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Gym Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Gym Business Plan & Example

You’ve come to the right place to create a gym business plan.

We have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their gyms.

Gym Business Plan Example

Use the example below as a template to write a gym business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Steven’s Gym is a startup locally owned gym located in El Paso, Texas. Steven’s Gym will include various exercise equipment, strength training equipment, free weights, aerobic equipment, and plenty of cardio equipment. The gym will also offer HIIT group classes, spin classes, strength training instruction, and personal training.

Located in an up and coming, newly developed, and highly trafficked area of town, Steven’s Gym will attract both men and women ages 16 to 75+. There is something for everyone at Steven’s Gym, whether someone is just beginning their fitness journey or is a seasoned athlete and gymrat. The gym will have a welcoming atmosphere, experienced personal trainers, friendly staff, and frequently cleaned equipment and restrooms.

The membership options are affordable and will be offered on a month-to-month basis, a 6 or 12 month contract, or the ability to pay for an entire year upfront. Discounts will be offered to military, teachers, and healthcare workers.

Service Offering

The following are the services that Steven’s Gym will provide:

  • Strength training equipment
  • Cardio equipment
  • Free weights/dumbbells
  • Aerobic equipment
  • HIIT group classes
  • Strength training instruction

Customer Focus

Steven’s Gym will target all men and women ages 16 – 75+ who are interested in achieving and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. El Paso is a very diverse city that includes men and women from all walks of life. There are numerous blue collar individuals, white collar individuals, government employees, and military members as the local Army base is one of the largest in the country. Since Steven’s Gym will be very affordable, it will be able to attract people from all walks of life.

Management Team

Steven will manage the day-to-day tasks of running the gym. Steven will hire a gym manager to manage membership and three trainers. Steven will outsource a local CPA to handle payroll, accounting, and tax payments. He will also outsource a local advertising company to develop the gym’s logo, branding, photography, social media accounts, website, and billboard design.

Success Factors

Steven’s Gym will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

  • Large, clean, and spacious fitness center that has all the necessary equipment for their fitness routine.
  • Knowledgeable and friendly staff of trainers.
  • Best value for membership pricing. The membership pricing options are affordable and offer military, teacher, and healthcare employee discounts.
  • Convenient hours of operation.

Financial Plan Highlights

Steven’s Gym is seeking $300,000 in debt financing to begin operations of the business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the warehouse space, gym build-out, and purchase of the equipment. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and working capital. The breakout of the funding is below:

  • Securing warehouse space, gym build-out, and design: $25,000 to $125,000
  • Gym equipment purchase: $50,000 to $100,000
  • Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $15,000 to $55,000
  • Marketing & advertising: $15,000
  • Working capital: $10,000

financial projections for Steven's Gym

Company Overview

Who is steven’s gym.

Steven’s Gym is a new, locally owned gym located in El Paso, Texas. Steven’s Gym will include strength training equipment, free weights, aerobic equipment, and plenty of cardio equipment. The gym will also offer fitness classes, strength training instruction, and personal training. Located in an up and coming, and highly trafficked area of town, Steven’s Gym will attract both men and women ages 16 to 75+. There is something for everyone at Steven’s Gym, whether someone is just beginning their fitness journey or is a seasoned athlete and gymrat. The gym will have a welcoming atmosphere, experienced trainers, friendly staff, and frequently cleaned equipment and restrooms. The membership options are affordable and will be offered on a month-to-month basis, a 6 or 12 month contract, or the ability to pay for an entire year upfront. Discounts will be offered to military, teachers, and healthcare workers.

Steven’s Gym History

Steven’s Gym is owned by Steven Malone, a retired Army Master Sergeant who is also a seasoned powerlifter. Steven was stationed at El Paso’s Fort Bliss for many years before eventually retiring and deciding to stay in El Paso and embark on his dream of eventually owning his own gym. As a frequent gym goer, Steven recognized that El Paso lacks high quality independent gyms. The nicest and most equipped gyms in El Paso are large franchises that have too many rules and regulations. Steven envisioned a gym that was welcoming to all types of people that is encouraging, clean, and adequately equipped for those who are focused on sustaining an active, healthy lifestyle.

Since incorporation, Steven’s Gym has achieved the following milestones:

  • Found a 10,000 square foot warehouse space for lease in El Paso, Texas that can easily be converted to a gym.
  • Registered Steven’s Gym, LLC to do business in the State of Texas.
  • Began the branding image, logo, website, and social media accounts for the gym.
  • Began researching and pricing out equipment.

Steven’s Gym Services

The following will be the services Steven’s Gym will provide:

Industry Analysis

The Gym industry is expected to grow to an annual revenue of $38 billion in the next five years. This growth is likely a result of increased per capita disposable income, in addition to growing health-consciousness. As consumers’ disposable income levels rise, individuals are usually more willing to purchase gym memberships. Additionally, time spent on leisure and sports is expected to increase over the next five years, effectively increasing the potential pool of consumers.

During this period, demographic changes are expected to drive revenue growth for operators. In particular, as healthcare costs continue to escalate, health insurance providers may implement incentives to promote preventive health practices, including the use of fitness centers among individuals within their provider network. Additionally, initiatives that promote the health benefits of exercise will likely increase over the next five years, stimulating industry revenue.  

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Steven’s Gym’s target audience will include all men and women ages 16 – 75+ who are interested in achieving and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. El Paso is a very diverse city that includes men and women from all walks of life. There are numerous blue collar individuals, white collar individuals, government employees, and military members as the local Army base is one of the largest in the country. Since Steven’s Gym will be very affordable, it will be able to attract people from all walks of life.

Customer Segmentation

Steven’s Gym will primarily target the following customer profiles:

  • High school and college students
  • Locally-based Military
  • Athletes who frequently train for fitness competitions

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Steven’s Gym will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below. Gold’s Gym Gold’s Gym is a large franchise-owned gym with two locations in El Paso. Gold’s Gym gives access to everything one needs to transform their life: state-of-the-art amenities, a variety of fitness classes tailored towards someone’s fitness needs, and the world’s best trainers. There are weekly fitness classes for group workouts ranging from martial arts-inspired cardio classes to foundational yoga sessions. There are also certified trainers if someone is new to exercise or just looking for more guidance and coaching. Gold’s Gym’s amenities include cardio equipment, group exercise, personal training, a pro shop, sauna/steam rooms, group cycle, free weights, functional training, kids club, locker rooms, and wifi.

Planet Fitness Planet Fitness is for people from all walks of life, whether they’re a first-time gym user or a veteran member, they are there to provide a workout environment in which anyone and everyone can be comfortable. All Planet Fitness members enjoy unlimited access to their home club and the support of their friendly, knowledgeable staff anytime they need it. PF Black Club members receive additional benefits, including the ability to bring a guest for free and access to any of their 2,000+ PF locations. Also, the PF member can take advantage of their free fitness training or find motivation by reading real member experiences on Planet of Triumphs. The goal of Planet Fitness is to provide a clean, safe, welcoming environment for anyone who walks through the door, and all the equipment, amenities, and support they need once they arrive.

Anytime Fitness Anytime Fitness is a welcoming gym that exists to help someone get to a healthier place – by giving the right support at the right times, in the ways the member wants. Every member receives a free, personalized Get Started Plan when they join. Their friendly, professional staff is trained to help someone along their fitness journey, no matter how much support they need. Aside from a large selection of strength and cardio equipment, Anytime Fitness offers the following services – 24-hour access, 24-hour security, convenient parking, anywhere gym access, private restrooms, private showers, health plan discounts, wellness programs, cardio TVs, and HDTVs.

Competitive Advantage

Steven’s Gym will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

  • Large, clean, and spacious facility that has all the necessary equipment for their fitness routine.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Steven’s Gym will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

  • Large, clean, spacious, and well-equipped facility.
  • Dedicated team of trainers.
  • Affordable membership pricing plans.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Steven’s Gym is as follows: Social Media Marketing Strategy Steven’s Gym will invest in advertising the gym on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. By using targeted social media marketing, Steven’s Gym will be able to reach the appropriate target audience of El Paso. Before opening, Steven will hire an advertising agency to develop the branding and photography needed to create captivating social media posts.

Billboards Steven will invest in two billboards strategically located at busy intersections that receive thousands of traffic daily. The advertising agency will develop the print for the billboard design. Website/SEO Marketing Strategy Steven’s Gym will invest in a strong SEO presence so that when someone enters “El Paso gym” or “local gym near me” in their Google or Bing search bar, Steven’s Gym is at the top of the list. Their website will list all of Steven’s Gym’s services, location, pricing, and contact information. Word of Mouth Word quickly spreads around town and once a few people experience the clean, affordable, and professional staff at Steven’s Gym, more and more people will come in to see for themselves and sign up for a membership plan.

The pricing of Steven’s Gym will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing their services.  

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Steven’s Gym.

Operation Functions:

  • Steven Malone will be the sole gym owner and operator of Steven’s Gym. He will oversee the staff, maintain that the cleaning schedules are being enforced, and ensure that all equipment is working per standard and safely. He will also manage all ordering of new and replacement equipment, schedule the group HIIT classes, and daily management tasks.
  • Steven will hire a gym manager to be in charge of members and member management.
  • A team of three trainers will run all of the fitness classes. As the membership grows and clients require more attention, more trainers and fitness classes will be added.
  • A local CPA will manage all high level accounting functions, such as payroll and tax payments.
  • Steven will also hire an advertising agency to develop the gym’s branding, photography, website, social media accounts, and billboard design.

Milestones:

Steven’s Gym will have the following milestones completed in the next six months. 8/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease warehouse space. 8/15/202X – Begin build-out and design converting warehouse space into a functional gym. 9/1/202X – Hire advertising company to begin developing gym’s branding, logo, social media accounts, website, and billboard design. 9/15/202X – Order all equipment. 10/5/202X – Hire gym manager and team of personal trainers. 10/15/202X – Train staff on proper policies and procedures. 11/1/202X – Grand Opening of Steven’s Gym.  

Steven’s Gym will be solely owned by Steven Malone. Steven is a retired Army Master Sergeant who has been stationed off and on at El Paso’s Fort Bliss for the past twelve years. Upon retirement, Steven decided to make El Paso his permanent home and embark on his dream of owning his own gym. Steven recognizes the lack of quality, independent gyms in El Paso and wants to open a gym that fits his idea of what a high-quality gym should be.

As a former powerlifter and personal trainer while serving in the military, Steven is aware of the proper equipment and facilities a gym should have. Steven envisions his gym to be friendly, clean, well-equipped, and affordable for the average person so that people from all walks of life will feel comfortable going to the gym and achieving their fitness goals. Steven will dedicate his life and focus on ensuring that his gym is always clean, staffed with the best trainers, and members are happy with what the gym has to offer.  

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Steven’s Gym are the membership fees it will charge each person that signs up to become a member. Each member will be placed on a membership plan where they can either pay month to month, enroll in either a 6 or 12 month contract, or pay for the entire year upfront.

The cost drivers will be the payroll for the staff, rent, utilities, cleaning supplies and equipment, and gym equipment purchase and maintenance. Other cost drivers will be the targeted marketing costs on social media and monthly fees for the CPA and advertising company.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

  • Initial Number of New Clients per Month: 60
  • Average Monthly Membership Fee: $150
  • Gym Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income Statement

FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
Revenues
Total Revenues$360,000$793,728$875,006$964,606$1,063,382
Expenses & Costs
Cost of goods sold$64,800$142,871$157,501$173,629$191,409
Lease$50,000$51,250$52,531$53,845$55,191
Marketing$10,000$8,000$8,000$8,000$8,000
Salaries$157,015$214,030$235,968$247,766$260,155
Initial expenditure$10,000$0$0$0$0
Total Expenses & Costs$291,815$416,151$454,000$483,240$514,754
EBITDA$68,185 $377,577 $421,005 $481,366 $548,628
Depreciation$27,160$27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160
EBIT$41,025 $350,417 $393,845$454,206$521,468
Interest$23,462$20,529 $17,596 $14,664 $11,731
PRETAX INCOME$17,563 $329,888 $376,249 $439,543 $509,737
Net Operating Loss$0$0$0$0$0
Use of Net Operating Loss$0$0$0$0$0
Taxable Income$17,563$329,888$376,249$439,543$509,737
Income Tax Expense$6,147$115,461$131,687$153,840$178,408
NET INCOME$11,416 $214,427 $244,562 $285,703 $331,329

Balance Sheet

FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
ASSETS
Cash$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550$1,149,286
Accounts receivable$0$0$0$0$0
Inventory$30,000$33,072$36,459$40,192$44,308
Total Current Assets$184,257$381,832$609,654$878,742$1,193,594
Fixed assets$180,950$180,950$180,950$180,950$180,950
Depreciation$27,160$54,320$81,480$108,640 $135,800
Net fixed assets$153,790 $126,630 $99,470 $72,310 $45,150
TOTAL ASSETS$338,047$508,462$709,124$951,052$1,238,744
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Debt$315,831$270,713$225,594$180,475 $135,356
Accounts payable$10,800$11,906$13,125$14,469 $15,951
Total Liability$326,631 $282,618 $238,719 $194,944 $151,307
Share Capital$0$0$0$0$0
Retained earnings$11,416 $225,843 $470,405 $756,108$1,087,437
Total Equity$11,416$225,843$470,405$756,108$1,087,437
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY$338,047$508,462$709,124$951,052$1,238,744

Cash Flow Statement

FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Net Income (Loss)$11,416 $214,427 $244,562 $285,703$331,329
Change in working capital($19,200)($1,966)($2,167)($2,389)($2,634)
Depreciation$27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160
Net Cash Flow from Operations$19,376 $239,621 $269,554 $310,473 $355,855
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS
Investment($180,950)$0$0$0$0
Net Cash Flow from Investments($180,950)$0$0$0$0
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING
Cash from equity$0$0$0$0$0
Cash from debt$315,831 ($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)
Net Cash Flow from Financing$315,831 ($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)
Net Cash Flow$154,257$194,502 $224,436 $265,355$310,736
Cash at Beginning of Period$0$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550
Cash at End of Period$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550$1,149,286

Gym Business Plan FAQs

What is a gym business plan.

A gym business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your gym. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing strategies and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your gym business plan using our gym business plan template here .

What Are the Main Types of Gyms?

There are many types of gyms or fitness centers. There are large, franchise gyms that have multiple locations across the country. There are also large single facility gyms. Finally, there are smaller gyms that tend to focus on a particular fitness segment, such as strength training, CrossFit, or group HIIT training.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenue and Expenses for a Gym Business?

The primary source of revenue for a gym or fitness center are membership fees. Typically, members pay month-to-month, or fulfill a year-long contract.

The key expenses for a gym or fitness center are the costs associated with payroll, purchase and maintenance of equipment, cleaning supplies, marketing costs, and working capital. Other expenses will be rent, utilities, taxes, accounts payable, and other licensing fees (if necessary).

How Do You Get Funding for Your Gym?

Gym businesses are most likely to secure funding from banks. Typically you will find a local bank and present your gym business plan to them. Family and/or friends could also be potential investors and other types of capital-raising such as crowdfunding are other common funding sources.

A well-crafted gym business plan, complete with a solid financial plan is essential for attracting any type of potential investor. This is true for a new gym business or established businesses looking to grow.

What are the Steps To Start a Gym Business?

Starting a gym or fitness center can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Write A Gym Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a solid gym business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include market research on the fitness industry and potential target market size, information on the services and/or products you will offer, marketing strategy, mission statement, business model and pricing strategy and a detailed financial plan.  Our business plan template is the perfect guide to show you how to start a gym business plan.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your fitness   business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your gym business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Gym Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your gym business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your gym business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Gym Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your gym business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your gym or fitness   business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising to reach your target audience.

Learn more about how to start a successful gym or fitness business:

  • How to Start a Gym Business

Where Can I Get a Gym Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free gym business plan template PDF here. This is a sample gym business plan template you can use in PDF format.

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Gym business plan: a checklist with templates & examples

In this article, you'll find a checklist of everything you need to know to create a business plan for your gym or fitness business.

If you've recently discovered an ambition to start a gym , or this has been your dream for years, we've got you covered!

The first step in your journey is to create a gym business plan. This will include understanding your business's structure, determining your target market and what sets you apart from other gyms (your unique selling point), forecasting future finances, and any further details about your venture.

Your gym business plan is the key to your success. It will help you make better decisions and attract potential investors. Creating a business plan is ongoing; it's not something you do once and then forget about. Your business plan should be flexible and adapt as you move forward. 

You have to consider many elements to ensure your gym will succeed. All stages of your business plan are critical. In this article, we'll be doing a deep dive into understanding the core essentials of creating a fitness business plan.

A boxing gym owner holding a clipboard, standing in front of punching bags.

What is a gym business plan? 

A gym business plan is a document that informs the reader about your company and where it's headed. In other words, it answers essential questions such as:

  • How does your business work?
  • How are you going to succeed?
  • What steps do you need to take to succeed?

