Erik Anthony Klima: Transforming Personal Trainers Into Six-Figure Online Entrepreneurs

In an industry where personal trainers often struggle to earn more than $46,000 per year while working exhausting 14-hour days in commercial gyms, one coach has cracked the code to building profitable online fitness businesses. Erik Anthony Klima, founder of PT Legends and EA Fitness, has not only built his own seven-figure coaching empire but has helped hundreds of personal trainers transition from overworked gym employees to thriving online entrepreneurs earning five and six figures per month.

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From LA Fitness Employee to Seven-Figure Business Owner

Erik Anthony Klima’s journey is the classic entrepreneurial success story—one born from frustration, calculated risk, and relentless execution. Like many in the fitness trainer industry, Erik found himself dissatisfied with his lack of freedom and the money he was earning from his career at LA Fitness. He was trapped in the same cycle that ensnares thousands of personal trainers: trading time for money, capped earning potential, and no pathway to financial freedom.

Knowing that he could do more for himself, Erik decided to gamble and get coaching to start an online business. The gamble paid off spectacularly. Within his first month, he made over $10,000 coaching people online. This wasn’t beginner’s luck it was the result of implementing proven systems and business concepts from successful online coaches who had already paved the way.

Within the first two years, the business was doing over $50,000 per month in revenue. But Erik’s ambitions extended beyond personal success. He recognized a massive opportunity: if he could successfully build an online fitness business, he could train others to do the same. Erik made the shift from online fitness training to coaching fitness trainers that want to take their business to the next level, and PT Legends was born.

Today, Erik has successfully built his coaching agency to a seven-figure valuation and currently services some of the top online fitness businesses in the world. Even more impressive, he scaled from $30,000 per month to $120,000 per month in just 90 days by implementing systems that allowed him to remove himself from day-to-day operations.

The PT Legends System: A Blueprint for $10K+ Months

Erik Anthony’s flagship program, PT Legends, is built around one clear promise: helping personal trainers hit their first $10,000+ per month with an online fitness business. His Instagram bio boldly states his mission: helping online coaches stuck under $10,000 per month, and he’s backed this up with a results-based guarantee.

The program targets a specific pain point in the fitness industry: trainers who are technically skilled but business illiterate. PT Legends helps online fitness trainers and coaches hit their first 10k+/mo with their online fitness business, allowing trainers to build their business without compromising their free time or sacrificing their personal life by providing them with a blueprint to success.

Real Results From Real Trainers

The testimonials from PT Legends members paint a picture of dramatic transformation:

• One coach went from making zero to $5,000-$10,000 consistently within five months and became a full-time entrepreneur
• A trainer who’d never taken a sales call in his life earned $9,800 in one month after four months of coaching more than he’d earned in any single month before working with Erik
• Adrian went from $500 per month to $9,800 per month with his online fitness business
• Brenton went from zero to $13,000 per month and quit his job
• Patricia made $12,000 in her first 35 days while working 8-12 hour shifts at a day job
• Elijah made $4,800 in his first 30 days with only 200 followers

These aren’t isolated success stories. One long-term client reported making the most money in his life over three years using the skills and information about building a fitness business that Erik provided, helping over 200 people transform their bodies in places around the world he would have never reached without learning to obtain clients online.

Why Erik Anthony’s Content Is Genuinely Helpful

In an industry saturated with “gurus” selling get-rich-quick schemes, Erik Anthony stands out for several compelling reasons:

1. He’s Been There and Done It Himself

Erik credits his success to the fact that he started out as an in-person trainer at LA Fitness and turned into a successful online fitness coach before transitioning to coaching others. This firsthand experience gives him credibility that purely theoretical business coaches lack. He’s not teaching from a textbook he’s teaching from the trenches.

2. Proven Systems That Work Regardless of Following Size

One of the most powerful aspects of Erik’s teaching is that results don’t depend on having a massive social media following. Elijah made $4,800 in his first 30 days with only 200 followers, proving that Erik’s system focuses on business fundamentals lead generation, sales, and client delivery rather than vanity metrics like follower counts.

3. Results for Trainers With Full-Time Jobs

Erik’s system is specifically designed for trainers who are still working traditional jobs. Multiple testimonials highlight trainers earning $5,000-$12,000+ per month while simultaneously working full-time positions, military service, or managing brick-and-mortar businesses. This flexibility is critical for trainers who can’t afford to quit their day jobs before building revenue.

4. Comprehensive Business Education

By working with Erik and his team, fitness coaches receive the necessary information and answers to their specific questions that they need to take their business to the next level. The program doesn’t just teach marketing it covers sales, client acquisition systems, mindset, automation, and scaling strategies.

5. Breaking Through Limiting Beliefs

Erik knows that once he breaks through the limiting beliefs a client has, the sky’s the limit for them. Many trainers undercharge, fear sales calls, or believe they need to be Instagram famous before they can succeed online. Erik’s coaching systematically dismantles these mental barriers while building technical skills.

