How Much Does It Cost to Start a Gym?

It's no secret that the fitness industry is booming. The 2024 U.S. Health & Fitness Consumer Report revealed that fitness facility memberships reached an all-time high of 72.9 million in 2023. That's a good opportunity for entrepreneurs interested in opening a gym.

As an entrepreneur, you may be considering entering the market. Embarking on the journey of opening a gym is both an exciting and demanding endeavor. With fitness centers becoming money-makers, it is no wonder that a lot of small business owners would want to enter this industry. As such, you must also be wondering how much does opening a gym costs.

This guide delves into the various expenses associated with opening a gym, providing a detailed roadmap to navigate the financial landscape effectively.

What Type of Financial Commitment Is Required?

The cost to start a gym business varies widely based on factors such as location, gym type, size, and the range of services offered. On average, entrepreneurs can expect to invest between $15,000 and $100,000 to launch a small gym and upwards of $100,000 for full-service commercial gym. This investment encompasses several key components, each contributing to the overall opening a gym cost.

Costs of Opening a Gym

The biggest barrier to entry with new gyms is the initial investment and upfront costs associated with starting a gym business. The cost of gym equipment is not cheap, and if you are opening a gym business with full-scale services, you'll have to build a pool, basketball courts, a tennis court, and more.

For the sake of this article, we'll be focusing mostly on small gym startups as opposed to full-scale health clubs since this is typically a far more realistic option for small business owners who have limited access to capital.

Location

The cost of a location for your gym will be dependent mostly on size and location; however, it can also change based on whether you decide to buy the building outright or lease the space. If you decide to buy a commercial location using a commercial real estate loan, you can get ready to pay 10%-35% down payment.

Gym Equipment

To have a successful gym, you will need a wide array of fitness equipment, including free weights, treadmills, lifting racks, floor mats, and more. Indeed, the equipment for a fully equipped commercial gym can cost more than $100,000.

Fortunately, over the last few decades, loans have become increasingly specialized with new options for specific intended purposes. This has helped lower interest rates since it reduces overall lender risk. In the case of small business owners owning a gym, they can opt for equipment financing to cover the cost. What is nice about equipment loans is that they use the equipment itself as collateral, so there is less overall risk for the lender, and they are easier for small business owners who don't have a strong financial history to obtain. Hence, such type of financing can make the entrepreneurial journey easier for new entrepreneurs starting a gym business.

Licenses and Permits

While the exact licenses and permits you will need will depend upon the rules, regulations, and laws in your state and county, there is no doubt that you will need them if you are considering opening a gym. Gyms typically have to fulfill the requirements for health and safety compliance permits, adding one more layer of complexity (as well as cost) to opening a gym. As such, you will need to research the rules in your locality carefully – otherwise, you could open yourself up to financial and legal liabilities. Outside of these, you will also need a business license for your new business. You can expect to spend in excess of $5,000 when all is said and done on licenses and permits.

Building Improvements, Remodeling, and Decor

Odds are whatever space you settle in your gym will not look exactly like you want it to. As a result, you will probably have to do some extensive remodeling, whether that is building in a locker room, painting all the walls, putting in new flooring, installing floor-to-ceiling mirrors (typically common in commercial gyms), or just adding in some decorations to improve the aesthetics of the location. Any way you look at it, odds are you will be putting forward some money to improve the building. As such, you'll need to plan for related expenses. Of course, the cost of these improvements will be highly variable, since it will be based on the design and customization of your opening a gym business.

Branded Signage

Branding is an important investment in opening a gym, and the cost of branded signage will vary depending on how elaborate you want to go. However, you can expect to incur some costs.

Computers/Tablets for a POS System

Another upfront cost you can expect is for computers and/or tablets to run your POS system (which will most likely be charged monthly). You have to maintain a database of your customers and charge them somehow, and since a POS system is the best way to do it, you will need computers and/or tablets (like iPads) to operate it. You can expect to spend around $1,500 on this equipment.