According to research, entrepreneurs who write formal business plans are more likely to be successful . 

This is especially true for business owners seeking external financial support. A formal business plan can help new businesses by providing a clear focus for their ideas.

Why it’s important to have a business plan for your gym? 

Simply put, your gym business plan is an organized and detailed process that provides a roadmap for your business. If someone reads it – like a potential investor, for example – they should be able to understand how you expect the gym to progress and succeed over time.

Plus, putting together a business plan with detailed description forces you to take a critical look at your operation as it currently stands and identify room for improvement or new areas of opportunity altogether.

Depending on where your business is located, a well-crafted business plan can serve multiple purposes.

Keep reading for even more reasons you need a business plan from day one!

Two people working in front of a laptop.

Taking advantage of a steadily growing industry

The gym industry is booming, allowing gyms to capitalize on this growth. In the US alone, over 87 million people regularly attend the gym and spend billions of dollars annually on membership fees.

And according to projections, the global gym market is expected to reach 434 billion USD by 2028 – a 171% increase from 2021! This steady growth provides room for gym owners to get in on the action and reap the benefits.

By having a gym business plan that considers the health & fitness industry as a whole, you'll be able to capitalize on this growth.

Ensures your business idea is feasible 

If you're considering starting a fitness business, know it will be complex. You have a fantastic idea and think it could take off--but how can you test that theory without launching the business? 

This is where a business plan comes in handy. By working through your concept and creating a well-rounded plan of action, you'll be able to figure out key details like numbers, market trends, and what your competition is doing and save yourself loads of time down the line.

It helps to bring in investors and secure funding 

To secure funding for your gym business from investors, you need a comprehensive business plan. This document helps startup businesses obtain the initial capital they need and provides established companies with funds for expansion.

Would-be contributors usually request substantiated data— such as numbers backed up by facts and figures—before deciding whether or not to invest in a project.

If you don't have a business plan, chances are slim that you'll receive money from sources like investors, banks, or other financial organizations outside your company.

Set and reach goals, both big and small 

Having long-term and short-term goals is a great start, but it's time to take the next step. A successful business plan will contain specific tactics on how you plan to achieve your objectives. 

This might be through your business model, acquiring equipment, hiring new talent, or marketing campaigns.

A successful business needs a clear plan to achieve its goals. Breaking down important goals into smaller, more manageable pieces would be best. 

And remember-- as your business changes and grows over time, so should your plan. Keep it updated regularly. 

Business planning is no longer a daunting task

A business plan is a vital tool for new and established businesses. It provides direction and helps to set the foundation for a successful start. 

By budgeting, analyzing your market, and setting out your goals and strategies, you can make more informed decisions about how to proceed. This process also makes it easier to track your progress over time and assess whether or not you are on track.

Something to consider before creating a gym business plan

Consider the cost of starting a gym. There are many potential expenses, such as equipment, personal trainers, class instructors, insurance policies, property fees, etc.

Also, consider how much time you are willing to invest in this venture – especially during the beginning stages when there is likely to be a lot of work involved in getting everything up and running smoothly.

It can be challenging to maintain a good work/life balance when starting any business; it will probably require working additional hours outside of your usual schedule.

Money and time are essential, but there are other things you need to be successful. 

People skills, marketing know-how, and financial smarts are essential if you want to succeed in the gym business world. It's not going to be easy, but it will be worth it if this is your passion. A solid plan is the first step toward making your dream a reality.

The 11 key elements of a detailed gym business plan

Before you develop your business plan, think about where you are and where you want to see yourself. Keep this vision in mind, as it will help guide you through writing your business plan. There will be countless opportunities wherein consulting your business plan will assist you in making a decision.

To create an effective health club business plan, you will need extensive research on your fitness industry, competitors, and future finances. 

Following these 11 steps, you can build an excellent gym business plan that covers all aspects of your health club.

Step 1: Executive summary

Your executive summary needs to be clear and concise while also grabbing attention. What you want readers to know is:

  • Your mission/purpose
  • How you'll achieve success (What will make you a success story?)

And finally, your vision for the future. Though it may seem tempting to hurry through this section because it is shorter than other parts of the business plan, don't rush! 

This is your chance to shine and explain what makes your company special. Don't worry if you feel like you have more to say about your goals and vision. You can expand on these topics in your company overview.

Step 2: Company overview

Your company overview is where you get to sell your gym and its potential. Build on your executive summary's vision and mission statement, delving deeper into what makes your gym unique. 

Think of your vision statement as a tagline for your future website. When outlining the purpose of your gym, which audience it will cater to, and how you plan to achieve business goals, also consider including the following: 

Your personal mission statement for the business- i.e., what outcome do you hope to see?

Then, give your readers some information on your background:

  • What have you done in the past?
  • Have you had any other businesses?
  • What is your current status?

This is helpful for investors and partners to know so they can understand where you've been and where you're going. The more they know about you, the more trust they'll have in you.

Step 3: Services and amenities

Outline your strategy in detail: what services you'll offer and how you will develop new offerings. This includes if you need to hire someone or build a facility, such as a spa or a studio. 

This information will help you realize when or where your business requires more funding and extra staff.

By describing your products and services, you can gain valuable insights into your gym's size. Test your vision to determine if you have the necessary funding for these assets. If not, consider how you might acquire the required financing.

A picture of a well-equipped gym.

Some potential products you could invest in are: 

  • Gym equipment like treadmills and rowing machines 
  • Specialist equipment to cater to different types of gym-goers, such as bodybuilders 
  • Food and drinks like energy drinks or healthy foods 

And services like: 

  • Personal training sessions 
  • Group classes like yoga, spinning, or body pump 
  • Lockers for storing belongings while working out 
  • Spa amenities like saunas or massages 
  • A swimming pool 
  • Physiotherapy

Furthermore, thinking about increasing your market share is a significant next step. You could start by offering pro bono services at local workplaces and schools, eventually introducing a fee.

This way, you can attract larger customers while still providing value.

When creating a business plan - be it for a gym or something else entirely - remember that its purpose is to lay out your objectives easily for potential bankers, partners, employees, and investors.

Step 4: Management team

It is essential to consider the positions you'll need to fill and how these people can help your gym succeed. 

You should write a summary emphasizing their skills and management experience while incorporating what they will be responsible for and any incentives you plan on offering.

Furthermore, creating an employee ladder is vital to establish who or what each new hire will report to so your business can secure its success.

Step 5: Market research and marketing strategy

Marketing is a field where creativity can shine. It's all about identifying different groups of people who would buy your product, coming up with reasons why they should choose you over others, and figuring out ways to get more sales.

Learn more:

Gym marketing strategy

Gym promotion ideas

Gym membership pricing

Best gym features

Even if marketing your fitness business isn't your favorite thing, remember that your marketing strategy will help you lay out a plan for expansion if you do it right. Your first target should be to summarise what you found in your market research. Are you still stuck? 

Consider where you are situated, similar businesses nearby, and who makes up the community around you.

Define your target market here. It could be

  • Working professionals
  • Senior executives

Or a particular group, like cyclists. After that, try to understand why this specific demographic would join a gym – for example, are they looking for cardio?

After you have completed your market research, take some time to understand your target audience. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • How can I make this customer base loyal?
  • What makes my company unique?
  • What's the best membership package I can offer?
  • Is there a need for special equipment or offerings?

In your plan, identify and communicate what makes your business valuable and unique. 

This is called a Unique Selling Proposition (USP), and it will help instill confidence in potential investors that they are making a wise choice by investing in your company. 

Furthermore, detailing marketing strategies in this document provides peace of mind that future income streams are lined up and secure.

There are many marketing strategies you can use to grow your business, including:

  • Improving your services
  • Advertising and sponsorship
  • Loyalty plans and website promotions
  • Email marketing campaigns
  • Investing in new equipment or technology

Step 6: Competitor analysis - Understanding direct and indirect competitors

To do a competitor analysis, research businesses in your field that offer similar services. These are your direct competitors. 

You can mention indirect competitors, but this section is mainly for an in-depth look at businesses like yours. Depending on your business type, you could have brick-and-mortar and online rivals.

When investigating a competitor, these are some critical areas you'll want to focus on: 

  • Services and products they offer 
  • Target audience 
  • Pricing and business model 
  • Strengths and weaknesses

gym business plan cover page

Step 7: Create comprehensive financial projections

Starting a gym requires careful budgeting. Make sure you consider every possible purchase and estimate the cost of each item.

The following are key areas to cover when starting your business:

  • Lawyer fees
  • Recruiting expenses
  • Constructional endeavors
  • Exercise equipment for the workplace
  • Three months' worth of bills and other operational costs
  • An accounting software

It's time to be practical and ascertain how much money you will need to open your gym and make it thrive. This way, you'll get a better understanding of what falls within your budget and what will require additional funding.

Next, you need to prove to investors, stakeholders, and employees that you have a feasible plan for attaining ROI. 

Consider revenue streams such as classes, services provided, and product sales- anything that brings in money. Set down an estimate here based on research and expert opinion.

If you're looking for ways to make money, selling healthy food could be a great option. You could create your protein shakes or energy bars, for example. 

If you plan to sell food, ensure you stay up-to-date with food hygiene standards.

Step 8: Financial forecasting

Your sales forecast for your business's first, second, and third years should be detailed. Specifying the number of active members, you estimate for your first year would also be beneficial. Estimate using:

  • Unit sales per month
  • Any relevant past data
  • How purchases will be broken down (as specified in financial projections)

Step 9: Financial strategy

How can you use your fees in a way that will increase customer registration? For example, if all the other gyms in your area charge higher prices than average, this could be an opportunity to set your business apart by being financially conscious (lowering membership fees or having better offers than competitors).

Consider ways to show your appreciation for loyal customers, such as discounts or complimentary services.

Furthermore, if you're in the process of creating a gym and spa business plan, consider adding discounts for those who use both facilities. For example, many people would love to take advantage of the jacuzzi after working out.

Writing your pricing strategy down will help give you peace of mind about what's to come for your gym.

Step 10: Payment option

An easy and accessible payment system is crucial for any business, let alone a gym. To retain customers , ensure your payment processing is up-to-date and user-friendly. 

Let potential investors know what platform you're using or planning to use, so they can see that you're taking customer experience seriously. A positive buyer experience will encourage loyalty among your clientele.

Step 11: Funding

Make it clear where your business will obtain the extra startup capital it needs. 

This is a chance to be practical about your company. Can you realistically obtain the funding required to reach your targets? Or do you need to readjust your plan?

Below are some vital external resources that might provide the necessary funding:

  • Loans from friends or family members
  • Crowdfunding campaigns
  • Business partners or sponsors

If you are looking to gain investors, be sure to detail where the funding for your project will come from and how much of a return they can expect. You should also include any previous loan applications related to this venture here.

You're almost there!

Now it's time to put all the elements outlined above into a gym business plan. This plan will be a reference point when you need to make tough decisions, help secure investment, and show direction to new employees or partners.

A picture showing a planner and a pen.

Your next steps to successfully run your gym

Here's a personal checklist to help you ensure that you have everything covered before you open your gym. Use it as a reference point throughout the development process to ensure nothing is overlooked.

  • Write a business plan
  • Register business
  • Apply for a business license and permit
  • Open business bank accounts
  • Select an online payment platform
  • Obtain taxpayer's ID
  • Purchase insurance
  • Rent/purchase facility
  • Purchase/rent equipment
  • Secure funding
  • Recruit employees
  • Drafting contract documents along with any other legal documents required
  • Design company logo
  • Develop website
  • Write website content
  • Create social media accounts
  • Design leaflets & brochures
  • Organize branded uniforms
  • Launch party

Any business, no matter how big or small, comes with its fair share of challenges. However, the payoffs in the end always make it worth your while

Starting a gym can be an exciting and rewarding venture. However, it is important to ensure that you are well-prepared with all the necessary information before you open your gym. 

A comprehensive Gym Business Plan detailing the market research, financial projections and strategy, services and amenities, management team, and more should be developed to ensure success. 

Additionally, obtaining the necessary licenses, finding and hiring trainers, investing in the right equipment , and appealing to members with friendly incentives are all important steps.

Gym business plan template & examples

In addition, we've gathered a few of the gym business plan templates and examples below. These samples will provide you with suggested language for your own document as well as guidance on what to include.

Adam Fitness Centre

Grow think's template

PAWSitively Fit Club

Ecogym business plan

Capital Health and Fitness Club

Frequently asked questions on good gym business plan

How can i start my own gym business.

Follow these steps and understand gym business plans:

  • Choose your area/location
  • Develop a comprehensive business plan
  • Apply and obtain all necessary licenses
  • Find and hire certified trainers
  • Invest in the right equipment for your business
  • Appeal to members with friendly incentives

How do I write a business plan for a gym?

To write a gym business plan, you can implement the steps below:

  • Executive summary
  • Company overview
  • Services and amenities
  • Management team
  • Market research and marketing
  • Competitor analysis 
  • Financial projections
  • Financial forecasting
  • Financial strategy
  • Payment option

What type of gym is the most profitable?

Out of the gyms surveyed in November 2020, 69 percent of CrossFit gyms were profitable, while half of martial arts gyms reported being in the black.

Is owning a gym a good business?

Owning a gym can be profitable, but you will need more time to make yourself rich. To succeed in this industry, you must put in the effort.

Do gym owners make money?

According to ZipRecruiter, an American jobs marketplace, gym owners in the United States will earn an average of $69,472 annually as of June 2022.

Do gyms make a lot of money?

A gym that is managed efficiently and has a good mixture of members can generate quite a bit of money. For example, if a gym has 1,000 people paying $50 monthly, the gym could bring in $50,000 each month. And if the monthly expenses for the gym are $20,000 per month, the profit would be $30,000 per month.

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Gym Business Plan Template

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We are ABC Gym and we provide excellent and effective health and fitness services. We produce outstanding results in terms of influencing, training, and guiding our customers to achieve their fitness goals.

We have talented trainers and instructors who use effective strategies for health and fitness that will surely capture and be loved by our client's future customers.

Our goal is to make our clients happy by helping them achieve their health and fitness goals. We also provide high-quality fitness equipment, world-class trainers, and motivational coaches.

NamePosition
Michelle KaneCEO
Cathy MillsManager
Angela TorresAccounting
Leslie HoldenCustomer Support
John DoeTrainor
Jeremy DiazTrainor

Listed below are the services that ABC Gym is planning to offer:

Services Name
Strength Training
Cardio Exercises
Nutrition Specialist
Boxing Exercises
Yoga Class
Dance Class (Zumba)
Shower Room, Lockers, and Sauna
Coffee Pantry
Gym NameLocationServices OfferedPricing# of Customers
1Gym ANorth St.Same$300/month600
2Gym BWest St.Swimming pool$280/month200
3Gym CEast St.Same$350/month300
4Gym DSouth St.Boxing Gym$500/month500

In the competitive analysis above, it is noticeable that our institution has an edge in terms of the number of services offered and the pricing. However, the competitors have more members compared to us. This is acceptable because ABC Gym is a new institution.

It is important to identify and determine our target audience so that we can tailor our advertising and marketing strategies based on the data provided to us. Here are the following strategies that we will use:

  • Making sure the brand name is spelled and pronounced correctly.
  • Designing a brand logo that is related to the product and appealing to the audience.
  • Creating a related video and sharing it in social media space.
  • Having the best customer service department.
  • Being active in spreading the presence of the brand on social media.
  • Implementing SEO optimization and SEM marketing including keywords and ads.
  • Creating an official website that indicates most information about the company.

Executing the plans in order to have a successful business is vital to the organization. It is important to perform the assigned plans in order for the organization not to lose track of the goals and missions of the institution.

Here are some actions that we'll be doing:

1. Apply for a bank loan 2. Look for a location 3. Buy tools and equipment 4. Hire professionals in building and designing the facility 5. Hire legal professionals to make sure the establishment does not violate any state or country laws 6. Hire staff 7. Hire a compliance officer to make sure that the establishment is compliant with the law 8. Hire trainers 9. Invest in advertising and marketing 10. Evaluate the initial result

We will be doing a performance evaluation every week in addition to the monthly report so that we can closely monitor the outcome of the plans that we made to become successful in this business. Here are the evaluation list questions that we'll be using:

  • Was the weekly goal met?
  • How many new customers availed our services?
  • How many new customers sign up for a regular subscription?
  • How much are the total earnings for the week?
  • How much is the average earning of the institution on a daily basis?
  • What's the current Customer Satisfaction score?
  • From 1-10, how do you compare our services with our competition?

Currently, we have 3 members of the team. We will be applying for a bank loan in order to start building this Gym business from scratch. Here are the details about our initial budget:

DescriptionAmount ($)
1Gym Construction1500000
2Hiring Professionals120000
3Hiring Employees300000
4Advertising and Marketing50000
5Tools and Equipment110000
6Location Rent150000

Gym Business Plan Template

Gym Business Plan Template is a document that shows the goals, objectives, and plans of a gym institution on how they will approach a building or maintaining a gym business. This document is important for the investors, bank, or any funding company to see because it will determine if they will invest in your plan or if the bank will grant you the loan.

