Many Kenyans are now crazy about physical fitness, largely driven by the urge to live a healthy life. Science keeps on giving us reasons to exercise and keep fit.
As more and more people appreciate the benefits of regular
exercise, the more that will be keen to join a gym.
This is also helped by the fact that majority of the working
class Kenyans claim to be too busy to exercise and therefore joining a gym is
their only option.
People who are well-to-do are leading a sedentary lifestyle
– to work, to the car and then to the bar. Life has put a lot of pressure on
them and this has given many of them no choice but to turn up to a gym if they
want to survive.
Starting a gym business in Kenya can be a lucrative idea.
This will especially do well in middle or upper-income areas. This group has
the reason to exercise and also the means to pay for it.
With the number of them consciously aware that they need to
flex and stretch their muscles regularly, you are likely to get a steady stream
of clients from these groups.
Low-income areas also have a market for a gym business,
therefore, do not overlook these areas.
Location
Choosing a good location for your gym business is of utmost
importance. This is to ensure that you have a location that is accessible for
people who want to exercise and use gym equipment.
You have to, therefore, determine whether a location that
you are eyeing for your fitness gym business is accessible to the majority of
your target market.
A gym business needs a large space. The best location would
be upstairs in a tall building, say 2nd or 3rd floor, away from the distraction
of the streets below.
Upper floors also tend to be cheaper to rent than the ground
floor. It will also be cheaper to rent space within a residential area. This
may be convenient to your clients since they can frequent the gym over the
weekends.
A good space that is big enough to set up your gym business
will set you back Ksh.10,000 to Ksh.30,000 in a middle or high-income
residential area.
Equipment
Gym business requires some basic equipment to start with.
Some of the equipment can be very expensive because of their commercial nature
and also because there are few shops where they are sold.
You may decide to frequent some local well-established gyms
in your locality and check on the equipment they have. This can form part of
your market research and competitor analysis before you set up your gym
business. You can then offer better or newer equipment.
Any gym worth talking about should have a treadmill. This is
one of the most basic gym equipment that nearly all clients will expect to use.
You should, therefore, ensure that you get one, a simple one to start with if
you can’t afford an advanced model. These are used by those wishing to lose
weight by running or walking but do not have the time. Prices range from
Sh.100,000 to Ksh.300,000. They have various functionalities, speeds, sizes
etc.
A good gym should also have an elliptical trainer, a static
exercise bike, weight benches and dumbbells. For those clients who wish to
build up or tone their muscles in order to look good, you should have a
significant number of weights that they can use. With another Sh.100,000 to
Ksh.150,000, you will get all these equipment.
You may include other equipment after some time to have a
complete set. You may also add more depending on your client’s needs.
Staff
Apart from the equipment, a good gym is as good as its
staff. You will need qualified personnel to help you run your gym business,
like trainers and nutritionists.
These people should be able to advise and train your
clients. Many clients come to a gym with specific objectives. While the
majority may want to lose some weight, others may want to keep fit or gain
muscle.
Others may have been given instructions by their doctors to
attain certain fitness limits. Your staff should be able to deal with such
diverse objectives.
Ensure you hire qualified, experienced and well-trained
staff. You also need a good receptionist to talk to existing and potential
clients when they enter the gym premises.
License
You will require a business permit/license from the county
government to set up your business. If you will play music, you will require an
MCSK permit too. Depending on the size and noise expected, you may need NEMA
clearance too.
Charges
Many gyms have different charges depending on the time of
day. They have off-peak charges and high peak charges. Off-peak is the time
when there are very few people frequenting the gym, like the hours from 8 am
all the way to about 3 pm.
During these hours, charges are at their lowest to attract
more clients.
Peak hours of between 5 am and 7 am and then evening as from
4 pm until closing time attract many clients. Weekends and public holidays also
attract more clients.
Depending on your location, offerings, and size, you can
charge Ksh.200 to Ksh.500 per day or Ksh.5,000 to Ksh.10,000 per month. You may
also enroll members and give a discount when they pay for 1 year.
Membership should entitle a client to privileges such as
free reserved parking, free refreshments, free access all day, dedicated
professional and nutritional advice or any other extras. This will just be to
encourage more people to become members and pay for a longer duration, like 1
year.
Health and safety
Health and safety is an important part of running a gym and
involves a number of concerns depending on what services you provide. Upkeep of
the gym and the machinery/equipment is important, as poorly-maintained
equipment can fail and cause injury.
People can also slip on floors so you’ll need to install
carpet or non-slip mats.
Ensure safety measures and rules are observed to make your
gym a safe place for clients. Hygiene should also be observed to avoid
diseases.
Ensure clients use towels to wipe out sweat during workouts
and equipment should also be cleaned before and after every use. You don’t want
to have all the equipment covered in sweat. This helps to prevent the spread of
contagious diseases.
It is necessary to have washing facilities where clients can
take a shower after exercising. These should be kept clean and neat and should
have hot water.
Pros of starting a gym business
• High demand due to healthy lifestyle needs.
Cons of starting a gym business
• Can be very expensive to set up
• May lack clients some hours during the day.
You will find that attracting clients may be easy but
retaining them may be a challenge. Good customer service and extras such as
music, Tv, refreshments, good ambiance, extra offerings and good/variety of
equipment may keep clients coming back.
Offerings such as aerobic and dance classes can also be used
to attract and retain clients.