studio) is that I get to choose who I want to work with.

My ideal client base continues to grow, and in the meantime I am willing to work with many others - allowing me to gain experience and insight, and allowing me to help as many folks as I can. It is the push towards my 'ideal client' however, that drives my business forward, and allows me to charge what I do (on average $90.00/session). If folks want to work with me, I have found that they will come up with the resources - time, energy and money - to do so.

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You can charge these fees because you are worth it
by: Katie - Admin

Many new trainers expect to charge $90 per hour from day one. But you have to make sure you are worth the money as a personal trainer. That means continual growth and developing your skills. When you are worth it, your clients won't think twice about paying top dollar. In fact, they will think you are a bargain at any price.

Katie

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How many sessions can you book in a week?
by: -

I myself would one day like to become a personal trainer. Opening a business would be a huge bonus to my career. But how many sessions can you really book at $90. It doesn't seem like you can make enough money if you can't keep a full schedule.

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A question about running your own business
by: Anonymous

Good Morning!!
My name is Kristin and I live in a small town Strathroy, Ontario. I have always enjoyed fitness, sports and the body! I am a stay at home mom right now and I am enjoying this but I have my heart set on becomming a personal trainer once the children are in school, It will be my turn....I would like to know if you have heard of Can-Fit-Pro? And if this is the road I should take to fullfill my dream?And once I am certified how do I take myself to the top, and reach for the stars as they say to create such an amazing lifestyle and dream?
Please give me any information you feel fit to help me reach my goals.
Thank you for your time

Kristin

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55k at 90/sess???
by: Josh

I am curious about your salary or payout. I am looking to start a new gym myself, a studio gym but with some twists. How is it that you charge 90/sess and only make 55k a year? That would mean you are only training 12 hours a week? I am just trying to figure out what my best options are in the industry, figured id ask around. No offense boss, just askin. Thanks for any help.

Josh

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Certification in Canada
by: Anonymous

What are good certification programs in Toronto. I'm interested in becoming a personal trainer. What about cptn. Is that good?

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getting started
by: Karen

hi,
ive been a member at gyms for over 2 years now. And realyl do enjoy this. I want to take my life to the next level and become a personal trainer, but where do i start? there are so many organizations you can go through to get certified, but are places going to accept certifications from anywhere you go? or will they except from the more" popular" companies, ex: Can Fit Pro....,etc.
Could you help me in the right direction please?
Thanks
Karen

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How to become a certified personal trainer?
by: Jeremy

Hello my name is Jeremy and I live in ontario. Im going to be graduating soon and I was wondering where would I go to be a certified Personal Trainer. Would I have to go to college or university??. The reason i would like to know is because I love to work out and I would love helping people make a difference in their life.

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Certification
by: Anonymous

Any gym in Ontario will want you to have your Can Fit Pro certification.

Go to www.canfitpro.com

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There is something wrong here
by: Sam

$55,000 divided by 50 weeks divided by $90/session equals 12 sessions per week. If an avarage client gets 3 sessions per week then you have 4 clients.
I guess your business has matured over 7 years to have 4 clients. That is around half a client a year!
I am sorry buddy but your story does not seem right.

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Updating my original posting 2 years later ...
by: Frances

This is part one of a two part comment to my original post:

I posted my original comment on this Salary information section about 2 years ago - I indicated that I was making ~$55,000/year by charging $90/session.

Since this time, my business has continued to grow. I am tracking to hit the $100,000 mark in revenue this year - 2009. There were several comments about how my numbers just don't seem right. Let me offer some insight.

As Canada's 5 time CBBF National World Qualifier Women's Bodybuilding Champion, and a 7 time IFBB World Championships competitor, I have a unique experience in the field of physique coaching.

I am CSCS certified, CPTN certified and Poliquin BioSignature Certified. I have a PE degree as well as a B.Ed.

I do not do any marketing - my client base is ALL referrals.

I work with folks from 18 to 81. My clients (right now I am working with over 40 individuals in various coaching capacities) include folks who are looking to compete in Physique Competitions (local, national and international - including a top 5 finisher at this year's Arnold Classic Women's Bodybuilding Competition - the Arnold Amateurs), to those just wanting to exercise a few times/week.