This Gym Business Plan Template shows a cover page, company overview page, services offered, competitive analysis, advertising and marketing plans, implementation plan, evaluation plan, and financial strategy. This PDF template is using the Input Table tool to display the data of the competitors and the breakdown of the financial budget. This PDF template also utilizes the Form Calculation widget that can calculate the value of multiple cells in the Input Table. This PDF template also uses the Configurable List widget so that the respondent can add more services offered by their gym as much as they want. This tool allows you to add similar fields by clicking the add button. With the help of the PDF Editor, it is easy to customize and format this PDF template.

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About Simple Business Plan Templates

Plans, strategies, roadmaps – Businesses rely on these things to gain perspective on what’s about to happen. Milestones laid down in strategic and careful planning for growth and expansion, visions of where the company’s headed 10 years from now, goals that should meet timelines, all these require a smart, prudent and calculated planning.

Whether you’re a startup, an SMB, or close to a Fortune 500, a solid business plan is crucial. And of course, writing business plans is a huge task. But, what if you needed something that requires input from others though? Say, an online form or a PDF template where responses from your colleagues and managers matter? Well, here’s a collection of PDF templates for business planning.

These are beautifully designed templates, specifically tailored for businesses and companies who don’t know where to start. The hard part was already done and that’s designing the template. These will serve as boilerplates for whatever milestone your business needs. You won’t need to worry on building something from scratch, you just need to focus on the content. Some of these templates will contain or collect executive summaries, opportunities, expectations, execution, financial plans, forecasts, the whole nine yards.

Business plan templates help give a clear vision of what lies ahead. They help you get things organized, planned out, and help you check off items from your to-do list more efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) what are the seven parts of a business plan.

  • Executive summary. This is an overview of your business plan. The executive summary should include your company’s offerings, mission, goals, and projections. Think of it as the elevator pitch for your business plan. If you can’t get investors interested here, it’s unlikely they’ll want to keep reading.
  • Company description and history. Describe your business’s legal structure and history in addition to what you do. If you just started this business, you may replace company history with your leadership team’s experience. The purpose of this section is to explain the company structure and build confidence in the people running the company.
  • Products and services. Talk about what your company offers, whether that’s products, services, or a combination of the two. Describe your products and services in detail. Explain what makes your offering unique, what your profit margins are, what kind of demand you’re seeing for it, etc.
  • Market and competitor research. Investors want to know if there’s demand for your offering. Describe the target market and how your product or service benefits potential customers. Include projections of where the industry is headed over the next few years. Additionally, detail your competitors and how saturated the market is.
  • Sales and marketing strategy. This part of the business plan explains how you’ll promote your product. Outline elements such as your ideal customer profile (ICP) as well as your marketing channels, budget, and methods.
  • Operations and logistics. Explain how you’ll source materials if you sell products as well as the technology you need to deliver such products and services. Also, provide details about your team, like how many people you’ll need and how you’ll manage employees.
  • Financial plan and projections. It’s crucial to prove that your business will be financially viable. For this, you’ll need revenue and expense projections. Many investors want to see sample account statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections.

2) How do you write a business plan?

Your business plan should be a realistic roadmap that helps you build a successful company. When writing it, take a balanced approach so that you’re not blind to the potential pitfalls and risks. You’ll draft each of the seven sections previously discussed.

Tackling these sections can be overwhelming, so some people like to start with a one-page business plan that includes short paragraphs for each element. Another way to give yourself a head start is by working from a business plan template. Once you have a good start, you can expand each section to make a compelling case for your business.

3) Can I write a business plan myself?

Yes, you can. However, depending on your writing experience and goals, you may want outside help. If the business plan is for internal use with the purpose of improving business functions, you’ll likely be OK tackling it alone. But if you’re trying to secure funding from a bank or investors, a professional business plan writer can give you a leg up.

Even if you decide to do it yourself, have a trusted friend or business mentor review your plan and provide feedback. An objective point of view will help you refine your work.

4) What are the four types of business plans?

  • One-page or mini business plan. The one-page option is a great way to improve the focus of your business plan and highlight the essential elements. It can be an effective way to workshop your company’s plan or quickly give others a rundown of your entire business.
  • Traditional business plan. The traditional business plan is more in-depth than its one-page counterpart and will be more thorough in each section (often, plans exceed 40 pages). For example, it may contain detailed financials, branding samples, and competitive research documents.
  • Business model canvas (BMC). The business model canvas is a more visual representation of your business architecture. It includes sections for infrastructure, offering, customers, finances, etc. Many businesses find the BMC appealing since it can be summarized in a single page.
  • Strategic business plan. The strategic business plan can have different purposes, like proving feasibility, discussing planning operations, or projecting growth. It will outline the company’s goals, its strategy for reaching them, and the company structure. The main difference between this and the traditional plan is its focus on specific strategic initiatives.

5) What are the common mistakes in business plans?

  • Poor writing. Sloppy writing may suggest that you’re not serious about your business or you lack the needed professionalism.
  • Unrealistic expectations. While you should be optimistic about your business, if your financial projections reflect your hopes more than reality, people may hesitate to back your business.
  • Lack of supporting documentation. People reviewing your business plan want to see how you back up your claims. You can include research docs, sample financials, and estimates to make your case.
  • Failing to define the target audience. For a successful marketing plan, you need to define your target audience. Investors and financial institutions need to see if you’re confident about who you’re selling to.
  • Unbalanced. It’s important to lay out the risks and potential upsides. This analysis shows investors that you’re considering the whole picture regarding your business.

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Gym Business Plan

Executive summary image

Is exercise or fitness your passion? Or do you have a good understanding of gym equipment and workout routines?

If yes, you might have considered having your own gym at some point. After all, who doesn’t want to turn their passion into a profession?

And guess what! Just like you wouldn’t hit the gym without a workout plan, starting your own gym demands a comprehensive gym business plan!

If you’re seeking investors to kickstart a new fitness center or aiming to expand an existing gym business, a modern business plan is an essential tool.

A well-written gym business plan will help you pay attention to every detail, and support your entrepreneurial journey to make the best strategies for a profitable business.

But before diving right into the detailed gym business plan; let’s check out some interesting facts about the fitness industry.

Fitness Industry Outlook

  • The growing enthusiasm for fitness and the desire for a healthy lifestyle has led to the demand for gyms. As of now, 39% of Americans have gym memberships.
  • The fitness industry has been booming in recent years, and it is expected to have 230 million members by 2030 .
  • The Health and fitness market revenue is estimated to grow at a rate of 11.52% annually, reaching a market volume of US$2.32 billion by 2027.
  • The fitness industry is expected to increase its revenue by 172% from 2021 to 2028 – reaching $435 billion.
  • From 2011 to 2019, the revenue for gyms and health centers in the United States consistently increased each year.
  • Recently, the United States led the world in gym industry revenue and is expected to add 15.6 million more members by 2030.

Now that you know the fitness industry outlook, it’s time to explore all the key components you will need to include in your professional gym business plan outline:

Key Components of a Gym Business Plan (w/ Examples)

  • Executive Summary
  • Company Overview
  • Industry and Customer Analysis
  • Competitor Analysis
  • Service Offerings
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Management Team
  • Operations Plan
  • Financial Plan

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary is the first and foremost section of the business plan. Generally, it is a quick overview of your entire gym business plan.

It should be clear, concise, and engaging as it will create your first impression and draw readers to delve further into your plan.

You can start this section with a brief introduction to your gym business and discuss the following key elements:

  • Market Opportunity
  • Vision & mission statement
  • Target market
  • Your products and services
  • Marketing strategy
  • Management team
  • Financial Outlook

After that, end your summary with a clear call to action to invite potential investors or readers to the next meeting.

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2. Company Overview

The company overview section provides a more detailed description of your gym business.

It includes the legal structure, location, ownership, critical success factors, business history, and everything about your business.

First, provide the basic details of your gym including what is the name and what type of gym you are operating.

Mention the names of your gym owners/partners along with the qualifications. You can also include the business history(if any) and milestones you have achieved.

After that, describe your business goals to convey a high level of aspirations and vision that you want to achieve. Here is an example, describing the business goals and objectives:

Setting future business goals for a gym is a crucial step in outlining a clear path to achieve success and growth. The Stayfit Company’s goals and objectives include;

  • Increase the client base by 100 customers within the first year of operation.
  • Relocating to a large and more appropriate location facility by the first year of operation.
  • Expand service offerings to provide a comprehensive fitness experience.
  • Establish partnerships and increase brand visibility to become a recognized fitness brand in the community.
  • Increase total memberships to 500 within 5 years.

Remember, this section gives an in-depth understanding of your business and business owners. So, make it clear and intriguing.

3. Industry and Customer Analysis

In the industry and customer analysis section of your gym business plan, it’s necessary to offer a comprehensive overview of the fitness industry and target market.

This section gives you a deep understanding of your industry and target customer attributes which will help you in business planning.

Here are some questions that will help you in the analysis:

  • What is the current market size of the fitness industry in terms of revenue?
  • What are the current trends in the gym business?
  • Who are the target audience, and which customer segment do you wish to serve?
  • What is the growth forecast for the gym business?

For example, look at this market segment and target market of the gym business with the help of Upmetrics:

market segment and target market of the gym business

As a gym owner, you can target the following customer profiles:

  • Blue-collar employees (factories, warehouses, service industry)
  • White-collar individuals(corporate or government employees)
  • High school & college students
  • Military members and their families
  • Athletes who often train for fitness competitions

In short, a thorough industry analysis will educate you about the local market and help you prepare marketing strategies according to the market trends.

4. Competitor Analysis

This competitor analysis will help you understand the top competitors and identify the strong points of their service offerings.

As a gym business, you should make a list of the number of gyms or other fitness businesses operating in your locality, their size, and their customer base. Try to specify who are your direct and indirect competitors.

  • Direct competitors can be other local gyms
  • Indirect competitors can be another type of gym or fitness center, or health club in your area.

Now, let’s focus on your direct competitors and provide an overview of each competitor, including their size and where they’re based. Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses including their service offerings and pricing structures.

Refer below example; showing competitor analysis description:

gym business competitor analysis description

A better way to conduct this analysis is by noticing things from a customer’s perspective. You might even ask your competitors’ clients what they like or dislike about them to get valuable insights.

This way you can understand what makes your competitors successful and what gaps you can fill. Also, consider the unique selling proposition of your gym business.

Specify your tactics to stay ahead in the competitive landscape and make all the difference in the local gym market.

5. Service Offerings

Next, specify the scope of your service offerings and elucidate how they meet the diverse needs of your clientele.

This section must be informative, precise, and client-focused, as it is a detailed breakdown of what your fitness business offers your customers.

You can include a comprehensive suite of services encompassing types of membership options, available exercise equipment, personal training sessions, group fitness classes, or nutritional counseling.

Here, you can take a reference from the below example written using Upmetrics AI Assistant :

Also, detail any membership fees or pricing plans in this section to add or revise services. Mention if your gym provides any additional services, like physical therapy, massage therapy, recovery modalities, etc.

6. Marketing Strategy

Writing the sales and marketing plan section means jotting down all the customer acquisition strategies and the tactics for how to retain them.

You can consider the following marketing approaches to gaining and keeping customers for your new gym business:

Unique Selling Proposition

Define your gym’s USPs depending on the market you serve, the gym equipment you use, and the unique services you provide. Highlight certified gym trainers, specialty programs, and regular community events.

 gym's USPs

Social media marketing

Use social media platforms to attract more users. Create engaging content and entice your audience with inspirational posts and special offers. Connect with your customers digitally as well as in the gym.

Establish a professional website and brand symbol (gym’s logo) to reach a wider audience. Showcase all your service offerings and build trust among potential customers.

Loyalty plans

Consider loyalty plans to retain existing gym members and encourage long-term commitment. Create membership tiers or referral programs to offer discounts or additional benefits.

Collaborations

Partner with local businesses (health food stores, fitness centers, or clothing brands), and fitness influencers to cross-promote services or offer collaborative discounts. That can expand your gym’s reach and draw a broader audience.

Offline advertising

Traditional offline marketing can still be effective in engaging with your local community. Clearly state your advertising strategies, including open bulletin boards, print marketing, flier distributions, or community events. For instance,

Consider following offline advertising strategies to reach specific demographics:

  • Local Print Media: Advertise in local newspapers, magazines, or community newsletters to target residents in your area.
  • Flier Distribution: Distribute flyers or brochures in strategic locations such as community centers, local cafes, or residential areas to raise awareness about your gym.
  • Community Events: Sponsor or participate in community events, fairs, or health expos. This not only promotes your gym but also allows for direct interaction with potential members.

Pricing strategy

Try to develop detailed strategies, like offering special introductory discounts, free trials, seasonal promotions, or membership packages with additional services to attract and retain members.

7. Management Team

A strong management team is essential to showcase your gym’s ability to thrive in the industry. This management team section emphasizes the key members who can help grow your fitness business.

You can highlight your key managers, fitness experts, personal trainers, or nutritionists. Also, explain each member’s expertise and roles.

Also, discuss the compensation plan in this section, along with their salaries, incentives, and other benefits. For instance,

compensation plan of gym business

8. Operations Plan

This operations plan is like a map that shows how you will make your business work.

It provides detailed insights into the day-to-day operations of your gym and highlights key areas such as staffing and operational processes.

Consider adding below essential components to your operational plan:

Try to mention the number of trainers, support staff, and therapists needed. Briefly outline the duties they will perform and detail their qualifications & training required.

Operational Process

Summarize the processes and techniques you will use to run your gym. Your operational process section may include hosting fitness classes, assigning trainers, scheduling the group HIIT classes, billing, training staff, etc.

Equipment & Machinery

You can include the list of gym equipment and machinery required for the gym, such as strength training equipment, pull-up bars, cardio equipment, free weights/dumbbells, and aerobic equipment.

Refer to the below example written using our AI assistant:

9. Financial Plan

Presently, you are in the business planning phase, but devoting some time to putting together the most realistic financial projections is also crucial when you start seeking funding from investors.

It is a detailed blueprint of all the cash flow and revenue streams, initial startup costs for setting up your gym and equipment, profit margins, and operational costs.

So, mention all the below elements in your gym business plan outline:

  • Profit and loss statement
  • Cash flow statement
  • Balance sheet
  • Break-even analysis
  • Business ratios
  • Exit strategy

This financial forecast has a substantial value in terms of whether you secure funding or not. And evaluate the funding resources, including bank loans, SBA-guaranteed loans, crowdfunding, or personal savings.

Here’s an example of a projected P&L statement for a gym financial plan with the help of Upmetrics:

projected profit and losss statement for a gym business plan

Download Free Gym Business Plan PDF

Need help writing your gym business plan from scratch? Well, here you go; download our free gym business plan pdf now and start writing.

This modern, user-friendly business plan template is specifically designed for your gym business.

With a step-by-step guide and example, it helps you write a solid gym business plan without missing any crucial steps.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

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Start Drafting Your Plan with Upmetrics

With Upmetrics, you will get easy-to-follow steps, 400+ sample business plans, and AI support to streamline your business planning approach.

Our financial forecasting tool will help you develop accurate financial forecasts for 3 or more years if you’re not great with financial formulas.

Whether you’re venturing into a new business or aiming for expansion, Upmetrics provides valuable resources and insights to build successful and professional business plans that perfectly align with your objectives.

So, don’t wait; start planning now !

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Frequently asked questions, where can i find examples of successful gym business plans.

There are various online platforms where you can find sample business plan templates. Consider reputable sources like Upmetrics , which offers a successful gym business plan template for your specific needs.

What should I include in my gym business plan?

You should include the following key elements in your gym business plan:

  • Executive summary
  • Company overview
  • Industry and market analysis
  • Customer Analysis
  • Competitor analysis
  • Service offerings
  • Marketing Plan
  • Operations plan
  • Financial plan

What are important gym location factors to consider when writing a business plan?

While writing a business plan, consider the following gym location factors:

  • Easy accessibility and high visibility area
  • Assess the availability of sufficient parking space
  • Check and comply with local zoning laws and regulations
  • Analyze the local demographics to align with the target market
  • Evaluate the proximity of competitors

How often should I update my gym business plan?

It is very necessary to regularly update your gym business plan, especially in dynamic industries like gym & fitness. Consider updating it at least once a year or more often if there are significant changes in your business.

What are the common mistakes to avoid in a gym business plan?

Following are some of the most common mistakes you should consider avoiding when writing a gym business plan.

  • Ignoring thorough market research
  • Overestimating financial projections
  • Neglecting competitors analysis
  • Overlooking marketing strategy

About the Author

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Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

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Thinking about starting your own gym business? Don't sweat it, we've got you covered! With ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Gym Business, you can turn your fitness dreams into a reality.

