Starting up a fitness center for a private club is no easy task. Fitness operations have become much more complex due to growing consumer expectations and a seemingly endless amount of choices to choose from. Below are some tips to follow that will ensure you have a solid foundation and will help simplify the start-up process.
1. Neighborhood analysis
Conduct an analysis of the surrounding area to determine what you will be competing with. Determining what fitness options are around will also give insight into what may be popular in that particular area.
2. Survey members
Send out a survey to the current member base asking for insight. Find out where they are working out, what they like to do, and what they would like to see at their club.
3. Determine your brand position
In today’s era, brand positioning is everything. It is important you take time to define what the club’s operation will be and how it will define itself. Use this as an anchor for your program moving forward.
4. Determine how much you want to invest in a fitness program
After determining a brand position, think deeply about how you will achieve that position and what funding and resources you are willing to allocate to a fitness program. Have a plan, have a vision, and commit to it.
5. Determine how much space you would like to allocate
After funding and resources have been determined, you will then need to gain an understanding of how much space you will dedicate to a facility. Depending on your resources and space, you may need to revise a brand position. Be sure to review and revise your brand position and vision once you have a complete picture of what will be feasible moving forward.
6. Hire a consulting firm to assist with all of the startup projects
Although the points above are a great framework to start with, starting a fitness program can still be an overwhelming task. Hiring a consulting company to help with the details and assist with reaching a desired is vision is a safe bet to ensure the startup process goes smoothly. It is important to get things right from the start!