Thanks again for the input. I'll keep you posted on what we decide to do. Meg and Mel, thanks for your replies on the staffed vs. unstaffed issue. Other owners of these clubs have told us that the members treat the gyms as if they are "their" gyms, i.e., take care of it, keep riff-raff out, etc. Mel, that's too bad about your mom having to quit her gym because of her allergies (I assume she's allergic to fragrances). A friend of mine lives in Evergreen where this is a similar type of gym (I think it's an Anytime Fitness) and she said her volunteer firefighter hubby and all his firefighter pals joined and love it. I'm thinking if we could find 3 locations that are in areas where there are a lot of residences, but not so many that the big box gyms can afford to put a place there, that we might be able to be successful. We've talked to a number of franchisees who are doing well. Still, I'm skeptical whenever you have to pay a lot of money to get something going, and there is sales pressure involved. Grrr. If you have any other thoughts, keep 'em coming. I'm all ears.
Pam
MilehiMama -- You commented that people have to wait for equipment at the big gyms, but I have found that there is always something I can work out on. My gym has over 250 cardio machines (treads, ellipticals, bikes). I may not be able to get my preferred brand of elliptical when the gym is at its busiest, but there's always one to hop on.
Conversely, when I was at the small Y with fewer than 25 machines, frequently they were all taken and you had to wait for any elliptical or treadmill...
Wyllenn: That's one of the things i'm worried about: Not having enough cardio equipment. Since we would have nearly as many members as a large gym, I'm thinking that this wouldn't be a problem, at least that's what the other franchisees we've talked to have said. I think the cardio equipment would be one of the main reasons why people would join a small gym like this, and would get pretty annoyed if they couldn't get on anything when they came in to work out...
What to do, what to do...
Meg: that's so funny about working out naked. There is no way I could go without my really supportive sports bra. Panties, socks and shoes maybe, but NOT my bra. Now that would be a hoot to see!
This reminds me of the workout room at Sandals in Jamaica. I never understood how they kept the equipment dry from the blowing rains and humidity, but they must have a secret!
AH, tht looks like the gym I used in Xpu-Ha Mexico. Very private, most of the time I was the only one there. My dd lifted with me once, and once a couple wandered in and started asking me questions about the equipment in French- I was there so much they thought I was staff.
I LOVE the classes at my gym. It is the main reason I joined, since I have an elliptical at home, weights at home, and run outside. Since joining, I also use the treadmills and do weightlifting. It is a "big box" type gym, but I live in a relatively small town. We paid upfront for our memberships, and paid in full when we renewed, and that gave us a much better rate (plus we bargained and waited til August when they were desperate). Still, our rate averages to $10 per month. Hard to beat that. I don't care at all about the showers (shower at home) but do care about the hours (I like to go very early am). My gym is opened and fully staffed from 4 am til 11 pm weekdays and 8 am to 10 pm weekends. Perfect for me.
My husband and I own a business (eatery and coffee bar) and we had originally thought we would do a franchise. We completely changed our minds after getting a lot of advice against it. First of all, you have to pay money off the TOP line to the franchise (which means there may not be a bottom line, but you still have to pay). Plus, franchises exert a LOT of control about the decisions you make, so if there is something you want to do it may or may not work with the franchise. It took us a LONG time to put together our concept, but it was definitely worth it to not do a franshise. I would recommend this:
1) Start by evaluating whether or not this is something you are both passionate about and committed to for the long haul.
2) Decide what factors are important to YOU (location? hours? decor? showers? etc, etc)
3) Decide if the franchise fits what YOU are looking for. Franchises do help in that they do a lot of upfront legwork for you. But if you are willing/able to do the legwork yourself, your longterm financial picture is much better.
When I lived across town, I belonged to a locally owned non-franchise gym on that side of town. It was EXCELLENT. Plenty of cardio equipment, excellent exercise classes, an enormous weight room. It was clean, nice, well-staffed by the couple who own it and a few employees. There were locker rooms and showers. It really was awesome. The price was comparable or even a touch higher than some of the other franchise gyms, and they had a little less cardio equipment (they did have childcare, BTW). But the LOCATION was incredible. No other franchises anywhere nearby.
