How to open a fitness club
The fashion for a beautiful and healthy body is gaining momentum, so the idea of opening a fitness club is very relevant. The need for fitness centers is not met in all areas; good places can be found without competition. Fitness as a business will actively develop for another ten years, which means that you need to have time to occupy your niche.
Not all fitness clubs are viable and profitable, which is why many close before they even last a year. The owner of such a center must be prepared for the specifics and risks of the fitness industry. A reasonable approach and awareness will help you get on your feet and develop. In the article you will find a description of key issues about creating a fitness club and a business plan in two calculation options.
Legalization of business
Before opening a fitness room, you need to familiarize yourself with the procedure for its registration and legalization. The good news is that since 2009, sports clubs are not subject to licensing. It will only be needed in the case of an additional referral - the provision of medical services.
How to open your own fitness club from scratch:
- Register as an individual entrepreneur - this form will be more convenient to get started;
- Register with the tax office by choosing the tax form UTII or simplified tax system;
- Select OKVED code: 93.04, 92.61, 92.62 (sports activities), 93.02, 93.05 (for additional services of a beauty salon, solarium, hairdresser), 85.14.1, 85.12 (medical services);
- Conclude agreements for waste removal and lamp recycling (for SES);
- Conclude contracts for the maintenance of fire alarms (for the Ministry of Emergency Situations), air conditioners and ventilation (for SES);
- Prepare health certificates for employees;
- Obtain permits from the SES and State Fire Inspectorate.
Another option that allows you to look more respectable in front of clients is to register an LLC, and register trainers as individual entrepreneurs and rent out premises to them. For a prestigious sports center, it is much more profitable to be Sportlife LLC than to be an individual entrepreneur P.P. Petrov.
Note! Since 2015, tax holidays are possible for new individual entrepreneurs using the simplified taxation system.
Search for premises
The place to start opening a fitness club is to find a place and premises that will best meet the requirements.
Characteristics of the place:
- within easy reach of public transport stops;
- near the place of work and study: institute, factory, offices, etc.;
- in a densely populated residential area where there are no competitors of the same class.
Room characteristics:
- up to 100-150 m2 for a mini-club and from 200 m2 for a large fitness center;
- Ground floor or suitable semi-basement;
- availability of electricity, ventilation, heating, water supply and sewerage;
- possibility of purchasing or renting at a minimum price;
- availability of prospects for extension and expansion.
It is difficult to bring a fitness club in a rented premises to the break-even point; it is much better to purchase or build a building. It is more expensive at the initial stage, but after 2-3 years the idea will pay off and begin to generate net profit.
Research the place where you want to open your fitness center - whether there are similar establishments there and what class they are. Some areas have a gym for men, but no gym for women. Perhaps there is an expensive elite fitness club, but the population needs a more affordable option.
Area of activity
The range of services offered by modern fitness clubs is very diverse, but it’s worth starting with a broader profile: mixed exercise equipment and aerobics (Pilates, step training, etc.). For this, 150 m2 and two halls will be enough. In the future, you can equip a room for massage, a solarium and other services.
To open a fitness club in a small town, limit yourself to a gym of up to 100 m2 with one or two instructors.
Renovation of the fitness club premises
Renovating a gym is a part that needs to be done economically. There is no need for special finishing, just neatly painted walls and ceiling, mirrors on one of the walls and a floor covered with crumb rubber.
Provide good lighting with fluorescent lamps for comfortable evening workouts.
Repair cost ≈ 350 thousand rubles
Layout:
- Room layout for 150 m2:
- Reception area or reception (8 m2);
- Staff space (10 m2);
- Men's and women's locker rooms (10 m2 each);
- Gym for 10-15 people (about 55 m2);
- Hall for aerobics, dancing, etc. (about 55 m2);
- Shower and toilet for men and women (6 m2 each).
It is imperative to install an air conditioning system, without which a middle and upper class fitness club cannot function. It is necessary to ensure a temperature of no higher than 18°C for training rooms and no higher than 24°C for other areas. This will require a split system and a good ventilation system.
Furniture and reception
It is important to equip a beautiful reception area that represents the face of your club. This place should be inviting, so purchase:
- reception desk;
- chairs upholstered in leather (leatherette) - 2 pcs.;
- a beautiful vase or living flower.
Other necessary furniture:
- lockers for changing rooms (20 pcs.);
- benches – 4 pcs.;
- chairs for the hall and staff – 8 pcs.;
- plumbing: 4 toilets, 4 shower trays, 6 washbasins.
