business plan for small fitness studio

How to Create a Fitness Studio Business Plan

February 8, 2023

Whether you are starting a studio, or already run one, a well-crafted fitness studio business plan is essential for building a profitable fitness business. A solid gym business plan helps you stay on track by identifying key market dynamics, illuminating opportunities for competitive advantage, and giving you key performance metrics to focus on. 

Your fitness studio business plan may drive such critical decisions as where to locate your gym, how large a space to buy or lease, how many staff members you hire, what their pay rates should be, how many fitness classes and what type of classes and training programs you’ll offer, and the most effective ways to promote your fitness business. 

If you own and operate an already established fitness business, revising your business plan – or creating one if you never have – can make a huge difference in boosting your bottom line and helping you to grow, especially if your gym’s growth has plateaued. A business plan is a constantly evolving blueprint that should reflect where your fitness business is in the moment, and let stakeholders know where you’re going and how you plan to get there. 

In this post, we’ll review the elements of a solid small gym fitness plan, give you some gym business plan examples and links to gym business plan templates.

Here are the key elements of any good fitness studio business plan:

Executive summary.

In this section of your gym’s business plan get down on paper your “why.” What is the purpose of your fitness business plan? What elements will you include in your gym’s business plan and why? How will this business plan demonstrate the viability of your fitness studio over time? What are your long term goals and how will you define success? Consider this section your “elevator pitch.” 

Starting a fitness business is no small feat. Doing your homework up front will not only give you confidence to weather the ups and downs of running your own business, but show potential investors that you’re prepared. Imagine being an investor who is reading your business plan, and whom you want to assure that you’ve got a solid vision backed up by well researched facts and figures. Add a few lines about your fitness business’s “why” that inspire and demonstrate your passion and commitment as a small gym or fitness business entrepreneur. 

Company Overview

This is the place to give all the details about who, what, where, when and why your fitness business exists. Include your mission and vision plus a detailed description of the type of services your fitness business offers and to whom. How is your gym or fitness studio structured? Is it independently owned by one or more people? Is it a franchise? Is there more than one location? What is the ownership structure? Are there shares? How are important business decisions made and by whom? 

This is the place to give clear, concise information about the products and services you offer, why you started your fitness business and what differentiates you in your local market. 

Industry Analysis

Taking time to research your market, understand trends and map the competitive landscape can make or break a fitness business, whether you’re in start-up mode, or an established player. 

What is your population size? How far are the people living in your area willing to travel to work out? What is your target demographic in terms of age, gender, income and other lifestyle factors? Pinpoint your major competitors. Get to know their pricing and promotions. Is there an unmet need in your area that your fitness business can tap into? You may want to consider using a SWOT format, outlining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for competing gyms and your fitness studio. 

Also, make sure you’re on top of the latest national and global fitness industry trends like online workouts and gym-goers’ preference for small boutique fitness experiences versus big box gyms. What innovative programs and services are top companies offering? Why? 

Marketing Strategy

Many small fitness business plans rely solely on word of mouth to promote their gym. While getting great recommendations through your community is an essential step in building a thriving fitness community, long-term, your fitness studio needs to have a solid, multi-channel marketing strategy to maximize your brand’s exposure to potential new customers. 

In today’s competitive fitness industry landscape, it’s essential to understand how to efficiently use digital marketing platforms like social media, local search and email. To effectively run promotional programs, having a fitness business software platform that tracks your customer’s engagement and includes email, web and social media integrations is essential. 

List all the key members of your fitness studio’s leadership team and include professional, biographical information that highlights their skills and experience. Your gym’s leadership team could include owners, board members, investors, lead instructors, sales and customer service representative and any business advisors you may have brought on board. 

Describe how each person on the team will guide your fitness business to success. Consider including compensation structures and information about performance bonuses. Plan ahead for an eventual sale of your fitness business and formalize how owners and/or investors will be paid. 

This is the section where many new business owners are overly optimistic. Base your financial projections on fact and always over-estimate expenses and under-estimate revenues. This includes being realistic about membership sales, seasonal fluctuations, attendance and staff turn-over. Calculate your gym’s monthly expenses and then figure out what your revenue per class or training session needs to be to cover your expenses plus owners’ compensation. From here you can determine how many class passes and/or monthly membership’s your fitness business will need to be profitable. 

There can be a high turn-over rate in the gym business, so you’ll need a steady stream of potential new students coming through your doors each month, and know at what rate they will convert into long-term customers. Know your fitness niche’s average new student conversion rate. 

Build out at least five years of financial profit and loss estimates. Be sure to take into account any rent increases in your lease, taxes, increases in instructor pay and get granular with your expenses, from phone and internet to Facebook ads to the toilet paper in the bathroom, and don’t forget all those new cleaning products you’ll need to operate safely and courteously in a post-pandemic world. 

Gym Business Plan Templates

BusinessPlanTemplate.com This site offers a free outline of all the core content you’ll need to include in a fitness studio business plan. You can purchase a step-by-step business plan builder, including access to customer service and expert advise for $97. Business Plan Template.com is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and has strong, positive ratings from satisfied customers. 

Bplans If you need a bit of inspiration check out or Bplans DIY gym sample plans for fitness centers, corporate fitness, gyms, health clubs, as well as martial arts studios, gymnastics schools, and a number of other athletics businesses.

For those who want a higher level of support in creating a full fleged, modern business plan, Bplans offers a paid option called LivePlan . It contains the same templates and information you can access for free on the company’s website, plus additional guidance to help you develop a complete plan. Pricing starts at $12/mo. for a year subscription or $18/mo for a 6 mo. plan.

Institute of Personal Trainers This well-respected trade organization offers personal trainers a free business plan that includes step-by-step instructions. You can download the guide using the link on the association’s website. The institute understand that during the process of writing a business plan you will be presented with questions, ideas or challenges that you might not have thought of before. According to the organization, this alone makes it worth doing.

Remember, it’s better to start the process of creating a gym business plan, even if you feel intimidated, than to procrastinate until you feel you’ll get it perfectly right. There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained simply by going through the process. Writing out your fitness studio business plan may open your eyes to blind spots in your business strategy or long-term performance goals and shift your business into a whole new realm of growth opportunity in the coming year. 

Related Posts

Our top 7 business tips for opening a yoga studio, new customer workflow – combining automations to enhance customer onboarding.

10 Essential Steps to Launching Special Events & Programs at Your Fitness Studio

Fitness Business Plan Template (+ Free Examples)

Use this free fitness business plan template to modify and use as you learn how to create a fitness business plan.

Do you dream of starting your own fitness business ? With the increasing demand for health and wellness services, now is the perfect time to turn your passion for fitness into a profitable venture. There are many ways to make money with fitness (you can even start a fitness business from home or start a fitness business with no money ). However, before diving headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive fitness business plan that will serve as your roadmap to success.

Looking to start a fitness business? Our comprehensive fitness business plan template will guide you through the process, helping you create a solid foundation for success. Then learn how to create a gym business plan , how to create a gym budget , how to create a gym sales forecast , how to get a gym loan , and more—all part of understanding how much it costs to open a gym , how to start a fitness business , and how to start a gym . Or maybe you want to learn how to become a fitness influencer —we’ve got you covered with the best online fitness coaching software and the best fitness software for fitness influencers who want to start a fitness influencer business online.

And, of course, managing your fitness business online with the best gym management software and the best personal training software means that you can easily create fitness session plans, waivers, forms, fitness assessments, lead forms, registration forms, online booking, workout plans, and much more. Save yourself some time and hassle and get a demo with the best fitness business platform: Exercise.com.

Get a demo now!

Fitness Business Plan Template

[business/brand name], executive summary.

Business Concept

• Briefly describe the fitness business idea, its core offerings, and unique value proposition.
• Outline the short-term and long-term goals of the business.

Mission Statement

• A clear statement defining the business’s purpose and approach to reaching its goals.

Vision Statement

• A depiction of what the business aspires to achieve in the future.

Business Description

Nature of the Business

• Detailed explanation of the type of fitness business (e.g., gym, personal training studio, online coaching service).

Target Market

• Description of the target demographic and their fitness needs.
• Details about the business location and why it’s beneficial.

Market Analysis

Industry Overview

• Overview of the fitness industry, current trends, and future projections.

Target Market Analysis

• Detailed analysis of the target market, including demographic, psychographic, and behavioral aspects.

Competitive Analysis

• Analysis of competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, and your business’s competitive edge.

Services and Products

Service/Product Offering

• Detailed description of services and products offered (e.g., personal training, group classes, wellness programs).

Pricing Strategy

• Rationale behind pricing models for services and products.

Marketing and Sales Strategy

Marketing Plan

• Strategies for reaching and attracting the target market.
• Channels and tactics to be used (e.g., social media marketing, community events, referral programs).

Sales Strategy

• Approach for converting prospects into customers.
• Sales funnel and customer journey mapping.

Operational Plan

Daily Operations

• Description of daily business operations, including opening hours and staffing.

Facilities and Equipment

• Details about the physical space and equipment required for the business.

Suppliers and Partnerships

• Information on any third-party suppliers and partnerships.

Management and Organization

Organizational Structure

• Breakdown of the business’s organizational structure.
• Roles and responsibilities of key team members.

Management Team

• Profiles of key management team members.

Financial Plan

Start-Up Costs

• Detailed list of initial expenses to start the business.

Revenue Projections

• Forecast of revenue for the first few years.

Profit and Loss Statement

• Projection of income, expenses, and profitability.

Funding Requirements

• Total amount of capital needed to start and run the business.
• Plans for securing funding (e.g., loans, investors).
• Additional supporting documents like market research data, resumes of key team members, detailed financial forecasts.

Using a platform like Exercise.com can significantly enhance the operation of a fitness business. Its comprehensive tools for client management, workout programming, scheduling, and reporting can streamline business processes and improve client engagement and retention.

This template provides a structured approach for creating a fitness business plan. It can be customized to reflect the specifics of your fitness business idea, market, and operational strategy.

Fitness Business Plan Example 1: Dynamic Pulse Gym

Dynamic pulse gym.

• Dynamic Pulse Gym, a state-of-the-art fitness center specializing in personalized training programs and high-energy group classes.
• Short-term: Establish a member base of 500 within the first year.
• Long-term: Expand to multiple locations and incorporate wellness services.
• To provide an empowering fitness environment that motivates members to achieve their health goals.
• To be recognized as the premier fitness destination in [City/Region] that transforms lives through innovative fitness solutions.
• A full-service gym offering cutting-edge equipment, diverse fitness classes, and personalized training.
• Health-conscious adults aged 20-50, looking for a motivating and supportive fitness environment.
• Situated in [City/Region], in a densely populated area with high foot traffic.
• Growing interest in personal health and fitness, with an increase in demand for versatile workout options.
• Busy professionals and fitness enthusiasts seeking convenient and varied workout options.
• Competitors include local gyms and fitness studios. Dynamic Pulse Gym differentiates itself with advanced technology integration and a wide range of services.
• Personalized fitness assessments, one-on-one personal training, various group classes like yoga, spin, and HIIT.
• Wellness workshops and nutritional counseling sessions.
• Competitive membership fees with premium options for additional services.
• Launch campaign with social media ads, local partnerships, and community events.
• Ongoing engagement through a referral program, member testimonials, and fitness challenges.
• Focus on building relationships through free trial sessions and personalized gym tours.
• Implement a tiered membership system to cater to different customer needs.
• Operation hours from 5 AM to 11 PM, with a staff of trained fitness professionals.
• 10,000 square feet facility equipped with cardio machines, weightlifting areas, a yoga studio, and a spin room.
• Equipment sourced from leading manufacturers; partnerships with local wellness brands.
• Led by a CEO, with departments for operations, marketing, and training.
• CEO with extensive experience in the fitness industry.
• Operations Manager with a background in gym management.
• Marketing Manager skilled in digital marketing.
• Estimated $250,000 for facility lease, equipment purchase, and initial marketing.
• Projected $500,000 revenue in the first year based on membership and service sales.
• Expected profitability within the first two years with controlled operating expenses.
• Seeking $300,000 in funding for initial start-up and operational costs.
• Market research data, equipment lists, detailed biographies of management team members.

Exercise.com’s comprehensive platform enhances Dynamic Pulse Gym’s operational efficiency, offering seamless scheduling, client management, workout creation, and progress tracking. This robust system ensures that Dynamic Pulse Gym operates at the forefront of the fitness industry with superior client engagement and retention.

Fitness Business Plan Example 2: Holistic Harmony Online Coaching

Holistic harmony online coaching.

• Holistic Harmony, an online coaching service focusing on holistic health, combining fitness, nutrition, and mental wellness.
• Short-term: Build a client base of 100 active clients in six months.
• Long-term: Develop a holistic wellness app and expand service offerings.
• To guide clients towards a balanced lifestyle through tailored online coaching.
• To become a leading online platform for holistic health and wellness coaching.
• Online personal coaching with a holistic approach, offering custom workout plans, nutrition advice, and mindfulness coaching.
• Individuals seeking a balanced approach to health, particularly remote workers and those with busy lifestyles.
• Fully online operation with the potential for global reach.
• Increasing demand for online health services and a shift towards holistic health approaches.
• Individuals aged 25-45, primarily working professionals who prefer the flexibility of online coaching.
• Other online fitness and wellness platforms. Holistic Harmony’s comprehensive approach and personalized services provide a competitive edge.
• Custom online fitness programs, nutritional planning, and virtual mindfulness sessions.
• Subscription-based pricing with different tiers based on service levels.
• Digital marketing strategy focusing on content marketing, influencer collaborations, and targeted social media campaigns.
• Offering free initial consultations and introductory discounts to new clients.
• Leveraging testimonials and success stories for client acquisition.
• Regular client check-ins, content creation for the platform, and ongoing program adjustments.
• No physical facility required. Investment in a high-quality website and coaching software.
• Collaboration with freelance nutritionists and mental health experts.
• Founder-led with a small team of certified coaches and administrative support.
• Founder with expertise in fitness training and holistic health.
• Team of freelance professionals for specialized coaching needs.
• Approximately $50,000 for website development, marketing, and initial software setup.
• Anticipated $150,000 in the first year, based on subscription model and consulting services.
• Profitability projected within the first year with minimal operating expenses.
• Seeking $75,000 in seed funding for initial setup and marketing.
• Detailed website plan, service descriptions, and credentials of coaching team.

Utilizing Exercise.com’s versatile platform, Holistic Harmony can streamline client management, workout and nutrition plan creation, and progress monitoring. This platform facilitates efficient operations and high client engagement, positioning Holistic Harmony as an innovative leader in online holistic coaching.

These examples demonstrate how a fitness business plan can be structured for different types of fitness ventures, emphasizing the integration of Exercise.com as a key tool for operational efficiency and enhanced client service.

Why You Need a Fitness Business Plan

A fitness business plan is more than just a document. It is your blueprint for building a thriving fitness empire. Whether you are seeking investors or planning to self-finance your venture, a well-crafted business plan will demonstrate your understanding of the industry, your target market, and your sustainable competitive advantage. Moreover, it will provide you with a clear roadmap and actionable strategies to navigate through the challenges and uncertainties that come with starting and running a fitness business.

Additionally, a fitness business plan can help you secure funding from banks or other financial institutions. Lenders often require a detailed business plan to assess the viability and potential profitability of your fitness business. By including financial projections, market analysis, and a comprehensive marketing strategy in your plan, you can increase your chances of obtaining the necessary funding to launch or expand your fitness venture.

Key Components of a Fitness Business Plan

When creating a fitness business plan, there are several key components that you need to include. These components will ensure that your plan covers all essential aspects of your fitness business, allowing you to make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively.

The first component is setting clear goals and objectives for your fitness business. This includes defining what you want to achieve and outlining specific milestones that will measure your progress. By setting clear goals, you can stay focused and motivated throughout your journey.

The second component is defining your target market. Understanding your ideal customers is crucial for tailoring your products and services to their needs and preferences. By conducting thorough market research, you can identify your target market’s demographics, interests, and pain points, enabling you to position your fitness business as the ultimate solution.

Next, you need to develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for your fitness business. Your USP is what sets you apart from your competitors and gives your target market a compelling reason to choose your fitness services over others. By identifying your unique value proposition, you can communicate your brand’s distinctiveness effectively.

Another essential component is analyzing the competition in the fitness industry. By assessing your competitors, their strengths, weaknesses, and market positioning, you can gain valuable insights to refine your business strategies and maximize your competitive advantage.

Creating a comprehensive marketing strategy is also crucial for attracting and retaining customers. Your marketing strategy should outline the channels and tactics you will use to reach your target market effectively. This includes online and offline marketing, social media, content creation, and building strategic partnerships.

Designing your products and services is another vital component of your fitness business plan. You need to clearly outline the range of services you will offer, including personal training, group classes, or specialized programs. Additionally, you should consider the equipment, facilities, and technology required to deliver exceptional experiences to your clients.

Outlining financial projections is essential for creating a sustainable business. This includes estimating your revenue, expenses, and profit margins. By projecting your financials, you can determine pricing strategies that balance profitability and competitiveness.

Estimating startup costs and funding sources is another critical component of your fitness business plan. This involves identifying the capital required to launch and operate your business and exploring financing options, such as loans, investors, or personal savings.

Formulating a management and organizational structure is crucial for streamlining your operations and ensuring smooth business processes. This includes defining roles and responsibilities, creating a hierarchy, and establishing efficient communication channels.

An effective sales and customer service strategy is essential for driving revenue and creating customer loyalty. You need to define how you will generate sales, whether through memberships, packages, or partnerships. Additionally, you should outline your approach to customer service, including feedback collection, complaint handling, and staff training.

Developing a strong brand identity is crucial for standing out in the crowded fitness market. Your brand identity should encompass your mission, values, visual elements, and tone of voice. By aligning your brand with your target market’s aspirations, you can create a powerful connection that inspires loyalty and drives referrals.

Implementing technology solutions is vital for enhancing your fitness business’s operations. This includes utilizing management software, scheduling systems, and online booking platforms to streamline administrative tasks and improve customer engagement.

Creating an actionable timeline and milestones will ensure that you stay on track and achieve your business goals within a specific timeframe. This involves breaking down your business plan into smaller, manageable tasks and setting deadlines to complete them.

