So, don?t open a gym...

C

chicken_hawk

Joined
May 7, 2018
Messages
253
What?s up brothers and sisters? I know I ain?t been around much but the new gym was sucking the life out of me. I was contracting all day then I?d head to the gym and train then close at 9:00. It was too much when combined with losing money every month. I?m not looking for sympathy as it will pay off dividends one day and was my idea. But, currently I?m broke but I did scrape enough together to install a code lock for the door which allows me to leave sooner and skip Sunday altogether. So, that has been liberating.

We have around 40 members but need 70 to break even. All our members are awesome and are serious which is what you get when you cost more than all the competition. Zero dbags or hoes which is what we wanted as well. There is great energy and camaraderie at night which is so cool. Most people only use head phones for sets and then take them out to socialize. There is constant criticism and coaching between the members like you have never seen. It?s a truly unique environment . So, it is exactly what I wanted but growing slower than I expected. But, if I can hold the course we will be the only gym of our kind in the city. I suspect spring and some trouble at a few of our competitors to drive numbers up soon.

A few pieces of advice for entrepreneurs if I may. 1. Don?t count on any more than a small handful of friend, 3 or 4 at most. I like to think I?m not an ahole and only one of my friends is here. 2. Relates to number 1 and that is understand people?s true loyalty. I had the impression from others that they knew a lot of serious lifters. Turns out they were serious about chasing tail or getting addaboys for being the biggest guy so coming to our gym would mess with their motivation. 3. Listen to others, I was confident that this place would fill up fast cuz I thought it would be so cool to have a gym dedicated to the purity of lifting when in reality people where warning me about number 2. I thought nah, these guys will pay another fifteen bucks for an awesome gym . Wrong.

All that being said, once we fill up we will be ?the gym? but it will be a grind to find the other 100 people who not only train with passion but are motivated by simply being their best.

Hawk
 
I am sorry to hear that bro. But it was completely predictable. I hope you can hang in there to slowly build a clientele that can support the place.

I am sure everyone nodded in agreement how all the purist would show up and they would be among them. It is easy to say that. Unless one finds a really unique niche that fills a need you have to understand why the other models worked. That is what people want.

Keep looking for ways to attract new blood. Did you try the radio idea? 2 for 1 or 50% off chick memberships? Brainstorm gimmicks and plays to get people in that front door. Good luck brother gym ownership is a tough road, if it wasn't we would all have a gym with our name on it.
 
If you had some hoes you’d attract some douche bags, all of which bring $$ with them. Just saying. Many good men and women have tried your business model in controlling clientele and ended up here. Fact is you need the people you don’t want to pay for the place so there’s a place open for the people you do want.
 
Darkness said:
If you had some hoes you?d attract some douche bags, all of which bring $$ with them. Just saying. Many good men and women have tried your business model in controlling clientele and ended up here. Fact is you need the people you don?t want to pay for the place so there?s a place open for the people you do want.
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I agree 100%. Your business model sounds great but it's a hard niche. Just take a few dbags money to help you and the gym and they'll weed themselves out. Serious gyms run off the the ones who don't wanna put in work. But most of your dbags still pay monthly and work out twice a month.
Just something to think about
 
Darkness said:
If you had some hoes you?d attract some douche bags, all of which bring $$ with them. Just saying. Many good men and women have tried your business model in controlling clientele and ended up here. Fact is you need the people you don?t want to pay for the place so there?s a place open for the people you do want.
Click to expand...

Sounds silly but it's true...



I had my studio for a few years. It's different from owning a gym in a lot of ways but in a lot of ways it's not. Of course it's gonna start slow. Patient is the key if money will allow. Once established, you pretty much have a system going for you. This is when it's important not to get greedy and keep trying to improve the gym every way possible to keep that system going. Hang in there brother. Current members should help spread the words. Keep finding ways to market yourself. Sometimes you may have to bend the "serious lifters only" a little bit. Always keep the front door opened bc there will always be a back door. While searching for more members, keep what you have happy. Don't let them know your frustrations or worrisome. Keep the energy flowing in that place. Good luck brother. Pray about it...
 
It takes time small businesses in general lose money the first year, but gyms especially. Sell some supplements that helps bring in extra money.
 
You need guys like me. I pay my monthly dues but hardly ever use the gym. I prefer home. But its impossible for me to do legs at home. So maybe one day a week. But I pay every month. And while I'm very serious about my training, I do enjoy chasing the little gym hoes and going back to their places to take a shower or two.
Just being honest.[ /SIZE]
 
Dakota said:
I am sorry to hear that bro. But it was completely predictable. I hope you can hang in there to slowly build a clientele that can support the place.

