Reach your financial goals by helping others reach their fitness and health goals! Follow Gym Tech’s advice on running a successful gym facility or studio.
#1 Create a Budget
Create a budget for the year. Take into account last year’s earnings, expenses and operating costs. The resulting number will aid you in figuring out how much to budget for things such as any upgrades, new equipment and a marketing plan.
#2 Maintain your equipment
Having a maintenance plan in place is crucial! Having maintenance performed on your equipment regularly will help keep your equipment performing optimally, save you money on repairs, prevent the need to replace equipment and most importantly it will keep your patrons happy! However, maintenance requires more than just wiping down the equipment after each use or reporting malfunctions to your technician.
Gym Tech offers the most comprehensive maintenance program in the tri-state area. Find out more information here or contact us today.
#3 Repair Out of Order equipment immediately
Nothing says bad business like having equipment with “Out of Order” signs. Gym members will begin to think that your establishment is not up to par with other facilities and will take their business elsewhere, not to mention those interested in joining will think twice before they do. This shows that you have poor management running your facility and that the machines are hardly usable. This will have a negative long term impact on your business.
Gym-Tech is the most trusted repair service company for gym equipment in the tri-state area. Find out more here.
#4 Offer personal training & workout classes
Offering a variety of fitness classes and a diverse schedule can give you the edge over your competition and aid in increasing gym memberships. For members who have no idea where to start or how to achieve their fitness goals, personal trainers can help in designing a workout plan for these members to follow.
#5 Have a website and work on social media presence
A website is essential for ANY business in this day and age. Your website is a platform for you to let the public know what exactly you are offering, where you’re located, and what may set you apart from competitors in the business.
It is worthwhile to educate yourself on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) so that your website can appear higher on Google searches.
In addition to your website, all gyms should have a strong social media presence. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are powerful tools to help you promote your business and reach a wider audience. Workouts, general advice and customer transformations are all things you can post to promote your business.
#6 Invest in marketing
You can hire a marketing firm to aid in getting more members or engaging current customers so that they will always come back to your gym rather than leaving for a competing gym. You can utilize your website, social media and email marketing to help you with your ultimate goals.
#7 Monitor and manage your online reviews
Many people use online reviews from sites such as Yelp to help them determine whether or not they will visit or join an establishment. Be it a restaurant, museum, or gym, if the online reviews are poor it can be very damaging to your business. Be sure to monitor the reviews being left by the people visiting your establishment and try to address any issues they may have.
#8 Keep the gym clean
The cleanliness of your gym has a HUGE impact on whether gym members will want to remain members or look elsewhere. One of the most common complaints regarding gyms is that they are not properly cleaned. Ensuring that all areas of your facility are clean including the main floor(s), equipment, restrooms, and locker rooms is a MUST. In addition to cleaning your facility, you should make sure weights are in their proper place, towels and beverages are stocked, and your gym is overall neat and tidy. Have your employees quickly scan that all free weights (dumbbells, kettlebells, etc.) and mats are back where they belong so each member has easy access to them.
Lastly and most importantly…
#9 Keep your customers happy
Take a few minutes to walk around the gym and speak with your customers. See if there is anything you need to improve in your gym. Take into consideration the suggestions of your members. Having your members know that their opinions and concerns matter to you will go a long way in keeping loyal members for years to come.