Our template is the ultimate blueprint for success, helping you:

  • Outline your goals, strategies, and marketing plans to attract and retain clients
  • Project profitability and secure funding with a comprehensive financial plan
  • Stay organized throughout the development and operation of your gym

Whether you're a fitness enthusiast turned entrepreneur or a seasoned gym owner looking to level up, our template will guide you every step of the way. Get started today and build the gym empire you've always dreamed of!

Business Plan Template for Gym Business Benefits

When starting a gym business, having a solid business plan is crucial for success. With ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Gym Business, you can:

  • Clearly define your gym's mission, vision, and unique selling proposition
  • Create a comprehensive marketing plan to attract and retain customers
  • Outline your financial projections and budget to secure funding and investors
  • Set achievable goals and strategies for growth and expansion
  • Stay organized and track progress with task management and deadlines
  • Easily collaborate with partners and team members to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Main Elements of Gym Business Business Plan Template

When starting your gym business, it's crucial to have a well-structured business plan to guide your strategies and ensure success. ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Gym Business provides the following key elements:

  • Custom Statuses: Stay on top of your business plan progress with statuses like Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do.
  • Custom Fields: Utilize custom fields such as Reference, Approved, and Section to add specific details and track important information within your business plan.
  • Custom Views: Access different views like Topics, Status, Timeline, Business Plan, and Getting Started Guide to organize and visualize your gym business plan effectively.

With this template, you'll have the perfect foundation to outline your gym's goals, financial projections, marketing strategies, and more, ensuring a successful launch and operation.

How To Use Business Plan Template for Gym Business

If you're starting a gym business, creating a comprehensive business plan is crucial for success. With ClickUp's Business Plan Template, you can easily outline your goals and strategies. Follow these steps to effectively use the template:

1. Define your gym's mission and vision

Start by clearly defining your gym's mission statement and vision. What is the purpose of your gym? What do you hope to achieve? This will serve as the foundation for your business plan and guide all future decisions.

Use the Docs feature in ClickUp to write a compelling mission and vision statement for your gym.

2. Identify your target market

Next, identify your target market. Who are your ideal customers? Consider demographics such as age, gender, fitness goals, and location. Understanding your target market will help you tailor your marketing efforts and services to attract and retain customers.

Create custom fields in ClickUp to track key information about your target market, such as age range, fitness goals, and preferred workout styles.

3. Outline your services and pricing

Outline the services your gym will offer, such as personal training, group classes, or specialized programs. Determine the pricing structure for each service, taking into account your target market's budget and competitors' pricing.

Use the Table view in ClickUp to create a structured breakdown of your services and pricing options.

4. Develop a marketing strategy

A strong marketing strategy is essential for attracting new members to your gym. Determine the channels you will use to reach your target market, such as social media, local advertising, or partnerships with other businesses. Also, define your unique selling points and how you will differentiate your gym from competitors.

Utilize the Calendar view in ClickUp to plan and schedule your marketing activities, ensuring a consistent and effective approach.

5. Plan your financials and projections

Finally, outline your gym's financials and projections. Create a budget that includes startup costs, monthly expenses, revenue projections, and profit targets. Consider factors such as equipment purchases, rent, staff salaries, and marketing expenses.

Use the Dashboards feature in ClickUp to track and monitor your financials, allowing you to make informed decisions and adjust your plan as needed.

By following these steps and utilizing ClickUp's Business Plan Template, you can create a comprehensive and effective plan for your gym business. Good luck!

Get Started with ClickUp’s Business Plan Template for Gym Business

Entrepreneurs planning to start a gym business can use the Business Plan Template to outline their goals, strategies, finances, and marketing plans, helping them project profitability, secure funding, and stay organized throughout the development and operation of their gym.

To get started with the Business Plan Template for Gym Business:

Hit "Add Template" to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Designate the Space or location in your Workspace where you want this template applied.

Invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to collaborate on the business plan.

Take advantage of the full potential of this template to create a comprehensive gym business plan:

  • Use the Topics View to organize different sections of your business plan, such as Executive Summary, Market Analysis, Financial Projections, and Marketing Strategy.
  • The Status View will help you track the progress of each section, whether it's complete, in progress, needs revision, or to do.
  • The Timeline View allows you to set deadlines and milestones for each section, ensuring you stay on track.
  • Utilize the Business Plan View to get an overview of the entire plan and easily navigate between sections.
  • The Getting Started Guide View provides a step-by-step guide to help you complete each section of the business plan.

Customize the template by adding the custom fields: Reference, Approved, and Section. Use the Reference field to link supporting documents or resources, mark sections as Approved when finalized, and categorize sections using the Section field.

Update statuses, custom fields, and progress as you work on the business plan to keep everyone informed and ensure maximum productivity.

Monitor and analyze the business plan to make informed decisions, refine strategies, and secure funding for your gym business.

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Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template

The world's #1 business plan template.

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Gym Business Plan Template

The world’s #1 gym business plan template — it’s the quickest and easiest way to create a winning gym business plan, period.

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It Took Us 17 Years to Create the Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template for You

Hi, I’m Dave Lavinsky, the co-founder and President of Growthink.

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I’m honored and flattered to have been recognized as the world’s foremost business planning expert by BusinessWeek, Forbes and others.

Seventeen years ago we started writing business plans for entrepreneurs, executives and business owners like you.

During this time, we’ve helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and businesses achieve great success.

Using this vast experience, we have created and constantly refined Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template to be the hands-down quickest and easiest way to create a professional Gym business plan that allows you to raise capital and build a strategically sound business.

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INCREDIBLE FEATURES

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You can finally create a professional Gym business plan in less than 1 day thanks to these powerful features of Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template:

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Simply Fill in the Blanks

We’ve created simple, fill-in-the-blank exercises that guide you through all the key questions your Gym business plan must answer.

And we give you samples for every section of your plan.

Just type your answers directly into our template and you’re done!

gym business plan cover page

Automatic Financials

Simply type in some numbers, like your salary and expected growth, and our template automatically calculates your complete 5-year financial projections.

You’ll have your Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement, and multiple charts and graphs completed in minutes.

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Turn Your Ideas to Reality

If you don’t have an action plan for executing on your ideas, they’ll never materialize.

That’s why Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template includes an Operations Plan section.

This section takes you through our proven and proprietary process for creating an Operations Plan that will transform your ideas into reality.

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Improve Your Strategy

Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template helps you build a strategically sound business.

It guides you through key questions about your company, marketing and operations strategies, and gives you tons of ideas for improvement.

For example, in the Marketing Plan section, you’ll see several of the best marketing tactics to get new customers.

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Expert Answers

Our Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template “Members Area” gives answers to all your questions, plus access to our amazing customer support team.

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Raise Money Faster

The content and format of our Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template is tailored to the wants and needs of investors and lenders, so you raise more funding faster.

Our formula works wonders — our clients have raised over $2.5 BILLION!

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Lifetime Access

Once you purchase Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template, you have lifetime access to use it for any Gym business in which you’re involved, now or in the future.

There are no recurring or monthly fees for our template, just a one-time fee.

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Zero Learning Curve

There’s no software to learn or install.

You simply download, personalize & print our Microsoft Word® and Excel® compatible Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template. And it works flawlessly on both PCs and Macs.

This is yet another way you save precious time!

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This program includes 15 expert interviews (both audio recordings and transcripts) we conducted with top investors, lenders and entrepreneurs who have raised funding.

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$299 Value – Yours FREE

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Fast-Track Your Growth

We not only help you quickly and expertly finish your business plan, but we help you grow a thriving business.

We do this by giving you FREE instant access to our renowned “Productivity Secrets for Entrepreneurs” course ($197 value).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to your most frequently asked questions:.

Immediately upon purchasing Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template, you will be taken to our Member’s Area where you can instantly download our template and begin working on your business plan.

If for any reason you are not delighted with our product, simply contact our friendly support desk and you’ll be issued a full refund. You have an entire year to request a refund if desired.

Unlike other software that charges you a fee month after month after month, you only pay once for Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template and you own it.

You can create an unlimited number of business plans with Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template. Once you purchase it, you have lifetime access to use it for any business in which you’re involved, now or in the future.

Yes, Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template works flawlessly on both PCs and Macs.

Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template is designed for both established Gyms and startups.

Yes , you can! Anyone can easily follow our basic instructions and create a great business plan quickly and easily. Plus, my expert team is available to help you if you have any questions.

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“I was so happy to find your business plan template. It was just what I needed to get my new business started in the right direction. The template pushed me to think in areas I had not put much focus on before, and I was able to put all the information in a well laid out plan and have it look very professional.

When I approached the bank and they saw my business plan, they were blown away!

As they began to ask questions about my business and monies needed, I was able to answer without stumbling over my words because I had a well thought out plan. They told me they had never seen anyone so prepared to start a business as I was. This gave me great confidence as well as being able to secure a loan for all that I asked for and more!

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Gym Business Plan Template

Transform your fitness dreams into a reality with our free gym business plan template. Our template includes all the essential elements to help you create a comprehensive and professional business plan in no time. Download now and take the first step towards building a successful gym business.

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Download the template today!

Starting a gym business can be an exciting yet daunting task. With so many things to consider, it's easy to get overwhelmed and not know where to start. That's where our free gym business plan template comes in - to guide you through the process of creating a comprehensive business plan that can help turn your fitness dreams into a reality. In this article, we will highlight the features of our free gym business plan template and show you how simple it is to use.

Our free gym business plan template is a comprehensive document that outlines a successful gym business plan. It includes sections on market analysis, target customers, marketing strategies, financial projections, and more. With this template, you can have a clear and well-structured plan that will serve as a roadmap for your business.

One of the best things about our gym business plan template is that it is easy to use. It has a user-friendly interface that makes it simple to navigate through the various sections. Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur or just starting, our template is designed to cater to your needs. You don't have to be an expert in business planning or have any special skills to use it, just follow along with the examples.

To get started, all you have to do is download the template, which is available in both PDF and Word formats. Once you have downloaded it, you can start filling out the various sections with your business information. The template has pre-written sections that you can easily customize to fit your business needs. You can also add or remove sections depending on your preferences.

Our template includes a market analysis section where you will provide information on the fitness industry, target customers, competitors, and more. With this information, you can understand the market trends and determine the viability of your business.

The financial projections section is also crucial in the gym business plan. It provides a forecast of your business revenue and expenses for the next three to five years. This template demonstrates actual examples of the financial projections modules necessary for a gym business plan so you can model your financials after it.

Marketing is an essential aspect of any business, and the gym business is no exception. Our template includes a marketing strategy section that outlines different marketing channels, strategies, and tactics that can could help you promote your gym business. This section is designed to help you reach your target customers and build brand awareness.

Starting a gym business requires a lot of planning, and a well-structured gym business plan is essential. Our free gym business plan template offers all the features you need to create a comprehensive plan that can help you start and run a successful gym business. Download our free gym business plan template today and take the first step towards building your fitness empire!

Gym Business Plan Template Frequently Asked Questions

Q: why do i need a gym business plan.

A: A gym business plan is essential to starting and running a successful gym. It helps you clarify your business goals, define your target market, analyze the competition, identify financial projections, and develop a marketing strategy. Without a business plan, you may miss important details that can affect the success of your gym.

Q: Can I use a gym business plan to secure financing?

A: Yes, a gym business plan is an important tool for securing financing from lenders or investors. It provides them with an overview of your business, including your business concept, market analysis, financial projections, and marketing strategy. A well-written business plan can demonstrate your credibility and your ability to repay the loan or provide a return on investment.

Q: What should be included in a gym business plan?

A: A gym business plan should include an executive summary, business concept, market analysis, target market, marketing strategy, financial projections, and an operations plan. The executive summary should provide a brief overview of your business, while the business concept should detail your gym's services, facilities, and equipment. The market analysis should provide information on the fitness industry, target customers, and competitors, while the marketing strategy should outline how you plan to promote your gym. The financial projections should provide a forecast of your business revenue and expenses, and the operations plan should detail how you plan to run your gym on a day-to-day basis.

We Know a Good Business Plan When we See One

Collectively, our team has reviewed thousands of business plans and has nearly 20 years of experience making SBA loans. We've also helped more than 50,000 businesses create financial projections across many industries and geographies.

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Adam served as Executive Director for a SBA microlender in Indiana for over 10 years helping businesses and reviewing thousands of business plans.

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Grace has built hundreds of custom financial models for businesses as well as our projection templates which are used by thousands of businesses every year.

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Kyle served as an SBA loan officer for 7 years working directly with startups and business owners to review their business plans, projections, and prepare their loan package.

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Gym Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

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Gym Business Plan

If you want to start a gym or fitness center or expand your current gym business, you need a business plan.

The following sample fitness center business plan gives you the key elements to include in a winning business plan for a gym.

You can download our Gym Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Gym Business Plan Example

Below are links to each of the key sections of a solid gym business plan:

  • Executive Summary – The executive summary is a brief overview of your gym, including your company’s mission statement, target market, objectives, and goals. If you are seeking potential investors, it is important to make a good first impression with this section.
  • Company Overview – The company overview provides an overview of your company, including its history, legal structure, business model, and ownership structure.
  • Industry Analysis – Conducting an industry analysis is critical to understanding the market opportunity for your business. This section should include a description of the fitness industry, its size, growth potential, and key players.
  • Customer Analysis – This section of your fitness business plan should describe your target customers, including their demographics, needs, and fitness habits.

Download our Gym Business Plan Template and learn how to start a gym business plan.

  • Competitive Analysis – Conducting a competitive analysis is essential to understanding the landscape of the market you are entering. This section should include an overview of your direct and indirect competitors, their market share, their strengths and weaknesses, along with your competitive advantage and unique selling point.
  • Marketing Plan – Your marketing plan should describe the marketing strategies you plan to use for reaching your target audience. This section should include your pricing strategy, membership fees, advertising and promotional strategies.
  • Operations Plan – In the operations plan, you should describe your fitness center, exercise equipment and fitness classes, as well as your personal trainers and their qualifications.
  • Management Team – This section of your gym business plan should describe the experience and qualifications of your management team.
  • Financial Plan – The financial plan should include your financial projections (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement), as well as how you plan to secure funding such as bank loans.

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Gym Business Plan Sample

gym business plan template

Fitness Business Plan Template (+ Free Examples)

Use this free fitness business plan template to modify and use as you learn how to create a fitness business plan.

Fitness Business Plan Template

Do you dream of starting your own fitness business ? With the increasing demand for health and wellness services, now is the perfect time to turn your passion for fitness into a profitable venture. There are many ways to make money with fitness (you can even start a fitness business from home or start a fitness business with no money ). However, before diving headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive fitness business plan that will serve as your roadmap to success.

Fitness Income Ideas

Looking to start a fitness business? Our comprehensive fitness business plan template will guide you through the process, helping you create a solid foundation for success. Then learn how to create a gym business plan , how to create a gym budget , how to create a gym sales forecast , how to get a gym loan , and more—all part of understanding how much it costs to open a gym , how to start a fitness business , and how to start a gym . Or maybe you want to learn how to become a fitness influencer —we’ve got you covered with the best online fitness coaching software and the best fitness software for fitness influencers who want to start a fitness influencer business online.

And, of course, managing your fitness business online with the best gym management software and the best personal training software means that you can easily create fitness session plans, waivers, forms, fitness assessments, lead forms, registration forms, online booking, workout plans, and much more. Save yourself some time and hassle and get a demo with the best fitness business platform: Exercise.com.

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Fitness Business Plan Template

[business/brand name], executive summary.

Business Concept

  • Briefly describe the fitness business idea, its core offerings, and unique value proposition.
  • Outline the short-term and long-term goals of the business.

Mission Statement

  • A clear statement defining the business’s purpose and approach to reaching its goals.

Vision Statement

  • A depiction of what the business aspires to achieve in the future.

Business Description

Nature of the Business

  • Detailed explanation of the type of fitness business (e.g., gym, personal training studio, online coaching service).

Target Market

  • Description of the target demographic and their fitness needs.
  • Details about the business location and why it’s beneficial.

Market Analysis

Industry Overview

  • Overview of the fitness industry, current trends, and future projections.

Target Market Analysis

  • Detailed analysis of the target market, including demographic, psychographic, and behavioral aspects.

Competitive Analysis

  • Analysis of competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, and your business’s competitive edge.

Services and Products

Service/Product Offering

  • Detailed description of services and products offered (e.g., personal training, group classes, wellness programs).

Pricing Strategy

  • Rationale behind pricing models for services and products.

Marketing and Sales Strategy

Marketing Plan

  • Strategies for reaching and attracting the target market.
  • Channels and tactics to be used (e.g., social media marketing, community events, referral programs).

Sales Strategy

  • Approach for converting prospects into customers.
  • Sales funnel and customer journey mapping.

Operational Plan

Daily Operations

  • Description of daily business operations, including opening hours and staffing.

Facilities and Equipment

  • Details about the physical space and equipment required for the business.

Suppliers and Partnerships

  • Information on any third-party suppliers and partnerships.

