Frequently asked questions
Own Online Studio is a New Zealand-based online coaching studio offering personalised training and nutrition coaching. Below are the questions we get asked most. Can't find what you're after? Get in touch
Getting started & how it works
What is Own Online Studio?
Own Online Studio is a New Zealand online coaching studio that builds personalised nutrition and training plans for everyday people. We're not an app with a template library, every meal plan and training program is written from scratch by a qualified coach, based on your goals, your schedule, your budget and the food you actually like eating. We offer three coaching services plus one-off programs and meal plan bundles for people who don't need ongoing support.
How does online coaching actually work?
You work with a real coach through our app, and everything happens remotely. You'll get personalised plans, a weekly check-in video from your coach, unlimited messaging, and an optional weekly call. There's no set appointment time you have to be free for, you check in when it suits you, and your coach responds the same or next business day.
What happens once I sign up?
You'll be invited to join our app by email immediately after signing up. Once you've set up your account and logged in, our onboarding coach will message you inside the app the same day to assign you a new client questionnaire and book an optional onboarding call. On that call we work out which coach is the right fit for you based on your goals and your personality. After the call you'll receive an intro video from your assigned coach, your first meal plans and/or training program, and a guide on how to use the app.
If I sign up today, when do I start?
You'll officially start on the Monday after you sign up — and your coach starts working on you straight away. Your first payment is effectively a sign-up fee, because the week between signing up and starting Monday is the week your coach is doing the work: you'll have your onboarding call, meet your coach, and they'll write your meal plan and/or training program from scratch. That week also gives you time to do your grocery shop, take your program for a test run, and send back any feedback or requests for changes — so that when Monday morning comes around, you're starting fresh with your plans already dialled in. That Monday is week one of your eight weeks.
What is the best day to sign up?
The best days to sign up are Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, which for most people lines up with pay day. That gives everyone enough time to get you properly set up without rushing it.
How long does it take to get my plans after I sign up?
Up to two working days from your questionnaire. Every plan is built from scratch, so it isn't instant. We'll always aim to have you set up and ready to start the following Monday.
Do I have to do the onboarding call?
No, the onboarding call is optional but we strongly recommend it. It's how we match you to the right coach, and it's the fastest way for us to understand what's worked, what hasn't for you in the past and how to set you up for success.
What app do you use?
All coaching runs through the Everfit app, which you'll be invited to join by email as soon as you sign up. Your meal plans, training program, exercise demo videos, habit and metric tracking, check-in forms and messages with your coach all live in one place.
Do I need any equipment or a gym membership to start?
Not necessarily. We write programs for full gyms, home setups, and everything in between, tell us what you've got access to in your questionnaire and your coach will build around it. If you're training at home with minimal equipment, say so upfront rather than trying to make a gym program work.
Do I need to be already fit to join?
No. A large portion of our clients start as complete beginners, and our programs run from genuinely beginner-friendly through to advanced. Your coach builds to your current level, not to where you think you should be.
Will I receive a handbook?
Yes. After your onboarding call your coach will send you our client handbook, a PDF over 40 pages long, full of tips, cheat sheets and how-tos. Our one-off meal plan bundles and training programs come with a more compact version of the same handbook.
Where are you based?
We're based in New Zealand. Most of our clients are NZ-based, but we can build meal plans using food databases from the UK, US, Australia and Canada, and we have clients using our training programs all over the world.
Can I join from outside New Zealand?
Yes. Our training programs work anywhere, and we build meal plans using UK, US, Australian and Canadian food databases as well as New Zealand. The one thing to know is that we currently only take payment in NZD.
Can I talk to someone before I sign up?
Yes, and we'd encourage it if you're unsure which service is right for you. Get in touch through our contact page and we'll ask about your goals and point you to the most suitable option, including telling you if a one-off program would serve you better than ongoing coaching.
Choosing the right option
Which coaching service should I choose?
