Dreaming of being your own boss and opening a gym? Good idea! The fitness industry is a very fast-growing industry where it pays to start a business. Currently, more than ten million people in Germany are members of a fitness studio - and the number is growing every year! Enough potential, therefore, to be successful in this sector. We will help you on your way to self-employment with valuable tips! Learn everything you need to know if you want to open your own gym!
Specific qualifications
Of course, anyone can open a gym if they want to, as there are no legal requirements. All you have to do is register with the trade office in your city and you're done. However, it is not advisable to start your own fitness studio without any professional qualifications. Commercial knowledge can't hurt either. This is important on the one hand, because with know-how the chances of success of your studio are higher - and on the other hand, because banks and other financiers ask for proof of certain qualifications and normally do not invest in your project if you do not have sufficient skills for it. Appropriate certificates also gain the trust of your customers and make you look professional. So what professional qualifications should you have if you want to open a gym? These can be professions such as fitness economist, fitness trainer with license, certified sports instructor, physiotherapist, health tra iner or trained personal trainer. In the commercial field, a business degree, training as a business administrator or fitness specialist would be advantageous to start a fitness studio.
Convincing investors: The business plan for your fitness studio
Financing and costs
At the beginning, you should definitely think about financing your venture. Opening a gym comes with a cost. Premises, equipment, staff - all of that costs. If your own capital is not sufficient, you will have to seek financing from third parties. This can be banks, but also government subsidy programs that support a startup. In any case, you will need a business plan in which you present your concept and convince potential investors of your plans. In addition to the start-up costs (equipment, business registration, etc.), there are also running costs such as personnel, rent, water, electricity, telephone and internet. Since music is usually played in fitness studios and televisions are installed, there are also GEMA and GEZ fees. All these costs you have to consider if you want to open a gym.
Franchise or own gym
Another consideration at the beginning is whether you want to choose a franchise concept or open a gym on your own. If you want to have as little risk as possible, a franchise is a good option. Well-known fitness franchises include McFIT, clever fit and Mrs.Sporty. Here you benefit not only from the well-known name of the studio, but also from the franchisor's support in the areas of start-up, marketing and personnel. You can find out more about this under Franchise!
Location and premises
Of course, the right location is also important if you want to open a gym. There should not be countless other studios with a similar concept nearby. Therefore, you should thoroughly research in advance how large your planned catchment area is, whether there is competition there, which target groups the other studios address and what services they offer. Good accessibility and parking facilities for members are also very important for the perfect location when opening a new fitness studio. After all, a studio that is difficult to reach by public transport or that offers no parking spaces will not be the first choice of potential customers. However, it's not just the location itself that matters, but also the premises where you plan to open your gym. The property should definitely be large enough to have enough space for the following: workout area for equipment, class room, locker rooms with showers and restrooms, office, reception and counter, and storage. Depending on what you offer, there may also need to be room for a wellness area with a sauna or solarium.
Offer
In the fitness industry, you will always have to deal with competition if you want to open your own gym. Therefore, it is even more important to stand out from the rest with a unique concept. Here, it is advisable to specialize in a particular target group - women, seniors, young people, etc. - and tailor your offer accordingly. For example, if you want to open a women-only gym, it will need classes like Pilates, yoga or Zumba. On the other hand, if you specialize in seniors, you should offer rehab sports.
Marketing
Once you've opened your own gym, all you need now are the customers! And you can win them with the right marketing. On the one hand flyers, advertisements in regional newspapers, an opening ceremony as well as opening offers offer themselves here. But nowadays, advertising via the Internet is almost more important. In addition to your own website, an account on Facebook is a must. Also appearances on YouTube and Instagram are recommendable, because there you can draw attention to yourself with fitness videos or pictures, for example. In the course of the new opening of the fitness studio, you can, for example, offer coupon promotions, trial memberships or one-week trial workouts . All of these will help promote your gym and attract members.
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Editors fitnessmarkt.de (EA)
Photo credit: #168609753-Natee-Meepian-AdobeStock
Published on: 1 October 2019