Management and Organization

Organizational Structure

  • Breakdown of the business’s organizational structure.
  • Roles and responsibilities of key team members.

Management Team

  • Profiles of key management team members.

Financial Plan

Start-Up Costs

  • Detailed list of initial expenses to start the business.

Revenue Projections

  • Forecast of revenue for the first few years.

Profit and Loss Statement

  • Projection of income, expenses, and profitability.

Funding Requirements

  • Total amount of capital needed to start and run the business.
  • Plans for securing funding (e.g., loans, investors).
  • Additional supporting documents like market research data, resumes of key team members, detailed financial forecasts.

Using a platform like Exercise.com can significantly enhance the operation of a fitness business. Its comprehensive tools for client management, workout programming, scheduling, and reporting can streamline business processes and improve client engagement and retention.

This template provides a structured approach for creating a fitness business plan. It can be customized to reflect the specifics of your fitness business idea, market, and operational strategy.

Fitness Business Plan Example 1: Dynamic Pulse Gym

Dynamic pulse gym.

  • Dynamic Pulse Gym, a state-of-the-art fitness center specializing in personalized training programs and high-energy group classes.
  • Short-term: Establish a member base of 500 within the first year.
  • Long-term: Expand to multiple locations and incorporate wellness services.
  • To provide an empowering fitness environment that motivates members to achieve their health goals.
  • To be recognized as the premier fitness destination in [City/Region] that transforms lives through innovative fitness solutions.
  • A full-service gym offering cutting-edge equipment, diverse fitness classes, and personalized training.
  • Health-conscious adults aged 20-50, looking for a motivating and supportive fitness environment.
  • Situated in [City/Region], in a densely populated area with high foot traffic.
  • Growing interest in personal health and fitness, with an increase in demand for versatile workout options.
  • Busy professionals and fitness enthusiasts seeking convenient and varied workout options.
  • Competitors include local gyms and fitness studios. Dynamic Pulse Gym differentiates itself with advanced technology integration and a wide range of services.
  • Personalized fitness assessments, one-on-one personal training, various group classes like yoga, spin, and HIIT.
  • Wellness workshops and nutritional counseling sessions.
  • Competitive membership fees with premium options for additional services.
  • Launch campaign with social media ads, local partnerships, and community events.
  • Ongoing engagement through a referral program, member testimonials, and fitness challenges.
  • Focus on building relationships through free trial sessions and personalized gym tours.
  • Implement a tiered membership system to cater to different customer needs.
  • Operation hours from 5 AM to 11 PM, with a staff of trained fitness professionals.
  • 10,000 square feet facility equipped with cardio machines, weightlifting areas, a yoga studio, and a spin room.
  • Equipment sourced from leading manufacturers; partnerships with local wellness brands.
  • Led by a CEO, with departments for operations, marketing, and training.
  • CEO with extensive experience in the fitness industry.
  • Operations Manager with a background in gym management.
  • Marketing Manager skilled in digital marketing.
  • Estimated $250,000 for facility lease, equipment purchase, and initial marketing.
  • Projected $500,000 revenue in the first year based on membership and service sales.
  • Expected profitability within the first two years with controlled operating expenses.
  • Seeking $300,000 in funding for initial start-up and operational costs.
  • Market research data, equipment lists, detailed biographies of management team members.

Exercise.com’s comprehensive platform enhances Dynamic Pulse Gym’s operational efficiency, offering seamless scheduling, client management, workout creation, and progress tracking. This robust system ensures that Dynamic Pulse Gym operates at the forefront of the fitness industry with superior client engagement and retention.

Fitness Business Plan Example 2: Holistic Harmony Online Coaching

Holistic harmony online coaching.

  • Holistic Harmony, an online coaching service focusing on holistic health, combining fitness, nutrition, and mental wellness.
  • Short-term: Build a client base of 100 active clients in six months.
  • Long-term: Develop a holistic wellness app and expand service offerings.
  • To guide clients towards a balanced lifestyle through tailored online coaching.
  • To become a leading online platform for holistic health and wellness coaching.
  • Online personal coaching with a holistic approach, offering custom workout plans, nutrition advice, and mindfulness coaching.
  • Individuals seeking a balanced approach to health, particularly remote workers and those with busy lifestyles.
  • Fully online operation with the potential for global reach.
  • Increasing demand for online health services and a shift towards holistic health approaches.
  • Individuals aged 25-45, primarily working professionals who prefer the flexibility of online coaching.
  • Other online fitness and wellness platforms. Holistic Harmony’s comprehensive approach and personalized services provide a competitive edge.
  • Custom online fitness programs, nutritional planning, and virtual mindfulness sessions.
  • Subscription-based pricing with different tiers based on service levels.
  • Digital marketing strategy focusing on content marketing, influencer collaborations, and targeted social media campaigns.
  • Offering free initial consultations and introductory discounts to new clients.
  • Leveraging testimonials and success stories for client acquisition.
  • Regular client check-ins, content creation for the platform, and ongoing program adjustments.
  • No physical facility required. Investment in a high-quality website and coaching software.
  • Collaboration with freelance nutritionists and mental health experts.
  • Founder-led with a small team of certified coaches and administrative support.
  • Founder with expertise in fitness training and holistic health.
  • Team of freelance professionals for specialized coaching needs.
  • Approximately $50,000 for website development, marketing, and initial software setup.
  • Anticipated $150,000 in the first year, based on subscription model and consulting services.
  • Profitability projected within the first year with minimal operating expenses.
  • Seeking $75,000 in seed funding for initial setup and marketing.
  • Detailed website plan, service descriptions, and credentials of coaching team.

Utilizing Exercise.com’s versatile platform, Holistic Harmony can streamline client management, workout and nutrition plan creation, and progress monitoring. This platform facilitates efficient operations and high client engagement, positioning Holistic Harmony as an innovative leader in online holistic coaching.

These examples demonstrate how a fitness business plan can be structured for different types of fitness ventures, emphasizing the integration of Exercise.com as a key tool for operational efficiency and enhanced client service.

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Why You Need a Fitness Business Plan

A fitness business plan is more than just a document. It is your blueprint for building a thriving fitness empire. Whether you are seeking investors or planning to self-finance your venture, a well-crafted business plan will demonstrate your understanding of the industry, your target market, and your sustainable competitive advantage. Moreover, it will provide you with a clear roadmap and actionable strategies to navigate through the challenges and uncertainties that come with starting and running a fitness business.

Additionally, a fitness business plan can help you secure funding from banks or other financial institutions. Lenders often require a detailed business plan to assess the viability and potential profitability of your fitness business. By including financial projections, market analysis, and a comprehensive marketing strategy in your plan, you can increase your chances of obtaining the necessary funding to launch or expand your fitness venture.

Key Components of a Fitness Business Plan

When creating a fitness business plan, there are several key components that you need to include. These components will ensure that your plan covers all essential aspects of your fitness business, allowing you to make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively.

The first component is setting clear goals and objectives for your fitness business. This includes defining what you want to achieve and outlining specific milestones that will measure your progress. By setting clear goals, you can stay focused and motivated throughout your journey.

The second component is defining your target market. Understanding your ideal customers is crucial for tailoring your products and services to their needs and preferences. By conducting thorough market research, you can identify your target market’s demographics, interests, and pain points, enabling you to position your fitness business as the ultimate solution.

Next, you need to develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for your fitness business. Your USP is what sets you apart from your competitors and gives your target market a compelling reason to choose your fitness services over others. By identifying your unique value proposition, you can communicate your brand’s distinctiveness effectively.

Another essential component is analyzing the competition in the fitness industry. By assessing your competitors, their strengths, weaknesses, and market positioning, you can gain valuable insights to refine your business strategies and maximize your competitive advantage.

Creating a comprehensive marketing strategy is also crucial for attracting and retaining customers. Your marketing strategy should outline the channels and tactics you will use to reach your target market effectively. This includes online and offline marketing, social media, content creation, and building strategic partnerships.

Designing your products and services is another vital component of your fitness business plan. You need to clearly outline the range of services you will offer, including personal training, group classes, or specialized programs. Additionally, you should consider the equipment, facilities, and technology required to deliver exceptional experiences to your clients.

Outlining financial projections is essential for creating a sustainable business. This includes estimating your revenue, expenses, and profit margins. By projecting your financials, you can determine pricing strategies that balance profitability and competitiveness.

Estimating startup costs and funding sources is another critical component of your fitness business plan. This involves identifying the capital required to launch and operate your business and exploring financing options, such as loans, investors, or personal savings.

Formulating a management and organizational structure is crucial for streamlining your operations and ensuring smooth business processes. This includes defining roles and responsibilities, creating a hierarchy, and establishing efficient communication channels.

An effective sales and customer service strategy is essential for driving revenue and creating customer loyalty. You need to define how you will generate sales, whether through memberships, packages, or partnerships. Additionally, you should outline your approach to customer service, including feedback collection, complaint handling, and staff training.

Developing a strong brand identity is crucial for standing out in the crowded fitness market. Your brand identity should encompass your mission, values, visual elements, and tone of voice. By aligning your brand with your target market’s aspirations, you can create a powerful connection that inspires loyalty and drives referrals.

Implementing technology solutions is vital for enhancing your fitness business’s operations. This includes utilizing management software, scheduling systems, and online booking platforms to streamline administrative tasks and improve customer engagement.

Creating an actionable timeline and milestones will ensure that you stay on track and achieve your business goals within a specific timeframe. This involves breaking down your business plan into smaller, manageable tasks and setting deadlines to complete them.

Evaluating risk factors and formulating contingency plans is necessary for protecting your fitness business from potential threats and uncertainties. By identifying risks and establishing protocols to mitigate their impact, you can ensure business continuity and resilience.

Finally, monitoring and reviewing the performance of your fitness business based on the plan is essential for making data-driven decisions and adapting to market changes. By regularly analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs), such as revenue, customer satisfaction, and employee productivity, you can identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments to drive growth.

In conclusion, creating a comprehensive fitness business plan is the first step towards turning your fitness passion into a successful business venture. By addressing all key components, you can ensure that your plan covers every critical aspect of your fitness business, allowing you to make informed decisions and navigate challenges with confidence. Remember, a well-crafted business plan is not only a roadmap; it is your recipe for success in the ever-evolving fitness industry.

Jimmy Myers Relentless Sports Performance

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How to Make a Gym Business Plan: The Ultimate Guide

Barbara Stankovic

  • June 26, 2024
  • For Gym Owners

Gym business plan concept illustration

Are you an aspiring gym business owner looking to make this exciting endeavor as smooth as possible? Whether you are just starting out or are knee-deep into the whole process, there are ways to ensure this venture doesn’t turn sour. Crafting a comprehensive gym business plan is your ticket to success .

However, this is often easier said than done. So, to help you navigate this crucial aspect of running your own business, we put together an ultimate guide.

We will cover everything from the basics of a business plan to the necessary steps for creating your own. Read on and let’s turn your gym business dream into reality!

What Is a Gym Business Plan?

A gym business plan is a document that outlines the gym’s mission , vision, objectives, strategies, and financial projections. Essentially, it serves as a blueprint that guides your decisions and actions when starting and running your gym.

Did you know that 81% of fitness studios fail within their first year? Given this high number, knowing how to make a gym business plan that works has become more important than ever.

Creating a well-thought-out business plan doesn’t only serve you but your potential investors as well. Starting a gym can be a price venture, and doing it on your own is often not an option. You need to think about securing the financing needed to start, but in order to do so, you need to show investors that you have a clear picture of the whole process .

A comprehensive fitness gym business plan demonstrates that you have thoroughly researched the market, understood your target audience, and have a strategy in mind for conquering the competitive landscape.

In continuation, we will cover each component of a business plan, breaking down the process into steps so that you can easily craft yours by the end.

What Every Gym Business Plan Should Include

Having a business plan may now seem like a necessary step if you want your gym to succeed. But that still doesn’t tell you how to write a gym business plan from scratch. The important thing to remember is that business plans can vary just as much as businesses do . This can make it hard to be sure you are creating something that actually makes sense.

Fortunately, the whole process is not as arbitrary as you may think. There is a simple gym business plan template you can follow when creating your own unique blueprint. To make it easy, we’ll break each component into a manageable section.

1. Executive summary

Executive summary is an introduction to your business plan that should provide an overview of all the key points. Even though it’s the first section it’s often written last so nothing’s left out.

It should clearly outline your business’s purpose and goals, what you aim to achieve, and how you plan to address the objectives. Make sure it’s attention-grabbing so potential investors keep reading your plan and not discard your whole idea. Also, don’t make it too long; think of it as a sort of elevator pitch for your business, it should be captivating and clear.

Aim to answer the following questions:

  • Who are you?
  • What are you offering?
  • What is your mission?
  • How are you going to accomplish it?
  • What’s your vision?

2. Company description

Company description defines your gym’s identity and purpose. It should also cover what you intend to achieve in the long run.

What are your gym’s core values? Are you aiming for excellence or inclusivity? These values define your gym’s culture and shape how you interact with your clients and employees . They help you stay consistent and make your gym stand out.

Remember to include your foundation story. People love hearing background stories about their favorite businesses, and they make you, as an owner, more human. Investors want to know where you are coming from and what you aspire your business to be . Look at it this way: the more they know, the more likely they are to trust you.

Include the legal structure of your business . Whether it’s a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or corporation, this will give you and your investors an idea of your gym’s power structure.

Lastly, include some Unique Selling Points. USPs should cover what sets you apart from the competition . Not every gym is the same, so be sure you clearly state what makes yours so different. Do your research and see what’s missing in the market. Are there any gaps you can fill? Be sure to give investors a reason to choose your gym business over someone else’s.

3. Market analysis

A gym’s business plan must include a comprehensive analysis of the current market. Market analysis aims to understand the dynamics, trends, and opportunities in the fitness industry .

In this step, you will define your niche, determine the overall market size, and identify your ideal customers.

Market analysis for creating a successful gym business plan

4. Competitor analysis

Competitor analysis refers to evaluating your rivals’ strengths, weaknesses, and strategies . When looking at the fitness industry as a whole, it’s practically impossible not to see what’s already out there, which is a great thing. Examining others can give you an opportunity to differentiate your gym and gain a unique position in the market .

Begin by identifying main competitors in your local area and later on expand to indirect competitors. This way you will also gain insight into what can be sold or additionally offered in your gym.

When checking out your competition, don’t forget to look into their strategies. If a fitness center is popular, that is likely for a good reason. See if you can implement something in your gym business plan.

Lastly, carefully evaluate weaknesses so you know what areas they fall short in meeting customers’ needs.

5. Services and products

Services and products are pivotal points of any successful gym business. They attract new customers and retain existing members .

In this section of a gym business plan, outline all that you offer, but highlight what makes your gym unique.

Is there something you offer that people can’t get someplace else?

Perfect, make it a focal point of this section so it’s obvious what sets your gym apart. This includes unique features, special programs, or amenities that meet the diverse needs of your target audience.

Go into as much detail as possible, mention different membership plans, necessary equipment, facilities and fitness classes. Having everything on a paper will also help you avoid making unnecessary purchases down the road.

6. Organization and management

The organization and management part of a gym business plan should cover the organizational structure and the management team that will oversee everything .

Who are the owners? And what percentage do they have? Are you planning on running a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company?

All of these should be defined in this part of the business plan so it’s clear who makes the decisions .

Staffing and organization in a gym business plan

Additionally, outline the key employees in your gym’s management team and your staffing plans for the future. Include the number of front desk managers, personal trainers, maintenance staff, administrative staff, etc.

How do you plan on executing training and development for your employees? And what are some HR policies and procedures you plan on implementing?

While this may seem a bit excessive, especially if you are just starting out, having a mindset of “I’ll just wing it” or “That all will easily fall into place once a gym starts running” can scare potential investors away and cost you your gym’s success.

Don’t get us wrong; it’s not like there is no flexibility whatsoever. We are not saying a gym business plan is set in stone; rather, it’s there to help you stay on the right path.

7. Marketing

It’s surely not surprising that the fitness industry is extremely competitive, so how can you ensure your gym stands out from the crowd?

Marketing is essential for attracting new members, building brand awareness, and driving business growth . In this section of a business plan for a gym, outline strategies and tactics you plan on using in order to promote your business, engage with the perfect audience, and differentiate your gym from the others.

You should clearly emphasize your brand identity, values, and personality in this segment . Also, include a plan for establishing your online presence through a professional website and social media platforms. Cover all the marketing channels you plan on utilizing and the promotional campaigns you plan on carrying out. When deciding on appropriate marketing efforts, always consider your target audience and what’s the best way to reach them.

Crafting a comprehensive marketing strategy for a gym business plan

Marketing can be expensive, so be sure you allocate an appropriate budget. However, don’t go overboard. You don’t have to make use of all channels. Once you are sure who you want to target, your business plan should outline all the ways to get to them.

When it comes to advertising, hitting all the boxes can be tricky, but it’s important to do so, as it can either make or break your business. To help you make a proper plan and execute it correctly, we put together this guide on gym marketing ideas and strategies that work.

