Independent guides
Personal Trainer Careers in UK Gyms
Practical guides to working as a personal trainer at UK gym chains — how PT schemes work, what you'll pay, what you can earn, and what it's actually like on the floor.
Gym guides
Working as a PT at PureGym
Independent guide to working as a self-employed PT at PureGym — how the PT scheme works, estimated rent (£500–£800/month), the Fitness Coach hour requirement, earnings, and pros and cons.
Read guide →
Working as a PT at David Lloyd
How personal training works at David Lloyd — the employed revenue-share model, 50% session split, estimated OTE £26,000–£30,000, lead allocation, and whether it beats self-employed rent.
Read guide →
Working as a PT at Anytime Fitness
How the Anytime Fitness franchise model affects personal trainers — variable rent and conditions across clubs, typical earnings, and how self-employed PTs manage bookings and income.
Read guide →
Working as a PT at The Gym Group
How the PT Partner scheme works at The Gym Group — estimated rent of £250–£600/month, first month often free for new partners, typical earnings, and how it compares to PureGym.
Read guide →
Working as a PT at JD Gyms
How the JD Gyms zero-rent model works — Fitness Coach shifts instead of monthly rent, 0% commission on PT work, typical earnings, and how it compares to PureGym's £500–£800/month licence.
Read guide →
Working as a PT at Foundry Gym
A guide to working as a personal trainer at Foundry Gym — what the boutique gym environment is like for PTs, how training arrangements work, and what to expect.
Read guide →
PT business models explained
Before choosing a gym to work from, it helps to understand the different ways personal trainers operate commercially. The model determines your overheads, your income stability, and your day-to-day autonomy.
Rent-based (self-employed)
The most common model at UK budget and mid-market gyms. You pay a monthly fee to operate from the gym. You set your own hours, pricing, and client roster — but there is no salary and no guaranteed income.
Employed
Some premium chains (e.g. David Lloyd) employ personal trainers directly on a salary plus commission structure. You get employment benefits and stability, but less autonomy over pricing and how you run your business.
Commission / revenue share
Rather than a flat fee, some gyms take a percentage of each session you deliver. This lowers your upfront risk in quieter periods but reduces your earnings per session once you have a full client base.
Hybrid / independent
Many experienced PTs combine a gym base for in-person sessions with online coaching, home visits, or studio hire for additional income. This diversifies revenue and reduces reliance on any single venue.
Related guides
How Much Should Personal Trainers Charge?
UK session rate guidance by experience, location, and specialism.
How Many Clients Do Personal Trainers Need?
Work out the client numbers you need to hit your income target.
Nextro Pricing
The booking and payments platform used by independent PTs. £29/month.
Get Started with Nextro
Create your booking page and start accepting online payments.