There are many moving parts to starting and managing a successful CrossFit gym or fitness center. Without a solid foundation, success and longevity are an uphill battle. Read on to discover how to build your dream CrossFit gym with minimal effort, risks, and expenses.
Use a Budget
Let’s talk about goals and budgets. There’s no shortage of equipment, furnishings, and items to choose from to outfit your gym. Ideally, you should start with a plan that outlines your goals and budgets for guidance. These are two critical aspects of building a private gym that can keep you on track and prevent you from wasting time and valuable resources.
Pick a Business Model
Determine the types of CrossFit training and classes your private gym will offer. Do you plan to only offer CrossFit training and services or are you more interested in offering a more diverse selection of workout styles and instruction? If CrossFit is the focus, what kind of equipment do you feel would help establish your gym as a preferred spot for CrossFit enthusiasts in its service area or yourself for private use? What about membership pricing and conditions?
Do you plan to charge monthly or training session fees or offer a variety of plans and service options to members? Revaluate your business model to ensure that it’s appropriate for your short-term goals. Start small, it’s easier and more beneficial to scale upward than it is to scale back. How many members do you expect to serve on a weekly or monthly basis? You can always revise it as necessary as time goes on to better accommodate your gym’s growth and goals.
Get Suitable CrossFit Gym Insurance
Don’t forget to take into consideration maintenance and repair costs. The right CrossFit insurance coverage can help offset some of the operational, maintenance, and repair costs for your gym. The key is to get a comprehensive policy that covers property damage and liabilities that your gym or its equipment may incur.
An unavoidable reality of building and managing a CrossFit gym is accidents, injuries, and property damage are bound to occur. Dealing with these issues on your own can be emotionally and financially draining. CrossFit is all about high-intensity training. Members may accidentally drop or throw items and break windows or injure others, including themselves. These are concerns gym owners cannot completely control yet could be held liable for.
Invest in the Right Equipment
Though you may feel excited and ready to purchase the first items you see or need to get your private gym up and running faster, it’s best to exercise a bit of caution. Ask yourself what type of equipment would best serve the needs of your gym’s members. For many fitness professionals who are building their businesses from the ground up, this can be challenging to ascertain versus professionals who take over already established or commercial fitness centers. The answers to these questions alone can help you determine a suitable budget for equipment.
The positive side of starting from scratch is you can build your gym the way you want. Floor mats, kettlebells and dumbbells, rig and rack or wall mount systems, bumper plates, medicine slam balls, plyometric boxes, and ropes are essential for CrossFit gym startups to invest in for members of all various skill levels to use. The more equipment and members you have, the greater these expenses will be. So do your best to plan and invest accordingly.
Optimize Design and Layout
Don’t overlook your gym’s design and layout. It’s important to have things arranged in a manner that maximizes productivity and personal space for members without overwhelming their senses. You need a design that appeals to their interests and helps to inspire and motivate them to reach their goals. On the business side, your gym’s design should maximize operational efficiency, reduce noise, meet all building and zoning requirements, etc.
Also, consider things from the members’ perspective. From the moment they set foot inside of your CrossFit gym, they are embarking on a journey. To capture and keep members engaged and satisfied, the layout should have the right balance of aesthetics and function. Make sure there’s a reception area to help prepare customers for their CrossFit experience at your gym. Incorporate a design or layout that makes it easy for members to identify and access the locations, equipment, training, and services they want.
Incorporate Best Safety Protocols and Considerations
Safety is paramount for gyms. Though accidents are to be expected, and in some cases, unavoidable, gym owners have an obligation to take every reasonable precaution to make their facilities safe. Post signage in easy-to-see areas all around the building to inform everyone, including workers and trainers of the safety protocols in place and the actions they should take when necessary.
Organize the workout equipment, safety apparatuses, training, changing, and recovery areas so they minimize risks while optimizing their function and appeal. Members should be able to push their training and sessions to the max without the limitations of a poorly designed or congested gym space. Use the space efficiently so it provides the right amount of privacy and inclusion to provide members with their ideal gym experience.
Contact Us to Get Started
CrossFit RRG is a leading insurer that caters to fitness professionals, affiliates, and trainers across the country. We are committed to maximizing their success by providing comprehensive insurance and business resources to reduce their exposure to stress and financial risks that are common with the business side of the fitness industry. To learn more about our insurance products, give CrossFit RRG a call at (310) 937-2007 to speak with one of our agents.