I am sure everyone nodded in agreement how all the purist would show up and they would be among them. It is easy to say that. Unless one finds a really unique niche that fills a need you have to understand why the other models worked. That is what people want.

Keep looking for ways to attract new blood. Did you try the radio idea? 2 for 1 or 50% off chick memberships? Brainstorm gimmicks and plays to get people in that front door. Good luck brother gym ownership is a tough road, if it wasn't we would all have a gym with our name on it.
Click to expand...

Well, you're right and if I wasn't over confident I would have too. But, we are halfway to breaking even and it will just take time. I'm not going to run gimmicks however as I don't want to compromise the quality of members we have. I know it would be a quick fix but I will suffer it out. I need to maintain our uniqueness. We are different in many ways and that is our selling point. Our rep is impeccable we just need to hold fast. Like you said it was predictable.

Hawk
 
Darkness said:
If you had some hoes you?d attract some douche bags, all of which bring $$ with them. Just saying. Many good men and women have tried your business model in controlling clientele and ended up here. Fact is you need the people you don?t want to pay for the place so there?s a place open for the people you do want.
Click to expand...

You are so right. But CrossFit gyms do it all the time. And that is the model we followed to a degree. I am taking full responsibility for being ignorant of how slow it would be. But, I do believe in the two ways to motivate people. You can manipulate thru pricing and gimmicks or inspire thru getting people to get behind your cause. Apple and Harley are examples of the latter and every other gym is an example of the former. So while tempting I am choosing to be stubborn.

Hawk
 
Dustined83 said:
I agree 100%. Your business model sounds great but it's a hard niche. Just take a few dbags money to help you and the gym and they'll weed themselves out. Serious gyms run off the the ones who don't wanna put in work. But most of your dbags still pay monthly and work out twice a month.
Just something to think about
Click to expand...

Ha ha, that is the problem. Our members show up every day!

Hawk
 
Big B said:
Sounds silly but it's true...



I had my studio for a few years. It's different from owning a gym in a lot of ways but in a lot of ways it's not. Of course it's gonna start slow. Patient is the key if money will allow. Once established, you pretty much have a system going for you. This is when it's important not to get greedy and keep trying to improve the gym every way possible to keep that system going. Hang in there brother. Current members should help spread the words. Keep finding ways to market yourself. Sometimes you may have to bend the "serious lifters only" a little bit. Always keep the front door opened bc there will always be a back door. While searching for more members, keep what you have happy. Don't let them know your frustrations or worrisome. Keep the energy flowing in that place. Good luck brother. Pray about it...
Click to expand...

Man, I caught myself complaining to members last week because of my frustrations. I told myself no more even with my close friends. I will put on a positive attitude and share that with my members. Again, I now see my arrogance and know it will take time. I just had higher expectations of my friends and their friends.

Hawk
 
Roughrydr said:
You need guys like me. I pay my monthly dues but hardly ever use the gym. I prefer home. But its impossible for me to do legs at home. So maybe one day a week. But I pay every month. And while I'm very serious about my training, I do enjoy chasing the little gym hoes and going back to their places to take a shower or two.
Just being honest.[ /SIZE]
Click to expand...


We are definitely low of girls. We have a few but they ain't hoes LOL. So maybe I'll go down to Hooters and hand out some free memberships.

Hawk
 
Good for you for seeing it through your way. Most will close the doors before they can pull that off.

The bright side is once you get to the membership level you need your shrinkage will be much less than the average gym. Serious lifters will stay put year after year.
 
I have trained in several ?Beef-Head? gyms over the years and generally there weren?t many females but I like the Hooters idea. One gym was co-owned by a female and her boyfriend managed the late shift. The guys ?meatheads? there teased me like you guys so of course I liked it. One evening I came in and the mgr and 2 friends were laughing behind the desk looking at a small TV. As I signed in I shook my head thinking (this can?t be good)! As I walked away they said, ?____, you gotta see this!? ?I don?t know, it doesn?t look good,? but after some coaxing I went behind the desk. ?Whaaaaat?? There on the screen were bodybuilding girls with 2?-4? clits! I said, ?What the hell is this sh*t called?? One handed me the VCR box, I read it, ?Chicks with clits like d*cks!? I have never recovered from that day but ?Damn? That was a great gym! Hang in there Hawk, maybe invite some local track athletes to train for non-running events. Power programs are cool and even chicks like them! (But sans the VCR!)
 
After Dave Draper closed his World Gym, he said "If you ever think about opening a gym, Don't". But good luck, hope it works out for you.
 
