Professional liability insurance protects personal trainers and fitness instructors if a client sues over an injury or service—even if you’ve done nothing wrong. Get a quote and buy insurance for your fitness business in under five minutes, entirely online.
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We've partnered with Gallagher, one of Canada's leading insurance brokers, to provide insurance designed for businesses and business professionals. Get professional liability, general liability, and/or contents insurance designed specifically for your profession.
Professional liability insurance will pay for any damages the court awards to the plaintiff but also many costs associated with your defence (lost wages, legal fees, expert testimony, etc.)
Make sure you have a Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy in place to protect yourself against lawsuits from visitors who are injured on your premises.
Contents insurance can help you protect and replace any special equipment or tools you've purchased to service your clients and bring new treatments to help them achieve their goals.
You work hard to promote a healthy lifestyle, and work closely with individual clients to improve their wellbeing. It is a personal connection that you make with each client, as they trust you to guide them with your expertise.
Whether you work out of your own studio or gym, go to your clients’ homes, or use video conferencing, there are different types of insurance coverage you will need to protect yourself and your clients.
Insurance is a key component to operating a small business. Clients come to you with their goals, injuries, or other concerns, seeking your professional guidance to help them improve themselves.
They are sometimes literally putting themselves into your hands. Being a professional also means you are held to a high standard, expected to reflect the years of knowledge you’ve collected and specialized training you’ve completed. You are legally required to perform your duties with a certain level of care fitting of someone with your level of expertise.
Is personal trainer insurance mandatory in Canada?
Insurance isn’t legally required anywhere in Canada, but it’s often mandatory in practice. If you rent studio space, work in a condo gym, or train clients in commercial settings, landlords and gym owners almost always require proof of liability coverage. Even if you’re self-employed and working from home or outdoors, insurance protects you from costly claims and should be considered essential.
What type of insurance do I need as a personal trainer?
Most trainers should consider the following:
Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions): Covers you if a client claims they were injured due to your instruction or programming.
General Liability: Protects you if someone is physically hurt or property is damaged during a session—especially important if you train in public or rented spaces.
Contents Coverage (optional): Helps replace gear like kettlebells, mats, or tablets if damaged or stolen. Training virtually? You still need professional liability—clients can still file claims even if you never meet in person.
I train clients outdoors in parks—am I covered?
Yes—but only if you have the right coverage. Outdoor training adds unique risks, like slips on icy sidewalks or trips on uneven terrain. With APOLLO, your general liability insurance follows you wherever you go in the province—whether it’s a public park, a backyard, or a community sports field.
Pro tip: Some municipalities require trainers to carry insurance and register before using public park space for paid sessions.
What happens if a client sues me after a virtual session?
You’re still liable—even if you’re miles apart. If a client claims they injured themselves following your workout instructions over Zoom, they could still take legal action. That’s where professional liability insurance comes in, helping cover legal fees and any awarded damages.
I rent space in a gym. Do I need my own insurance, or am I covered by theirs?
You likely need your own. Most commercial gyms require personal trainers—especially independent contractors—to carry their own policy. The gym’s insurance usually only covers employees or the facility itself, not external trainers. You’ll likely need to submit a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and name the gym as an "additional insured."
Can I deduct my insurance costs on my taxes?
Yes! If you're self-employed or operate as a sole proprietor or incorporated trainer, your insurance premiums are typically tax-deductible as a business expense. That means you get peace of mind and a little back at tax time.
Can I get insured quickly if a landlord or gym is asking for proof today?
Yes! With APOLLO, you can get a quote, buy a policy, and download your Certificate of Insurance in under 5 minutes—completely online. Whether you need to submit it for a lease, a commercial gym, or an outdoor permit, we’ve got you covered.
Is insurance different for individual personal trainers vs. personal trainers with a premise?
There is a higher general liability risk with a premise. If you are operating a gym, for example, and are leasing space, you are liable for all activities that happen on the premises, including any slips and falls, or claims of harassment, which will trigger a General Liability insurance policy to cover.
Commercial landlords require tenants to have at minimum a general liability insurance policy to operate in their leased space. Individual personal trainers or fitness instructors will also want to get a General Liability insurance policy — but it is included with their Professional Liability insurance package.
If you are operating as a gym or studio you will also want to ensure that any improvements you make as a tenant are covered by the right insurance policy. That’s why tenants’ improvements insurance applies only to fitness premises, and not to individual personal trainers or fitness instructors.
Whether you are a fitness instructor with a premise, or you are an individual trainer, you will need Professional Liability insurance to defend against claims of professional negligence.
Why do personal trainers need insurance?
Any technique, procedure or piece of equipment used incorrectly could result in serious injury to your clients. Some exercises can also be risky. Even something as innocuous as a deep squat could lead to injuries for people with prior knee problems you might not have been aware of.
You’ve built up a good reputation and your clients trust you, but it only takes one incident to put everything in jeopardy. If one of them feels that you were negligent or failed to properly render professional services, they can sue you.
Even if you’ve taken all the right steps to make sure everything is done correctly and as safely as possible as a fitness professional, the cost of legal fees alone could impair your ability to continue doing business. And don’t forget that the allegations don’t have to be true. Frivolous lawsuits are expensive too. To protect against this risk, make sure you have professional liability coverage in place.
Most personal trainers can expect to pay between $18 and $35 per month for a comprehensive insurance policy. That’s less than the cost of one protein tub or a drop-in spin class and covers your business, your finances, and your peace of mind all year long.
Rent studio space in a big city? Operating out of a home studio? Train outdoors in municipal parks?
Your work setting can impact both your risk and your rate.
Solo side hustle or full-time multi-client roster?
Higher earnings mean more risk exposure, and that can mean a slightly higher premium.
