How to start a gym business Got a great business idea for a new fitness centre, but not sure where to start? Get your blood pumping with our expert guide to setting up a gym business. Written by Helena Young Updated on 16 June 2022 Our experts We are a team of writers, experimenters and researchers providing you with the best advice with zero bias or partiality. Written and reviewed by: Helena Young Lead Writer Henry Williams Content Manager Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. The cost of living crisis has hit many UK households hard. With NI increases and rising taxes, consumers are aiming to minimise their expenditure. But not, it seems, when it comes to gym memberships.Figures from the annual State of UK Fitness Industry Report, published by the Leisure Database Company (Leisure DB) show that, in March 2023, the UK fitness sector increased by 11.5% year-on-year. This was due to a rise in average monthly membership fees, despite individuals apparently cutting back on spending.The good news is that, if you’re a fitness professional or personal trainer looking to start your own gym business, you will still have a huge share of people interested. But so too will your competitors. New gym owners now need to use smart strategic planning to stand out against rivals and give consumers clever incentives to continue spending money with your firm.Luckily, we’ve been helping startups to establish and grow for over two decades, and we’re experts in the challenges ahead. In this article, we’ll take you through the top priorities you need to think about when starting a gym business, in areas like finance, marketing, and health and safety.By the end, you’ll know everything you need to write a commercial gym business plan that would make even Joe Wicks proud. This article will cover: How has Covid-19 changed the industry? How much does it cost to launch a gym? How do you find a good gym premises? How should you price your gym? Are you qualified to start a gym business? How should you market your gym? Next steps Startups.co.uk can help your business succeed At Startups.co.uk, we’re here to help small UK businesses to get started, grow and succeed. We have helpful resources for helping new businesses get off the ground – you can use the tool below to get started today. What Does Your Business Need Help With? Project Planning Creating a Website Getting a Business Loan Running your Accounts Get Started 10 essential guides for starting a business 1 How to start a business: an 11 step guide to success 2 Free Simple Business Plan Template 3 How to register a company name in the UK 4 How to register a trademark in the UK: step-by-step guide 5 Top 7 free project plan templates for small businesses 6 101+ small business ideas to start now 7 How to register for VAT: complete guide 8 How to become a sole trader: the complete guide 9 Grants for small businesses – and how to apply 10 How to create a business website See more How has Covid-19 changed the industry?If you’re considering starting a gym business, you’re likely feeling nervous about the state of the industry and the possible impact that future lockdowns might have.The pandemic has been difficult for all businesses, but its impact has been particularly harsh on gyms and exercise facilities, as three national lockdowns forced the closure of facilities all over the UK.For many gym owners, the impact was devastating. The Gym Group, one of Britain’s largest low-cost gym operators, reported revenue losses of 48% as it said goodbye to 200,000 members in 2020 alone.However, post-Covid, much of this damage seems to have been reversed. Going to the gym topped the list of activities people were most looking forward to when coronavirus restrictions were lifted. As lockdown measures were relaxed, The Gym Group’s shares jumped by 28% in 2021 – recouping virtually all of its earlier losses – whilst ClassPass recorded a 600% week-on-week increase in the number of new members attending fitness classes.All of this paints a confusing picture of potential negatives, and cause for optimism. So what post-Covid considerations do you need to make if you’re looking to start your own gym business?How has Covid-19 impacted gym health and safety?Right now, one of the biggest concerns people have about returning to the gym is the threat of contracting Covid-19, as workout spaces can be a common environment for germs. That means cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitising are three of the top priorities for new gym owners. Things like hand sanitiser stations and face masks have become the norm.You can create your own cleaning and hygiene routines around these three simples steps:Train all your employees to ensure personal hygiene (e.g. washing hands) and disinfecting procedures. Employees should learn how to safely use disinfectants, and wear PPE when cleaning.Have a daily cleaning schedule for employees to follow to ensure the facility is cleaned regularly.Document your cleaning practices to ensure that all facility disinfecting is being accomplished daily.You could also hire third-party cleaning staff to manage this area of your business. Most commercial