In this guide, we've picked out the best courses for starting your own business in the UK if you want to work in fitness or nutrition. Some give you a qualification to trade on, others teach you to run the business side, and a few do both.
What to look for in classes to start your own business
There are two types of course worth knowing about, and most fitness businesses need a bit of both.A qualification you can trade on. To train clients, you need a recognised qualification. In the UK, an accredited Level 3 personal training qualification is what you need to work as a Personal Trainer in a gym or to get insurance if you're self-employed. Look for qualifications on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) from an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation, and for CIMSPA endorsement on personal training courses.
Business skills. Knowing your subject is only half of it. The most useful classes to start your own business also cover tax, budgeting, cash flow, branding and finding clients, because a fitness qualification on its own won't teach you to run a business.
It's also worth checking how a course fits around your life. If you're working, job hunting or studying, a flexible online course with proper tutor support will be far easier to finish.
The best jobs to start your own business in fitness
Before choosing a course, it helps to know where you want to end up. Here are some of the best jobs to start your own business in health and fitness:- Personal Trainer: coaching clients one-to-one or in small groups, in a gym, studio, park or their home
- Online Personal Trainer: working with clients remotely through video sessions, apps and tailored programmes
- Nutritional Advisor: helping clients improve their eating habits, either alongside training or as your main service
- Specialist coach: focusing on a group such as women, new mums or athletes
These are some of the best jobs to start your own business because you can begin with a handful of clients and grow at your own pace. If personal training is your goal, our guide on how to start your own personal trainer business takes you through every step.
6 of the best courses for starting your own business in the UK
Here are our picks of the best courses for starting your own business in the UK, depending on the business you want to build.
1. L3 Personal Trainer Online Specialist
Best for: anyone who wants to become a self-employed or online Personal Trainer, with no previous experience needed.This is our most complete option for future business owners. You'll study for the Level 3 Diploma for the Gym Instructing and Personal Training Practitioner (RQF), accredited by Innovate Awarding and endorsed by CIMSPA. The package also includes our Social Media & Branding and Small-Business Finance courses, plus an exercise demonstration resource.
You'll finish with a qualification you can trade on and the business know-how to find clients and manage your money. Find out more about the L3 Personal Trainer Online Specialist course.
2. L3 Diet & Nutrition
Best for: anyone who wants to give general nutrition advice, or add nutrition to a fitness business.This course leads to the Level 3 Certificate in Diet & Nutrition (RQF), accredited by Innovate Awarding. It covers healthy eating, weight management, food labelling and nutrition for groups such as children, older adults and people who exercise. It's led by a Specialist Registered Dietitian, and there are no entry requirements. Explore the L3 Diet & Nutrition course.
3. L4 Nutritionist Package
Best for: anyone who wants nutrition to be the main focus of their business.This package combines our L3 Diet & Nutrition and L4 Advanced Sports Nutrition courses, giving you a Level 3 and a Level 4 nutrition qualification, accredited by Innovate Awarding and Focus Awards. Once you've completed it, you can start work as a Nutritional Advisor, offering one-to-one advice and nutrition plans to clients. See the L4 Nutritionist Package.
It's worth knowing that these courses don't qualify you to diagnose or treat nutritional deficiencies or diseases. You'll learn when to refer clients on to a dietitian, doctor or other health professional.
4. L4 Advanced Sports Nutrition
Best for: Personal Trainers and gym instructors who want to create bespoke nutrition plans for their clients.Adding this course to a PT qualification lets you offer nutrition plans as part of your service, which can help you stand out from other trainers and attract clients with specific nutrition goals. It's accredited by Focus Awards and covers metabolism, fuelling for performance, common diets and setting nutrition goals with clients. Discover L4 Advanced Sports Nutrition.
5. Small-Business Finance
Best for: anyone setting up on their own who wants to feel confident with the money side.If the financial side of going it alone is what's holding you back, this is our start your own business course. Over nine units, it covers choosing between a sole trader, limited company or partnership, tax and Self Assessment, bookkeeping basics, business plans, budgets, cash flow and raising finance. It's a TQUK-endorsed supportive course rather than a formal qualification, so there are no exams. It's designed to be referred back to at key moments in your business journey.
6. Social Media & Branding
Best for: coaches and trainers who want to find clients online and build a recognisable brand.This course helps you define your niche and USP, choose the right social media channels and turn followers into paying clients. It also covers email marketing and growth strategies. Like Small-Business Finance, it's a TQUK-endorsed supportive course with no assessments, and you don't need any previous experience. Learn more about Social Media & Branding.
Which course should you take first?
The best courses for starting your own business are the ones that match where you are right now. Here's a quick guide.| Your situation | Start with | Add later |
| New to fitness and want to coach clients | L3 Personal Trainer Online Specialist | L4 Advanced Sports Nutrition |
| Want a nutrition-led business | L4 Nutritionist Package | Social Media & Branding |
| Already a Personal Trainer and want to offer nutrition plans | L4 Advanced Sports Nutrition | Small-Business Finance |
| Already qualified but unsure about tax and money | Small-Business Finance | Social Media & Branding |
| Qualified but struggling to find clients | Social Media & Branding | Small-Business Finance |
Still not sure? You don't have to work it out alone. Our team can talk you through the best courses for starting your own business based on your goals.
Why study online with LEAP Academy?
Every course on this list is 100% online and self-paced, so you can fit it around work, a job hunt or family life. Our courses are created and delivered by industry experts, including Personal Trainers who've built their own studios and gyms, and a Specialist Registered Dietitian. You'll have tutor support throughout.You'll also get access to the learndirect: Community Hub app, which is only for learners and alumni of the learndirect Digital Group. It's where you can join topic-specific communities, ask questions and swap ideas with people building their own businesses too, so you'll never feel alone on your learning journey.
If you're a graduate weighing up your options, our guide on why it could be time to start your own business in health and fitness is worth a read.
Find the right course for you
Choosing from the best courses for starting your own business in the UK is easier with a little help. Visit each course page for full details, fees and payment options, or get in touch with our team.Call us on 01202 006 391 or send us an enquiry and we'll help you find the course that fits the business you want to build.
