Gyms have been popular for a number of years but an increase in health and fitness awareness and wellbeing culture means there are now over 7.2 thousand health and fitness clubs in the United Kingdom, with over 10 million combined members.
With the trend looking set to stay in the wake of the pandemic, many people might be wondering how to set up their own gym business. Here we’ll take a look at what to consider when setting up a gym and tips on making your new business stand out from the crowd.
Start-up costs
As with any new business, there are many costs to take into consideration when starting a gym. These include the initial building or space cost (whether renting or buying), refurbishing costs, including facilities, as well as equipment costs and decoration. Adding changing rooms, shower facilities, a café, parking and seating areas are all additional factors to think about as well as the gym itself.
Budgeting properly will help you manage these costs and help plan for long-term outgoings such as wages, maintenance, bills and rent.
Licence and insurances
It’s important to get the right licence when setting up a gym business as well as the correct insurance to protect from any claims or losses. You’ll also need buildings insurance if you own the premises and contents insurance to cover all your equipment.
It’s worth getting some professional help with the legal side of things to ensure every aspect is properly covered.
As an employer you’ll also need to be aware of and implement health and safety regulations for staff and clients. This will mean carrying out inductions for new members to make sure they’re properly trained on using the equipment and facilities.
Find your niche
With so many gyms up and down the country, it’s a good idea to find a way to make your business stand out from the rest. Conducting market research could help you identify any gaps in the market, or you might have an area of interest that differs from the run-of-the-mill fitness centre. Examples include women-only gyms, bodybuilding, fitness-class focussed or gyms centred around a particular sport.
Using this USP will help market your gym and attract clients interested in your niche.
Consider marketing costs
Marketing is an important part of setting up a business. Once you have your USP, you can begin to market your gym. Local businesses do well with social media marketing and print marketing such as banners, posters and flyers.
You could raise awareness of your open day and even include offers and deals on memberships to get customers through your door.
