Gym owners..Present and Past

[Uluwatu]

I am looking to open up a small gym/personal training operation. It is looking to be about 4000 square feet. It will be a niched club consisting of people who want to use knowledgeable personal trainers and people who want to train hard such as body builders, athletes and powerlifters. The club would be in the San Diego CA area. I know a lot of factors come into play when opening up a business because I already own one. But I am getting tired of it and wish to do something I really love to do.

Does this type of facitily sound like it might work???

And when you guys opened up your facility did you have private investors, loan from a bank, SBA, or did you just use all of your own money???

And one more thing is your facility in a building that you own or is it in a leased space?

I appreciate any feedback you all can give me.

 

[secretagentswole]

I had my own PT biz that i sub contracted for multiple gyms in town. Looked into this idea that you have. It was a very large investment for such a lil return. to sell contracts you have to have 50k to be bonded, and to have the equipment that you really want you need another 100k + not to mention just your cost of doing biz.

If you got the income to do it and love the lifestyle enuff to see your large investment turn lesss than it would somewhere else then your ok.

If you still depend on a certain mount to live and its coming from that income then i would look at every option possible.

 

[mrshoulders]

I have just opened my second Gym after moving to a different State...I bought all my equipment outright so I owe nothing to nobody..All I pay is rent and electric...Mine is a little more limited than what you are shooting for as I am a hardcore bodybuilding and power-lifting training facility with none of the fluff to attract those that aren't serious about training...This limits my clientele to a degree but also gives me the kind of members I am willing to cater to...I am also 24 hour access...I say go for it but be smart in you equipment purchase...There is alot of stuff out there that is very good and very economical at the same time

 

[Uluwatu]

I have just opened my second Gym after moving to a different State...I bought all my equipment outright so I owe nothing to nobody..All I pay is rent and electric...Mine is a little more limited than what you are shooting for as I am a hardcore bodybuilding and power-lifting training facility with none of the fluff to attract those that aren't serious about training...This limits my clientele to a degree but also gives me the kind of members I am willing to cater to...I am also 24 hour access...I say go for it but be smart in you equipment purchase...There is alot of stuff out there that is very good and very economical at the same time

Hey thanks for the replies so far. Mr. Shoulders, how big is your facility? I was thinking of that idea of just a hardcore facility also, but I didn't think there would be enough members to cover the expenses and make a profit. Do you have a problem finding enough members to make a decent profit???

Out here in North San diego county area there are no hardcore gyms. The only 2 that are OK are a world gym and I think a powerhouse gym and they are both in pacific beach, which is south county. The only choice serious trainers have is 24 hour fitness and a place called pure fitness which is similar. Both of those places pretty much cater to cardio and general fitness. Bottom line is that North San Diego County needs a real training facility that caters to real lifters. But it also needs to work financially as well, which might be the problem.

 

[mrshoulders]

I am 2000 + sqft and ready to expand and since about the 14th of Feb have 70 members now and more each day...BTW, the only cardio I have are 2 Proform computer upright bikes...The local football team should be invading me shortly...Advertise and pick a good location and you cannot go wrong..

 

[Big Bapper]

This is my baby www.bodyworksgym-ni.co.uk

It is hardcore, we have 2 treadmills that work and two recubant cycles that are broke.

Personal training and supplements are were the money is, I do not take a wadge from the gym, only personal training and supplement sales. So the profits get put back into the gym. I currently rent however prices are falling fast over here in Ireland. So I am holding out, hope to buy when price is right.

 

[Big Bapper]

I am 2000 + sqft and ready to expand and since about the 14th of Feb have 70 members now and more each day...BTW, the only cardio I have are 2 Proform computer upright bikes...The local football team should be invading me shortly...Advertise and pick a good location and you cannot go wrong..

Sounds like my type of gym.

 

[qazzaq9]

This is my baby www.bodyworksgym-ni.co.uk

It is hardcore, we have 2 treadmills that work and two recubant cycles that are broke.

Personal training and supplements are were the money is, I do not take a wadge from the gym, only personal training and supplement sales. So the profits get put back into the gym. I currently rent however prices are falling fast over here in Ireland. So I am holding out, hope to buy when price is right.

That a beautiful setup you have there! Looks like a great place to train.