Gym Business Plan

If you want to start a new gym business or expand your existing business, you need a detailed gym business plan.

Since 1999, we have helped over 10,000 fitness business owners create business plans to start and grow their gyms, health clubs, martial arts studios, fitness studios, and other athletics businesses.

Write a Business Plan for Your Gym Business

A good business plan includes financial projections, detailed strategies and action plans. We recommend that you start with a simple gym business plan template.

Below are links to each section of a winning gym business plan:

1. Executive Summary – The Executive Summary is the most important section of your own business plan. It should be clear, concise and provide an overview of your gym business plan.
2. Company Overview – The Company Overview section should include your company name, legal structure, current business model, location, history, and a brief description of your products or services. You can also include your company’s mission statement and/or a list of your key objectives.
3. Industry Analysis – The Industry Analysis should include information on the size of the gym industry, local market trends, competition and growth potential.
4. Customer Analysis – The Customer Analysis should include a description of your target market, customer needs and how you plan to attract and retain your target audience.
5. Competitive Analysis – The Competitive Analysis should include a description of your direct competitors, their strengths and weaknesses and your competitive advantage for how you plan to compete with them.
6. Marketing Plan – The Marketing Plan should include your sales and marketing strategy, pricing strategy, and the promotion plan for your own gym.
7. Operations Plan – The Operations Plan should include a description of your gym facilities, necessary gym equipment, fitness instructors, personal trainers and staff members, policies and day-to-day procedures. It may also include your gym or fitness business milestones.
8. Management Team – The Management Team section should include biographies of the gym owner, your executive team members, key members of your team, and the overall management structure.
9. Financial Plan – The Financial Plan should include your gym’s financial statements, funding requirements, and investment analysis.
10. Appendix – The Appendix should include any supporting documents such as your gym’s lease, contracts, permits, business license and other legal documents.

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Gym Business Plan FAQs

What Is the Easiest Way to Complete My Gym Business Plan?

Growthink’s Ultimate Gym Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your fitness business plan.

Where Can I Download a Gym Business Plan PDF?

You can download our gym business plan PDF template

What Is a Gym Business Plan?

A gym business plan provides a snapshot of your gym business or fitness center as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your long-term goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes solid market research for your local target market to support your plans. 

Once you have a handle on your market and the basics of running a small business, include more detailed information in your formal gym business plan. This better prepares you for financial negotiations with banks and other business opportunities to help your fitness business grow.

What Are the Sources of Funding for Gyms?

To secure funding for a gym, the main sources of funding are small business loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable. But they will want to see a professional plan. Such a solid gym business plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business.

The second best way to secure funding for a gym is through angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding or, like a bank, they will give you a loan. Venture capitalists will not fund a gym. They might consider funding a chain of gyms, but never an individual location. This is because most venture capitalists are looking for millions of dollars in return when they make an investment, and an individual gym or fitness center could never achieve such results.

How Do I Write a Business Plan For A New Gym?

A business plan for a new gym will include your purpose for entering the fitness industry, key market data, direct and indirect competitors, and a more detailed description of your marketing plan, management team, target customers, and more. Outside of the 10 key elements noted in the gym business plan outlined above, you may also include the following information:

• Mission Statement: Define your philosophy on fitness and why you are opening this specific gym.
• Facility: Describe your gym’s layout and which gym and strength training equipment you will be using.
• Services: Describe the fitness services you offer, such as personal training, available exercise equipment, hosting fitness classes, and child care.
• Gym Membership Fees: Explain your pricing structure for gym memberships including membership options and other additional services.
• Financing: Detail how you will finance your startup costs and day-to-day operations.
• Growth Plan: Outline your plans for growing the business, including expansion into new markets and acquisitions.
• Risks and Threats: Describe the risks facing your gym and how you plan to address them.
• Exit Strategy: Explain how you will sell or close the business, including a timeline for doing so.

As you can see, a business plan for a gym is comprehensive and detailed. It should be updated regularly to reflect your changing business goals and strategies. Having a well-written business plan is essential to any successful gym or fitness center.

What Marketing Strategies Are Effective For A Gym Business?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the marketing strategies that are effective for a gym will vary depending on the type of gym you own. However, some general marketing tips include:

• Creating a strong branding strategy, including a recognizable logo and tagline.
• Developing marketing materials such as print ads, website design, social media profiles, and more.
• Creating a referral program to incentivize loyal customers to refer their friends.
• Developing partnerships with other established businesses in your community.
• Running promotional events such as free trial days or discounts for monthly memberships.

As you can see, many marketing strategies can be effective for your gym. Your marketing strategy should support your overall business strategy, which is defined by your vision and mission statements and unique selling proposition.

What Additional Resources are Available for Gym Business Owners?

We have several articles to help you start a new gym or grow your existing business:

• How To Start a Gym
• How Much Does It Cost To Start a Gym?
• How To Write a Gym Marketing Plan + Template
• Gym and Fitness Center Industry Trends & Outlook
• Gym Management and Growth Strategies