Other Gym Supplies

You will also need other supplies outside of the gym equipment itself. These include chairs and other furniture, a water fountain, potentially a smoothie bar, and more. Again, this will vary depending on your gym's goals, but they are costs to keep in mind, nonetheless. Additional costs depend on the services offered and the overall business model for owning a gym.

Recurring and Operational Costs

In addition to the upfront costs, you will also need to consider all of the recurring and operational costs involved in keeping your gym up and running.

Insurance

Insurance for gyms is incredibly important. With hundreds of members and workers using and moving heavy equipment, the potential for injury is high. As a result, your liabilities are high as well. In fact, insurance is one of the biggest expenses for gyms since you will need general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and more. While the rates will vary based on the size of your gym, the number of members, and other factors, you can expect to shell out at least $12,000 in premiums annually for owning a gym – and they will have to be paid on time monthly so you will definitely need to plan carefully for them. Business insurance is a huge industry with a lot of competitors, so be sure to get a lot of different quotes from different providers.

Utilities

While water usage at your gym probably won't be too high, your electricity bill will undoubtedly be through the roof. Gyms tend to be massive energy consumers. With dozens of machines using electricity at once, plus bright gym lights and long operating hours (many gyms are open 24 hours), it makes sense that gyms incur expensive energy bills. You'll want to plan carefully for these expenses based on the number of machines you will have running and the size of your location.

Marketing, Advertising, and Promotion

Whether you are posting ads on social media, giving out promotional fliers, or sending out email blasts, marketing, advertising, and promotion is not cheap. If you are opening a gym, you are most likely already know that you are entering a competitive industry, so you will need to set yourself apart early on.

If you are opening a franchise branch, you can expect the franchisor to do marketing of its own—which you will pay for through your royalty fees. However, this marketing is often not enough since they are marketing for the brand or region as a whole, whereas you will want to drive membership levels for your branch specifically.

Monthly Mortgage or Lease Payments

Depending on what route you took to obtain a location for your gym, you will also be responsible for paying monthly mortgage or lease payments.

POS System

While the computers and tablets needed to operate a POS system are usually a one-time upfront expense, you can expect to pay monthly for the POS system itself. There's a wide array of POS systems with different functionality levels, so you will want to choose a system carefully. Keep in mind, it's always better to choose a POS system with extra functionality that you think you may not use than one that is missing some features you think might be helpful in the future. Migrating POS systems can be a real nightmare, so choose one and try to stick with it.

While baseline POS systems will keep track of your gym members, run credit cards, others can monitor and analyze foot traffic, run advanced marketing campaigns, assess your market position, and provide for a myriad of other business needs. There are even specialized gym management software options you can use. Make sure to research the different options carefully.

Labor Fees

The size of your gym will determine your labor fees, but you can expect to spend a great deal of money on employees if your gym has personal trainers and other certified professionals. Many gym owners pay to have their staff certified with different fitness-related accreditations. These accreditations can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $900 each. As a result, you will want to pay your employees well to try to minimize turnover - you don't want to be training new people and getting them certified over and over again.

Accreditations available include those from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

In addition to these labor fees, you will also have expenditures for supplies that your employees will need, such as cleaning supplies to keep the gym sanitized.

Equipment Maintenance and Repair Expenditures

Like all equipment, gym equipment must be maintained and repaired over time. It's no secret that gym equipment typically takes a beating with people using the machines for hours on end each and every day. These fees can reach $10,000 or more a year, depending on your luck, so you will want to plan for these expenses carefully.

Health Clubs vs Gyms: Choosing the Type of Gym

The average cost of opening a gym depends on whether you are opening a gym business or a full-scale health club. Health clubs tend to be large complexes that, in addition to having a fully stocked gym, have pools, spas, saunas, tennis courts, basketball courts, and other amenities like restaurants, smoothie bars, and even sports shops. These obviously cost a lot more upfront than a simple gym in a shopping mall that offers a limited array of fitness equipment to members. In short, the cost of opening a gym is significantly lower than developing a health club. Entrepreneurs should consider business models that align with their budget and target market.

