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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: el numero uno on September 07, 2017, 08:18:38 AM

Title: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: el numero uno on September 07, 2017, 08:18:38 AM
If you manage to find realiable people to work with you, is it a good idea to run a gym as a side business?
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Coach is Back! on September 07, 2017, 08:29:28 AM
It's a pain in the ass
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: el numero uno on September 07, 2017, 08:33:44 AM
It's a pain in the ass

Hi Coach, I know you have a ton of experience running a gym.  :)

Do you think trying to run it as a side business is a recipe for failure?
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: burnout666 on September 07, 2017, 08:35:16 AM
I guess it would depend on if you buy someone's gym with an established member core and existing equipment or if you lease or buy real estate, buy the equipment brand new, and start building your customer base. The latter takes 3-5 years until you break even or become profitable and obviously can cost a fuck ton.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: el numero uno on September 07, 2017, 08:43:25 AM
I guess it would depend on if you buy someone's gym with an established member core and existing equipment or if you lease or buy real estate, buy the equipment brand new, and start building your customer base. The latter takes 3-5 years until you break even or become profitable and obviously can cost a fuck ton.

I was thinking in starting from scratch. I live and work in a small town, not many gyms going out of business (so you can buy them) around here.

Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Evo on September 07, 2017, 08:49:22 AM
NO!

Been there done that.

Ran a gym for a friend - long hours, weak pay and so much stupid shit to deal with.

Owned a gym - Large investment for a slowish return, long hours and even more shit to deal with.

Want to invest?  There are better options.

Want your own business?  Again look elsewhere...

Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: el numero uno on September 07, 2017, 08:56:00 AM
Thanks guys. I appreciate the feedback.  :)
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: SOMEPARTS on September 07, 2017, 08:58:41 AM
Imagine trying to get gym dues from the average getbigger. That should fix any urge to start this money pit you speak of...
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Grape Ape on September 07, 2017, 09:00:39 AM
I thought the old gym model was outdated and crummy.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Coach is Back! on September 07, 2017, 09:03:16 AM
Hi Coach, I know you have a ton of experience running a gym.  :)

Do you think trying to run it as a side business is a recipe for failure?

No. It's very time consuming. Like almost any business.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: denarii on September 07, 2017, 09:38:27 AM
most income from personal training and its basically a blue collar retail job
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: SF1900 on September 07, 2017, 09:40:37 AM
El Numeron Uno, why don't you consult with Vince Goodrum, CSN, MFT, HHP, CEO?
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: El Diablo Blanco on September 07, 2017, 09:49:56 AM
Gay Porn is a better side business.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: residue on September 07, 2017, 09:50:32 AM
my sister rented out a storage unit, bought one of those gym in a box packages from rogue, charged yuppie asians $150 a month and gave them a key to the unit. Her overall membership was small(30), i think she turned a profit the first year,
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Matt on September 07, 2017, 09:52:27 AM
A friend of mine is opening a restaurant and wanted a $40,000 investment from me.  I have been informed that restaurants are a bad idea due to things like spoilage.  Oh well...encrypted coins are still a fantastic investment.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Grape Ape on September 07, 2017, 09:53:17 AM
my sister rented out a storage unit, bought one of those gym in a box packages from rogue, charged yuppie asians $150 a month and gave them a key to the unit. Her overall membership was small(30), i think she turned a profit the first year,

That's actually pretty cool.

Assuming there's liability insurance involved?
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: loco on September 07, 2017, 09:58:31 AM
Everyone I know who owned or ran a gym hated it and got out of it first chance they got.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: ratherbebig on September 07, 2017, 10:20:46 AM
it can be good business if after midnight it turns into a gay nightclub with glory holes in the showers
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: residue on September 07, 2017, 10:22:18 AM
That's actually pretty cool.

