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Opening a Commercial Gym
Posted on 6/20/24 at 3:33 pm
Posted on 6/20/24 at 3:33 pm
I'm taking a hard look at opening a gym in my area. Lifting weights/fitness is way more than a hobby and basically my entire lifestyle outside of my family and work. I see a need in my area so trying to take a shot at it. It would be small, mostly weight training/power lifting, nothing fancy.
Has anyone here opened or know someone that has opened a gym? More specifically, anyone know where or where not to purchase equipment in bulk online? Could be brand new shiny stuff or rusty used hack squats. This would be what the kids call the "side hustle" so not needing this to eat. Any and all recommendations are appreciated.
Has anyone here opened or know someone that has opened a gym? More specifically, anyone know where or where not to purchase equipment in bulk online? Could be brand new shiny stuff or rusty used hack squats. This would be what the kids call the "side hustle" so not needing this to eat. Any and all recommendations are appreciated.
5
Posted on 6/20/24 at 3:37 pm to Red12_Black4
I always thought Gyms would be a great way to launder money
Posted on 6/20/24 at 3:51 pm to poncho villa
quote:
I always thought Gyms would be a great way to launder money
Can you provide reasoning for this? Gyms tend to not be a super cash heavy business, have large easily traceable expenses, and it would be insanely easy to backtrace all monthly cash pulls from clients accounts. I guess, in theory, you could create fictional trainers, but just not big enough payments to justify.
Posted on 6/20/24 at 4:29 pm to Jcorye1
quote:
Jcorye1
Found the guy who thinks alot about money laundering....
Posted on 6/20/24 at 4:47 pm to Stexas
quote:
Found the guy who thinks alot about money laundering....
I used to be a guy who looked for those kind of things.
Posted on 6/20/24 at 8:08 pm to Red12_Black4
Try to find a school that is updating their gym equipment. Public auctions or other auction websites. Facebook marketplace for some stuff.
I would watch Alan Thralls videos about opening and running a gym. His story.
I would watch Alan Thralls videos about opening and running a gym. His story.
Posted on 6/20/24 at 9:06 pm to Red12_Black4
I definelty think you are correct to try to find someone who has done it before.
Just as someone who pays a low fee to go to a national chain, it seems like it would be hard to break into the business.
Just as someone who pays a low fee to go to a national chain, it seems like it would be hard to break into the business.
Posted on 6/20/24 at 9:28 pm to Jcorye1
Fictional trainers, fictional classes, fictional memberships. Buying and selling of equipment etc.
Posted on 6/21/24 at 9:08 am to Red12_Black4
quote:
Has anyone here opened or know someone that has opened a gym?
Gyms make a ton of money on memberships that they expect people not to use fully, and also make it a pain in the butt to cancel. Locking people into 1 year contracts without sign on fees. Early cancellation fees are just charging people what they didn't fully use on that contract.
I'd find it odd if a "new" gym had used equipment upon opening. Sounds like something that would work better at a crossfit gym.
quote:
It would be small, mostly weight training/power lifting, nothing fancy
If you're doing something low budget, you'll get what you pay for. Sounds like you would be better off doing a mobile personal training program.
Posted on 6/21/24 at 2:40 pm to Red12_Black4
I know someone who owns a gym, and I was a part of its growth and development to a small degree. I would suggest starting small and grow from the ground up. Big commercial gyms require millions in capital. You would be better off starting a garage gym in a small warehouse somewhere and grow your client base until you need a bigger space.
Most of the equipment was acquired on Facebook market place. A lot of people sell their stuff, and even if they had it for years, they tend to be in good shape assuming it wasn’t left in the rain.
I understand what you mean, but owning a gym isn’t always cheap. You should get enough members to at least pay rent. We started off in a 500 sq ft gym a few members. Now we’re at 1,690 sq ft with over 100 members a little over 5 years later.
Most of the equipment was acquired on Facebook market place. A lot of people sell their stuff, and even if they had it for years, they tend to be in good shape assuming it wasn’t left in the rain.
quote:
This would be what the kids call the "side hustle" so not needing this to eat.
I understand what you mean, but owning a gym isn’t always cheap. You should get enough members to at least pay rent. We started off in a 500 sq ft gym a few members. Now we’re at 1,690 sq ft with over 100 members a little over 5 years later.
Posted on 6/21/24 at 2:42 pm to BilbeauTBaggins
quote:
Gyms make a ton of money on memberships that they expect people not to use fully, and also make it a pain in the butt to cancel. Locking people into 1 year contracts without sign on fees. Early cancellation fees are just charging people what they didn't fully use on that contract.
This is the strategy of big box gyms that need a massive volume of people to survive. A small private gym catering to more niche clientele doesn’t have to operate like this, and most of the ones I know don’t.
quote:
I'd find it odd if a "new" gym had used equipment upon opening. Sounds like something that would work better at a crossfit gym.
Weights are weights. A good Ohio power bar that hasn’t been abused will work just fine used as it does new.
quote:
If you're doing something low budget, you'll get what you pay for. Sounds like you would be better off doing a mobile personal training program.
I would not bet on that working. The market is horrendously over saturated with under qualified “trainers.”
This post was edited on 6/21/24 at 2:48 pm
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