personal trainer – Bark.com Blog

Meet Kyle – Founder & CEO of HypertroFit LLC

We’re off to Cincinnati this week to chat with Kyle, Founder & CEO of HypertroFit LLC. HypertroFit LLC is a fully online personal training and nutrition coaching company servicing clients across the United States – quite literally from Alaska to Hawaii!

Tell us about your company

I’ve been involved in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and specialist in fitness nutrition since 2015 and started HypertroFit in 2017.

HypertroFit is a fully online training and nutrition coaching company servicing clients anywhere across the United States.

We specialize in body composition transformations, so weight loss, muscle growth, etc. as well as strength and performance.

What were you doing before you launched HypertroFit?

I was working as a personal trainer in a commercial gym, moved up to a management role and immediately knew that climbing higher up the corporate ladder wasn’t for me.

Not only that, I was already reaching a point where my entire day was full of in-person training clients and the only path I had for further growth was to charge more or completely revamp my business.

What made you want to start your own business?

I started HypertroFit to allow me to expand the reach of people I could help. Not only that, transitioning to online-based training and nutrition programs allowed me to take greater control of the aspects of my clients lives that lead to lasting progress, namely the habits they follow when they aren’t in the gym with me.

While nothing quite beats a 1:1 training session in person, the truth is you need to be much more focused on the 23 hours outside of the gym to really accomplish a fitness goal. And don’t get me wrong, my clients train HARD, but nutrition and recovery are paramount to creating physical adaptations, and being able to develop a program that details every aspect of the journey was exactly what I knew I needed to be doing to deliver at the highest level.

Why did you choose to join Bark?

I joined Bark in 2020 to explore another avenue for lead generation. As a business owner, I’m constantly looking for new ways to grow and reach more people. Things started to slow down a bit during the beginning of the pandemic, which allowed me to experiment with different platforms like Bark.

How have you found Bark?

Overall my experience has been great with Bark. It took a little bit of trial and error to find the right messaging and cadence to begin bringing in leads and converting them to new clients, but the platform has been great and the software is top-notch.

What’s the best thing about Bark?

The sheer volume of leads. I couldn’t possibly reply to all the potential people looking for help, even if I wanted to!

What are your top tips for success on Bark?

Know your target market. As I said earlier, I couldn’t possibly reach out to all of the people that come through looking for help with personal training or nutrition, nor would my message and approach work for every individual. Knowing the space you occupy and why you’re the best at what you do will help you find the right people to connect with and grow your business consistently.
Build up reviews as quickly as you can. This is one of the fastest ways to stand out.
Respond to direct messages and requests for quotes immediately. These are your hottest leads. If they have made the effort to reach out to you specifically, beyond just looking at your profile, you have a much higher chance of landing the job.

How helpful have you found our Customer Success Team?

Customer service has been great. I’ve honestly hardly had to interact with them because the process of using Bark has been so straightforward, but the few times we have crossed paths any issues I presented were resolved instantly.

Has Bark been useful for your business during the coronavirus pandemic?

Bark has been a great addition to my business through the pandemic. I’ve set multiple records in monthly revenue and already surpassed my annual revenue from 2019 with a month and a half to go, and a big part of that is due to Bark.

Anything else you’d like us to include!

This is a great platform for any new or seasoned entrepreneur. New features roll out frequently and the team behind the scenes are top-notch.

Kyle, you’re making us blush! It’s pretty amazing to hear about the rise of Kyle’s online business – we’re tempted to dial PT session ourselves… now where did we leave those DIY dumbbells?

Looking to get in shape but unwilling to move from your living room? Find HypertroFit LLC on Bark – guaranteed to get you moving wherever you are in the world.

You can find HypertroFit LLC on social media too! Check them out on Instagram at @hypertrofitceo and Youtube at HypertroFit.

And if you fancy some lunchtime inspiration on all things fitness, nutrition and business, check out their podcast on Spotify: Yesterday’s Coffee. You can get it on Apple too.