cleaners charge by the hour or by the square foot. For an hourly rate, you can expect to pay anything between £18 – £40, but if the company charges by the square foot, costs average around £0.25 per square foot.Another important reason for investing in health and safety is to reassure customers that you are making their work out area safe and hygienic. Make sure you shout about the many ways you are working to protect clients from COVID-19 and other illnesses, by putting up flyers and signs. You can also require your employees and customers to wear a mask, unless they are exempt.What if there’s another lockdown?It’s impossible to say what the impact of another lockdown would be or might look like. However, judging by previous legislation, gyms will most likely be at risk of closure.If that happens, you could lose members and start to run out of money very quickly. Surveys estimate that UK fitness clubs lost an average of £470,000 in revenue between March 2020 and April 2021 – or just over £36,000 per month.Though staff member salaries may still be covered by the government, you’ll still have a lot of overheads to consider, such as rental costs. The best way to evaluate whether you could afford to open your gym is to look at your cash reserves.Reserves refer to any earnings that can be put aside and used by your business during unforeseen events and emergencies. They can take a lot of different forms, for example, a capital reserve might be any cash you would receive from selling your assets.Meeting with a third-party accountant is the best way to work out how much money you might have in cash reserves, and whether this would be enough to tide you over in another lockdown.Can people be tempted back from home exercising?The Leisure-Net Team’s National Post Lockdown Recovery Survey found that 48% of respondents said they had been more, or the same level of, active during lockdown, implying many respondents had continued to WFH (workout from home).Changing demand and habits from your gym users will influence your business model. So, how popular has home exercising become? Will your gym be trumped by online fitness classes and YouTube yoga sessions?Not necessarily. In the same survey, a huge majority of respondents (88%) said they still planned to use gym facilities more or the same amount when they reopened, suggesting that fitness centres remain sought-after. Daniel Herman is founder and director of BioSynergy, a sales website for fitness products. Herman says: “In the long term, I think Covid-19 will have a positive impact on the sector, as it has increased awareness about the importance of health and fitness beyond sport and aesthetics. I think in future, the industry will have to embrace a multi-channel approach to meet the differing needs and requirements of their members.” Gyms across the UK had to adapt quickly to the coronavirus lockdowns, doing everything from renting their equipment to clients, to streaming fitness sessions directly into people’s homes.Take advantage of the change, and look to attract the new home-fitness audience that has emerged during lockdown. For example, you could offer free trial sessions for people who began working out from home and might now be looking to transition to a gym environment. Key takeaways:Create a health and safety strategy to ensure customers feel safe using your facilities.Make sure you have enough cash reserve to survive another lockdown before opening a gym.Think about adapting your services for home exercising How much does it cost to launch a gym?Starting a gym business is an expensive venture. The average initial investment cost when opening a mid-sized, commercial gym is around £80,000-£100,000. If you are only willing or able to invest less than this, you might want to start with something smaller, like a fitness studio. Barry Cronin is executive director at Central London YMCA, a fitness studio. Cronin tells us: “The fitness industry is very difficult to get a foothold in now. To get a financial return you have to have the right site, the right size, in the right place, with the right market – it sounds obvious but if you look around, most of the single sites that are failing just don’t fulfil that simple criteria.” Purchasing equipmentGym equipment is an expensive area to invest in. How much you spend depends on the amount and type of equipment you want, but you should expect to budget at least £35,000 for a fully-equipped inventory.Here’s a handy breakdown of the average costs for some of the most popular commercial gym machines:TreadmillRowing machineBench pressCross trainersWeight set (150kg)Cost£2,000Around £1,000£1,500£800£500A good rule of thumb is to have enough equipment for 15% of your membership list to use in a given hour. So, if you have 200 members, you’ll need to have 30 machines. Based on our above chart, that means an initial upfront cost of £34,800 just for equipment.If this sounds out of your price range, don’t give up straight away. Some websites, like Powerhouse Fitness allow you to purchase commercial gym equipment on finance.And be sure to shop around – brand new equipment isn’t entirely necessary if you’re looking to