We’ll break down making more money for your time whilst your clients pay less, utilising Instagram Broadcast correctly, and moving away from selling packages.

Is 1-1 coaching dead? We wouldn’t shout it from the rooftop, but as the world changes, so do buying habits and spending power.

Small-group coaching is perfectly placed to ride the current trends and external pressures shaping how people approach personal training.

COVID kept us indoors, and when we finally stepped back into the world it reminded everyone how much community matters. A UK survey shows group-fitness participation is up by 16 percentage points since before the pandemic.

Now add the cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation. For many households, 1-1 personal training is one of the first luxuries to drop from the budget.

Small-group coaching benefits both coach and client. Instead of charging £50 for one person, you might coach four people at £25 each—doubling your hourly income while each client pays less. The extra revenue lets you add value beyond the session itself, so clients get more for their money.

You don’t need to scrap your 1-1 business, but if you don’t have a small-group offer soon, you could be left behind.

Business Idea

Microcycle AI is a “periodisation copilot” SaaS that helps S&C coaches design and adjust training cycles using AI.

Microcycle AI addresses a clear, time-sensitive pain for coaches and launches into a market with rising curiosity, low software penetration, and credible adjacent momentum.

These channels are like a private noticeboard inside Instagram. People opt in, and you send voice notes, polls, and quick updates straight to their DMs without battling the algorithm. The ones who join are your warmest leads.

Most coaching businesses, however, treat them as an afterthought—something they remember only when the channel has gone cold.

In reality, a broadcast channel can be one of the best tools you have for moving followers to leads and leads to paying clients.

Like anything in marketing, it needs rhythm and purpose. Sporadic messages fall flat, and if there’s no clear aim, what’s the point?

A weekly series works well: use the channel to share value-driven education Monday to Saturday, then finish on Sunday with a clear call to action that drives the next step.

Packages make cash flow unpredictable. You land a handful of 8–12 week clients, then—before you notice—their plans finish and your income drops to zero. It’s a constant cycle of chasing the next sale.

Coaching is an ongoing partnership, so it should be sold that way. Short packages still have their place, but treat them as seasonal products: an off-season strength block, a pre-marathon tune-up, or a post-holiday reset. They’re great for targeted launches and quick cash injections, not for keeping the lights on.

The bulk of your revenue should come from retainers that build monthly recurring revenue (MRR) or, if you can, annual recurring revenue (ARR). Retainers create stable income, improve client results through longer relationships, and let you plan staffing, marketing, and growth with confidence.

Practical steps: define a core retainer with clear deliverables (programme updates, weekly check-ins, form review), set a minimum term—three months or more—and automate billing with Stripe or GoCardless. Use limited-time packages to feed people into that ongoing service, not replace it.

Our next weekly exchange will drop in your inbox next Monday.

Keep an eye out on Thursday’s email for a deeper breakdown of a specific area.