6. Hands-On Support and Accountability

One client noted that Erik provides incredible support despite managing many clients, always making time to show up for everyone equally. Another client humorously remarked, “The amount of support is overwhelming. My own family doesn’t check up on me this much”. This level of engagement ensures trainers don’t just buy a course and disappear they receive active guidance through implementation.

7. The Automation Advantage

Erik has been helping clients with fitness coaching automation, which allows coaches to help more people while rapidly accelerating business growth. Clients who take advantage of Erik’s automation services are provided with a trained sales team that gets leads, books calls, and closes deals, as well as his acquisition system that is proven to generate over $100,000 per month. This “done-for-you” service helps established trainers scale beyond the limitations of their personal time.

Erik Anthony’s Unique Edge in Content Creation

Several distinctive factors set Erik Anthony apart in the crowded online fitness coaching education space:

The Anti-Grind Philosophy

Erik’s tagline promises to build lead machines for coaches “without content”, which is revolutionary in an era where most coaches are told to post content three times daily for years to build an audience. While content marketing has value, Erik recognizes that many trainers want to focus on coaching, not becoming influencers. His lead generation systems provide an alternative path.

Leverage and Efficiency Mindset

Erik’s philosophy is to “maximize leverage figure out what you typically do in 2 hours and how you can do it in 20 minutes”. This efficiency-first approach allows trainers to scale their income without proportionally scaling their working hours, creating true freedom rather than just a higher-paying job.

Multi-Platform Presence with Authentic Results

With 41,000 followers on his main Instagram account and an active presence on LinkedIn, Skool, and other platforms, Erik practices what he preaches about digital marketing. His content consistently showcases real client wins with specific revenue numbers, creating social proof that’s difficult to ignore.

Focus on the Transition Market

Erik specifically targets trainers stuck in the $0-$10,000 per month range the hardest part of building an online business. This laser focus allows him to develop systems specifically for breaking through that ceiling rather than offering generic advice that applies to all business stages.

The “Done-With-You” Model

Rather than selling a course and leaving trainers to figure it out alone, Erik offers a hybrid model where his team helps implement systems. Before working with scaling systems, Erik was stuck at $30,000 per month because he had trouble removing himself as the face of marketing, sales, and client success. He now helps other trainers avoid this bottleneck by providing implementation support.

Building Community

Erik’s presence on Skool (a community platform) positions him as the “Founder of PT Legends, the #1 Business Coaching Program for Personal Trainers Who Want to Start and Scale a Thriving Online Fitness Business”. This community-building approach creates peer accountability and networking opportunities that solo courses can’t match.

The Online Fitness Coaching Industry: A Field Worth Pursuing

Erik Anthony’s decision to focus exclusively on helping trainers build online businesses is backed by compelling industry data showing this is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the fitness industry:

Explosive Market Growth

The online fitness coaching market represents enormous and accelerating opportunity:

• The global online fitness coaching market reached $18.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a 13.2% CAGR from 2025 to 2033, reaching an estimated $52.1 billion by 2033
• North America remains the largest regional market, accounting for approximately 38% of the global market in 2024, with a market size of around $7.1 billion
• The online and virtual fitness industry expanded rapidly, growing from $15.65 billion in 2022 to $21.82 billion in 2023
• The global online/virtual fitness market size is expected to reach $114.02 billion by 2029, growing at 31.2%
• The U.S. will generate $16.5 billion in digital fitness and well-being revenue in 2025

Permanent Behavior Shift

Unlike many pandemic-driven trends that faded, online fitness has proven its staying power:

• According to the Health Club Industry Data & Consumer Trends report 2021, nearly 38% of consumers in the U.S. started using online workout services during COVID and plan to continue using them in the future
• According to a survey published in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, online training was ranked as the #1 fitness trend in 2021, up from #26 in 2020
• Virtual workouts, fitness apps, and online coaching platforms have become mainstream, with the convenience and accessibility of digital fitness solutions making them a staple for many

Superior Income Potential for Online Trainers

The financial case for transitioning online is overwhelming:

• Online personal trainers in the U.S. earn approximately 8.67% more than personal gym trainers, with a $50,299 average annual salary
• According to ZipRecruiter, online personal trainers in 2024 earn around $61,014 per year ($29.33 per hour) an increase from 2023’s average of $52,518 per year
• The median annual wage for fitness trainers and instructors was $46,180 in May 2024, meaning online trainers earn 20-30% more than traditional trainers on average
• NASM certified personal trainers thrive, earning an average of $61 per hour for one-on-one sessions, with independent personal trainers typically earning $50-$100+ per hour

But these averages don’t tell the full story. Erik’s system helps trainers break into the top tier of earners. The top 10% of personal trainers earned over $80,740 annually, with top earners making 4-5 times more than the average. His students regularly hit $10,000-$20,000+ per month ($120,000-$240,000+ annually), placing them firmly in this elite category.

