Setting up your own business and starting your own gym is not easy and can bring many obstacles with it. Starting a business is easier with a gym franchise, because here the founder is taken by the hand and receives support from the franchisor. Find out everything you need to know about franchises in the fitness industry!
With a fitness studio franchise into self-employment
A franchise is an interesting form of business start-up for founders. A franchisor provides a franchisee with an existing business idea together with a business concept for a fee. On this basis, the latter then opens his own branch at his location with the support of the parent company. From a legal point of view, the franchisee is an independent entrepreneur. The franchisor provides guidelines that are contractually regulated and to which the franchisee must adhere. The franchise agreement grants the franchisee the rights to use the business concept and regulates, for example, the duration of the cooperation as well as the rights and obligations of both parties. The more precisely all this is set out in the contract, the fewer problems the cooperation will bring.
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Advantages and disadvantages of a franchise in the fitness sector
A franchise in the fitness industry naturally has its advantages and disadvantages, which we have listed below.
Advantages of a franchise in the fitness industry:
- Takeover of an already established and successful concept
- faster market entry due to an already known brand, for example with the McFIT franchise
- easier search for investors, as the parent company guarantees or sometimes even contributes part of the capital itself
- support and know-how during the start-up and beyond from the franchisor (choice of location, recruitment, marketing, purchasing, etc.)
- less risk
- Possibly territorial protection (This means that the franchisor is not allowed to grant other franchises to other franchisees in your territory).
Disadvantages of a franchise in the fitness industry:
- Parts of the turnover flow to the parent company
- Payment of franchise fees
- Binding to the specifications of the fitness studio chain (equipment, furnishings, staff clothing, etc.) and hardly any entrepreneurial freedom
- Dependence on and little influence on the business policy of the parent company
- Risk of damaging the parent company's reputation, which could bring your own studio into disrepute
Personal requirements for a franchise gym
A franchise system, including a franchise gym, offers equal opportunities to people with all kinds of backgrounds, as there are no specific prerequisites. However, you should be aware that as a franchisee, you are an independent entrepreneur - and here there are some qualities that you should have, because not everyone is suitable for this. Make yourself aware if you are up to it and ask the following questions:
- Are you able to lead and motivate people?
- Do you have enough business and technical qualifications for a franchise in the fitness sector and are you willing to constantly educate yourself (even in your spare time)?
- Do you enjoy the main tasks of a franchisee such as sales, customer care, staff management and developing a regional market?
- Are you a team player?
- Do you mind working more than 40 hours a week or even on weekends?
- Do you have enough financial reserves to get you through the first few months of self-employment?
- Can you accept decisions even if you disagree?
- Are you able to fit into a given business concept?
- Do you have enough confidence to take setbacks in your stride?
What fitness franchises are there?
Many fitness studio chains in Germany are franchises. Here we introduce you to the most important ones!
McFIT franchise
Probably the most well-known gym chain is McFIT. With over 1.7 million members working out in its more than 240 studios across Europe, McFIT is one of the fitness industry's largest companies in terms of membership in Europe. For a long time, McFIT did not offer a franchise. It was only in 2015 that a McFIT franchise became possible. In the same year, the subsidiary High5 was established on the market. A High5 franchise is also offered.
clever-fit franchise
With 358 studios, clever fit is the fitness studio chain in Germany with the most locations. In total, there are 393 studios and more than 160 franchise partners. Those who have opened a clever fit franchise also have the opportunity to open additional locations. To open a clever-fit franchise, you need equity capital of around 60,000 euros.
Mrs.Sporty franchise
In Germany alone, there are 349 Mrs.Sporty studios with more than 130,000 members, as well as 305 franchisees. In total, the fitness studio chain is represented in ten countries with around 520 clubs and 200,000 members. Around 450 franchise partners worldwide run their own Mrs.Sporty branches. In order to open a Mrs.Sporty studio, you need around 10,000 euros in equity capital.
INJOY franchise
There are more than 180 INJOY studios in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For an INJOY franchise, you need about 50,000 euros of equity.
There are many more gym chains in Germany, many of which offer a franchise, but not all. Neither a FitX franchise nor a Fitness First franchise is possible, for example.
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Editors fitnessmarkt.de (EA)
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Published on: 3 September 2019