Evaluating risk factors and formulating contingency plans is necessary for protecting your fitness business from potential threats and uncertainties. By identifying risks and establishing protocols to mitigate their impact, you can ensure business continuity and resilience.

Finally, monitoring and reviewing the performance of your fitness business based on the plan is essential for making data-driven decisions and adapting to market changes. By regularly analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs), such as revenue, customer satisfaction, and employee productivity, you can identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments to drive growth.

In conclusion, creating a comprehensive fitness business plan is the first step towards turning your fitness passion into a successful business venture. By addressing all key components, you can ensure that your plan covers every critical aspect of your fitness business, allowing you to make informed decisions and navigate challenges with confidence. Remember, a well-crafted business plan is not only a roadmap; it is your recipe for success in the ever-evolving fitness industry.

Related Posts

• Sweat Equity: fitness x business
• Fitness Dashboard Template (Free Example)
• Fitness Business Proposal Template (Free + Examples)
• Where to Buy Gym Equipment for Your Fitness Business in 2024
• Gym Owner Guide
• 50+ Fitness Trends in 2024 to Grow a Fitness Business
• What type of fitness business is a fitness center?
• 15 Best Fitness Business Blogs in 2024
• Fitness Business Association Review (2024)
• Fitness Calendar Template (Free)
• What is the best fitness business to start?
• Fitness Instructor Contract Template (FREE)

Gym Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Gym Business Plan & Example

You’ve come to the right place to create a gym business plan.

We have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their gyms.

Gym Business Plan Example

Use the example below as a template to write a gym business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Steven’s Gym is a startup locally owned gym located in El Paso, Texas. Steven’s Gym will include various exercise equipment, strength training equipment, free weights, aerobic equipment, and plenty of cardio equipment. The gym will also offer HIIT group classes, spin classes, strength training instruction, and personal training.

Located in an up and coming, newly developed, and highly trafficked area of town, Steven’s Gym will attract both men and women ages 16 to 75+. There is something for everyone at Steven’s Gym, whether someone is just beginning their fitness journey or is a seasoned athlete and gymrat. The gym will have a welcoming atmosphere, experienced personal trainers, friendly staff, and frequently cleaned equipment and restrooms.

The membership options are affordable and will be offered on a month-to-month basis, a 6 or 12 month contract, or the ability to pay for an entire year upfront. Discounts will be offered to military, teachers, and healthcare workers.

Service Offering

The following are the services that Steven’s Gym will provide:

• Strength training equipment
• Cardio equipment
• Free weights/dumbbells
• Aerobic equipment
• HIIT group classes
• Strength training instruction

Customer Focus

Steven’s Gym will target all men and women ages 16 – 75+ who are interested in achieving and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. El Paso is a very diverse city that includes men and women from all walks of life. There are numerous blue collar individuals, white collar individuals, government employees, and military members as the local Army base is one of the largest in the country. Since Steven’s Gym will be very affordable, it will be able to attract people from all walks of life.

Management Team

Steven will manage the day-to-day tasks of running the gym. Steven will hire a gym manager to manage membership and three trainers. Steven will outsource a local CPA to handle payroll, accounting, and tax payments. He will also outsource a local advertising company to develop the gym’s logo, branding, photography, social media accounts, website, and billboard design.

Success Factors

Steven’s Gym will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Large, clean, and spacious fitness center that has all the necessary equipment for their fitness routine.
• Knowledgeable and friendly staff of trainers.
• Best value for membership pricing. The membership pricing options are affordable and offer military, teacher, and healthcare employee discounts.
• Convenient hours of operation.

Financial Plan Highlights

Steven’s Gym is seeking $300,000 in debt financing to begin operations of the business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the warehouse space, gym build-out, and purchase of the equipment. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and working capital. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Securing warehouse space, gym build-out, and design: $25,000 to $125,000
• Gym equipment purchase: $50,000 to $100,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $15,000 to $55,000
• Marketing & advertising: $15,000
• Working capital: $10,000

Company Overview

Who is steven’s gym.

Steven’s Gym is a new, locally owned gym located in El Paso, Texas. Steven’s Gym will include strength training equipment, free weights, aerobic equipment, and plenty of cardio equipment. The gym will also offer fitness classes, strength training instruction, and personal training. Located in an up and coming, and highly trafficked area of town, Steven’s Gym will attract both men and women ages 16 to 75+. There is something for everyone at Steven’s Gym, whether someone is just beginning their fitness journey or is a seasoned athlete and gymrat. The gym will have a welcoming atmosphere, experienced trainers, friendly staff, and frequently cleaned equipment and restrooms. The membership options are affordable and will be offered on a month-to-month basis, a 6 or 12 month contract, or the ability to pay for an entire year upfront. Discounts will be offered to military, teachers, and healthcare workers.

Steven’s Gym History

Steven’s Gym is owned by Steven Malone, a retired Army Master Sergeant who is also a seasoned powerlifter. Steven was stationed at El Paso’s Fort Bliss for many years before eventually retiring and deciding to stay in El Paso and embark on his dream of eventually owning his own gym. As a frequent gym goer, Steven recognized that El Paso lacks high quality independent gyms. The nicest and most equipped gyms in El Paso are large franchises that have too many rules and regulations. Steven envisioned a gym that was welcoming to all types of people that is encouraging, clean, and adequately equipped for those who are focused on sustaining an active, healthy lifestyle.

Since incorporation, Steven’s Gym has achieved the following milestones:

• Found a 10,000 square foot warehouse space for lease in El Paso, Texas that can easily be converted to a gym.
• Registered Steven’s Gym, LLC to do business in the State of Texas.
• Began the branding image, logo, website, and social media accounts for the gym.
• Began researching and pricing out equipment.

Steven’s Gym Services

The following will be the services Steven’s Gym will provide:

Industry Analysis

The Gym industry is expected to grow to an annual revenue of $38 billion in the next five years. This growth is likely a result of increased per capita disposable income, in addition to growing health-consciousness. As consumers’ disposable income levels rise, individuals are usually more willing to purchase gym memberships. Additionally, time spent on leisure and sports is expected to increase over the next five years, effectively increasing the potential pool of consumers.

During this period, demographic changes are expected to drive revenue growth for operators. In particular, as healthcare costs continue to escalate, health insurance providers may implement incentives to promote preventive health practices, including the use of fitness centers among individuals within their provider network. Additionally, initiatives that promote the health benefits of exercise will likely increase over the next five years, stimulating industry revenue.  

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Steven’s Gym’s target audience will include all men and women ages 16 – 75+ who are interested in achieving and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. El Paso is a very diverse city that includes men and women from all walks of life. There are numerous blue collar individuals, white collar individuals, government employees, and military members as the local Army base is one of the largest in the country. Since Steven’s Gym will be very affordable, it will be able to attract people from all walks of life.

Customer Segmentation

Steven’s Gym will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• High school and college students
• Locally-based Military
• Athletes who frequently train for fitness competitions

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Steven’s Gym will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below. Gold’s Gym Gold’s Gym is a large franchise-owned gym with two locations in El Paso. Gold’s Gym gives access to everything one needs to transform their life: state-of-the-art amenities, a variety of fitness classes tailored towards someone’s fitness needs, and the world’s best trainers. There are weekly fitness classes for group workouts ranging from martial arts-inspired cardio classes to foundational yoga sessions. There are also certified trainers if someone is new to exercise or just looking for more guidance and coaching. Gold’s Gym’s amenities include cardio equipment, group exercise, personal training, a pro shop, sauna/steam rooms, group cycle, free weights, functional training, kids club, locker rooms, and wifi.

Planet Fitness Planet Fitness is for people from all walks of life, whether they’re a first-time gym user or a veteran member, they are there to provide a workout environment in which anyone and everyone can be comfortable. All Planet Fitness members enjoy unlimited access to their home club and the support of their friendly, knowledgeable staff anytime they need it. PF Black Club members receive additional benefits, including the ability to bring a guest for free and access to any of their 2,000+ PF locations. Also, the PF member can take advantage of their free fitness training or find motivation by reading real member experiences on Planet of Triumphs. The goal of Planet Fitness is to provide a clean, safe, welcoming environment for anyone who walks through the door, and all the equipment, amenities, and support they need once they arrive.

Anytime Fitness Anytime Fitness is a welcoming gym that exists to help someone get to a healthier place – by giving the right support at the right times, in the ways the member wants. Every member receives a free, personalized Get Started Plan when they join. Their friendly, professional staff is trained to help someone along their fitness journey, no matter how much support they need. Aside from a large selection of strength and cardio equipment, Anytime Fitness offers the following services – 24-hour access, 24-hour security, convenient parking, anywhere gym access, private restrooms, private showers, health plan discounts, wellness programs, cardio TVs, and HDTVs.

Competitive Advantage

Steven’s Gym will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Large, clean, and spacious facility that has all the necessary equipment for their fitness routine.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Steven’s Gym will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Large, clean, spacious, and well-equipped facility.
• Dedicated team of trainers.
• Affordable membership pricing plans.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Steven’s Gym is as follows: Social Media Marketing Strategy Steven’s Gym will invest in advertising the gym on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. By using targeted social media marketing, Steven’s Gym will be able to reach the appropriate target audience of El Paso. Before opening, Steven will hire an advertising agency to develop the branding and photography needed to create captivating social media posts.

Billboards Steven will invest in two billboards strategically located at busy intersections that receive thousands of traffic daily. The advertising agency will develop the print for the billboard design. Website/SEO Marketing Strategy Steven’s Gym will invest in a strong SEO presence so that when someone enters “El Paso gym” or “local gym near me” in their Google or Bing search bar, Steven’s Gym is at the top of the list. Their website will list all of Steven’s Gym’s services, location, pricing, and contact information. Word of Mouth Word quickly spreads around town and once a few people experience the clean, affordable, and professional staff at Steven’s Gym, more and more people will come in to see for themselves and sign up for a membership plan.

The pricing of Steven’s Gym will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing their services.  

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Steven’s Gym.

Operation Functions:

• Steven Malone will be the sole gym owner and operator of Steven’s Gym. He will oversee the staff, maintain that the cleaning schedules are being enforced, and ensure that all equipment is working per standard and safely. He will also manage all ordering of new and replacement equipment, schedule the group HIIT classes, and daily management tasks.
• Steven will hire a gym manager to be in charge of members and member management.
• A team of three trainers will run all of the fitness classes. As the membership grows and clients require more attention, more trainers and fitness classes will be added.
• A local CPA will manage all high level accounting functions, such as payroll and tax payments.
• Steven will also hire an advertising agency to develop the gym’s branding, photography, website, social media accounts, and billboard design.

Milestones:

Steven’s Gym will have the following milestones completed in the next six months. 8/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease warehouse space. 8/15/202X – Begin build-out and design converting warehouse space into a functional gym. 9/1/202X – Hire advertising company to begin developing gym’s branding, logo, social media accounts, website, and billboard design. 9/15/202X – Order all equipment. 10/5/202X – Hire gym manager and team of personal trainers. 10/15/202X – Train staff on proper policies and procedures. 11/1/202X – Grand Opening of Steven’s Gym.  

Steven’s Gym will be solely owned by Steven Malone. Steven is a retired Army Master Sergeant who has been stationed off and on at El Paso’s Fort Bliss for the past twelve years. Upon retirement, Steven decided to make El Paso his permanent home and embark on his dream of owning his own gym. Steven recognizes the lack of quality, independent gyms in El Paso and wants to open a gym that fits his idea of what a high-quality gym should be.

As a former powerlifter and personal trainer while serving in the military, Steven is aware of the proper equipment and facilities a gym should have. Steven envisions his gym to be friendly, clean, well-equipped, and affordable for the average person so that people from all walks of life will feel comfortable going to the gym and achieving their fitness goals. Steven will dedicate his life and focus on ensuring that his gym is always clean, staffed with the best trainers, and members are happy with what the gym has to offer.  

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Steven’s Gym are the membership fees it will charge each person that signs up to become a member. Each member will be placed on a membership plan where they can either pay month to month, enroll in either a 6 or 12 month contract, or pay for the entire year upfront.

The cost drivers will be the payroll for the staff, rent, utilities, cleaning supplies and equipment, and gym equipment purchase and maintenance. Other cost drivers will be the targeted marketing costs on social media and monthly fees for the CPA and advertising company.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Initial Number of New Clients per Month: 60
• Average Monthly Membership Fee: $150
• Gym Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Gym Business Plan FAQs

What is a gym business plan.

A gym business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your gym. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing strategies and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your gym business plan using our gym business plan template here .

What Are the Main Types of Gyms?

There are many types of gyms or fitness centers. There are large, franchise gyms that have multiple locations across the country. There are also large single facility gyms. Finally, there are smaller gyms that tend to focus on a particular fitness segment, such as strength training, CrossFit, or group HIIT training.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenue and Expenses for a Gym Business?

The primary source of revenue for a gym or fitness center are membership fees. Typically, members pay month-to-month, or fulfill a year-long contract.

The key expenses for a gym or fitness center are the costs associated with payroll, purchase and maintenance of equipment, cleaning supplies, marketing costs, and working capital. Other expenses will be rent, utilities, taxes, accounts payable, and other licensing fees (if necessary).

How Do You Get Funding for Your Gym?

Gym businesses are most likely to secure funding from banks. Typically you will find a local bank and present your gym business plan to them. Family and/or friends could also be potential investors and other types of capital-raising such as crowdfunding are other common funding sources.

A well-crafted gym business plan, complete with a solid financial plan is essential for attracting any type of potential investor. This is true for a new gym business or established businesses looking to grow.

What are the Steps To Start a Gym Business?

Starting a gym or fitness center can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Write A Gym Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a solid gym business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include market research on the fitness industry and potential target market size, information on the services and/or products you will offer, marketing strategy, mission statement, business model and pricing strategy and a detailed financial plan.  Our business plan template is the perfect guide to show you how to start a gym business plan.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your fitness   business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your gym business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Gym Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your gym business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your gym business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Gym Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your gym business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your gym or fitness   business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising to reach your target audience.

Learn more about how to start a successful gym or fitness business:

• How to Start a Gym Business

Where Can I Get a Gym Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free gym business plan template PDF here. This is a sample gym business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Business Plan Templates

Food Truck Business Plan Template Event Venue Business Plan Template

• Online classes
• Tips and tools

Gym business plan: a checklist with templates & examples

In this article, you'll find a checklist of everything you need to know to create a business plan for your gym or fitness business.

If you've recently discovered an ambition to start a gym , or this has been your dream for years, we've got you covered!

The first step in your journey is to create a gym business plan. This will include understanding your business's structure, determining your target market and what sets you apart from other gyms (your unique selling point), forecasting future finances, and any further details about your venture.

Your gym business plan is the key to your success. It will help you make better decisions and attract potential investors. Creating a business plan is ongoing; it's not something you do once and then forget about. Your business plan should be flexible and adapt as you move forward. 

You have to consider many elements to ensure your gym will succeed. All stages of your business plan are critical. In this article, we'll be doing a deep dive into understanding the core essentials of creating a fitness business plan.

What is a gym business plan? 

A gym business plan is a document that informs the reader about your company and where it's headed. In other words, it answers essential questions such as:

• How does your business work?
• How are you going to succeed?
• What steps do you need to take to succeed?

According to research, entrepreneurs who write formal business plans are more likely to be successful . 

This is especially true for business owners seeking external financial support. A formal business plan can help new businesses by providing a clear focus for their ideas.

Why it’s important to have a business plan for your gym? 

Simply put, your gym business plan is an organized and detailed process that provides a roadmap for your business. If someone reads it – like a potential investor, for example – they should be able to understand how you expect the gym to progress and succeed over time.

Plus, putting together a business plan with detailed description forces you to take a critical look at your operation as it currently stands and identify room for improvement or new areas of opportunity altogether.

Depending on where your business is located, a well-crafted business plan can serve multiple purposes.

Keep reading for even more reasons you need a business plan from day one!

Taking advantage of a steadily growing industry

The gym industry is booming, allowing gyms to capitalize on this growth. In the US alone, over 87 million people regularly attend the gym and spend billions of dollars annually on membership fees.

And according to projections, the global gym market is expected to reach 434 billion USD by 2028 – a 171% increase from 2021! This steady growth provides room for gym owners to get in on the action and reap the benefits.

By having a gym business plan that considers the health & fitness industry as a whole, you'll be able to capitalize on this growth.

Ensures your business idea is feasible 

If you're considering starting a fitness business, know it will be complex. You have a fantastic idea and think it could take off--but how can you test that theory without launching the business? 

This is where a business plan comes in handy. By working through your concept and creating a well-rounded plan of action, you'll be able to figure out key details like numbers, market trends, and what your competition is doing and save yourself loads of time down the line.

It helps to bring in investors and secure funding 

To secure funding for your gym business from investors, you need a comprehensive business plan. This document helps startup businesses obtain the initial capital they need and provides established companies with funds for expansion.

Would-be contributors usually request substantiated data— such as numbers backed up by facts and figures—before deciding whether or not to invest in a project.

If you don't have a business plan, chances are slim that you'll receive money from sources like investors, banks, or other financial organizations outside your company.

Set and reach goals, both big and small 

Having long-term and short-term goals is a great start, but it's time to take the next step. A successful business plan will contain specific tactics on how you plan to achieve your objectives. 

This might be through your business model, acquiring equipment, hiring new talent, or marketing campaigns.

A successful business needs a clear plan to achieve its goals. Breaking down important goals into smaller, more manageable pieces would be best. 

And remember-- as your business changes and grows over time, so should your plan. Keep it updated regularly. 

Business planning is no longer a daunting task

A business plan is a vital tool for new and established businesses. It provides direction and helps to set the foundation for a successful start. 

By budgeting, analyzing your market, and setting out your goals and strategies, you can make more informed decisions about how to proceed. This process also makes it easier to track your progress over time and assess whether or not you are on track.

Something to consider before creating a gym business plan

Consider the cost of starting a gym. There are many potential expenses, such as equipment, personal trainers, class instructors, insurance policies, property fees, etc.

Also, consider how much time you are willing to invest in this venture – especially during the beginning stages when there is likely to be a lot of work involved in getting everything up and running smoothly.

It can be challenging to maintain a good work/life balance when starting any business; it will probably require working additional hours outside of your usual schedule.

Money and time are essential, but there are other things you need to be successful. 

