The Solo Trainer Podcast

One of the most common questions I hear from trainers is:

“What should I charge?”

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Your pricing should be based on your financial goals, your business expenses, your schedule, and the lifestyle you want your business to support.

In this episode, I walk you through how to calculate your minimum hourly rate—the lowest amount you need to charge in order to build a profitable and sustainable personal training business.

We’ll cover:

• Why pricing based on what “sounds fair” is a mistake

• Two ways to determine your minimum hourly rate

• How to work backward from your desired take-home income

• Why your market matters—but doesn’t dictate everything

• What to do if your number feels too high

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re charging enough, this episode will help you price with clarity and confidence.

🎁 Want help organizing your business and pricing your services?

🎁 Want help getting organized and building your business the right way?

He was working 190 hours a month as a personal trainer…On top of trying to grow an online business, take courses, and pursue new opportunities.

And his message to me was simple:

“I feel like I have nothing left for myself.”

In this episode, I’m sharing a real conversation I had with a trainer after my last episode—When Your Business Runs You: My Confession.

Because what he’s experiencing?So many trainers are going through the exact same thing.

Doing well.Getting more opportunities.Saying yes to everything…

…and slowly burning out.

Inside this episode, I walk you through:

• Why this happens (especially when you’re good at what you do)

• The real reason this isn’t just a time management issue

• The simple exercise I gave him to create clarity fast

• How to figure out what to keep—and what needs to go

• And the mindset shift that makes saying “no” a little easier

If you’re feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or unsure which direction to go in your fitness career…

This episode will help you take your first step toward getting your time—and energy—back.

🎁 Don’t forget: Grab the free Solo Trainer Guidebook to help you build a business that supports your life—not runs it.

I teach trainers how to build a business that gives them freedom… so why did mine start taking it away?

In this episode, I’m sharing something I haven’t been fully honest about…

While I’ve built a personal training business through 7Core Wellness that truly supports my life—my schedule, my energy, my family—that hasn’t been true across the board.

Lately, I’ve found myself doing the exact thing I coach other trainers not to do…

Letting my business run me.

More specifically, I’ve been feeling it with The Solo Trainer—the emails, the podcast, the content, the pressure to keep up with it all.

And the truth is… it’s not sustainable for me right now.

So in this episode, I’m getting real about:

• The moment I realized I wasn’t practicing what I preach

• How “doing more” quietly turns into burnout

• Why this season of life is forcing me to make a change

• What I’m scaling back (and what I’m not walking away from)

• And how you can recognize when your business is starting to take more than it gives

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to “do it all”…If your business is starting to feel heavier than it should…

This episode will hit home.

🎁 Don’t forget: Grab the free Solo Trainer Guidebook to help you build a business that supports your life—not runs it.

Carol proves you can build a thriving independent personal training business without viral marketing.

She started teaching group fitness on military bases, grew her career at the YMCA, formed her LLC in 2016, and built a private home studio during COVID. Her clients stayed so loyal that they drove 20 miles to keep training with her.

In this episode, we break down the real foundation of long-term success: relationships, listening, adaptability, and deep client care. We also talk about burnout boundaries, raising rates, and how Carol adapted her coaching when clients experienced major health changes, including Parkinson’s.

@carol.s.boruch

Are you still training clients the way you did five years ago? If so, you might be leaving money on the table.

The era of generic "weight loss" training is being taken over by AI and medical weight loss. The trainers winning in 2026 are the ones solving complex problems: chronic pain, injury prevention, and longevity.

I’m joined by Jeff Melis from the Exercise Therapy Association (ETA) to talk about how you can separate yourself from the pack. We discuss the power of functional assessments and how to deliver "same-day transformations" that turn skeptics into clients for life.

Check out the Exercise Therapy Association: 

Ever feel like you’re a great trainer but still “blending in”?

In this episode of The Solo Trainer Podcast, I break down why specialization is one of the fastest ways to build authority, trust, and long term client loyalty as an independent personal trainer.

I’ll walk you through the 3 questions that help you choose a niche that’s credible, sustainable, and marketable, plus a simple one sentence way to explain what you do so the right clients instantly “get it.”

When your message is clear, you stop competing on price and start getting chosen for your expertise.

Who wouldn’t want that?

Some trainers stay booked year after year.

Others are constantly hunting for the next lead.

So what’s the difference?

In this episode, Jen explains what a high demand personal trainer does differently—and why clients stick around even when cheaper options exist.

Leaving the gym is one thing.

Setting up your business the right way is another.

In this episode, I break down the five areas every independent personal trainer needs to address when starting out — whether you’re still working at a gym or already on your own and second-guessing your setup.

This isn’t about finding clients or growing fast.

It’s about building a business that actually works for you.

If you want clarity before momentum, this episode will help.

Thinking about leaving the gym and starting your own personal training business? Before you do, there are a few things you should know.

In this episode, we walk through the five realities of becoming an independent trainer — the parts that are exciting, the parts that take time, and the parts no one really prepares you for. You’ll learn what goes into getting clients, running the admin side of your business, staying financially prepared, and managing the emotional shift to working solo.

If you’re exploring independence or actively preparing for it, this episode will give you clarity and direction.

Selling your personal training services doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable.

In this episode, Jen and Terrell (“Sell with Trell”) break down a simple, grounded approach to sales conversations for independent trainers who want clarity—not pressure.

Terrell’s Links

Mimi is four months into her solo training business and determined to grow through real-world connection — not ads, not social media.

We dig into practical ways to find clients in your community, including:

• Asking for referrals confidently

• Getting in front of senior living groups and neighborhood buildings

• Partnering with PTs, acupuncturists, and wellness centers

• Using charity events to spark introductions

• Showing up at disability-awareness and community events

• Choosing prices that support sustainable growth

• Building momentum with one intentional action a day

If you’ve been thinking, “I just want to train great clients and build this steady,” this episode will meet you right where you are and guide you forward.

If you want a successful independent personal training business, you need more than passion—you need boundaries, strategy, and systems that protect your time, energy, and income. In this episode, I share the 5 big mistakes I made early in my business, how I fixed them, and what I wish I had done from the start.

You’ll learn how to avoid the common traps that lead to burnout—like not charging for travel, waiting too long to raise rates, saying “yes” to too much, and compromising your schedule. My goal is to help you build a business that gives you freedom, not frustration.

How do you build a long-term personal training career without burning out? Jen talks with wellness business coach Jessica Maurer about spotting burnout vs. boredom, protecting your energy, building simple systems for steady clients, and mindset tools that actually stick. Practical, honest, and made for trainers who want a career that lasts.

Links

Building a sustainable business as an independent trainer isn’t about luck—it’s about doing the right things consistently.

In this episode of The Solo Trainer Podcast, I share the 5 steps that filled my client roster and kept it full for nine years. You’ll learn how I found clients outside the gym, priced my services in a way that worked, built a sales system I could trust, and delivered programming and service that clients didn’t want to leave.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you can really do this on your own—this episode will help you see what’s possible.

Why I stopped working as a gym trainer wasn’t an easy decision—it was survival. Burnout had stolen my passion for clients, for my family, and even for myself. In this episode, I share the emotional moment that forced me to step away, the 3 biggest reasons I left the gym, and how I rebuilt my career as an independent personal trainer.

Thinking about leaving the gym and starting your own business as a personal trainer? In this first episode, I share the story behind The Solo Trainer—why I created it, who it’s for, and how it can help you become a confident, successful independent personal trainer.

You’ll learn the mission of The Solo Trainer, why this podcast exists, and how it’s here to guide you with real stories, expert advice, and step-by-step strategies to grow your business on your terms.