Growing a PT business

Growing a PT business is hard. This is a practical guide for scaling a PT business by working smarter, not harder. There are three core steps: setting realistic goals you can actually hit, turning quiet mid-day periods into profit, and consistently getting new clients.

1. Set Realistic Goals

Growth can feel overwhelming when targets are vague or too distant.

• Assess your current situation: Is being a PT already your full-time job, or is it part-time until you can guarantee a steady income? Are there gaps in your schedule that can be filled? What sort of work-life balance do you want? Most 1-to-1 in-person sessions are either early morning or late afternoon, which may not be ideal if you have children or a partner working a 9–5.
• Set your goals accordingly: If family time or socialising with friends who work 9–5 is important to you, protect those evenings. Don’t book sessions every night—otherwise PT burnout will hit you.
• 90-day target: You won’t get a flood of new clients overnight. A realistic goal is 5–7 new clients in the next 90 days. Remember, not every potential client will be available when you are, and vice versa. It may be tempting to train a client during the time you’ve set aside for yourself—don’t! Another client will come along who fits your schedule.
• Small consistent actions beat big sporadic ones: Just like training, results don’t happen overnight. Examples of small actions include:
  • Checking your social media settings (can people message you if you don’t follow them back?).
  • Reviewing your bio to ensure it’s up to date with prices and services.
  • Updating external directory listings with fresh photos and accurate details.
  • Building the habit of regular updates so new clients always see current information.

2. Online Coaching

If in-person sessions don’t align with your lifestyle, online coaching can be a powerful solution.

• Why online coaching? It can realistically be done during mid-day hours when demand for in-person sessions is low. This frees up early mornings and evenings for family, friends, or personal time.
• Flexibility: Online coaching allows you to scale without being tied to specific time slots. You can design programs, check in with clients, and deliver value without sacrificing your own schedule.
• Action step: If you’re struggling with burnout or want more balance, set a goal to grow your online coaching business alongside your in-person sessions.

3. Get More Clients (Consistently & Predictably)

Stop hoping for walk-ins or relying on sporadic social media posts. The trainers who fill their books fastest focus on three proven strategies:

• Word of mouth / Referrals: Offer existing clients a free session when their friend signs up for a session or block of sessions. One good client can bring 2–3 more within 12 months if you ask.
• List your services online: Many PTs don’t list their services online—or fail to include the details needed to show up in searches like “[My Area] Based PT.” That’s where sites like NewMePT.co.uk help. They appear on page one of Google for local searches, handle SEO and ads, and deliver new clients at a fraction of the cost of running ads yourself.
• Social proof: Ask one client each week to leave a 5-star review on platforms like NewMePT. Encourage long-term clients who’ve transformed to share before-and-after photos. Prospective clients trust real results more than any sales pitch.

Quick-Start Plan

1. Assess your situation and set realistic goals.
2. Check and update your bios and social media settings.
3. Set up your NewMePT.co.uk profile.
4. Ask existing clients for reviews, before-and-after photos, and referrals.