There are many gyms springing up all over the place, and rightly so. People are becoming more aware of the health benefits of regular exercise, and the gym is a great place to start and develop this. Many issues arise when it comes to opening times, however. Gym hours can be quite restrictive, and especially during peak hours – before and after work – they can get incredibly busy and be quite off putting. This has lead to a rise in 24-hour gyms opening up. While they are manned during normal daytime hours, at night it is common not to have anyone on duty and just to rely on the automated entry system to let people in and out. If you are considering opening up a 24-hour gym as a business venture, you may find the next few tips useful.

Is your target market in the area

Is it worthwhile you opening a 24-hour gym in an area that is dead at night? 24 hour gyms are usually located in easily accessible areas where people pass on the way to work and on the way home, so if the area does not have these potential customers, you may be better off having a gym with normal working hours.

Will there be employees on site 24/7?

While most 24-hour gyms are unmanned at night, some are. This could be good for safety purposes, however this can be expensive in terms of labour. Consider investing in a digital visitor management system where people can gain access electronically using a keycard of some sort. This way, a simple one-off investment in this technology will allow you to save a lot of money in the long run, and you’ll be able to pass on the savings to customers, allowing you to become more competitive price-wise.

Lease equipment

You don’t necessarily need huge funding to start a gym, but the equipment would be one of the more costly expenses. Bypass this by leasing equipment from certain companies, allowing you to spread the cost of the equipment over time, and at the end of the lease, bring in new equipment. Leasing equipment will allow you to open up a gym with less financial backing, making this an attractive option for entrepreneurs.

Install CCTV cameras everywhere

If you don’t plan on having at least one employee on site at all times, invest in an extensive CCTV system so you can keep an eye on every part of the gym at all times. The service of monitoring the gym can be outsourced, allowing you to save much more money than hiring someone to physically be there. CCTV in all areas will also help deter thefts and can be used to gather evidence is anything happens to your customers on site.

Have a comprehensive medical kit available

Many 24-hour gyms can be found with defibrillators that can be easily operated by untrained people, in case someone suffers from a heart attack. Keeping the gym well protected at all times, means keeping those inside safe, and preparing for worst case scenarios.

If you are interested in opening up a 24-hour gym, these tips are sure to be useful. It may not be easy to start with, but these can help smooth the process and provide a good foundation for the future.