A number of my clients are personal trainers or strength coaches who also refer clients who, for example, are prepping for physique competitions and who need to guidance and protocols to help them achieve their goals in this elite sport.

I partner with other high level coaches and offer high level women's coaching seminars several times a year.

I too am coached! So, I practice what I preach.

Please see part two of my comment ...

Frances Manias, Physique Coach, Dundas Ontario

p.s. to the moderator, I'd appreciate allowing this comment in whole to be added to the site - thank you!

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Updating my original posting 2 years later ...part two
by: Frances

This is part two of a two part comment to my original post:

Some insight into how I am currently running my fee structure:

I offer individualized and comprehensive programs that all clients are obliged to purchase. Cost:$499/person. This includes individualized nutrition, training (both strength and energy system work) and BioSignature Modulation and corresponding supplement protocols. We spend about 90 minutes orienting clients to their individualized protocols. All changes to client's protocols are included in these costs so long as a client maintains an active cache of sessions with me. Returning clients do not pay this fee again, unless a significant period of time has passed since they last worked with me.

From there clients buy into 12, 24 or 48 (60 minute)session packages with my most popular package being $1199.00 for 12 sessions. My 48 session package is $3999.00 + gst.

Many clients are training on their own (at home or in their home gym)and see me 1x/week, or every other week for re-assessments and tweaking of protocols based on their progress. Others committ to 2-3 sessions/week in my studio.

I offer my clients $250 off their next package upon the successful referal of another client.

These are the strategies that have allowed my business to evolve to where it is today.

I compete in the sport of bodybuilding here in Canada, and internationally - and I take my professional development in the industry seriously committing time, energy and resources to my certifications and industry conferences. This past year for example I spent over $3000.00 in professional development alone.

I have been involved in this industry for many years - most as a competitive bodybuilder- and yet, it is only in the last few years that I have felt that I have found my niche, and have been able to hone my skills to help the many folks I am privileged to call clients and friends.

An average day has me in my studio for 30 minute or 60 minute sessions with clients - although I rarely have more than 8 60 minute sessions/day. I average 5-6 hours in the studio each day.

Much of my work for clients includes tweaking training/nutrition protocols - I use great online software to help (solutionwebcoach.com and strongeronline.com) and I suggest numerous learning resources to my clients (like precisionnutrition.com and charlespoliquin.com).

See part three ... to wrap up!

Frances Manias, Physique Coach, Dundas Ontario

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Updating my original posting 2 years later ...wrap up
by: Frances

This is my wrap up (two previous comments) to my original post:

My revenue stream/business model is less about what I make/session, and more about how I am best able to serve my clients - teaching them along the way - so that they are able to achieve their short term and long term goals.

Not everyone has the privilege of working from their own studio - I am blessed to have the 800 square foot space in my home. This allows me to offer a private/professional service to my clients. And, it keeps my expenses/overhead low as well.

To wrap up - I just thought that I'd offer a few more insights on what I do, how I do it and what I earn as a result.

Perhaps it is not the model for you - but it is working well for me! And, I am still learning and growing my business.

Frances Manias, Physique Coach, Dundas Ontario

p.s. to the moderator, I'd appreciate allowing this comment (in its three parts) in whole to be added to the site - thank you!

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As for the rest of us
by: Anonymous

Thank you Frances for your three part explanation. It is good to have a realistic expectation going into this as to the earnings potential but Frances is likely at the top end- I read that the average is $46,000 a year in Canada with a take home of $45 a session and 20 sessions a week. 20 sessions a week is not 20 hours a week because of planning and preparation for sessions. If one adds 20 minutes to each session that is another 7 hours.
Before you hope to earn $55,000 or $100k a year as a personal trainer, we might want to factor in the cost of attaining the impressive list of credentials that Frances has as well as an 800 square foot gym in your home. The bottom line is that if you are a world class athelete, you can charge $90 an hour and people will pay that, and much more. As for the rest of us....

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How does a gym pay personal trainers
by: Shelley

If you chose to work at a g to get experience, I would be trained by them and get their Canada wide certificate, and will also be getting the Can Fit Pro certificate! Do you have any idea, about what wages are while working at a gym, ie: is there a minimum wage, * commission, or is it based on commission only?

