Things are VERY different behind the glamorous brand - read carefully - Personal Trainer Equinox Employee Review

1.0
29 Nov 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Brand on your CV. Network of clients - but can get this from other less sharky gyms.

Cons

They keep a huge majority of the fee - nearly seventy per cent - from the client and give not even close to half to the trainer!!! IF that isn't an American corporate beast acting out greed I don't know what is. They make the trainer PAY for any external training courses, they won't even substitute any of the fee. They pay the external trainers as small a fee as they can get away with, so they trim back savings on both ends. The 'in-house' training that they shout so loudly about, is Powerpoint slides delivered by a trainer who is often far less qualified than the 'students' who are trying to get up to the next rank for a few extra pounds per hour. They have you on a '0' hour contract, with an 'expectation' of doing 95hrs per month - another win win for Equinox. So they legally owe you no work, yet expect you to hit nearly 100 per month. If you do less sessions then you get slammed with hours of floor shifts every week, often at early mornings and up until 10pm at night (when you started at 6am it isn't cool) where you walk the floor like a zombie for minimum wage - no joke. The Tier X system is very well branded but many of the trainers simply aren't qualified to do that level of work. They are shattered from years of working for Equinox to get to that level and frankly many of them you'll find in the staff room looking exhausted yet striving for the next pay cheque. A trainer got cancer after working faithfully for the company for 5 years, regularly doing 140-160 per month (he looked beyond tired). The company gave him not 1 penny. Instead they endorsed having a whip around the clients and asked them to contribute for his living expenses for the year ahead. These clients have already put 10,000-20,000 pounds per year into purchased personal training - yep win win for Equinox again, they donated nothing. They treat the trainers like meat, they drain them for all they're worth. Some working 7 days per week, of their own volition yes, but if they didn't they would make a pittance. If the trainers don't do more than 40 sessions in a two week period, they take ANOTHER thirty percent off of their pay.

Explore other reviews about Equinox

5.0
5 Jul 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Free Equinox membership. Easily one of the biggest perks. You get access to a premium gym that normally costs hundreds of dollars per month. Health and fitness environment. You're surrounded by people interested in wellness, and many coworkers are into fitness. Customer service experience. Great resume builder if you're moving into hospitality, sales, banking, or corporate roles. Professional atmosphere. Equinox expects a polished appearance and high-quality service, which can help build professionalism. Networking opportunities. Members often include business owners, executives, and professionals in West Palm Beach. Relatively straightforward work. Most duties include greeting members, answering phones, checking members in, updating accounts, and keeping the lobby organized.

Cons

Pay is relatively low compared to the expectations and cost of living in South Florida. Many employees cite compensation as a downside. Can't call out sick.

2.0
23 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

free gym membership your own office

Cons

Sales quotas can be aggressive, and there is constant pressure to hit monthly targets regardless of market conditions. Success often depends heavily on club traffic, lead quality, and location, which can make performance feel inconsistent. Long hours and weekend availability are frequently expected, especially during promotional periods and month-end pushes. Compensation can fluctuate significantly if sales goals are missed. Management styles vary greatly by club; some locations offer strong support while others can be highly numbers-driven. Administrative tasks and CRM follow-up can become repetitive and take time away from building member relationships. High turnover among advisors can create additional workload for remaining team members. Advancement opportunities exist but can be competitive and sometimes unclear. The focus on sales metrics can occasionally overshadow the hospitality and member experience aspects of the role. Corporate initiatives and promotions can change frequently, requiring advisors to quickly adapt messaging and sales strategies

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