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You love motivating clients, helping them achieve their goals, and becoming the best version of themselves. You give your trainings with heart and soul, and you're ready for the next step: your own gym! But then, how do you go about it? Where do you start, and what do you need to consider? In this blog, we will explain step by step, together with gym owner Jim Davids, how you can start your own gym/box and what you need to consider to realize your dream.
Jim says, "Starting a gym, well, where do you begin? Opening a space to give training? Setting up a concept? Planning for marketing? Do you do it from your savings, the bank, or an investor? In terms of an investor, do you then distribute shares, or do you pay interest (in the form of a loan?) It's all tricky but NOT impossible."
Starting a gym is not easy, but if you're willing to work hard, it's definitely worth the effort. The first question you need to ask yourself is: Why do you want to open a gym?
If the answer is 'to get rich,' then you might want to consider a different path.
If the answer is 'because it's my love and passion,' then read on. The reason behind opening your own gym contributes to maintaining focus and drive, even when things get a bit tough. Keeping this drive is necessary to become a successful business.
Think carefully about the choice you make. Perhaps being a personal trainer or fitness instructor suits you better. You have fewer risks and undoubtedly better working hours (especially in the first period after opening your gym). If you ask yourself this and still want to dive in deep, then opening your own gym is the right choice for you!
Step 1: Create a business plan!
Many businesses that start from a passion and love for the field skip several important steps. Creating a business plan is one of these steps. Having a business plan on paper, including mission, vision, objectives, core values, target audience, market research, budgets, etc., provides very clear guidelines. Additionally, with a good business plan, you can immediately see if your dreams are feasible.
Therefore, start with thorough market research. Talk to owners of fitness centers to find out what was necessary to get their business operational. Learning from those who are already successful in your field is an invaluable education that can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run.
Is the market big enough for another gym? How will you differentiate yourself from the rest? Study your competitors and potential market well to see where your opportunities lie.
Jim: "I could write for hours about how everything went for me, but here is a list of points that are crucial:
- Business plan
- Financial plan (including a liquidity forecast)
- Marketing plan
- Concept report
- Plan A and Plan B
If you have a plan, speak it out, present it to your parents, friends, acquaintances, ask people in the gym if they can spare an hour for you, from your business network. Collect as much criticism as possible and forge the best plan!"
Step 2: Knowledge and diplomas
Nowadays, many people call themselves personal trainers or weight loss coaches, even without having the proper diplomas. It's important to possess the right knowledge, experiences, and credentials. After all, you will be responsible for maintaining the body of your clients, and they want to be sure they are in good hands. Therefore, thoroughly explore the education and the value of the corresponding diplomas.
There are various personalization certifications to choose from, and other types of fitness offerings (such as yoga, pilates, or aerobics classes) also come with their own certifications. You are also responsible for ensuring that every staff member you hire has the correct certification.
Step 3: Identify your niche
There are various fitness niches to choose from. Explore these niches below to determine what kind of fitness center you want to open.
Specialty fitness center: This niche usually focuses on one special fitness class or activity. Examples include weightlifting, cross training, aerobics, yoga, dance, pilates, cycling, and much more. Specialized fitness centers often offer a variety of class options throughout the week based on different levels, intensity, and complexity. Instructors are certified in a particular niche. Specialized fitness centers can often be more expensive due to their unique experience and the quality of instructors. Monthly packages or memberships are often offered as an option.
Traditional gym: Traditional gyms often offer various training options at one location, including fitness classes, strength and cardio equipment, and personal training. They may provide additional amenities, including massages, saunas, tanning beds, steam baths, childcare, and much more. These additional services are often offered for an extra fee.
Medical fitness and wellness centers: These fitness centers offer physiotherapy and other medical services to help clients manage, recover from, and prevent health issues. Usually associated with a doctor's practice or hospital that makes program recommendations. These centers often have professional staff specialized in managing, monitoring, and measuring clients' progress. They typically offer a variety of educational services for physical and mental wellness, in addition to typical group fitness classes and fitness equipment.