Shelley

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as far as i know...
by: Anonymous

im a 21 y/o male who is currently waiting to start my CanFitPro certification for p-t. to the best of my knowledge when you work through a gym your technically sub contracting, just like a drywaller might subcontract a painter to help build a wall. so at that point you sign a contract basically saying that you willpay the gym a percentage of what you earn training clients at that establishment. now, im sure some gyms have different policies and practices, some may not do that at all, and ive heard that a lot of trainers working for big time gyms generally earn a salary based on their client base. good tips if your just at that point in the game, lok into other canfitpro courses such as the nutrition specialist course, your not able to advize ANY food or supplements without it, and the fitness instructer course which alows you to teach a class at a time, as aposed to one on one training you can lead fifteen people through an exercise... however bare in mind pay is calculated differently infact i think its the opposite, the gym contracts you to teach the class, cause its their clients. so you make the percentage instead of the bigger cut, however when you have a full class you can still make good money in one hour... but thats what its about really, helping people be all they can be, you wont become super wealthy without some funding or a lot of time and energy and experience. ive heard its a great way to subsidaize income, but all in all the general concensus is to have your own space in a garage or basement or something so you dont cut yourself short of money... however at first gyms are great for gaining advize from experienced trainers

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CFP is BS
by: Anonymous

Can-Fit-Pro is a BS certification used by crap gyms like Goodlife Fitness. It's a 2-day course at the end of which you have a piece of paper that claims you know that job--but how can you learn how to be a trainer in 2 days? Stick with the YMCA fitness leader programs--3-month program, nationally accredited. If your gym requests it you can do CFP on top of that, but you will not really be a personal trainer if you only take CFP--it's like taking a 2 day computer course and passing yourself off as an IT expert.

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My story
by: Haris

I got certified through Can Fit Pro 5 months ago. Had an interview at Goodlife a few days later decided to decline the job. Got lucky and noticed an opening at the gym I was currently going to so I applied. Got hired 4 months ago. My first month I got 4 clients (I started mid Dec). Next month I got few more clients, same with February. March was a big month for me I got about 7 new clients and brought in $5600 revenue to the gym. In my full 3 months there Jan-Mar I brought in over $13,500 and currently have 18-20 clients (not sure of exact amount, don't bother keeping track) the cut os 60% mine 40%gyms and bonus 10% if I make the sale. I make $20-24 for 30-min session and 27-30 for an hour. I mainly do half hour sessions then I fit more in also I make $10 for a consult when a new member joins where we do fitness test and I try making the personal trainer sale most common packages I sell are 10 half hour sessions for $380, 24 for $840 and 48 for $1680. Each month I have made more money then the previous month. My two week check now is $1700-1800 and I do 30-35 sessions per week. Hoping to get to over 40 sessions per week within a month or 2. My boss is very pleased, her previous trainers all had kin degrss but no clients because they had no confidence and couldn't sell themselves. If you know your stuff and do what you preach all you need is a simple certificate like Can Fit Pro which every gym recognizes and confidence in yourself to succeed. Also a diploma or degree in business would help. Summarized I'm 22 years old first year trainer aiming to bring in 50-60 grand in revenue and make 40 grand myself in my first year.(I believe I'm paid the most out of the gyms in my city saskatoon for a beginer.)

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certifications
by: alex

It doesn't really matter which certification you have to get started, altough I don't like cfp, they do have advanced courses. Of course the rookie course is like 2 days but it doesn't natter really. I know a guy with no degree at all and is one of the most known trainers in my city. He charges 60$/session but usually has 2+ clients at a time so he makes 120+/hour. The only problem I see with about 75% of cpt's is that they don't have insurance so you basicly have no choice to go to a gym, they take a cut but also offer you insurance so that if one of your client gets hurt, you're covered. You can also buy your own insurance but it's going to cost as much as a gym's cut so what be the point? So in my opinion seek a cpt that offers insurance with the certificate. I only know of CSEP but I'm sure there's more.

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You can make money as a Trainer!
by: Anonymous

I have been in the business for over 17 years. I make well over $100,000.00 a year. BUT you need to put the years and time in to be successful. Make sure you continue your education and accept this is not a 9-5 job with weekends off. I work 7 days a week starting some days at 6am and ending at 9pm. Be flexible and compassionate. It is possible to do very well in our industry.

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