Developing a gym business plan: tips and tricks

The increased interest in a healthy lifestyle and, in particular, sports, has given budding entrepreneurs a reason to think about a new, promising and profitable business idea - opening a gym.

The target audience of such projects is very wide.

And this is not surprising: among those who want to put their body in order and improve their health, there will easily be men and women, students and businessmen, representatives of all ages and social groups.

However, the implementation of any plan requires careful preliminary preparation, which allows one to calculate possible risks and insure against mistakes.

The first step is to develop a business plan for your gym.

The relevance of opening a gym

Currently, much attention is paid to sports all over the world. Sport has become not just a hobby and entertainment, a way to keep your body in good shape, but also a good option for small businesses. Almost all existing gyms in our country belong to private entrepreneurs and often bring them good money. There are a lot of people who want to work out and build muscles. This is mainly the male half. But there are also so-called fitness centers where girls work out. Every city has at least a few gyms or gyms. The clientele is very diverse - from students to wealthy and very rich people.

Opening your own gym is a very profitable business, since such establishments are in great demand and there are not enough of them for everyone. It is also of great importance that the cash expenses will be one-time, that is, in the future you will practically not have to invest large amounts of money. Let's consider a business plan for a gym using the example of a small city.

What basic areas should a gym have? What should be the set of simulators for each of them?

The basic zones of the gym include: cardio zone, strength zone, free weights zone.

Cardio is used to warm up before training and equalize your heart rate after exercise. The exercise machines provide fat burning programs. This is the most popular part of the gym, since both those who come for strength training and those who choose only aerobic exercise exercise there.

of strength training machines : block, bodyweight and free weights. They are used to develop strength and build muscle mass. On block simulators, the stack weight must be at least 90 kg, otherwise many clients simply will not be able to conduct a quality workout due to lack of weight. But you can also choose a replacement - an analogue of a free weights machine. Compare two versions of the leg press - the block machine is rarely equipped with a stack higher than 110 kg. On the “free” one you can hang 200–250 kg.

Free weights - according to professionals and gym regulars, they are the ones that provide real muscle growth and an increase in strength. Dumbbells and barbells can be used as additional weights in exercises on a step platform, squats or hyperesthesia.

If you have a specialized gym for strongmen or powerlifters

The free weights area should occupy at least 50% of the training space. Here you will place several large-weight dumbbell rows up to 60 kg, kettlebell rows, a rack with weight plates, platforms for weightlifters, a dozen or two bars of different hardness - for deadlifts and bench presses.

The rest of the space will be taken up by free weight machines and bench presses. This should definitely include power racks, a Smith machine, hyperextensions, a bench press bench, and an incline press bench.

The smallest part of the hall will be occupied by cardio equipment. It will be enough if you install a treadmill and an ellipsoid. To ensure customer satisfaction, get a rowing machine like the Concept2. More often than not, these machines will see a cleaning lady dusting them off. But they can come in handy at any time.

Classic general gyms

All other rooms differ little. They are worn by professional bodybuilders and office workers, students and the elderly. Therefore, the set of simulators should be varied. In a classic gym, cardio and strength training areas are more in demand.

The share of free weights will be 20%. The most common machines are the Smith machine and the bench press. Dumbbell row with small (from 0.5 kg) and medium weights (no more than 40 kg). Rubberized or bumper plates will be needed for use on machines and in barbell exercises.

We equipped the “Strong Crimea” hall in Simferopol - the free weights area became a priority there.

Free weights area adjacent to the strength area in the Strong Crimea hall, Simferopol

In the strength zone, the set of exercise equipment should be as diverse as possible. Exercise machines must occupy at least 30% of the total space in the hall. It is important that they are not of the same type and allow you to pump different muscle groups: legs, arms, abs, back, chest and shoulders.

If you want to save money, pay special attention to combination simulators. The most popular combined models: leg flexion-extension, leg abduction-extension, overhead/waist row, leg press/Hack in one machine. The cost of such equipment is 25–30% higher than usual. At the same time, the savings are colossal - 4 simulators will replace 8 in terms of functionality.

Combination exercise machines are convenient to use in a gym with low and medium traffic

The cardio section in the classic gym provides not only auxiliary training. To burn fat or develop endurance, the visitor can perform exercises on spin bikes, rowing machines and treadmills. Rowing applies to both cardio and strength training.

Cardio equipment in a classic gym with moderate traffic Clever sport place, Chelyabinsk: 4 treadmills, 2 ellipses and 1 exercise bike

To set up a cardio area, consider the traffic flow in your gym. In small and medium-sized gyms, 6–7 cardio equipment will be enough. The optimal set: two treadmills, two ellipsoids, one exercise bike and one rowing machine.

