To hire a gym coach well, run a clear process: write a job ad that filters for values, hold a relaxed video call, ask direct questions about their life and money, watch them coach a real session, then make an offer with room to grow. Character first. Coaching skill can be taught.
This is the process Jenz Robinson walks gym owners through inside Gym Owner Network, and it's the same one used to build the coaching team at MARCHON. It's laid out step by step in the video below, with the templates on screen.
Watch the video
How To Hire A Gym Coach: Job Ad, Interview, Offer
Why hiring your first coach feels so scary
Most owners put off their first hire for the same reasons. Not enough work for them. Not enough money. What if they're the wrong person? Those fears are real, and they're also the reason so many owners coach 30 sessions a week for years.
Before you write a single word of the job ad, do two things on paper. First, list every fear you have about the hire. Second, list what the hire lets you do. Then put a number on it.
Here's the maths we use. A coach taking 10 extra hours a week lets you serve roughly 30 more members. At an average of £200 a month, that's £6,000 a month, or £72,000 a year. Once that number is on the page, most of the fears shrink.
What should a gym coach job ad say?
A good gym coach job ad sells the role and filters out the wrong people in the same breath. Lead with your local mission, list the values you hire for, then show what the job includes. Post it on your socials, email list, and member groups. Your best candidate is often already in your community.
The values we hire for are simple, and we write them straight into the ad:
- People person. You love people, people love you, and you love helping them grow.
- You love training. Fitness is part of your life. You don't need to be the most jacked person in the room. Relatable beats intimidating.
- You love being part of a team. PT is a lonely job. A team is one of the biggest reasons good trainers move.
- Attention to detail. From how programmes are written to how members are greeted.
- You want to grow and be led. A white belt mindset. Hungry to be coached.
Some people will read that and think it's too much to ask. Good. They wouldn't fit your gym anyway.
Then show the offer: full-time salary, paid holiday, ongoing CPD, fast personal development, and a team to belong to. Ask for a cover letter or a video under two minutes. Give a 7 to 10 day deadline, and ask readers to share it with anyone who'd be a great fit.
One rule underneath all of this: you should always be hiring. Keep an eye on the good trainer at your local big-box gym who's doing it alone. Build the relationship now. One day they'll be ready for a team.
What if they aren't Level 3 qualified?
If the character is right, fund the qualification. Protect the investment with a short agreement: 80% repaid if they leave in the first three months, 40% within six months, nothing once they've been with you 12 months. If that coach lets you serve 40 more members at £200, the course pays for itself inside a month.
How do you interview a gym coach?
Interview a gym coach in two stages. Stage one is a relaxed video call where you listen more than you talk, then ask direct questions about their personal and financial situation. Stage two is a practical: they coach you and a trusted member through a session they've written.
Stage one: the video call
Invite them with a short message naming three things you liked in their application. It tells them you actually read it.
On the call, let the conversation flow. The number of owners who ask us "what questions should I ask?" is huge. Drop the cringe interview questions. Be present and trust your gut.
Then pre-frame the direct part: "These next questions might feel direct, but they help us be honest with each other." Ask:
- How old are you? Single or in a relationship? Living at home or alone?
- How would you get to the gym, and how long would it take?
- What are you paid now, and what do you need to take home each month to cover your bills?
- Is there anything else I should know?
Close by saying you have more applicants to see, even if you don't. People value a role more when they feel they've earned it. And always reply to unsuccessful candidates. Ask if you can keep their details on file.
Stage two: the practical session
Tell successful candidates they've passed phase one. Then book them into a quiet time of day to coach you and one or two members through a workout they've written, for up to 40 minutes.
Set the bar low and make your intentions clear. They'll be nervous. You're judging communication, attention to detail, and energy, not their deadlift cueing. Technical gaps are fine. They're room to grow under you.
Finish with three questions: How did you enjoy that? What did you do well? What would you have done differently? The last one is the most telling. A coach who spots their own mistake is a coach you can develop.
How do you make a gym coach a job offer?
Make the offer on a call before you send anything in writing. Confirm what they need to take home, when they can start, and their notice period. Then offer below your ceiling with a review date, so you can reward them as they add value. Send the formal offer and contract only once the numbers are agreed.
Say they need £1,800 a month take-home and you value the role at up to £2,000. You might start at £1,600 with a review at three months, aiming for the full figure within 6 to 12 months if they move the business. Always leave room to grow. Don't hire at your maximum with nowhere to go.
Once they sign:
- Tell your accountant and get them onto payroll as a new starter.
- Make the contract yours. Read every line, don't just copy one.
- Order their kit. Post it with a handwritten welcome card. It's one of the classiest moves you can make.
- On day one, take a headshot and celebrate them on your socials and member groups.
That public welcome matters. It shows your members you're investing in their experience, and it shows your new coach they've joined something serious.
Hiring is also where pricing catches up with you. If you can't afford a coach, the problem is usually the margin per session, not the hire. Here's how to price small group PT so a team becomes affordable.
Frequently asked questions
Should I hire a gym coach who isn't Level 3 qualified?
Yes, if their character is right. Fund the qualification and protect the investment with a simple clawback agreement. You can teach coaching. You can't teach warmth, standards, or a love of training.
What questions should I ask in a gym coach interview?
Skip the scripted interview questions. Have a natural conversation, then ask direct questions about where they are personally, professionally, and financially. What they take home now and what they need each month tells you more than any trick question.
How much should I pay my first gym coach?
Start from what they need to take home each month, then check the cost to the business. Offer below your ceiling with a review at three months, so there's room to reward good work.
How long should a gym coach job ad stay open?
Seven to ten days. Long enough for good people to apply and share it, short enough to keep momentum.
Hire for character, coach the rest
Your first coach doesn't need to be the best technician in town. They need to love people, love training, and want to be led. Build the process once, and every hire after gets easier. Watch the full hiring walkthrough on YouTube to see the templates on screen.