Inspired by Kyle’s story? Join as a professional on Bark to see a step-change in your business. Whether it’s improving your online presence or connecting with more customers remotely, we’ll get you there.

Meet Debra – Personal Trainer at PlatinumFit PRO

This week we’re off to White Plains in the US to speak with owner of PlatinumFit PRO personal training, Debra Ann.

Let’s hear about Debra’s journey growing her business with Bark.

Can you tell us a little bit about what you do?

I’m a certified personal trainer and health coach, with 20 years of experience in the field. I’m a muscle specialist, providing muscle centric movement to prevent, treat, or in some cases reverse chronic conditions that arise from being under muscled.

By age 30, we are no longer in a growth phase; we experience shifts in hormones and bone mass restructuring. Having a solid resistance training and nutritional plan in place are the foundations to ageing with strength and beauty.

Resistance training is not about looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger or…it could be. It’s about building on the strengths you already have, addressing concerns and achieving goals.

What made you join Bark?

I joined Bark in November 2020. I found it by accident when I was browsing the web. I surveyed my clients and a few were familiar with the site and had positive results. On that, I decided to roll the dice and set up a profile and purchase credits.

Tell us about your experience on Bark

Since joining a month ago, I have successfully anchored new clients. Bark has ample and qualified leads. I love the many distinctions on the client profile.

What’s the best thing about Bark?

Personal training is just that…personal. It is a one-on-one service that is a custom fit and tailored to the client. I feel Bark shares the same philosophy with its providers.

The Bark support team is on call 24 hours a day. They are kind, courteous and helpful. My questions are answered quickly and they provide clever suggestions which have been helpful when setting up my profile. I appreciate having Bark to help grow out my personal training business.

Anything else you’d like us to include?

Your customer service is the best I have come across. I feel supported by you all.

It was a real pleasure chatting with Debra and learning about her fitness philosophy – we wish we knew that much about how the body works!

If you’re looking for a Personal Trainer or Health Coach in the New York area, head over to PlatinumFit PRO’s Bark profile. Read reviews, find out more information and get in touch – all from one place!

Keen to meet more professionals? Head over to the professional spotlight section of our blog where you’ll find plenty of inspiration from people who have built fantastic careers on Bark, in a global pandemic!

Think the next success story could be yours? Join as a professional on Bark today!

How much does a personal trainer cost in the UK? 2022

Updated: Read our latest 2022 Personal Trainer price guide.

Average price of a personal trainer in the UK

£30 – £60 per hour

What can I expect to pay for a personal trainer?

Want to hire a personal trainer but not sure of the cost? Don’t sweat it! Read our handy guide to find out how much your fitness expert will charge for 1-2-1 sessions, group classes, Crossfit training, and more.

What is a Personal Trainer?

We all want to be the best versions of ourselves, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. With so many workout plans and exercise classes out there, finding a fitness routine that works for you can be daunting.

Whether it’s reaching your fitness goals, training for a marathon, or improving your technique, Bark can help you to find a personal trainer to give you the push you need to get there. A PT can support you through the hard days and celebrate the good ones, so what’s not to love?

How much does a personal trainer cost in the UK?

Achieving your fitness goals doesn’t happen overnight, so it’s essential to know how much hiring a personal trainer will cost. To give you an idea of how much people pay for a personal trainer, we’ve put together a handy breakdown of average costs based on the prices of local UK professionals:

Average Cost (per session)	£50
Minimum Cost (per session)	£30
Maximum Cost (per session)	£60

What changes the price of hiring a personal trainer?

The cost of a personal trainer can vary depending on a number of factors. These include:

The professional’s education and experience
One-to-one vs. group training sessions
Price per session – hourly rates or package deals
Type of training
Location

The personal trainer’s education and experience

When choosing a personal trainer it’s important to consider the level of their education and experience. In the UK, the Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification equips a personal trainer to work one-to-one with clients. Beyond this, their experience can range anywhere from having a degree in human anatomy and wellness to being a professional athlete. In a nutshell, the more experience your pro has, the more you pay.

