Being a Gym Boss! What You Need to Know 

A recipe for success – Maybe passion has become the drive to take the next big step! So, you have decided that you want to be a gym boss. But what do you need to know, and how can good decision-making help you give yourself the best opportunity for success? 

Start your business

You may already be into fitness or just be looking to become a Personal Trainer. Before you go any further, it is essential to note that, like most jobs, you need to qualify. With personal training, there are levels of qualification: first is level 2, and then you move onto level 3. The reason this is crucial is that a level two coach can take classes but not give individual coaching. There are companies that provide online fitness courses. It is best to consider level 3 coaching because this also covers business components, which are vital if you want to eventually open a gym. If you want to advise on weight management and nutrition, then that requires level 4. 
Make sure you are thinking about all aspects. 

• Choose your trading name. 
• Secure social media and domain name.
• Find premises.
• Set up a bank account.
• Get an accountant.
• Find an equipment supplier.
• Share the news with local media.
• Post updates and offers.

Picking a gym location 

Picking a gym location is part of making a successful business. You need to pick an area that is not oversubscribed but within catchment for other gyms so that they have other places to go and you can win them from. Pick an area that you know to ensure that there are no big surprises. It is possible to cox people from another gym to yours, but it would be considered a riskier strategy. 

Choosing your niche 

It is possible to specialise in a particular niche and be very successful. There are many successful boxing gyms around that use boxing and exercise to increase people’s fitness, and they have an extensive following. However, the best example of dominating a niche is EmpowHer Fitness, Kay and Coral set themselves up in business 12 months ago, and their niche is women’s only fitness. This trend for women’s only gym spaces has meant a huge amount of growth for this business, and you could do the same.

Finding an equipment supplier

There are lots of supplies around, and each will offer slightly different equipment that is more suitable for some types than others. If you are looking for a good-quality home gym or studio-type kit, then Mirafit is an ideal supplier. They also have Boxing Fitness Equipment. The product quality is excellent, and the price is very sensitive to the market. Often, they run deals that can help you get the most out of your budget. The most important thing about your supplier choice is good stock and product continuation. 
Getting an order placed and finding that half of it is not available for the next 3 months or an item is no longer available can be frustrating. One of the other frustrations is continuous promotions. Don’t go with an equipment supplier that keeps putting things on promotion, as you will find yourself concentrating on that and not the matters at hand: running your business. Use a brand that has good customer service, read online reviews and see how they reply and what others say. Does the company have a dedicated commercial business support page? All of these things will contribute to supporting your repeat orders and ongoing relationships.  

Building loyalty

More than anything, it is crucial to build a community and lean into that because the strength of the community will keep your members engaged and loyal. The best way to do this is to encourage them and make yourself the brand, too. People are more likely to remain engaged if they can align their values with you as the owner. As mentioned, the female-only gym, EmpowHER, has harnessed this, and the co-owners Kay and Coral are both aspirational and have developed a highly loyal and highly engaged membership. Their members act as advocates and marketing for the business and share their success on social media and friendship circles. Then, the capacity makes this exclusive, and all these factors make the business dominant in this superb niche (female-only small group classes).

Market your Gym

Despite any success, you need to keep the conversations happening and the eyes on your business. Naturally, people leave, and you need to replenish them to keep capacity and profitability up. Feeling busy does not always mean you are doing well, so keep an eye on the numbers and retention. Always understand how long your members are active and paying. Many businesses get busy, start to lose members naturally over time, and then reach break-even numbers, only to realise that they are rapidly scrambling to get the numbers up, but by then, they have dropped below the recovery line.  Social media is excellent for Gyms, so consider using this to your advantage, reward regular sharers, or run some competitions to improve social activity. 

Summary 

If you are confident and well-funded, take the leap. Do not underestimate the work required to set up, get going or maintain momentum. However, those who take the step and make the right decisions often move to open other gyms and run small chains, making them successful. Be ambitious, and go and achieve your dreams. Do not lose sight of the fundamental components required for success. We hope that you enjoyed this article and that is was genuinely helpful for your gym planning process.