Opening a Studio

I didn’t really know where to put this post, so I apologize if it’s in the wrong section

  • anyway I am opening a small studio type gym geared toward " new & busy moms " gym ( about 2,000 sq feet ) and am gong to lease the equipment

– however the companies that have quoted me on the lease are a little high in price, they did offer me cheaper ( home version ) equipment but the ( home ) equipment won’t have a warranty

— I could for sure use home equipment in my studio, as there won’t be a lot of traffic everyday ( not like ballys or anything) maybe 10/12 people a day

*** would I be better off leasing the easily breakable items ( treadmill, bike, etc) and getting the home version of less likely breakable items ( plates, dumbells etc) or would paying the extra money be worth it ?

3 posts in 6 years…

If your target clientele is new & busy moms, why don’t you skip the studio and all the equipment and train them out of their homes? A limited amount of portable equipment in a van should be enough to train New & Busy Moms and a lot cheaper than starting a business that will probably fail leaving you with huge debt.

Just a thought. Maybe you are already doing this and you’re ready to step up to the next level. Nothing wrong with that if that’s the case.

[quote]on edge wrote:
If your target clientele is new & busy moms, why don’t you skip the studio and all the equipment and train them out of their homes? A limited amount of portable equipment in a van should be enough to train New & Busy Moms and a lot cheaper than starting a business that will probably fail leaving you with huge debt.

Just a thought. Maybe you are already doing this and you’re ready to step up to the next level. Nothing wrong with that if that’s the case.[/quote]

cue porno music

Orange theory route probably would be best, at least to start. TRX’s, treadmills, etc. Maybe some dumbbells.

Less of an investment and then see how it works out. See what clientele you attract and modify as you need.

[quote]csulli wrote:
3 posts in 6 years… [/quote]
And one of those is asking an online forum advice for training a client with significant back problems. Yeesh.

[quote]josephkolarz wrote:

  • anyway I am opening a small studio type gym geared toward " new & busy moms " gym[/quote]
    x2 what On Edge said. “New and Busy Moms” have very limited time to train, let alone drive to and from a gym. Google “Gym Guyz” for an idea on how to make a business specializing in in-home training.

Using home equipment for 10-12 clients a day even 3 days a week is going to be a ton more wear and tear than the implements are meant for. That’s asking for trouble. If your insurance provider finds out you’re using non-commercial equipment in a commercial setting, I’d expect that to be even more trouble.

You’re starting a new business, so I understand finances can be tight, but the saying “Buy nice, don’t buy twice” is absolutely appropriate here. If anything, I’d focus on less equipment but higher quality. You don’t need a treadmill and a bike, for example.

Came here to say this. I know its a long shot with the items you mentioned, but what happens if someone get hurts due to broken or warn out equipment? That would be a tough one to explain to an angry, embarrassed client, let alone a judge.

Beyond that, I think the people suggesting that you take the in-home training route have a great point, and I hope you’re planning on exploring that option even if you open your studio as well. Having a home base can be helpful in finding new clients and it lends credibility to your business, but theres no reason you couldn’t also offer an in-home option for people who can’t make it in to the studio. Find an independent PT with in-home experience, give them client leads that you come up with, then take a cut of what they charge those client. Bingo-bango: new revenue stream with minimal investment.