Wow, that hotel gym looks fabulous. My DH and I went on a cruise this past Oct and I really enjoyed the gym on the ship. It was located at the very front very near the top of the ship. Watching the sunrise in the morning while working out was just too wonderful. I did sweat a bunch since the humidity was so much higher than it is here in Colorado, though.
Lindy: thanks for the input. Your list of questions are very thoughtful and helpful. These Snap Fitness gyms definitely do not have classes or childcare or many amenities at all. They are really geared toward the person who just wants to get in, work on cardio and weights, and get out. My husband has always liked the franchise concept becuase they have a proven model, but it does really lock you into doing it there way, plus there is the upfront fee. Fortunately, these fees aren't too bad since the concept is relatively new and they are trying to attract owners, but still, it does cut into the bottom line. I'm not sure what were going to do at this point. I think the biggest thing for me is that I'm just not sure if we're cut out for the membership selling that's involved in making a gym successful. He's a CPA and I'm a writer--definitely not heavy salespeople by any stretch of the imagination. Still, it would be nice to do something different for a change, and we really like the idea of MANAGING a gym and doing something that helps people get healthy (except we won't have tanning beds because I am absolutely against that idea). I'm also concerned about being able to compete with the big box prices. These smaller gyms have to charge $35/month to be able to make it. We've talked to a bunch of franchisees who are doing really well because they say a) people are sick of the big boxes, b) people want a gym that is small and intimate and c) people want a gym that is CLOSE to home in their neighborhood, where they don't have to travel to the main corridors and sit at 5 stoplights before they get there. The franchise company has told us to look for locations that are in densely populated residential areas, next to a grocery store, for example. Not, say, near a mall at a major intersection because that's where the big boxes are.
A lot to think about that's for sure...
Thanks everyone!
Pam
In Alabama, we had a small gym like this. There were ALWAYS people using it. My cousin and her husband worked a split shift, with the second half ending at 3 am, so on their way home, they stopped at the gym and worked out, just as if they got off at 5 pm. They can't say enough good things about these smaller gyms, mainly because of how convenient it was to their drive.
Oh yes, Maria, I'm in suburban DC. I'm just saying the closest big box (Lifetime Fitness) one that I would consider joining (where I wouldn't get robbed in the parking lot at nite - there is one closer Bally's, but risky). We have an independent mid size gym 2 blocks away, and mostly around here there is boutique personal training shops. One is another franchise opp. called Fit2Gether, which is a pt studio - MileHi, you might want to check out that website for franchise info. More stuff like that, I think. Also alot of stores like Leisure Fitness, so I'm guessing there's a pretty big home market here. Of course, a Curves every time you round a corner. And LA Workout Express too, but I wouldn't join those types of things.
Yes, these gyms are really trying to target people who want convenience--not locker rooms and exercise classes, etc. I'm at 24-hour fitness right now and it's a huge pain to park because the lot is always full. Plus, the place is just packed and that gets old. My DH and I have traveled to see a few Snap Fitness places and they are really nice, small, but nice. I'd love to get on a piece of cardio equipment and find a TV show that I want to watch. The 24-hour fitness where I go, the TVs are never tuned to a station I like and the sound-thingies that are attached to the cardio equipment aren't always set to the stations that ARE showing. Anyway, it's scary getting into this. My DH likes the concept and the fact that we don't have to start with a model from scratch. The company is run by a former 24-hour fitness muckety muck. It's good to hear that some people like these smaller gyms.
Fran: If you had a big box gym on one corner and a small 24-hour access gym on an opposing corner, which one would you choose, if the price was about the same? Would you go with a small gym if it was 5 minutes from your home vs. 10 minutes for a big box?
Pam
And ewwwww!
