How big is the gym you go to?

MR. BMJ · Aug 13, 2024

About a 15 x 20 ft space on my patio.....

Since 2020. I actually like it, although my legs have gone down quite a bit considering I don't have everything like I did years prior at my old gyms.

Pheedno · Aug 13, 2024

control said:
This is exactly what I've been talking about doing. How much do you charge for memberships?

It ranges between $45-$60 depending on the option. We hover around 680-700 members. About 35-40% of gross revenue comes from personal training. It's rarely packed to the point of needing to wait long periods for an item but this is a very laid back, slow roll community. I also built this gym for a living and not so much around my ideal place to train. I catered to the demographic and it has done very well for me. Definitely not hard core and goes for an older, professional crowd.

EnhancedFatGrappler · Aug 13, 2024

Pheedno said:
It ranges between $45-$60 depending on the option. We hover around 680-700 members. About 35-40% of gross revenue comes from personal training. It's rarely packed to the point of needing to wait long periods for an item but this is a very laid back, slow roll community. I also built this gym for a living and not so much around my ideal place to train. I catered to the demographic and it has done very well for me. Definitely not hard core and goes for an older, professional crowd.

I think the sad truth is: Pure hardcore bodybuilders or powerlifters are just not the crowd that will be profitable. We wear down the equipment (because we actually use it lol), we are expensive because we come daily and take showers etc, and are intimidating to the "normal" gen pop crowd.

Catering to the crowd that big gym chains cater seems to be the safest bet when it comes to money. And especially trying to get a lot of personal training set up, that is the real money maker.

lm89 · Aug 14, 2024

Pheedno said:
It ranges between $45-$60 depending on the option. We hover around 680-700 members. About 35-40% of gross revenue comes from personal training. It's rarely packed to the point of needing to wait long periods for an item but this is a very laid back, slow roll community. I also built this gym for a living and not so much around my ideal place to train. I catered to the demographic and it has done very well for me. Definitely not hard core and goes for an older, professional crowd.

Thank you for this information. If you don’t mind, can I pick your brain a bit through pm?

Pheedno · Aug 14, 2024

lm89 said:
Thank you for this information. If you don’t mind, can I pick your brain a bit through pm?

You bet. I head out on a small vacay tomorrow morning so might have delays in some replies.

lm89 · Aug 14, 2024

Pheedno said:
You bet. I head out on a small vacay tomorrow morning so might have delays in some replies.

Pm sent

Jblack · Aug 14, 2024

I own 9k sq feet near Nashville's airport. We have 1000 members, and I am currently expanding. I am finding real estate to be the biggest hurdle to overcome when it comes to expansion, as I am currently working to expand to 14,100 sq feet in Q4 2026. I believe you can easily compete with any big box gym if you have a member culture that makes it that way.

I also believe more people who have money will train somewhere "local" over corporate gyms if the equipment is clean and up to date/usable.

With that said, we grew at 4k sq feet and expanded to 9k in the first 3 years, and it took me another 6 years to get to where I can expand again. My company stays debt-free as I live off my training income and allow the gym to do its thing as I am looking at it more of a 20-year play (10 years next April).

I believe you have to find what you want to run and enjoy running daily. The model for me started with trainers driving the culture to moving to where the members drive the culture and it's for the better of everyone as a whole when that happens.

I hope this helps, and regardless, I'm rooting for you in business and hope you kick some ass!