People skills, marketing know-how, and financial smarts are essential if you want to succeed in the gym business world. It's not going to be easy, but it will be worth it if this is your passion. A solid plan is the first step toward making your dream a reality.

The 11 key elements of a detailed gym business plan

Before you develop your business plan, think about where you are and where you want to see yourself. Keep this vision in mind, as it will help guide you through writing your business plan. There will be countless opportunities wherein consulting your business plan will assist you in making a decision.

To create an effective health club business plan, you will need extensive research on your fitness industry, competitors, and future finances. 

Following these 11 steps, you can build an excellent gym business plan that covers all aspects of your health club.

Step 1: Executive summary

Your executive summary needs to be clear and concise while also grabbing attention. What you want readers to know is:

• Your mission/purpose
• How you'll achieve success (What will make you a success story?)

And finally, your vision for the future. Though it may seem tempting to hurry through this section because it is shorter than other parts of the business plan, don't rush! 

This is your chance to shine and explain what makes your company special. Don't worry if you feel like you have more to say about your goals and vision. You can expand on these topics in your company overview.

Step 2: Company overview

Your company overview is where you get to sell your gym and its potential. Build on your executive summary's vision and mission statement, delving deeper into what makes your gym unique. 

Think of your vision statement as a tagline for your future website. When outlining the purpose of your gym, which audience it will cater to, and how you plan to achieve business goals, also consider including the following: 

Your personal mission statement for the business- i.e., what outcome do you hope to see?

Then, give your readers some information on your background:

• What have you done in the past?
• Have you had any other businesses?
• What is your current status?

This is helpful for investors and partners to know so they can understand where you've been and where you're going. The more they know about you, the more trust they'll have in you.

Step 3: Services and amenities

Outline your strategy in detail: what services you'll offer and how you will develop new offerings. This includes if you need to hire someone or build a facility, such as a spa or a studio. 

This information will help you realize when or where your business requires more funding and extra staff.

By describing your products and services, you can gain valuable insights into your gym's size. Test your vision to determine if you have the necessary funding for these assets. If not, consider how you might acquire the required financing.

Some potential products you could invest in are: 

• Gym equipment like treadmills and rowing machines 
• Specialist equipment to cater to different types of gym-goers, such as bodybuilders 
• Food and drinks like energy drinks or healthy foods 

And services like: 

• Personal training sessions 
• Group classes like yoga, spinning, or body pump 
• Lockers for storing belongings while working out 
• Spa amenities like saunas or massages 
• A swimming pool 
• Physiotherapy

Furthermore, thinking about increasing your market share is a significant next step. You could start by offering pro bono services at local workplaces and schools, eventually introducing a fee.

This way, you can attract larger customers while still providing value.

When creating a business plan - be it for a gym or something else entirely - remember that its purpose is to lay out your objectives easily for potential bankers, partners, employees, and investors.

Step 4: Management team

It is essential to consider the positions you'll need to fill and how these people can help your gym succeed. 

You should write a summary emphasizing their skills and management experience while incorporating what they will be responsible for and any incentives you plan on offering.

Furthermore, creating an employee ladder is vital to establish who or what each new hire will report to so your business can secure its success.

Step 5: Market research and marketing strategy

Marketing is a field where creativity can shine. It's all about identifying different groups of people who would buy your product, coming up with reasons why they should choose you over others, and figuring out ways to get more sales.

Learn more:

Gym marketing strategy

Gym promotion ideas

Gym membership pricing

Best gym features

Even if marketing your fitness business isn't your favorite thing, remember that your marketing strategy will help you lay out a plan for expansion if you do it right. Your first target should be to summarise what you found in your market research. Are you still stuck? 

Consider where you are situated, similar businesses nearby, and who makes up the community around you.

Define your target market here. It could be

• Working professionals
• Senior executives

Or a particular group, like cyclists. After that, try to understand why this specific demographic would join a gym – for example, are they looking for cardio?

After you have completed your market research, take some time to understand your target audience. Ask yourself the following questions:

• How can I make this customer base loyal?
• What makes my company unique?
• What's the best membership package I can offer?
• Is there a need for special equipment or offerings?

In your plan, identify and communicate what makes your business valuable and unique. 

This is called a Unique Selling Proposition (USP), and it will help instill confidence in potential investors that they are making a wise choice by investing in your company. 

Furthermore, detailing marketing strategies in this document provides peace of mind that future income streams are lined up and secure.

There are many marketing strategies you can use to grow your business, including:

• Improving your services
• Advertising and sponsorship
• Loyalty plans and website promotions
• Email marketing campaigns
• Investing in new equipment or technology

Step 6: Competitor analysis - Understanding direct and indirect competitors

To do a competitor analysis, research businesses in your field that offer similar services. These are your direct competitors. 

You can mention indirect competitors, but this section is mainly for an in-depth look at businesses like yours. Depending on your business type, you could have brick-and-mortar and online rivals.

When investigating a competitor, these are some critical areas you'll want to focus on: 

• Services and products they offer 
• Target audience 
• Pricing and business model 
• Strengths and weaknesses

Step 7: Create comprehensive financial projections

Starting a gym requires careful budgeting. Make sure you consider every possible purchase and estimate the cost of each item.

The following are key areas to cover when starting your business:

• Lawyer fees
• Recruiting expenses
• Constructional endeavors
• Exercise equipment for the workplace
• Three months' worth of bills and other operational costs
• An accounting software

It's time to be practical and ascertain how much money you will need to open your gym and make it thrive. This way, you'll get a better understanding of what falls within your budget and what will require additional funding.

Next, you need to prove to investors, stakeholders, and employees that you have a feasible plan for attaining ROI. 

Consider revenue streams such as classes, services provided, and product sales- anything that brings in money. Set down an estimate here based on research and expert opinion.

If you're looking for ways to make money, selling healthy food could be a great option. You could create your protein shakes or energy bars, for example. 

If you plan to sell food, ensure you stay up-to-date with food hygiene standards.

Step 8: Financial forecasting

Your sales forecast for your business's first, second, and third years should be detailed. Specifying the number of active members, you estimate for your first year would also be beneficial. Estimate using:

• Unit sales per month
• Any relevant past data
• How purchases will be broken down (as specified in financial projections)

Step 9: Financial strategy

How can you use your fees in a way that will increase customer registration? For example, if all the other gyms in your area charge higher prices than average, this could be an opportunity to set your business apart by being financially conscious (lowering membership fees or having better offers than competitors).

Consider ways to show your appreciation for loyal customers, such as discounts or complimentary services.

Furthermore, if you're in the process of creating a gym and spa business plan, consider adding discounts for those who use both facilities. For example, many people would love to take advantage of the jacuzzi after working out.

Writing your pricing strategy down will help give you peace of mind about what's to come for your gym.

Step 10: Payment option

An easy and accessible payment system is crucial for any business, let alone a gym. To retain customers , ensure your payment processing is up-to-date and user-friendly. 

Let potential investors know what platform you're using or planning to use, so they can see that you're taking customer experience seriously. A positive buyer experience will encourage loyalty among your clientele.

Step 11: Funding

Make it clear where your business will obtain the extra startup capital it needs. 

This is a chance to be practical about your company. Can you realistically obtain the funding required to reach your targets? Or do you need to readjust your plan?

Below are some vital external resources that might provide the necessary funding:

• Loans from friends or family members
• Crowdfunding campaigns
• Business partners or sponsors

If you are looking to gain investors, be sure to detail where the funding for your project will come from and how much of a return they can expect. You should also include any previous loan applications related to this venture here.

You're almost there!

Now it's time to put all the elements outlined above into a gym business plan. This plan will be a reference point when you need to make tough decisions, help secure investment, and show direction to new employees or partners.

Your next steps to successfully run your gym

Here's a personal checklist to help you ensure that you have everything covered before you open your gym. Use it as a reference point throughout the development process to ensure nothing is overlooked.

• Write a business plan
• Register business
• Apply for a business license and permit
• Open business bank accounts
• Select an online payment platform
• Obtain taxpayer's ID
• Purchase insurance
• Rent/purchase facility
• Purchase/rent equipment
• Secure funding
• Recruit employees
• Drafting contract documents along with any other legal documents required
• Design company logo
• Develop website
• Write website content
• Create social media accounts
• Design leaflets & brochures
• Organize branded uniforms
• Launch party

Any business, no matter how big or small, comes with its fair share of challenges. However, the payoffs in the end always make it worth your while

Starting a gym can be an exciting and rewarding venture. However, it is important to ensure that you are well-prepared with all the necessary information before you open your gym. 

A comprehensive Gym Business Plan detailing the market research, financial projections and strategy, services and amenities, management team, and more should be developed to ensure success. 

Additionally, obtaining the necessary licenses, finding and hiring trainers, investing in the right equipment , and appealing to members with friendly incentives are all important steps.

Gym business plan template & examples

In addition, we've gathered a few of the gym business plan templates and examples below. These samples will provide you with suggested language for your own document as well as guidance on what to include.

Adam Fitness Centre

Grow think's template

PAWSitively Fit Club

Ecogym business plan

Capital Health and Fitness Club

Frequently asked questions on good gym business plan

How can i start my own gym business.

Follow these steps and understand gym business plans:

• Choose your area/location
• Develop a comprehensive business plan
• Apply and obtain all necessary licenses
• Find and hire certified trainers
• Invest in the right equipment for your business
• Appeal to members with friendly incentives

How do I write a business plan for a gym?

To write a gym business plan, you can implement the steps below:

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Services and amenities
• Management team
• Market research and marketing
• Competitor analysis 
• Financial projections
• Financial forecasting
• Financial strategy
• Payment option

What type of gym is the most profitable?

Out of the gyms surveyed in November 2020, 69 percent of CrossFit gyms were profitable, while half of martial arts gyms reported being in the black.

Is owning a gym a good business?

Owning a gym can be profitable, but you will need more time to make yourself rich. To succeed in this industry, you must put in the effort.

Do gym owners make money?

According to ZipRecruiter, an American jobs marketplace, gym owners in the United States will earn an average of $69,472 annually as of June 2022.

Do gyms make a lot of money?

A gym that is managed efficiently and has a good mixture of members can generate quite a bit of money. For example, if a gym has 1,000 people paying $50 monthly, the gym could bring in $50,000 each month. And if the monthly expenses for the gym are $20,000 per month, the profit would be $30,000 per month.

Webinars and Live Events

From product demos to valuable insights from fitness business owners - watch on demand or sign up for future events!

Ready to scale your fitness business?

Try the #1 fitness management software for boutique fitness studios, gyms and franchises.

What I really enjoy about working with TeamUp is there’s a face to everybody. It’s not a random email. There’s communication and follow up.

—Stella Hull-Lampkin, BASI Pilates USA

Related posts.

The boutique franchises disrupting the fitness industry

At the start of the year, TeamUp shared the 10 trends set to rock the fitness industry . One of those trends was that franchises...

How to make the most of positive customer reviews

Positive customer reviews are a powerful tool for attracting potential customers. When potential customers see high ratings and...

Online reputation management: What it is, importance &...

Your online reputation can make or break your success as a fitness business owner. Potential clients often form their first...

How to become a personal trainer

The fitness industry has seen a major increase in the number of individuals who want to become personal trainers . Not only does...

How a Bootcamp owner goes above and beyond for his customers

While the pandemic threw a curveball into the plans of fitness business owners worldwide, many jumped at the opportunity to...

The top 2022 fitness trends to know about

When 2021 rolled around, the state of play for gyms, studios and the rest of the fitness industry was still uncertain. However,...

The power of business reviews

Nowadays, almost everything can be looked up online, including what other people think of your business. Studies have shown...

How To Start a Gym Business In 7 Steps (+ Start-up Templates)

Published by caroline @ wellness creative co on 11 october 2023 11 october 2023.

Want to know how to start a gym business? Perhaps you’ve always loved fitness and want to start your own studio, or worked in the industry for years and it’s time to become your own boss. Whatever your reason for starting a gym, we’ve got you covered.

In this article – learn how to start a successful gym in 7 steps, including business planning, securing funding, and pre-launch marketing.

We’ve helped several new gyms and fitness studios to launch their businesses, so we know exactly what’s involved. Having worked in the fitness industry for 15+ years, we understand the operational, marketing, and financial aspects to setting up a successful business. So, you can shortcut the learning curve and benefit from our expertise in this guide…

How To Start a Gym or Fitness Studio – Overview

Here’s an overview of the seven steps towards opening a gym or fitness studio…

• Define your idea
• Create a plan
• Secure funding
• Find a location
• Set up your gym
• Grow your business

Let’s dive into each of these start-up steps in more detail…

#1 – Define Your Gym Business Idea

The very first step is to define the business idea for your gym, fitness studio, or health club. What’s the concept? Who is it aimed at?

For some people, this will come easily. They may have had a great fitness-themed business idea for a long time but only just decided to give it a go. But for others, this initial part can be tough. 

Perhaps you’re keen to start a fitness business but aren’t sure what kind of venture to go for. Or you want to look at all the options before making a decision. If so, then here is a list of gym business ideas that you can consider…

• Classic gym or fitness centre
• Boutique fitness studio
• Gym franchise (Anytime Fitness, Snap, Orange Theory, etc.) 
• Yoga or Pilates studio
• Personal training studio
• CrossFit box
• Health club
• Online fitness training business
• Or you can start a business related to gyms, like a fitness equipment or accessories distributor, workout clothing brand, mobile personal training business, or fitness supplement manufacturer .

At this stage, it’s also important to think about what will make your fitness club different from others in the local area. Will you be aiming for a specific target market or type of exerciser? Will your gym be a high-end premium concept, a boutique studio that specialises in doing one thing well, or high-volume low-cost model?

The fitness industry is competitive, so for your gym to be successful, it’s vital to think about what’ll give you a competitive edge. Doing this from the start means you can mainstream it into your business plan, make your funding bids more appealing, and choose a location that supports your concept. Defining your unique selling point (USP) will set your business up for success long-term, so it’s crucial to do this from the get-go.

#2 – Create a Gym Business Plan

Once you’ve defined your idea, you need to create a business plan for it. This will help you assess the viability of your concept and consider all of the little details. It’s also required for things like loan applications and renting commercial space.

Creating a business plan for your gym is vital if you want it to be a success. In fact, research shows that people who complete business plans are nearly twice as likely to successfully grow their businesses, or obtain capital. 

“Business plans double the chance of success”.

A solid gym business plan should include the following…

• Executive summary
• Industry and local market analysis
• Company overview
• Products and services
• Sales and marketing strategy
• Financial information
• Implementation plan

By covering these points, you’ll ensure that there’s adequate demand for your offering and you have a well-defined gym target market . It’ll also help you to understand the exact costs involved and whether you can afford to do it alone or need outside funding.

For a more detailed explanation of what each of these areas should cover, check out our article on writing a fitness business plan (with samples). Or get the start-up planning cheat sheet as part of our Fitness Business Start-Up Kit …

#3 – Secure Funding For Your Fitness Business

Once you’ve developed a sound business plan, you’ll be armed with the right info to seek funding for your gym. For some gym start-ups, this might involve securing several hundred thousand dollars to cover initial business costs. For leaner fitness businesses, you can do it on a smaller budget without the huge overheads.

Your business plan will help you estimate how much money is needed to start your fitness venture. It costs between $2000 and $4m to start a gym business, depending on the location and model you choose. Based on stats from Entrepreneur, here are the approximate costs of starting different types of fitness businesses…

• Big-box gym start-up costs (e.g. Planet Fitness) – $1.1-$4.2m 
• Cost to start a small-medium sized gym (e.g. Anytime Fitness) – $77,000-$520,000
• Boutique gym start-up costs (e.g. Orange Theory) – $575,000-$1.5m
• Cost to start a fitness studio (e.g. Pure Barre) – $198,000-$446,000
• Pilates studio start-up costs (e.g. Club Pilates) – $168,000-$280,000
• Cost to start a group exercise class business (e.g. Jazzercise) – $2000-$7000
• Bootcamp business (e.g. Fit Body Boot Camp) – $136,000-$198,000

As you can see, the money required to start a gym varies from a couple of thousand to several million dollars. Factors like the venue type, location, and equipment required will all influence the overall cost.

So, how do you secure funding for your gym or fitness studio? The most common sources of finance are…

• Business loans from traditional banks
• Business loans from online lenders
• Loans from gym franchise preferred suppliers
• Personal savings

Choosing the right funding option for your business will depend on a huge number of factors. It’s best to do your own research, speak to financial experts, and read the small print thoroughly so you know all of the implications involved in any borrowing.

If you want to open a gym with no money, then the key is to start small . Running a personal training business or selling online fitness programs are both good options. Neither requires investments in rent, equipment, or staff salaries, so you can save money towards a gym studio while running them.

You can also look for creative ways to cut your costs and open your gym on a tiny budget…

• Find empty commercial spaces or shops and negotiate with the landlord. They might agree to let you run a short-term fitness pop-up for free rather than let it stand empty or be open to a revenue-share agreement where they receive a percentage of your profits instead of rent.
• Ask gym equipment manufacturers if they’ll lend you some kit for free , in return for being a case study or showcase site. Equipment companies are always looking for impressive locations where they can show off new products, stage photo shoots, and customers who’ll give testimonials to other gyms.
• Call in favours from your network to reduce costs wherever you can. You’re bound to have friends or family who can help with painting, carpentry, plumbing, graphic design, and numerous other jobs that’ll save money when opening your gym.

Opening your own gym or fitness studio can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to find creative ways of cutting the big costs, like rent and equipment. Don’t be afraid to ask – you might get a few ‘nos’ but when you finally get a ‘yes’ it’ll be worth it!

#4 – Find a Good Location for your Gym

The next step is to find the perfect location for your fitness business. There are lots of things that go into a good venue but the key is to find a place where your target customers are and rent is affordable.

Central gym locations will be more expensive. It’s great if there’s plenty of passing traffic but ask yourself if they’re your ideal demographic. Being close to your target market’s places of work, favourite hangouts, or residential areas are all good bets.

But it’s not just customers and cost that define a good gym location. In fact, Virgin highlight six different factors to consider when choosing the perfect business location . These are…

• Accessibility
• Competition
• Business rates
• Skills base in the area
• Potential for growth

How easily customers and staff can access your location, security and crime rates, and proximity to competitors can all affect whether a location is suitable. It’s also important to consider local business rates (for utility bills), whether staff in the area will have the right gym skills, and if the location can accommodate growth. Doing your research, knowing what you want, and being patient until the right gym location becomes available will all stand you in good stead.

