Insurance for personal trainers

Do personal trainers need insurance?

In many situations, personal trainers are required to hold an adequate level of public liability insurance. However, there are additional business insurances that PTs may want to consider.

Public liability

The most common cover for personal trainers. This covers you if someone sues for injury, damaged property, or death due to your business activities.

Public liability insurance is often compulsory if you work as a contractor, for example within a gym, or at a public space such as a park.

Professional indemnity

Covers you if a client sues on the basis of poor professional advice or breach of contract.

Life insurance

Life insurance doesn't just pay out when you die. It can also cover a percentage of your income or pay a lump sum if you're unable to work due to injury or illness.

There are other types of insurance you may want to consider depending on the scope of your personal trainer business, including:

• Commercial property
• Business interruption
• Cyber insurance
• Business insurance

Do personal trainers need insurance if they're working from a gym?

Your insurance needs will vary depending on your particular employment situation. In most cases, this is what you can expect:

Direct employees - Insurance needs are usually covered by the gym.

Contractors - Will likely be required to hold an adequate level of public liability insurance at a minimum. Should consider professional indemnity cover too.

Sole traders - Will likely be required to hold an adequate level of public liability insurance. Should consider professional indemnity cover too.

Is it worth getting public liability insurance for personal trainers?

Public liability is an extremely important type of insurance for personal trainers. It covers accidental property damage as well as injury or death of another person.

In many cases, it's mandatory for working in particular environments. You may want to consider public liability insurance if any of these apply to you:

• You're a contractor, sole-trader, or self-employed
• You operate out of a gym or fitness studio
• You operate in public spaces, such as parks or beaches
• You visit clients in their own homes

Is it worth getting professional indemnity insurance for personal trainers?

Professional indemnity insurance is also important, but is usually considered optional rather than mandatory. You may want to consider professional indemnity insurance if any of these apply to you:

• You're a contractor, sole-trader, or self-employed
• You give exercise or diet advice to clients
• You guarantee specific results for clients

Expert insights

Expert insight

"I have professional indemnity to $5m and public liability to $20m. These are important to me for peace of mind, especially as nowadays as a group PT I see a huge number of clients in a week – it's very different to working with people one on one. The professional indemnity is there to cover me if I were to make a mistake demonstrating or explaining an exercise leading to someone getting hurt. The public liability covers me should someone hurt themselves under my care by falling over a piece of equipment – whether it's mine or even someone else's – a drink bottle left on the floor for example. Of course, I always do my utmost as a fitness professional to uphold my duty of care but accidents will occasionally happen even in the best run gyms and studios."

Nikki Ellis

Owner, Cinch Training

Expert insight

"While a personal trainer may not think their client's injury was their fault, sometimes a client may think otherwise and sue the personal trainer. This is why it's important for personal trainers to take out Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance to protect themselves, as the policy may help pay for legal fees in these scenarios."

Mark Vanzo

Founder, SMART Business Insurance

Expert insight

"I own a boutique fitness studio in Melbourne and employ full time, part time and casual trainers. I have a comprehensive professional indemnity and public liability policy that covers my team both in the studio and also if they are required to work outdoors. It's a substantial expense, but one you simply cannot be without. Professional registration and insurance are two essentials for anyone working in the industry."

Jane Kilkenny

Founder, Fitness Energy

Expert insight

"A major factor for personal trainers is protecting their ability to earn an income. As their job involves constant physical exertion, it's important that they have income protection and/or TPD to ensure that their income is protected in the event of a short or long term disability."

Paul Davies

Independent life insurance broker

FAQs

• Do I need insurance to train clients in public parks in Australia?

  Yes. While regulations vary across individual regions, many Australian local councils require commercial trainers to secure a permit before using public parks or beaches. To obtain this permit, councils typically mandate proof of public liability insurance—commonly ranging between $10 million and $20 million in coverage—to ensure council property and members of the public are protected during your sessions.

• Are online or virtual personal training sessions covered?

  Yes, many modern Australian fitness insurance policies include coverage for online or virtual training sessions provided you are operating within your professional scope of practice. You should check your specific Product Disclosure Statement to ensure your policy does not have exclusions for services delivered via video platforms or recorded programmes.

• Can I claim my business insurance premiums as a tax deduction?

  Yes, insurance premiums for business purposes are generally tax-deductible in Australia as they are considered a cost of earning assessable income. This includes your public liability, professional indemnity and equipment insurance policies.

• Does my personal trainer policy cover me for providing nutritional advice?

  Yes, coverage is typically included for nutritional and dietary advice that aligns with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and stays within your professional scope of practice. If you provide specific therapeutic diets or medical nutrition therapy without being a qualified dietician, your insurer may refuse to cover any resulting claims.

• Does a standard individual policy cover other trainers I hire?

  No, a standard individual policy usually only covers the specific person named on the insurance certificate. If you employ staff or hire subcontractors, you will generally need to upgrade to a business policy that includes 'employer's liability' or specific cover for additional practitioners.

• Am I covered if a client is injured while training at their own home?

  Yes, most Australian personal trainer policies provide 'mobile' coverage that protects you regardless of whether you are training at a gym, a park or a client's private residence. You must ensure your policy includes 'worldwide' or 'Australia-wide' territorial limits and does not restrict sessions to a specific registered business address.

Written by

Nicola Middlemiss

Journalist

Nicola Middlemiss is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance and insurance. She has contributed to Domain, Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Insurance Business Australia, offering in-depth insights into commercial insurance in the Australian market. Nicola holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Leeds and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which complies with ASIC standards. See full bio

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Nicola has written 246 Finder guides across topics including:

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