From commission to stable pay

Ready to coach? Great. But understanding how you get paid in Norway is the first step to career stability. The PT industry here relies on a few distinct models, each with huge implications for your taxes, long-term growth, sustainability and financial safety. We break down some of the popular setups, the risks, and the crucial questions to ask before you sign any contract. Forget the marketing hype—this is the reality.

The rent or franchise Model (Self-Employed)

• The Setup: The PT operates as selvstendig næringsdrivende (self-employed). You pay the gym a monthly fixed "rent" (NOK amount) OR a percentage of your PT income.

• The Reality: The gym provides space and member access; you handle (almost) everything else (taxes, insurance, pension, management software, marketing). This model is made for established trainers with an existing client list.

• Expert Insight: New trainers must prioritize centres that offer coaching and development on top of the rent. If they don't, this structure is high-risk and rarely sustainable for a new professional who will likely need support.

Base salary + commission (the rare opportunity)

• The Setup: The PT is employed (ansatt), receiving a base salary (fastlønn) tied to core duties (like floor time or cleaning) plus commission for sessions sold.

• The Reality: These roles are rare but signal the employer sees PTs (or at least, people) as crucial service providers to members. You benefit from protections (sick pay, holiday pay) and can focus only on coaching, lead generation and sales.

• The Mental Trap: Don't go in with the wrong attitude. Your employer will expect you to deliver on auxiliary duties (cleaning, floor shifts). If you resent these tasks, this model will lead to mental burnout despite the stable pay. This potentially offers the best model for career progression as the employer sees the importance of people in the centres.

Employed commission-based model (the safer long-term bet)

• The Setup: You are a permanent employee (ansatt), gaining benefits like holiday pay, sick pay, pension contributions, and tax/insurance simplicity. Your income is entirely commission-based.

• The Reality: While often difficult in the first few months, the employment benefits make this one of the safest long-term options. Your success is directly tied to your effort, but some gyms support early growth by paying for intro-sessions.

• Career Upside: Success is rewarded. Look for transparent structures where commission scales significantly with experience (e.g., reaching 500, 1000, 2000 career sessions grants a higher per-session rate). This is easier to find than the base salary model and is a solid choice for all, provided the onboarding is strong.

Final takeaway: Ask the right questions

• Always confirm your status: Ansatt (Employee) or Selvstendig Næringsdrivende (Self-Employed)? Your tax and legal responsibilities change entirely.

• The onboarding test: For the rent model and employed commission-based model, your follow-up question should be: "What specific, support or coaching do you provide in the first three months?" The answer reveals their true commitment to your success.

• Long-term view: Choose the model that allows you to focus most of your energy on client training and business building, and the least on administration, not the reverse.