#5 – Set Up Your Gym

Once you’ve got a location sorted you can begin to actually set up your gym business. This means getting everything ready, from business licences and staff, to interior decor and equipment. 

You should aim to do this as quickly as possible without undermining quality. Once you’ve started paying rent on your location, your bank balance will start decreasing quickly. So, it’s vital to open and get your members in the door as soon as possible. 

To start a gym you will need…

• Business license
• Electrics and plumbing
• Changing areas, toilets, and shower facilities
• Interior fit-out, design, and decoration
• Gym equipment and accessories
• Trained staff
• Operational processes
• Membership models and pricing

Let’s look at each of these areas…

Business License

Obtaining a business license is a crucial first step. Research your local regulations, complete the necessary paperwork, and pay the required fees. Compliance with local laws ensures your gym operates legally and avoids potential legal complications in the future.

Acquire comprehensive insurance policies tailored for gyms. This includes liability insurance to safeguard against accidents, property insurance to cover equipment and facilities, and potentially business interruption insurance to protect against unforeseen events that could disrupt your operations.

Electrics and Plumbing

Ensure your gym has a safe and efficient electrical and plumbing setup. Hire licensed professionals to assess, repair, or install wiring, lighting, and plumbing fixtures. Safety and functionality are paramount to providing a secure environment for your clients.

Changing Areas, Toilets & Shower Facilities

Design comfortable and hygienic changing rooms, equipped with lockers, benches, and adequate lighting. Install clean and accessible toilet and shower facilities. Think about ease of cleaning and privacy when designing these areas to enhance the gym experience for your clients.

Interior Fit-Out, Design & Decoration

Create an inviting gym atmosphere by incorporating the right lighting, colour schemes, and branding elements. A well-designed interior can boost motivation and create a positive gym environment, which both have a positive impact on member retention and cash flow.

Gym Equipment & Accessories

Invest in quality gym equipment that’s tailored to your target audience’s needs. Depending on the type of gym you’re opening, this might include cardio machines, free weights, resistance training equipment, and accessories like mats and water stations. Balance functionality, durability, and cost-effectiveness when selecting equipment.

Trained Staff

Recruit certified trainers, experienced instructors, friendly front-desk staff, and meticulous cleaners. Ensure they are well-versed in customer service, first aid, and emergency protocols. Regular training sessions keep staff updated with fitness trends and ensure a professional and knowledgeable team.

Operational Processes

Establish efficient operational processes, including membership management, class scheduling, payment systems, and cleaning routines. Use gym management software to streamline administrative tasks, track memberships, and communicate effectively with members. Clearly defined processes ensure smooth day-to-day operations.

Membership Models and Pricing

You will have already developed pricing models in the business plan stage, but now is the time to refine and establish them. Determine your pricing structures, payment methods, and cancellation policies. Transparent and flexible membership options enhance customer satisfaction.

By addressing these areas during the setup phase, you’ll establish a safe, appealing, and well-equipped space for your members. It’ll build a strong foundation for success and allow you to press ahead with promoting your new fitness facility…

#6 – Launch Sales & Marketing

When opening a new gym or fitness studio, your launch efforts are vital to its success. It’s essential to sell as many memberships as possible in advance to maximise cash flow from the start. This means going all out on your sales and marketing efforts asap.

Some of the most effective ways to market a gym and generate pre-sales include…

• Early-bird offer – offer a big discount to members who sign up two months before opening, and decrease the discount as the deadline gets closer (so customers are incentivised to act immediately or risk missing out).
• Use 3D layouts and fly-through videos – to help potential members visualise the gym space. It’s natural for people to want to wait and see what the gym’s like before committing. But visuals help overcome this objection.
• Elevator pitch – You’ll need a one-sentence elevator pitch to use when talking to potential new members. It should summarise exactly who you help, what you do, and how long it takes e.g. “ We help [insert ideal client] to [overcome common problem] in [time frame]”.
• Sales pitch – You’ll also need longer sales points to use with potential clients and answers to common objections. Explain the concept, what you’re trying to achieve, and the story behind why you’re doing it. Then talk about all of the start-of-the-art equipment, brand-new training techniques, or anything else that sets your club apart from the competition. 
• Website & Social Media – Create a website for your gym and social media profiles . Your website should contain all the info about your facility that a prospect or existing member might have, and both should act as a sales funnel for generating new membership leads .
• Google My Business Listing – Set up a free ‘ Google My Business ‘ listing so that anyone who searches for your gym online will see its location and contact details.
• Organise a big launch event – to celebrate the gym’s opening and invite local media to attend. Promote the event on social media and give people a good reason to attend. They may not care about an opening but they will care about free fitness workshops, nutritional counselling, or tasty treats.

You might also like… 10 Effective Ways To Market Your Gym Or Fitness Centre .

It can be helpful to have a ‘soft-launch’ prior to the main event. This enables you to test out all of your processes and equipment before the hoards arrive. It also allows new staff to put their training into practice so that everything operates super-smoothly when you open properly.

Fitness Marketing & Lead Generation Roadmap

Your All-in-One Toolkit to Attract, Engage & Convert More Clients

#7 – Grow Your Gym Business

Congratulations – at this point, your brand new gym will be open! Of course, some would say that this is when the hard work really starts. But it’s a fantastic feeling to have opened the doors after all the effort getting your gym started.

Now it’s all about running your gym successfully and growing your business. We’ve seen gym owners do this in endlessly creative ways, but a few of the most effective include…

• Marketing & Promotion – Continue your marketing efforts post-launch to drive a continual stream of leads and customers. Combine social media, digital and local advertising , and community events to promote your gym. Consider offering promotions or referral incentives to attract new members.
• Community Engagement – Foster a sense of community within your gym. Organise fitness challenges , workshops, and member-exclusive events. Encourage trainers and staff to engage with members, creating a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
• Maintain Your Equipment – Establish a regular maintenance schedule for gym equipment. Prompt repairs and replacements ensure that all machines are safe, functional, and in good condition. Regular maintenance also prolongs the lifespan of your equipment, saving costs in the long run.
• Member Feedback & Satisfaction – Implement systems for collecting feedback from members. Regular surveys or suggestion boxes can provide valuable insights into member satisfaction. Address concerns promptly and use positive feedback for testimonials and marketing materials.
• Continually Improve & Innovate – Strive to enhance the experience for members, to keep them coming back and telling all their friends too! Along with acting on feedback, use tech to improve your operations. Consider implementing apps or software for class bookings, personalised workout plans and progress tracking, or to aid administrative tasks, making operations more efficient.

Starting a Successful Gym Business

So, now you know exactly how to start a gym business and set it up for success. By following these steps, you’ll maximise your cash flow and profitability early on. This is the key to ensuring that your business lasts over the long term and becomes a well-established brand in your community. 

If you’d like a little help along the way, then check out our Fitness Business Start-Up Kit . It include a business planning cheat sheet, 50+ creative brand name ideas, and loads of resources to turn your business idea into a reality! 

Caroline @ Wellness Creative Co

Qualified personal trainer (BSc Sports Science) & nutritionist (MSc Human Nutrition) with 15+ years of fitness & wellness marketing experience working with global brands.

Related Posts

Business & Strategy

How to start an online fitness business in 5 simple steps.

Starting an online fitness business can be lucrative, exciting, and a bit daunting too. Whether you’re a gym owner, personal trainer, or have a cool product idea, online channels open up new, high-growth opportunities. But Read more…

7 Supplement Suppliers That Make Custom & White Label Products

Sourcing high-quality supplement manufacturers for your nutritional products isn’t always easy. Not all companies are willing to make private-label supplements that feature your company’s branding instead of their own. But if you’re keen to release Read more…

Gym Pricing Strategy: How Much To Charge For Memberships

What’s the best gym pricing strategy for a health club or fitness studio? The right approach to pricing can turbo-boost sales, revenue, and profitability. But what are the different options and how do you decide Read more…

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

Starting a Fitness Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Starting a fitness business is a heavy lift (pun intended). But it can also be a very rewarding industry to work in. You are helping people accomplish their fitness goals, and in turn, helping them to live healthier lives.

If you're looking to start a business with lucrative potential, this is a great industry to be in—the global health and fitness club market is projected to grow at a rate of 10.6% from 2018 to 2023. Furthermore, according to the 2019 International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHSRA) Global Report, the United States health club industry generated a record $32.3 billion in 2018. Comparatively, the United States health club industry only generated $25.8 billion in revenue in 2015.

If you're a fitness junkie, you already enjoy breaking a sweat. Now it's time to put in a different kind of work. Here's everything you need to do when starting a fitness business.

Starting a fitness business in 6 steps

A good fitness business is centered around providing excellent equipment, professional instruction, and personal training. But starting a fitness business requires a lot more than that. Here are the six steps you'll need to take to start your fitness business.

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Step 1: Decide what kind of fitness business you want to operate

There are many different kinds of fitness businesses out there. You can become a personal trainer, teach classes, or operate your own facility. There are pros and cons to each. Being a personal trainer is a low overhead venture if you're wondering how to start a fitness business with no money, but it requires in-depth knowledge of exercise and nutrition techniques. Operating a facility, on the other hand, requires a lot of overhead, but you can lean on the expertise of others. There are also gym franchising options to consider when thinking about starting a fitness business. Popular franchises include Crunch Fitness, Planet Fitness, and Pure Barre—you might even consider starting a Crossfit box.

If you're in need of inspiration for starting your fitness business, here are some popular options to consider:

Zumba studio

Physical therapy

Spin classes

Powerlifting gym

Yoga studio

Pilates studio

Step 2: Get trained

The next step in starting a fitness business is to get some training. Whether you want to know how to start a fitness training business or manage a gym, you need to have some background in fitness in order for people to actually think you know what you're doing. Good places to get credentialed include the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), American Council on Exercise, or National Academy of Sports Medicine. Legitimate certifications are accredited by either the NCCA (National Commission of Certifying Agencies) or the DEAC (Distance Education Accrediting Commission).

Of course, training in fitness isn't the only education you'll need. You're also going to need to do a lot of research into learning exactly what it takes to start a business.

Step 3: Write a business plan and select an entity

This step is pretty similar regardless of whether you're starting a fitness business or any other kind of business. When you’re writing a business plan, there’s a lot you'll need to include. You might find it helpful to use a business plan template to make sure you cover all of your bases.

Factors to consider when writing your business plan include:

An analysis of the market

Who your competition is

Marketing and sales plan

Financial plan and projections

The key is to make sure there's a need for your business and that you'll be able to generate enough business to continue operating after you've invested so much to get started.

Another important part of your business plan when starting up a fitness business is selecting your business entity. Given the nature of the fitness business, you should go with a business entity that offers owners some protection from liability. A limited liability partnership or limited liability company might make the most sense for you if you’re looking for some liability protection.

Step 4: Get necessary permits and insurance

There may be certain business licenses and permits required to operate a gym in your state and locality. You should check with your town, city, or county clerk’s office to make sure you're following all the regulations outlined by your various governing agencies for starting a fitness business.

One permit you'll most certainly need is a certificate of occupancy. A certificate of occupancy confirms that all building codes, zoning laws, and government regulations have been met. If you're leasing your gym space, it is typically the landlord's responsibility to obtain a certificate of occupancy.

Operating a gym also comes with some risks that opening another business might not. People are going to be working out, using equipment, walking around things they can trip over, and doing other potentially hazardous activities. You’ll want to make sure you get small business insurance for a host of scenarios so that if anything happens to someone while they’re in your gym, the business is covered.

You also want to be covered in the event that equipment is stolen or damaged. You might even want to encourage any instructors you hire to get personal trainer insurance as well.

Step 5: Get an EIN

There are a lot of reasons you need an employer identification number (EIN). It allows you to file taxes and avoid tax penalties, open a business bank account, speed up loan applications, establish business credit, and a lot more.

You can apply for an employer identification number online through the IRS. If you register with the IRS online, you should receive an EIN within minutes. Note that fitness businesses operating as sole proprietorships don't need an EIN, but it is still a good idea to get one for the aforementioned benefits.

Step 6: Get funding

If you're wondering how to start a fitness business with no money, some ventures aren't cheap, but you do have funding options that may work for you. According to health club consultant Bryan O'Rourke, costs start at $30,000 but can quickly soar to $500,000. What's more, getting a fitness business up and running takes some time—so you'll need to have a little in the bank.

If you’re looking for some startup funding there are a few options available to you, such as an SBA loan , a business line of credit, or a personal loan.

A business line of credit would give you access to money that you could pull from if you needed it in your early days of starting a fitness business. The difference between a line of credit and a loan is that while the money is available to you, you only have to pay interest on the funds you actually draw on.

There's also gym equipment financing , which is another great option if you're wondering how to start a fitness business with no money. The gym equipment purchased with the proceeds of the financing will, in turn, act as collateral for the gym equipment finance loan used to purchase it.

7 tips for starting a fitness business

Now that you know the steps you need to take when starting a fitness business, let's provide you with some tips that will help your business thrive. To provide you with the best advice possible, we talked to entrepreneurs who successfully started their own fitness business. Here's what they had to say:

1. Personalize your fitness business

The health and fitness club market is expected to grow to be a $147.1 billion industry by 2024, with an emphasis on personalized training.

Consider ClassPass, which operates in 18 countries around the world and is valued at $600 million. ClassPass teams up with classes at boutique studios to offer everything from cycling to yoga to dance to martial arts for its members. For a $19-$199 (which varies by subscription plan) monthly fee, members enjoy unlimited classes to studios in the ClassPass network and can attend the same studio up to a certain limit each month.

ClassPass’ success story is one example that customers want specialized, niche workouts offered in fitness boutique studios. If you're wondering how to start a fitness class business that will be attractive to a growing clientele, this is one example to follow. Other such examples include ShadowBox, a fitness boxing studio; GoRow Studios, a gym that specializes in workouts using rowing machines; then there’s modelFIT, a gym in New York and Los Angeles that is "marrying mindful nutrition with mindful exercise" and is a popular hangout for celebrities.

“People are kind of shying away from the lone wolf workout of going to a box or a membership gym because the [boutique fitness] market is more efficient,” says Eric Posner, CEO and co-founder of boutique cycling studio Swerve Fitness in New York City. “You get a better workout in a less amount of time and pay less than you would for a personal trainer by going to a fitness boutique.”

2. Make your fitness studio a place to hang out

In a panel discussion hosted by American Express' U.S. Small Merchants Group, ClassPass founder Payal Kadakia said fitness studios are “like the new restaurant scene"—it’s not just about burning calories and working out; it’s about the experience and lifestyle. It's paramount you know this if you want to know how to start a fitness business.

This concept of hanging out at your workout spot is how Posner, along with his co-founders Chelsea Kocis and John Henry McNierney came up with the idea for Swerve. It was just a few years ago that the three co-founders, who at the time were college athletes-turned-finance professionals, found themselves tired of taking clients through the typical dinner-and-drinks routine. Instead, they took them to cycling classes.

"We found this to be an unbelievable way to build relationships that were meaningful, as opposed to the typical steak dinners and drinks," says Posner.

“We were going to mostly cycling classes and what we saw about these classes was there were unbelievable ways to get an efficient workout in and do it with other people, but [these classes] weren't capturing the camaraderie of going with a group or going with other people. It was very individualistic,” continues Posner. “So, that's how we came up with the concept of a team-inspired indoor cycling workout.”

Making your gym a place people want to hang not only brings customers in the door, but also makes your fitness business a place they'll want to return to again and again.

3. Incorporate data into your services

We live in a data-driven world, so it makes sense that people want data-driven workouts. People want to see how many calories they burned, how their current performance compares to their past averages, and how they compare to other people—basically what they achieve when they leave a workout session.

Take the technologically-savvy Swerve workout room for example, where riders are divided into teams and try to bike their way to the highest score.

“Technology is playing a big role and the way that [Swerve was] able to tap into that is we have a console—you have a console on your bike—and you see your own personal metrics on this console during class,” explains Posner. “And there are big flat screens behind the instructors where you see your team's average score. After class, all your stats—and this shows how many miles you biked, how many calories you burned, where you ranked in class, and all that—can be viewed on your account profile.”

“So, we find that to be a huge motivating tactic for our riders… and that kind of adds another layer of accountability and it's very results-driven.” Want to know how to start a fitness business that will keep clients coming back? Give them the tools and data to accomplish their personal fitness goals.

4. Specialize in a type of workout or demographic

When Alana Kessler opened the doors to her yoga studio in 2009, she quickly realized classes offered to pregnant mothers who have busy, working lives basically didn’t exist. As a result, Kessler made prenatal classes essential to Sangha Yoga Shala's list of classes offered and has since then built a name for herself.

The key to how to start a fitness training business that offers quality, specialized classes is that you can’t skimp on good trainers. Spend time training instructors and finding excellent ones who will give your customers consistent results every time they’re in front of the class. If you want to know how to start a fitness business, the first thing you should figure out is how to acquire awesome trainer talent.

“I encourage my teachers to build,” advises Kessler. “I incentivize them to build with me. Some [studios] might tap out at a low rate to keep their overhead low, but I pay my teachers well.”

5. Get your studio on social media

Vanessa Packer, co-founder of modelFIT, told the audience at American Express' panel discussion that Instagram played an “instrumental part” in helping modelFIT become a lifestyle instead of just a gym. This means reaching out and engaging with your community on social media.

Do you make it easy for customers to post about their experience? Do you respond in a timely manner that builds connections with existing clients? Additionally, have you thought about untraditional marketing strategies to spread the word for your business? For example, ClassPass gave away passes to influential fitness bloggers in the beginning to quickly get their story out there. What social media marketing techniques could your fitness business do?

6. You'll need to wear many hats

According to Tyler Sellers, senior coach at Total Shape, starting a fitness business requires a lot more than just fitness instruction.

"You must be well-prepared for the behind-the-scenes logistics, especially at the start. As a piece of advice, being a small business owner means that you are the accountant, the administrator, the marketer, and the trainer at the same time," Sellers says.

7. Hire excellent staff

When Laurel Roach started TriFIT Wellness, a corporate wellness training facility in Phoenix, AZ, she says she didn't have a background in the fitness business. Therefore, she had to lean on the staff she hired in order to make her business a success.

