TL;DR: This guide breaks down examples of corporate wellness programs and what makes them work. Learn how to structure programs you can deliver without a massive team.
Corporate wellness is projected to be a whopping $87.3 billion market this year.
Wellness programs help companies reduce healthcare costs, improve productivity, and boost retention. Personal trainers are well-positioned to help them make it happen. 💪
But knowing the opportunity exists isn’t the same as knowing how to WIN at it.
You need to know things like:
- What do successful corporate wellness programs actually look like?
- What types of corporate wellness programs are companies looking for?
- How do you deliver professional-grade wellness services without hiring a massive team? 🤔
This article dives into real corporate wellness programs examples to answer those questions. Plus we will provide guidance on how to build and deliver programs to your own corporate clients. Let’s get into it!
📝 Check Out: Why Corporate Wellness Is THE Next Big Opportunity for Personal Trainers
What’s Inside
- Types of Corporate Wellness Programs
- What Successful Corporate Wellness Programs Have in Common
- Corporate Wellness Programs Examples Worth Learning From
- How to Structure Programs You Can Actually Deliver
- Landing Your First (or Next) Corporate Client
- FAQs: Corporate Wellness Program Examples
Types of Corporate Wellness Programs
Before you can pitch corporate clients, you need to understand what they’re buying. Let’s break down the main types of corporate wellness programs.
#1: Physical fitness programs
This is the most obvious entry point for personal trainers. It’s also likely where you’re most comfortable. Common examples include gym membership subsidies and on-site fitness facilities.
Your opportunity: Many companies lack the expertise to actually get employees moving. You fill that gap with structured workout programs, accountability, and professional guidance.
#2: Nutrition and weight management
Nutrition is becoming a bigger part of corporate wellness programs. Employers may offer healthier options in the cafeteria or even nutrition seminars. However, they rarely have in-house expertise to guide their staff.
Your opportunity: Nutrition coaching, meal tracking, and accountability programs. This is relevant as more companies look to support employees using GLP-1 medications.
#3: Mental health and stress management
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and mindfulness apps are standard offerings. Companies recognize that mental health impacts productivity, sick days, and retention.
Your opportunity: Holistic coaching that integrates habits and stress management alongside fitness. You’re not replacing therapists. You’re helping employees build daily routines that support mental well-being.
#4: Holistic programs that address the whole person
The best corporate wellness programs examples don’t silo fitness, nutrition, and habits. They integrate all three to address the whole person.
Your opportunity: Trainers offering 360° coaching have an advantage. More companies are seeking out all-in-one platforms that can do more for their staff. Offering more than just workouts makes you a more valuable wellness partner.
📝 Read More: The Power of Holistic Coaching: Training, Nutrition, and Habits Working Together
What Successful Corporate Wellness Programs Have in Common
Before we explore corporate wellness program examples, let’s look at what successful programs have in common.
They meet employees where they are
Remote work, hybrid schedules, and multi-location workforces are the norm now. This is why successful programs offer flexible delivery:
- On-demand workouts employees can do at home
- Virtual coaching sessions that fit busy schedules
- Mobile apps that travels with employees wherever they work
On-site programs still have value, but they can’t be the only option.
They go beyond one-off events
Sadly, annual health fairs and quarterly lunch-and-learns don’t change entrenched behaviors. Sustained engagement is what drives real change.
This looks like daily habit tracking, regular check-ins, and programs that run for weeks or months rather than a single afternoon. If you’re able to create lasting behavior change, you’re more likely to get renewed year after year.
They measure and report outcomes
Companies need data to justify continued investment in wellness programs. If you can’t show results, you won’t get renewed. It’s that simple.
The trainers who build sustainable corporate wellness businesses track things like:
- Participation rates
- Engagement metrics
- Health outcomes
They also send regular updates to HR and leadership, which shows the success of their programs. This separates the pros from the joes. 👌
Corporate Wellness Program Examples Worth Learning From
Now, let’s look at real corporate wellness programs examples. Each has a takeaway for how you can deliver services.
Johnson & Johnson: The compound effect of long-term commitment
Johnson & Johnson has run wellness programs for over 40 years. This makes them one of the longest-running examples of corporate wellness programs in the US.
