In today’s ever-advancing business landscape, there are endless opportunities for starting your own independent career. If you have a love of health and fitness, and a motivation to share that passion with others, then starting your own personal training business could be a great decision. You can even start the business journey in your own home. Many personal trainers have successful career rights from their own in-home studios. It can be scary when thinking about how to setup a personal trainer studio at home, but it doesn’t have to be. If you take it step by step the process can be less overwhelming, and fun. Before you can start your business, you need to understand the basics of how to be a personal trainer from home. This includes knowing where you can establish a home gym, having the proper equipment, and having the ability to put a creative spin on your business. 

‍

Creating a Home Gym

Being able to create your own training studio is vital in running a successful personal trainer business from your home. While you can rent studio space, this defeats the purpose of getting to run a business from your home, not to mention the extra costs associated with it. Before you can get started on creating your in-home gym, you need to be realistic about where you can set it up. The space you need will depend largely on the kind of training you will be doing, and the equipment you plan to have. It’s possible you will need to make some slight renovations in order to create an optimal space.

While you might not feel like your house has the right space for a personal trainer studio at home, you would be surprised what kind of areas can work. When choosing the right space, you have to keep in mind how many clients you plan to see at one time, and the kind of equipment you plan to use. These are just a few examples of the kind of spaces in your home that could be converted into a home gym.

‍

Garage

A garage could be the perfect studio for your at-home personal trainer business. This kind of room requires the least renovations since the flooring is already able to withstand heavy weights and workout equipment. Garages are already quite spacious, so you will be able to fit a range of equipment, as well as a few clients. This can be a good choice if you plan to lead classes. Of course, you will have to be able to give up getting to park your car in the garage if you choose this space for your studio. If you don’t have a garage, or simply don’t want to give up the parking space, don’t worry. There are plenty of other rooms in your home you can convert for your personal training business.

‍

Shed or Outbuilding

If you have a shed or any kind of detached outbuilding in your yard, this could also make the perfect home gym and studio. This option might require more renovations since sheds aren’t typically sturdy, especially the flooring. Sheds and outbuildings are better suited for an at-home yoga studio, or more laid back workout routines, over strength training or weight lifting. They also tend to have fewer storage options. However, they can be perfect depending on the kind of fitness business you will be running.

‍

Basement

A basement is another great option to consider when trying to set up a personal trainer studio at home. Just like garages, these rooms typically are already equipped to handle heavy workout equipment. Basements tend to be spacious and have solid foundations that can withstand heavy weights. A downside of this choice can be a lack of natural lighting. However, this can be easily remedied by installing windows, or decent lighting. Another possible downside is clients accessing the space since some basements can be difficult to get to. 

‍

Spare Room

Another simple option to consider for your personal trainer studio at home is a spare bedroom. Most houses have extra rooms, even if they don’t have basements or garages, making this a more accessible option. When using a spare bedroom you have to make sure the walls and floors can handle whatever equipment you plan to use. Spare rooms typically have closets as well, which can provide an easy storage option. Choosing a spare room near your front door can also provide easy access for your clients to get into your studio.

‍

Sunroom

A sunroom, or enclosed porch, can also work as a home studio for a personal training business, depending on what you offer. A sunroom with a concrete foundation has a wider range of options since it can withstand heavy weights and most equipment. Wooden enclosed porches would be better suited for at-home pilates or yoga. Since these kinds of rooms are usually enclosed with screens or glass, it can be difficult to use any equipment that needs to be mounted to a wall. Another downside is that these options are usually smaller, with fewer options for storage.

‍

Equipment Needed For Your Studio

When it comes to your home studio, equipment is the lifeblood. The kind of equipment you need will vary depending on the kind of workouts you plan to lead, and possible fitness specifications you might have. For example, an in-home yoga gym will need different gear than a studio with a focus on weight lifting. 

‍

The basic equipment you will need includes:

• Mats
• Resistance bands
• Pull up bar
• Large mirror
• Stability tools
• Squat rack
• Wifi
• Laptop, tablet, or DVD player.

Possible equipment you might need to purchase for strength training includes:

• Barbells
• Dumbells
• Medicine balls
• Sandbags
• Battle ropes

‍

If your personal trainer from home business focuses on cardio you may want the following equipment:

• Peloton bike
• Step trainer
• Hand weights
• Jump ropes

‍

If you will be focusing on yoga in your studio you may want:

• Candles
• Incense 
• Blankets
• Yoga mats
• Hand towels

‍

Requirements and Renovations

Before you can start on your journey of being a personal trainer from home you need to understand all of the requirements for your in-home studio, and the renovations you might need to do. The floors need to be able to hold heavy equipment or weights and withstand the frequent movement of clients. If you’re going to mount any equipment to the walls you first need to make sure they will be strong enough. You should also anchor any workout equipment that poses the risk of falling over and injuring someone. You also might want to hang equipment from the ceilings, but it's vital you do so in a place that can handle the weight. 

Safety should be the first priority when it comes to your in-home studio. There should be adequate places to store any gear not being used so it doesn’t run the risk of hurting someone. This includes heavy objects like weights and even simple equipment like jump rumps. It’s necessary that you make any needed renovations before you start running your personal trainer business from your home gym. 

Since you will be running your own personal trainer business from home you will need to make sure you have the proper paperwork done. You will likely need a business license and insurance before you can have any clients in your studio. This will ensure that you are protected if anyone gets injured on your watch. 

‍

Making Your Studio Appealing

One of the most important aspects of any in-home personal trainer studio is making it appealing to your clients. Having the proper space and equipment is just one part of attracting clients. They need a gym that is comfortable, meets their needs and is enjoyable to be in. There are a few creative ways that you can go about doing this and several budget-friendly options for enhancing your space. 

• Keep The View In Mind: It’s important that you don’t overlook the view when trying to setup a personal trainer studio at home. Having a good view is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to enhance your home gym. If you already have a space with large windows you don’t have to worry about this as much. However, space with no windows might need some extra work. Installing windows can provide a great view, but there are other ways to make your studio appealing.
• Get Colorful: Adding some colorful paint on the walls, rugs, or simple indoor decor is another good way to enhance your home gym. You can bring in rugs and decor from other rooms if you want to cut down on extra costs. Yellow, blue, green, and white are recommended wall colors to keep clients at ease. 
• Lighting: Natural lighting is the most appealing option for in-home fitness studios, but this isn’t always possible. It’s also recommended to have adjustable lights, so you can dim or brighten them when needed. You can install permanent light fixtures, and use some well-placed lamps. If your space doesn’t already have windows, you can even have some installed to add additional light and a good view.

‍

What kind of studio are you going to launch at home?

‍

--

‍

Are you new to personal training? Read these articles to get started on growing your business:

• How to price your online training
• How To Attract Clients as a Personal Trainer
• How to write a memorable and professional fitness bio

About the Author:

‍

Cory McKane

Cory is a huge fan of fitness - and an even bigger fan of helping you with your fitness. He's started on his journey with WeStrive back in 2015 and has been building it ever since.