With more and more people joining gyms every year, and the fitness industry gaining popularity due to people wanting to live longer and healthier lives; it's understandable that many people are thinking of opening their own gyms.
But setting up your own gym, much like any other business, is no simple task. Before even thinking about kitting out your gym with all of the necessary machines and equipment, which can be facilitated by companies like UK Gym Equipment who can provide refurbished equipment - which can be found here: https://www.ukgymequipment.com/all-refurbished-equipment-c19 at a discounted rate, you have a few more things to think about.
In this blog, we'll be discussing a few of the different things that you'll need to take some time to consider before embarking on your journey.
If you go on a ten-mile trek without a map, you'll get lost. Similarly, your company requires a strategy. You lack the structure and leadership to make your gym a success if you don't have a plan.Here are a few of the benefits of having a comprehensive business plan for your new gym:
You'll need a point of reference if you're facing a problem or want to make changes in the future.
If you require initial financing, you must show prospective investors that you have a stable financial plan in place to see you through at least three years of operation.
When you employ managers or other employees, you can show them your company's vision and how they fit into the greater scheme.All of this has its benefits, but it may be tough. You need to visit every part of a business plan for your peace of mind so that you can move forward confidently without feeling blindfolded.
Market research is a way to figure out who your ideal demographic is and you can use this information to develop your Unique Selling Point (USP). It's also the key procedure for providing clarity on a number of other aspects of running a gym, especially brand marketing.
Here are a few of the things you should be looking for in your research:
Age
Profession
Consumer Behaviour
Location
Gender
You can conduct your research either through online polls or surveys, or through blogs, social media activity of your competitor's, Google Analytics, and Facebook.
You've completed your research and determined your niche. Now it's time to figure out what makes your gym stand out amongst the competition. You'll need to consider whether you will have superior training machines, whether you will specialise in certain areas of exercise, and what is currently in demand.
Your aim is to articulate what makes your company unique and superior in order to drive traffic to your gym, away from competitors. It's critical to spend time on this since your USP is a beacon that will shine the way for future marketing. To paint a picture of your business for future investors, when creating a gym company plan, make sure to define your USP with clarity.
Owning a gym is a daunting prospect when it comes to the legalities involved. However, when you break this down, it becomes much more simple.
One of the first things to investigate is insurance. And due to the physical nature of the activities that occur within a gym, the likelihood of incidents is considered higher by insurance companies. It's always worth getting a specialist insurance company to protect you against all risks - they might offer you a unique insurance coverage to cover every possibility. If you do, don't take a back seat when it comes to your awareness of these regulations: make sure you know what's covered and what isn't so you can keep stress to a minimum if things go wrong.
For example, if new users haven't been given a proper induction to your machines and equipment, and an accident occurs; your insurance won't pay out if there's a claim because that is a condition that hasn't been satisfied.
Employee liability insurance is required by law, and professional indemnity insurance is necessary to cover you against:
Negligence by employees
Loss of data
Unintentional breach of confidentiality
Loss of goods and/or money
Equipment should also be maintained on a regular basis in order for you to keep up with health and safety standards.
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider before opening your own gym. However, if you’ve done your research, and followed the other steps that we’ve discussed, it’s perfectly manageable.
Writer blogger and Editor