Whether you are looking to open your first gym, or relocating your current space, location plays an important role, no matter what.
This guide would help you with several factors that you need to consider on how to choose the location for your new gym. We have also answered a few frequently asked questions that will help you make an informed decision.
Factors to Consider for Your Gym Location
Below mentioned are the factors you need to consider while looking for a new gym location. All these points are mentioned in no particular order as all of them are important to make the right decision.
Demographics
Your target audience should be clearly defined because that will play the most crucial role in the selection of the gym location.
The target audience can be anyone from bodybuilders to students, low-income groups to rich people. Each segment of the target audience has different needs.
Talwalkars gym next to Fergusson college helps to attract students studying in FC.
For example, if you are targeting rich people, then keep in mind that they will come in swanky cars, and thus, you require sufficient parking and even valet, if you want to stand out from the rest.
For example, the location of Gold’s Gym in Bandra & 48 Fitness in Andheri west are where all the Film actors & television stars work out.
In the same way, if your target audience is low-income groups and you have a gym with branded equipment and certified trainers, then the locals may not be able to afford the membership you would charge.
Ensure that the demographics of your gym area and the target audience go hand in hand.
Also, having a restaurant, spa, or salon in the gym building or nearby can help you get amazing walk-ins. Also, you can consider having a gym in a commercial building where most multinational companies have offices to attract the professionals working there.
Visibility
After you know your target audience and the broader area where you would want your gym to be located, like residential or commercial, you then need to be more specific.
Abs fitness in ICC tower SB Road & Fitness First in BKC helped to attract the people working in the corporate.
Remember that a location with high traffic and visibility will help you attract more clients. Also, the rent for the same location will be too high. On the contrary, there would be locations with low rent and lower visibility.
Thus, this is an important decision to make, and most of your profits will depend on it. For instance, if the expected number of clients don’t turn up initially, then the high rental will not keep you strong for a long time.
If your target audience is the general population, then high visibility is a must. On the other hand, if the gym is specialized, for example, for athletes, then the location plays a less important role.
Accessibility
For maximum usage, you need to ensure that the gym is fully accessible by all modes of transport. This factor goes hand in hand with demographics.
Is your gym most accessible by car? Then you may likely require sufficient parking space. Or is the gym located in a residential area where most clients will be walking for the session?
Answering these questions will help you make the right decision.
Golds gym near Magarpatta city & Multi fit in Nanded City in Pune attracted people who stayed in Magarpatta city & Nanded City which are the privately owned gated community.
Market Research
Before you decide on a location, one important thing to do is thorough market research. Know the existing competition in the area. Consider everything from gyms to fitness centers like zumba, yoga, etc.
Below are a few things you need to ascertain about the competition:
- Age of the business
- Membership fees
- Demographic of the clients
- Brand and quality of equipment
- Number of staff (particularly trainers – and are they certified?)
- Number of members
Away From Competition
Keeping your gym away from direct competition is a wise decision. But this does not mean you have it located in the outskirts.
It is wise to open a gym at a location with least competition or poor quality gyms. Do not expect clients to come rushing to your gym from their existing gyms. Also, some of your clients may shift to the nearby gyms.
Thus, you need to be highly visible as well as accessible if your target audience is the general public and also far from direct competition. Finding a balance between both is the key.
General Gym or Dedicated Gym
If you are willing to set up a dedicated gym, it can be at a distance and not compulsorily in the heart of the area. Also, a bodybuilder gym may not cater to the general public, and they may not mind travelling some distance to a dedicated gym.
There are a few specialty gyms in Mumbai that are located near Juhu and Bandra where most of the Bollywood stars stay. They are not huge but have very specific equipments & exercise such as pilates, yoga to help keep the stars away from the paparazzi.
If you want to set up a general gym focused on the general public, then it is important to have the gym in the central area.
Huge Catchment Area
Being close to as many buildings as possible can be fruitful. You must have a huge catchment area to pull the maximum crowd towards your gym. This can be a better option than having a gym in a high profile area.
Enough Parking
This is one undervalued point that most gym owners ignore while looking for a new gym space. You need to have enough parking because insufficient parking may drive them to your competitors.
Determine the peak load you will have at a time and the maximum space. Is there a pay and park facility near your gym? Make sure to answer these questions to help you make the right decision.
Budget
Your funds need to be allocated to many things like equipment, interiors, staff, rental deposit, and a sufficient amount of working capital. Make sure you do not overdo the area rent. Strike a balance between everything, and you will not run out of funds.
Rent Escalation Clause
Before you sign the deal and pay the deposit to the builder, ensure to know the rent escalation clause. The escalation clause percentage can be anything between 5% to 10% depending on the builder.
Bare Shell or Warm Shell
Before you finalize the property, ensure to check if the area is a warm shell or bare shell because each of the conditions will determine the amount you need to spend on the interiors.
Signage Board Availability
Make sure the building you choose to set up your gym has sufficient signage board availability on the building facade. This will help the clients and people to identify the gym.