save money. Used commercial equipment websites, like gymkituk.com, can supply second-hand materials at a more affordable price.Renting equipment Another good way to save money upfront on commercial gym equipment is to rent it from a third-party provider. Here’s how the estimated costs compare for buying vs. renting equipment, based on prices given by equipment hire company, Hire Fitness.TreadmillRowing machineBench pressCross trainersWeight set (150kg)Cost of buying£2,000Around £1,000£1,500£800£500Cost of renting for one month£240£80£68£160£50For purchasing and owning your gym equipment, we calculated an initial upfront cost of around £39,500 for 200 members. In comparison, one month of renting equipment would cost an estimated £2,048 based on this chart.However, this might be beneficial in the short term – particularly as you build up your client base – but rental costs quickly become more expensive in the long term. Based on these estimates, if you bought your equipment outright, you would see a return on your investment within 18 months when compared to hiring. Hollie Grant is founder of Pilates PT, a fitness studio in Fulham. Grant says: “The financial side of the business is always the most important consideration. Whenever I have been tempted to scale the studio up and take on a bigger space or move to group classes, the numbers just do not work. Whatever your heart tells you, you must be able to back it up with financial security!” Pilates PT studioOpening a gym via franchisingFor a more cost-friendly route to opening your gym, you should use a fitness franchise. There are a number of established fitness chains which offer you the chance to open a gym, or offer fitness services, at one of their existing sites; giving you a headstart on location and market.Anytime Fitness is one of the leading health chains in this sector and operates over 5,000 franchise gym outlets in seven continents, having initially launched in 2012. It offers a franchise package for minimum liquid capital investment of £170,000, which includes everything from support and training through to access to marketing materials. Accounting softwareKeeping on top of your finances is tricky, which is why a third-party accounting software option is a great way to manage your budget and revenue.Marlena Bueschl is director of Surge Fitness, an EMS personal training company. Bueschl says: “Initially, we outsourced all accounting and book-keeping to allow us to focus on the operational aspects of getting our studio up and running. We soon realised however, that bringing the process in-house would give us access to much more tailored and directed financial and management information.From a software perspective, we use Quickbooks, which fits our requirements very well. Far more important however, is the way and extent that the accounting system can integrate with other processes, such as the CRM and billing systems. Choosing providers from the start that offer deep integrations will save many, many hours of work.”The right platform can help you automate your accounting process to be as efficient as possible. If you want to know more, read our expert guide to the best accounting software for small businesses. Surge Fitness studioEmploying staffWhen you first open your doors, you will likely be the primary fitness instructor and oversee most of the training and direct contact with your members. However, you may want to employ personal trainers from the get-go for more specialist fitness areas, like pilates or yoga.Before taking on new staff, you need to check their training and accreditation carefully. Consider making test classes or personal training sessions a part of the interview process to see how they interact with members before committing to keeping them as an employee.You should also ask yourself whether you want to hire staff as employees or independent freelancers, as the latter might make more sense budget-wise if you’re only expecting to run classes for a few hours a week per instructor.To get a full understanding of the different types of accreditation necessary for each fitness trainer role, you can use the CIMSPA professional standards library for a detailed breakdown of every requirement. Key takeaways:You should budget around £35,000 for purchasing equipment, based on a gym with 200 members.You’ll get more long-term value from buying gym equipment than renting.Franchising can save you money during the startup period.Accounting software is a great way to manage your finances.If you’re employing staff, make sure they have all the right accreditation, and think about hiring freelancers to keep costs down. How do you find a good gym premises?Location is crucial when starting your own gym. The IHRSA, a not-for-profit trade organisation representing health and fitness facilities, found that on average, 50% of gym users quit their gym within 6 months, with the majority citing inconvenient locations as their main leaving factor.According to US-based marketing firm, Dstillery the average gym goer does not travel more than 4 miles to exercise. Basing yourself near denser populations is a good way to increase your consumer share – as Stephen Sharkey, owner of Thrive Fitness, agrees. Sharkey says: “Don’t even consider starting up in an area that has less than 70,000 people within a six minute drive.”How do you find the right building?The recommendation for the amount of space you need in a fitness centre – not including communal areas and bathrooms – is 10-15 square feet per person. That means you’d need a work out space of around 1,000 square feet for every 100 monthly members.When looking at a premises, you should also consider if it has:Room for a cafe/seating areaParkingOffice space for admin workSpace for locker room and shower amenitiesLifts and disability accessRoom for expansionHow does location impact your prices?Where your gym is located can also have a huge impact on your service prices. For example, here is the cost of a monthly gym pass for Nuffield Health, based on five different UK locations.Usually, this price difference is due to rental costs. For example, here is a line chart to illustrate how Nuffield Health’s five gym locations compare to each area’s average property cost.As the chart shows, the price of a monthly membership at each gym location increases or decreases alongside each area’s average monthly rental cost. This means that when costing for your gym startup, take into account where you are located as it will impact how you price and market your business. Key takeaways:Make sure a space has all the listed facilities before purchasing.Look for large populations when finding a location.Think about how your location will impact your cost – areas with higher rental costs will not only impact your budget, but also your pricing model. How should you price your gym?Gym membership prices usually have lots of different payment options to suit all walks of customers – whether they use the gym daily, or just for a few weeks after the Christmas period.Most gyms have payment options for:Single-day membershipsMonthly membershipsAnnual membershipsDepending on what your unique business model includes, you might also choose to offer gym-only memberships or gym-and-fitness class memberships, to suit customers who want access to different areas of your fitness centre. Many brands offer off-peak membership for those who use the gym during working hours (between 9am-5pm). Tori Porter owns a fitness and wellbeing communications agency, and is also an avid gym user. Porter says: “I recently quit my gym membership because I was going abroad for a few weeks and it felt like a waste to be tied into a rolling contract. I also find sometimes I don’t make the most of a contract, so it’s better for me to find pay as you go or more flexible options.” Researching your local demographic will help you to decide the best pricing package for your target market. For example, if the average household income in your area is £30,000, you need to ensure your pricing plan reflects this figure.Market research can take a lot of different forms, but a good jumping off point is to talk to other fitness centre owners about their business journeys. You could also run surveys using social media, to find out what local community expectations are for gym costs, and what they might think is missing from their existing facilities.You can get basic demographic details from your local authority but there are private companies that will give you a more detailed profile of the local population for a fee. Finding sources isn’t always simple, but you can always start with an ordinary web search.What is a competitive price for gym memberships?We’ve picked out five of the most popular gym brands from across the UK, and compared their costs in the below table to best illustrate the average price of a gym membership in the UK. (The price shown is specific to each gym’s Liverpool branch, to ensure a fair comparison.)PureGym Nuffield HealthVirgin AtlanticThe GymBannatyneMonthly pass (billed annually)£13.99 (+ £10 joining fee)£53£59.99£15.99£45.99According to this chart, the average gym cost is around £37.92 for a monthly membership, billed annually.Of course, as we’ve mentioned, the location of your gym, cost of your equipment, local demographic, and the prices of nearby competitors are also huge influences on how much you should charge your members. Make sure you consider all of these factors when designing your pricing plans. Key takeaways:Like your competitors, you should design flexible payment options to attract more customers.Student and family discounts are another great way to keep service users spending.The average price for a monthly gym membership is around £38. Gym management softwareOnce your gym business has been established, you need to think about how to best manage the day-to-day operations of your centre.Gym and club management software is designed to manage schedules, memberships, and facilities. The right tool can be used to store member information in a database, manage financial records, schedule your classes, and help users to reserve facilities.Top software options include:MindbodyVirtuagymGloFoxPushPressYou might also need a business email to communicate with your patrons. Read our step-by-step guide to find out how to create a business