An experienced or specialised trainer could charge up to £80 per hour – this can increase if you’re in a big city like London, so be prepared to spend big bucks if you’re looking to hire the creme de la creme in the capital.

One-to-one vs. group training sessions

Most professional trainers offer group and one-to-one training sessions. One-to-one classes are tailored to your individual needs, which is why they are more expensive than group sessions. Most group sessions are small, so while you might not get as much one-on-one attention, your personal trainer will still have plenty of time to tend to your needs. Working out with friends also lowers the cost per person, so it’s a win-win.

Price per session (hourly rate or package deals)

Personal trainers usually offer discounts on packages of multiple sessions which reduces the hourly rate. As most people want to hire a personal trainer over a longer period of time instead of for a one-time session, it’s a no brainer that paying for multiple sessions is the better option. Here’s a breakdown of common discounts offered by personal trainers, but don’t be afraid to haggle if you want a better deal.

Block of 10 Personal Training Sessions – 10% discount (on average)
Block of 20 Personal Training Sessions – 20% discount (on average)

Type of personal training

The cost per session can vary depending on the type of training. If you’re opting for Boxing or Crossfit, expect to pay more as personal trainers need advanced skills to teach these classes. To give you a better idea, we’ve put together a summary of common personal training types and their average costs:

Type of workout (per session)	Average cost
Strength training	£35
Boxing lessons	£50
CrossFit	£50
Circuit training	£30
High Intensity Interval (HIIT)	£50
Body sculpting	£30

If you want a tailor-made nutrition plan alongside your workouts, be prepared to pay more.

Location of your personal trainer

It’s no surprise that big cities have big prices. If you live somewhere like London, you could spend nearly double what you would elsewhere for a professional trainer with the same qualifications and experience.

Remember, prices in London can jump to around £80 – £120 if you are looking to hire a super-specialised or experienced instructor.

Here’s a rough breakdown of costs per location:

Location	Maximum Cost (per session)	Minimum Cost (per session)	Average Cost (per session)
Outside London	£40	£20	£30
Inside London	£120	£30	£50

Is hiring a personal trainer worth the cost?

With a personal trainer, you can set realistic, achievable goals tailored to your fitness ability and training needs. While it comes at a cost, having a healthier body and mind will be well worth the investment. A personal trainer also means you don’t need to fork out for monthly gym membership fees!

Your body is a temple, so give it the love and attention it deserves by hiring a personal trainer with Bark.

Find a Personal Trainer on Bark.com

Electricians revealed as the highest-earning self-employed pros in the UK

There are pros and cons to going solo, however over the last few years more and more people have made the switch to self-employed work.

With hundreds of thousands of self-employed pros using Bark.com, we’re in a unique position to find out which professional is the highest paid in the UK, when self-employed, and how it compares to their employed counterpart’s salary.

Surveying 20,000 professionals across 11 key sectors from our platform, we asked service providers about their earnings to find out the UK salary average for each service. In addition to information on their earnings, self-employed professionals were asked about their lifestyle and work-homelife balance. The research took a few months to collect due to the magnitude of the project. but allowed for a wealth of data for us to draw our conclusions from.

When results were processed it was obvious across all sectors that those who are self-employed have the potential to earn far more than their employed counterparts, and in some cases more than double.

Interestingly, electricians top the list of the highest earning self-employed pros, and independent cleaners can earn close to £30k a year, three times the amount of employed cleaners!

Here are the highest paid self-employed service providers in the UK:

1. Electricians £51,200

Employed salary £27,287

2. Counsellors £45,111

Employed salary £24,544

3. Landscape gardeners £40,140

Employed salary £19,143

4. Make-up artists £38,918

Employed salary £20,952

5. Graphic designers £38,760

Employed salary £22,012

6. Photographers £36,823

Employed salary £20,812

7. Plumbers £36,359

Employed salary £23,788

8. Tutors £34,147

Employed salary £22,630

9. Painter and decorators £33,075

Employed salary £21,405

10. Personal trainers £33,029

Employed salary £19,494

11. Cleaners £29,584

Employed salary £10,573

Despite a massive 90% of respondents stating that their workload is much more now that they are self-employed, more than two-thirds (68%) of professionals stated that they have been far more successful in keeping a healthy home and work balance. Nearly three quarters (73%) of respondents felt that their increased stress levels are worth it for the monetary increase.

