The Solo Trainer

Helping personal trainers go from gym employee to independent business owner. Mom, former manager for 40+ trainers, and successful business owner.

I'm sharing with you everything you need to start, grow, and manage your own thriving business.

06/01/2026

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

“What should I charge?”

And the truth is, your pricing shouldn’t be based on what feels fair or what someone else is charging.

It should be based on your financial goals, your business expenses, and how much you actually want to take home.

In my latest podcast episode, I walk you through how to calculate your minimum hourly rate so you can price your services with confidence.

🎧 What Should You Charge as an Independent Personal Trainer?

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why many trainers undercharge
• How to work backward from your income goal
• What to do if your number feels too high
• How to build pricing that supports your life

🎧 Listen on Spotify - https://buff.ly/g2IdvpJ
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcast - https://buff.ly/xd7iZlr

05/18/2026

What Independent Trainers Actually Take Home (It’s Not What You Think)
🎧 Listen on Spotify - https://buff.ly/40TLo50
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcast - https://buff.ly/MSotOOc

One of the biggest surprises for trainers when they go independent…
is realizing that what you charge is not what you actually take home.

You might be charging $100 per session…
but after expenses, taxes, and everything it takes to run your business…
that number looks very different.

And if you don’t understand that early on, it can lead to:
Underpricing your services
Feeling unsure about your income
And working more without seeing the return you expected

That’s exactly what I talk about in my latest podcast episode.

In this episode, I break down the basics of business finances in a way that’s simple, practical, and directly applicable to your training business.

If you’re already independent or thinking about going out on your own, this is an important one.

05/04/2026

I’m starting a new podcast series on something that doesn’t get talked about enough in our industry…

Business finances.

Because I see so many personal trainers who are:
✨ Working a lot
✨ Doing well with clients
✨ But still feeling stressed when it comes to money

And it’s not because they’re doing anything wrong…
It’s because no one ever taught them how to manage the business side.

In this first episode, I cover:
✔️ The biggest financial mistakes trainers make
✔️ The do’s and don’ts that actually matter
✔️ And how to start building a more sustainable, profitable business

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or unsure when it comes to your business finances, I think this will really help.

🎧 Listen on Spotify - https://buff.ly/JpfhZgl
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://buff.ly/cv8ik5N

04/20/2026

A trainer messaged me after my last podcast and said something that stuck with me:

He’s working 190 hours a month…
Trying to build more on the side…
And feels like he has nothing left for himself.

And the hard part?

He loves what he does. He’s good at it. Opportunities keep coming his way.

But it’s become too much.

In this week’s podcast episode, I share:

What I told him
The exercise I walked him through
And how to start figuring out what actually needs to change

Because this isn’t just about working hard…

It’s about building something that’s sustainable.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or pulled in too many directions, I think this will really resonate with you.

🎧 Listen here:

Spotify - https://buff.ly/kGLdGUm

Apple Podcast - https://buff.ly/iMNwdVz

03/23/2026

Sometimes the hardest part of running your own business…

is realizing you’ve created something that no longer feels the way you wanted it to.

I recorded a very honest episode this week sharing something I’ve had to admit to myself:

Even though I’ve built a training business that supports my life…
I’ve been letting another part of my business run me.
And it’s not sustainable.

In this episode, I talk about:

How this happened (even when I know better)
The pressure to keep doing more
What I’m choosing to scale back

And a reminder that you’re allowed to build your business around your life—again and again, in different seasons

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or stretched too thin, I think this will really resonate with you.

🎧 Listen Spotify: When Your Business Runs You: https://buff.ly/prx9Hig

🎧 Listen Apple Podcast: https://buff.ly/r7JAMsk

03/19/2026

Want the secret to a decade-long training business?

It’s not a “perfect program.”

It’s relationships.

Carol says the best trainers listen. Verbal cues. Nonverbal cues. Energy. Stress. Life.

Some days the plan gets thrown out because what your client actually needs is:

Gentle movement
Stretching and core work
A safe space to talk

Talk less. Listen more. That’s the job.

Full episode is live.

.s.boruch

03/17/2026

How long have you been telling yourself you’ll raise your rates “soon”?

Jen waited 4 years. Then a client said, “You’re undercharging yourself.”

She raised them… and nobody left.

Some clients literally said, “I was wondering when you’d do this.”

So let’s make this simple.

You’re worth the value. Stop waiting.

Full episode is live.

.s.boruch

03/12/2026

Do you undervalue your training services?

Carol built a private studio, buys equipment when clients need it, personalizes everything… and still felt weird about charging what she’s worth.

Then one of her clients, a former CEO, hit her with this.

“You’re undervaluing yourself. Stop doing that.”

If you needed that reminder today, here it is.

Watch and listen to the episode at The Solo Trainer Podcast!

.s.boruch

03/10/2026

Military spouse. Fitness classes on base. Then the YMCA spotted her talent and it all took off.

Carol built her career by following opportunities, getting certified, and teaching seven classes a week. That’s the real kickoff story most trainers can relate to.

Want the full episode? It’s live on The Solo Trainer Podcast.

Free Guidebook + Checklist in bio.

.s.boruch

03/05/2026

"We have to stay ahead of the AI... that's how we stay relevant." 🗣️

In 2003, a trainer just had to know more than the average person. In 2015, we had to know more than YouTube. In 2026, we have to know more than Artificial Intelligence.

If your programming is basic, a client can get it for free from an app. Jeff Melis breaks down exactly why maintaining the "Knowledge Gap" is the only way to survive in this new era of fitness.

If you aren't offering something an algorithm can't, you are becoming obsolete. 📉

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Solo Trainer to learn how to widen the gap and secure your career.

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https://thesolotrainer.com/

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