It’s the start of a brand new year, and with it comes new goals and opportunities. If you’re finally ready to open a CrossFit gym, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting into before you start. All too often, people fall in love with the idea of operating a fitness business without properly preparing their finances to cover the costs involved. It’s not enough to focus your attention on the CrossFit industry to capitalize on the popularity of the sport. You need a thorough understanding of CrossFit Gym startup costs. Check out the information below for a cost breakdown.
CrossFit Gym Startup Expenses
One of the first things to do is to investigate the following types of startup expenses CrossFit Affiliates should anticipate.
Affiliation Fees: CrossFit requires Affiliates pay a $3,000 annual fee to use the CrossFit name and logo for their business. This is not an exclusive right, meaning that it applies to all Affiliates.
Trainer Certifications: In order to qualify as an Affiliate, certifications are necessary. Certification fees vary considerably, depending on trainer level and specification. These certifications are credentials that highlight various skills, knowledge, and expertise in human health, wellness, fitness, and CrossFit training practices.
Level 1: To earn a level one certificate, trainers must complete a two-day course. Level one certification asserts that trainers have basic knowledge of effective nutritional and training strategies necessary for personal and CrossFit training exercises.
Level 2: This is an intermediate level course for trainers looking to broaden their CrossFit expertise beyond the basic level.
Level 3: This advanced certification is designed for trainers seeking to advance their CrossFit coaching and safety expertise and competency. In addition to passing the CCFT examination, trainers must earn 50 CrossFit continuing education credits, complete 300 coaching hours, and commit to upholding the CrossFit professional practice code in order to maintain their credential.
Level 4: This is a one-day Certified CrossFit Coach assessment that requires trainers to showcase their knowledge and competency. To pass, candidates must successfully lead a few group and individual training sessions and exhibit mastery in six areas.
Credentials build prestige, authority, and credibility which are invaluable for CrossFit Affiliates.
Logo and Branding
Becoming a CrossFit gym owner means establishing a brand to serve as your professional identity. It’s important to think long and carefully about this. Choose a name that best fits the image you want clients to remember. Try to come up with a design/logo to represent your CrossFit gym and design your website with that look in mind. Shop around for professional graphic designers to lower your CrossFit gym startup costs.
CrossFit Gym Facility
Location is everything, but so is the facility. Before you start shopping around for a building to train clients, research the pros and cons of renting or leasing commercial property. Many novice business owners are unaware of how much their choice of facility impacts their overall CrossFit gym startup costs. As a startup, there are many positives to renting, like lower insurance costs, short term savings on rental costs, lower repair, and maintenance fees, etc.
Of course, these advantages only apply when Affiliates take the time to masterfully negotiate their lease terms and conditions, perform due diligence in securing the right location/facility, and work with a leading CrossFit insurer.
Check out different properties in areas near your desired location. Consider alternative types of fitness facilities as well. Don’t limit your options with assumptions about affordability or specifications that meet your long-term goals. It’s best to start small, there’s always room for expansion and relocation in the future.
Keep these factors in mind when shopping for the right building and location for your CrossFit gym.
- Does the rental or lease price work with your budget? Is there wiggle room to account for any unexpected maintenance or repairs issues?
- Is the gym located in a popular area that’s easily accessible to clients? Don’t forget to consider parking and disability access.
- How much space do you really need? Don’t overcommit on property that’s too large to accommodate your immediate and short-term needs.
- Does the building meet all jurisdictional and building code regulations?
- How’s the layout? Does it accommodate your training plans and safely store your equipment?
- How much will it cost to equip the gym with lights, workout equipment, and safety flooring?
- What are the lease requirements? Review the terms with a local attorney for additional costs you may incur.
CrossFit Gym Startup Equipment
Equipment costs vary greatly depending on the type of services offered. As a startup, it’s always best to secure the equipment you need and to leave room for acquisitions in the future. Key items all novice fitness businesses should have include rubber mats and flooring, proper lighting, ropes, barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells, boxes, and pullup bars or a rig To keep your CrossFit gym costs down, consider wholesale gym equipment and fitness gear.
CrossFit Gym Insurance
Safety is priceless, especially when it comes to the CrossFit industry. One of the smartest ways to protect yourself is by insuring the property, equipment, trainers, glass, staff, etc. Choose your CrossFit insurer wisely so your business, its members and trainers are protected against the unexpected like trainer/staff accidents, injuries, negligence, repair, and maintenance issues.
Smart business owners know that accidents and liabilities are not easy to anticipate or mitigate without a solid insurance plan. In the CrossFit industry where the propensity for fitness related injuries and incidents is high, play it safe right out the gate by getting Affiliate insurance from a CrossFit insurer you can trust. CrossFit RRG knows the ins and outs of the industry and has an established track record of putting clients and their gym members first.
Staff and Trainers
Staffing issues are a common source of headaches for many fitness professionals, especially for CrossFit gym owners. Regardless of the size of your gym, you need to hire the right number of trainers and staff to provide members with the best workout services and experience possible. You should expect to invest more in professionals who are CrossFit certified and committed to pursuing their personal health and fitness goals while going the extra mile to ensure your gym clients and customers meet theirs.
Key Takeaways
With the right amount of planning and understanding of CrossFit gym startup costs, bringing your vision of operating as a CrossFit Affiliate to life is much easier. You can work smarter not harder to achieve your CrossFit business goals while saving money so you can focus more on sharing your passion with others.
Contact CrossFit RRG today at 310-694-0243.