email. Are you qualified to start a gym business?If you’re going to run a fitness centre, passion for health and wellbeing is an obvious requirement, but here are some other soft skills that gym owners should have:Motivation to work long hoursThe industry is built around odd hours. Most gym users are employed, which means they want to fit their exercise regime around a working day.Good people skillsAs a gym owner, you'll be spending a lot of your time on the premises, interacting directly with customers.Organisational skillsRunning a gym requires constant maintenance and financial management. You can find software to help you out with these areas, but more on this later.Knowledge of the sectorEvery industry is subject to rapid change, so you’ll need to work to stay on top of the new and emerging trends.Strong marketing and sales skillsYou could also hire a third-party agency or consultant to take care of this area.Personal accreditation is another requirement – and that means more than a medal at your local fun run.You should have a minimum of a Level 2 qualification as a fitness instructor, which you can complete either in-person or online. YMCA Fit offers this qualification as a part-time and full time course. One of the first things you should do if you’re looking to set up a new business is get started with writing a business plan. Have a read through our specially-designed free business plan template to understand the steps involved. Rules and regulationsStarting a new gym business is a potential minefield for injuries and accidents, so it is in your best interests to be rigorous about safety procedures.There is currently no specific agency that oversees safety guidelines for the industry. However, for your gym to qualify as a safe environment for users and staff, you will need to conform to basic standards set out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a government agency responsible for workplace health and safety and employee welfare.UK Active (formerly known as the Fitness Industry Association) has an easy to understand code of standards on its website which, if followed, will qualify your gym under HSE guidelines. These are:All staff employed within a gym or fitness centre must have adequate safety training. There must be an appropriate number of first-aiders in relation to the size of the club – only HSE approved first aid courses count.All fitness instructors must be trained to standards required by the European Register of Exercise Professionals.All gym equipment, including lifts, electrical appliances, and boilers, must be kept in a safe condition and regularly inspected by appropriate people.All gym equipment must be maintained according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, with all checks documented, and records kept on site.Gym owners are legally bound by employer legislation for any instructors or other staff members you take on.If you have a café or food area on site you will also need to comply with Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs and the Food Hygiene Regulations 2006.Here are some useful resources to learn more about gym accreditation:European Register of Exercise Professionals The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity UK ActiveHealth and Safety ExecutiveIHRSAInsurance If you’re employing staff to work at your gym business then you are legally required to have employer’s liability insurance. This insurance will cover you for any compensation claims made by your employees for injury or damage caused by work.We also highly recommended that you get public liability insurance. As you and your employees will be interacting directly with the public, this will protect you if someone incurs injury or damage on your site. Buildings and contents insurance, while not a legal requirement, should also be another consideration.You can use insurance price comparison websites to find the best option for your business, but here are some of the most popular providers:AxaSimplyBusinessHiscoxDirect Line For BusinessesLicensingDepending on the range of activities your fitness centre will offer, you might need special licensing. Common activities in gyms that need a licence include:To sell or prepare food on the premises, businesses must register with their local authority environmental health department.To use copyright recorded music during gym sessions, you will require an ‘exercise to music’ licence from Phonographic Performance Limited. If you are a member of UK Active, you qualify for a discount.To play background music elsewhere in your gym – for example in changing rooms, workout areas or a cafe- you’ll need to apply for a ‘background music’ licence, also from PPL.To show television programmes in the fitness rooms or communal areas, you’ll need a television licence from TV Licensing, which you can get easily online.To keep computerised records of individuals’ personal details and/or use CCTV you need to fill in an online form, and register as a data user with the Information Commissioner’s Office. If this is your first time registering a business, you will also need to fill out certain admin tasks such as registering