I love the Hooters idea. Hooters need to stay firm and trained so they dont sag with age.
 
I would like to be served by the Hooter Girls Powerlifting Team! Firm bazoognas with a twist!!
 
mrhtbd said:
I have trained in several ?Beef-Head? gyms over the years and generally there weren?t many females but I like the Hooters idea. One gym was co-owned by a female and her boyfriend managed the late shift. The guys ?meatheads? there teased me like you guys so of course I liked it. One evening I came in and the mgr and 2 friends were laughing behind the desk looking at a small TV. As I signed in I shook my head thinking (this can?t be good)! As I walked away they said, ?____, you gotta see this!? ?I don?t know, it doesn?t look good,? but after some coaxing I went behind the desk. ?Whaaaaat?? There on the screen were bodybuilding girls with 2?-4? clits! I said, ?What the hell is this sh*t called?? One handed me the VCR box, I read it, ?Chicks with clits like d*cks!? I have never recovered from that day but ?Damn? That was a great gym! Hang in there Hawk, maybe invite some local track athletes to train for non-running events. Power programs are cool and even chicks like them! (But sans the VCR!)
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Ironically, when I first went into the contracting bizz for myself circa early 90's a buddy of mine hired me to do some drywall repair and wanted me to look at a magazine called chicks with dicks. I am still mentally scarred from that day. LOL

But we have a PR night, a strongman and a pling meet all coming up and they look to be big with plenty of vendors and spectators. All this spring so that should bring in some members as well.

Hawk
 
Rot-Iron66 said:
After Dave Draper closed his World Gym, he said "If you ever think about opening a gym, Don't". But good luck, hope it works out for you.
Click to expand...

Good advice! I just couldn't stand any of the local gyms full of dbags and thought, I can't be alone LOL. Turns out complain but won't pay another $15 to get away from them.

Ha2k
 
chicken_hawk said:
Good advice! I just couldn't stand any of the local gyms full of dbags and thought, I can't be alone LOL. Turns out complain but won't pay another $15 to get away from them.

Ha2k
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You have summed it up perfectly. Americans want all you can eat for $1.00. They want the cheapest biggest portions of what ever they buy. That is why Walmart is the world's biggest employer. Americans want a waffle maker made in China that cost $10 bucks and works for 2 months. They SAY that want that European waffle maker that you can hand down for generations that costs $120 but side by side they buy the $10 model.

I have also learned a lesson after 26 years in business that may help you on your pricing structure if you can figure out a way to apply it.

I used to lump some price my contracts with just that, a lump sum. I can't tell you how many times clients bitched having NO CLUE about costs, especially my Work Comp and Liability. "That is a really high number" "that is way too much" "you must be making a 200% profit".

A couple years ago I started breaking out my bids by line item.

Staging Mobilization and Move on. $ 550
XXXXXXXX $ 150
XXXXXXXX $2,800

XXXXXXXX $1,250
XXXXXXXX
Tear down and demobilization $ 450

Also instead of including Government fees, permits etc. I put in a paragraph that explains that all those items will be invoiced separately. In my industry they are extreme, often well over 10% of the cost of a project.

Clients now look at my bids instead of seeing a $6,000 bid and claiming "that is way to high" don't give it a second thought. The see the work is costing $150, $2,800 and $1,280 and they are so accustomed to every cable company, telephone service, tire store etc sticking them we fee after fee after fee they don't think twice about the second invoice for their government fees.


You could maybe advertise a "basic monthly membership" that is on par the competition but have add ons that every one is going to take. The basic membership is lump sum but monthly membership has a "processing fee" of a couple bucks. I add on 3% for CC payment. This stuff REALLY adds up at the end of the year and put tens of thousands extra in my pocket. Get your extra $15 a month but get it creatively.

You might think this is deceptive or you can just accept that is how America does business now.
 
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Dakota said:
You have summed it up perfectly. Americans want all you can eat for $1.00. They want the cheapest biggest portions of what ever they buy. That is why Walmart is the world's biggest employer. Americans want a waffle maker made in China that cost $10 bucks and works for 2 months. They SAY that want that European waffle maker that you can hand down for generations that costs $120 but side by side they buy the $10 model.

I have also learned a lesson after 26 years in business that may help you on your pricing structure if you can figure out a way to apply it.

I used to lump some price my contracts with just that, a lump sum. I can't tell you how many times clients bitched having NO CLUE about costs, especially my Work Comp and Liability. "That is a really high number" "that is way too much" "you must be making a 200% profit".

A couple years ago I started breaking out my bids by line item.

