Are you looking forward to starting a fitness center in Nigeria? This article got you covered! now is the time! follow through this article.
How to open a fitness center, Gym Business in Nigeria (Complete Guide)
Are you looking forward to starting a fitness center in Nigeria? This article got you covered! In this article, I will be bringing you a detailed complete guide on how to set up a gym and fitness center in Nigeria.
The importance of fitness on healthy life is growing fast, and as the saying goes, “Health is wealth” many Nigerians have embraced the act of regular fitness training and exercise.
And now, the demand for gym centers and professional fitness trainers are on the rise.
So, if you are thinking of turning your fitness passion into a business venture for yourself, now is the time! follow through this article.
The Fitness Industry in Nigeria
The fitness industry in Nigeria is one to keep an eye on. Why? Because it provides jobs for thousands of fitness trainers and instructors, while it is growing rapidly in many middle class and upper middle class communities due to lifestyle and health issues.
The fitness industry is new in Nigeria but growing fast. Over the past half-a-decade, there has been growing awareness on the importance of fitness in maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle.
The fitness industry has produced quite a number of millionaires. And with the continuous demand for fitness trainers and instructors, there is an endless opportunity for those willing to join the industry.
First ask yourself, Why do you want to open a gym center?
Just like every other business in Nigeria, starting a fitness and gym center must come from love and passion, or you won’t last very long in the industry.
Get clear on why you want to start a gym or fitness center, the business should be driven by your passion, not by anything else.
Your reason behind opening a gym will help you maintain the focus, clarity, and drive it takes to become a successful enterprise.
Educate clients to pay attention to their bodies for optimal function, not just follow fitness fads and trends that often end up being harmful to the body in the long run.
“The fitness world needs to take a much harder look at what's happening in the body, how the body functions, and how it relates to other parts of the body,” says by Kaylee Cahoon
The Cost of Gym Membership
Depending on the location and scale of your fitness center. The cost of gym membership goes for as low as 12,000 to 18,000 per month, which is equivalent to about 144,000 to 220,000 per year In cities like Lagos and Abuja as an example.
Also, in places like Ibadan and Ilorin, the cost of membership is considerably low, and goes for as low as 10,000 Naira.
When you move down to Orlu, Mgbidi and other less popular towns, you'd even get it at lower rates of ₦5,000 per month.
to enrol in a gym house in Nigeria, you’d be required to pay between 5,000 to 30,000 Naira per month or between 120,000 to 360,000 Naira per year as membership fee.
So in summary, your charges will depend on your location and the standard of your gym house.
ALSO READ: How to Make Money Online In Nigeria
How to Start a Gym or Fitness Center in Nigeria
Gym: it is a physical exercise and activities performed inside, often using equipment for exercising the body and increasing strength.
Your clients will depend on you as you will be instructing them on how to exercise their body in your gym center. And this is what lead us to the first step.
Step 1: Get trained as an Instructor
Before you open your fitness center, the first and foremost is to make sure you have the proper training, accreditations, and experience.
Why? Because your clients will be counting on you, not just to help them look great, but to keep their bodies healthy and safe using your services.
You must be a master motivator!
Challenge your student consistently enough to be the best version of themselves, "It takes months to acquire the skills necessary to be a top trainer. Help yourself first by being fit, healthy, and presentable in a professional way.
And then cultivate that message into a deliverable set of skills or a training system that you can replicate over and over again/
Step 2: Find your fitness center location
Finding a location for your fitness center is important. This is part of what they call visibility study in business, some people call it market survey.
Your location determines the success of your gym business in the long run. As it helps you map out your target market, as well as how you can get to them.
- A location with large concentration of youths is ideal for setting up a gym house
- A location in highbrow areas, with relatively low poverty level, you are bound to get more fitness trainees than in low-class locations, with high-level of poverty.
You will also have to determine how much space you will need. Get clear on how many students you want to be able to serve in your facility.
Knowing how much space you will need will help you find a location that best suits your requirements.
- Do you need street access?
- Access to parking?
- Are you in an area with a lot of foot traffic?
- Will it be easy for people to find you?
- Are you on a bus route?
Initially, a good location is key to getting clients to your gym.
Once you have carried out the feasibility study in your desired location and you are satisfied with the result, you can proceed to set up your business.
Step 3: Create Your brand name + Logo
Your brand name must be reflective of your business; hence, ensure you take your time to create a suitable name.
Creating a logo alongside with your business name is a great idea! If you lack the creativity, you can easily hire the service of a creative artist or a graphic designer.
Step 4: Prepare your business plan
Having a well-thought-out business plan can help you solidify your financing and give you the clarity of mind you need to achieve your business goals.
