So you've decided to compete in a bodybuilding show! You've got yourself a coach, or you’ve planned your nutrition and training yourself. You've selected the competition(s) that you will work towards, and you've even thought about what colour bikini suit you’re going to wear!

Trying to keep a hold of how much you are spending can become overwhelming when you’re competing. It’s also easy to forget every little thing. This is why we have decided to create the very first ‘Competing Budget Planner’ to help you stay on track every step of the way.

For ease, we’ve created this budget planner as an excel spreadsheet you can add and remove areas of the sheet to make it work best for you. Simply click the button below to get started.

Some of the main important things to consider are…

Coaching
This may be one of your biggest investments so take your time researching for the right coach. Look at their clients, their results, ask lots of questions. Costs for coaching vary a lot - anything up to several hundred pounds for a standard 12-16-week prep. Cheaper isn’t always better- if you are going to save money you might not want to short cut this! Make sure your chosen coach is experienced (and not just competing themselves) and try and get recommendations from previous clients.

Entry Fee & Membership Fees.
Check websites for info but this will vary. Entry fees will also vary between federations and competitions. Check out the federations websites for their fees but it could cost somewhere between £10-100+.

Posing Coaching

Some federations provide workshops where you can learn about the competition and basic posing requirements. Some federations offer this free, others there will be a fee. These usually start from £25 and upwards. 121 posing is usually more expensive than a group class, but it is often deemed better and you will learn quicker and more specifically to your body. Costs vary- some coaches also offer video call which are usually a bit cheaper and more convenient.

If you are competing on a budget- There is a “Bikini Posing Tutorials” section in our Blogs, Tutorials & Resources section by The Posing Pro - IFBB Figure PRO Emma Hyndman. It provides you with all the resources you need to start perfecting your bikini posing, covering a range of federations and levels. Emma Hyndman is a professional posing coach who we personally recommend for her expertise, service and care with all her clients.

Bikinis & Figure Suits
Finding the right bikini or figure suit is important – as a good cut and style can really enhance your look. Most people go for custom made designs with cost often being indicated by the type of and amount of crystals being used. Swarovski crystals will be the most expensive. To save money – you can buy a bargain basic bikini and bling it up yourself, or you can opt for less crystals on your bikini from the bikini maker. In the KOMPAK Marketplace we sell ex pre-loved suits so its always worth checking out for what’s on sale, you could find a bargain!

Shoes
Again you can spend as much as you like on shoes with different styles of crystals or glitter soles! On a budget opt for a plain shoe for a lower price range. Bargains can be found on the KOMPAK Marketplace with competitors often listing their pre-loved shoes after 1-2 wears!

Tan

Most competitions will have an official tanning company who will tan you either the night before the show or backstage on the day,
Buying self-tan products is a cheaper option if you are confident applying own tan and have someone to help you. Make sure you purchase a tan for bodybuilding. Competition tan is designed for the stage and the lighting and normal tans just aren’t going to cut it! Our ProTan products can be found here. Also think about what you will wear once your tan is on- most people have a Bronzie or tracksuit and flipflops.

Hair / Make up services

You can do your own for this, but if you aren’t good at make up or applying lashes, you might prefer to pay for professional MUA. There are usually official makeup artists and stylists at the shows but they will need to be booked in advance.

Accessories

This is up to you! We do recommend getting at least one pair of earrings, bracelet and a ring as a minimum. It will contribute to the ‘overall package’ and bring your look together!

We’re not trying to put you off with the costs but it’s important to budget, and also remember everything! Your first comp will likely be your most expensive, if you have competed before you might have shoes and bikini that’s suitable already! There are loads of ways to keep costs reasonable.

Shoes, bikini suit, jewellery and tan are essential, and you will have to travel to the show and pay your entry fees. But everything else is an optional extra. So, although it’s possible to spend a lot of money, it is also possible to keep things simple and on a budget!