Gym Area Per Person
Fitness studio owners know that space equals money. It’s as simple as understanding that every time you rework your financials to try and squeeze even an inch more space into your vision, the cost will rise. Because of this, the ultimate goal is to create enough space to satisfy your clients (no one likes to feel cramped in a group fitness class!) while generating as much income as possible in that given space. There are multiple ways to do that based on your discipline and philosophy while staying realistic about how much space you actually have.
Take the Guesswork Out of It
Understanding space utilization is an important component to the ultimate success of your fitness business. For starters, remove the guesswork. Fitness studios need to have a strong idea about what they must have while holding on to their dream of what they’d really like to have. It’s okay to dream big, in fact, I encourage it! But know that if the revenue generated from the classes related to the equipment is central to the success of your business, it’s a definite must have. The good news is, you don’t have to do all the math yourself and technology can play a big part in helping design your facility to work as efficiently as possible. A simple Google search will help you find design tools that do just that. Some are more expensive than others, but eliminating the guesswork will save you a lot of time and headaches.
One way to look at the Class Capacity Breakdown is as follows:
You can calculate the revenue per square foot with a basic, simple calculation: Annual Revenues ÷ Studio Square Footage. For example, if your annual revenue is $300,000 and your studio occupies 3,000 square feet, your revenue per square foot is $100. This is definitely a number to aim for considering it is above the industry average.
Ask Your Vendors
If your classes utilizes equipment from outside vendors, it’s ok to ask your suppliers for some design advice. Vendors are familiar with multiple gym setups and may have some ideas to share. Some vendors even have design services that they can offer as part of the purchasing (or renting) process. Additionally, there are professional studio architects who specialize in making the most of class capacity and fitness studio space.
Utilize Unused Space – Gym Area Per Person
If it feels like your studio is too crowded, look around and make some changes. You might be surprised at how much space you actually have to fill but the placement of equipment is wrong. You may find that the space is not being used as effectively as possible. For example, during the time your boxing classes aren’t taking place, consider a HIIT class in that space. Or, what about a mini cycling studio when yoga classes are not in session? Have an extra 500 feet? Turn it into a small group training class.
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Simply put, it doesn’t take much to turn empty space into revenue producing areas for your fitness club. Best of all, your members will love the added features! Most won’t have any idea that your intention is more revenue because they will be focusing on more opportunities to train. So think of it this way, not taking advantage of that unused space is actually causing you to lose money and not allowing you to service your clients in the best way possible.
Ask and Listen
Speaking of clients, one of the best ways to improve your class capacity strategy is by asking your clients what they like and don’t like. By asking them what more they would like to have on the schedule and what will keep them loyal to the club, you’ll get personalized answers that you may not have even considered.
As you’ve probably learned from day one of owning your fitness studio, the happier you can keep your clients, the happier and less stress you feel as a business owner. When things are running smoothly, it makes a world of difference. By making the most of your space and taking the time to understand your class capacity breakdown, you’ll not only keep your clients happy, but keep that revenue coming in and your business thriving.