A personal training studio needs versatile, space-efficient equipment that supports one-on-one and small group sessions. The essential setup is a functional trainer, a power rack, an adjustable bench, dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, and rubber flooring. Budget $20,000–$60,000. The VERVE Tori Functional Trainer Rack ($4,999) is the single most important piece — it replaces multiple machines and enables hundreds of exercises in a 2sqm footprint.
Whether you are launching your first PT studio or upgrading an existing space, this guide walks through every piece of equipment you need, how to plan a 50–100 sqm layout, and a complete VERVE equipment list with prices. No fluff — just the essentials that will actually get used every session.
Personal training studios are different from commercial gyms. You are not trying to fill a floor with 50 machines for hundreds of concurrent members. You need a tight selection of versatile equipment that one trainer can use with one or two clients at a time, covering every movement pattern: push, pull, squat, hinge, lunge, carry, and rotation.
This is the single most important piece in any PT studio. A functional trainer with dual adjustable cable columns lets you program hundreds of exercises — cable flyes, lat pulldowns, rows, face pulls, woodchops, pallof presses, cable curls, tricep pushdowns, and dozens more. It is the one machine that genuinely replaces five or six others.
A power rack is non-negotiable for barbell training — squats, bench press, overhead press, rack pulls, and barbell rows all require one. If you buy the Tori Functional Trainer Rack, you already have a power rack built in. If you go with a standalone functional trainer, you will need a separate rack.
An adjustable bench that moves from flat to incline to decline is essential for chest press variations, dumbbell rows, seated shoulder press, step-ups, and dozens of other exercises. Every PT session uses a bench. Buy at least one high-quality commercial bench — two if you plan to run small group sessions.
Dumbbells and kettlebells are the bread and butter of personal training. Dumbbells handle pressing, rowing, lunging, and isolation work. Kettlebells add swings, cleans, snatches, goblet squats, and Turkish get-ups. Together they cover virtually every movement pattern a PT would program.
For a PT studio, you do not need a full rack from 1–50 kg. A focused range of dumbbells from 5–30 kg (in 2.5 kg increments) and kettlebells from 8–24 kg covers 95% of client needs.
Rubber gym flooring protects your subfloor, reduces noise, and gives clients a safe, stable surface for deadlifts, lunges, and floor work. Resistance bands are the most cost-effective accessory in any studio — they add progressive resistance to any exercise and are essential for warm-ups, rehabilitation, and mobility work.
Most personal training studios operate in 50–100 square metres of usable floor space. Here is how to plan each zone.
A 50 sqm space is enough for a well-equipped 1-on-1 personal training studio. Think of it as roughly 7m x 7m. Here is how to allocate the space:
This layout comfortably handles 1-on-1 PT sessions with room for the client and trainer to move freely around the equipment.
With 80–100 sqm you can run small group sessions of 3–5 clients while still offering premium 1-on-1 training. Think roughly 10m x 9m.
The key rule for space planning: allow 8–10 sqm per person training simultaneously. A 100 sqm studio should never have more than 5–6 people on the floor at once (including the trainer).
Here is a complete equipment list for a personal training studio using VERVE Fitness equipment. We have split it into two tiers: a lean setup for a 50 sqm 1-on-1 studio, and a full setup for an 80–100 sqm studio that can handle small groups.
| Equipment | Product | Price (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Functional Trainer + Rack | VERVE Tori Functional Trainer Rack | $4,999 |
| Adjustable Bench | VERVE Adjustable Bench | $500–$900 |
| Dumbbells (5–30 kg set) | VERVE Rubber Hex Dumbbells | $2,000–$3,500 |
| Kettlebells (8–24 kg set) | VERVE Kettlebells | $500–$1,000 |
| Olympic Barbell + Plates | VERVE Olympic Bar + Bumper Plates | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Resistance Bands (set) | VERVE Resistance Bands | $100–$300 |
| Rubber Flooring (50 sqm) | VERVE Rubber Gym Flooring | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Accessories (mats, foam rollers, storage) | Various | $500–$1,000 |
| Total (Lean Setup) | $13,100–$19,200 | |
With installation, delivery, and a small buffer for additional accessories, budget $20,000–$25,000 all-in for a lean studio.