"I recommend hiring the most qualified trainers because the wellness industry is notoriously under-regulated," says Roach. "Genuinely passionate employees are difficult to replace so make it a priority to hire and retain the trainers that make your customers feel like an all-star."

LLC Formation

The bottom line

Starting a fitness business is a lot of hard work. But if you succeed, you'll join a booming industry that helps people live their life to the fullest.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

Everything you need to know to grow your business

5 key elements of a fitness studio business plan.

In the works of building a comprehensive fitness studio business plan? Well, you’ve come to the right place. If you’ve decided to take the leap and start your own venture, congratulations are in order! Turning your dreams into a business is hard work, but there’s nothing quite like building something from scratch…

Being brave enough to pursue your passion means you’ve already gotten off to a great start, but what’s the next step? It’s time to organize your dreams and ideas into a concrete fitness studio business plan!

This part of the process can seem daunting, but not to worry, we’ve got your back here! We’ll take you through each step and show you how to create a fitness studio business plan that’ll set your gym up for success.

Here are the elements your fitness business plan needs to take your business from beginner to the best:

1. Your Objectives Plan

This part of your plan is the jumping off point for your venture, and it focuses on the why of the business. What are your goals? What’s important to you? Why have you decided to take this step? Here’s a look at some of the elements involved in outlining your objectives:

Look at your goals

Your fitness studio business plan needs to center around your business identity and where you want to see it end up. Think short term and long term here! What sort of clientele will you try and attract? What services will you offer? Will you be looking at expansion or opening multiple locations down the road?

We suggest using a SMART goal system (Smart, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely), so that you stay on track and set goals that make sense for your fitness center.

Learn to succeed

You might take this opportunity to do some research and up your game too! Are there certifications or courses you could take to get you better prepared or more qualified? Is that part of your journey?

Start your business from the best position you can, and if that means furthering your education or adding to your training, now’s the time to get in the best position to pursue your dream.

Explore further

2. your finance plan.

Now it’s time to do the math…The financial part of this venture is where a lot of dreamers panic. Following your passion does not mean you’re a math whiz. Here’s where building a fitness studio business plan can get tricky for some, but let’s walk through this together.

Think about all the things your business will need to get off the ground, and the expenses you’ll have to cover before you start to make a profit.

For a start, the experts recommend that you have 12-24 months of savings in your personal account to be able to qualify for business financing if you need it. This will also provide a bit of a cushion to cover any unforeseen expenses as they arise. Peace of mind? Priceless!

Here’s a look at the elements you need to fill in the financial part of your fitness business plan:

Getting started

Before you have any revenues coming in, you’ll be looking a start-up cost. Building a business could mean a hefty initial investment, so how do you cover this?

This usually involves an infusion of capital from a loan or an investment—both offering their own pros and cons depending on what you’re looking for. Decide which route best suits your needs and incorporate that into your plan. Also consider you can go for a combination of both, but be sure to keep a detailed record of your process and deadlines.

From legal costs to permits and more, this part of your fitness business plan is essential to be able to open and operate before you start to make money. After all, “it takes money to make money” is not a common saying for nothing.

Make a decision, consult the experts, and develop a solid financial plan for the early days of your fitness studio.

The second part of the financial section of your fitness business plan is location! Do you want to rent or buy? Share a space? Be in the city or the suburbs? These are all important considerations when you think about how long you’re likely to be in one location.

Check out desirable areas, look at possible competition, and consider complementary businesses in the neighborhood as part of your planning. All of these details should be included in your plan so you have a solid strategy you can stick to.

You’ve got the outside sorted out, now it’s time to outfit the inside! What equipment will you need and how much of it is enough?

Figure out what equipment you think you’d like to include in your fitness center to accommodate the classes you’ll offer!

Once you determine your needs, next comes the costs. Will you rent? Lease? Buy? Compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money and then list all costs as part of your plan.

3. Your Workforce Plan

You’ve decided to take the plunge, but you can’t do it alone! You need a team of employees who can market your brand, represent your interests and serve as your workforce. Even if you’re starting alone at the beginning, it’s good to plan ahead on what types of employees you want to eventually bring onto your team. This part of the plan will adapt with you as your business grows, however, it’s good to have a starting point.

So what do you need to think about when factoring employees into your fitness studio business plan? Here are a few things to consider when planning for staffing:

Credentials

Your team needs to be the best of the best! Remember, your business is only as great as your team, so aim high.

Tackle this part of your fitness business plan by assessing critical skills. Make a list and outline your perfectly qualified candidate. Is there a minimum qualification or accreditation level? Is teaching experience a must? Can a less-than-qualified candidate prove trainable?

Once you’ve nailed down what your qualified candidate looks like, you can get started budgeting, interviewing and building your team of rock stars.

Type of staff

Next comes the decision on the type of staff you want to hire. Will they be salary? Hourly? On contract? How many staff will it take to best serve your clients and make their experience top notch?

These considerations will help you to will make your plan as comprehensive as possible.

Finding a fit

What’s important to your business? What do you stand for? Look at what type of employee you need to help you succeed. Choosing a team that fits your criteria is the best way to get your business where it needs to go.

Why does fit matter to your business plan? The cost to re-train lost employees can be astronomical, so choosing loyal, motivated, and productive staff can help balance out your bottom line.

To stick to your budget, focus on hiring the team of your dreams the first time.

Book a Demo and Take a Free Tour

4. marketing plan.

How will you let the community know about your business? They can’t visit unless they know you’re there! Spread the word to get clients into your center.

From social media to traditional methods, here are a few ideas for what to include as part of your marketing plan:

Social media

Social media is rapidly becoming the fastest way to reach a large audience. Want to go from newbie to next level? Including social media as part of your strategy will make your fitness studio business plan complete.

Make up a schedule of posts, lay out your content, and start engaging with your audience to get the most out of this platform.

From advertising to contests to simply posting compelling content, social media is an inexpensive way to grow your business and a crucial element in your fitness studio business plan.

Traditional marketing

Think the traditional methods of advertising and marketing aren’t worth it? Don’t sell them short!

Radio ads can be reasonably priced, as can advertising in your local newspaper. Don’t forget to try flyers, cross-promoting (make friends with another local business) and word of mouth!

These are all cheap and cheerful ideas to get people to check out the best new fitness center in town.

5. Resources and Assistance

As we’ve said, you can’t do it on your own, so why not look for ways to make your life a little easier?

So where can you find help?

From the industry

This is a new venture for you, but there are tons of success stories already out there! Don’t be shy. Ask around, find an established business—or two—like yours. Meet the owners and pick their brains.

Often they’ll have some great stories and advice for you based on lessons they learned while building their own businesses.

Need more info? There are tons of business podcasts, published success stories, and entrepreneurial books you can refer to as a resource.

There’s a ton of resources and people who can help, so make use of them!

Technology and tools

Another avenue to investigate is business management software ! Following your passion is hard work and making the process as smooth and convenient as possible just makes sense. Plan for success by incorporating a little help into your plan!

How WellnessLiving can help

WellnessLiving offers an all-in-one fitness studio management software trusted by wellness businesses worldwide. From features to manage scheduling, assisting with payroll, provide client and staff apps, and more—rest easy knowing you don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders alone.

Is WellnessLiving the perfect solution for your business? Book a free, no-commitment demo with us today to find out!

• Case Studies 70
• Fitness 197
• Business Management 147
• Webinars 61
• Release Notes 53
• Health and Beauty 42
• Press Releases 32
• Martial Arts 31
• Community 3

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

How to Create a Business Plan for Your Gym – 2024 Guide

Table of Contents

This is an educative piece to help you start your gym or fitness studio business.

You’ll learn:

• Why a business plan is important
• How to conduct market research
• The steps to writing a viable business plan for a gym

Let’s get started right away.

Introduction

Are you thinking about opening a gym or fitness studio?

If yes, you need a business plan.

In this guide, we’ll reveal what a business plan is , why you need one, and how to write it. 

I also highly recommend that you take the quiz and find out which personal trainer certification is best for your career goals.

What is a business plan?

In many ways, a business plan for a fitness studio or gym is a lot like writing a workout program. 

Why? Because it follows a logical structure, you have something that will produce the results you want by the time you get to the end. 

For a workout, that means a happy, healthy client.

For a gym business plan, it means you’ll know if your ideas are viable and how you will make your dreams of gym ownership a reality. 

A business plan is a document that outlines every aspect of your project.

It explores your new business’s feasibility and answers all the critical questions that will affect your success.

While writing an opening a gym business plan may seem like a lot of work (and it is), it’s also crucial to your success.

A good business plan reveals your strengths and also highlights any potential weaknesses so that, before you start, the odds of success are already in your favor. 

A business plan may also reveal that your gym or studio is not viable.

While that IS sad and can be disheartening, it’s better to abort during the planning stage than start your business and then fail, which would be a colossal waste of time, energy, and money. 

As you may have heard, prior planning prevents piss-poor performance, and that’s as true for training your clients as it is for setting up a gym.

Increase your chances of success by following these business planning steps!

It all starts with market research

Before you start your business plan, do some market research to determine if there are enough potential customers and space in the marketplace to support another gym or fitness studio.  

After all, the fitness industry is a fast-growing business.

Some areas are already saturated with fitness facilities. 

A gym without customers won’t last long.

Sure, having the place to yourself means you can blast out your favorite workout tunes as loud as you like and hang out with your buddies instead of working, but that won’t pay the bills, and the aim of any business is to be profitable. 

When determining viability, consider the following points:

• Demand – do people want what you are selling? 
• Market size – are there enough potential clients to sustain your business? 
• Pricing – what do you want to charge for your services, and what do similar businesses charge? 
• Local economy – can your intended clientele afford your prices? 
• Location – is the location within easy reach of your intended customer base?
• Competition – are there other nearby gyms or studios that could dilute your potential customer base?

Market research can be time-consuming and even tedious.

After all, you want to get your gym open and start training clients. 

But, time spent now could save you a lot of heartache and money in the future.

After doing your due diligence, you might find that your current business model isn’t viable.

It’s better to discover that now rather than after you have opened your doors.

To get the information you need, you’ll have to get out and investigate, using all your detective skills to determine the practicality of your basic business idea.

Ways to do this include: 

• Surveys and questionnaires 
• Talk to other business owners and operators 
• Polls 
• Speak to local business advisors 
• Join a small business owners’ club or association 

Once you’ve determined that your business has the potential to be successful, it’s time to start writing your business plan.  

Writing a small gym or fitness studio business plan

A good business plan for a gym is critical for your success.

Some prospective gym owners think they can skip this stage, but they’re the ones you’ll never hear about – because they FAILED!

A business plan will identify all your strengths and weaknesses, list your resources, determine your needs, and help you secure funding.

Even if you don’t need financing to get off the ground, you still need to create a detailed business plan. 

Think of your business plan as a map to your success.

Expect to waste a lot of time and energy getting lost. In business, that usually means losing money. 

So, you’re probably thinking, “How do I write a business plan for a gym?” and the reality is there is no right or wrong way to do it.

What’s important is that it meets your needs. 

There are gym business plan templates you can use, but most of them follow what is usually called the traditional business plan format.

These plans are very comprehensive and take time to complete, but lenders and investors typically need this type of document. 

You don’t have to stick to this exact format, and some of the following headings may not be relevant to the type of business you want to open, but this is a solid framework that should be more than adequate for your needs. 

0. Cover and contents page

While this will probably be the last part of your plan that you write, it should be the first part of your completed business plan.

Like a book has a cover and index page, so too should your gym start-up business plan. 

The more professional your business plan looks, the more likely you are to be treated as a professional.

First impressions count, and this is your chance to use your business plan to make a good one. 

1. Executive summary 

It might seem weird to put a summary at the start of your plan, but this is your hook to get the reader interested in your project.

Tell the reader what your business is, and why you think it will be successful. 

Include basic company structure, location, and brief but relevant financial information, such as how much money you need from potential investors and how much you are investing yourself. 

While the tone of this section should be positive, avoid hyperbole.

Also, keep your paragraphs short, avoid typos, and stick to the facts.

Grab the reader’s attention so they want to learn more. 

2. Company description

In this section, explain how your gym or health club will work. Include information on: 

• Your certifications and experience 
• Target clientele 
• Their needs 
• Your services 
• The location or locations if you are still scouting  

Also, include details of the main team members, describing their experience and capabilities. 

3. Market analysis

You should have already done this, so it’s just a matter of slotting your market analysis information into your starting a gym business plan. 

Ensure you include details on any competition and discuss why you think you’ll be able to secure your share of the marketplace.

If you can offer a better service than the competition, mention it here. 

4. Organization and management

This section is usually short for most small gyms and fitness studios.

It could even be just you.

But, if you have a business partner or intend to have employees, this is the place to list them. 

Use an organizational chart to show who will be doing what within your company, and consider adding the resumes of any key team members. 

Not hired your team yet? No worries! Just list the job titles and roles you have yet to fill. 

Next, describe your company’s legal structure, explaining whether you are a sole trader, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, or an LLC. 

Not sure about this stuff yet? Maybe you need some legal advice before going further. 

5. Description of services

It’s a mistake to assume that the person reading your business plan knows what personal trainers do.

They might not even exercise.

Make them a true believer by explaining the services you anticipate offering.

Use non-technical language, not gym jargon, to ensure they know what you are discussing. 

Make sure you mention the benefits of the services you intend to offer and how you’ll ensure those services stay relevant over time. 

6. Marketing and sales

Outline how you will market your gym or fitness studio and convert that interest into sales.

Create a marketing strategy that lists how you will raise your company profile.

Also, explain how you intend to retain your customers. 

Ideas include: 

• Website  
• Social media advertising campaigns 
• Local print media advertising campaigns 
• Community outreach and open days 
• Referral incentives 
• Joint and family membership discounts 
• Seasonal initiatives, e.g., spring “New You” promotion, Twelve Days of Christmas fitness, etc. 
• Discounts for founder members 
• Block booking PT discounts  

7. Financial projections 

The aim of this section is to convince the reader and reassure yourself that your business can make money. 

Project your expenditure and income for the next five years.

Include your start-up costs, building rent, salaries, licenses, taxes, advertising and marketing, consumables, and any other expenses you can anticipate.

This section is a great place to use charts and graphs. 

Balance this with all potential income streams. 

Speaking of income, make sure you consider: 

• Monthly and annual fees from members 
• Income from personal training 
• Income from rent from personal trainers, therapists, etc. 
• Food and beverage income 
• Income from gym clothing sales

Plus, any other potential revenue streams.

Things like gym fees, PT rents, and PT income depend on things like location, market value, inflation, and what your competitors charge; they are not set in stone. 

However, these figures form the basis of your income projections, so make sure they are as realistic as possible.

Don’t project that you’ll charge $100 per hour for PT when the local average is $50. 

Inflated projections give investors an unrealistic impression and may give you a false sense of financial security.

It’s always better to underestimate than overestimate when it comes to income.

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst, as they say. 

Anyway… 

For the first 12 months, provide monthly or quarterly breakdowns and projections.  

For the next years, widen your view to six-monthly projections. 

After that, annual projections should suffice. 

8. Request for funding

By now, you should have calculated your start-up costs.

If you are opening a small gym or studio, you may be able to do it without funding.

That’s especially true if you are going to be doing things like functional training, bodyweight training, or other workouts that require space but very little equipment. 

However, if you open a “real” gym, you will need a full range of workout gear and a lot of additional incidentals.

This stuff isn’t cheap! 

Identify ALL your start-up costs to know exactly how much money you’ll need to get up and running. 

If you need seed money for your business, now is the time to ask.

This section explains precisely what you need the money for and how it will be used.

Break it all down, item by item, making sure you don’t omit anything you wish you’d included later on.  

Specify what type of funding you want – a loan or equity.

If a loan, what repayment terms are you looking for.

If you offer equity, how much of your business will the investor own? 

Remember to build in a small safety margin because you will probably underestimate how much money you need, even with the most meticulous planning.

Note this is under contingencies or emergency funds. 

Now is also an excellent place to mention how much of your money you put into your new business.

It might not be a large sum, but any self-investment demonstrates a commitment that could impress a potential investor. 

9. Potential for expansion

How do you see your business growing over the next few years?

Is it the start of a franchise? Do you hope to move to bigger premises?

Have you got plans to add additional services or staff, or update your equipment? 

There is no need to be overly precise in this section.

After all, you can’t see into the future!

But introducing the idea that you are thinking “big picture” shows you are in this project for the long run, and, for investors, that can be reassuring. 

10. Appendix

Use this section for anything that doesn’t fit into the previous nine categories.

You could include mock-ups of logos, ideas for the layout of your gym, proposed color schemes, mocked-up advertorials, or anything else that demonstrates how you intend to make your business a success.

If nothing else, this section suggests to the reader that you already see your gym business as a living, breathing entity. 

Wrapping up

Writing a business plan is not easy; doing it right will take time.

It may require lots of amendments as your ideas take shape.

Your first draft will not be your only draft. 

But trust us when we say this; it is absolutely crucial for your successes. 

First of all, a business plan will determine if your ideas are even viable.

After writing your plan, you could find that your set-up costs will make it impossible to turn a profit.

Don’t let this put you off.

Just go back to your plan and start over.

Maybe cancel that order for solid gold dumbbells?!

Once you’ve determined that your business has potential, a business plan will show you all the things you need to consider before starting. 

From the company’s organizational structure to marketing to financial projections. 

Having all this information from the get-go will make the first 12 months of operation much less stressful. 

A good business plan is also vital for securing funding.

No one but a loan shark will lend you money without a detailed business plan.

Loan sharks are not a recommended source of financing!

Finally, writing a business plan is an excellent way to determine if you are ready to own and operate a gym.

If it all seems like too much hard work, you probably aren’t ready to take on the responsibilities of business ownership. 

But, if all the writing and planning get you pumped, you could have the right stuff for gym ownership. 

So, what are you waiting for? Fire up your computer and get typing! 

References:

• “10 Market Research Tools You Should Be Using.” Qualtrics , https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/10-market-research-tools-you-should-be-using/ .
• “Write Your Business Plan.” U.S. Small Business Administration , https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan .
• “Best Web Hosting Providers.” Business.org , https://www.business.org/services/website/best-web-hosting-providers/ .