In a classic general gym, there should be space for warming up - at least 10% of the total area is not on the aisle. Prepare stretching mats and massage rollers there. A water cooler can be placed in the same area - this is a calm corner in the gym where athletes can catch their breath between approaches.

If you are opening a large fitness center in a busy area, then some equipment will have to be duplicated. For example, you will need at least 4 press benches. It is better to divide combined exercise machines into pairs: separately bending and extending the legs, pulling from above, pulling to the waist, and so on. Clients will not wait for their approach to the flexor to switch it to extension - everyone will be busy only with their own workout.

“Leg press” and “Hack machine” machines on free weights in the classic ProFitness gym in Kemerovo

Diversify the strength training area with specialized ones: butterfly, calf machine, biceps and triceps machines, chest press, pullover, seated calf machine, glute machine. There are practically no muscles left that cannot be pumped up using a highly targeted simulator. The more functional your room, the greater the comfort of your clients, which means a good reputation and an influx of new visitors.

Choosing a location to open a hall

For a business to be successful, the main ideas must be included in the business plan. It must clearly state the choice of location for the future sports facility, the purchase of equipment, the collection of necessary documents, the determination of the pricing policy, a sample of the finishing of the gym premises, the number of instructors in the fitness room or regular gym, operating hours, and so on. All this is of great importance. A business plan for a gym should start with choosing a location. If this is a large establishment, then it is advisable to rent a large premises. Building it from scratch would be very expensive and time consuming.

It is advisable to locate it close to the city center or on the main streets of remote areas. It is important to have potential clients nearby. Some build halls in large shopping centers, which is also very thoughtful, because thousands of people pass through such retail outlets every day, who can be attracted by these types of services. This will work especially well in conjunction with well-established advertising in the form of posters, leaflet distribution or live advertising. Some gyms are located in basements and semi-basements, this allows maintaining a certain humidity and temperature conditions in the room.

Screen trainer, armchair athlete

Immediately with the closure of fitness clubs in Moscow, the demand for everything necessary for home training increased.
According to the fiscal data operator OFD Platform, sales of home sports equipment in Moscow increased by 33%. Citizens not only buy equipment, but also rent it. Ekaterina Kraivanova, co-founder of the Next2U clothing rental service, says that in mid-March, increased demand was recorded for sports goods - ellipticals and exercise bikes, and the day after the announcement of the closure of fitness clubs, it was at its peak. Rental inquiries are up 27% from the same period last year and 21% from the start of the month. Many fitness clubs conduct classes live on Instagram and post recordings for free.

Now clubs and studios offer online training during quarantine, but they are not suitable for everyone. There should be enough space in the apartment for training, and a home athlete will have to spend at least money on dumbbells and a mat and learn to cope with boredom - online training is much less dynamic than live training. In addition, lessons are often recorded in advance, which means you won’t be able to get the instructor’s comments and recommendations, and even if the training takes place via Zoom, errors in technique cannot always be seen on a standard monitor.

During quarantine, many fitness clubs conduct classes live on Instagram and post recordings for free, but some studios still charge money for remote training. So, at Reboot you will have to pay 2,990 rubles for 12 half-hour ready-made videos - and no nightclub atmosphere and jogging in the dark, for which it is worth going to the studio. The founder of the Sculpt group training studio, Anastasia Troitskaya, says that she had not even considered introducing online lessons in the studio before. But in the current climate, the online format will not only help make a profit during the shutdown, but also allow potential customers to experience at-home classes at an affordable price, so that they can return later when the pandemic is over. Fitmost has also started operating as an online training aggregator.

How to train at home

go

Most online classes take place in a familiar and understandable manner: yoga, stretching or cardio exercises can be done at home. But I Love Supersport offers an unusual course - home swimming training for 990 rubles. You need to exercise not in a bathtub filled with water, but in a regular room using a Zoom conference. Lifts, planks, burpees, squats, push-ups, crunches and jumps are a completely standard set of exercises, which are packaged and called differently in every fitness club. It is quite possible that it will help swimmers who are left without the opportunity to go to the pool to stay in shape.

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Posted by Barry's (@barrys) Mar 16, 2020 at 7:47 am PDT

Purchase of equipment

Such ideas for opening gyms will require initial capital to purchase the necessary equipment. The larger their assortment, the more attention the establishment will attract. A standard set of equipment should include sets of dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, treadmills, exercise machines for the abs, back, arms and legs. A horizontal bar is a must. The equipment can be either new or used. It is desirable that it be made of high-quality material and last as long as possible. The floor of the room should not be slippery due to possible injury, but nevertheless it should be well subjected to wet treatment. The color scheme should be calm. It is advisable to organize music.