| Equipment | Product | Price (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Functional Trainer + Rack | VERVE Tori Functional Trainer Rack | $4,999 |
| Additional Power Rack | VERVE Satori Power Rack | $1,099 |
| Wall Mounted Functional Trainer | VERVE Tori Wall Mounted FT | $2,299 |
| Adjustable Benches (x2) | VERVE Adjustable Benches | $1,000–$1,800 |
| Dumbbells (2.5–40 kg set) | VERVE Rubber Hex Dumbbells | $4,000–$6,000 |
| Kettlebells (8–32 kg set) | VERVE Kettlebells | $800–$1,500 |
| Olympic Barbells (x2) + Plates | VERVE Olympic Bars + Bumper Plates | $3,000–$4,500 |
| Resistance Bands (full set) | VERVE Resistance Bands | $200–$500 |
| Rubber Flooring (100 sqm) | VERVE Rubber Gym Flooring | $6,000–$10,000 |
| Accessories (TRX, mats, plyo boxes, med balls, storage) | Various | $2,000–$4,000 |
| Total (Full Setup) | $25,400–$36,700 | |
With delivery, installation, signage, mirrors, sound system, and a contingency buffer, budget $40,000–$60,000 all-in for a full studio. The higher end of this range includes fit-out costs like painting, lighting, and branding.
Most PT studio owners start with 1-on-1 sessions and eventually add small group training (2–5 clients) to increase revenue per hour. Here is how to set up your equipment and programming to make this transition smooth.
The most effective small group format for a PT studio is a station-based circuit. Set up 3–5 stations, assign each client a starting station, and rotate every 45–90 seconds. This keeps every client working while the trainer moves between stations to coach form.
Example 4-station circuit for a studio with VERVE equipment:
Each station requires only one piece of major equipment, so clients rotate through without waiting. The trainer can supervise all four stations from the centre of the room.
If your studio is already set up for 1-on-1 training, you may only need a few additions to run small group sessions:
The maths is straightforward. If you charge $80 per 1-on-1 session and $50 per person for a 4-person small group, one group session earns $200 versus $80 for a solo session — a 150% increase in revenue per hour. Even at a lower per-head rate, small group training dramatically improves your studio economics. The equipment investment to enable it is modest: typically $3,000–$5,000 for a second functional trainer, extra bench, and additional free weights.
VERVE Fitness supplies commercial-grade equipment to personal training studios across Australia. From the Tori Functional Trainer Rack to rubber flooring and everything in between, we can fit out your entire studio.
Browse VERVE EquipmentAt minimum, you need a functional trainer (for cable exercises), a power rack (for barbell work), an adjustable bench, a set of dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, and rubber flooring. The VERVE Tori Functional Trainer Rack ($4,999) is the single most important piece because it combines a power rack and dual cable station in one unit, enabling hundreds of exercises in a 2sqm footprint.
A fully equipped personal training studio costs between $20,000 and $60,000 depending on size and equipment quality. A lean 50 sqm setup with VERVE equipment starts around $20,000–$25,000. A premium 100 sqm studio with a broader range of machines and accessories runs $40,000–$60,000. This includes flooring, strength equipment, functional training tools, and accessories.
Most personal training studios operate effectively in 50–100 square metres. A 50 sqm space comfortably handles 1-on-1 sessions with room for a functional trainer, rack, bench, and free weights. A 100 sqm studio allows small group training (3–5 clients) with dedicated zones for strength, functional, and floor work. Allow 8–10 sqm per client training simultaneously.
The most versatile piece of equipment for a small PT studio is the VERVE Tori Functional Trainer Rack ($4,999). It combines a full power rack with dual adjustable cable columns in a single unit, enabling barbell squats, bench press, cable flyes, lat pulldowns, rows, curls, and hundreds of other exercises. It replaces the need for a separate power rack and functional trainer, saving both money and space.
Yes. A well-equipped PT studio of 80–100 sqm can comfortably run small group sessions of 3–5 clients. The key is choosing versatile equipment that multiple clients can rotate through — a functional trainer, dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, and floor space for bodyweight circuits. Stagger station-based workouts so clients rotate between equipment and floor exercises.
For most PT studio owners, buying equipment outright is the better long-term investment. Commercial gym equipment lasts 10–15 years with proper maintenance, and you avoid the ongoing cost of lease payments. However, leasing can make sense if you are launching on a tight budget and need to preserve cash flow. VERVE Fitness equipment is competitively priced, making outright purchase feasible for most studio operators — a complete VERVE PT studio fitout starts at around $20,000.