Gym
Where are you in your gym journey?
Pre-launch and operating owners need different things. Pick the track that matches you. You can switch any time.
I want to start a gym
Costs, licensing, the entity, the gear, the order to do it in. Honest guides for the part you have to do yourself. The one thing we'll do for you on day one is your website.
- What it really costs
- License, registration, and insurance
- Gear, branding, and the basics
- A starter website that books calls
I want to grow my gym
More clients, better pricing, your first hire, Google and Facebook ads, and the systems that take you from solo to a real team.
- Local SEO and Google Business Profile
- Google Ads, Facebook, retargeting
- Pricing that protects margin
- Hiring, training, and scaling teams
What we do for owners, either track
Start here
The guides to read first: what it costs, what it pays and how to get going.
Is a gym right for you?
A gym turns space and equipment into recurring monthly revenue. Once members are signed up, dues come in whether they show up or not, which makes a well-run gym one of the more predictable local businesses to own. Personal training, classes, and retail add higher-margin layers on top.
It suits an operator who can market consistently and run a tight floor, whether that's a 24-hour access club, a boutique studio, or a CrossFit-style box. The hard part is rarely the workouts. It's the lease and buildout cost, member acquisition, and keeping churn low. The start-here guides cover each step.
- Startup cost $70k–$1M Lease deposit, build-out, and equipment, with runway on top
- Earning potential $50k–$125k Net on $500k of revenue, set by rent, staffing, and churn
- Licensing Light Business license, permits, liability insurance
- Demand Recurring Monthly dues create predictable revenue
The money figures come from our startup cost guide and profit guide, where each range is broken down line by line.
Gym: common questions
What owners ask before they commit.
How much does it cost to open a gym?
It depends heavily on format. A lean 24/7 strength gym needs about $70k–$150k in cash to open, plus $40k–$70k of runway; a full commercial club runs $300k–$1M once build-out and financed equipment are in. Renting a corner of an existing gym costs far less, but it is not a full facility.
Read the full guide →How much can a gym make?
Most gyms net 10%–25% after rent, payroll, and equipment payments, so a gym doing $500k a year nets roughly $50k–$125k. Rent, staffing model, and churn decide where you land. Personal training and ancillary sales carry 50%+ margins, and that is where the profit lives.
Read the full guide →Do I need a license to open a gym?
Licensing is light but real: a business license, local permits, building and occupancy sign-off, and solid liability insurance with member waivers. The setup guide walks through it step by step.
Read the full guide →How do I get my first gym members?
Local visibility and a strong pre-sale win: a Google Business Profile, reviews, founding-member offers, and a site that ranks for "gym + your city" fill the floor faster than broad ads.
Read the full guide →How should I price gym memberships?
Tiered monthly memberships plus paid training and classes are the norm. Clear pricing and contract terms protect your margin and keep churn manageable.
Read the full guide →How do I grow a gym beyond one location?
Growth comes from cutting churn, layering in training revenue, and systemizing operations so a second location runs without you. The growth guide breaks down the sequence.
Read the full guide →