for VAT, or as an employer. Read our expert guide to learn more about how to start a business. Key takeaways:Gym owners need certain soft skills, and a minimum of a Level 2 certificate in fitness instructing.Your gym will need to adhere to the code of standards set out by HSE.Legally, you will need to purchase employer’s liability insurance. We also strongly recommend buying public liability insurance.You need to purchase licensing for things like playing music or selling food. How should you market your gym?So, you’ve decided on a premise and have honed into what your customer base and pricing costs are. Now, you need to know how you’re going to spread the message to advertise and promote your gym in places where your customer spends a lot of time.But, as an SME, you won’t have a big budget when it comes to marketing. So how can you communicate with your target audience directly, completely free of charge? Thank goodness for the World Wide Web.You do need… a websiteAccording to BrightLocal’s 2020 consumer survey, 93% of consumers used the internet to find a local business in the last year, which means you’re missing a trick if you don’t have a website already established and waiting for users to find.Thanks to the beauty of modern technology, it’s simple to set up your own website and domain. Specialist website builders can do all of the coding and design for you, offering easy-to-use templates that you can alter and personalise.Here are some popular website builders: Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Best for small business overall Wix Squarespace GoDaddy Shopify Hostinger Jimdo BEST FOR Best all-in-one website builder BEST FOR Design flexibility & businesses looking to scale BEST FOR Ease of use and simplicity BEST FOR Ideal for growing your online store BEST FOR Cheap builder BEST FOR Creating a website in under an hour (thanks to its ADI platform) Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.8 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.7 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.5 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.4 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 3.9 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 3.3 Price £9-£119 per month£8.10-£107.10 with code “TAKE10” Price £12-£35 per month, billed annuallyUse code “SU10” to receive a 10% discount on all Squarespace plans Price £7.99-£13.99 per month, billed annually (first term discounts available) Price £5-£259 per month, billed annually£1 for first month Price £2.59-£3.79 per monthUp to 81% discounted with code “STARTUPS” Price £9-£39 per month Try Wix Try Squarespace Try GoDaddy Try Shopify Get Hostinger Try Jimdo We would recommend Squarespace and Wix as the best options for gym businesses. They are particularly good for creating an attractive interface that can sell a service and take booking payments – areas where a gym website should excel. If you want to know more about creating a business website, read our step-by-step guide to learn about website builders, buying a domain name, and more. You do need… social mediaExperian reported that 84% of UK SMEs use social media for marketing purposes, and for good reason. It’s free, quick, and lets you target incredibly specific audiences.Surge Fitness’ social media pageSocial networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are also an excellent platform for guerrilla marketing – using weird and often low-cost, viral messaging to sell a product or service. Olly Randall is co-founder of Social Fitness Co, a digital marketing agency for fitness studios. Randall says: “The biggest challenge for startups is generating brand awareness and attracting new businesses. Social media is a great way to get as many eyes on your product or service as possible. However, people on Facebook aren’t looking for a gym, so you need to find a low-barrier offer to stop them scrolling and catch their attention, like offering a one-week free trial or a foundation membership.” You might need… third-party advertisingIf you’d rather not take on responsibility for marketing your gym, then you should consider hiring a third-party consultant in a marketing, PR or social media management role. Digital marketing is key to making an impact online. Find out our top tips for the best digital marketing strategies for small businesses. Olly Randall, co-founder of Social Fitness Co, adds: “Gym owners that choose to take charge of their own business marketing often go wrong due to inexperience, and not correctly targeting their demographic. If you are unfamiliar with using Facebook ads, for example, you can make mistakes, which can dramatically increase your advertising costs. Third-party agencies work with lots of clients who have similar issues. They can take a more strategic and experience-led approach, saving you time and money to put towards other areas of your business.” How can you make sure your gym is inclusive?If you want to attract the largest audience possible, and ensure your gym is a comfortable environment for customers, then you need your business to be inclusive and accessible for every type of user.The phrase ‘gym