In addition to exercise equipment, the project should include the purchase of personal protective equipment: belts, wristbands, gloves, and the like. Opening a gym must include equipping it with a shower, toilet and changing room. Some gyms also have sports grounds, for example, for playing tennis. During breaks between sets, clients will be able to take a break this way.

Gym flooring

The theater begins with a hanger, and the gym with a covering. Which one should you prefer and what, besides price, should you pay attention to when purchasing? It all depends on what kind of hall you are opening.

For athletics, games and gyms

Wooden flooring (various types of parquet and laminated tiles) is made in ball training halls: basketball, volleyball and other sports. The hard surface provides a good bounce of the ball. At the same time, the tree absorbs the explosive force of repulsion, so athletes do not overload their joints during jumps and sudden run-ups. Prices for Russian-made sports parquet start from 1,500 rubles per 1 sq. m. meter. Imported parquet costs from 2,500 rubles per 1 sq. m. meter.

Polyurethane flooring is suitable for indoor sports fields. This universal covering is used in halls for various types of athletics, aerobics, dance and team sports. Polyurethane is non-slip, highly wear-resistant, resistant to household chemicals and easy to clean. It will last more than 15 years and will cost from 1,000 rubles per 1 sq. meter.

Rubber and rubber flooring are most often used in gyms. They absorb noise and absorb shock if dumbbells or weights fall on the floor. This coating is elastic enough to minimize the load on the joints. The initial cost of rubber coating is 500 rubles. for 1 sq. meter.

The cost of coverage largely depends on the type of gym

There are several types of rubber coatings.

• Plates made from coarse rubber crumbs are used not only indoors, but also outdoors. They are resistant to temperature changes from +60 to -45 degrees, and tolerate rain and snow well. Often slabs are used to cover courtyards and school outdoor areas. The tiles can be laid on hard concrete or sand. The tiles do not require gluing.
• Small-grain tiles are suitable for outdoor use, but are most often used indoors because they are easier to maintain. The pores on the surface are small, they do not become clogged with dust, this is important in closed spaces. The tile can be combined and consist of two layers: one side is made of large chips, the other is made of fine chips.
• Rubber gym mats are placed on a hard surface. For example, to hide wooden and concrete floors, tiles or linoleum. The coating does not require gluing. There are tiles with a mosaic type of fastening - it is more reliable than butt fastening. The mats do not move apart, are quickly attached to each other and disassembled if necessary.
• Rolled rubber coating is thinner than tiles and has all its advantages, including ease of installation. The main disadvantage is the difficulty of dismantling. When changing the layout or location of the hall itself (moving to a new room), the roll covering can be removed. But it’s not a fact that it will fit just as well on the new floor. Over time, the roll covering is slightly deformed to suit the characteristics of the floor topography.

Combined tiles made of small and large rubber crumbs

Tiles made from crumb rubber indoors can last more than 20 years. Rubber mats will not cause trouble for 10 years. Roll coating, due to its small thickness, usually 5–7 mm, retains its properties under high loads for no more than 7 years. You can choose to save now and replace later, or invest a larger budget in purchasing coverage and forget about it for two decades.

A full-fledged fitness center is not enough with just a polyurethane coating. Therefore, the flooring in the halls can be combined. Often the gym is completely filled with a polyurethane mixture, and crumb rubber flooring is used in areas with free weights and weight machines.

It is dangerous to use wooden coverings for the hall. If water is spilled on the floor, the surface will become slippery and visitors may be injured. It is also technically impossible to perform some exercises on a wooden floor. And if a disc, dumbbell or bar falls on such a floor, there will be a dent or even a crack. In addition, wooden flooring will cost more.

For martial arts halls

All of the listed surfaces are not suitable for martial arts halls. There are special softer and more pliable coverings for them: carpets, mats. Just imagine what it’s like for an athlete to fall and tumble barefoot for several hours. Nobody in their right mind would want to do such a workout on crumb rubber.

There are special coverings for such halls: roll mats, budo mats and tatami. Their advantages:

• High elasticity. When a person falls, the shock is absorbed and the risk of injury is reduced.
• Features of sliding. During the wrestling process, the athlete can press open areas of the body against the mat. The coating is slippery enough not to cause abrasions. At the same time, due to the simultaneous anti-slip effect when pressed, the surface prevents the athlete’s foot from slipping during sparring.

