How to start a gym

1. Check you have the right qualifications and skills

To run your own gym, you’ll need to have good people skills and be prepared to work long hours. Remember that most gym users will have jobs of their own which means they’ll often want to work out in the early morning or evening. 

You’ll also need a minimum of a Level 2 qualification as a fitness instructor which you can complete in-person or online. You and any employees should have adequate safety training and you’ll need an appropriate number of first aiders on site too. 

It’s important to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

2. Research licensing

Make sure you understand what licensing you’ll require. This will depend on the range of activities you plan to offer. 

For example:

• If you plan to sell or prepare food on the premises, you’ll need to register with your local authority environmental health department. 
• If you want to show live television programmes, you’ll need television licence from TV Licensing.
• If you want to play music during gym sessions, you’ll need to buy The Music Licence for your premises. You’ll then be legally licensed to play music for your customers through the radio or other digital devices.

You’ll also need to pay a data protection fee to the Information Commissioner’s Office if you are processing personal information from your customers. 

3. Find the right premises

Finding the right premises can take a lot of time and research. You’ll need to think carefully about the location and consider whether each premises you view has sufficient parking, office space and room for showers and changing facilities. Also think about whether you want to buy or lease the property.

Some properties are sold as going concerns which means that you can simply take over the gym ownership and you won’t need to make many changes to the layout. Some might also come with planning permission to extend the premises. 

You will also need to double check whether the sale is for the franchise only, or whether you’ll have ownership of the actual premises. 

4. Consider insurance 

There are a number of business insurance policies you’ll need to take out when running a gym. These include:

• Public liability insurance: This covers you in the event a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged while they’re using your gym. It can cover your legal costs and any compensation you might be required to pay.

• Employer’s liability insurance: This is a requirement if you have employees as it covers you in the event a member of staff is injured in the workplace or as a result of the work they carry out for you.

• Buildings and contents insurance: You won’t need buildings insurance if you don’t own the premises, but contents insurance will ensure all your gym equipment is protected against damage and theft. 

• Cyber insurance: This will protect against cyber hackers accessing clients’ files and bank details. 

5. Acquire gym equipment

Consider exactly what gym equipment you need – whether that’s treadmills, exercise bikes, cross trainers or weight sets – and how you’ll acquire them. You might prefer to buy the equipment outright if you’ve got the cash available, or you might prefer to lease them. Both have their pros and cons so consider what works best for you.

6. Hire staff

If you have a small gym, you might only need two or three members of staff. But larger gyms are likely to need a lot more and tend to have instructors with a range of skills and approaches. Make sure you check their qualifications carefully before hiring and, depending on their role, consider holding test classes or personal training sessions as part of the interview process.

7. Market your gym 

Finally, you’ll need to build a website and market your gym in the right way. Consider online marketing, advertising in local newspapers or directories, and using flyers and posters. Also be sure to set up social media profiles to help get the word out.