A business plan for a gym business should include.
- Startup capital
- Goals of the business (short and long-term)
- Gym equipment (and cost)
- Location, access to target market
- Viability of business
- Projected income (monthly/yearly)
- Starting gym membership fee, and
- Miscellaneous cost among others.
A Business Plan Sample
Many people do not take the time to write a business plan and are unable to move forward with their business goals. So make sure you don’t make this mistake.
Yoga Center Business Plan is a good business plan to get you started
Once you have developed a solid plan, you can proceed to register your business.
Step 5: Register your gym business
Registering your gym business is another important aspect. irrespective of the legitimacy of the service you render, if your business is not registered, it remains an illegal business.
Therefore, you should register your new fitness center business in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)
Also obtain licenses/permits from other relevant local and national bodies.
And once you have registered you business, you gained the opportunity to operate your fitness center without any form of harassment.
You might want to learn how to register your business name online in Nigeria
After you have registered your gym business, you can proceed with the next step.
Rent a space for your Fitness center
This aspect will take more money from your budget because you won't just be going for any room or a corridor.
You need a spacious room with small sections for private classes and offices if possible. Also, a gym house should have a rest room, where trainees can cool off and rest after and in-between sessions.
The standard size of a gym house should be around 30m by 20m or more. Getting such expansive space in developed cities like Lagos and Abuja would not come cheap.
You might have to budget like 500,000 to 1,000,000 Naira per annum.
Step 6: Acquire your gym equipment
These equipment come at a relatively high cost, however, some of these equipment can be hired on lease, at more affordable prices.
A standard gym center requires the following equipment:
Dumbbells
 |
| A Dumbbell |
Dumbbells are often used for joint-isolation exercises such as biceps curls, chest flyes or shoulder raises. Using dumbbells for full-body, multiplanar movements, however, can provide a variety of different strength outcomes.
The price of a 20kg to 50kg Dumbbells in Nigeria cost about 25,000 to 70,000
Ski machine
 |
| Ski machine |
The Air Skier is an essential tool for cardiovascular training for all ages and workout levels by simulating the movements used in Cross Country Skiing with minimal impact on your joints.
Weight pile
 |
| Weight pile |
Heavy weights pile will help build muscle mass, while lighter will, “stabilize the muscle, which supports joints and tendons,” The price of a Weight pile in Nigeria cost about 40,000 to 90,000 naira depending on the set.
Ellipticals
 |
| elliptical trainer |
An elliptical trainer or cross-trainer (also called an X-trainer) is a stationary exercise machine used to stair climb, walk, or run without causing excessive pressure to the joints, hence decreasing the risk of impact injuries.
The price of elliptical trainer in Nigeria is up to 300,000 naira
More Gym Equipment include:
- Exercise mats
- Skip-rope
- Motorized & Manual Treadmills
- Stepper boards
- Indoor cycles
- Rowers and many more
Promote your new business and open your gym
You can print banners, print flyers and reach out to people around you because a business that provides services like fitness and health services is likely to get most of its customers from the neighborhood.
Thanks to the internet, you do not need to spend millions in promoting your business through the various social media and other platforms.
You can target your locality with Google and Facebook ads at very affordable rates.
Also keep it in mind that, to attract customers, make sure your charges are competitive and should be affordable compared to the standard rates in the industry.
And you can increase the price rate as you gain more students to your fitness center.
Step 7: Start making your money
There a lot of money to be made in fitness and gym business in Nigeria. If you go through the steps in this guide as appropriate, you would start making your money in no time.
In a state like Lagos, the cost if gym membership goes for as low as 18,000 per month which is equivalent to 220,000 Naira per year.
If you have 10 members in your fitness center, 220,000 x 10 = 2,200,000 per year and if you have 20 or 30 members nko? I know you are already smiling.
However, this varies depending on the location and scale of your gym house. In other cities like Abuja, the cost of gym membership could be a little higher.
Also, in places like Ibadan and Ilorin, the cost of membership is low and goes for as low as 10,000 Naira.
Nigerians pay between 10,000 and 30,000 Naira per month or between 120,000 and 360,000 Naira per year as membership fee.
NOTE: Some fitness centers collect their membership fee weekly. It depends on your location in the country
ALSO READ: How to Create a Blog like BizIQ.ng that Earns $1,000+ Monthly
Conclusion
Do not skip the market research phase! Talk with fitness center owners to find out what it took to get their business up and running.
Learning from those that are already successful in your given field is a priceless education that can save you lots of time anNnNd energy in the long run.
You might want to check out 10 effective ways to promote your business in Nigeria
And also digital marketing beginners guide to promote your business
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