Kai Feller, Bark.com co-founder, said,

“At Bark we work with thousands of self-employed sole traders, and thought it would be interesting to see how much they earn a year. We picked the top 11 most popular self-employed sectors in the UK, and you can see why so many people decide to go self-employed – a good living can be made from all of the professions.

“The survey took a good couple of months, but was well worth the wait, because the results speak for themselves – being self-employed results in a much higher income. We were expecting them to earn more, but almost double on average is a huge increase. That being said being self-employed comes with a lot more work, responsibility and pressure more often than not, it’s definitely not a career choice to be taken lightly.”

Turns out that going self-employed might be more beneficial than you thought!

*https://www.payscale.com/

How to make the most out of the Summers evenings

Summer – it’s definitely one of the best times of the year. The evenings are longer, the sun is (mostly!) shining and everyone seems to have a spring in their step. Let the good times roll…. for the time being. We’re soon to be faced with the dark, dreary monster that is… WINTER.

When Winter rolls in and you find yourself dreaming about long summer evenings, don’t live in regret having spent your sunnier days curled up re-watching episodes of Breaking Bad on Netflix!

But do you need some inspiration? Don’t fret – Bark have got you covered, with some of the best ideas for Summer evening activities. It’s time to make the most of the season, creating some special memories with your mates along the way.

Park life – Want to boost your mood and physical energy? Then ditch the gym membership and get yourself to the park! Even the experts agree; according to Jo Barton of the University of Essex exercising in the fresh air could be “life-changing”. Yes – life changing! And not only that, exercising in nature also “lifts your mood and boosts your self-esteem”. Still not convinced? Why not bring the world of the gym outside with you by hiring the best personal trainer to put you through your paces? Sign us up – ASAP!

Awaken your inner adrenaline junkie – Use the Summer to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Why not take a trip to the UK’s first inflatable sports aqua park? Or enrol in Flying Trapeze School? Take the plunge and do something a little different – it will give you something new to chat about in work on Monday!

Host a garden party – We’re all for parties at Bark.com. Any old excuse will do! While we’re all too used to partying indoors, Summer gives us an opportunity to take the fun (and the dancing) outside. With the help from a Bark.com gardener, turn your garden into the perfect party paradise. Simple touches can help set the vibe – be it themed décor to ambient lighting. White holiday lights are perfect for a Summers evening; string them along fences and wrap around small bushes. If you really want to impress your pals, why not hire a bartender to keep the drinks flowing all evening? It’ll be the party your neighbours wish they had organised…

Visit a rooftop bar – Taste the high life by relaxing with friends at a rooftop bar long into the Summer evening. These top rooftop bars across the UK are perfect for a sunny tipple, often with fantastic sights and views to boot!

Dance the night away – Let’s face it, the British weather is very unreliable. We can’t enjoy the great outdoors when the rain is pouring down in the middle of July, but we can still act like the sun is splitting the rocks – right? Why not get your sunny disposition straight to the dancefloor? Not only will you increase your exercise levels, but you’ll have fun and meet new people at the same time. Happy mind, happy body. With the rise in popularity of TV shows like Strictly Come Dancing, many people across the UK are taking up ballroom dancing lessons. Maybe one day you’ll be so good that you’ll perform at events, or feature in the next series of Strictly? Your dancefloor awaits you…

dancing class — Get your dancing shoes on!

A Summer well spent brings a year of content – so make the most of what is left of yours!

For more Bark.com top tips, why not check out our other blogs?

Have our suggestions inspired you? Or have you found a quirky Summer activity? Let us know what has been memorable this Summer!