It depends on which part you actually need help with. If your main goal is changing your body composition — losing fat or building a more defined physique — nutrition is the bigger lever, so Training & Nutrition Coaching ($84.90/week) or Nutrition Only Coaching ($69.90/week) will serve you best. If you already eat well and just want a properly structured program and someone to hold you accountable in the gym, Training Only Coaching ($39.90/week) is the right fit. If you're not sure, get in touch before you sign up and we'll tell you honestly.
What's the difference between your three coaching services?
| Feature | Training Only | Nutrition Only | Training & Nutrition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.90/week | $69.90/week | $84.90/week |
| Sign up fee | $39.90 (1 week) | $69.90 (1 week) | $84.90 (1 week) |
| Minimum term | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Personalised training program | ✓ (new every 8 weeks) | — | ✓ (new every 8 weeks) |
| 2x personalised meal plans/fortnight | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Onboarding call | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weekly accountability check-in | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Optional weekly coaching call | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-app habit & metric tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Client handbook | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Direct messaging with your coach | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Form check video feedback | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Community access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Should I sign up for coaching or just buy a one-off program?
Buy a one-off if you already have a track record of sticking to a plan on your own; choose coaching if you've struggled to stay consistent without support. One-off programs and meal plan bundles give you the plan and nothing else, no check-ins, no adjustments, no one to message. Coaching gives you ongoing accountability, plans that change as you change, and a coach who problem-solves with you. If you've bought programs before and not finished them, that's your answer.
How much does online coaching cost in New Zealand?
Our coaching starts at $39.90 per week for training only, $69.90 per week for nutrition only, and $84.90 per week for combined training and nutrition coaching. All prices are NZD and include a sign up fee and an 8-week minimum term. For comparison, one-off training programs are $89.90 and meal plan bundles start at $129.90 as a one-time purchase.
Is online coaching worth it compared to a personal trainer?
Online coaching typically costs less per week than in-person personal training and covers more ground, but it asks more of you day to day. With a PT you get hands-on coaching for the hour you're in the gym; with online coaching you get a personalised program, nutrition support, weekly feedback on everything you did between sessions, and unlimited access to your coach by message — but nobody is standing next to you making you show up. If accountability for actually turning up is your main issue, in-person may suit you better. If your issue is knowing what to do, eating well, and staying consistent across the whole week, online coaching covers more of the problem.
What app do you use?
All coaching runs through the Everfit app, which you'll be invited to join by email as soon as you sign up. Your meal plans, training program, exercise demo videos, habit and metric tracking, check-in forms and messages with your coach all live in one place.
Do I need any equipment or a gym membership to start?
Not necessarily. We write programs for full gyms, home setups, and everything in between, tell us what you've got access to in your questionnaire and your coach will build around it. If you're training at home with minimal equipment, say so upfront rather than trying to make a gym program work.
Do I need to be already fit to join?
No. A large portion of our clients start as complete beginners, and our programs run from genuinely beginner-friendly through to advanced. Your coach builds to your current level, not to where you think you should be.
Will I receive a handbook?
Yes. After your onboarding call your coach will send you our client handbook, a PDF over 40 pages long, full of tips, cheat sheets and how-tos. Our one-off meal plan bundles and training programs come with a more compact version of the same handbook.
Where are you based?
We're based in New Zealand. Most of our clients are NZ-based, but we can build meal plans using food databases from the UK, US, Australia and Canada, and we have clients using our training programs all over the world.
Can I join from outside New Zealand?
Yes. Our training programs work anywhere, and we build meal plans using UK, US, Australian and Canadian food databases as well as New Zealand. The one thing to know is that we currently only take payment in NZD.
Can I talk to someone before I sign up?
Yes, and we'd encourage it if you're unsure which service is right for you. Get in touch through our contact page and we'll ask about your goals and point you to the most suitable option, including telling you if a one-off program would serve you better than ongoing coaching.