I have a PT friend – aka personal trainer friend, who I know would love to start her own gym. She’s mad about fitness, loves helping others to reach their fitness goals, and has a fantastic work ethic – I’ve got no doubt that she would make a fantastic gym owner. Anyhow, after a chat with her the other day, I got to thinking – what does it take to run a successful gym? Like always, when I want to know more about a topic I spent some time reading up and doing my research, as well as chatting to a couple of gym owners from my local area, and I think I now have a good understanding of what it takes to launch and run a successful gym. Want to know what I found out? Then read on!
The perfect venue is crucial
After chatting to one gym owner, I realised just how important the perfect venue was. He mentioned how he used to run a gym out of an old converted village hall and how it just wasn’t the right location – for success, a gym needs to look smart and shiny. He explained that since moving to a new, purpose-built venue, his business had become much more successful. So, to be successful, you need the perfect venue.
The right equipment and facilities are a must
What makes a gym successful is a combination of factors, one of the most important of which is having the right equipment and facilities. Up to date workout equipment is crucial, as are a selection of other on-site facilities, aside from the gym itself. All the most popular gyms also have features like a sauna, hot tub, swimming pool, and yoga studio for running classes from. There’s a lot of competition, so if you want to be successful, you need to offer as much as possible.
First aid knowledge is vital
Until I spoke to a PT who runs her own gym, it never crossed my mind that first aid knowledge would be crucial. However, as a gym is where people go to workout and push themselves, it makes sense that a knowledge of first aid is vital, along with all the right equipment and on-site insurance. A first aid kit is, of course, a must and should include a range of basic items like plasters and creams, as well as life-saving items like a PAD 500P defibrillator, an Epipen, and an emergency inhaler. It’s also crucial that a range of team members have adequate first aid training so that they are able to competently deal with any problems.
Breakout spaces
Something that I never thought of until I visited a spectacular gym down the road from where I live is that a gym should be more than a workout space, it should be a social space too. That’s why it’s a great idea to incorporate breakout spaces into a gym, along with a cafe or a coffee machine and cold drinks machine, making it more of a social space.
There you have it, everything that you need to know about running a gym that’s guaranteed to be a success.
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