Books and Resources to Start Strong
Before you invest in equipment, invest in knowledge. These books will help you understand the business side of personal training, client psychology, and effective program design. They’ll save you money by preventing costly mistakes and help you stand out in a crowded market.
The Complete Guide to Personal Training by Douglas Brooks
This is the foundational text for anyone serious about personal training. Brooks covers assessment protocols, program design, nutrition basics, and client communication—all essential before you start training anyone. It’s technical enough to be credible but written clearly enough that you won’t get lost in jargon.
Shop The Complete Guide to Personal Training on Amazon →
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Negotiation skills directly impact your bottom line. Voss’s techniques apply to client onboarding, rate conversations, and vendor negotiations. You’ll use these principles when discussing pricing with prospects and handling objections about your service cost.
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Built to Sell by John Warrillow
Most personal trainers think about one-on-one sessions. This book shows you how to build a business that doesn’t require your personal presence for every dollar earned. It’s relevant even if you never plan to sell—the systems thinking will help you scale online training without burning out.
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Contagious by Jonah Berger
Online trainers succeed through word-of-mouth and client referrals. Berger explains the psychology of what makes people share information and recommend services. Understanding this will help you design client experiences that naturally generate referrals—often more valuable than paid advertising.
Equipment You Need
Your equipment needs depend on your training model. If you’re doing purely online coaching with video form checks, your baseline is much lower than if you’re offering hybrid sessions. Start with what enables your first 10 clients, then expand based on client feedback and your revenue.
Computer and Camera Setup
- Laptop or desktop: You need reliable processing power for video calls with multiple clients simultaneously and for editing demonstration videos. A MacBook Pro or mid-range Windows laptop ($800–1,500) handles most demands.
- Webcam: Clients need to see your form and coaching cues clearly. A 1080p or 4K webcam is essential for credibility.
- Ring light: Proper lighting matters more than an expensive camera. A ring light ensures clients see your demonstrations clearly and you look professional on video calls.
- Microphone: Audio quality matters more than video quality to most clients. A USB condenser mic beats built-in laptop audio by a wide margin.
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Video Platform and Software
- Coaching platform: Trainerize, TrueCoach, or Coaching Engage ($30–100/month) let you assign workouts, receive video form checks, and message clients in one place.
- Video conferencing: Zoom is standard for live training sessions and consultations (paid account: $15.99/month).
- Screen recording: Camtasia or ScreenFlow ($60–100 one-time) let you create exercise demonstration videos and client education content.
Home or Studio Space Equipment
- Adjustable dumbbells: PowerBlocks or Bowflex adjustable sets (25–50 lb range) are space-efficient and let you demonstrate progressions.
- Resistance bands: Loop bands and tube bands with handles provide variety and travel easily for client demonstrations.
- Yoga mat: For floor work, stretching, and core exercises. Essential if you train any clients in their homes.
- Foam roller: Useful for recovery demonstrations and warm-up education.
- Pull-up bar: A doorway bar adds bodyweight training options to your demo toolkit.
- Mirror or glass: If you set up a filming space at home, a large mirror or glass panel lets you see form from multiple angles while recording.
Shop adjustable dumbbells on Amazon →
Shop resistance bands on Amazon →
Optional But Useful Equipment
- Phone tripod or camera stand: Stabilizes your phone or camera for recording exercise demos hands-free.
- Kettlebell: Versatile for strength and conditioning demonstrations. Start with one 35–50 lb bell.
- Medicine ball: Useful for explosive and core work examples.
- TRX or suspension trainer: Adds variety to demonstrations without much space or cost.
- Interval timer or metronome app: Helps with pacing during live demo sessions.
What to Buy First vs Later
Your initial equipment investment should be under $2,000. Focus on what directly enables your first paying clients. Everything else is a scaling tool, not a foundation tool.
- Buy immediately: Laptop, webcam, microphone, ring light, coaching platform subscription, adjustable dumbbells, and resistance bands. These enable you to deliver quality coaching from day one.
- Buy after your first 5 clients: Screen recording software, pull-up bar, yoga mat, and a tripod. By then you’ll know if these match your training style.
- Buy after 10+ clients: Kettlebells, medicine balls, suspension trainers, or specialty equipment. Your clients and their preferences will guide what adds the most value.
- Avoid buying: A full home gym, expensive treadmill, or cable machine. Most online training happens without them, and they eat money and space.
New vs Used Equipment
Your spending strategy should change by category. Technology should be new because you need reliability and current software support. Fitness equipment is the opposite—used is often the smart choice.
Buy new: Laptop, camera, microphone, and ring light. These have short replacement cycles, come with warranties, and must work flawlessly during client sessions. A failed video call with a client costs far more than the $50 you might save used.
Buy used: Dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, yoga mats, and foam rollers. These are simple tools that don’t degrade meaningfully with age. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and local used sporting goods stores often have barely-used equipment from people’s New Year’s resolutions. You can typically save 30–50% without any quality loss.
Avoid used electronics. A cheap used webcam or microphone degrades your professional image more than the savings justify.
Where to Buy
- Amazon: Fast shipping, consistent pricing, and reliable returns make this your baseline for tech and smaller equipment. Use the links above.
- Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist: Search your local area for used dumbbells, kettlebells, and bars. You’ll save significantly and avoid shipping heavy items.
- Dick’s Sporting Goods and REI: For resistance bands, yoga mats, and foam rollers. They often have sales and their return policies are client-friendly if you later realize you need different equipment.
- B&H Photo and Video: If you want to upgrade camera or lighting gear, they offer better selection and pricing than Amazon for video equipment.
- Direct from fitness brands: PowerBlocks, TRX, and Bowflex often run sales on their websites. Subscribe to their emails for seasonal discounts.
- Local fitness equipment retailers: If your area has specialty shops, they can advise on equipment and sometimes offer discounts for bulk purchases or referrals.