Starting a gym is not for the faint of heart. It takes time, effort, and countless hours of planning and organizing. However, the effort is worth it when you start to see results in your body. Here we will go through how to plan your space and set it up before you build your dream gym.
1. Get Training and Become Accredited
Before you even think of opening a gym, you should first get yourself certified to train at your gym. Not only will this give you peace of mind that you are following the rules, but it also means that your clientele is safe and aware of what they are doing when they are training under you. You should have a solid understanding of the laws in the country you are opening your gym and make sure that you are operating within those laws.
Leadership development is crucial when opening a gym, ensuring you are delivering the best possible service to your clientele.
2. Get Membership in the Sports Authority
The first thing you should do when getting started is to register with the Sports Authority, your national governing body that controls the sports industry in Singapore. This will give you access to provide memberships for your gym and other services. Being a member of the Sports Authority also allows you to display more contact details about yourself and your gym on your website for many potential clients to discover.
3. Decide on a Location
Deciding on a location for your gym is also very important. Usually, “gym” locations are quiet and sparse, as they usually do not want to attract people and businesses to their area. However, this means that you will have less competition for the gym space or be able to sell it off to someone else if you want to move away.
4. Secure Financing for Your Venture
Once you have decided on a location and are all set with your financing, it is time to start looking for your gym space. This can be done by asking the landlord if they will rent out to you, visiting shopping malls and business parks with empty spaces ready for you to build, or even buying an old gym in your area and converting it into a gym space.
5. Interview and Hire Staff
To run its business successfully, a gym usually needs a full-time manager, an assistant manager, a receptionist, and an area manager. Getting all these roles filled out should take some time, but it also means that your gym will run smoothly once you open up.
6. Start Marketing and Promoting your gym
Now that your gym is up and running, it is time to start promoting the business. Get creative with how you plan on bringing new members in the door. This may include traditional methods, such as print and digital ads, but also unconventional methods of promotion, such as giveaways on social media and client referrals.
Opening a gym can be a lot of work, but it is rewarding when the gym and your business run smoothly. You will want to put in a lot of effort in the beginning, ensuring that your gym is sustainable and does not cause stress. Before starting, ensure you know what laws apply to your gym and that you are within them, as it is much more difficult to close down if you get into trouble. Once you have everything set up and running smoothly, then you will be ready for your first clients!