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 Anabolic Discussion Board
 Starting a gym: Franchise or Own?
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| Author | Topic: Starting a gym: Franchise or Own? | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder 
Posts: 140 |
A goal of mine is to eventually start a gym. Does anyone here have any experience with franchising? Or is it better to start one from the ground up? It will be a few years, but I'd like to get some feedback.     | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder 
Posts: 656 |
I would not go for a franchise ...because then you have to follow the rules and regulations of that chain of gyms even if it is not what you want to do. Luca | ||
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Cool Novice 
Posts: 32 |
I agree, I have looked into different franchises for different types of businesses and they all have some things in common that turned me off of the idea. You do not get to have your own identity, you have to follow their rules, run their specials, and the worst part is you have to pay them franchise fees that can be more than half of your profits. The good things are you can have a well known name like powerhouse, but personally, i would prefer to make my own name known. Just my opinion. ------------------ | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 275 |
Agree | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 1181 |
If possible, I would start out on my own it may be much harder stating from scratch but I guess I'd never feel it was truly 'mine' if it was a franchise. ------------------ | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 295 |
BigBald what state you in? I'm considering the same thin and it will be a non franchise operation. It comes down to capital as well as your own place is more risky and can't be as well funded as a more established operation would be. Ex. go to the bank and say I want to borrow money to open a Mcdonalds and then go in and say I want to borrow money to open Jimmies burger pad. Which will have a better chance and get a better financing rate? | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 1234 |
I agree. Good analogy jarabbit. ------------------ | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 66 |
Good equipment and a clean odor-free environment sells the place. The 100g's that you would save on the name could be better spent on the extra luxuries that the best gym's have. Tanning, whirlpool, sauna and massage come to mind as those extra's people deserve and look for. Keep it clean and they'll come back... | ||
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Cool Novice
Posts: 38 |
Depends on how much money you are willing to spend to stay afloat while building a customer base. Stand-alone is great if you have the dough to lose for the first year. You get to set your own design schemes, your own music and tons of cool things most chains would never do. Going franchise means adopting their standards, but also lots of other beneficial attributes. Customer loyalty, familiararity, free (or subsidized) marketing, a solid exsisting customer base and usually workers already working within the organization.
But then so is bodybuilding and it's rewards are awesome. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 244 |
Alot would depend on your area. I have seen in my town and the next closest town that the gyms started out without a big name then a few years later they are now Golds and the other is LA fitness? .. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 140 |
I am quite mobile so I haven't decided on the area, yet. I appreciate all the input, though. Keep em coming! | ||
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Moderator 
Posts: 523 |
I too have considered this. I now live in a smaller community where no gyms exist except two local college and their equipment in antequated. Again it is all about the capital to start it up, but then again there is a market here for such a venture. It is something that has been on my long range goals. I need to make it a reality. I love reading all the ideas on how to get started. Keep it coming!!!!!!! Mrs. Guns ------------------ | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 87 |
A friend of the famlies over in Ct started off by buying a huge world gym. Recentley his brother died and he took over his brothers gym which was called workout world(private). Now he is changing his world gym into a workout world and he is opening another workout world in my town. Point-being this guy said to me flat out its not worth opening a worlds, or powerhouse in our area. Nobody cares around here. Only problem for him now is all the world gym people are fuckin pissed off. Another buddy of mine opened another expensive world gym. He went out of business to much money for the name. From all ive heard everyone says it would be better to start your own. You could email me if you want so more info | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 149 |
i would only open a franchise gym if it was my only alternative, and even then i would still need to think about it. ------------------ | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 88 |
I have looked into it also and found out that Powerhouse is the cheapest of the "Big Three".But like everyone else said it is still big dough no matter what you choose.GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!! |
All times are ET (US) | |
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posted January 02, 2001 07:41 AM