The Personal Training Industry is Broken, and the ISSA is Trying to Fix it

Many fitness enthusiasts turn to personal training as a profession at some point in their adult lives, whether at the full-time or part-time level. However, statistics show that 80% of personal trainers don't make it past the two year mark.

Personal training is a low barrier-to-entry job. Basically, if you can pass the exam, you are a trainer and a local corporate gym will probably hire you. While the textbook will teach you about anatomy and workout programming, it won't teach you how to run a business.

The ISSA, one of the premier organizations in the field, is looking to change this. They've launched a new 5-course, 20-hour program in an effort to make personal training a more sustainable career. The Fitness Business Bundle includes courses on making money online, digital marketing, and even AI.

Part of the problem with personal training is that it is hard to scale. There are only so many hours in a day to train people. Since you are at the mercy of your clients' schedules, the hours can be scattered and chaotic as well. This is why so many trainers experience burnout, hence the 80% dropout rate referenced earlier. But by venturing into other opportunities and diversifying your income, it can be lucrative.

The path forward for any trainer that wants this to be a long-term career is to work smarter, not harder. Those who embrace the entrepreneurial side of the industry and build diversified income streams will be the ones who not only survive past that two year mark, but go on to build truly thriving careers in fitness.

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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 10:24 AM.