Want to know how to open a gym? You are in the right place 🙂
Read our professional guide on how to start a new business in the fitness world.
We have some good news for you right now:
The health and fitness sector in Europe is booming.
After months of uncertainty due to past events, membership data is almost back to normal post-lockdown.
Meanwhile, governments around the world have called on people to work and stay active, to counteract the effects of new and old diseases, thus bringing many new consumers into the fitness market.
If you are a fitness professional or a personal trainer looking to start your own business, there is good news.
Fortunately there is still a huge share of people interested in the benefits of exercise for physical and mental health.
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Open a gym a challenge to understand well.
Launching any new business brings industry-specific challenges.
There are many different factors that new owners of gyms should consider, the fitness industry is one area where SMEs can still shine on their own, but as long as they adhere to the basic steps.
How has Covid-19 changed the fitness industry?
If you are thinking about starting a gym activity, you probably still feel a little nervous about the state of the industry and the possible impact that future blockages could have.
The pandemic has been difficult for all companies, but its impact has been particularly hard for gyms, cross training boxes and various personal trainer studios.
For many gym owners, the impact was devastating.
However, analyzing this post-Covid phase, we can see a real rise.
Going to the gym to train is at the top of the list of activities of all those who have suffered blockages due to the pandemic.
With the relaxation of the blocking measures, there have been companies in the sector that have gone from a liability of 50% to a surplus of 70%. In short, a real restart.
So we can say that: This is the time to really try to start your business!
How much does it cost to start a gym?
Starting a gym or fitness center can have very variable costs that can fluctuate even in a very marked way.
The average cost of initial investment when opening a medium-sized commercial gym is about € 50,000 – € 100,000.
You have read it right, to open a gym the minimum initial investment is this.
Purchase of the gym equipment
Gym equipment is one of the most expensive business divisions to invest in.
How much you spend depends on the amount and type of equipment you want to put in your own gym, but you should expect to estimate at least € 35,000 for a fully equipped gym.
Here is a list of the most popular gym equipment on the market in gyms.
- Treadmill
- Rowers
- Air Bike
- Benches
- Weight set
- Leg Press
- Leg Extension
- Rack
- Kettlebells
- Dumbbells
The unwritten rule of 30%
A good practice is to have sufficient equipment for 30% of the members of a given time slot.
A practical example:
If in class X of the 19 you have 20 people training on average, you should have at least one tool for every 3 people.
Evaluate also the used
There is not always the possibility to buy brand new equipment. We at KingsBox know this well, so we have a section dedicated to occasions where you can find dozens of equipment and accessories for fitness at discounted prices.
Attention to staff to be hired
Before recruiting new staff, it is necessary to carefully check their training and accreditation.
Consider using them in trial classes with your customers to see how they interact before committing to hiring them as employees.
Consider, in addition to hiring, the possibility of collaborating with personal trainers with VAT, so as to reduce costs.
How do you find a good gym?
Location is critical when starting such an activity.
On average, 50% of the users of a gym who decide to leave complain of problems reaching the gym position.
The average gym-goer does not travel more than 6 km to train. So it should be crucial not to open in places that are too far away from the city centre.
Opening a gym in populated population centers allows you to attract more people.
How to find the right building?
The amount of space needed in a fitness center, excluding common areas and bathrooms, should be as little as 6 square meters per person. This means that you would need a training space that allows customers to move around easily.
When you visit a commercial space to rent for your gym, you should consider whether it has at least:
Parking
Office space
Space for changing rooms and showers
Disabled access
How does location affect your prices?
The location of your new gym can have a huge impact on the prices of your services. Opening a gym in the center of Rome or on the outskirts can make a really important difference.
Remember to calculate this variable in your business plan.
How much and how should I charge my customers
Gym membership prices usually vary according to the formula chosen by the customer.
Most gyms have payment options that can be:
- Subscriptions for one day
- Monthly subscriptions
- Annual subscription
Obviously the greater the number of months that the customer chooses to buy the cheaper should be the price paid.
Are you qualified to start a gym?
If you plan to run a fitness center, your passion for health and well-being is an obvious requirement that sometimes isn’t enough, here are some other transversal skills that gym owners should have:
- Ability to work for many hours
- Empathy with your customers
- Knowledge of the sector
- Marketing skills
Every industry is subject to rapid change, so make sure you have the skills to stay abreast of new and emerging trends.
Rules and regulations
Starting a new gym activity is a potential minefield for anyone who may have injuries and accidents during training, so it is in your best interest to be strict about safety procedures.
There is currently no specific agency to oversee safety guidelines for the sector. However, in order for your gym to be considered a safe environment for users and staff, you will need to comply at least with HCCP standards and have a safety plan drawn up by an industry professional.
Remember that :
- All personnel employed in a gym or fitness centre must have adequate safety training.
- All gym equipment, including lifts, electrical appliances and boilers, must be kept safe and regularly inspected by appropriate persons.
- All gym equipment must be maintained according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, with all checks documented and kept on site.
- Gym owners are legally bound by the legislation of the employer for any instructor or other member of staff who is hired
Insurance
If you are hiring staff to work in your gym, then you are legally obliged to have an employer’s liability insurance.
This insurance will cover the costs of any claims made by employees for injury or damage caused by work.
We also advise you to take out a liability insurance. Because both you and your employees interact directly with the public and this caution will protect you if someone suffers injury or damage while training.
Licensing
Depending on the range of activities offered by your fitness center, you may need a special license.
For example:
To sell or prepare food on site, companies must register with their health department.
To use copyrighted recorded music during gym sessions, please contact SIAE.
In order to maintain computer records of personal data of individuals and/or use CCTV cameras it is necessary to fill out an online form and register as a data user with the Office of the Data Protection Authority .
What to do now?
We have tried to include in this guide on how to open a gym the main basic points you should dwell on before opening your own gym. As always, our huge experience in the field allows us to have professionals who can follow you in the design phase, so as to give you support.
If you are interested just send us a request for a quote by clicking here.
