How to use Trainerize as a coach: the setup order that avoids surprises

Before you start: what to decide and prepare

Create the account on the Trainerize website. The help center says a trial cannot be started from the mobile app, and the business name is limited to 50 characters. The 30-day trial allows unlimited active clients and needs no card, but paid add-ons such as Advanced Nutrition, Stripe payments, video and the branded app are not part of it. When the trial ends the account moves to the free plan with one active client, so decide your client band before day 30.

Write down how many clients will use the app for training and how many only book or buy. That split sets the seats you need. The pricing guide explains the bands.

Setup steps in order: account, program, first client

• Step 1: run the in-app setup guide on the web account. It offers three journeys: Basic for building one client's program, Advanced for training many clients from a master program and Studio for studio owners.
• Step 2: build master workouts and a master program, and add auto messages, habits and cardio to it.
• Step 3: add a first client with a first name, last name, email and client type. The client receives an invitation email and downloads the app.
• Step 4: set goals and habits, then watch progress and compliance on the client dashboard and use messaging, groups and challenges to keep clients engaged.
• Step 5: add the rest. A CSV file adds many clients at once, and a checkout link or Zapier can add clients automatically.

Choose client types and watch the seat limit

• Full access clients, with one-way or two-way messaging, use the training tools and take a coaching seat.
• Basic clients can book and buy but cannot train in the app, and the vendor says they do not count against the plan limit.
• Offline clients exist only on the coach side with no login or invitation, and still use a seat. Convert them when coaching starts.
• If new clients show as pending, you have either hit the seat limit or turned on membership control for payments. Upgrading does not convert pending clients, so change their type by hand.

Set up payments and add-ons last

Selling programs through Trainerize needs the Stripe Integrated Payments add-on or the Business add-on, which the help center says includes the Stripe and video features. Only the account owner can buy add-ons, from the billing area of the web account.

The payments setup has three steps. Step 1 sets your country and currency, and the help center warns that you cannot change the choice once you confirm it, so check it twice. Step 2 builds a product, and Step 3 takes payments live. Do this after your programs and a test client work, so you are not paying for add-ons while you set up.

Test the client view and launch

• Use the built-in demo client from the setup guide to see a client's calendar, workout and messages before inviting real people.
• Add a test client with a separate email address you control, then check the invitation email, the consultation form and the first sign-in message. A test client counts as a client, so remove it afterward.
• Confirm the program shows on the client's calendar on the right start date, and send a test message.
• If something fails, the help center lists articles on missing invitation emails, programs a client cannot see and pending clients. Start there before contacting support.
• Invite the first real clients in small groups, then raise the number once the process holds.

Next step

Once the first clients work, price your real client count in the pricing guide, or compare the setup effort with other tools in the personal training software shortlist.