The true cost of being a competitive bodybuilder

And why this is the only sport where athletes pay to be a pro

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.

Here is a breakdown of typical expenses for some of the major UK bodybuilding federations:

1. UKBFF (United Kingdom Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation)

• Membership Fee: £50 per year
• Entry Fee: £60-£80 per class
• Additional Classes: £30-£50 per class
• Tanning (optional): £70-£120
• Stage Photos (optional): £40-£60

2. PCA (Physical Culture Association)

• Membership Fee: £40 per year
• Entry Fee: £60-£80 per class
• Tanning (optional): £70-£120
• Stage Photos (optional): £60

3. NABBA (National Amateur Bodybuilders’ Association)

• Membership Fee: £50 per year
• Entry Fee: £50 per class
• Additional Classes: £50 per class
• Tanning (optional): £80
• Stage Photos (optional): £40

4. 2Bros Events

• Membership Fee: £130
• Entry Fee: £150-£200 per class (regional or national events)
• Additional Classes: £150 per class
• Tanning: £70-£130
• Stage Photos (optional): £75-£125

5. BNBF (British Natural Bodybuilding Federation)

• Membership Fee: £35 per year
• Entry Fee: £35-£55 per class
• Additional Classes: £25-£40 per class
• Tanning (optional): £60-£100
• Stage Photos (optional): £40-£60

6. IBFA (International Bodybuilding & Fitness Association)

• Membership Fee: £35 per year
• Entry Fee: £30-£50 per class
• Additional Classes: £20-£30 per class
• Tanning (optional): £60-£80
• Stage Photos (optional): £30-£50

7. UKDFBA (United Kingdom Drug Free Bodybuilding Association)

• Membership Fee: £35 per year
• Entry Fee: £35-£60 per class
• Additional Classes: £25-£40 per class
• Tanning (optional): £50-£80
• Stage Photos (optional): £40-£60

Additional costs to consider:

• Travel and accommodation: Depending on where the competition is held, travel and overnight stays may add significant costs.
• Posing trunks/bikini: £50-£300 (depending on custom designs and quality)
• Coaching and prep: This can vary widely, from £100 to £1,000 plus depending on the coach and length of prep.
• Supplements and nutrition: Monthly costs of supplements and a competition diet plan.

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..."

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