Assuming there's liability insurance involved?

they all signed a waiver but insurance was dirt cheap, less than 2k a year
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: dj181 on September 07, 2017, 10:24:24 AM
go where the $$$$$$ is

i.e. cater to fat fucks

there is big $$$$$$$ to be made within that subdivision
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Coach is Back! on September 07, 2017, 10:37:28 AM
my sister rented out a storage unit, bought one of those gym in a box packages from rogue, charged yuppie asians $150 a month and gave them a key to the unit. Her overall membership was small(30), i think she turned a profit the first year,

Liability insurance for a 24hr private gym is very expensive from what I hear.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Dave D on September 07, 2017, 10:41:06 AM
NO!

Been there done that.

Ran a gym for a friend - long hours, weak pay and so much stupid shit to deal with.

Owned a gym - Large investment for a slowish return, long hours and even more shit to deal with.

Want to invest?  There are better options.

Want your own business?  Again look elsewhere...



Evo did you run your gym while working in marketing for the supplement company or was the gym a side business?

Also did you sell your gym out right or did it close down?
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: The Keto Kid on September 07, 2017, 10:46:06 AM
Owning a guy is a the business, a good side job is selling steroids out of the gym..
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Powerlift66 on September 07, 2017, 11:32:50 AM
Very little money to be made in the average gym. Performance centers like Coach's, may be different.
Dave Draper said the best thing he ever did was get rid of his gym. (Low profit, long hours, pain in ass biz, etc).

Invest in real estate, apartment buildings, motel in lake community, etc.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: dj181 on September 07, 2017, 11:41:06 AM
Very little money to be made in the average gym. Performance centers like Coach's, may be different.
Dave Draper said the best thing he ever did was get rid of his gym. (Low profit, long hours, pain in ass biz, etc).

Invest in real estate, apartment buildings, motel in lake community, etc.

yep you're right "in the average gym"

but if you target and focus on a certain special population ie. fat asses

you got very good potential as there are tons of them shitstains

USA has an epidemic and 66% percent of then are fat fucks

which equals 200 million peeps

do the typical USA brainwash/advertising and make then feel bad/interior and tell them once they are fit and slim that they will be happy and content and give them the means to do so, and then you will summon this $$$$$ to yourself

FACT
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Royalty on September 07, 2017, 12:08:11 PM
Why is Joon fixated on this "opening a gym" question? He has been asking this same question for years
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: ESFitness on September 07, 2017, 12:58:05 PM
Not a good side biz

Not even a good main biz

...unless you're cool with an annualized .5% return on your investment

.......... Or you're using it to launder money
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Bulgarian_enforcer on September 07, 2017, 01:34:04 PM
if you want a front for your hgh/aas biz it might be. also you can nail nice ass on the side.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: ratherbebig on September 07, 2017, 01:37:17 PM
it can be

if you make all gym owners pay you money or else you torch the place
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: ESFitness on September 07, 2017, 01:54:24 PM
yep you're right "in the average gym"

but if you target and focus on a certain special population ie. fat asses

you got very good potential as there are tons of them shitstains

USA has an epidemic and 66% percent of then are fat fucks

[ Invalid YouTube link ]

do the typical USA brainwash/advertising and make then feel bad/interior and tell them once they are fit and slim that they will be happy and content and give them the means to do so, and then you will summon this $$$$$ to yourself

FACT

...which equals about 27 people who are able to afford a membership, much less maintenance fees
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: burnout666 on September 07, 2017, 01:55:44 PM
Not to mention only about 8% of the adult population goes to gyms. The overwhelming majority only see them from the outside and have no interest in them at all. Of that 8%, maybe 5% are steady members while the rest sign up for a year and quit after a week.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Coach is Back! on September 07, 2017, 02:15:57 PM
If you manage to find realiable people to work with you, is it a good idea to run a gym as a side business?


BTW, You never mentioned what kind of gym. Commercial box gym, private studio, etc?
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: ARMZ on September 07, 2017, 03:45:00 PM
If the money wasn't so good I'd be out ASAP.. I've been in the Biz all my adult life, VERY burned out..

I'm going full time real estate soon, buying rentals.

I did make a killing in the gym biz though. More now than ever..
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Coach is Back! on September 07, 2017, 04:01:06 PM
If the money wasn't so good I'd be out ASAP.. I've been in the Biz all my adult life, VERY burned out..