Related Posts

Learn the 12 Minute Run Test: 2024 Guide

Reciprocal Inhibition: Essential Techniques 2024

Lower Crossed Syndrome: Complete Guide (2024)

2024 Sliding Filament Theory Guide for Fitness Pros

How to Become a Bodybuilding Coach

Single Leg Squat Assessment Guidelines for 2024

PTPioneer Editorial Integrity

All content published on PTPioneer is checked and reviewed extensively by our staff of experienced personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and other Fitness Experts. This is to make sure that the content you are reading is fact-checked for accuracy, contains up-to-date information, and is relevant. We only add trustworthy citations that you can find at the bottom of each article. You can read more about our editorial integrity here.

Ask me a question and I will reply ASAP Cancel reply

Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.

• About Ptpioneer
• Contact Ptpioneer
• Write For Us
• Editorial Process
• Privacy Policy
• NASM Practice Test
• CSCS Practice Test
• ACE Practice Test
• ISSA Practice Test
• ACSM Practice Test
• NSCA Practice Test
• NCSF Practice Test
• Personal Training
• Certifications
• Personal Trainer Certifications
• Nutrition Certifications
• Online Trainer Certifications
• How to Become a Trainer
• Personal Trainer Salary
• NASM vs ACE
• NASM vs ISSA
• NASM Review
• ISSA Review
• Precision Nutrition Review

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (541) 735-9399

Hours: 6am-6pm (PST)

4736 Royal Ave Unit #17137 Eugene, OR 97402

© Copyright 2024 , ptpioneer.com. All rights reserved.

Find the best Cert for you

Get the top 5 Tips for Passing the ACE CPT

Get the top 5 Tips for Passing the NASM CPT

Launching soon – Support us on Product Hunt 🐱 and get 50% off your first month!   Get 50% Off →

• Sample Business Plans
• Beauty Salon & Fitness

Gym Business Plan

Is exercise or fitness your passion? Or do you have a good understanding of gym equipment and workout routines?

If yes, you might have considered having your own gym at some point. After all, who doesn’t want to turn their passion into a profession?

And guess what! Just like you wouldn’t hit the gym without a workout plan, starting your own gym demands a comprehensive gym business plan!

If you’re seeking investors to kickstart a new fitness center or aiming to expand an existing gym business, a modern business plan is an essential tool.

A well-written gym business plan will help you pay attention to every detail, and support your entrepreneurial journey to make the best strategies for a profitable business.

But before diving right into the detailed gym business plan; let’s check out some interesting facts about the fitness industry.

Fitness Industry Outlook

• The growing enthusiasm for fitness and the desire for a healthy lifestyle has led to the demand for gyms. As of now, 39% of Americans have gym memberships.
• The fitness industry has been booming in recent years, and it is expected to have 230 million members by 2030 .
• The Health and fitness market revenue is estimated to grow at a rate of 11.52% annually, reaching a market volume of US$2.32 billion by 2027.
• The fitness industry is expected to increase its revenue by 172% from 2021 to 2028 – reaching $435 billion.
• From 2011 to 2019, the revenue for gyms and health centers in the United States consistently increased each year.
• Recently, the United States led the world in gym industry revenue and is expected to add 15.6 million more members by 2030.

Now that you know the fitness industry outlook, it’s time to explore all the key components you will need to include in your professional gym business plan outline:

Key Components of a Gym Business Plan (w/ Examples)

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Industry and Customer Analysis
• Competitor Analysis
• Service Offerings
• Marketing Strategy
• Management Team
• Operations Plan
• Financial Plan

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary is the first and foremost section of the business plan. Generally, it is a quick overview of your entire gym business plan.

It should be clear, concise, and engaging as it will create your first impression and draw readers to delve further into your plan.

You can start this section with a brief introduction to your gym business and discuss the following key elements:

• Market Opportunity
• Vision & mission statement
• Target market
• Your products and services
• Marketing strategy
• Management team
• Financial Outlook

After that, end your summary with a clear call to action to invite potential investors or readers to the next meeting.

Say goodbye to boring templates

Build your business plan faster and easier with AI

Plans starting from $7/month

2. Company Overview

The company overview section provides a more detailed description of your gym business.

It includes the legal structure, location, ownership, critical success factors, business history, and everything about your business.

First, provide the basic details of your gym including what is the name and what type of gym you are operating.

Mention the names of your gym owners/partners along with the qualifications. You can also include the business history(if any) and milestones you have achieved.

After that, describe your business goals to convey a high level of aspirations and vision that you want to achieve. Here is an example, describing the business goals and objectives:

Setting future business goals for a gym is a crucial step in outlining a clear path to achieve success and growth. The Stayfit Company’s goals and objectives include;

• Increase the client base by 100 customers within the first year of operation.
• Relocating to a large and more appropriate location facility by the first year of operation.
• Expand service offerings to provide a comprehensive fitness experience.
• Establish partnerships and increase brand visibility to become a recognized fitness brand in the community.
• Increase total memberships to 500 within 5 years.

Remember, this section gives an in-depth understanding of your business and business owners. So, make it clear and intriguing.

3. Industry and Customer Analysis

In the industry and customer analysis section of your gym business plan, it’s necessary to offer a comprehensive overview of the fitness industry and target market.

This section gives you a deep understanding of your industry and target customer attributes which will help you in business planning.

Here are some questions that will help you in the analysis:

• What is the current market size of the fitness industry in terms of revenue?
• What are the current trends in the gym business?
• Who are the target audience, and which customer segment do you wish to serve?
• What is the growth forecast for the gym business?

For example, look at this market segment and target market of the gym business with the help of Upmetrics:

As a gym owner, you can target the following customer profiles:

• Blue-collar employees (factories, warehouses, service industry)
• White-collar individuals(corporate or government employees)
• High school & college students
• Military members and their families
• Athletes who often train for fitness competitions

In short, a thorough industry analysis will educate you about the local market and help you prepare marketing strategies according to the market trends.

4. Competitor Analysis

This competitor analysis will help you understand the top competitors and identify the strong points of their service offerings.

As a gym business, you should make a list of the number of gyms or other fitness businesses operating in your locality, their size, and their customer base. Try to specify who are your direct and indirect competitors.

• Direct competitors can be other local gyms
• Indirect competitors can be another type of gym or fitness center, or health club in your area.

Now, let’s focus on your direct competitors and provide an overview of each competitor, including their size and where they’re based. Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses including their service offerings and pricing structures.

Refer below example; showing competitor analysis description:

A better way to conduct this analysis is by noticing things from a customer’s perspective. You might even ask your competitors’ clients what they like or dislike about them to get valuable insights.

This way you can understand what makes your competitors successful and what gaps you can fill. Also, consider the unique selling proposition of your gym business.

Specify your tactics to stay ahead in the competitive landscape and make all the difference in the local gym market.

5. Service Offerings

Next, specify the scope of your service offerings and elucidate how they meet the diverse needs of your clientele.

This section must be informative, precise, and client-focused, as it is a detailed breakdown of what your fitness business offers your customers.

You can include a comprehensive suite of services encompassing types of membership options, available exercise equipment, personal training sessions, group fitness classes, or nutritional counseling.

Here, you can take a reference from the below example written using Upmetrics AI Assistant :

Also, detail any membership fees or pricing plans in this section to add or revise services. Mention if your gym provides any additional services, like physical therapy, massage therapy, recovery modalities, etc.

6. Marketing Strategy

Writing the sales and marketing plan section means jotting down all the customer acquisition strategies and the tactics for how to retain them.

You can consider the following marketing approaches to gaining and keeping customers for your new gym business:

Unique Selling Proposition

Define your gym’s USPs depending on the market you serve, the gym equipment you use, and the unique services you provide. Highlight certified gym trainers, specialty programs, and regular community events.

Social media marketing

Use social media platforms to attract more users. Create engaging content and entice your audience with inspirational posts and special offers. Connect with your customers digitally as well as in the gym.

Establish a professional website and brand symbol (gym’s logo) to reach a wider audience. Showcase all your service offerings and build trust among potential customers.

Loyalty plans

Consider loyalty plans to retain existing gym members and encourage long-term commitment. Create membership tiers or referral programs to offer discounts or additional benefits.

Collaborations

Partner with local businesses (health food stores, fitness centers, or clothing brands), and fitness influencers to cross-promote services or offer collaborative discounts. That can expand your gym’s reach and draw a broader audience.

Offline advertising

Traditional offline marketing can still be effective in engaging with your local community. Clearly state your advertising strategies, including open bulletin boards, print marketing, flier distributions, or community events. For instance,

Consider following offline advertising strategies to reach specific demographics:

• Local Print Media: Advertise in local newspapers, magazines, or community newsletters to target residents in your area.
• Flier Distribution: Distribute flyers or brochures in strategic locations such as community centers, local cafes, or residential areas to raise awareness about your gym.
• Community Events: Sponsor or participate in community events, fairs, or health expos. This not only promotes your gym but also allows for direct interaction with potential members.

Pricing strategy

Try to develop detailed strategies, like offering special introductory discounts, free trials, seasonal promotions, or membership packages with additional services to attract and retain members.

7. Management Team

A strong management team is essential to showcase your gym’s ability to thrive in the industry. This management team section emphasizes the key members who can help grow your fitness business.

You can highlight your key managers, fitness experts, personal trainers, or nutritionists. Also, explain each member’s expertise and roles.

Also, discuss the compensation plan in this section, along with their salaries, incentives, and other benefits. For instance,

8. Operations Plan

This operations plan is like a map that shows how you will make your business work.

It provides detailed insights into the day-to-day operations of your gym and highlights key areas such as staffing and operational processes.

Consider adding below essential components to your operational plan:

Try to mention the number of trainers, support staff, and therapists needed. Briefly outline the duties they will perform and detail their qualifications & training required.

Operational Process

Summarize the processes and techniques you will use to run your gym. Your operational process section may include hosting fitness classes, assigning trainers, scheduling the group HIIT classes, billing, training staff, etc.

Equipment & Machinery

You can include the list of gym equipment and machinery required for the gym, such as strength training equipment, pull-up bars, cardio equipment, free weights/dumbbells, and aerobic equipment.

Refer to the below example written using our AI assistant:

9. Financial Plan

Presently, you are in the business planning phase, but devoting some time to putting together the most realistic financial projections is also crucial when you start seeking funding from investors.

It is a detailed blueprint of all the cash flow and revenue streams, initial startup costs for setting up your gym and equipment, profit margins, and operational costs.

So, mention all the below elements in your gym business plan outline:

• Profit and loss statement
• Cash flow statement
• Balance sheet
• Break-even analysis
• Business ratios
• Exit strategy

This financial forecast has a substantial value in terms of whether you secure funding or not. And evaluate the funding resources, including bank loans, SBA-guaranteed loans, crowdfunding, or personal savings.

Here’s an example of a projected P&L statement for a gym financial plan with the help of Upmetrics:

Download Free Gym Business Plan PDF

Need help writing your gym business plan from scratch? Well, here you go; download our free gym business plan pdf now and start writing.

This modern, user-friendly business plan template is specifically designed for your gym business.

With a step-by-step guide and example, it helps you write a solid gym business plan without missing any crucial steps.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Start Drafting Your Plan with Upmetrics

With Upmetrics, you will get easy-to-follow steps, 400+ sample business plans, and AI support to streamline your business planning approach.

Our financial forecasting tool will help you develop accurate financial forecasts for 3 or more years if you’re not great with financial formulas.

Whether you’re venturing into a new business or aiming for expansion, Upmetrics provides valuable resources and insights to build successful and professional business plans that perfectly align with your objectives.

So, don’t wait; start planning now !

Related Posts

CrossFit Gym Business Plan

Personal Trainer Business Plan

Health Coaching Business Plan

Sample Business Plans Template

Small Business Plan Writers

ChatGPT for Writing a Business Plan

Frequently asked questions, where can i find examples of successful gym business plans.

There are various online platforms where you can find sample business plan templates. Consider reputable sources like Upmetrics , which offers a successful gym business plan template for your specific needs.

What should I include in my gym business plan?

You should include the following key elements in your gym business plan:

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Industry and market analysis
• Customer Analysis
• Competitor analysis
• Service offerings
• Marketing Plan
• Operations plan
• Financial plan

What are important gym location factors to consider when writing a business plan?

While writing a business plan, consider the following gym location factors:

• Easy accessibility and high visibility area
• Assess the availability of sufficient parking space
• Check and comply with local zoning laws and regulations
• Analyze the local demographics to align with the target market
• Evaluate the proximity of competitors

How often should I update my gym business plan?

It is very necessary to regularly update your gym business plan, especially in dynamic industries like gym & fitness. Consider updating it at least once a year or more often if there are significant changes in your business.

What are the common mistakes to avoid in a gym business plan?

Following are some of the most common mistakes you should consider avoiding when writing a gym business plan.

• Ignoring thorough market research
• Overestimating financial projections
• Neglecting competitors analysis
• Overlooking marketing strategy

About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

Plan your business in the shortest time possible

No Risk – Cancel at Any Time – 15 Day Money Back Guarantee

Create a great Business Plan with great price.

• 400+ Business plan templates & examples
• AI Assistance & step by step guidance
• 4.8 Star rating on Trustpilot

Streamline your business planning process with Upmetrics .

• ABC Fitness
• ABC Trainerize
• Customer Login

How to Create a Flawless Gym Business Plan

Your gym business plan is your roadmap to success. It guides you on your journey, helps you to make better decisions, and attracts potential angel investors to your business. Creating a business plan is a process. It’s easy to think of your business plan as one single document that you build and then you’re done. But, your business plan evolves and changes with you; it’s not a static checklist. 

Whether you’re starting a new small business or expanding an existing one, a business plan sets the foundation for success.

A great gym involves more than fitness equipment. Setting up a gym is a big task which is why you want to give yourself the best opportunity to succeed. All stages of your business plan are equally important and essential for the final steps. In this article, we try to understand the core elements of a gym business plan and how you can craft a business plan for your fitness business. 

In a hurry?

Here’s a summary of what a gym business plan can give you :

• A gym business plan serves as a roadmap for success not just for you, but for potential investors.
• A gym business plan is not a one-time checklist but a dynamic set of rules and guidelines to follow.
• One of the best ways of saving money is with a comprehensive gym business plan. Not just on where to invest your money, but also in what not to invest in.
• Many businesses fail not because they don’t succeed, but because they don’t know what to do with their success. A clear gym business plan let’s you see what your next steps are even before you reach them.

What is a Gym Business Plan? 

Before we dive into how to create your business plan, let’s start at the beginning; what is a gym business plan? It’s a document that tells the reader who you are as a business and a realistic idea of where the business is heading. At a basic level, your business plan answers the following questions: 

• How does your business work?
• How are you going to succeed?
• What steps do you need to take to succeed?

Research shows that entrepreneurs who write formal business plans are more likely to succeed . Business owners seeking external financial support are also more likely to commit their thoughts to a formal business plan. With a new business, it’s beneficial to pull your ideas into focus and put pen to paper. 

Are you a personal trainer?

Our partners at ABC Trainerize have a specialized business plan built just for you

Why Do You Need a Fitness Center Business Plan? 

The main aim of your gym business plan is to create a blueprint for your business. For instance, if a potential investor were to read your business plan, they would understand how your gym will progress and succeed in the future. Your business plan also helps you to identify fresh opportunities and see gaps in your current business model or setup. Depending on where your business is, a business plan can be dual-purpose. Here’s why you need a business plan from day one. 

1. Test Your Business Idea 

Starting a fitness business is by no means easy. So, you have an idea, and you think it could be a winner. But you can’t always go out and test that idea. A business plan allows you to feasibly test that idea without actually starting the business. Working through your idea and creating a business plan allows you to break down numbers, analyze the market and competitors, and save you a lot of time in the long run. In the early stages, it’s a good idea to work through your idea and create a business plan. The more knowledge you have about your business, industry, and potential customers, the better you can see if your business idea could be a success. 

2. Attracts Investors and Secure Funding 

If you want to attract investors, you need a business plan. Most businesses need to secure funding and seek outside financial support. A thorough business plan helps you to obtain startup capital and funding for your new gym business. Even established businesses often need extra funding for expansion and business growth. Potential investors and finance companies will need concrete numbers with facts and figures to move forward with your business. Without a business plan, there is little to no chance of getting funding from investors, banks, or other external financial institutions. 

Read More: How to Get Financing For Your Gym

3. achieve short-term and long-term goals .

It’s great to have both short-term and long-term goals in mind, but it’s important to go a step further. A good business plan will contain detailed strategies on how you intend to achieve these goals. It could involve your business model, equipment plans, hiring strategies, and marketing efforts. Think about everything that you need to do to achieve your goals. Most businesses tend to have overarching business goals that are supported by smaller goals. It’s crucial that your business plan maps out your strategies for achieving your goals. Because goals and strategies can shift, as your business evolves, you can update your business plan as necessary. 

4. Make Business Planning Manageable 

A business plan is important for both new and established businesses. Firstly, a business plan gives you a higher chance of success. Budgeting, market analysis, and planning will set the foundation for a smoother beginning. When you have set out your goals and strategies to help you achieve them, you can implement what you need to progress. This whole process helps to make business planning more manageable and effective. A great business plan helps you to manage your business, monitor, and assess your progress over time. 

Want to create a flawless, streamlined, and sustainable gym business and marketing plan? Our fitness and online branding guide can provide you with all the tips and tricks you need to thrive as a fitness business owner.

8 Steps to Create a Great Gym Business Plan 

Developing a business plan is an organized process where you go through specific steps to achieve a final result. To start, think about where you are now and where you want to be. This will help you get into the right mindset when writing your business plan. There will be many times when you will refer to your business plan to help you make a decision. So, the more information you have, the better. You will need to dig deep into your business idea, future finances, competitors, and fitness industry to help you collate the information together. By following these eight steps, you can begin to cover all the different aspects of your health club and start building a great gym business plan template. 

1. Executive Summary 

The executive summary is always at the top of the business plan. It should be an attention-grabbing business pitch that’s short and concise, yet interesting. You will continue to flesh out the points from your executive summary throughout the document. But this first section should be very clear and engaging. Although the executive summary is the first document in the business plan, it can be easier to write it at the end. Keep in mind what it should include so that you answer your own questions as you write your business plan. The executive summary should explain: 

• The Who – who you are and what you can offer that will put you above the competition. 
• What – what you hope to accomplish with your business and why you’re taking those steps. 
• How –  how you are going to get there and what you need to accomplish your goals.

