How to Launch a Wildly Profitable Semi-Private Training Program in Your Gym

Are you looking to boost your gym's revenue while delivering an amazing experience for your clients? At Gym Launch, we're huge fans of semi-private training programs - and for good reason. These programs let you charge personal training prices while working with 4-6 people in a single session. It's a fantastic way to increase your profit margins and transform more lives.

Let's break down exactly how to start a successful semi-private program in your training facility.

Before You Begin: Make Sure You're Ready

Before introducing semi-private training to your facility, check these boxes:

1. Reach 75% capacity in your large group training classes first. Master one offering before adding another, as semi-private requires a slightly different skill set.
2. Get your pricing right. Semi-private training should be priced between $119-$149 per week. This is crucial - even if it’s tempting, don't go lower. This is one of the most highly valued fitness programs, combining personalized attention with the motivation of a small group environment.

Why Semi-Private Works So Well

Semi-private training offers the best of both worlds:

• Clients get a smaller, more intimate community
• They receive much more personal attention from coaches
• The group setting still provides the social motivation many people need
• More attention = better results = more testimonials and referrals

How to Roll Out Your Semi-Private Program Successfully

Here's our step-by-step strategy for launching a semi-private program without spending a dollar on advertising:

Phase 1: The Secret Beta (Weeks 1-4)

1. Don't advertise publicly. Keep it top secret initially.
2. Identify your top 10 clients - your raving fans who never miss payments, bring referrals, and are still working toward fitness goals.
3. Create mystery and exclusivity by having them sign NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) before you even tell them about the program.
4. Meet with each one individually for 15-30 minutes to introduce your "top secret 12-week transformation program."
5. Offer a special discount of 30-50% off what will be the public price, since they're your beta testers.
6. Remind them it's confidential - they can't tell anyone else at the gym about it.

What happens next? Other members will notice these clients getting special attention and doing something different. When they ask, no one can tell them about it because of the "NDAs." This creates massive curiosity and demand.

Phase 2: The Second Wave (Weeks 5-8)

1. After 4 weeks, approach your next 10 best clients.
2. Follow the same process, but offer a smaller discount (10-25%).

Phase 3: The Third Wave (Weeks 9-12)

Recruit another 10 people, but now charge them full price ($119-$149/week).

After those 20 weeks, you can open the program to all members and the public.

How to Implement the Program (Training and Programming)

Many gym owners struggle with the logistics of semi-private training, but it's actually quite simple:

Programming Structure

• Treat it similarly to large group training with focused training days
• Set a theme for each day (upper push/lower pull, etc.)
• Customize for each person with appropriate progressions or regressions
• Everyone works the same muscle groups with variations suited to their ability

Sample Session Structure

1. 5-minute warm-up
2. 3-5 minutes of power work
3. Strength block 1 (e.g., bench press variations)
4. Strength block 2 (e.g., lat pull-down or rowing variations)
5. Mobility piece
6. Possibly another strength block
7. Conditioning

The key is that clients rotate through stations, with each person doing appropriate variations of the same basic movement patterns.

Creating an Amazing Client Experience

• Have coaches reach out weekly to check in
• Offer easy access for questions and feedback
• Create a VIP-style service feeling
• Build strong relationships with clients

Coach Compensation

Here's a surprising insight: You don't need to pay coaches more for semi-private sessions. Why? Because coaching 4 people is actually easier than coaching 20. Pay them the same hourly rate, which means your profit margins increase significantly.

If coaches handle additional responsibilities like programming, you can pay them extra for that specific work.

Timing Is Everything

Implement semi-private at the right time. If you only have 30-50 members, they're essentially already getting semi-private attention. Wait until you have sufficient demand and your large group classes are at least 75% full.

The beautiful part? As clients move from large group to semi-private, you open up spaces in your large group classes that you can fill with new members - allowing you to continue growing and scaling your business.