Most landlords or gyms ask for $2M in liability coverage.
You can scale up or down depending on your needs.
General fitness coaching? Specialized programs like postnatal, mobility, or powerlifting?
Certain services may carry more liability and adjust your premium accordingly.
Do you offer remote or hybrid coaching?
You'll still want protection, but your pricing may differ from someone running physical sessions daily.
From coast to coast, Canada’s climate, terrain, and public environments create unique challenges for personal trainers. Whether you’re working with clients in their homes, in public spaces, or at a gym, unexpected incidents can lead to costly claims, especially if you’re not covered.
Here are some examples of weather-related incidents across Canada, and how insurance can protect you:
Cold snaps and sudden freeze-thaws in Alberta can leave sidewalks dangerously slick, especially in winter and early spring. If you’re visiting clients at home, you could be held responsible if someone gets hurt — even if it’s on their property.
Example: While leading a warm-up on a client’s icy driveway in Edmonton, they slip and fracture their wrist. They file a claim, alleging unsafe conditions.
Insurance Solution: General liability insurance helps cover medical costs and legal fees if someone is injured during your session, no matter where it happens.
Vancouver is known for its frequent rain, which can wreak havoc on your gear — especially if you're training clients outdoors or storing equipment in your vehicle.
Example: After back-to-back outdoor sessions, your trunk fills with damp gear. Overnight, water seeps in during a downpour, ruining your resistance bands, yoga mats, and Bluetooth speaker.
Insurance Solution: Contents insurance reimburses you for weather-damaged equipment, helping you replace what you need to keep training.
Ontario summers are hot and humid, with frequent heat advisories. Outdoor boot camps and park workouts come with increased risk of heat exhaustion or dehydration — and if a client gets sick, you could be blamed.
Example: During a high-intensity session in a Toronto park, a client collapses due to heat exhaustion. They later claim you pushed them too hard without proper breaks or hydration.
Insurance Solution: Professional liability coverage protects you if a client says your training program caused them harm, even if you followed all the right steps.
Fall in the Maritimes brings stunning views — and a lot of wet leaves. When you’re running early morning or evening sessions, moisture, fog, and low visibility can make public spaces more dangerous than they look.
Example: During a group HIIT class in a Halifax park, a participant slips on a patch of soggy leaves and sprains their ankle. They blame the poor choice of location.
Insurance Solution: General liability insurance covers injury-related costs so you’re not paying out of pocket when accidents happen in public spaces.
You wouldn’t let a client train without a warm-up, so why run a business without protection?
Personal Trainer Insurance is a professional tool that opens doors, builds trust, and helps you scale. Here’s how:
Qualify for more contracts – Whether it’s a condo gym, a physiotherapy clinic, or a city-run wellness program, you’ll often need insurance just to be considered.
Impress your clients – A Certificate of Insurance shows you’re serious. It’s a signal that you’re credible, established, and ready to grow.
Access better spaces – Shared studios, gyms, and rec centres increasingly require trainers to have $2M+ in liability coverage and list them as an “Additional Insured.”
Prepare for growth – Want to hire subcontractors? Run workshops? Launch a branded app? Insurance is a key part of your foundation.
Stay protected when the unexpected happens – No matter how careful you are, accidents can happen. Insurance gives you peace of mind, covering legal fees, medical costs, and more, so one mishap doesn’t derail your business.
This proves you have active coverage, and most commercial gyms or property managers won't let you train without it. With APOLLO, you'll get your COI instantly after you buy your policy online.
Gyms, landlords, even coworking wellness spaces may want to be added to your policy as an "additional insured." It extends some protection to them if a client sues.
$2 million in general liability is the norm for most facilities, but some may ask for more. APOLLO’s policies scale to match whatever’s required.
Upload it to your booking software or keep it handy for new spaces.
Scenario | Out-of-Pocket Cost (Without Insurance) | Covered By Insurance? |
---|---|---|
A client sprains their ankle during a session and sues for medical expenses and lost wages. | $5,000–$20,000+ (depending on legal outcome) | ✔ General Liability |
Your car is broken into and all your gear is stolen. | $2,500+ | ✔ Contents Coverage |
A client claims your program caused a back injury and seeks compensation. | $10,000–$50,000+ (legal fees + settlement) | ✔ Professional Liability |
A client knocks over a mirror in a rented studio, cracking it during your session. | $1,000–$5,000 | ✔ General Liability |
A sudden rainstorm soaks your gear during an outdoor class, rendering it unusable. | $500–$2,000 | ✔ Contents Coverage |
Q: Am I liable if my client trips over their mat during a class in a public park?
A: Yes. Even though it's their mat and a public space, you're responsible for the environment you create during your session.
Q: Am I liable if I'm training someone virtually and they get injured?
A: Yes. Professional liability insurance covers advice and instruction, even if the session was remote.
Q: Am I liable if a client's kid gets injured during an in-home session?
A: Possibly. If the child was unsupervised but your actions contributed to the injury, you could be named in a claim. General liability can help.
Q: Am I covered if I'm just training friends for free?
A:Probably not. If it's a regular session, the line between "friendly favour" and "professional service" can blur fast.
Most don’t. If you’re not on payroll, you’re probably not protected. Always ask, verify, and bring your own policy if needed.
Whether you’re training your first paying client or your fiftieth, insurance is about protecting from the unexpected. Waiting until after something happens is too late.
If you use expensive weights, resistance bands, tablets, or mobility equipment, consider adding contents coverage. It protects against fire, theft, or damage.
This is one of the most common requirements for leases or studio agreements. Luckily, APOLLO lets you add this instantly online.
Virtual sessions still carry real liability. If a client claims your workout caused injury, you could face legal or financial consequences. Professional liability protects you.