2. Company Overview 

The company overview is a more detailed description of your business. You go beyond talking about who you are and delve into the type of clientele you plan on serving, how your business stands out from the competition, and the goals of your business. Because gym business models can differ, now is a good time to explain how you will run your business in more detail. Your executive summary states your mission statement and explains your thoughts at a high level. As you go through your business plan, you have the opportunity to expand and build on your thinking to showcase your business. Your company overview can include: 

• Expand on the purpose of your business. 
• Business model and structure.
• Products and services you offer. 
• Target market research.  
• Founding story. 
• Legal structure. 

3. Industry Analysis 

The industry or market analysis is where you investigate the local market. Think about your niche, current trends in the market, and how your business aligns with market demand. You’re looking to evaluate the fit of your business in today’s market. Try to include some facts and statistics about your industry and the future of the market. For example, a gym looking to obtain funding for expansion into online fitness would include trends and statistics on the rapid acceleration of digital fitness and where the market is headed in the future. 

4. Customer Analysis 

Within the gym industry, there are various niches and audience segments. Even within one business, you can have multiple target audience personas. The customer base you choose to target will have a big impact on your business, the types of services you offer, and how you market yourself. Start by breaking your target customers down by the following: 

• Demographics – age, gender, income level, occupation, location, and education, etc.   
• Psychographics – needs, interests, opinions, beliefs, and values, etc.  

The Complete Online Branding Guide

5. competitor analysis .

A competitor analysis investigates businesses that are direct competitors to you. These are the gyms that offer a similar service in your niche. Although you can mention indirect competitors, this section is mainly for a detailed analysis of your direct competitors. Depending on your business type, you could have both in-person competitors as well as digital-only competitors. Although it may be impossible to find out everything about a competitor, you can usually get a clear idea from your research. Break down each of your competitors into the following: 

• Services and products they offer 
• Target audience 
• Pricing and business model 
• Strengths and weaknesses 

6. Marketing Strategy 

The marketing section of your business plan is the place to explain everything you plan to do to get your services in front of your target audience. Include your strategy, projected startup costs, and consider who will be handling the marketing efforts of the business. Your marketing strategy can include: 

• Social media marketing 
• Advertising 
• Email marketing 
• Referral program 
• Sponsorships
• Partnerships 
• Pricing 

7. Management Team 

Ideally, you and your team members have fitness experience within your niche. This section is a great place to highlight the skills, experience, and expertise of your management team. By doing this, it helps to show how specific team members will help you to achieve success. Lay out key members of your team. This doesn’t need to be limited to your fitness experts, but other experts who will guide your business like marketing and sales managers, customer service, and maintenance personnel. How you structure your business and the type of compensation and benefits you offer will help you to attract and retain high-quality talent over time. 

8. Financial Plan 

Depending on where you are with your business, your financial plan can include current financials for the most recent year and future projections. Your projected revenue should be based on facts and solid research with supporting numbers. The financial plan can include a five-year projection with detailed breakdowns of monthly and annual earnings. Think about your income, cash flow, costs, and outgoings. Your finances are the backbone of your business, so it’s important to be as thorough as possible. 

Want to Build Your Own Fitness Business?

Starting a business is hard and comes with its own set of challenges. A good business plan gives you a point of reference to help you navigate your business. Whether you’re looking to expand your gym or start from scratch, a business plan covers all aspects of your gym so that you have every opportunity to succeed. While you may face some unforeseen issues, a business plan helps you to identify potential problems as much as possible. Your business plan isn’t a static document set in stone, instead, it can serve as a guide to growth and your future success through changing times. 

If you’re looking for a fitness business platform that can help you create a fitness franchise that will stand the test of time, ABC Glofox is the platform for you. Along with reducing your admin time by 20%, the ABC Glofox platform, on average doubles user revenue in just 18 months.

If you’re ready to take the next step in growing your fitness business, book a call with a member of our team today.

Table of contents

• What is a gym business plan? 
• Why do you need a fitness center business plan?
• 8 steps to create a great gym business plan 

Related Articles

12 Top Fitness Blogs You Need to Follow

Designing a Gym Layout That Works

The Complete Gym Equipment List

How to Find the Best Location For a Gym

How to Create a Market Analysis For Your Gym

How to Create Financial Projections for a Gym

Counting the Cost of Opening a Gym

Unlocking the Potential of One-Off Emails 

How to build an online brand for your fitness business

Stop Losing Revenue To Cart Abandonment 

Table of content

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

We empower you to boost your business

"I think Glofox speaks to lots of different fitness businesses. I looked at a few options, but the Glofox positioning was more flexible. Without it the business wouldn't be scaleable”

Trusted by studios, and global gym chains.

BUSINESS STRATEGIES

How to start a fitness business: a step-by-step guide

• Kiera Carter
• Sep 26, 2023

There are a few fundamentals of starting a fitness business, no matter your niche. You need to market your brand to potential clients, manage a schedule of classes and maybe even shoot workout videos to promote your services or train clients virtually.

It’s a lot at first, but just so you know, Wix Fit streamlines operational tasks, like managing calendars and onboarding new clients, and modernizes your business with quality live streams and online challenges.

But let's back up a bit, because a successful fitness business can take a lot of forms. A fitness business is any company that offers a fitness service, either in person or online—or both. Popular fitness businesses include yoga or Pilates studios, CrossFit boxes and kickboxing gyms. Whether you’re a personal trainer or the owner of a studio or gym, you have the power to make your fitness business truly your own.

11 steps to start a successful fitness business:

Discover your niche

Create a business plan

Fund your fitness business

Find your space

Create a website

Offer online classes and sessions

Make bookings a breeze

Implement a clear payment process

Choose your app

Engage clients on social media

Analyze your performance

01. Discover your niche

Before you dive into the business essentials, you’ll need to establish your specialty and fine tune your brand. Do you want to start a gym business ? Are you interested in learning how to make money as a personal trainer ? How to become a yoga instructor ? How to become a Pilates instructor ? You’ll need to obtain the right personal training certifications to establish your authority.

Once you’ve pinpointed your niche, research it like it’s your job (because it is). Understand your target audience, the specific clients you’re trying to reach and your competition when it comes to starting a service business .

Important FYI on that last part: Your competition is both local and virtual, so don’t limit your competitive research to gyms in your neighborhood. You’ll need to develop your personal fitness brand from all angles to stand out in a dense wellness space. Look at relevant YouTube channels, Instagram accounts and TikToks, too.

You can also explore online fitness management courses at Wix Learn.

02. Create a business plan

Next, it’s time to plan. Do you have a name for your business? If you need help, check out the Wix Business Name Generator , which offers ideas based on a few questions about your business.

Be inspired: Fitness business name ideas , Gym business name ideas

Once you have a name, it's time to create a logo that represents your brand and goals. You can look at fitness logo ideas beforehand to understand the kind of look and feel you should be aiming for, or learn how to make a fitness logo .

Then, to start a business you’ll need first a business plan. A business plan is a professional document that outlines the purpose, goals, strategy and financials of your venture (things like gym equipment, rent, insurance and staff wages). It usually includes a summary of your business, industry and customer analysis, an operational plan and financial projections. You can tailor yours to fit your needs. You can read more about creating a business plan here.

Lastly, you’ll need to choose a business structure (sole proprietorship, LLC , corporation , etc.) and register your business . The business structure you choose depends on many factors such as the amount of personal liability you're comfortable with and how many people you plan to hire. (Read more about the many business structures .)

03. Fund your fitness business

The cost of starting a gym varies a ton, especially whether it's a digital gym or a physical one. The latter can cost anywhere from $25,000 for a small studio with minimal equipment to over a million dollars for something more involved. Read more in how much does it cost to open a gym?

So, how are you going to pay for your gym? Your options are essentially:

Fund it yourself

Partner with an investor

Secure a business loan

The more you invest in your gym personally, the more say you'll have in running it. If you've maxed out your savings, consider a loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration , which works with lenders to support small medium businesses .

04. Find your space

Even if your business is virtual, you'll need to think about where you'll shoot your workout videos and run your online sessions. It helps to have a cohesive look to your set, so find a well-lit room in your house and stick to the same location for each video in your series. If you plan on training clients outside, check out our guide to green exercise .

Of course, renting a space for a full-on fitness facility requires more effort and money. The good news is, plenty of landlords are willing to negotiate rent right now. (Tip: Hire a lawyer to do the negotiating for you.)

05. Create a website

You’ll need to build a fitness website to display your services and allow for online bookings. When making a website think of it as the center of all the action—the place where people come to learn more about you and your services, sign up for a membership, book a session with you, watch your training videos and purchase your apparel.

Wix Fit offers different fitness website templates with built-in booking capabilities. Other marketing features—live chat, email campaigns, social posts and SEO—can drive traffic to your site and help your business grow. You’ll also need to choose a hosting plan and a domain name .

Here are a few elements worth adding to your fitness site:

Photos: Add a photo gallery of your sessions with clients, your gym or studio and events. Photos are an integral part of your fitness business website design , so make them count.

Videos: Learn how to shoot a workout video like a pro and display workout demos or offer full training videos. (Try the Wix Video Maker .)

eComm: Sell fitness equipment, healthy foods and apparel in an online store .

Testimonials: Feature recommendations and personal stories from your clients.

Your contact information: Include your name, phone number, email address and social channels so that clients can reach you. FYI: A custom email address looks more professional than your personal one.

A blog: Start a blog to share the latest fitness industry trends , workout tips or personal stories. Get started with a blog maker.

An SEO strategy: Implement strategies that help your site rank higher in search results. These SEO tools will give your site a boost.

Alternatively you can use an appointment scheduling app in order to secure bookings.

06. Offer online classes and sessions

Integrate Zoom directly with your site, so you and your staff can easily host classes. Even if your training is better done in pairs, like martial arts, you can still demo drills and exercises online to supplement your in-person training sessions. This is called hybrid fitness.

There are a few ways to up your Zoom exercise game :

Bring extra energy. You need to smile more on camera to make up for the physical distance.

Tell clients to sign in early to account for any technical issues.

Save time for questions. People enjoy chatting before and after class.

07. Make bookings a breeze

Use online scheduling to list your services, plus relevant info (the instructor's name, duration of class, price, location and so on). With Wix Fit, clients will be able to add the session to their calendar, then receive automatic email reminders, all without any additional work on your part.

How to use Wix Fit's online scheduling solution:

Choose your offerings: Offer group or individual sessions, classes or courses, package deals, sets of sessions or full membership plans.

Sync calendars: Sync with Google Calendars to track sessions.

Receive real-time notifications: Once a client books a session, you and your staff immediately receive an email update.

Waitlist when necessary: If a class is booked, clients can sign up for your waitlist and receive an automatic notification if a spot opens.

Provide a member login: Invite clients to become members, so that they can automatically sign in to your website or access your services on mobile.

08. Implement a clear payment process

Your payment process should be transparent and direct. Clearly list the plans on your site and explain the specific benefit of each membership and package. As a general rule, offer no more than three plans, so you don't overwhelm your clients with too many options. (Read more in 8 ways to price gym memberships like a pro .)

Note: With the Wix Bookings app, you can accept both full and partial payments, both online and in person, and clients can save their credit card information to pay for future sessions.

09. Choose your app

Mobile matters: More than half of people say they wouldn't recommend a site with a lousy mobile interface. Invite members to book your services and pay directly from their phone via the Fit by Wix app or the Branded App by Wix . They function the same way, but the latter app allows for your own branding.

As the business owner, you'll use the Wix app. It's a free extension of your website, meaning you can do everything you can do on desktop, just on mobile.

10. Engage clients on social media

Some fitness businesses operate almost exclusively on social media. Even if your primary business is a physical gym, remember that potential members will often check out your Instagram page to see what you're about. Treat it the same way you would your website and invest in visuals that represent your brand and use it to develop your networking skills. You can use the same photos and videos on your website and on Instagram, and be sure to respond to clients who interact with you.

11. Analyze your performance

You put in the work, now see if it paid off. Use analytics to measure your progress and gain a deeper understanding of your fitness business. View detailed information about new and returning clients (such as average class attendance, total sessions booked and no-shows).

This kind of info paints a clear picture of what’s working for your business—and what's not. Integrate customized reports using Wix Analytics to make adjustments (like offering more of one class). You’ve got to know what your clients like to give them what they like.

Can starting a fitness business be profitable?

Yes, a fitness business can be profitable, but like any business, success depends on various factors such as your business model, location, marketing strategies, competition and the quality of your services. The fitness industry is diverse, offering a range of opportunities for profitability. The following fitness businesses can be profitable if successful.

Operating a gym or fitness center can be profitable if you can attract a consistent membership base. Providing a variety of classes, modern equipment, and a welcoming environment can help differentiate your gym and attract customers, while maintaining reasonable operating expenses .

Offering personal training services, whether in a gym or as an independent trainer, can be highly profitable. Clients often pay a premium for personalized attention and expertise.

With the rise of digital platforms, creating and selling online fitness programs, workout videos, meal plans, and coaching services can be a lucrative venture with lower overhead costs.

Running specialized fitness studios (e.g., yoga, spin, CrossFit, Pilates) can attract a loyal customer base willing to pay for specific training styles and experiences.

Combining fitness with nutrition and wellness coaching can provide a comprehensive approach to health and attract clients looking for holistic solutions.

Selling fitness apparel, equipment, supplements, and accessories can be profitable with the right branding and marketing strategies.

However, the fitness industry is also competitive, and success is not guaranteed. To increase your chances of profitability:

Understand your target audience and local market to identify needs and opportunities.

Offer something unique that sets your business apart from competitors, whether it's specialized classes, innovative equipment, or exceptional customer service.

Deliver high-quality services that meet or exceed customer expectations.

Develop a strong marketing strategy to attract and retain customers. Utilize social media, local advertising, and partnerships.

Create a positive and engaging environment that keeps customers motivated and coming back.

Provide consistent and reliable services to build trust and loyalty.

Ensure you have a solid business plan that includes budgeting, revenue projections, and expense reports and management.

Remember that profitability might not happen immediately; it could take time to establish your brand, build a customer base and refine your business model. Conduct thorough research, plan carefully and be prepared to adapt and innovate as you navigate the fitness industry's challenges and opportunities.

Other business ideas to consider starting:

How to start an eCommerce business

How to start a dropshipping business

How to start a farming business

How to start a food prep business

How to start a flower business

How to start a plumbing business

How to start a baking business

Looking to start a business in a specific state?

How to start a business in Arizona

How to start a business in Virginia

How to start a business in Washington

How to start a business in Wisconsin

How to start a business in Michigan

How to start a fitness business FAQ

How to start a fitness business with no money.

There are a number of ways to start a fitness business with no money. One way is to start a mobile fitness business. This means that you can provide fitness services to clients in their homes or at other locations, such as parks or community centers. This type of business requires very little overhead, so you can start it with very little money.

Another way to start a fitness business with no money is to start a virtual fitness business. This means that you can provide fitness services to clients online through video conferencing or other platforms. This type of business also requires very little overhead, and it allows you to reach a global audience.

How hard is it to start a fitness business?

Is it worth starting a fitness brand, related posts.

How to name a business: 10 tips for getting it right

The 17 best fitness websites for 2024

The new rules of training clients during a pandemic

Was this article helpful?

Gym and Fitness Center Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Fitness and Wellness » Gym House

Are you about starting a gym or fitness center? If YES, here’s a complete sample gym or fitness center business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a gym/fitness center . We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample gym/fitness center marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for gym/fitness centers. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

If you very much agree with the saying that goes ‘ health is wealth’, then you may also very well agree that one of the ways of staying healthy is by keeping fit and having a good BMI.

It is very important to not be complacent when the issue of staying fit comes to fore. This is one of the reasons why there has been the craze for fitness lately all over the globe. Those who are particular about staying fit know that it is a part of life

In the united states of America for instance; the rate at which folks get obese have continued to be an alarming thing. This is no thanks to the junk type of diet that these folks subject themselves to.

However, truth is that one can curb being obese and even totally eradicate those unwanted fats in the body by simply enrolling in a gym and eating healthy. This is one of the sole aims which those who are in the gym business try to pass across.

Starting a gym is a very interesting and profitable venture. This is because much more than wanting to help other people realize their weight goals, you also can keep and stay fit always. Below is a sample Gym business plan that you can effectively use to write yours.

A Sample Gym & Fitness Center Business Plan Template

1. Industry Overview

Gym business is gaining more grounds in recent times as it was in the 20th century. People are now more aware of the immeasurable benefits they stand to gain when they enroll in a gym. It is now obvious to a myriad of people that they can stay healthy, improve their lifestyle and live longer if they exercised regularly.

Statistics has it that there is a steady increase in the number of people that enroll in gyms and the fact that gym facilities is now closer to residential areas make this possible. In order words, with the increase in the number of people that enroll in gyms, comes the increase in the revenue generated by gyms.

Some people enroll in gyms not because they don’t have the money to purchase some of the basic gym equipment , but because exercising regularly requires discipline and that is part of what they stand to get when they enroll in a gym with an instructor at hand.

Loads of factors are responsible for the springing up of gyms in various locations in the United States of America; chief amongst them is the rise in the number of obese people. Being obese is a risk to one’s health, which is why obese people who thoroughly want to stay healthy and fit enroll in gyms that are close to them.

Different people visit gyms and fitness centers for various reasons. Some people register in the gym basically to shed some weight through proper exercising, whilst others go to the gym to train and increase their biceps (muscles) i.e. body building and other enroll in gym for cardio sessions et al.

Researchers, engineers, health and fitness experts are always improvising and inventing fitness equipment that can help people and gym owners achieve their aims.

Although gym equipment can be expensive, but the truth is that most of the equipment last longer if they are well utilized. Aside from the fact that they last longer, acquiring any gym equipment is an investment that is worth the while.

Starting a gym business in the United States of America is less stressful; it requires enough cash to equip the gym facility to meet the standard expected by gym users. As a matter of fact, building a swimming pool around the gym facility is one of the factors that could attract clients to enroll in gyms.

The gym industry is not going to go out of fashion anytime soon, but rather the number of people that enroll in gyms will continue to be on the increase and that of course will translate to more monies for gym owners.