How to Secure Funding for Your Gym

Don't let the costs of opening a gym scare you. Funding is available to help cover the startup and operating expenses of owning a health club. Here's how to secure it:

• Make a Business Plan: Start by creating a detailed business plan for your gym. This plan should include information about your target market, competitors, pricing strategy, marketing plan, and financial projections. A well-thought-out business plan is essential for convincing potential investors or lenders of your gym's viability.
• Determine Funding Needs: Calculate how much funding you'll need to open and operate your gym until it becomes profitable. Consider expenses such as equipment purchases, lease or purchase of space, utilities, marketing costs, and salaries for staff.
• Calculate Your Personal Investment: Lenders will want to see that you have a personal stake in the business. Consider investing some of your own money into the venture to demonstrate your commitment.
• Consider Franchise Financing: One of the pros of a franchise gym is that many franchisors provide assistance with financing or have relationships with lenders who specialize in franchise financing. There may be financing packages available to you that include equipment leasing, build-out costs, and working capital loans tailored to their specific franchise model.
• Apply for Small Business Loans: Explore small business loans from banks or credit unions. To increase your chances of approval, ensure your business plan is solid and your financial projections are realistic. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are also an option, offering favorable terms and rates.
• Try Crowdfunding: If you can't secure financing, consider crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo to raise funds for owning a gym. Create a compelling campaign that outlines your vision for the gym and the perks backers will receive in exchange for their support.

Remember, securing funding for a gym can take time and persistence, so be prepared to put in the effort to find the right financing option for your business.

Conclusion

With the rise in gym membership over the past decade, the fitness industry has become somewhat saturated with new offerings, making it harder for consumers to make choices. Meanwhile, the number of gyms has exploded, taking many markets across the country off the table. However, that does not mean that opening a gym is not a good idea if you can find the right market and the right business model. With careful planning and consideration, there are still opportunities for opening and running successful gyms.

From our observation above, the average cost of opening a gym varies based on location, size, and business model. While opening a gym business requires significant investment, the growth potential of the fitness industry makes it a lucrative opportunity.

That said, the startup costs associated with opening a gym, whether as part of a franchise or as a standalone, are not cheap. So, anyone looking to break into the industry will have to be prepared to make significant financial investment upfront – one that will come with considerable risk. However, if you can execute properly, running a gym or health club can provide small business owners with a sustainable and profitable company for years to come in an industry that looks poised to continue to grow at a rapid pace.

Frequently Asked Questions on Opening a Gym

1. What are the essential steps to opening a gym?

Starting a gym business requires thorough planning. Begin by conducting market research to understand your target audience and local competition. Develop a comprehensive business plan outlining your services, pricing, and marketing strategies. Secure a suitable location, obtain necessary licenses and permits, invest in quality equipment, and hire qualified staff. Effective marketing will attract and retain members, ensuring the success of your gym business.

2. What challenges might I face when opening a gym business?

Opening a gym business presents challenges such as high startup costs, securing a prime location, attracting and retaining members, and managing operational expenses. Additionally, competition from established gyms and fluctuating market trends can impact profitability. Developing a unique value proposition and offering exceptional customer service can help differentiate your gym business in a competitive market.

3. How can I attract and retain members in my gym?

To attract members, offer diverse and high-quality services tailored to your target audience's needs. Implement effective marketing strategies, including social media engagement and community events, to raise awareness. Retaining members involves providing excellent customer service, maintaining clean and well-equipped facilities, and offering flexible membership options. Regularly updating your offerings and seeking member feedback can enhance satisfaction and loyalty in your gym business.

4. What insurance policies are necessary when opening a gym?

Owning a gym requires obtaining various insurance policies, including general liability insurance, property insurance, and workers' compensation insurance. These policies protect your gym business from potential risks such as accidents, equipment damage, and employee-related claims.

5. How important is location when starting a gym business?

Location is critical when opening a gym business. A strategic location with high foot traffic and accessibility can significantly impact member acquisition and retention. Conversely, a poor location can pose challenges in attracting customers.

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