20 questions to ask a personal trainer before you pay
Before you pay, ask about qualifications, how progress is measured, package expiry, cancellation and refunds, and whether gym, condo or travel costs are extra. Get the money answers in writing.
By Personal Trainer Bangkok editorial team. Published , updated .
Copy these into your phone before your trial. A good trainer will be happy to answer all of them; hesitation on the money questions is itself an answer.
Qualifications and legitimacy
- Which certification do you hold, and can I see it? Is it current?
- Do you have current CPR/first-aid training?
- How long have you coached people with my goal?
- (Foreign trainers) Do you have a Thai work permit for this work?
- Do you or the studio have liability insurance?
How you'll train me
- What happens in the first session? Will you assess me first?
- Will I get a written programme for the days I train alone?
- How will we measure progress, and how often?
- What do you do if an exercise hurts?
- Will you work with my physio or doctor if needed?
Money
- What's the price per session for a single session and for each package?
- When does the package expire, and can it be paused?
- What's your cancellation window? What if you cancel?
- Can unused sessions be refunded or transferred if I move or get injured?
- Is gym entry, condo access or travel included?
- Do you sell supplements or other products?
Logistics and communication
- Where exactly will we train, and is that allowed by my condo or gym?
- Will I always train with you, or with other coaches?
- Which language will you coach in?
- How can I reach you between sessions (LINE, WhatsApp), and how fast do you reply?