I was recently invited to be a part of a really interesting conversation about how personal trainers can level up, and make a lucrative career within a gym.

It's pretty common to see a physical therapist or masseuse renting space out at a CrossFit box or microgym, but it seems to be more rare where a freelancing personal trainer will rent out space at those same gyms.

In the rare cases where it does happen, those relationships usually end poorly if the personal trainer starts to achieve too much success that is then seen as a competing service.

Where we've seen the most success, is personal trainers finding gyms that align with their values, and where they align with the brand of the gym.  When a trainer is invested in the core service of the gym they are a part of, and especially if they are a client themselves of that service, it creates alignment where all parties benefit from the partnership.

The other important thing to note is that early on in this business relationship, the gym is providing most of the value in terms of marketing, training, and stable pay.  As a trainer develops and fills their book of business, they grow their value to the point that the opportunity cost of losing that coach is significant to the business.

In this discussion, we dive into all aspects of the trainer-to-gym relationship, and how that relationship can and should evolve as value is created and shifted over time.