8. Sales strategy

Sales strategy refers to a part of a gym business plan that outlines tactics and techniques you’ll use to drive sales, maximize revenue, and increase customer retention . This essentially includes all strategies for converting prospects into loyal customers.

As you can probably guess, sales strategies are closely related to marketing efforts, and developing one can’t be successful without considering the other.

Make sure you answer these questions in this part of the plan:

  • What are your sales goals and objectives?
  • How will you communicate pricing and membership options?
  • What’s a follow-up strategy for prospects not yet ready for purchase?
  • How will you train and develop your sales team?
  • What lead-generating strategies do you plan on using to gain new members?

9. Operations plan

Behind the scenes of every successful gym is a well-organized and efficient operations plan. This plan ensures smooth day-to-day functioning and exceptional customer experience .

When creating your gym business plan, outline the logistical and operational details that cover how your gym will run on a daily basis. From facility management to staff scheduling , this section provides insight into the operational framework that supports the overall success of your gym.

In this segment, you should also include inventory management and specify how the supplies and equipment will be ordered and stored. Next, cover customer service so both you and your potential investors can see how important client satisfaction is and how it will be handled.

For many, this is one of the most important parts of running a business, and it can become pretty overwhelming. But there are ways to make it more manageable.

How can a gym management software help you run a successful business?

Handling all day-to-day operations by yourself can be a huge burden on your time. But leaving it all to software can be a bit scary. After all, not every booking solution is cut for this job. Meet Trafft , a gym management software designed specifically with the unique needs of fitness business owners in mind .

trafft fitness scheduling software to boost your bookings, organization, management, and gym marketing

With Trafft, your members can easily book their workouts, group classes, and personal training sessions online, giving them the flexibility they desire and freeing up your staff’s time to focus on delivering exceptional service.

But that’s far from all that Trafft can do for you. In addition to maximizing your facility’s usage, avoiding double booking , and optimizing class capacities, Trafft’s appointment reminders and follow-up messages can enhance communication with your members and keep them engaged in their fitness journey .

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If you are interested in your gym’s performance, including attendance trends, revenue tracking, and member satisfaction, there is no better tool than Trafft .

Sounds interesting? Check out all the Trafft’s features and see why so many successful gyms are already using it.

10. Funding request

Opening a gym business is a pricey endeavor, so you will likely need some financing help along the way. But how do you include this in your business plan and secure what you need?

Whether you’re seeking investment from other individuals, loans from financial institutions, or contributions from private investors, the Funding Request section of your business plan should clearly outline your needs . But don’t just put a number and call it a day. You need to explain how you plan on using the funds to launch and grow your business .

Be sure to cover the following expense categories:

  • Purchasing or renting a facility
  • Equipment costs
  • Marketing and advertising
  • Working capital

11. Financial Projections

Finally, your gym business plan should include financial projections for the future. In this section, you should have a detailed forecast of your gym’s financial performance over a specified period , typically five to several years.

By presenting realistic and data-driven projections, you demonstrate your gym business’s revenue-generating potential and profitability. This instills confidence in stakeholders and helps you secure the necessary funding for your venture.

How to Create a Successful Gym Business Plan

Creating a business plan can be an overwhelming task, but once it is broken down into steps, it becomes much more manageable. But how can you ensure that the plan you create will yield good results?

Well, besides closely following the structure we mentioned, there are some additional tips that can help you further.

Collect data

When creating a business plan, the more data you have, the better you can make your plan . Research and data collection will ensure you make informed decisions every step of the way .

Start by diving deeper into your target audience. See how old they are, what their workout habits are, and what they want to achieve. Then, move on to researching your competitors. What are they doing right, and how can you fill any gaps they have left? What are their marketing tactics and pricing strategies? This all will come in handy when crafting your perfect plan.

Lastly, don’t overlook collecting data about your business. Once your gym is up and running, see how satisfied your clients are, how good membership sells, and how well your employees perform. Trafft’s business dashboard helps you analyze occupancy, employee performance and much more with just one glance!

Set the right goals

People often get carried away when defining what they want to achieve. While being ambitious is always a good thing, having too many goals can lead to achieving none of them. When defining where you want your business to be in a few months or years , try utilizing SMART criteria.

The acronym SMART stands for goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Clarity and precision in goal-setting will help you see what you have achieved and what you need to work on further .

Focus on details

Focusing on details will guarantee that every aspect of your gym business plan is thoroughly considered and carefully planned out . Delving into the specifics will give you deeper insights into the opportunities and challenges facing your gym business. On the other hand, no investor wants to read a business plan that is feeble and covers only the basics.

Maintaining clarity and going into as much detail as possible lays a solid foundation for successfully implementing your business plan .

Update your business plan

We already mentioned that the gym business plan is a blueprint for how you plan to run your business. The fitness industry is always changing, so to ensure you are evolving with it, review your business plan regularly and change what is no longer relevant .

Keeping your business plan up-to-date demonstrates your commitment to staying agile and adaptive in a dynamic landscape, positioning your gym for sustained growth and success .

Speak to a professional

Seeking advice from a professional can provide invaluable insights and expertise needed to make your business plan a success . Whether it’s a business consultant, fitness industry expert, or financial advisor, consulting with professionals can provide guidance where necessary.

By leveraging their expertise, you can strengthen your business plan, lower risks, and maximize opportunities for success. Remember, investing in professional advice is investing in your gym’s future growth .

Speaking with a professional before creating a perfect gym business plan

Understanding how to make a business plan for a fitness center is crucial for aspiring gym owners looking to navigate the complexities of this industry successfully.

By following the step-by-step guidance provided here, you can craft a comprehensive business plan that not only outlines your gym’s mission, vision, and objectives but also serves as a strategic roadmap for achieving your goals .

From conducting thorough market and competitor analysis to defining your gym’s unique selling points and sales strategies, each component of your business plan is instrumental in shaping the future of your gym business .

By meticulously detailing your plans, setting SMART goals, and seeking professional advice when needed, you can enhance the likelihood of securing funding and ultimately building a thriving gym business.

Take the time to develop a business plan that reflects your passion for fitness, addresses the needs of your target market, and positions your gym for long-term success. And if you need any help along the way, discover how to grow a gym with Trafft .

Barbara Stankovic

  • Barbara Stankovic

Barbara Stankovic is a Content Creator who enjoys exploring diverse perspectives and crafting compelling narratives. With more than 3 years of experience in content writing, she always strives to create materials that inform and entertain. Drawing from her background in psychology, Barbara brings a unique understanding of human behavior to her works. Beyond exploring the complexities of the human mind and emotions, she also loves hiking, reading, baking, and spending time with her two dogs.

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How to Create a Fitness Studio Business Plan

February 8, 2023

gym business plan cover page

Whether you are starting a studio, or already run one, a well-crafted fitness studio business plan is essential for building a profitable fitness business. A solid gym business plan helps you stay on track by identifying key market dynamics, illuminating opportunities for competitive advantage, and giving you key performance metrics to focus on. 

Your fitness studio business plan may drive such critical decisions as where to locate your gym, how large a space to buy or lease, how many staff members you hire, what their pay rates should be, how many fitness classes and what type of classes and training programs you’ll offer, and the most effective ways to promote your fitness business. 

If you own and operate an already established fitness business, revising your business plan – or creating one if you never have – can make a huge difference in boosting your bottom line and helping you to grow, especially if your gym’s growth has plateaued. A business plan is a constantly evolving blueprint that should reflect where your fitness business is in the moment, and let stakeholders know where you’re going and how you plan to get there. 

In this post, we’ll review the elements of a solid small gym fitness plan, give you some gym business plan examples and links to gym business plan templates.

Here are the key elements of any good fitness studio business plan:

Executive summary.

In this section of your gym’s business plan get down on paper your “why.” What is the purpose of your fitness business plan? What elements will you include in your gym’s business plan and why? How will this business plan demonstrate the viability of your fitness studio over time? What are your long term goals and how will you define success? Consider this section your “elevator pitch.” 

Starting a fitness business is no small feat. Doing your homework up front will not only give you confidence to weather the ups and downs of running your own business, but show potential investors that you’re prepared. Imagine being an investor who is reading your business plan, and whom you want to assure that you’ve got a solid vision backed up by well researched facts and figures. Add a few lines about your fitness business’s “why” that inspire and demonstrate your passion and commitment as a small gym or fitness business entrepreneur. 

Company Overview

This is the place to give all the details about who, what, where, when and why your fitness business exists. Include your mission and vision plus a detailed description of the type of services your fitness business offers and to whom. How is your gym or fitness studio structured? Is it independently owned by one or more people? Is it a franchise? Is there more than one location? What is the ownership structure? Are there shares? How are important business decisions made and by whom? 

This is the place to give clear, concise information about the products and services you offer, why you started your fitness business and what differentiates you in your local market. 

Industry Analysis

Taking time to research your market, understand trends and map the competitive landscape can make or break a fitness business, whether you’re in start-up mode, or an established player. 

What is your population size? How far are the people living in your area willing to travel to work out? What is your target demographic in terms of age, gender, income and other lifestyle factors? Pinpoint your major competitors. Get to know their pricing and promotions. Is there an unmet need in your area that your fitness business can tap into? You may want to consider using a SWOT format, outlining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for competing gyms and your fitness studio. 

Also, make sure you’re on top of the latest national and global fitness industry trends like online workouts and gym-goers’ preference for small boutique fitness experiences versus big box gyms. What innovative programs and services are top companies offering? Why? 

Marketing Strategy

Many small fitness business plans rely solely on word of mouth to promote their gym. While getting great recommendations through your community is an essential step in building a thriving fitness community, long-term, your fitness studio needs to have a solid, multi-channel marketing strategy to maximize your brand’s exposure to potential new customers. 

In today’s competitive fitness industry landscape, it’s essential to understand how to efficiently use digital marketing platforms like social media, local search and email. To effectively run promotional programs, having a fitness business software platform that tracks your customer’s engagement and includes email, web and social media integrations is essential. 

List all the key members of your fitness studio’s leadership team and include professional, biographical information that highlights their skills and experience. Your gym’s leadership team could include owners, board members, investors, lead instructors, sales and customer service representative and any business advisors you may have brought on board. 

Describe how each person on the team will guide your fitness business to success. Consider including compensation structures and information about performance bonuses. Plan ahead for an eventual sale of your fitness business and formalize how owners and/or investors will be paid. 

This is the section where many new business owners are overly optimistic. Base your financial projections on fact and always over-estimate expenses and under-estimate revenues. This includes being realistic about membership sales, seasonal fluctuations, attendance and staff turn-over. Calculate your gym’s monthly expenses and then figure out what your revenue per class or training session needs to be to cover your expenses plus owners’ compensation. From here you can determine how many class passes and/or monthly membership’s your fitness business will need to be profitable. 

There can be a high turn-over rate in the gym business, so you’ll need a steady stream of potential new students coming through your doors each month, and know at what rate they will convert into long-term customers. Know your fitness niche’s average new student conversion rate. 

Build out at least five years of financial profit and loss estimates. Be sure to take into account any rent increases in your lease, taxes, increases in instructor pay and get granular with your expenses, from phone and internet to Facebook ads to the toilet paper in the bathroom, and don’t forget all those new cleaning products you’ll need to operate safely and courteously in a post-pandemic world. 

Gym Business Plan Templates

BusinessPlanTemplate.com This site offers a free outline of all the core content you’ll need to include in a fitness studio business plan. You can purchase a step-by-step business plan builder, including access to customer service and expert advise for $97. Business Plan Template.com is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and has strong, positive ratings from satisfied customers. 

Bplans If you need a bit of inspiration check out or Bplans DIY gym sample plans for fitness centers, corporate fitness, gyms, health clubs, as well as martial arts studios, gymnastics schools, and a number of other athletics businesses.

For those who want a higher level of support in creating a full fleged, modern business plan, Bplans offers a paid option called LivePlan . It contains the same templates and information you can access for free on the company’s website, plus additional guidance to help you develop a complete plan. Pricing starts at $12/mo. for a year subscription or $18/mo for a 6 mo. plan.

Institute of Personal Trainers This well-respected trade organization offers personal trainers a free business plan that includes step-by-step instructions. You can download the guide using the link on the association’s website. The institute understand that during the process of writing a business plan you will be presented with questions, ideas or challenges that you might not have thought of before. According to the organization, this alone makes it worth doing.

Remember, it’s better to start the process of creating a gym business plan, even if you feel intimidated, than to procrastinate until you feel you’ll get it perfectly right. There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained simply by going through the process. Writing out your fitness studio business plan may open your eyes to blind spots in your business strategy or long-term performance goals and shift your business into a whole new realm of growth opportunity in the coming year. 

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Your business is unique and will differ from any example or template you come across. So, use this example as a starting point and customize it to your needs.

2. Remember it's just an example

Our sample business plans are examples of what one business owner did. That doesn't make them perfect or require you to cram your business idea to fit the plan structure.

Use the information, financials, and formatting for inspiration. It will speed up and guide the plan writing process.

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How To Create A Gym Business Plan? Step-by-step Guide For Fitness Centers

  • Updated on May 10, 2023

Most gym rats’ dream is to start a gym business . You would see tons of confusing information when you start googling how to open a gym. Here is the complete guide for starting a fitness business and writing a gym business plan.

Table Of Content

  • Why does Gyms Become So Popular?
  • The Nature of the Sports Business

What types of Fitness Business Are There?

  • How to start a Fitness Business?
  • How to Write a Gym Business Plan?

How to charge the customer for a Fitness Center?

  • How to start an online Fitness Coaching Business?

The Total Cost to Open a Gym

Why does gyms become so popular.

In the Modern World, people are getting more calories than they need so they become fat. For their health and look so many people are demanding fitness centers. That’s why so many new gyms (fitness centers) are opening and they all need a gym business plan.

Therefore, people are trying to take care of their bodies. There are 2 reasons to start a gym or take a personal trainer from fitness coaches .

fitness-business-plan-S03

A Sound Mind in A Sound Body

As we said, modern consumption addictions, make everybody eat more than they need. It is one of the biggest reasons that there are more health issues related to food consumption. People who really care about it, are looking for a way to lose weight. Especially, easiest method for it is starting a fitness.

Look Good, Be Good

2nd biggest reason is starting a gym is, of course looking good 😊. When people look better, they have more confidence. It leads to a better, happier life. In other words, whoever does fitness regularly, can feel better, and builds confidence, and self-love.

In Conclusion, people have their own reasons to start a gym but as a result of this kind of demand, more people are thinking about how to open a gym.

The Nature of Gym Business and Gym Business Plan

Whoever thinking about starting a fitness business , should understand that their best ad that their trainers ! When customers start wondering about a fitness center, they just don’t look for a place to train, most people still do not have enough knowledge to train in a better way. Also, most people need help from an expert trainer .

In other words, people just don’t come for a fitness center, they also come for an expert trainer. Expert trainers might be hard to find in your area, but it is an important part of starting a gym business.

Lastly, the nature of a successful sports business lays down how people want to look so your PT’s (Personal Trainers’) body would be an example and goal for the customer.

Business-Plan-Template-Someka-Excel-SS1

Currently, there are several types of Fitness businesses in the market. We can count them as, PT businesses (Personal trainer businesses), casual gym businesses, inclusive fitness center businesses, CrossFit Gym Businesses, boot camp gym businesses, and small group fitness center businesses. There are 5 different physical fitness businesses in the market.

Yes, it might sound like a lot of options for starting a gym business but they all have different working methods and styles. If you have gym or fitness center experience before you can easily, choose whichever you want to make. If you don’t, do not worry We got you!

PT Businesses (Personal Trainer Businesses) with Gym Business Plan

PT business (Personal Trainer Business) is giving a customer certain training by a personal trainer. People who choose personal trainers are mostly chosen for timing and want to get results sooner. In addition to this, they would prefer privacy and they might not feel comfortable with training other customers. You can specialize your personal trainer business plan with your own design. You should include your choice on gym business plan.

Casual Gym Businesses

As you can guess, casual gym businesses are the most common ones. You can easily reach them in nearly every neighborhood. Their service can be counted as an essential service in the modern world. Most people who choose casual gyms, choose for the location or easy-to-access features.

Inclusive Fitness Center Businesses

These types of fitness center businesses are giving tons of different services to their customers. They also have a huge fitness area and exclusive features such as indoor/outdoor swimming pools, dance classes, massage rooms, and saunas.

CrossFit Gym Businesses

CrossFit Gym is a bit different than fitness centers. People who go for it, do it similar training activity in an hour and leave the gym. It is hard to do for beginners but they could get faster results than casual gyms.

Boot Camp Gym Businesses

Boot Camps are designed for group training with most gym equipment. These are similar to classes but it is different than CrossFit or dance classes . Boot Camp activities are scheduled at certain times and it is a highly intense training module.