Scalability That Traditional Training Can’t Match

Online training offers structural advantages:

• Online personal trainers can serve a global client base, scale their income through pre-recorded programs or subscriptions, and avoid the limitations of location-based work
• Online training lets fitness instructors handle more clients in less time, without the cost of studio rent or equipment for clients
• Traditional trainers are constrained by physical hours in the day, while online trainers can leverage group coaching, recorded content, and automation

Strong Employment Growth

The fitness training profession overall is booming:

• Employment of fitness trainers and instructors is projected to grow 12% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 74,200 openings projected each year
• Fitness trainers and instructors held about 370,100 jobs in 2024
• The personal fitness trainer market is projected to witness a 5.3% CAGR between 2025 and 2035, expanding from $45.6 billion in 2025 to $85.3 billion by 2035

The Digital Fitness Revolution

Technology is transforming the fitness landscape:

• The fitness apps market is expected to grow by $1.68 billion by 2024, with a 12% CAGR
• In 2024, 9.76% of people globally are using fitness apps, expected to grow to 12.2% by 2027
• The fitness app market is valued at $22 billion in 2024, growing at an annual rate of 14.3%
• The global fitness industry is worth $257 billion in 2025 and growing 5.6% annually

Resilient Demand Across Client Types

The online fitness coaching market is segmented into personal training, group training, nutrition coaching, and wellness coaching, with personal training accounting for a significant market share due to growing demand for individualized workout plans, real-time feedback, and the ability to track progress with precision. This diversity of service types creates multiple revenue streams for online coaches.

The Problem Erik Solves

Despite this massive opportunity, most personal trainers struggle financially. The median annual wage for fitness trainers was only $46,180, and the lowest 10% of trainers earned under $26,840 per year. Many work variable or part-time schedules including nights, weekends, and holidays in commercial gyms where they keep only a small percentage of what clients pay.

Erik’s content directly addresses trainers working 14-hour days for $40,000 per year, showing them there’s a better way. The traditional gym model has fundamental problems:

• Trainers are paid only for completed sessions, with no passive income
• No-shows and cancellations directly impact earnings
• Gyms take 40-60% of session fees, leaving trainers with $15-$25 per hour
• Geographic limitations restrict client base
• Trading time for money creates an income ceiling

Erik’s system dismantles this broken model by teaching trainers to:

• Generate leads through proven acquisition systems
• Convert prospects through consultative sales calls
• Deliver transformation-focused online coaching
• Scale through group programs and automation
• Build recurring revenue through subscription models

The Future Is Bright for Online Fitness Coaches

The convergence of several trends makes this the perfect time to build an online fitness coaching business:

Technology Enablement: Video calling, fitness apps, wearable devices, and payment platforms make remote coaching seamless.

Global Reach: Trainers are no longer limited to clients within driving distance. They can work with anyone, anywhere.

Behavior Change: Hybrid fitness models combining in-person and virtual workouts have become standard, with consumers appreciating the flexibility.

Premium Pricing: Online trainers can command higher rates because they offer specialized expertise, accountability, and convenience that clients can’t get from generic gym memberships or workout apps.

Scalability: Unlike traditional training, online coaches can work with 20, 30, or even 50+ clients simultaneously through group programs while maintaining quality.

Why Erik Anthony’s Approach Works

Erik Anthony has found product-market fit by addressing a clear pain point (trainers trapped in low-paying gym jobs) with a proven solution (his online business blueprint) in a rapidly growing market (online fitness coaching). His success isn’t accidental—it’s the result of:

1. Personal credibility from building his own successful online fitness business
2. Proven systems that produce consistent results across diverse trainer types
3. Implementation support that ensures students don’t just learn but actually execute
4. Results-based positioning with specific income claims backed by testimonials
5. Scalability focus teaching trainers how to leverage their time through automation
6. Community building that creates accountability and peer learning
7. Market timing in an industry experiencing explosive digital transformation

Conclusion

Erik Anthony Klima represents a new archetype in fitness business education: the practitioner-turned-educator who’s genuinely interested in elevating an entire profession. His content is helpful because it’s grounded in real experience, focused on implementation, and produces measurable results for trainers at all stages of their online journey.

His unique edge comes from his personal transformation story, his efficiency-first philosophy, his automation and scaling systems, and his commitment to supporting trainers through the difficult transition from gym employee to online entrepreneur.

Most importantly, he’s teaching in an industry with extraordinary opportunity. With the online fitness coaching market projected to nearly triple from $18.7 billion to $52.1 billion by 2033, growing at over 13% annually, and online trainers earning 8-32% more than traditional trainers while enjoying greater flexibility and scalability, the economic case for building an online fitness business is undeniable.

For personal trainers willing to learn business skills, overcome their limiting beliefs, and implement proven systems, the path to six-figure income is clearer than ever. And Erik Anthony Klima has created the roadmap complete with the support, accountability, and automation tools needed to get there. His mission to help trainers escape the grind of commercial gyms and build businesses that provide both profit and freedom is not just changing individual lives it’s transforming an entire industry.