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GoodLife Fitness Sales: Commission Structure Explained (2026 Guide)

Is the GoodLife "Membership Advisor" or "Personal Trainer" job a scam? We break down the complicated 2026 commission structures, the intense pressure to "prospect" on the gym floor, and why you might get paid minimum wage even if you are a certified trainer.
A GoodLife Fitness employee in a uniform sitting at a glass desk with a laptop, gesturing to a contract while a potential member listens.

If you have ever walked into a GoodLife Fitness in Canada, you have met them.

They are the energetic people at the front desk (Membership Advisors) or the fit people in black shirts roaming the weight room (Personal Trainers).

They look happy. They look successful.

But if you look at their job postings, you see buzzwords like "Unlimited Earning Potential" and "Performance-Based Pay."

In the sales world, those words are usually code for: "Low Base Salary + Impossible Quotas."

In 2026, working at GoodLife is two very different jobs depending on your title.

  • Membership Advisors (Sales): You are selling contracts. Your job is 100% sales.
  • Personal Trainers (PTs): You think your job is training. Wrong. Your job is also sales. You have to find your own clients on the gym floor.

This guide exposes the real pay structures for both roles, explains the "Level System" that traps new trainers on minimum wage, and reveals the "Prospecting" reality that causes 50% of new hires to quit in the first 3 months.

Not a salesperson? Check out How to Upgrade to a Class 3 / D License for a driving career or FedEx "Jumper" Pay for seasonal work.

1. Membership Advisor (Sales Rep) Commission

This role is pure sales. You sit in a glass office and try to get people to sign a 1-year contract.

The Base Pay

  • Hourly Rate: Minimum Wage ($17.20 - $18.00/hour).
  • The Catch: You only get this if you work your scheduled hours. The real money is supposed to come from commission.

The Commission Structure (2026 Estimates)

  • New Member Sign-up: You get a flat fee (e.g., $10 - $20) per contract.
  • The "Bi-Weekly" Bonus: If you hit your target (e.g., 60 new members/month), you get a bonus check.
  • The Reality:
    • If you are in a busy club (Toronto downtown), you can make $50,000 - $60,000.
    • If you are in a slow club (Suburbs in summer), you will struggle to hit quota and earn barely above minimum wage.

The "Cold Call" Requirement

  • You are expected to make 50 - 80 calls a day.
  • Who are you calling? "Leads." (People who entered a contest 6 months ago to win a free car).
  • The Vibe: Most people hang up. You need thick skin. If you hate telemarketing, do not take this job.

2. Personal Trainer (PT) Commission: The "Level" Trap

This is where it gets complicated.

GoodLife uses a "Level System" for trainers. Your pay depends entirely on your Level.

The Levels (Pay Per Hour Training)

  • Level 1 (Rookie): $18 - $22 / hour (while training a client).
  • Level 2: $24 - $30 / hour.
  • Level 3: $35 - $45 / hour.
  • Level 4/5: $50+ / hour.

The Problem:

  • GoodLife charges the client $80 - $100 per session.
  • As a Level 1 Trainer, you only see ~25% of that money.
  • To move up levels, you need to get more certifications (which you pay for) and bill more hours.

"Prospecting" Pay (The Hidden Minimum Wage)

  • Scenario: You are at work for 8 hours. You have 2 clients booked (2 hours total).
  • What happens for the other 6 hours?
    • You are paid Minimum Wage (or sometimes $0 depending on contract type) to "Prospect."
  • What is Prospecting? Walking around the gym floor, interrupting people mid-workout, and asking: "Hi, can I show you a new exercise?" in hopes they buy training.
  • The Burnout: Most new trainers spend 30 hours a week prospecting and only 10 hours training. Your paycheck ends up being mostly minimum wage.

Practical Questions Answered

Personal Training to find the real employee reviews.

"Do I have to pay for my own certifications?"

YES.

  • GoodLife offers internal courses (GLPTI), but they are not free. They often deduct the cost from your paycheck over time.
  • The Trap: If you quit before paying it off, they take the remaining balance from your final cheque.

"Is it an MLM (Multi-Level Marketing)?"

Kind of.

  • You don't recruit other trainers, but the pressure to sell "supplements" and "starter packages" feels very MLM-y.
  • The Pressure: Managers hold daily meetings asking: "How many leads did you get today? Why is your calendar empty?"

"Can I just train and not sell?"

NO.

  • If you can't sell, you won't have clients. GoodLife does not just hand you clients. You have to hunt for them.
  • Exception: Sometimes they give you "Starter Pack" clients (3 free sessions), but if you don't convert them to paid clients, the manager stops giving them to you.

Deep Dive: The "Non-Compete" Clause

This is controversial.

  • The Contract: GoodLife contracts often say you cannot train clients at other gyms or privately (in your garage) while employed by them.
  • The Reality: Many trainers do it anyway "under the table."
  • The Risk: If you get caught poaching GoodLife members ("Hey, pay me $50 cash and I'll train you at the park"), you will be fired instantly and possibly sued for damages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the gym membership free?

Yes.

All employees get a free "All-Club Access" membership. This is a ~$80/month value.

What is the "Starter" rate?

When you first start, you might be paid a "Starter Rate" (e.g., $16/hr) for the first 3 months regardless of how many clients you train. This is a safety net, but it's low.

Can I choose my hours?

Sort of.

  • Advisors: Fixed shifts (9-5 or 1-9).
  • Trainers: You make your own schedule, BUT you have to work when clients are free (6am - 9am and 5pm - 9pm). Expect to work "Split Shifts" and weekends forever.

Summary: Good for Rookies, Bad for Pros

  1. GoodLife is a University: It is the best place to learn how to sell and train. You get mentorship and huge volume.
  2. The Exit Strategy: Most smart trainers stay for 1-2 years, build a loyal client base, and then leave to start their own business (where they keep 100% of the money).
  3. Sales First: If you are shy, you will fail. This is a sales job disguised as a fitness job.

About the author

Jeff Calixte (MC Yow-Z) is a Canadian career researcher and digital entrepreneur who studies hiring trends, labour market data, and real entry-level opportunities across Canada. He specializes in simplifying the job search for newcomers, students, and workers using practical, up-to-date information.

Sources

Note

Job availability, wages, and hiring conditions can vary widely by province, employer, season, and experience level. All salary ranges and job examples in this guide are estimates based on current labour market data. Always confirm details directly with the employer before applying.

Published by:

Mc Yow-z Jeff Calixte