Family fitness and wellness centers: Often offer various training options, including group fitness classes, strength and cardio equipment, and personal training. Family fitness and wellness centers cater to adults, seniors, teens, and children. These centers often provide youth classes and programs, such as swimming lessons, sports clubs, summer camps for kids, and childcare. Additionally, these centers may offer extra wellness amenities, like massage, sauna, tanning beds, and steam rooms.
Jim: "The first thing I did was research where the real need lies (broadly speaking because everyone is different). Then I got a bit bold and visited 30 personal training studios. Just walk in and say what your plans are. Just mention that you won't be setting up a gym around the corner ;-)). Some are open to sharing some information, others keep you at a distance and would prefer to send you away."
Step 4: The right location
Once you've decided on the type of gym you want to open, it's important to consider the necessary space. Think about what's important to you and your potential customers, such as parking space, bus routes, and good accessibility. A good location is part of the key to success.
Jim: “You call the real estate agent and then... Do you handle the negotiations yourself? Even though you've never negotiated these kinds of deals before? Seek help! You don't learn by doing everything yourself, watch closely, try it out, and be open to criticism.”
Step 5: Staff and equipment
Some questions to ask yourself regarding hiring staff: Will you be the primary fitness instructor at your gym, or do you need to hire fitness instructors and personal trainers? Will the staff be employees or independent contractors? Are there any accreditations and trainings that potential employees, fitness instructors, and personal trainers should have?
Next, determine what fitness equipment you need. Primarily free weights, or perhaps machines? If you're on a tight budget, choose as much multifunctional equipment that is essential to start with as possible. Over time, you can always expand your range. We are happy to advise you on what equipment is the most suitable for your space and goals!
Step 6: Financing
Logically, this is naturally one of the first steps. If you financially cannot afford to open the gym of your dreams with your own money, you can apply for financing through a solid business plan. Remember to account for all the large, but especially the small costs. It's better to overestimate costs than to underestimate them!
Jim: “After I had a clear idea of what I wanted, I moved forward with my plan. Of course, I knew where the need in fitness lies, which is quite simple, HELP! Everyone needs and wants help to achieve their goals, but how are you going to offer it and at what price?
To further explore this, I first looked for an investor, someone who believes in me and wants to help me. Because that's what it's all about, people need to be willing to support you. I had already been working as a Personal Trainer for over 10 years. As a Personal Trainer, you're in the higher segment. People who have quite a bit to spend. Some of them I've been training for more than 10 years. I've received a lot of tips and tricks from these people.”
Step 7: Let the promotion begin!
Everything is set.. Your perfect gym is about to open its doors. Then comes the next and most important step: finding customers. That sounds simple, but it takes a lot of consistency and dedication to build a solid customer base. If possible, get started with a marketing specialist! This way, you can focus on what you do best: running your new business. Relying solely on word-of-mouth to run your business is risky. So, research how best to reach your target audience. Especially online. A good website is indispensable these days, but not sufficient. Complement it with active social media pages, online marketing, and possibly online advertising. Be consistent and active in your communications and show people how you differentiate from other gyms. Learn more about how to use social media effectively to recruit members.
Step 8: Believe in yourself
To be successful, you must believe in yourself. Giving up is not an option! It takes time, determination, and patience to open and run your own gym. If things get tough, remember why you started this in the first place. Because it's your passion!
Jim: Finally, if you really think that being an entrepreneur means you're 'free', 'can set your own schedule', etc., you're mistaken! You have to work hard, 70 hours a week, you need to put in the hours, evaluate, improve, plan, orient, network, do your administration, manage, switch gears, make purchases, sell, continue developing yourself, give trainings, master marketing, face setbacks... Shall I go on?
My advice? Don't think in the now, don't get stuck in your dream, but think long-term. Start as an entrepreneur with a plan, and dare to take risks!”
Do you need help realizing your dream of starting your own gym/box/studio? Then contact us, or check out our Gym design page. We're happy to help! Also, make sure to read part 2 of 'how to start a gym' for information on selecting equipment, creating the perfect gym design, and choosing the right staff.
Can't wait to get started with the design? Then use our Gym builder! This software allows you to visualize your gym and tailor it to your specific needs and desires.
