Gym franchises are some of the most successful franchises in the world, so if you have a love for health and wellness and are interested in entering a franchise rather than starting a new company from the ground up, this could be the ideal option.

There are a number of gym franchise to pick from, but choosing which brand is correct for you is only one of the many moves you’ll need to take. Read on to learn how to start a free gym, pros and cons, how much it charges, and more.

How to Open a Gym Franchise

Ready to launch the process of purchasing a franchise? Take these measures to buy your own gym franchise.

Weigh the pros and cons of the Franchise Gym

As in every company plan, there are benefits and drawbacks to franchising. Before you conclude that opening a gym franchise is the best decision for you, weigh the pros and cons. It’s also a smart idea to chat to existing and former gym franchisees to gain a clear sense of what this phase would mean.

Here are few pros and cons of buying a franchise gym to remember before you make your decision:

Pros Running a Gym Chain

• Name recognition: Franchises are well established companies with a tradition of success. This renders finding members a chinch—already there’s a built-in client base. Plus, the franchiser is expected to manage promotions for the whole franchise.
• Education and continuing support: If you’ve never run a company before, there would be a lot to remember. Through a franchise, you would have the continuing assistance of your franchisor to carry you to every phase of the process.
• Better income: Franchises usually have higher profits than non-French firms, since there is a loyal consumer base and a recipe for growth. Although the initial cost to start a gym franchise can be big, you’re likely to make a return sooner.

Cons Running a Gym Franchise

• Lack of independence: when you enter a franchise, you can own your place, but you are essentially a franchiser’s employee. They get the ultimate word when it comes to business plan, promotion, place, decoration, etc. If you’re trying to build a genuinely exclusive gym experience, a franchise may not be the right option.
• Initial investment: As we described, the initial expense of beginning a gym franchise can be very high. After all, you’re going to have to buy a ton of supplies. If you do not have liquid funds or are unwilling to apply for grants, this is unlikely to be a feasible choice.
• Ongoing costs: In addition to the upfront franchise charge, you would also be liable for ongoing fees to the franchisor. This can involve royalties, promotion costs, extension fees and more. Be sure you are mindful of all the expenses associated with a single gym franchise before you enter.

Please Consider your Choices

If, after considering the pros and cons, you’re persuaded that owning a gym franchise is correct for you, then you’ll want to explore the franchise opportunities that you have. There are plenty of gym chains to pick from—from classical gyms to niche studios.

Your gym franchise options would also be unique to where you choose to open your shop, so make sure you invest some time looking for the right alternatives. While evaluating the choices, pay particular attention to any criteria that need to be fulfilled, as well as to how much money each one wants.

Contact the Franchise

Once you’ve narrowed your choices down to a handful of possibilities, it’s time for more details. This will usually be achieved remotely via the franchises’ website. In certain situations, you can apply a provisional application or request more details.

From there, further detail would be given by the franchisor. It may also involve future activities in your region to hear more about the company and chat to other franchisees. Know, during the application and consultation phase, you should be questioning the franchisor as well as they’ll be interviewing you to make sure it’s a mutual match.

When you step forward with the application phase, the franchisor can reveal the franchise agreement, which contains the disclosure document for the franchise (FDD). Both you and your business counsel should closely study this paper, since it lays out precisely what you and the franchisor are liable for in the course of your business partnership. If all looks fine, you’re able to sign up and formally join the franchise family.

Write down a Marketing Proposal

When you decide the best franchise gym that you’re planning to open, the next move is to write a business plan. This will seem needless when you enter the franchise, since too much of the business is prescribed by the franchisor. However, it’s always a smart idea to bring everything together so that you can easily see how your company is going to develop and expand.

There are several important points that you want to make sure your marketing strategy reaches, including a market review of rivalry in the region and the need for your gym franchise to address the demands that are not actually being served by rivals. You can also provide other specifics such as the estimated expenses, how many employees you plan to recruit, what your position in the franchise would be, the financial forecasts on how long you expect to earn a profit, and more.

The good thing about opening a franchise gym instead of beginning a company from scratch is that you’re sure to receive any business strategy details straight from the franchiser or franchise agreement.

Safe Funding

The expense of owning a fitness franchise can change based on which one you want to enter, as will the financial support you may receive from the franchiser. We’ll analyze the costs in more depth below, but for the time being, it’s worth exploring your franchise funding choices.

Chances are, you’re going to need some form of support to get your company off the ground. Although you might be expected to self-fund a portion of the franchise, you are likely to turn to outside outlets as well. You may have a range of business funding opportunities open, depending on what you need to use the money for (i.e. purchasing land, operating capital, etc.) The franchisor can even provide advice or its own investment strategies that you may use at this point.

Of course, each franchise is different. When considering a gym franchise, make sure you understand some venue criteria. Any franchisors may have very strict criteria or can select their own venue. Others are going to allow you more autonomy.

Get your Approvals

As for any company, you may need to acquire proper permits and licenses to function. This can involve construction permits if you are renovating an area, as well as a variety of other permits until you are ready to open, such as health and safety permits.

Get Underway Recruiting

When the location has been identified and you have the correct licenses and legal approvals to work, you are able to recruit the first employee. You’ll need a variety of people to help tidy up, work the front desk, administer sign-ups and memberships, educate or instruct class members, and more.

Remember, gyms generally have extended hours—some are accessible 24 hours a day—so they’re open anytime their clients choose to work out. This ensures that you would require a host of workers to cover all changes to ensure sure the services are tidy and well-organised.