One of the big questions when you start out training is very simple - where should I train?

You could train at a big box gym like Equinox, at a private training studio, or move around to different gyms or train people in their homes.

When you first start out, training at a big box gym can be the best way to get experience and clients.

Here are 7 Things You Need to Know about Training at a Big Box Gym

1.  The gym will give you clients – kind of

Every big box gym is going to have some kind of new member deal where they receive 1 or 2 free personal training “sessions” when they sign up. 

This is where new trainers will get the vast majority of their leads from.

In the grand scheme of sales, these are very warm leads. 

They are people who have showed an interest in fitness, are members of your gym, and are willing to take the time to meet with you in person.

That’s definitely a warm lead – but it’s not a slam dunk. 

It’s very difficult to “sell” someone on personal training in just an hour or two with no prior history.

But if you’re going to build your book, you better get good at doing these consults.

Check out my resource guide “The Consultation” for more info.

2.  The gym is going to take a big chunk of your training rate

Most big box gyms are going to take between 40-60% of your training rate as “rent” for working at the gym.

Some gyms will be set up as an employee of the gym, and others you may be set up as a 1099 Independent contractor.

Your training “split” may increase in % as you advance at the gym or it may stay the same only your training rate will increase.

This is definitely the biggest tradeoff of a big box gym.

You are paying for the gym space, insurance, equipment, and leads.  You can also get health insurance and other benefits through most big box gyms if you’re a gym employee.

3.  You’re going to have to get used to a crowded gym

I’ve worked at a private training studio and a “boutique” big box gym.

The biggest difference in the actual training is dealing with other gym members especially at peak hours.

It can be rough. 

Most big box gyms will have a dedicated space just for personal training clients which can alleviate bottlenecks in other areas.

My advice here is to always do your best to get your client whatever equipment they need while remaining considerate to the other members.

You never know who a potential client could be and if they’re watching you train.

Trainers often develop shitty reputations around the gym for hogging equipment and taking up space – avoid this trap.  It will cost you potential clients and money.

4.  It will be competitive with other trainers for sessions and clients

Most big box gyms are going to expect a certain amount of sessions per month and only give you a certain amount of months to “ramp up”.

Once that happens, you will then be judged against the other trainers in terms of session count.

You may even be paid bonuses based on how many sessions you do per week or month.

This is a great way to entice trainers to do more sessions and also a great way to encourage trainer burnout.

Do your best to not get caught in the rat race of session count.

Do as many sessions as are required for the gym and for your individual needs, but give yourself some time off to keep your head straight.

5.  Big Box gyms can be a lot of fun

Working at a private studio has its perks but it can get boring and isolating. 

Big box gyms are different.

There are always people around, there’s loud music playing, the energy is usually up.

You will get to know the other members since you see them every day and you can build a nice little community that you wouldn’t get other types of gyms.

6.  If you’re sick or take vacation, you don’t get paid

This is also true for working at a private studio, but here lies one of the biggest problems with personal training in general.

Take a week off to go on that Caribbean vacation? 

Cool, it’s going to cost you and you’re not going to get paid while you’re gone.

There is no such thing as PTO as a trainer.  Some gyms do offer sick pay, which is typically minimal wage and that’s it.

7.  Big box gyms may offer opportunities to work at different locations

If you work in a city it can be beneficial to work at several different locations of a gym brand. 

This can help build your book at the beginning and also provide a nice change of scenery to break up the monotony of training in the same gym day after day.

The tradeoff is you become less visible at your “home” gym so it may not be worth doing, especially if the travel time is too long.