culture’ has historically been used to position gyms as testosterone-driven, male-centric spaces. FitRated reports that 71% of female gym goers they surveyed said they had an experience that made them feel uncomfortable at the gym, with 54% saying it had led them to avoid certain rooms or areas.Thankfully, that image is changing. To craft a more inclusive environment at your gym, follow other, big-name gym brands by introducing safety-conscious, women-only spaces. Other emerging norms, such as parent-and-kid classes, can also contribute to the cause.Supporting people with disabilitiesIn 2018, Future Fit Training released their report Raising the Bar, which found that 86% of fitness employees who were surveyed didn’t think most exercise professionals were adequately trained to work with disabled people.Your business needs to be accessible for customers with disabilities or disorders. If you are hiring staff, invest in training programs to ensure that they are sensitive to the disabilities they might encounter. Make sure that your building doorways are wide enough for mobility equipment, and look into buying specialist disability-friendly gym equipment.Supporting diversity and body-positivityHealth and wellbeing is all about feeling good in yourself and your body, which is why it’s important to celebrate all body types.Marketing materials are an important part of showcasing this support. Make sure you represent a wide range of service users in any promotional packages or images. Train staff in how to handle unacceptable, body-shaming behaviour towards customers.Remember, inclusivity is about inviting conversations and being open-minded to new issues. You should also signpost communication channels through which people can contact you with any complaints or concerns they might have. Lisa Grant is owner and manager of Revolution, a female-only gym founded in 2020. Grant tells us: “There is so much competition in the fitness industry, so it’s crucial to find what you are good at, passionate and enthusiastic about. I wanted to create a ladies-only gym which would provide a safe space where women can be who they want to be without judgement, an environment where they are supported. That’s my ultimate goal, the sense of being a part of something.” Revolution gym Key takeaways:Digital marketing is an excellent and low-budget way to advertise your business to potential customers.Third-party advertisement managers and PR consultants are a good solution if you feel out of your depth with marketing.Inclusivity is important. Inclusive classes, such as women-only, attract a wider audience and create a more comfortable gym environment. Next stepsWe’ve given you lots of action points to consider when starting a gym. So which should you do first? Here’s a realistic timeline for how long each step should take you.What can you do now?Review your financial situation post-Covid: Before deciding anything, you need to know if you could afford to run a gym during another lockdown.Design a business plan: Our free business plan template is available here.Get qualified: The Level 2 certificate in gym fitness instructing, as a full-time course, takes only two weeks to complete.Register your business: This takes 24 hours and costs only £12, so it makes sense to get it done early.Get licensed: Some licensing takes just 24 hours to process, but it can take longer. Food business registration needs to be done at least 28 days before opening.Get an online presence: Social media pages and a website can help to generate interest in your gym, even if you haven’t yet found a premises.What can you do within 3 months?Find a premises: Standard sale and purchase of a commercial property can take between six to ten weeks to complete, much of which is spent on due diligence. Purchase equipment: Once you know the square footage of your premises then you can start purchasing equipment as you’ll know the number and sizes of machines you’ll need.What should you wait to do?Hire staff/marketing consultants: Employing staff is a long-term investment and is best left until further down the line. However, third-party accountants are a good early-on investment to help keep your budget and resources on track during the planning period.Price your service: You can’t really know how to price your service until you have a better idea of your budget and have worked out any additional costs like purchasing software or taking on staff. Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags Getting Started Written by: Helena Young Lead Writer Helena is Lead Writer at Startups. As resident people and premises expert, she's an authority on topics such as business energy, office and coworking spaces, and project management software. With a background in PR and marketing, Helena also manages the Startups 100 Index and is passionate about giving early-stage startups a platform to boost their brands. From interviewing Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin to spotting data-led working from home trends, her insight has been featured by major trade publications including the ICAEW, and news outlets like the BBC, ITV News, Daily Express, and HuffPost UK.