The cost of competitive bodybuilding is often underestimated. From federation fees and show entry to coaching, food and supplements, the financial commitment quickly adds up. This article breaks down the real cost of stepping on stage in the UK, and why bodybuilding is one of the few sports where athletes pay to compete.
THE promotion of 2025 bodybuilding shows has already begun – but just how expensive is it to be a competitive bodybuilder?
There are federation membership fees to consider, show entry costs, additional classes, tanning, official photos, coaching. And that is without even mentioning food and supplements.
Let's take competing with the PCA as an example. If a person had ambitions to compete at the PCA British Finals and Universe, this would first involve competing at a regional qualifier. So it would roughly work out as follows:
Membership: £40
Regional entry fee: £60
Tanning: £70
Photos (optional): £40
Universe entry fee: £80
Tanning: £80
British Finals entry fee: £80
Tanning: £80
Total: £530
Remember, as we have mentioned in our additional expenditure, this is without travel and hotel costs, which could easily push the cost of bodybuilding for a season to more than £650.
Then when you factor in the cost of hiring a coach and add in nutrition and supplements, preparing for just two or three shows a season could cost a single competitor well in excess of £1000 a year. When you consider too that some people compete overseas, the cost of competing could come in more than double this amount.
Let's not forget that if you are lucky enough to win a pro card with any federation, this also costs money to register – upwards of 250 Euros per season.
In any other sport, professional means you are the one being paid. So the true cost of being a competitive bodybuilder is certainly something to consider when federations trot out their favoured line of: "We are all for the athletes..."
Written and edited by Gary Chappell, UK Masters bodybuilder, Personal Trainer, Nutrition Advisor, prep and lifestyle coach and former national newspaper sports journalist.
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