Section 01 · Choose your structure
Pick your pathway.
We'll tailor your checklist, funding signposts, and ROI tools to the structure you choose.
Use ↑ ↓ arrows or type the first letter to navigate. Content below updates instantly.
Your pathway
Sole Trader
Fastest start — freelance PT
- Lowest setup cost
- Self-Assessment with HMRC
- Best for 1:1 PT with rented chair
No company filing needed — go straight to the Startup Checklist below to register with HMRC and sort insurance.
Interactive curriculum · CIC + funding
From PT to funded social enterprise
Derrick Twum raised £800,000 as an ex-offender PT. This is the curriculum he wished he'd had — structure picker, mock CIC36, the UK funding landscape, an income modeller, a mock UnLtd application and a completion certificate.
Start the guideCurriculum · Financial & digital literacy
Running Your Business
Tax, bookkeeping, banking with a record, and credit repair — five progressive sections with mock Self Assessment, live ledger, cash flow simulator and pay calculator.
Start Section 1Section 02 · AI tools for coaches
Funding Application Builder
Draft a Sport England Movement Fund small grant application with the MEM Advisor — section by section, in plain English. Edit and export when you're done.
Open the builderCoachAI · FreeMEM Finance Coach
Ask plain-English questions about pricing, tax, expenses, Universal Credit and cash flow. Tailored for self-employed MEM coaches.
Talk to the Finance CoachBuilderAI · NewAI Workout & Nutrition Planner
Manage your client roster and generate branded weekly workout + nutrition plans with macros, sample meals and a shopping list. Pull from the tagged exercise & nutrition library, then export as PDF.
Open the plannerAdvisorAI · FreeAI Workout Advisor
Ask plain-English questions about programming, progressions, deloads, injury-aware substitutions and client goals. Trained on MEM's coaching pathways.
Talk to the Workout AdvisorMessagingNewCoach ↔ Client messages
Direct, real-time chat with your clients (and from the client side, with their coach). Link a client's email so they can sign in and reply.
Open messagesAccountantAI · FreeAsk Clara — your free AI accountant
Plain-English answers on Self Assessment, allowable expenses, Class 4 NI, benefits, budgeting and the free schemes most self-employed PTs miss. Warm, no-jargon, judgement-free.
Chat with ClaraMy funding applications
SyncedWhat's new · 2 May 2026
Coach ↔ Client messaging
Section 03 · Planning tools
Build programmes, plan sessions.
Free tools for self-employed MEM coaches — build client programmes and schedule community sessions.
Section 04 · Toolkit
Sole Trader Toolkit
Free and low-cost tools to run the admin side of your PT business — invoicing, insurance, tax and bookkeeping.
Automated Invoicing
Send branded invoices & chase payments automatically.
PT Insurance
Public liability + professional indemnity cover for coaching.
Tax & Self-Assessment
Register with HMRC and file your annual return.
Bookkeeping & Banking
Separate business banking + simple expense tracking.
Contract Templates
PT client agreements, PAR-Q forms & cancellation policies.
DBS & Safeguarding
Enhanced DBS for working with young people or in prisons.
First Aid Certification
Most gyms and employers require a valid first aid certificate before you can coach independently.
Client scheduling
Book and manage client sessions professionally from day one.
External links are signposts only — MEM Academy is not affiliated with these providers. Compare before buying.
Unlock applications
Startup Checklist
Tick off HMRC, insurance, and (for CIC/charity) safeguarding & DBS to unlock applications.
HMRC · From April 2026
MTD ITSA Readiness
Pick your income band, sign up for Making Tax Digital, and track quarterly updates in one place.
Mobile · Works offline
Quick Capture
Log a session in 10 seconds, snap a receipt with one tap. Saves on-device, syncs when you're back online.