How to set up a part time boot-camp business

by

How to set up a part time boot-camp business? 

Are you someone who is fanatical about their fitness ? Do you fancy earning a few extra pounds by helping people lose theirs? Follow our simple guide to help you turn that idea into a lean, mean part-time boot camp!

Our growing obsession with physical fitness simply isn't going away, the fitness industry has held steady throughout the recession with consumers reluctant to sacrifice the gym memberships and nutritional supplements they have become accustomed to. In fact the UK's fitness industry is worth an estimated £3.86 billion (up 1.4% on last year) so needless to say there is plenty of money to be made for those daring enough to go after it! But more than that, running your own fitness boot camp can be an enjoyable and fulfilling prospect and a good way to keep up your own fitness!

What' s good about running a part-time fitness boot camp?

• They are gaining in popularity fast

• Running one can fit well into your existing work schedule- Most classes take place early morning or evening

• Outdoor boot camps don’t require a venue and therefore there won't be any additional facilities costs
  

• They can be run with minimal equipment
  

  Here's the kind of things that you should consider before you begin…

Market Research

• Where do you plan to host your bootcamp? Is this area conducive to group fitness regimes?

• Convenience is key, is the location easily accessed by a large number of people?

• If you will be using a public space do you require a permit from the local council?

• Will you have a back-up location in the event of bad weather or will your attendees just have to tough it out?

• Who will your target market be - e.g. professionals/ students/ stay at home parents?

• Is there a significant proportion of your chosen demographic within the vicinity of your location?

• Will you start-up as a completely independent venture or will you go in as part of a franchise?  What will be the benefits and limitations of this?

• Is there anyone else in the area offering the same kind of service? Who is their target market and how much do they charge?

• What can your classes offer that your competitors don’t?

• What types of activities are most popular in bootcamp-style sessions? Which of these could you feasibly emulate?

• What training do you currently have that may be of use to you and what additional training could you undertake to give your business credibility

• What books, magazines or societies could you subscribe to in order to ensure you stay up to date with trends and changes in the industry

• Are there any grants or start-up business schemes in your area that may be able to assist you?

Planning and Development

If your market research has delivered positive results, its time to start toning-up your boot-camp idea...

• Have you written up a business plan for your bootcamp?  If not who could assist you with it?

• Will you have a dedicated space in your home from which to run the administrative side of the business? Will you need to make any renovations and how much will it cost?

• With a part-time business it is very important to set yourself a reasonable schedule of work with a realistic timeframe in which to get the business up and running - remember you can’t work every minute of the day.

• Taking into consideration your market research decide the days, start-time and duration of your sessions- early mornings are popular with professionals and stay at home parents tend to like mid-afternoon, so tailor this for your target market and your own availability

• Do you plan on offering an extended fitness programme over a set number of weeks or will attendees be able to join casually throughout?

• Where locally will you advertise your boot camp so that it can be easily accessed by your target market?

• Will you be using social media to help spread the word?  Do you plan to have active Facebook/Twitter accounts?

• Are there any businesses in the area that would be interested in providing mutual recommendations e.g. health food shops?

• What equipment will you need to procure?  e.g. exercise mats, skipping ropes, medicine balls etc. Will the use of these be included in the membership or will you charge a small fee?

• What will the main fitness objective of your boot camp be?  Will you focus on stamina/ strength/agility/weight loss or a combination of these?   Remember your objectives must have appeal to the demographic which you identified during your market research!
  
  Continued on Page 2...

Go to Page:

• 1
• 2

Subscribe to our newsletter

If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.

<

Our Latest Features

Tech Nation report reveals UK Tech could quadruple in value by 2032 with right conditions


Tech Nation calls for tangible support to secure capital, talent, growth and exits needed to accelerate the growth of UK tech in decade ahead.





Neurodiverse learning and training platform Neve shares major six-figure investment opportunity


Glasgow-based This is Milk seeks investment for Neve Learning, its cloud-based Ed-Tech platform that has inclusivity and accessibility at its core.





How UK businesses can close the digital divide


With the UK facing a clear digital skills gap, Amy Caton, Digital Talent and Impact Senior Manager at BT Group shares some insights on what businesses should do to close that divide.





Beazy - the startup that's building the operating system for the creative economy


The lowdown on Berlin-based Beazy and its innovative solution that helps teams to plan, produce and deliver creative content and helps businesses to connect with talented content creators.





Fluffy - making pet care more affordable and less stressful


The lowdown on Fluffy, the app offering dog training, 24/7 vet messaging and insurance to give pet owners peace of mind and support them with their pet care responsibilities.





Huckletree opens new London hub for tech companies pioneering Web3 solutions


Huckletree's new Web3 HQ aims to put London’s West End at the forefront of Britain’s tech superpower ambitions.





OpenSponsorship making its move into the music sector


Leading sports marketing platform, OpenSponsorship announces move into music sector, the first new vertical industry for the trans-Atlantic martech business.





Scottish Highlands Home to the Next Generation of Future Female Investors


Kingussie High School scoops first place for Junior and Senior categories at this year’s Growing Future Assets Competition.





Arctic Shores - innovating the hiring process to benefit employers and candidates alike


The lowdown on Manchester-based Arctic Shores and its innovative recruitment solution to help candidate potential count as much as skills and experience.





London-based NAAMA Studios on a mission to raise £11m funding


With the demand for tattoo removal now greater than ever, specialist NAAMA Studios makes a bid for a further £11m in funding.

>

• #fitness bootcamp
• #start a business

Published on: 9th September 2013

If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.