How Much Does it Cost to Open a Gym in India?

Are you considering making a business out of your love of fitness? Although starting a gym in India might be an appealing endeavor, it's important to understand the associated expenses before making the decision. This guide explains all you need to know about the expenses of opening a gym in India, regardless of whether you're planning a modest neighborhood fitness facility or an exclusive boutique gym.

The growing rage of fitness among youngsters has encouraged many enthusiasts to turn their passion into business possession. Government statistics indicate strong business growth opportunities for starting your own gym business in India, even though the industry is flooded with multiple home-grown and global franchise models. To increase your chances of establishing a strong market presence, there is a list of steps you must follow, apart from planning and properly financing your venture.

Why Consider Opening a Gym?

Starting a gym is a movement rather than only a business. Fitness, diet, and mental wellness are becoming more important to Indians as they grow more health-conscious. For fitness entrepreneurs, the trend toward healthier lifestyles has created a wealth of opportunities. However, there are more profound and satisfying motivations for starting a gym than just making money.

Booming Fitness Industry in India

India's health and fitness industry has grown significantly in recent years due to increased lifestyle-related illnesses, growing wellness awareness, and a youthful population ready to make health investments. The need for exercise facilities has expanded beyond metro areas into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as people's awareness of their physical and mental health has increased, creating a plethora of business options.

Lucrative Business Opportunity

Establishing a gym can be quite profitable from the point of view of money. Gyms profit from recurring revenue through monthly or annual membership plans, in contrast to many other businesses that depend on inventory turnover or daily sales. Profits can be further increased by generating other revenue streams including group classes, dietary supplements, personal training, and branded goods. Within 18 to 24 months, gym owners should be able make up their initial investment with the correct plan, location, and promotion. It is a desirable choice for business owners seeking long-term growth because of its capacity to generate consistent and recurring revenue.

Passion Meets Purpose

You have the chance to make something you love your career by starting a gym. If you're a fitness enthusiast, owning a gym allows you to do what you love while assisting others in reaching their health objectives. Additionally, it establishes you as a community leader in the wellness field, where your facilities and advice may make a difference in people's lives. Even more satisfying than the money gains can be the emotional satisfaction that comes from seeing your members change both mentally and physically.

Technology Has Made It Easier

Additionally, gym management is now more effective than ever because of technological advancements. Scheduling, billing, attendance, and even member communications can all be automated with software systems. You may reach potential clients directly with social media and digital marketing tools for a fraction of the price of traditional advertising. Even hybrid models, which include both online and in-person training sessions, have grown in popularity because they offer a variety of alternatives for generating income and engaging customers.

Types of Gyms & Their Investment Range

Related: Steps to start a gym business

Cost Breakdown to Open a Gym in India

How to Open a Gym in India?

Here is a list of steps you must follow if planning to foray into gym business.

Step1: Selecting strategic location

Success or failure of a gym is highly dependent on the location. If it’s located near a residential or commercial space that too equipped with high visibility rate of consumers, the venture will be a hit in the span of a month of its inception itself. However, if the location is not identical to consumer’s reach, this may turn into a big risk factor, and might lead to the failure of the venture as well. In fact, while seeking out an apt location for your gym, you must consider essentials like street access, parking and visibility.

Step2: Get certified trainers ONLY

Make sure that the trainers you recruit for your gym possess professional certification from a renowned institute like Indian Academy of Fitness Training (IAFT), Gold's Gym Fitness Institute (GFFI) or Certified Bodybuilding & Gym/Personal Trainer (CBT). These days numerous leading gym brands (national or international) are offering high-intensity gym training courses and globally affiliated certifications. Though India is lacking on the Gym’s Accreditation part in comparison with global nations, trainers’ certification is a must to ensure the success of your gym. Trainer’s certification is your industry experience, reflecting your competence and abilities in the fitness space.

Step3: Consumer-friendly services

Often gym owners offer huge number of services to their clients from rehabilitation to weight loss. This may end-up leaving the target consumers clueless about what to try or what not to. Thereby, it is essential to determine your customer base factors into the type of services and classes your gym will offer. For instance, a gym catering to older adults must offer rehabilitation services and gentler disciplines of exercise like Yoga, Pilates and low-impact Aerobics while a women-only gym must offer weight loss services, intense cardiac workouts and body firming weight-training sessions apart from fun exercises like circuit training and zumba.

Step4: Right fitness equipment

After selecting your gym’s services, it’s essential to determine the safety of your clients by installing right fitness equipments in the gym. Certain essential factors like cost, hi-tech innovation and equipment maintenance, play a pivotal role in selecting the right kind of fitness equipment. Weight machines, treadmills, free weights, weight benches and mats are some of the most essential properties of a gym which should be of utmost high quality. You may consider leasing and purchasing options when estimating the cost of fitness equipment.

Step5: Go for a franchise

In case you’re not willing to perform the first four steps mentioned above, skip them all and take franchise of a renowned brand who will perform the initials for you. Else, take the franchise of a mediocre gym chain and learn the above four steps with limited chances of failure. Gym franchising will help the beginners learn tit-bits of gym business and also save you from incurring unwanted losses.

Step6: Right business plan

To ensure adequate backing of finance for your gym venture, it is extremely essential that you pen down a fool-proof business plan and a loan (if you don’t have adequate funds in hand). Lenders will not consider your loan application without a sound business plan attached. In fact, sound planning will help you skip initial hiccups of the business and sail you through rough weather smoothly.

Step7: Not to forget business permits and licenses

Like any other business, gym owners must ensure to register and adhere to all regulatory laws. You will have to research and apply for business licences and comply with other regulatory laws like building permits and taxations etc. To reduce the burden of employment regulatory costs like payroll taxes and benefits when starting consider hiring on an independent contractor basis. In fact, gyms are places where injuries and accidents may happen. Thus, purchasing some form of business insurance will protect the venture in emergency.

Step8: Adequate promotions and discount campaign

Prior to the launch day, strategise and promote your venture with multiple fitness campaigns like drills, marathon, cycling or rain Zumba and ensure maximum participation from the nearby residents, shop owners or other potential consumers. One can also give away discounts or customised package to the winners of the campaign and lure them with special prices on the recommendation of fellow gym members.

Opening a fitness center or a gym seems easier and best for those who share a special inclination towards maintaining a great physique or health. Unlike others, the gym business doesn’t require much hassles, except couple of facts and points that you need to follow and keep in mind while aiming to start a new venture.