Should You Be Employed or Self-Employed as a PT? | Coaching & Coffee Ep. 4

Starting as a personal trainer in the UK? Should you take an employed PT job, pay gym rent and go self-employed, or choose a hybrid role while you build your client base? In this episode of Coaching & Coffee, James and I discuss the different ways you can start a personal training career in 2026, and which routes we would personally recommend. This conversation was inspired by a comment from George, who watched our previous episode about getting 10 personal training clients in 90 days. He wanted to know what "starting in a gym" actually looks like. Should you become employed by a gym? Should you go fully self-employed and pay rent? Is the hybrid model a good starting point? And what if you're already working in another industry and want to become a PT? We explore four different models: 1. Employed Personal Trainer The security of employment, regular income and employee benefits, but potentially less freedom and control. 2. Revenue Share Where the gym takes a percentage of your session fees. We discuss why we're cautious about some of these arrangements. 3. Hybrid Employment Combining paid gym-floor hours with running your own PT business. Is this a good stepping stone, or something that could hold you back? 4. Fully Self-Employed The route James and I originally took. More responsibility and financial risk, but greater control over your business, earnings and working hours. We also explore the challenges of starting a PT business alongside another job, the importance of understanding your financial commitments, and when it might make sense to move from hybrid employment to full self-employment. Ultimately, there isn't one answer that works for everyone. Your circumstances, financial situation, ambitions and personality all play a part in deciding which route makes the most sense. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - George's Question: How Should You Start as a PT? 02:30 - Revenue Share: Who Gets Paid What? 07:20 - Is an Employed PT Role a Good Option? 11:30 - How the Hybrid PT Model Works 14:20 - The Hidden Cost of Paid Gym-Floor Hours 18:00 - When Should You Leave a Hybrid Role? 20:00 - Can You Build PT Alongside a Full-Time Job? 23:00 - Using Hybrid as a Stepping Stone 24:20 - Going Fully Self-Employed: Risk and Control 29:10 - Your Financial Buffer and Choosing a Gym 30:10 - What Matt and James Would Each Choose 33:20 - Which Route Suits Your Circumstances? 34:45 - Tell Us Your Situation in the Comments ☕ WATCH NEXT If I Started Again as a Personal Trainer in 2026, I'd Do This We break down exactly how we'd approach getting our first 10 paying PT clients within 90 days. 👉    • If I Started Again as a Personal Trainer i...   How To Generate Leads for Personal Trainers Our complete lead-generation training for personal trainers who want to build a consistent pipeline of potential clients. 👉    • How To Generate Leads for Personal Trainers   💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION This episode exists because somebody took the time to leave us a question. We'd love to keep doing that. Are you currently employed, hybrid or fully self-employed? Are you considering moving into personal training from another career? Tell us about your situation in the comments. James and I read your questions, share our thoughts and use your suggestions to help shape future Coaching & Coffee episodes. If you're a UK personal trainer or fitness business owner looking to build a better business, subscribe for more practical conversations and free training resources. #PersonalTrainer #PTBusiness #FitnessBusiness