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10 Ways to Increase Revenue for Your Fitness Studio Without Adding New Members

By Steve Grant

November 24, 2022

One common mistake I often see in the fitness industry is studio owners solely focusing their attention on attracting new members to increase revenue and annual profit. When in fact, the easiest way to rake in more revenue is to increase the average spend per member each week.

The benefit of this strategy is that your existing members already know, like, and trust you. Because of this, they are more willing to pay extra money for convenience or additional services that you make available to them. In contrast, advertising for new members on expensive marketing platforms like Facebook and Google is hyper-competitive.

Interested in learning more about how you can get this strategy to work for you? Here are my favorite ways to increase revenue at your fitness studio with your current members.

1. Premium memberships

A lot of group fitness studios offer standard two-sessions-a-week access and a premium unlimited group session at a higher price point. This provides the member with more value and a better opportunity to achieve results and increases the amount they spend each week. Gyms that are open 24 hours a day are no different—they offer basic access and premium access which includes classes or premium services like infrared saunas, massages, and online classes.

2. Recurring billing

In my experience, fitness studios with recurring billing will, on average, collect over 12-15% more money over a 52-week period than studios that offer prepaid memberships or session packs.

3. Membership duration

Fitness studios that offer a flexible month-by-month contract option, as well as a six or twelve-month membership option during the price presentation, will sell more long-term programs at a higher average price point than their competitors.

You can increase the number of long-term programs your gym sells each year with consideration in the way you present your prices during a gym tour and staff sales training on developing rapport, effective listening, and providing genuine value.

4. Set-up fee

By adding a $60 or $100 one-off get started fee at point-of-sale, gyms can increase their weekly turnover significantly--covering sales commissions for staff and giving much-needed funds to reinvest back into paid marketing like Facebook and Google ads.

5. Personal training

The 80/20 principle proves that in any population group, twenty percent of members will be willing to pay four to sixteen times more money each week to access a premium service like personal training if it is made available.

The same applies outside the fitness industry where 20% of the population will visit a restaurant and buy the most expensive bottle of wine, it applies to health insurance where 20% of the population pay for the top cover, and applies to homeownership where 20% of people will pay more to live in the more expensive zip codes.

6. Nutrition

Nutrition accounts for a whopping 80% of someone’s fat loss or hypertrophy goals and is an easy add-on to any exercise program. It can be ­sold as a one-on-one appointment, food plans, or access to an online nutrition library of recipes and cooking tips.

7. Offer challenges

The four-week or six-week challenge format has been around for years and continues to be super successful. The general public sees the value in returning to healthy eating and exercise habits a couple of times per year for motivation and to kickstart results. A good fitness studio can easily sell a six-week challenge for $50-$199 per challenge to increase revenue.

8. Apparel

Famous sporting teams in the NBA and NFL have made millions from selling good-looking apparel that displays the team they support. The fitness industry jumped on the bandwagon in the last 10 years by selling billions of dollars of hats yoga tights, singlets reusable water bottles yoga mats, and spin shoes. In the past, gym members would go to a local sporting store or buy these products online.

However, the fitness studio that makes these conveniently available in the reception area can increase sales with little to no additional marketing spend.

9. Supplements

The wellness industry is now estimated to be worth over $4 trillion US dollars globally each year—with people far more educated to the benefits of protein powder and magnesium for recovery as well things like fish oils for joint health and collagen for anti-aging.

10. Avoid suspensions over the holiday season

Most gyms get a bunch of member suspensions over the holiday period each year. One of the easiest ways to increase annual revenue is to make it attractive for members to continue training by being proactive. Provide kid programs such as themed Christmas workouts, social events, and varied timetables so members continue to pay during this period.

We hope you feel empowered to increase revenue with your existing customer base. Want to speak to fellow business owners to learn about what they’ve done to see success?

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About the author:

steve grant headshot gymhub

Steve Grant

Guest Blogger

GymHub

Steve started as a personal trainer in the fitness industry 23 years ago while gaining a Bachelor of Physical Education and playing rugby league with the Cronulla Sharks. He lectured in sports business for three years at Sydney Olympic Park, he has built two gyms from zero to over $1 million in annual revenue in less than 18 months, and now mentors gym owners using his ROCKET system for fast growth. 

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