Starting a Fitness business
by Startacus Admin
Everyone likes looking good. Everyone likes being healthy. It stands to reason then, that a company that helps to do both these things has great potential provided it is well run.
If you’ve ever considered starting a fitness business, there are plenty of things to consider before you start taking pictures of your shiny new gym equipment. We’re saturated with information on 
how important it is to keep healthy. Don’t expect to put an ad in the paper and receive hundreds of emails from people looking to join up. You need to make people see why your business in particular has the edge over others. We hope to help you with that over the course of this article.
Do the research
As with any business, you need to know exactly what your company offers, how it compares with the competition and what the industry is like at the minute. This means that you need to know a lot of the science behind exercise. The best way to improve cardio, build muscle, lose fat, improve B.M.I are all just a small percentage of what you need to know. There’s also dietary information, how long you should rest after exercise and what the best equipment is for what fitness goal.
All of this is critical in attracting customers for your business, but it will also be of enormous benefit when trying to generate funding from outside investors. It is worthwhile having a look at some of the big names in the fitness industry and seeing how they developed. Tony Horton and Shaun T are a good place to start. Also if you need a space to incubate 'that idea', check out the Startacus virtual workspace to help put your idea together!
Make a plan
Decide immediately whether you want to work as a personal fitness coach, meaning you will usually go out to clients, or if you want to open a gym. Tailor your decision to what you want your business to be, and bear in mind how you want it to progress. There is a temptation to put your head down once you start and just work as hard as possible at giving customers the best service. Admirable, but it is unfortunately unsustainable in the long run. Set deadlines for reaching certain customer numbers, and remember that expansion should be your goal. When this happens, a gym will likely be the preferred choice given that you won’t have time to travel the length and breadth of the country. Finally, know your prices. Decide on what services you will be able to offer initially and consider various packages that can be tailored towards different individual’s goals.
Promote yourself
Social media presents a unique opportunity in the fitness industry as – if you’re doing it right – you can actually show people what they stand to gain from using your services. Images from inside the gym of personal bests, competitions and motivational testimonies can have a remarkable impact in stimulating people’s interest.
Tweet, FB, Google+ your business as much as possible without spamming, and encourage your customers to do the same. This has multiple benefits; encouraging users to constantly push for their best, whilst improving the image of the company.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box though. Newspapers, postering and organised charity runs can all also set you aside from the competition.
Start small
Don’t expect your business to dominate the market from the off. Define your image and use the limited size to your advantage. If you can’t afford weights bars, improvise. Log lifting, tree cutting and press-ups will all do the same thing. Many people even prefer this old-style ‘Rocky’ approach. Just make sure to remember that your goal is to grow the business.
We hope this helps on your path to creating a fitness brand that will not just benefit yourself, but everyone that joins you as well.
Check out the Startacus toolkit for a growing directory of all the business bits and bobs, links and articles you may need - whatever business you are looking to start.
Written by Ethan Loughrey
If you like what you see here on Startacus, why not become a member of our growing community? It's free! And you'll get all this - exclusive access to our Business Toolkit, discounts and offers galore for your business via our member only business deals, the chance to network and connect with loads of fellow self-starters, and maybe even become our celebrated 'Self-Starter of the Week' and tell the world your startup tale! Join right here for free
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.
Manchester fintech GoodBox, who helps charities embrace the rise of fintech through digital and contactless payments, have raised over £2m for UK charities.
The startup that has created a 3D product configuration and visualisation platform
.jpeg)
How exactly do you go about finding the best office for your startup? Here's some top advice on finding the right place for you.
We take a look at yulife, a new InsurTech startup shaking up the life insurance sector, with customers earning rewards for healthy activities.
A study recently carried out by Volteface, has been revealed that social media platforms are frequently being used in order to advertise illicit drugs.
When it comes to setting up a startup there are certain things to consider before you set up your business in the city.
The edtech startup that's helping students learn by putting the core syllabus to music
The startup that's creating a learning experience to inspire the next generation of STEM learners, starting with Maths.
Not having the right team is a common reason why startups fail. Here are some of the key personalities and soft skills you'll need in your team.
Mattr Media share their 6 key steps they recommend to every brand who wants to create a killer crowdfunding video and a successful raise.
Published on: 2nd April 2013
.png)
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Manchester fintech GoodBox hits £2m donated to UK charities 21st Oct 2019 Manchester fintech GoodBox, who helps charities embrace the rise of fintech through digital and contactless payments, have raised over £2m for UK charities.
- Event at Startup Week Dublin to explore startup collaboration between NI and Ireland 11th Oct 2019 With the impact of BREXIT still very much an uncertainty, our evening event at Startup Week Dublin will explore startup collaboration and opportunities between NI and Ireland.
- Startups shaping future of the smart built environment wanted for RElab programme 8th Oct 2019 Tech startups focused on smart buildings and cities, smart grid, construction tech, predictive maintenance, and other tech solutions - take note!
- Tech startups in telecom infrastructure sought for BT run competition 3rd Oct 2019 BT and the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) have launched the third annual competition for startups in telecom infrastructure
