how much would it cost to open a gym like apollan?

[onlyme]

No matter what kind of gym you open be sure to have a Murphy Bed in your office.  you will thank me many times over.  Especially if you plan to have girls there and hot ones working for you.

[muscleforlife]

I would love to work out in a hardcore gym, but if I had to listen to blasted music that would inevitably involve either numetal or gangstarap I'd probably stop going.

And no, I don't think slayer is numetal, I'm just pointing out that so many gymrat wannabe hardcore losers are affiliated with numetal its hilarious.

In any gym you go to, there is a member time frame early morning....people who go to work at 9am...mid morning, stay at home moms, retirees, lunch time..workers getting in their hour workout, etc, etc, etc.
The music should reflect each segment.   Manoli lets members bring in personal CDs, puts it in the changer and you get a cool mix of metal, rap, rock.  Just heard Pink Floydd dark side of the moon this morning, followed by a song from the Matrix CD.
Also, what other things are you considering to bring in money besides membership fees?   

[gracie bjj]

they threw my john denver cd out last week,i used to love to crank rocky mountain high on shoulder day,im depressed

[HERACLES]

its better to try it and even if it goes under at least you tried bro,its better then going thru life not knowing what would have happened with the gym,if you do everything right i think youll be okay with the gym

So true , so true...

[VGalanti]

pictures of my small studio....

[240 is Back]

Be sure to get a website for your gym

[VGalanti]

been open for 4 years

[VGalanti]

dumbells go up to 140's

[VGalanti]

i have a website

[240 is Back]

i have a website

A very nice one!

I meant slayer, the guy who started the thread about starting a gym.

[Wombat]

Its ALL about location...If its a hardcore(good luck) but shoot for a college town...1/2 price for woman(talk to a lawyer on that one)...

[Hedgehog]

non franchise!  curves is a franchise!
 i mean hardcore type gym

I don't want to put you down...

But if you're in to make a living:

How about NOT open up a hardcore gym?

How about making sure non of the machines have weights that goes beyond 160 lbs, Db that goes above 60 lbs, et al.

You wanna make a living I suppose.

YIP
Zack

[jwb]

I don't want to put you down...

But if you're in to make a living:

How about NOT open up a hardcore gym?

How about making sure non of the machines have weights that goes beyond 160 lbs, Db that goes above 60 lbs, et al.

You wanna make a living I suppose.

YIP
Zack

I disagree... why compete against the big chains by going all soft core since they have that market sewn up.

either go high class one on one the way vinny has or go basic freeweights like a metro flex.

so long as the overheads are really low (no loan, cheap rent, no aerobics staff to pay, clean it yourself etc) then you don't need to bring in mega amounts to stay afloat.

you will HAVE to be very cheap since you aren't offering anything extra but that can be your main selling point and also your main excuse when people complain about the hours not being long enough or having no daycare etc (what do you want for this price honey?).

One thing to perhaps do is really go overboard on the amount and the size of the dumbbell area. this wouldn't cost much to do but can be a real selling point since every gym is way too congested in the dumbbell area and could use more benches and multiple sets of the 30's to 80lbers

[240 is Back]

idea-

I would spend a few weeks visiting gyms all over your area of the city/county/state.  Take a few trips and get day passes.  Bring a notepad, only instead of writing down your routine as you lift, write about what you like/dislike about the gym.  Everything good, everything bad.  Little things.  Maybe steal a staff member if you need one and someone is perfect.   Maybe even plan recruitment- how you could snatch up some of these members down the road. 

Chat with ppl.  Act like you're thinking about joining- see what they like/dislike.  Same with the staff- Get all their prices and lowest deal offers.  This way, when someone tries to BS you later "well, i can get it for $400 down at Golds", you will know if he is lying, and plan your negotiations accordingly.  It'll also help you sell memberships better-  You can point out everything you have that the competitors dont- "I'm the only guy in town with this cardio machine" to the fat lady, or "I have more squat racks than GOlds (3) and Worlds (4) combined!  This line, you'd use on the PLer.  Find a local pro or top amateur- and give him a free membership and some supps or a few bucks to train there exclusively.  This will help sell you young guys "Hell, John Smith chose my gym over every other gym in town- so should you"

Also- Location usually means everything, jwb is very right about that. 

[hangclean]

The best thing to do if you want a Hardcore gym is to find at least 15 people and pool your money to rent out a little space in a warehouse or a shop of some sort.  One of the places I go is like this.  I pay 50 dollars a month, I have a lot of good equipment (I do powerlifting so theres a power rack, deadlift platform, competition bench, reverse hyper, glute ham raise various benches, cable pulldown machine, dumbells, bumper plates etc.) We all have keys andI can play whatever music I want when I go there.  I still go to a commercal gym as well because I think it is entertaining, but this is really the way to go if you are serious about lifting. 

[slayer]

well near a college or a highschool would be the main goal!

id def. go up to 200 lb dumbells
most health clubs go up to 80 lbs aroung here anyways...

[Adam Empire]

You might consider a "hardcore area" for your gym - so their is an area with good lighting, mirrors, powerlifting stuff, etc for the BBers.  Then the regular members won't feel out of place when doing their thing.  Make you money off the regular members (cardio and easy machines), but fuel that into the equipment for the hardcore area...

This is more common around here as a way to keep more members and not alienate them either...

[wes mantooth]

well if you rent a place and spend about 20 to 30 grand on equiptment, id say youll make at least enuff cash to pay rent, utilities , insurance ect,,. so worst casre scenerio you go out of business and sell the equiptment for hald of what ya paid for it!

20 to 30 grand will get you about a third of the equipment you need, regardless if its used or not. (even if its a small gym) and dont forget about the additional 15% that its gonna cost to ship it. if you want to research, go to www.globalfitness.com. they are the largest company in the world for selling used equipment

[HUGEPECS]

looks good, nice gym

[onlyme]

Why buy used equipment.  Impress your members and potential members and lease new equipment.  You only need 10% down and the payments are relatively low.  You won't have that huge nt to crack if you purchase the equipment outright.  Plus, you'll get the full warranty and support.  Some used equipment is good and a deal but why not get new if it will cost the same or less from the start.  You want to keep your opening costs as low as possible.  Once memebrships are generated use that money to buy more equipment and upgrade.  Use as little of your own cash as possible.  In fact compnies like LifeFitness will actually include your building costs of the gym into the lease agreement for the equipment.  That way your actual dollars you put in of your own are minimal.  Let them pay for the building of your gym.

[littleguns]

Do your homework...

Gyms are like bars, only 15% survivie the first year and then 50% of them close withing the next 2-3 years

[flurby]

build you own customized home gym , train customers at home with a personal training certificate.