I'm going full time real estate soon, buying rentals.

I did make a killing in the gym biz though. More now than ever..

Going on my 7th year and yes, very burned out on the fitness part. Changed our business model.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: ARMZ on September 07, 2017, 04:15:06 PM
Going on my 7th year and yes, very burned out on the fitness part. Changed our business model.

Yes.. The 7 year itch.. I cut back on all extras after about 12 years, like aerobics, tanning, child care and all trainers are independent and pay me rent. Takes some of the headache away..
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Primemuscle on September 07, 2017, 04:21:06 PM
Gay Porn is a better side business.

Perhaps, but isn't the tenure fairly short.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: SOMEPARTS on September 07, 2017, 06:19:46 PM
Liability insurance for a 24hr private gym is very expensive from what I hear.



"Barbell Clubs" with a 24-hr key card were popular for that reason. Set up in a LLC, members sign a waiver and then the owner can just carry blanket liability. Unfortunately most people who did that 10-20 years ago have stopped lifting and the new crop of people are cross fitting. They want shirts and races and outfits for Facebook pics.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: pellius on September 07, 2017, 06:35:03 PM
yep you're right "in the average gym"

but if you target and focus on a certain special population ie. fat asses

you got very good potential as there are tons of them shitstains

USA has an epidemic and 66% percent of then are fat fucks

which equals 200 million peeps

do the typical USA brainwash/advertising and make then feel bad/interior and tell them once they are fit and slim that they will be happy and content and give them the means to do so, and then you will summon this $$$$$ to yourself

FACT

"FACT"? Then why don't you do it? You don't even have a job and live a self-indulgent lifestyle paid for by other people's money?
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Never1AShow on September 07, 2017, 06:41:48 PM
What is your goal in owning the gym?  To make money?  Look elsewhere.  To have a not too demanding business that can provide you a clubhouse?  Might work if you can pay your life bills otherwise.  To make friends or find women or wipe sweat from benches?  Good for what?
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Derrick Rigg on September 08, 2017, 06:00:11 AM
Years ago, I had a buddy open a private gym.

He's a firefighter and wanted extra income. So, he bought a repair shop right next to a Popeye's Chicken. He renovated the repair shop and had limited memberships to 60 so all bills associated with the space would be covered. But to his surprise, he ultimately got 110 members in a year.

Everyone was issued a digital number to enter the facility so personnel weren't need and you could workout at any time of day.

He was successful and had the gym for almost 8 years.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Mr Anabolic on September 08, 2017, 06:15:29 AM
This business is too saturated now.  I'm really surprised LA Fitness is still around.  They've been forced to lower their membership prices substantially over the last 10 years.  If they hadn't, they wouldn't be around anymore.  Too many Planet Fitness' nipping at their heels.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: Primemuscle on September 08, 2017, 01:14:24 PM
This business is too saturated now.  I'm really surprised LA Fitness is still around.  They've been forced to lower their membership prices substantially over the last 10 years.  If they hadn't, they wouldn't be around anymore.  Too many Planet Fitness' nipping at their heels.

Regency Med Advantage provides the "Silver and Fit" program. With this I can join pretty much all the gyms I want to at no cost. Around here, L.A. Fitness often has more equipment, but 24 Hour Fitness has better hours....like anytime you want to workout, it's open. Haven't tried Planet Fitness yet because there are only three locations in the Portland Metro area, none of which are close to where I live.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: peroni on September 09, 2017, 06:15:30 AM
It's a pain in the ass

I'll second that notion. I'm coming up on 10 years as a gym owner and it isn't as easy or enjoyable as one would imagine.
Title: Re: Is a gym a good side business?
Post by: HTexan on September 09, 2017, 09:14:21 AM
A friend of mine is opening a restaurant and wanted a $40,000 investment from me.  I have been informed that restaurants are a bad idea due to things like spoilage.  Oh well...encrypted coins are still a fantastic investment.
Naw restaurants are bad investments period. Something around 2/3rds fail and you have to be there all the time or have a trustworthy GM.