Opening Your Own Fitness Center

Aug 3

07:48

2010

Andrew Stratton

Quality fitness centers provide individuals with the opportunity to improve and maintain their health, weight, and overall quality of life. It can also prove itself a social hot spot, and a means for people to deal with stress and anxiety. If you are in the market to start up your own fitness center, you should take the time to put together a ship shape business place in order to ensure the overall success of the business. While the market is extremely competitive and quite crowded, there is always room for aspiring business people to jump on in. In this article, we will outline the steps to getting started.

Requirements:
• Financing
• Location
• Business Sense
• Equipment
• Staff
• Facilities (bathroom, shower, etc.)
• Water Fountains

Step 1 – Begin by making up your business plan. With any new venture, it’s always vital to have a plan that outlines your financing, operations, and marketing goals. This is a necessary first step, and must be in place in order to move onward.

Additionally, you must secure money to start your business. Determine whether you will be using your personal funds, or if it would be more appropriate to seek out a team of investors. Your plan should include all of this information alongside a three year projection to enable you to determine how the business will pay off.

Step 2 – Find a location. If you are intent of offering classes, you will need at least one space for a studio. This will allow you to provide members with yoga, or spinning classes while other members enjoy the equipment. If this is not part of the plan, you will only require enough area for the equipment, stretching area, and any other offerings. Take into account the amount of space you will need for locker rooms and showers. It is crucial that each and every aspect is taken into account in order to avoid problems down the road.

Step 3 – Obtain your equipment. Find a supplier that is willing to sell you the equipment at wholesale. Make sure to shop around in order to fid the best possible price for the equipment you will need. Additionally, you will want to ensure the products all come with warranties. Find the best deal and get buying!

Step 4 – Find your staff. Place ads in local print publications advertising job openings at your center. Be sure to check up on the credentials of all candidates to make sure they are CPR-certified, and have an extensive knowledge of fitness and exercise techniques. You will also need to find employees to man the front desk and to take phone calls. Check your references, and take only the best.

Step 5 – Open your fitness center. Consider various offers, including “first month free”, or special incentives to get people to enroll. Advertise online and in local publications. Pass out coupons and post flyers in nearby health food shops and community bulletin boards. Treat your members like gold, and watch your attendance expand.

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