According to the Harvard Business Review, J&J estimated that wellness programs saved them $250 million on healthcare costs over a 6-year period.
Their approach is a masterclass on the power of going all-in. Clearly, wellness is a core part of their company and not a passing trend!
Trainer takeaway: Corporate wellness is a long game. The real value comes from multi-year partnerships over one-off projects.
📝 Check Out: What is a Corporate Wellness Coach and How Can They Benefit Your Company?
Lennar x ABC Trainerize: App-based wellness for a distributed workforce
How do you deliver consistent wellness programming to employees spread across many locations? That’s what Lennar, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, needed to figure out.
Their solution was to create LennarFit, a custom-branded wellness app built on ABC Trainerize. The program combines fitness programming, nutrition support, and progress tracking.
The results speak for themselves:
- More than 1,000 active users since the January 2024 launch
- 165% increase in nutrition program participation from Q1 to Q2
Trainer takeaway: Technology makes it easy to deliver programs across locations. With the right platform, you can serve a distributed workforce without being on-site.
TriCore Wellness: Proof that independent trainers can scale
Chris Edwards founded TriCore Wellness as a solo entrepreneur in 2014. His story is relevant because it shows what’s possible without a big team or corporate backing.
Through ABC Trainerize, Edwards learned how to scale his business and take on more corporate clients. His journey shows that you don’t need to be a large company to serve large companies. 🙌
Trainer takeaway: The corporate wellness market isn’t just for big players. Independent trainers can definitely compete. You just need the right systems and technology to deliver professional services to many people at once.
📝 Read More: How TriCore Wellness Adopted Trainerize To Scale Their Corporate Wellness Business
Novant Health: Healthcare invests in holistic coaching
Novant Health has 40,000+ team members across 850+ locations. When they decided to invest in team member health, they created the Elevate App powered by ABC Trainerize.
Their 13-week “Transform” group program is coach-led and focused on many areas of health. Team members can message their coaches with questions and share updates. The program also includes monthly virtual sessions with a dietician.
The results? Real lifestyle transformation. Team member Lori Kropaczek had this to say about joining:
“I have enjoyed getting acquainted with the gym and learning how to properly use the equipment as well as proper form and technique,” says Kropaczek. “[My personal trainer and dietician have] both been so full of knowledge and support. I would encourage anyone… to take that leap for yourself. The benefits have been so much more than I could have imagined!”
Trainer takeaway: Healthcare employers are investing heavily in holistic coaching. They understand that physical activity, nutrition, and habits work together—and they’re willing to pay for trainers who can deliver all three.
How to Structure Programs You Can Actually Deliver
You’ve seen what successful corporate wellness program examples look like. Now let’s talk about how to structure programs you can actually deliver without a massive team or unlimited resources. 👇
Challenge-based programs
Challenges are easy to scale, have built-in accountability, and come with clear end dates that create urgency.
Example structure:
- 4-week challenge with weekly check-ins and a leaderboard
- Participants can track their progress through an app
- They compete with colleagues and celebrate wins together
You facilitate the challenge, provide coaching content, and keep engagement high without needing to deliver hours of 1:1 sessions.
Challenges are a great entry point for new corporate clients. They’re lower commitment, which makes them easier to sell. At the same time, they generate success stories you can use to pitch longer engagements.
Group coaching cohorts
8-12 week group cohorts are the sweet spot for corporate wellness programs. They offer better rates to companies and often deliver better results than self-guided programs.
Example structure:
- Weekly group video calls for education and accountability
- App-based daily habits and workout programs that participants complete on their own schedule
You’re coaching 10-20 people at the same time, all while tracking individual progress and providing personalized feedback.
Tiered service packages
Not every company has the same budget or needs. Tiered packages let you serve different engagement levels within a single organization:
- Basic tier: App access plus group challenges. Low touch, low cost, broad reach.
- Standard tier: Group coaching plus nutrition tracking. More personalized, higher engagement.
- Premium tier: 1:1 coaching plus custom programming. Full service for employees who want the most support.
This lets you serve a company’s entire staff. Plus you can earn higher revenue from employees who want more hands-on support.
