How My Personal Trainer Built a Six Figure Business In Less Than One Year

[Jaywalker]

In MJ's novels, he routinely talks about how personal training is a Slowlane business. However, my personal trainer created a Fastlane opportunity despite potential naysayers.

I hired Mike Gettier at Gettfit when I hit a plateau on my fitness goals. After years of running around in circles, I wanted someone to develop a routine for me so that I could actually make constant progress.

And boy did he deliver.

Here’s a list of benefits since hiring him:

I’ve lost 60lbs



My bench has gone up by 95 lbs.

I adjusted my diet so that I am no longer prediabetic.

I sleep better.

My stress is lower.

My mental health is better.

I actually get too many matches on dating apps and have to qualify down the potential list of partners. In addition, I have had women walk up to me in the gym and hand me their number. And I’m still a long way away from the Scooby1961 physique.

As time progressed, I became curious about his business and we talked shop from time to time. He, in turn, gave me some great data about how he started his business after a few years of working in the industry.

He started by creating a Facebook group and inviting everyone that he knew.

The Facebook page gradually grew. In addition, he maxed out his messages to people that he did not know per day (150 per day). The group grew to 5.2k people.

He used this message with them:

“Hey Scotty! I'm a pro fitness competitor, online trainer, and nutrition coach and I have my own group that's focused on helping others build muscle, get leaner, and become stronger through proper training, nutrition, and making lifestyle choices that support those goals. Lots of awesome people sharing their progress, motivating each other, and supporting each other. It's free to join, so thought I'd invite you since you're in other similar groups


Reach out if you have any questions!”

Ending with "Reach out if you have any questions!" helped because it left the door open for them to reach out. And what would happen sometimes is that they'd reach out with a training or nutrition question. He helped them out a bit, built some trust, and showed them he knew what he’s doing, etc.

This grew his business off the ground. So I asked him a few questions that I’ll repost on this forum:

What is the ballpark range of your organization's revenue?

We're just over 8.5 months into 2025 as I'm writing this and I've done $105,000, so I'll probably end the year around $155,000–$160,000

What does your day to day life look like now?
I start each morning by checking in with clients—responding to emails, texts, and social media messages—and making any needed adjustments to their nutrition and training plans. From Thursday through the weekend, most of my time is devoted to client check-ins.

I have more flexibility Monday through Wednesday to focus on creating content for social media, my email newsletter, or my blog (I’ve been slacking on the blog, but I’m working on getting back into it). When I’m not helping clients or creating content, I’m focused on generating leads and finding new ways to improve my coaching service.

What were some of the things that people said when you started the business?
I didn’t get any pushback when I decided to start my business. My mom is naturally more cautious and tends to play things safe—so while she had some concerns, she never tried to talk me out of it or doubted me. My dad, having already started a business himself, is more of an optimist and risk-taker, and he encouraged me to go for it.

I’ve always had a small but very close circle of friends, and they were supportive from the start. What I’ve learned, though, is that success, or even making big positive changes in your life, has a way of showing you who your real friends are. The ones who truly support you will stick around, while others may grow distant or even resentful because your progress makes them uncomfortable.

Why did you start a business in the first place? Was it purely money? Lifestyle?
A little bit of everything to varying degrees. Money wasn't the main motivator, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't one of them. I mainly started because I wanted freedom. Freedom to choose what I work on, who I work with, how I structure my day, and where I live.

I also wanted to create a bigger impact beyond training clients in a single gym. I did that for years, but my reach and how much I could truly help was limited. Since transitioning online, I’ve been able to deliver far better results. There’s more accountability, and I can provide the nutrition support that’s often missing with in-person training.

Any words of wisdom for others that are thinking about making the jump or already making the jump?
Building a business, much like building your body, requires more patience and persistence than you think. Consistency will always matter more than short bursts of effort. Get clear on your “why"—why you are doing this and why it's important to you. It’s what will keep you going when things get tough.

View challenges and stress as opportunities to learn and improve. Stay curious and keep your eyes open. There are opportunities everywhere. They might be lessons, new ideas, or potential clients, but you’ll only catch them if you’re prepared and willing to act. What most people see as “luck” is really just curiosity, awareness, and taking advantage of small chances others overlook.

Be patient, be persistent, and be consistent.

What are your stress levels operating the business?
It varies, but on average on a scale of 1–10, 10 being the most stressful, I'd say a 3.

Having high standards sometimes makes me hard on myself. I’ll catch myself comparing my business to others or overthinking things. But when I take a step back and look at the big picture—the awesome clients I’m working with, the results they’re getting, and the people I’ve helped in the past—it reminds me I’m on the right track.

How did you get customers when you first started out?
When I first started, Facebook was my main way of getting clients. I launched my own group, joined several others, and made it a daily goal to start conversations, build relationships, and consistently add value.

What's your "Why" behind your operation?
Health and fitness have been a passion of mine ever since I started lifting weights at 12 or 13 years old. I grew up in a household that valued healthy eating, and over the years I’ve seen how training, staying active, eating well, and taking care of myself have positively transformed every area of my life.

That’s why I believe getting in shape is one of the most powerful ways to improve both yourself and your life. I want to pay that forward by teaching others how to lift safely and effectively, improve their nutrition, and guiding them through the process so they can experience those same life-changing benefits.

Have you had any admin errors setting up the business bank account etc that have cost you money?
None come to mind, aside from a videographer I paid a couple thousand dollars to take hundreds of videos for my exercise video library. He delivered most of them, but a number were missing with no explanation. Other than that, with a one-person business that’s fully online, my operating expenses stay very low.

What are some key resources that have helped your journey?
I had no idea where to start, so I hired a nutrition business coach—Jason Phillips at the Nutrition Coaching Institute. He was extremely helpful during the first six months, and from there my business really started to take off.

Why do you think you're successful in a space that many think is oversaturated and crowded?
The industry may seem oversaturated, but I don’t believe it is. Not if you truly care and commit to constantly improving as a coach. Most people aren’t just looking for a program. There's lots of programs out there, even free ones. They want someone they trust, who listens, understands their challenges and desires, and helps them follow through.

Coaching is about more than training plans and nutrition advice. It’s also about being a great communicator and building strong relationships. There may be plenty of coaches out there, but truly great ones are rare.

 

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