Budo-mat is used for yoga and stretching

If your club plans to open boxing, wrestling, gymnastics, zumba and fitness sections, you will have to choose a suitable covering for each room or sector. Only in this case will clients be satisfied with the quality of the equipment and a careful approach to zoning. In common areas, locker rooms and showers, the most hygienic covering remains tiles and any stone tiles.

Recruitment of service personnel

Ideas like these require hiring workers. The staff should include a manager, a cleaner, and trainers. Opening a gym is impossible without the presence of trainers. Usually these are young people of athletic build who thoroughly know the operation of each simulator and can advise you on any issue of interest.

Since services in such institutions are always paid, the instructor can draw up a detailed schedule and training regime for each of his students. It will clearly indicate the frequency of training, duration, types of exercises, daily routine and nutrition.

Some train independently, without trainers, which is not always advisable. After all, to improve your figure, simple exercises are not enough; you need to follow a certain regime, which includes nutrition, sleep and wakefulness. In a gym, if it is large, several instructors can work at once. Thus, each client will receive an individual approach that will provide complete training and regimen.

How to choose a gym if there are no suitable options?

Unfortunately, not everyone has a gym near their home with the necessary basic and additional attributes. Therefore, a compromise will have to be made. You make a list of gyms available to you, write down 4 main and 4 additional attributes of the gym and compare. This is how the choice will be made.

Where to start?

Another important question of interest to a beginner. First of all, you need to start by meeting the coach. Approach the instructor and tell them that you are a beginner and want to learn how to train. Don’t make one mistake: don’t distract the coach from his work, otherwise someone might get crushed by a projectile, and you’ll be sent to hell. Approach the trainer when he is free and ask to show you the technique of all the basic movements. It would also be a good idea to take some personal training sessions to fine-tune your exercise technique. Next, you are your own boss.

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Registration and collection of necessary documents

Ideas for starting your own business must be written and legally certified. To do this, you need to register as an individual entrepreneur or LLC with the local tax office. The first option is the most optimal, since in this case it will take less time and money, and the list of required papers will be smaller. You will definitely have to pay a state fee. The project will require the collection of necessary documents and permits, namely permits from the fire department, sanitary and epidemiological services and territorial property management.

After collecting the papers, you can set up the business itself. It is best to organize a daily work schedule due to the fact that some clients go on some days, and others on the next. Opening hours may vary greatly. In some of these types of establishments, clients are given certificates or membership cards with which they can study for a certain number of days.

Basics of women's training

Regular strength exercises allow you to achieve the necessary results; you should not think that strength training can turn a woman’s figure into a masculine look. This is practically impossible, since a large number of distinctive features between the physiology of men and women eliminate this type of problem.

Women's training has its own basic principles, which include the following points:

• Any type of exercise should consist of several stages, this is, first of all, a warm-up for muscle tissue, basic exercises, and a testamentary warm-up.
• Time is allocated for cardio exercise.
• During physical activity, exercises for all types of muscles should be performed.
• Correctly completed tasks enhance the results obtained.
• Classes are held even on menstrual days, but with less intensity.
• The most optimal training time is one hour.
• It is recommended to visit the training room every other day.

Following these simple rules allows you to achieve your goals much faster and maintain the results.

Business plan for a gym

The ideas of opening a gym are closely intertwined with another direction - the construction of a gym. Unlike a gym, this facility is designed for sports activities, such as playing football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and so on. This could be a large sports complex that will host all kinds of mass sporting events. This is also quite a profitable business due to the fact that there are a very, very large number of athletes among us. It will be especially promising if international matches or competitions are held in such gyms.

Opening a gym is no easy task. This will require careful planning of the room. It should be light. The height of the ceiling, windows, width and length of the hall and other indicators are standardized. The floor should not be smooth. In addition to all this, you will need to purchase equipment: horizontal bars, wall bars, nets, basketball hoops, jump ropes, mattresses, balls, and the like. Their cost will not be high, but as they age and wear out, you will constantly have to invest new money.

To increase self-esteem

If you are going on vacation or just decided to open the beach season, you would like to wear a sexy bikini, and not a swimsuit that looks like a raincoat, so that you can hide in it like a snail in a shell.

Going to the gym can take you one step closer to wearing those favorite jeans you haven't fit into for over two years. The feeling of self-worth from appearance should not be underestimated.

