All the advice you need if you want to take over a gym

As the fitness industry continues to expand, many people are looking to get into the fitness business. There are several possible solutions: setting up your own gym, taking over an existing gym or joining a franchise network. Find out all about it in an article by AZEOO!

Key points

Fit between the entrepreneur's profile and the project: although the idea is appealing, taking over a gym is unfortunately not for everyone. You need to love the world of sport, have plenty of time on your hands and, above all, be a good manager.

An analysis of the gyms you may have worked with is very important. You'll also have to manage all the infrastructure and staff.

Location: the location of your future venue needs to be carefully thought out, and you need to analyze its geographical situation. If your premises are isolated, you won't get many customers, so aim for main roads, city centers, etc.

Layout: you'll need to project yourself into the premises in order to identify whether there's enough space available. Try to identify where the changing rooms with showers and other amenities will be located, as well as the reception desk and waiting area.

Equipment: quality equipment should naturally be a priority. You should also consider installing more cardio machines than strength training machines. The latter are more varied, and there's often no point in having 3 thigh presses in a single room.

Hygiene and safety rules: the necessary equipment to help an injured customer (or a person in distress in general) must be present in your room. Fire safety and hygiene regulations are also mandatory.

Cleanliness: the cleaning and cleanliness of your venue must be factored into your time and salary costs.

Liability insurance: compulsory, to protect you and your staff. It must be clearly displayed in your venue.

Communication: we've written a number of articles on communication and related marketing. In short, think about creating a website and social network accounts. Feed them intelligently, making users want to know more, and share the day-to-day life of your venue.

Regulations to comply with

You don't need a diploma to open a gym. However, coaches and staff must have a state diploma.

A declaration to the prefecture is required within 3 months, in order to register the equipment and approve the gym. For more information on legislation governing gyms, click here.

Taxation

• Admission tickets and season tickets are subject to 20% VAT.
• Profits are subject to tax.
• If your sales are > €500,000/year, you'll have to pay business property tax.

To find out more, discover the AZEOO personalized coaching software.