Staging Mobilization and Move on. $ 550
XXXXXXXX $ 150
XXXXXXXX $2,800

XXXXXXXX $1,250
XXXXXXXX
Tear down and demobilization $ 450

Also instead of including Government fees, permits etc. I put in a paragraph that explains that all those items will be invoiced separately. In my industry they are extreme, often well over 10% of the cost of a project.

Clients now look at my bids instead of seeing a $6,000 bid and claiming "that is way to high" don't give it a second thought. The see the work is costing $150, $2,800 and $1,280 and they are so accustomed to every cable company, telephone service, tire store etc sticking them we fee after fee after fee they don't think twice about the second invoice for their government fees.


You could maybe advertise a "basic monthly membership" that is on par the competition but have add ons that every one is going to take. The basic membership is lump sum but monthly membership has a "processing fee" of a couple bucks. I add on 3% for CC payment. This stuff REALLY adds up at the end of the year and put tens of thousands extra in my pocket. Get your extra $15 a month but get it creatively.

You might think this is deceptive or you can just accept that is how America does business now.
Click to expand...

Dakota, this is great breakdown and thanks for taking the time. I wonder if we could do it and interject some humor as well? Just thinking out loud. In reality we chose our price point based on having a limited and exclusive amount of members. Most gyms want as many as possible where we do not. But we could break it down based on all the expenses we incur.

Should a breakdown be based on when we are at full capacity or percentages or our current membership? Perhaps percentages would work best as it would be constant regardless. I am going to run this by the others in my inner circle and will report back.

Thanks,
Hawk
 
I also started another business about 10 years ago. We were quite successful until I had an exclusive supplier cut my legs out from under me and then I spent the next several years in court. By the time I prevailed I no longer had interest in the company and moved on.

Anyway the point is I had one of the nations best advertising and marketing firms working for me. They are EXPENSIVE. I was toss out $20K a month. But let me give you a summary that I learned during that time. The told me straight out about my products. It is better to be "different" or completely "new and unique", it is very hard to sell "better" unless it is a night and day difference. Your challenge is you are probably closer to selling "better" than new or different. But if you can hang in there financially, I believe you will have loyalty for your product.

I do really like you idea of attracting interest with events. Maybe call some radio stations and see if you can also get them to show up if you can sponsor a great event.
 
Forget selling supplements you can buy you’ll make more money if u have a counter where you can make a member a protein shake for 5$-6$ and add things like peanut butter banana ... have a couple different choices and with your type of gym people will buy into it buy a shake for after a workout and then shoot the shit with each other about gym stuff n what not
 
Joe0690 said:
Forget selling supplements you can buy you?ll make more money if u have a counter where you can make a member a protein shake for 5$-6$ and add things like peanut butter banana ... have a couple different choices and with your type of gym people will buy into it buy a shake for after a workout and then shoot the shit with each other about gym stuff n what not
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That is not a bad idea but then you have employees. I think a MUCH better idea is sell that idea to some young entrepreneur and lease them space in your gym to sell shakes and supps. Then you have a guaranteed income stream without the hassle an liability of employees. If it doesn't fly, you are out nothing.

But you don't have the volume of clients to make that fly yet.
 
Dakota said:
That is not a bad idea but then you have employees. I think a MUCH better idea is sell that idea to some young entrepreneur and lease them space in your gym to sell shakes and supps. Then you have a guaranteed income stream without the hassle an liability of employees. If it doesn't fly, you are out nothing.

But you don't have the volume of clients to make that fly yet.
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I don?t think with only 40 members and all the time he puts into the gym he would really need employees he would just have to do it himself maybe keep the spot close or even connected to the main counter where your stationed anyways
 
Joe0690 said:
I don?t think with only 40 members and all the time he puts into the gym he would really need employees he would just have to do it himself maybe keep the spot close or even connected to the main counter where your stationed anyways
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I am not saying it is a bad idea, it just needs a grander scale. No one is going to want to work full time and sling smoothies for 40 members. How many will you sell in a day?

I am thinking much bigger. I think you suffer from a common misconception in business. "if you build it they will come" Most people think they have a great idea and all that is necessary is to open the doors and get rich. That is why almost all businesses fail.

No disrespect intended.
 
As a fellow gym owner, we are doing a number of things to attract a wide variety of clients which it sounds like you are focused on a very limited group. SO with that being said, I would look at other ways to generate revenue, ie supplements. We offer Redcon1 supplements as well as a private labeled CBD product line. Right now we have added 450/per week to our gross sales, in supplements only.

Feel free to message me if you would like any more guidance/input.
 
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