Small Group Fitness Center Businesses

Lastly, small group fitness center businesses might sound similar to boot camp gyms but it is made by the same group of people at the same time but it is a less intense training module. This can be done by 4-10 people at the same time. Family or friend groups are likely to choose this module.

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How to start a Fitness Business with Gym Business Plan?

Firstly, you should decide which kind of fitness business you want to build. When you decide, you can start writing your own gym business plan . It may vary, depending on your capital and placement. There are several factors before starting a fitness business. Such as target market, financial planning, workplace, etc.

Placement is as important as your capital. You should prepare everything before you start a gym business. If you are thinking about how to write a fitness business plan, keep reading…

How to write a Gym Business Plan ?

You can write your own fitness business plan from the starch. If you are keen to do it, you can do it step by step. There are 6 different steps. The steps cover of gym business, the introduction of the fitness center, marketing of your sports business, Organization of your Personal trainers, financial planning of the fitness center, and a summary of the whole gym business. Whether you write a personal trainer business plan or just a fitness business plan, you can use this guide.

Like any other business, gym businesses need a catchy name, logo, and other basic information such as phone number and address. After you choose the type of fitness business, you can design them by yourself easily. Gym business plan’s first page is all about basics.

Introduction

Secondly, you should decide deep introduction to your facility and services. For example, if you are a boot camp fitness business, you can add your class times. A fitness business plan should include every detail about your sports business.

Additionally, You can explain how your personal trainer works and the working time of your gym business .

Like many other businesses, the gym business needs marketing efforts to find more customers and grow. Marketing efforts are just more than publishing ads and putting a banner to the corners. You should plan your marketing efforts under analysis and targeting.

Someka’s Business Plan Template helps you to create all of the 6 sections with unique analysis tools such as swot, Porter’s Five Forces, Target Market analysis, and many more…

After you make your gym business and market analysis you should decide on your approach for your sports business.

Organization

Management and human resources studies are the keys to any type of business including the fitness business. That’s why, you should be careful while writing a fitness business plan on this topic. Your management skills and plans could lead you to success or failure. You should hire enough personal trainers and coaches. Also, you should plan their workload and time as effectively as possible.

Whether you have big capital for starting a gym business or not, you have to plan your financial model detailed. Market changes and your company’s income ways should be prepared before the grand opening. The balance sheet is the key page for the fitness business plan . The clear balance sheet will show you that you have done best and worst.

If you are not good at math, our financial model can help you with all the calculations.

Gym feasibility study

Download Gym Financial Model from Someka

If you have done everything so far, congratulations you are close to finishing your fitness business plan . The last you have to write is a summary section.

The summary section includes a business model canvas which means how you are planning to earn money and what you give to customers. The business timeline is the other part of the summary. How long do you plan to work in this work and What is the ROI time (return of investment time)?

Lastly, you can summarize your company’s goals and targets in the executive summary. This part is also important for other investors. If they believe your executive summary, does not matter you have a bad balance or financial plan, you can find a partner for the sports business. Now, you just finish the summary section too, your gym business plan is well done!

If you think you might need help while making a gym business plan , Someka’s Business Plan  got you!

Porter's Five Forces Analysis Someka

There are several ways to monetize your gym business. Most sports center businesses earn money from monthly payments and the sale of sports equipment. Depending on your sports center style you can monetize your gym business. As you should explain in the business model, you can monetize fitness centers in many ways. Such as one-entry payments, monthly payments, equipment sales, consumable product sales, inclusive area rents (saunas, massage rooms, PT hourly rates, etc.

What Must An Entrepreneur Do After Creating a Business Plan Someka SS3

How to Start an Online Fitness Coaching Business (Online Personal Trainer Business)?

There are 2 types of PT business (Personal Trainer Business). It could be online or face-to-face or online. You can do it either if you have an expert personal trainer. Both styles have their own positive and negative sides. Such as face-to-face personal training needs a proper place to work out but online does not need it. You can do it from home with the needed equipment. If you are thinking about how to start an online fitness coaching business, you should start with an online personal trainer business plan.

Someka’s Online Personal Trainer Business Plan can help you with that.

Every gym rat might think about starting a fitness business and the first thing they thought is the total cost to open a gym. A Dreamed gym’s cost can be varied. Such as if you are dreaming small gym with less equipment in the neighborhood, it could cost less than you can imagine . In addition, if your dream gym is huge with exclusive services, it might cost a lot.

In conclusion, the total cost to open a gym depends on what kind of gym you are planning to open. If you are thinking about how to open a gym, you should understand your capital first and then you should design your dream gym. First you need to do is writing a gym business plan.

Lastly, do not forget the cost to open a gym is just a small part of your dreams.

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The Business Plan Template You Need For a Fitness Club

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  • December 29, 2023
  • Beauty & Wellness

gym business plan cover page

Whether you’re looking to raise funding from private investors or to get a loan from a bank for your fitness club, you will need to prepare a solid business plan.

In this article we go through, step-by-step, all the different sections you need in your fitness club business plan to build a complete, clear and solid business plan that get you funded. Let’s dive in!

1. Executive Summary

This is the first part and the most important section of your business plan. This is the first thing lenders and/or investors will have a look at.

Before we dive into the specifics, keep in mind the executive summary is a summary: keep it to 2 pages maximum.

Your executive summary should briefly sum up the key sections of your business plan as well as presenting the funding ask.

Why businesses prepare business plans?

The funding ask (or funding requirement), as explained below, is the reason why any business would have a business plan. Business plans are prepared for one of the 3 following objectives:

  • Obtain financing from a bank or any other lender (a SBA loan for example)
  • Obtain financing from private investors (business angels, investment funds, etc.)
  • Get approval for a private or public grant

What goes in an executive summary for a fitness club?

Gyms, fitness clubs and other health centers should include the following information:

  • Business overview : the name of your company, its legal structure, the business model (franchise vs. independent ; commercial vs. medical gym) and how you plan to generate revenue (subscriptions vs. memberships)
  • Market analysis : how big is the fitness industry in your area? how many competitors are there? what’s the average spend per customer per gym?
  • People : who is the management team? what is your/their experience in the fitness industry?
  • Financial plan : what is your expected revenue and profitability for the next 5 years? When do you expect to break-even? Simply include here a chart of your key financials (e.g. Revenue, Gross Profit, Net profit )
  • Funding ask : what loan/investment/grant are you seeking? How much do you need? How long will this last?

gym business plan cover page

2. Business Overview

The business overview (or “Company description”) is the 2nd section of your business plan. It should cover all the important aspects of your company: what services / products you sell, how you make money, who are your customers, how the company is structured, etc.

Let’s now see one by one the different pieces of information you should cover here:

As an introduction, briefly explain the genesis of the project: when, how and why you decided to start your own fitness club. What gave you the idea to start a new gym today?

Anything that shows investors or lenders passion and most importantly the background and rationale of you deciding to open a new fitness club today goes a long way.

For example, you might be a private trainer with managerial experience and you found out that there was strong demand for a CrossFit club in your area yet little/no competition yet.

Business Model

Here, explain what is the business model of your gym. There are a few things to mention:

  • Are you opening an independent or franchise gym?
  • Which type of gym? Are you specializing into a specific kind of fitness club (e.g. CrossFit, HIT, bike, etc.) or is this a medical health center for accident recoveries and/or athletes?
  • Is this a membership or a pay-per-class gym? A combination of both?
  • How do you plan to make money: by selling subscriptions, classes, merchandise, online classes, etc?

Target Audience

Another important part of the business overview section of your fitness club business plan is your target audience .

Who is your typical customer? What’s their first motivation to go to a fitness club (physics, aesthetics, competition)? How much do they spend in average per month in fitness-related products and services ? What are they looking for (are they interested in extra services e.g. massages, personal training, etc.)?

For example, a high-end pay-per-class HIT gym like Barry’s Bootcamp would target fit and affluent young professionals and adults who are looking for short, high-intensity workouts. They aren’t necessarily interested in personal training nor even weight loss.

Knowing exactly who are your target customers will give you an edge over competition to attract and retain them.

gym business plan cover page

Legal Structure

Finally, your business overview section should specify what type of business structure you opt for. Is this a corporation or a partnership (LLC)? Who are the investors? How much equity percentage do they own? Is there a Board of Directors? If so, whom? Do they have experience in the industry?

gym business plan cover page

Gym Financial Model

Download an expert-built 5-year Excel financial model for your business plan

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis is an important section of your fitness club business plan. Here, you should show lenders and/or investors that you fully understand the trends of the industry you evolve in.

More importantly, it should prove to anyone that opening a fitness club now makes total sense based on market and competition dynamics.

For example, you would open a fitness club in an area where competition is limited. The same way you would start a HIT training gym in an area where your target customers live (e.g. large cities, affluent neighborhoods, etc.).

Market trends

Here you need to clearly identify 2 very important metrics:

  • Market size : how big is your market?
  • Market growth: how fast does your market grow?

First, you will need to define what is your market. Is this the membership gym industry in Los Angeles? Or is this the pay-per-class spinning gym industry in the US?

It’s always better to be more specific. For example, it’s better to define your market at a city level where you plan to open your gym (Los Angeles for example) vs. for the US as a whole.

Indeed, the US gym industry may be a very large industry ($33 billion in 2022), it might not be the case in the city where you want to open yours.

Of course, chances are that you will have difficulty finding some information. In any case, you should be able to make a high-level estimation of your market. Read our article on market sizing and how to estimate TAM, SAM and SOM for your startup .

Competition

The 2nd step of your market analysis is to describe competition in your area. There are a few questions to answer here:

  • How many gyms are there in the area?
  • What types of gyms are there (membership vs. pay-per-class ; specialty vs. general commercial gyms)?
  • What is the price point of your competitors (how much do they charge per membership / per class)?
  • How many customers do they have (approximately)?
  • What type of machines / equipments do they have?
  • Do they offer extra services (personal training, nutrition planning, massages, SPA , etc.)

In the end, your competition analysis should show a strong rationale for opening your gym today. It can be for example that:

  • There is no bodybuilding gym in the area but only affordable gyms with limited machines and equipment. Bodybuilders would love paying extra for a new gym with all the key machines they need for their competitions and physique
  • There is no pay-per-class fitness club in the area and existing gyms’ few spinning and HIT classes are always overbooked. Some sport enthusiasts would rather avoid paying a membership for a generic gym and go instead once or twice a week to a spinning class with dedicated trainers and lots of dates / times to choose from.

gym business plan cover page

We already touched upon your target audience in the Business overview section earlier.

Here instead, the objective is to show lenders and investors that your target audience actually exists and live in the area where you plan to open a fitness club.

Therefore, you should explain here what are the types of customers who go to gyms and other fitness clubs in your area. Are they going to a yoga class once a week, or are they heavy sport addicts who hit the gym 2-3 times a week?

When you present customers here, you should always tie it into competition. Are gym customers in your area finding what they want, or is there a gap to fill in the market instead?

Studying competition is also very important to find information about potential customers. For example, it wouldn’t make any sense for you to open another CrossFit gym in an area where your only competitor is already struggling to pay rent. In other words, you don’t need to speak to any CrossFit enthusiast to know that they aren’t many in this area.

4. Sales & Marketing Strategy

Your fitness business plan should include a sales & marketing plan where you outline your strategy to acquire your target customers.

For example, you should answer the following questions:

  • What channel(s) do you plan to use (online vs. offline marketing channels )?
  • How does it make sense for your target audience? For example, social media may be your best bet to attract young adults to your new gym. Instead, billboards may be too expensive in certain areas
  • What is your unique selling proposition ?
  • What is your expected marketing budget?
  • How will you track whether your marketing strategy is profitable? What’s your customer acquisition cost (CAC)?
  • What strategies and promotional offers do you plan on using in the early days to attract your first customers?

Let’s expand a bit on a few questions below:

What marketing channels fitness clubs use?

A few marketing channels fitness clubs typically use are:

  • Email marketing
  • Social media
  • Pay-per-click campaigns (e.g. Google Ads )
  • Sponsorships (especially for B2B customers)
  • Partnerships (for example with day spas, coworking spaces, companies, etc.)

gym business plan cover page

What is your unique selling proposition?

In other words, how do you differentiate yourself vs. competitors? This is very important as you might need to win customers from competitors.

A few examples of USPs are:

  • Price : you may be cheaper vs. your competitors
  • Quality : you offer new, state-of-the-art machines and equipments whilst your competitors’ are outdated
  • Pure player : you aim to be the go-to gym for pay-per-class HIT and spinning classes (vs. existing generic membership gyms that lag behind for these workouts)

5. Management & Organizational Structure

The 5th section of your fitness club business plan should be about people. It should include 2 main elements:

  • The management team and their experience / track record
  • The organizational structure: what are the different teams and who reports to whom?

Here you should list all the management roles in your company. Of course, the amount of details you need to include here varies depending on the size of your company. A franchise business with 6 gyms would need more detail vs. an independent fitness club.

If you plan on running your business independently, you may write a short paragraph explaining who are the co-founders and/or managers (if there are any in addition to yourself), their qualifications and previous professional experiences.

Organizational structure

No matter how many leadership roles there are, you should now explain how you intend to run the company from a management standpoint.

What are the different teams (management, operations, personal trainers, etc.)? Are they any key supervisory roles who aren’t necessarily managers (e.g. team leaders, etc.). Note that you should include these details even if you haven’t hired anyone yet. It will show lenders and investors that you have a solid hiring and management plan to run the business successfully.

A great addition here is to add an organizational chart that list all the roles, from Directors to managers, key supervisory roles, employees and contractors. Make sure to highlight with reporting lines who manages/supervises whom.

6. Financial Plan

The financial plan is perhaps, with the executive summary, the most important section of any business plan.

Indeed, a solid financial plan tells lenders that your business is viable and can repay the loan you need from them. If you’re looking to raise equity from private investors, a solid financial plan will prove them your business is an attractive investment.

Remember: business plan are meant to obtain funding (a loan, grant or equity) from investors or a bank. These lenders or investors are people with strong financial analysis skills. Therefore, they will mostly look at your project from a financial standpoint. You might have the best fitness club out there, yet if yours isn’t profitable no one will invest, let alone lend you money.

There should be 3 sections to your financial plan section:

  • Your historical financials (only if you already operate the business and have financial accounts to show)
  • The startup costs of your project (if you plan to open a new gym, purchase new equipment, renovate your facilities, etc.)
  • The 5-year financial projections

Historical Financials (if any)

In the scenario where you already have some historical financials (a few quarters or a few years), include them. A summary of your financial statements in the form of charts e.g. revenue, gross profit and net profit is enough, save the rest for the appendix.

If you don’t have any, don’t worry, most new businesses don’t have any historical financials and that’s ok. If so, jump to Startup Costs instead.

Startup Costs

Before we expand on 5-year financial projections in the following section, it’s always best practice to start with listing the startup costs of your project. For a fitness club, startup costs are all the expenses you incur before you can open your gym and make money.

These expenses mostly include:

  • The lease deposit for the space you rent
  • The equipment and machines. If you decide to purchase (vs. leasing) the equipment, the total cost varies based on the number of machines and the quality. Keep in mind that fitness equipment typically ranges from $2,000 a piece for standard equipment (e.g. mid-end price range bikes) to $8,000 for heavier, high-end machines

It costs on average $24,000 to $500,000 to open a gym. The startup costs depend on a number of factors, mostly whether you decide to buy or lease the equipment (the machines). For a full review of how much it costs to open and run a fitness club, have a look at our complete guide .

Gym equipment$20,000 (leasing)$500,000 (buying)
Certifications$500$500
Legal fees$2,000$4,000
Insurance$1,500$5,000
(leasing) (buying)

Financial Projections

In addition to startup costs, you will now need to build a solid financial model over 5 years.

Your financial projections should be built using a spreadsheet (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) and presented in the form of tables and charts in the business plan of your fitness club.

As usual, keep it concise here and save details (for example detailed financial statements, financial metrics, key assumptions used for the projections) for the appendix instead.

Your financial projections should answer at least the following questions:

  • How much revenue do you expect to generate over the next 5 years?
  • When do you expect to break even?
  • How much cash will you burn until you get there?
  • What’s the impact of a change in pricing (say 20%) on your margins?
  • What is your average customer acquisition cost?

You should include here your 3 financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement). This means you must forecast:

  • The number of customers over time ;
  • Your expected revenue ;
  • Operating costs to run the business ;
  • Any other cash flow items (e.g. capex, debt repayment, etc.).

When projecting your revenue, make sure to sensitize pricing and the number of members / customers as a small change in these assumptions will have a big impact on your revenues.

When it comes to the costs, consider both startup and operating costs. For more information, read our article on  how much it costs to open a gym or fitness club . For more information on how to build financial projections for a gym, read our complete guide here .

gym business plan cover page

7. Funding Ask

This is the last section of your fitness club business plan. Now that we have explained what your fitness club business model is about, what’s your strategy, where you go and how you get there, this section must answer the following questions:

  • How much funding do you need?
  • What financial instrument(s) do you need (is this equity or debt, or even a free-money public grant?)
  • How long will this funding last?
  • Where else does the money come from? If you apply for a SBA loan for example, where does the other part of the investment come from (your own capital, private investors?)

