New Training Facility...Gimme' help - JP Fitness Forums

trainerty · 12-16-2007, 10:11 AM

Just started up a training studio in Florida. I'm looking for any tips, advice and comments from folks who have been down this path. Even from those who know someone who as or own a business outside of fitness. Let me know what you got:

Deserve · 12-17-2007, 06:50 AM

There are a couple of great threads buried on the board where JP and others have given their lessons learned. It would be worthwhile for you to do a search for them. JP in particular gives some great advice.

trainerty · 12-17-2007, 12:37 PM

I will certainly seek them out.

Jean-Paul · 12-18-2007, 06:07 PM

I need a little more focus. Your request is pretty broad. What areas do you need help with?

trainerty · 12-19-2007, 12:19 PM

I'm actually looking to see how much is re-iterated "underlined" knowledge for starting a training facility and how much I really don't know. I was going to look at all the tips I could get an research things I am ignorant to.

Hard to decipher a particular question, so I'll let you in on the business model:

-Small training facility
- No memberships/ strictly training and coaching
- Two trainers/nutrionist for the first year. This keeps us at a limited amount of people before we simply close our doors to anyone else.
- Demographics check out well for the price range. Marketing campaign is being built as needed. I regret not having a strong start with marketing.

A few questions:
- With such limited ability to take in the masses (like corporate big guys) should a big marketing campaign be pushed?
- With no ambition to grow into a vast gym, should big gyms in the area be considered a threat?

Jean-Paul · 12-21-2007, 06:52 AM

Don't take this at all the wrong way (because I have been down this road), but you don't look like you have a plan. You are already open, yes? These are things you should already have in place.

I would suggest a couple of business models to give you some guard rails. It is worth it to pay for the licensing fees of an established system, I can tell you that. I didn't because I thought I would save the money. In the end, I reinvented the wheel, paying 10 times what I would have spent to have someone lay out the whole system for me.

I don't know why I fought systemizing for so long.

Well, that's not entirely true... I hate most franchise models for the reasons you cited in the other thread. There is one that I REALLY like though, as it is consistent with my training philosophy and has a great business model under the hood.

You need it though. You need to having a marketing budget, a capital improvement budget, a business plan, feasibility analysis, etc. You need to plan for income on days that you are sick or on vacation.

Also, if you have an opportunity to sell some memberships, do so. Don't limit your income streams. Training is really great, but it has ups and downs. My gym did over 100K in training last year, but there were some really slow months, and having a membership base kept my bills paid.

trainerty · 12-21-2007, 07:28 AM

Business model to follow, we do not have. Business plan, we do. I will definitely research more into different business models. You would be the second well experienced person that told me to do so.

Our business plan is from a startup position. Unfortunately that is a lot of forecasting from minor surveys and research that can only tell me a possible outcome. A major issue is who we are dealing with for equipment and leased space. Nothing nice and much time was wasted. "Time is money". The plan needs to reflect the new hurdles we intend to face. I'll be busy updating that over this holiday.

Memberships would be of a limited nature with us. Our facility is small and supplied with limited equipment. I will think it over again. It will most likely need to be a very limited amount (did I say that twice).

Thanks for the input. Thats some good stuff to chew on.