Ensure to create an attractive signage board.
Plumbing Lines
Know if the property already has the basic plumbing lines or would have to set aside a part of your funds for such basic amenities as well.
Floor and Columns
No matter how big your gym space is, it has to be on a lower floor so that maximum people can access it. When the gym is located on the lower floor, you do not have to worry about the elevator not working.
Also, a gym on a single floor rather than having a duplex will be helpful. A single floor gym will help you manage better and also appoint less staff.
Also, it will help maximum people see the signage board. Having a space with few columns or no columns should be preferred to make the space look larger than its size.
Natural Light and High Ceilings
Natural light and high ceilings go hand in hand with fewer columns to make the space look bigger to the eyes.
Ample Waiting Space
Having a waiting space for the companions or members who are waiting for the trainer to attend them will help you grow a lot. If there is no waiting space, then they may linger around in the gym space, distracting others working out.
Also, this makes them know that you care about them. Thus, providing them a small space to read books or check mails will be helpful.
Neighbors
This is one of the most important tips to follow while choosing a location for your new gym. You do not want to have grumpy neighbours that would complain to the society often regarding the noise made etc.
This would affect your business because you would have to put restrictions on the clients, and this is something that your clients would not take happily.
Outside View
People love to exercise with an amazing view. Thus, having a good view will help you earn brownie points.
New Construction
Renting or buying a gym in a new construction is a better idea. By new construction, we do not mean a fresh construction, but something like 5-7 years would be ideal.
Showers
This might sound silly, but remember that people appreciate and want clean and functional bathrooms with showers. This is particularly crucial for morning clients as they need to rush to work post-workout.
Adjoining Tenants
Make sure not to set up your gym at a place that is adjacent to businesses that clash with your motive like fast-food chains or liquor shops.
It is best to avoid such options, because you do not want your clients to stare at the fast foods while going back home, and ultimately, one day indulge in it.
City Type
Cities are classified into different tiers based on population. Some of the examples are:
Tier 1 – Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad etc.
Tier 2 – Belgaum, Bareilly, Aurangabad, Ahmedabad etc.
Tier 3 – Latur, Kota, Agra, Kochi etc.
Tier 4 – Varanasi, Amritsar etc.
Thus, a lot of factors like rent, cost of living, transportation etc. depends on the city type you are planning to set up the gym.
Franchise or Your Own
If you are planning to set up a franchise gym, then you may have to deal with some specific criteria. Gyms like Gold’s gym do not allow you to set up in a nearby area of an existing franchise.
Start Small Initially and Grow Slowly
It is ideal to start small and move to a larger space as your client base grows. The major cost of setting up the gym is going to be branded equipment.
Scaling up as you go, can help you save money by not renting out a huge space and having the pressure of building a massive client base to make profits. Building a reputation is very important in the initial days.
Rent or Buy
If you are still not sure of the area, a wise option is to rent out space instead of buying it. This can help you test and understand if you are going to make it large there because ultimately that is what matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Important Is Location for a Gym?
Location of the gym plays an important role because that is one of the crucial things that decide if the gym will survive.
The location depends on a number of factors like:
- Demographics
- Visibility
- Accessibility
- Competition
- Gym type – general or dedicated
- Sufficient parking
- Rent escalation clause
- Budget
- Signage availability
- High ceilings
- Natural light
Should I Join a Gym Near Work or Home?
If you choose to go to a gym that is far, then you are more likely to miss the sessions and ultimately leave it. Research shows that the maximum people who visit the gym live close to the gym.
How Do I Choose the Right Gym?
With the overwhelming options, it might get tricky to choose the right gym. Here are some points that you should consider while looking for a new gym:
- Local gym
- Check out the gym before taking a membership
- Check out the equipment – an ideal general gym should have branded and a right mix of machines
- Certified trainers
- Check the culture
- Ask for some deals
How Close Should Your Gym Be?
A US marketing company – Dstillery has given a particular number to how close your gym should be, and that is no more than six kilometers. The firm collected data of millions of people and concluded to quantify the distance.
What Should Every Gym Have?
There are plenty of gym equipment available but to narrow down, a gym should be equipped with strength training equipment targeting every muscle for instance:
Deltoid/Shoulder Muscle – Lateral Raise and Shoulder Press
Chest Muscle/Pectorals – Olympic Benches, Flat & Super Benches, Chest Press , Peck Fly
Functional Training – Dual Adjustable Pulley (DAP) or a cable cross over , a group Studio, Functional training rig.
Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Calf, Glutes/Leg Muscles – 45 Degree Leg Press, V Squat, Calf raise, Seated Leg Extension, Seated Leg Curl,
Rhomboids /Back – Lat Pulldown, Low Row, Rear Delt
Accessories – Dumbbells, Weight plates, Kettlebells, Barbells, Bosu Ball
Cardio Training – Treadmill, Elliptical, Exercise Bikes
Conclusion
And there you go! We hope to have helped you know the essentials and get a clear picture on how to choose the location for your gym.
