How to Set Up a Personal Training Business UK (2026)

Going self employed as a personal trainer in the UK is more accessible than ever, but the admin can quietly eat your evenings if you don't set it up properly from day one.

1. Get qualified and insured

CIMSPA says the agreed industry prerequisite is a CIMSPA endorsed personal trainer qualification. You'll also need the right insurance. Read our guide to personal trainer insurance in the UK for the covers CIMSPA points to.

2. Register as self employed

If you earn more than £1,000 from self employment in a tax year, register for Self Assessment by 5 October after that tax year ends, as GOV.UK sets out. Our self employed personal trainer guide covers records, tax and deadlines. Set up a separate business bank account on day one. It makes accounting and Stripe payouts much cleaner. Holding PAR Q answers means handling health data. See our guide to GDPR for personal trainers.

How to register a PT business in the UK

A sole trader runs the business as an individual, while a limited company is a separate legal entity registered with Companies House. Sole traders who earn more than £1,000 from self employment in a tax year must register for Self Assessment. See the self employed personal trainer guide for registration, records and deadlines.

3. Decide your pricing

There is no official UK rate, so work yours out from your costs, tax and hours. Our guide to how much a personal trainer should charge shows how. Don't undersell: packages of 5 to 10 sessions, paid up front, will smooth your cash flow. The PT pricing calculator can help you work out your rates.

4. Pick your software stack

Choose software around your booking, payment and coaching needs. Compare PT software UK compared, and see how Stripe payments work for UK personal trainers. No monthly fee. 0.7% on Stripe card payments through FitDesk, minimum 1p per card payment. Stripe's own fees still apply. Cash has no FitDesk fee.

5. Find your first 10 clients

Friends of friends, your gym's notice board, and a single Instagram reel a week can help you find your first paying clients. Track every lead in your software so nothing slips. Answers to common questions are in the FitDesk FAQ. You can run a client challenge to keep your first clients.