Total costs for furniture, plumbing and accessories are ≈ 150 thousand rubles.
Fitness equipment and equipment for the gym
How much it costs to open a fitness club from scratch largely depends on the set of exercise equipment and their quality.
Table. Necessary sports equipment
| Name | A piece | Price, rubles | Total, rubles |
|
Cardio equipment: |
|||
| Exercise bike | 2 | 16 000 | 32 000 |
| Treadmill | 2 | 17 000 | 34 000 |
| Elliptical trainer | 1 | 20 000 | 20 000 |
|
Benches for training with barbells: |
|||
| Horizontal with stand | 2 | 2 300 | 4 600 |
| For bench press with rack and leg machine | 1 | 3 000 | 3 000 |
| For abdominal training | 1 | 5 000 | 5 000 |
| For flexion/extension of legs | 1 | 25 000 | 25 000 |
| For adduction/abduction of legs | 1 | 25 000 | 25 000 |
| Leg press | 1 | 21 000 | 21 000 |
| To train the chest muscles | 1 | 16 000 | 16 000 |
| With top block | 1 | 17 000 | 17 000 |
| Smith machine | 1 | 17 000 | 17 000 |
|
Other equipment: |
|||
| Swedish wall | 2 | 5 000 | 10 000 |
| Olympic bar 51 mm with 2.5 kg lock | 3 | 2 500 | 7 500 |
| short neck 51 mm | 1 | 2 000 | 2 000 |
| set of pancakes with handles from 1.25 kg to 20 kg | 3 | 10 000 | 30 000 |
| barbell rack | 1 | 2 000 | 2 000 |
| Dumbbell rack | 1 | 2 000 | 2 000 |
| Set of dumbbells from 2.5 kg to 50 kg | 1 | 12 000 | 12 000 |
| Weightlifting belt | 2 | 1 500 | 3 000 |
| Step platforms | 4 | 1 500 | 6 000 |
| Fitball | 2 | 500 | 1 000 |
| Mats for activities | 3 | 500 | 1 500 |
| Total: | 296 600 | ||
Be sure to stock the gym with dumbbells and weights of all weights (even 1.25 kg weights). You can also purchase various weights, belts, rubber loops and chains - this will give visitors the opportunity to exercise with interest.
Branded exercise machines are expensive, but there are options:
- find good and inexpensive analogues of exercise equipment and accessories;
- benches for free weights are often made by local craftsmen in quality no worse than branded counterparts;
- dumbbells, weights, barbells and exercise machines can be bought used and save 50%.
Do not buy exercise machines that are intended for home use - they are cheap, but low-power and short-lived.
Staff
The success of a sports center will largely depend on the availability of qualified strength and aerobics trainers. The main thing that clients want to see is the result of their visits, which can only be given by a trainer who knows his business. A requirement that should never be missed: a positive attitude, ability to speak and friendliness of all staff.
The following personnel must be selected:
- administrator (manager);
- secretary;
- trainer-instructor – 2 people for exercise equipment, 2 for aerobics (dancing, Pilates, etc.);
- service personnel (2 people).
In total, 8 people are needed, the wage fund is 100 thousand rubles (tax 37.5 thousand rubles). The owner of the company serves as its director, the accountant's services are performed by a freelance accountant or an outsourcing agency, which costs about 3 thousand rubles per month.
Advertising
Many fitness clubs resort to handing out business cards and flyers with discounts. A reputable fitness club must have its own website. Create a page on all social networks where users can see photos and videos of training.
Equip a beautiful sign with a picture of a beautiful toned body and the name “Fitness style”, “Super gym”, “Iron body” or “Dumbbell”, “Iron”.
Business plan for a fitness club in two versions
Capital Investment
- Purchase of premises – 2 million rubles;
- Repair – 350 thousand rubles;
- Air conditioning and ventilation system – 50 thousand rubles;
- Furniture, plumbing and accessories – 150 thousand rubles;
- Exercise machines – 300 thousand rubles.
Total: 2.85 million rubles or 858 thousand rubles without purchasing a building.
Let's calculate the profitability with the cost of one training session being 250 rubles and an attendance of 40 people.
Table. Business profitability
Table. Payback and profitability
Profitability and payback are much better in the case of purchasing your own building, even taking into account inexpensive rent. It’s worth the effort and finding a good premises, you can even buy a spacious basement and buy it.
Finally
Fitness as a business in a small town is quite possible, since the price of the premises is moderate. Rent out part of the premises for a manicure, hairdressing or massage parlour, which will bring additional profit and become a pleasant neighborhood.