2. Executive Summary

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is a company that is in the business of ensuring that people stay fit by exercising regularly and maintain healthy lifestyle. We are going to be located at 135 E John Carpenter 1400 Irving, Texas United States of America.

We are able to secure a standard facility along the road in the heart of the city. The facility for our gym and fitness club has a standard Olympic size swimming pool. We are going to services the whole of the community as well as visitors and travelers

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is going to become the number one family-focused gym and fitness in the whole of Irving, Texas, and we will work hard to build our facility to match the needs of the average family in Texas. Our gym facility has enough parking spaces to accommodate more than the numbers of customers we will accommodate per time.

Our facility will be equipped with modern technology, and we will install large TV screens close to cardiovascular equipment and treadmills, so as to help our clients stay entertained whilst they engage in their exercise.

We will work towards ensuring that we provide our clients /members with a daily program of exercise and diet that perfectly suit their lifestyle and also to help them achieve their desired results and to help them create lasting healthy habits that will last them for life.

One of our major goals of starting Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is to encourage families in Irving, Texas, to cultivate the habit of regularly exercising and to stay healthy. Our gym facility is specifically designed and built to take care of adults and children, we have active childcare services for toddlers and we have a membership package that is highly discounted for families that enrolled in our gym.

We are quite aware that one of the reasons why some parents may not want to enroll in gyms is the reason that they may not have who to take care of their children whilst they are away in the gym.

Part of our strategies of encourage families to enroll in our gyms is to ensure that whenever these guardians come with children, their children will be well treated and entertained, so much so that they will be the ones reminding their parents to go to gym next time.

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club will be open 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week, in order for us to be able to accommodate people with different time preference. This is why we have made provisions to recruit enough workers and to run shifts amongst our workforce. We will go out of our way to acquire standard cardiovascular and weight training equipment for our gym.

We will run a fitness club that will help members who want to lose weight to achieve their desire without little stress. We have a weight management consultant who will work with individual based on customized fitness and nutrition needs.

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is privately owned by the renowned health and fitness coach Arnold Quest and Family.

Arnold quest has well over 15 years of experience as a leading health and fitness coach in the United States of America. He wants to start Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club because of his desire to see families enroll in gym and exercise together.

3. Our Products and Services

Fit as Fiddles Gym and Fitness Club is in business to provide all round health and fitness services to the residence of Irving, Texas, which is why we have been able to put up a facility that can help us achieve the goal. We are optimistic that everyone who enrolled in our gym and fitness club will definitely derive huge value for their money. These are the services and amenities that will be made available to our clients;

• Personal Training
• Group Fitness Classes
• Yoga Classes
• Pilates (full body walkout)
• Spinning Classes
• Weight Management
• Kinesis Station
• Nutrition Counseling
• Childcare / Daycare
• Full Locker Room Services
• Physical Therapy
• Internet Café
• Sports shop (sale of sportswear, towel, shampoos et al)
• Comprehensive fitness assessment
• Full gym membership

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our Vision is to contribute our quota to encourage families and residence in Irving, Texas, to engage in the regular exercising of their bodies, so as to enable them stay healthy.
• The mission of Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is to build a world class gym and fitness club in Irving, Texas, where residents can comfortably train for health and for fitness; a place where residents can connect whilst achieving their health goals.

Our Business Structure

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is in business to become the leading family gym facility in the whole of Irving, Texas, and we are fully aware that it will take the right facility, management and organization – structure to achieve our goal. We will ensure that we recruit only the best hands that can help us achieve all that we are set to achieve.

Our business will not be built only for the purpose of giving our members / customers value for their money, but also we will ensure that we make our work environment highly conducive for all our employees.

We will provide them with facilities that will help them stay motivated and deliver on their various tasks and goals et al. In view of that, we have made provisions for the following positions to be occupied by highly qualified and experienced staff;

• Gym Manager (Owner)
• Accountant / Cashier
• Marketing Officer
• Exercise Physiologists
• Trainers (5)
• Training Assistants (10)
• Juice bar Manager
• Childcare Assistant

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Manager (Owner):

• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for recruitment
• Responsible for payment of salaries
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Responsible for managing the daily activities in the hotel
• Ensures that the facility is in tip top shape and conducive enough to welcome customers
• Interfaces with vendors
• Prepares budget and reports for the organization
• Responsible for Training and Development in the organization
• Handles procurement
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff induction for new team members

  Training Instructors (5)

• Creates training rosters for members
• Assists members during exercise session
• Guides members on how to make use of gym and fitness equipment

Marketing Officer (2)

• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Documents all customer contact and information.
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps increase sales and growth for the company
• Manages the company’s CRM system
• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities et al

Juice Bar Manager:

• Interacts with customers, take orders for drinks
• Plans and presents bar menu.
• Mixes ingredients to prepare cocktails and other drinks.
• Mixes drinks, cocktails and other bar beverages as ordered and in compliance with gym’s standard drink recipes.
• Serves fruit juice to guests.
• Assesses customers’ needs and preferences and make recommendations
• Makes lists of supplies in conjunction with the management
• Prepares inventory or purchase requisitions as needed to replenish supplies.
• Ensures that the assigned juice bar area is fully equipped with tools and products needed for mixing beverages and serving guests.

Accountant / Cashier:

• Handles all financial transaction on behalf of the company
• Collects payment for drinks served and balance all receipts
• Prepares financial report at the end of every working week
• Interfaces with our bankers
• Responsible for payment of tax, levies and utility bills
• Handles any other duty as assigned by the manager

  Exercise Physiologist

• Responsible for evaluating, researching, and provide advice on coaching.
• Responsible for training
• Engages in recovery practices in all areas of exercise and rehabilitation
• Provides timely information and support on injury prevention, technique analysis, and nutrition.

Cleaners (3):

• Responsible for cleaning in and around the gym facility
• Cleans up after customers and clean work area.
• Clears ashtrays as and when required.
• Washes glassware and utensils after each use.
• Maintains a clean working area by sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning of glass doors and windows, etc. if required.
• Ensures that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
• Handles any other duty as assigned by the restaurant manager

6. SWOT Analysis

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is in business to help its clients achieve their health and fitness goals and at the same time to make profit.

We are aware that there is competition in the gym and fitness industry which is why we took out time to conduct an effective SWOT Analysis, as stated in our gym and fitness center marketing plan; before investing our hard earned money.

We know that if we get things right before starting our gym and fitness club, we will not have to struggle before attracting loyal clients and building our membership base to a level where we can easily breakeven. We hired the services of Mr. Emmanuel Bright, an HR and Business consultant to help us conduct SWOT analysis for our company and he did a pretty good job for us.

Here is a of the result we got from the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club, Irving, Texas;

One of the obvious strength that will definitely stand as a plus for Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is the fact that our facility is centrally located in a densely populated – residential area in Irving, Texas; our location is in fact one of our major strength.

We equally have a team of highly qualified professionals who will work with all our clients to achieve their aims or enrolling in our gym and lastly our membership package is one of the best that anybody living in Texas can get; it is cheap and affordable.

Having critically looked into our Business model , we were able to identify two major weaknesses. One is the fact that we are a new business and the second is the fact that we may not have the financial resources required to match up with existing gyms in Texas when it comes to acquiring latest gym equipment and generating the needed hypes that can drive traffic towards our facility.

• Opportunities:

We are centrally located in one of the busiest areas in Irving, Texas, and we are open to all the available opportunities that the city has to offer. We also run a 24 hours, 7 days a week gym and fitness club; thus giving us the advantage to leverage on any available opportunity.

Some of the threats that are likely going to confront Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is unfavorable government policies, demographic/social factors, downturn in the economy which is likely going to affect consumers spending and lastly, the emergence of new competitors within the same location where our gym and fitness club is located.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The trend in the gym and fitness industry is such that if a gym is well positioned in a residential area or a place where people can easily access without much stress, there is the likelihood that the gym will enjoy high patronage. Just like in other business venture, the owner of gyms and fitness clubs are always looking for ways to increase their market share; they go as far as signing deals with high schools and also offer home services.

What they do is that they offer pro bono services for a period of time, and then thereafter introduce a fee gradually and before too long they would have successfully converted some of the people that benefited from their pro bono services to loyal members.

It is common trend that as gyms grow, it becomes necessary for them to develop new service offerings or install new facilities that will help them attract more people.

Little wonder some gyms now have juice bars within their facility to encourage people towards healthy drinking. In order words, it is very important for gyms to continue to improvise if they want to grow their business and generate their target revenues.

8. Our Target Market

The target market for gyms cuts across people of different walks of life. The fact that people register in gyms and fitness clubs for various reasons makes marketing the business interesting. The target market for gym and fitness centers can be categorized into three various groups.

The first group is the people who are looking towards shedding some weight through proper exercising and under the guidance of a qualified instructor.

The other group of people are those who are interested in building their biceps (body building), and the last group of people are those who just want to enroll for cardio sessions under the watchful eyes of a qualified trainer. These sessions are a combination of light weights, treadmills and bikes.

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club will work towards providing services, facilities and environment that will help us reach out to our target market. These are the category of people that we intend marketing our gym and fitness club to;

• Corporate Executives
• Business People
• Sportsmen and Sportswomen
• Young Couples

Our Competitive Advantage

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is centrally located in a densely populated – residential area in Irving, Texas; this is obviously going to give us an edge amongst our competitors.

We can confidently say that the location of our gym will definitely count as a positive for us amongst any competitor that might start a gym and fitness business in same location where ours is located. We will continue to work hard to ensure continuous improvement in our facility and service delivery. As a matter of fact, our services will be second to none in Texas.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club will generate income from the following service offerings;

• Childcare/Daycare

10. Sales Forecast

It is important to state that our sales forecast is based on the data gathered during our feasibility studies and also some of the assumptions readily available on the field. It would be hard to create a sales forecast with a newly opened business like gym and fitness club. This is simply because the statistics that will be provided will be on a short term basis.

Experts said that usually a business should be in operation for at least one year before they can generate the statistics that will be need to help in accurate forecasting; statistics should be at least one year old in order to show the trends and pattern in consumer spending.

We expect to register a minimum of 1,000 active members within our fits year of operations and then in subsequent year we will grow our membership. Below are the sales projection for Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club, it is based on the location of our facility and the services and products that we will be offering to our clients (members);

• First Year-: $200,000
• Second Year-: $450,000
• Third Year-: $700,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major competitor offering same additional services as we do within 4.5 miles radius from our gym facility.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Our marketing strategies will be directed towards achieving specific objectives that support the strategic goals of the organization.

The truth is that all that we do will be geared towards creating new market channels, increasing sales and increase our market share. We will leverage on improving on our services and facility to ensure that we win new clients and retain old members.

At Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club, our marketing strategies will be consistent throughout the marketing mix and we will take into consideration product improvement, promotion, and price. As part of our sales and marketing strategies, we will pay attention to the promotion of our gym so as to attract people to enroll and become members of our gym.

Our unique selling proposition is that we are well positioned and people can easily access our facility, our prices are affordable and we have a complete package for families. Parts of the marketing and sales strategies that we will adopt are;

• Open our gym and fitness club with a big party in the neighborhood.
• Advertise our gym and fitness club on national dailies, local TV stations and local radio station
• Promote our gym and fitness club online via our official website and all available social media platforms
• Continuously Improve the performance of our brands
• Hire the services of experts to make our brands the first choice for people in Irving, Texas
• Deliver consistent customer experiences to all our members; making our first impression count positively to those making use of our gym facility for the first time
• Make use of attractive hand bills to create awareness and also to give direction to our gym and fitness club
• Adopt direct mailing coupon marketing approach
• Position our signage / flexi banners at strategic places
• Create a loyalty plan that will enable us reward our consistent members especially those that registered as a family.
• Engage on road shows within our neighborhood to create awareness for our gym and fitness club.

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is in Irving for serious business, which is why we have identified key platforms that will enable us achieve our goal of promoting and advertising our business so as to attract the crop of people that we designed our business for.

We have been able to enter into alliance with key stakeholders in Irving, Texas to help us use their good will to promote our business.

We will ensure that we leverage on all conventional and non – conventional publicity and advertising technique to promote our gym and fitness club. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise Sean and Sharon Hotel, Las Vegas;

• Encourage our loyal members to help us use Word of Mouth mode of advertisement (referrals)
• Advertise our gym and fitness club in sports magazines, local newspaper, local TV stations and local radio station
• Promote our gym and fitness club online via our official website
• List our gym and fitness club on local directories (yellow pages)
• Sponsor relevant community sport events
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, et al to promote our brand
• Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations
• Direct coupon mailing approach to introduce our gym and fitness club to residence
• Engage in road show from time to time to create awareness of our gym and fitness club in the residential areas around our facility
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Our pricing system is going to be based on what is obtainable in the industry, we don’t intend to charge more (except for premium and customized services) and we don’t intend to charge less than what our competitors charge their members in Irving, TX.

Be that as it may, we have put plans in place to offer discount services once in a while and also to reward our loyal customers especially when they refer clients to us or when they register as a family. The prices of our services will be same as what is obtainable in the United States’ open market.

• Payment Options

Our payment policy is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that will be available to clients who want to make payment / register for our gym program;

• Payment by cash
• Payment by check
• Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
• Payment via online bank transfer (online payment portal)
• Payment via Mobile money

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our payment plans without any difficulty. These are the types of exercise equipment that we will make available in our gym and fitness center;

• Resistance bands
• Weight machines
• Flexion machines
• Pull-up bars
• Weight training
• Elliptical trainer
• Street Strider (elliptical cross trainer on wheels)
• Exercise machine
• Kettle bell
• Fitness (biology)
• Hojo undō
• Pull-up bar
• Medicine balls
• Boxing Gear
• Gym flooring
• Cable Attachments
• Weight plates
• Wearable items as proper footgear, gloves, and hydration packs.
• Filing Cabinets
• Notice board
• Employee Uniform

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

This is the key areas where we will spend our start – up capital on;

• The Total Fee for Registering the Business in Irving, Texas: $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits: $1,500.
• Marketing promotion expenses (8,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $10,000.
• Cost for hiring Consultant – $5,000.
• Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $30,800.
• Cost of accounting software, CRM software and Payroll Software – $3,000
• Cost for leasing facility for the gym: $80,000.
• Cost for facility remodeling – $50,000.
• Other start-up expenses including stationery – $1000
• Phone and utility deposits – $3,500
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $40,000
• The cost for Start-up inventory – $15,000
• Storage hardware (bins, utensil rack, shelves, glasses et al) – $1,720
• Cost for acquiring gym equipment – $200,000
• The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al): $4,000.
• The cost of Launching a Website: $600
• The cost for our grand opening party: $1,500
• Miscellaneous: $5,000

We would need an estimate of $3.6 million to successfully launch our gym and fitness club in Irwin, Texas. It is important to state that the testing and evaluating expenses would be high because of the large amount of equipment needed to start up a gym and also the sophistication of the technology used in gyms. Also, the supplies would cost a bit more because of the regular demand for it.

Generating Funding/Startup Capital for Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club

Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club is a family business and it will be financed by the owner who is also the gym manager. These are the areas where we intend sourcing for fund for Fit as Fiddle Gym and Fitness Club;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the start – up capital from family members and friends (soft loans and gifts et al)
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the banks (loan facility).

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

We are in business to make profits and to build a popular gym and fitness brand in Irvin, Texas, hence we must do all it takes to grow the business and to ensure that the business survives generation after generation.

Part of the plans we have put in place to sustain our business is to ensure that we continue to deliver quality services, acquire latest gym and fitness equipment and improvise on better and cheaper packages four members and intended members.

Our workers will sure continue to enjoy working with us because we will deliberately make it our work environment very conducive and accommodating.

Furthermore, we are quite aware that our customers are key components to the growth and survival of our business hence we are going to continuously engage them to give us ideas on how to serve them better. We will not waste time in diversifying our services; expand our product and service offerings once the need arises.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check:>Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Acquiring facility and remodeling the facility: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• writing of business plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed gym and fitness equipment , electronic appliances, office appliances and suppliers: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: Completed
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and in the neighborhood: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress

Related Posts:

• Gym and Fitness Center Marketing Plan [Sample Template]
• Yoga Studio Business Plan [Sample Template]
• How to Start a Gym Business With No Money
• 50 Catchy Fitness & Gym Business Name ideas
• Starting a Gym House – Licenses, Permits & Insurance

Gym Business Plans

Fitness equipment business plan.

Circuit Fitness Importing is a start-up business that has been formed to become the exclusive importer of the Wega Corporation’s innovative Esercitazione Diritta fitness equipment.

Health Club Business Plan

Corporate Fitness is a service-oriented, start-up business based on the belief that healthy employees are more productive and efficient employees.

Gymnastics Instruction Business Plan

Gymnastics Jump-Start will offer tumbling, introductory gymnastics, and low-level competitive gymnastics instruction to children in Bouncetown.

Karate Business Plan

City Dojo offers group and individual classes in the art of karate and self-defense.

Martial Arts School Business Plan

Cents and Senseibility is a new value-priced Taekwondo martial arts school.

Physical Fitness Gym Business Plan

Ladies Only Fitness’ goal is to provide a gym for young mothers who are looking for a fitness environment that is focused on their unique needs.

Rock Climbing Gym Business Plan

Igneous Rock Gym is a start up rock climbing gym that is dedicated to creating an ultra-safe environment with properly trained staff.

Weight Loss Seminars Business Plan

Brushy Mountain Retreat offers a series of workshop programs teaching a practical, livable, healthy livestyle approach to weight management.

Workout Gym Business Plan

Mountain Brook Fitness Center is a fitness center where parents can bring children to be taken care of while they do whatever exercise activity they desire.

A good gym involves more than just the right exercise equipment. You need to think of the type of clientele you’ll be serving, membership and subscription fees, hosting fitness classes, and finding new ways to differentiate your fitness center from the competition. The best way to plan all this out and leverage your strengths is by starting off with a business plan.

If you need a bit of inspiration check out or gym sample plans for fitness centers, corporate fitness, gyms, health clubs, as well as martial arts studios, gymnastics schools, and a number of other athletics businesses.

The quickest way to turn a business idea into a business plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software

THE BEST Elektrostal Art Museums

Art museums in elektrostal.

• Art Museums
• Specialty Museums
• History Museums

1. Electrostal History and Art Museum