If you raise debt:

  • What percentage of the total funding the loan represents?
  • What is the corresponding Debt Service Coverage Ratio ?

If you raise equity

  • What percentage ownership are you selling as part of this funding round?
  • What is the corresponding valuation of your business?

Use of Funds

Any business plan should include a clear use of funds section. This is where you explain how the money will be spent.

Will you spend most of the loan / investment in paying your employees’ salaries? Or will it cover mostly the cost to acquire the fitness machines and the renovation of the building?

Those are very important questions you should be able to answer in the blink of an eye. Don’t worry, this should come straight from your financial projections. If you’ve built solid projections like in our fitness club financial model template , you won’t have any issues answering these questions.

For the use of funds, we recommend using a pie chart like the one we have in our financial model template where we outline the main expenses categories as shown below.

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Examples

Gym Business Plan

gym business plan cover page

According to Statista , the health and fitness industry generates over $80 billion of revenue every year. With annual revenue that big, it shows that many people are mindful of their physical health. And that they’re willing to make room in their  budget to keep themselves in excellent shape. So if you ask us about opening a gym or physical fitness center, we’d say that it’s a profitable business. That said, if you’re planning on launching such a business, we’ll help you get started by offering our business plan examples for a gym!

10+ Gym Business Plan Examples

1. gym business plan template.

Gym Business Plan Template

  • Google Docs

Size: A4, US

2. Annual Gym Business Plan

Annual Gym Business Plan

Size: 570 KB

3. Fitness Business Plan Template

Fitness Business Plan Template

Size: 115 KB

4. Play Center Gym Business Plan

Play Center Gym Business Plan

Size: 103 KB

5. Sports Gym Business Plan

Sports Gym Business Plan

Size: 605 KB

6. Sample Gym Business Plan

Sample Gym Business Plan

Size: 329 KB

7. Gym Business Plan in PDF

Gym Business Plan in PDF

Size: 78 KB

8. Gym Working Business Plan

Gym Working Business Plan

Size: 175 KB

9. Fitness Business Plan in PDF

Fitness Business Plan in PDF

10. Simple Gym Business Plan

Simple Gym Business Plan

11. Gym Business Plan Example

Gym Business Plan Example

What Is a Gym Business Plan?

A gym start-up business plan is what you’ll need to formulate strategies and actions to open your gym facility. Its basic elements and functions are the same as those of other business plans . With the countless things that a gym business needs, such as equipment, licenses , permits, and start-up budget , it’ll be hard to prepare them without using a new gym business plan example. It serves as your guide to keep track of your gym business’s progress and status. Other than that, entities who might be interested in supporting your gym will want to see a business plan. They will want to know how feasible it is before they form a partnership with you.

How to Launch a Gym Business

There are several preparations you must do to plan for the gym you want to open. But what we’ll show you here are its four crucial foundations. They’re pretty basic, but they hold tremendous importance for your gym to be successful.

1. Formulate a Budget

Every business needs a budget; that’s the golden rule. Without a budget, a business can’t start operations. But if it does, its owner is in danger of suffering substantial financial losses. So make sure to establish enough budget to purchase your gym’s necessities. When you make your budget, try to limit the cost of opening a gym as much as you can. As a business owner, it’s essential to have a cost-effective mindset.

2. Search for a Good Location

Gyms have to be accessible. Otherwise, not many people will be able to visit them. With that in mind, make sure to find a good location for your gym. Aside from being accessible, the location must have plenty of people around it. You can choose areas with other businesses surrounding it, such as malls and business parks.

3. Purchase High-Quality Gym Equipment

Of course, you can’t call your business a gym without the proper equipment. So make sure to purchase ones with high quality. See to it that all of them are made of quality materials and are safe for the users. Your gym won’t be able to attract people if it has substandard equipment.

4. Look for Skilled and Knowledgeable Personal Training Staff

It’s hard to manage a gym all by yourself. Plus, you can’t act as a personal trainer to all of your clients. That’s a lot of responsibility to carry. For that reason, you should hire personal trainers. They can help you plan fitness regimes , plot workout schedules , and entertain clients. Hire those that have a rich fitness background and have experience in managing gym facilities. Offer them an employment contract to be with you for the long term.

How to Write a Gym Business Plan

Earlier, we’ve talked about a gym business plan and how important it is. Not just important, but also necessary. So here, we’ll show you the four steps in writing a gym business plan.

1. Describe Your Gym and Its Programs

Talk about what makes your gym unique from other ones. And explain how its training programs will help clients achieve their fitness goals . You can also provide previews and descriptions about how the facility will look and what equipment it’ll have.

2. Explain Your Marketing Strategy

A marketing plan plays a big part in putting your gym business on the map. So make sure to explain it thoroughly in your business plan. Talk about how you’ll promote your gym and what platforms you’ll use to make it popular.

3. Structure Your Gym’s Business Model

The business model is a system of how your gym will get clients, generate revenue, cover expenses, and grow. It showcases your entire gym’s operations. It would help if you had a well-structured business model so that you’ll have a clear direction on how to run your gym. And for sure, potential investors of your gym will want to know its business model.

4. Write Your Executive Summary

Most gym and fitness center business plan examples online have an executive summary . It’s the first section of a business plan, and it’s an overview of the business. So, make sure to write one for your gym business plan. It may be the first section, but it’s best to write it last. Please take note that it’s a summary. So it’s like a bird’s eye view of your business plan. If you write it last, it’ll be like writing a short recap, which is more manageable.

What are the various types of gym facilities?

These are the types of gyms that you can do business out of:

  • Training gym
  • Membership gym
  • 24-hour access gym

How can I make my gym more popular?

Here are excellent approaches to bring more people into your gym:

  • Use social media as a marketing platform
  • Organize competitions for charity, such as Crossfit games
  • Establish a referral program
  • Offer one-time free sessions, such as yoga and Zumba classes
  • Host corporate wellness activities

What are suitable names for my gym?

If you’re looking for some gym names ideas, we have some for you:

  • Strip and Gain Gym
  • Kratos Power Gym
  • Beast Mentality Gym
  • 24/7 Intensity Gym
  • Warrior’s Den Gym

Those are names that we made up ourselves. You can get inspiration from them.

You might not know it, but your gym will be a place that can change lives for the better. Fitness is key to a better and healthier life, and your gym can bring that to many people. So start moving! Make preparations for your gym business as soon as you can. And let our gym business plan templates help you.

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Gym Business Plan Templates

Looking for a Professional Template to Make a Gym Business Plan? Download Template.net's Free Editable and Printable Templates. Avail of Our Templates and Use Them to Create Various Documents Such as Marketing Reports, Sample Proposals, Cover Letters, Personal Planners, Simple Marketing Plans, Marketing Strategy Reports, Personal Training Checklists, and Executive Summary Presentations.

Business Handbook Template

  • Gym Brochure
  • Gym Business
  • Gym Business Plan
  • Gym Contract
  • Gym Discount
  • Gym Facebook
  • Gym Facebook Post
  • Gym Instagram
  • Gym Instagram Post
  • Gym Instagram Story
  • Gym Linkedin
  • Gym Linkedin Post
  • Gym Membership
  • Gym Opening
  • Gym Promotion
  • Gym Rack Card
  • Gym Receptionist
  • Gym Rollup Banner
  • Gym Snapchat Geofilter
  • Gym Social Media
  • Gym Whatsapp
  • Gym Whatsapp Post
  • Gym Youtube

Are you owning a small fitness studio or a start-up gym business? Do you want an increase in your capital through loans and investors? If so, then potential investors would like to review your business plan. Here at Template.net, making your business plan is not a problem. Come to avail of our templates that are 100% customizable, printable, and easily editable. You may take advantage of our Gym Business Plan Template to achieve your business goals. This can be customized and downloaded in file formats like Google Docs , MS Word , and Apple Pages . Don't just stare at your screen. Download this high-quality template today!

How To Make A Gym Business Plan

A business plan is a written document that contains business objectives, methods on how to achieve those objectives, and the time frame these objectives need to be achieved. A strategic business plan also defines the nature of the business, information of an organization, financial projections, and the methods to achieve a specific target. Business plans are often used to get a bank loan or any kind of financing. If you are daunted by creating your own gym business plan, you may refer form this article to know how to make one.

1. Executive Summary

Creating a well-made summary is important if you want to attract investors. Having an uninteresting few pages are not captivating. Prospective clients won't read on. Your summary must comprehensively layout a catchy business case. It is advisable if you create this section after you finish the rest of your legal documents .

2. Have a Market Research

Market research serves as a key element of a successful business. If you're just new to the business industry, you should conduct research and understand fitness industry trends. Additionally, discuss your specific location in detail. List down details about your competition and the basic information of your target audience.

3. Provide a Forecast on Marketing and Sales

In this section, you have to outline the strategies of marketing and sales . You may want to address questions like " What type of membership you can offer?", "What are the forecast of your sales?", What are your strategies to get your audience?", and "How can you retain your audience?".

4. Define Products or Services

In your simple business plan , define the philosophy of your products, services, and the environment you're planning to create. Ask yourself whether you want your environment to look classy, scary, or even jolly. Also, you have to provide a breakdown of income and non-income services your gym will offer. Include products for sale like food and beverages.

5. Describe Facilities and Equipment

If you already own a site or facility, define its main features and advantages such as size, visibility, availability, parking, zoning, the potential for build-out, lease expectations, demographics of the region and publicity to your target market analysis . In your small business plan, include a simple map showing the exact location. If you want to explore location options, you may include criteria to evaluate potential facilities.

6. Include Staffing

In this section, you should breakdown your company profile, staff profile, the structure of the organization, and benefits plan. If you manage a club, provide a bio together with your company profile. Afterward, present your organizational chart with descriptions.

7. Provide an Ownership Structure

In your business plan, you may want to list down the legal structure. Moreover, if you want to bring in investors, this is where you'll detail how much cash you're looking, how much capital they're going to get in exchange, their predicted ROI, and prospective ways they can exit the investment. For example, by selling the company or buying them out from you or other investors.

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COMMENTS

  1. Gym Business Plan Template + Example

    Financial Plan Highlights. Steven's Gym is seeking $300,000 in debt financing to begin operations of the business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the warehouse space, gym build-out, and purchase of the equipment. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and ...

  2. Gym Business Plan Template (FREE)

    A gym business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the strategy, goals, and details of your gym business. It's a crucial tool for planning, securing funding, and guiding your business to success. This plan should cover every aspect of your gym, including the target market, services offered, marketing strategy, and financial ...

  3. Gym Business Plan: A Checklist With Templates & Examples

    For example, if a gym has 1,000 people paying $50 monthly, the gym could bring in $50,000 each month. And if the monthly expenses for the gym are $20,000 per month, the profit would be $30,000 per month. Open Comment Form. In this article, you'll find a checklist of everything you need to create a business plan for your gym or fitness business.

  4. Gym Business Plan Template

    This Gym Business Plan Template shows a cover page, company overview page, services offered, competitive analysis, advertising and marketing plans, implementation plan, evaluation plan, and financial strategy. This PDF template is using the Input Table tool to display the data of the competitors and the breakdown of the financial budget.

  5. How to Write a Gym Business Plan [Free Template]

    Fitness Industry Outlook. The growing enthusiasm for fitness and the desire for a healthy lifestyle has led to the demand for gyms. As of now, 39% of Americans have gym memberships. The fitness industry has been booming in recent years, and it is expected to have 230 million members by 2030.; The Health and fitness market revenue is estimated to grow at a rate of 11.52% annually, reaching a ...

  6. Free Physical Fitness Gym Business Plan Template + Example

    Download a free physical fitness gym business plan template that includes pre-written examples for every section to help you write your own plan. Business Planning. ... Then it's worth following the format from your chosen sample plan to ensure you cover all necessary information. But, if you don't plan to share your plan with anyone outside of ...

  7. Pitch Your Gym Venue With a Free Gym Business Plan Template

    Use our free gym business plan template when setting up your facility, seeking partners, or a loan to expand. The template comes prepared in standard industry design and comprises the major segments required. By going through it, potential partners and investors can learn about your target market, business philosophy, management plan, and ...

  8. Business Plan Template for Gym Business

    ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Gym Business provides the following key elements: Custom Statuses: Stay on top of your business plan progress with statuses like Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do. Custom Fields: Utilize custom fields such as Reference, Approved, and Section to add specific details and track important ...

  9. Growthink's Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template

    365 days of free customer support. "Insider Secrets to Raising Capital" ($299 value) included FREE. "Productivity Secrets" ($197 value) included FREE. … and much more! Total Value: $643 Special Price: Only $97. Growthink's Gym Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily create a professional business plan for your Gym ...

  10. Free Gym Business Plan Template

    Our free gym business plan template is a comprehensive document that outlines a successful gym business plan. It includes sections on market analysis, target customers, marketing strategies, financial projections, and more. With this template, you can have a clear and well-structured plan that will serve as a roadmap for your business.

  11. Gym Business Plan: A 10-Step Guide • Fitness Business Blog

    Gym Business Plan: A 10-Step Guide. May 29, 2024 Team ABC Trainerize. Starting a gym is an exciting process. But, to ensure your success, it's crucial to create a detailed and well thought-out business plan. A well-crafted gym business plan acts like a roadmap, guiding you through the setup and growth phases of your business.

  12. Gym Business Plan Template & Example [Updated 2024]

    Gym Business Plan Example. Below are links to each of the key sections of a solid gym business plan: Executive Summary - The executive summary is a brief overview of your gym, including your company's mission statement, target market, objectives, and goals. If you are seeking potential investors, it is important to make a good first ...

  13. How To Draft the Perfect Gym Business Plan

    How you structure compensation and benefits will impact your ability to attract and retain a strong team and can make the difference on whether or not your business is profitable in the short and long term. So give these points and good thought before cementing anything in your plan. 8. Financial Projections.

  14. Fitness Business Plan Template (+ Free Examples)

    Its comprehensive tools for client management, workout programming, scheduling, and reporting can streamline business processes and improve client engagement and retention. This template provides a structured approach for creating a fitness business plan. It can be customized to reflect the specifics of your fitness business idea, market, and ...

  15. How to Make a Gym Business Plan: The Ultimate Guide

    A gym's business plan must include a comprehensive analysis of the current market. Market analysis aims to understand the dynamics, trends, and opportunities in the fitness industry. In this step, you will define your niche, determine the overall market size, and identify your ideal customers. 4.

  16. How to Create a Fitness Studio Business Plan

    Gym Business Plan Templates. BusinessPlanTemplate.com This site offers a free outline of all the core content you'll need to include in a fitness studio business plan. You can purchase a step-by-step business plan builder, including access to customer service and expert advise for $97.

  17. Workout Gym Business Plan Template + Example

    1. Don't worry about finding an exact match. We have over 550 sample business plan templates. So, make sure the plan is a close match, but don't get hung up on the details. Your business is unique and will differ from any example or template you come across. So, use this example as a starting point and customize it to your needs.

  18. Gym Business Plan: Ultimate guide for fitness centers & PT's

    There are 6 different steps. The steps cover of gym business, the introduction of the fitness center, marketing of your sports business, Organization of your Personal trainers, financial planning of the fitness center, and a summary of the whole gym business. Whether you write a personal trainer business plan or just a fitness business plan ...

  19. The Business Plan Template You Need For a Fitness Club

    Pure player: you aim to be the go-to gym for pay-per-class HIT and spinning classes (vs. existing generic membership gyms that lag behind for these workouts) 5. Management & Organizational Structure. The 5th section of your fitness club business plan should be about people. It should include 2 main elements:

  20. Business Plan Template for Gym Owners

    Download the template to create your own gym business plan, including: Executive Summary, outlining your gym's target market, service offering, and competition (i.e., other fitness facilities in your surrounding area) Organization and Management, including the management software (like Mindbody) you want to use at your facility, your business ...

  21. Gym Business Plan

    4. Write Your Executive Summary. Most gym and fitness center business plan examples online have an executive summary. It's the first section of a business plan, and it's an overview of the business. So, make sure to write one for your gym business plan. It may be the first section, but it's best to write it last.

  22. FREE Gym Business Plan Templates

    Looking for a Professional Template to Make a Gym Business Plan? Download Template.net's Free Editable and Printable Templates. Avail of Our Templates and Use Them to Create Various Documents Such as Marketing Reports, Sample Proposals, Cover Letters, Personal Planners, Simple Marketing Plans, Marketing Strategy Reports, Personal Training Checklists, and Executive Summary Presentations.

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    468 templates. Create a blank Business Plan Cover Page. Minimalist Business Plan Cover Page. Document by Leftheria. Navy and Gray Modern Business Plan Cover Document. Document by Banuaa. Yellow & Gray Simple Business Plan Cover Page. Document by beebumb. Blue White Corporate Business Plan Cover Document.