Opening of a fitness center

The idea of ​​opening your own fitness center is very promising due to the fact that most women want to improve their figure and lose a few extra pounds. The business plan for a fitness center is similar to those listed above. A distinctive feature is that all clients work together under the guidance of one trainer. He teaches them the basic exercises. Classes are usually held collectively, with the instructor demonstrating the technique of performing each movement. An important point is the presence of musical accompaniment.

All clients must wear special clothing and sneakers so that clothing does not restrict movement. The size of such an establishment may vary depending on the number of visitors and the number of trainers. All classes are paid. On average, the cost of a monthly subscription ranges from 1 to 5 thousand rubles. Thus, the income from such a fitness room can be quite decent. A large city may have several dozen or even hundreds of fitness centers. To avoid competition and make your business successful, you can slightly lower prices or provide free extra services, for example, discounts for regular customers, massage subscriptions, and the like.

Physical activity to train the abdominal muscles

Girls often believe that they can get rid of fat in the abdominal area by just pumping their abs.

It should be noted that without a properly selected set of exercises and proper nutrition, a person will not be able to get a sculpted belly. The muscles will only be pumped up with a layer of fat, thereby increasing the size of the belly.

To pump up your abdominal muscles in the gym, you should perform the following training methods:

Of particular importance is adherence to a special diet, in which preference is given to products that help speed up the metabolic process and trigger natural fat burning processes, and the natural fat burning process continues to operate for a long time after exercise.
You should start training only after all types of muscles have been worked through the stretching method, otherwise damage to muscle tissue may occur.

Basic income and expenses

Ideas for opening sports and training facilities are very promising, as they do not require huge investments. Most of the expenses will go towards renting the premises, which is about several hundred thousand a year. Part of the money will be needed to purchase exercise equipment and other equipment: benches, mirrors, musical equipment. Each simulator costs from 10 to 50 thousand rubles, depending on its type and purpose. You will need at least 10 of them in the hall. The next part of the expenses is paying salaries to coaches. On average, it is 15-30 thousand rubles per month.

The income from such a business is small, but regular. A subscription costs several thousand. Revenue depends on the number of clients. If 20 people are engaged, then you can receive about half a million monthly, and more than 5 million per year. It is very important that all expenses will be one-time, and subsequent investments will not be needed. Thus, the profitability of this business is very high, and the payback will be 1-2 years, depending on the number of clients. The success of the establishment will depend on the interior of the premises, the quality of service, the experience of instructors, the condition of the simulators and the cost of services. Do not overprice, otherwise you may lose valuable customers.

Training girls using the circuit method

Most often, this method of exercise is suitable for people who exercise for weight loss. By adhering to a repeated cycle, the body starts the process of burning fat deposits naturally. The exercises must be performed three times without interruption, without breaks.

Approximate lesson plan:

• Squats with weights.
• Lunges with weights on each leg.
• Deadlift.
• Floor press.
• Ab crunch.
• Upper press.
• Lower press.

Each exercise must be performed at least 10 times, after which a short break of no more than two minutes is taken and the circle is repeated. It should be remembered that it is only necessary to start a lesson with a quality warm-up, and the end of the last circle also ends with an exercise to warm up the muscles.

Instructors note the following advantages and disadvantages of this type of activity for girls:

However, despite all the shortcomings, this method of exercise is popular for people who want to tighten their figure in a shorter period of time.

Exercise and the menstrual cycle

• Many girls believe that it is unacceptable to exercise on sports equipment during menstruation, but this opinion is erroneous.
• You can exercise, but you need to be more attentive to your own well-being and reduce the load.
• During menstruation, it is recommended to avoid strength training and reduce the number of sets of exercises performed.
• After each exercise performed, it is recommended to increase the rest to three minutes; if you feel unwell, you should stop exercising.
• For girls who suffer from increased sensations of pain and dizziness during this period, it is recommended to skip one lesson.
• During menstruation, girls may experience a decrease in strength ability and rapid fatigue; this is considered normal, so it is better to avoid heavy loads these days.

Proper nutrition

The way you eat during regular physical activity is of great importance. Getting the desired result from training and the way you eat are interconnected and require special attention.

The following features should be highlighted:

• Choose only high-quality products; protein foods should only be of animal origin. But you should choose complex carbohydrates; they are absorbed more slowly and converted into energy for the body.
• Diet regimen - you need to eat food often in small portions, this will allow you to digest food faster and prevent the deposition of waste and toxins.
• Systematicity , it is necessary to calculate a certain number of calories that will be consumed during the day and divide by the number of meals. The same number of calories should be consumed daily

A girl’s diet should include fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as lean meat, this will help saturate the body with proteins and fiber, which are necessary for physical training.