As a newly qualified personal trainer, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is how you want to deliver your sessions. Should you focus on 1-to-1 training, where all attention is on one client, or embrace the growing popularity of Group PT, where you coach multiple clients at the same time?
Both approaches have unique benefits and challenges. Understanding the differences will help you choose the right path for your business and your clients.
Here are five key points to consider when deciding between Group PT and 1-to-1 training:
1.Client Experience and Attention
In 1-to-1 Personal Trainer sessions, the client gets your full attention, with every detail tailored to their needs, goals, and abilities. In Group PT, clients still receive personal coaching, but attention is shared, so they must be able to follow instructions in a group environment. Both methods can be highly effective, but they provide different client experiences.
2. Cost and Accessibility for Personal Trainer Clients
Group PT is typically made up of three to 6 clients. It is often priced at a lower cost per session, making personal training more accessible to clients who can’t afford 1-to-1 sessions. This means you can attract a wider audience and help more people benefit from your expertise. However, some clients will prefer paying more for the privacy and tailored support of 1-to-1 training.
3. Income and Business Growth
From a business perspective, Group Personal Training can be more lucrative because you earn from multiple clients in the same time slot. 1-to-1 training may generate higher income per client, but growth is limited by the number of hours you can deliver. Many successful PTs combine both to balance income and flexibility.
If a PT charges £45 for a 1-to-1 session, they earn £45 for that hour. But if they run a Group PT session with 4 clients paying £20 each, that’s £85 in the same hour. The clients pay 55% less individually, but the trainer earns almost double all while delivering high-quality coaching.
4. Personal Trainer Coaching Skills Required
Group PT requires strong group management and communication skills, as you must keep multiple clients engaged, safe, and progressing at the same time. 1-to-1 training focuses more on detailed coaching, education, and feedback. Both formats will stretch your skills as a trainer in different ways. If you are looking to work with more than 5 clients at a time, you would need to look at the Level 2 Circuit Training qualification. At this point, it starts to deviate from the skills learned at level 3 PT and becomes about managing a larger group.
5. Client Goals and Suitability
Some clients thrive in a group setting, enjoying the social support and accountability it provides. Others need the privacy and close monitoring of 1-to-1 training, especially if they are new, nervous, or managing specific injuries. Being able to recommend the best fit for each client builds your professionalism and trust.
The best way to learn these skills is through practical, in-person training. Face-to-face practice helps you develop confidence in both 1-to-1 and group coaching. It allows you to practice coaching, get feedback from tutors, and refine your approach in a safe environment.
This can’t be learned effectively from behind a laptop screen. Personal training is hands-on, and your development depends on live experience. That’s why our Personal Trainer courses include face to face atendance days in our Milton Keynes Academy, leaving you knowledgeable and confident to teach Group PT and 1 to 1 clients.
Summary: Both Group PT and 1-to-1 training have their place in a successful personal training business. Group PT offers accessibility, social support, and business growth, while 1-to-1 training provides focused, tailored coaching for individual needs. The best trainers often blend the two, maximising client results and their own career success.
👉 Ready to master both Personal Trainer formats?
Explore our Personal Trainer courses at our Milton Keynes Academy and gain the skills to coach confidently in any setting.
Find out more about our Personal Training course here >>
https://courses.parallelcoaching.co.uk/products/become-a-personal-trainer
Want to learn more about becoming a personal trainer?
Watch our free 4-part video series answering all common questions and showing you all the details HERE
Sources
- CIMSPA Professional Standards for Personal Trainers
- International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching (2021). Effectiveness of group vs. individual training in fitness settings.
- American Council on Exercise (ACE). Business models for personal trainers.
Dedicated to More
Hayley “Personal Trainer Series: Group PT vs. 1-to-1” Bergman
Parallel Coaching
P.S. You can also find us on the following platforms:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parallelcoaching
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParallelCoaching
YouTube: http://bit.ly/2F1Z1bs
Read more blogs about becoming a PT: HERE
TrustPilot Reviews: HERE