Pilot programs that prove value
Starting small is often the smartest path to bigger contracts. A pilot program with a single department or small group lets you show results before asking for larger commitment.
6-8 weeks is enough time to show measurable outcomes. You’ll want to track participation, engagement, and whatever health metrics matter to your client. Then use that data to pitch a bigger contract.
You can also start even smaller with lunch-and-learns or wellness workshops. These low-pressure touch points build relationships with HR and introduce employees to your style.
📝 Read More: Introducing Master Habit Programs to Make Habit Coaching Easier than Ever
Landing Your First (or Next) Corporate Client
Learning about different types of corporate wellness programs is helpful, but it doesn’t close deals. Here’s practical guidance for actually winning corporate clients.
Step 1. Identify what you can offer
Before you pitch anyone, get clear on your service offering:
- Can you deliver fitness programming, nutrition coaching, habit coaching, or all three?
- Are you set up for virtual delivery, in-person sessions, or hybrid programs?
The more complete your offering, the more valuable you are to corporate clients. But you can absolutely start with a focused niche and expand over time.
Step 2. Look for local opportunities
Look at businesses in your area that don’t have existing wellness programs. The ideal size of company is between 50-500 employees. They’re big enough to have a budget for wellness but small enough that you can actually reach decision-makers.
LinkedIn is your friend here. Search for HR managers, benefits coordinators, and wellness committee leads at target companies.
Also consider companies that are already spending on gym memberships or fitness benefits. They’ve already shown an interest in employee health. You’re offering to upgrade that investment into actual coaching and accountability.
Step 3. Put together a tight pitch
Lead with their problem, not your services. Companies typically care about solving problems like:
- Reducing absenteeism
- Improving employee retention
- Lowering healthcare costs
- Boosting productivity
Frame your pitch around the outcomes they want, backed by data on wellness program ROI.
Propose a pilot program so they can “try before they buy.” Most HR leaders won’t commit to a big program from a trainer they’ve never worked with. A pilot with a small group gives them a low-risk way to try out your services.
Finally, include 2-3 specific outcome metrics you’ll track. This shows you’re serious about demonstrating results, not just collecting a paycheck.
Step 4. Price your corporate wellness services
Corporate wellness pricing typically falls into a few models:
- Per-employee-per-month (PEPM): You charge a flat rate for each employee enrolled in the program. Typical ranges run $15-50 per employee per month depending on service level and engagement.
- Flat-rate program fees: A fixed price for a defined program, regardless of participant count. This works well for challenges and cohort-based programs.
- Tiered packages: Different price points for different service levels, as described above.
Whatever model you choose, price based on the value you deliver, not the hours you work.
📝 Read More: 7 Tips for Becoming a Successful Corporate Wellness Coach
FAQs: Corporate Wellness Program Examples
What are some examples of wellness activities?
Common wellness activities in corporate settings include:
- Step challenges
- Group fitness classes
- Nutrition workshops
- Health screenings
- Mindfulness sessions
- Walking meetings
- Healthy eating initiatives
- Coaching programs.
The best examples of corporate wellness programs also include ongoing support and accountability.
What do trainers need to deliver corporate wellness programs?
You’ll want to have tools to deliver programs, communication with employees, and track progress. ABC Trainerize handles these things and more, all in one place.
Do corporate wellness programs actually improve health outcomes?
Yes, when rolled out properly. That said, the outcomes depend on program design and whether participants stick with it. This is why skilled trainers and coaches are so valuable to corporate wellness.
How do you measure corporate wellness program success?
Some key metrics include:
- Participation rates
- Engagement frequency (how often employees use the program)
- Health risk assessment improvements
- Healthcare cost trends
- Absenteeism rates
- Employee satisfaction scores
ABC Trainerize makes it easy track these metrics so that you can show value to decision makers.
Scale Your Corporate Wellness Business with ABC Trainerize
The best corporate wellness program examples are flexible, sustainable, and measurable. Whether you’re inspired by Fortune 500 programs or independent success stories, the path forward is clear.
Ready to serve your first corporate client, or scale the corporate business you’ve already started? ABC Trainerize gives you everything you need to deliver professional wellness programs at scale—all in one platform.
