Template: Preparing for Multiple Closures and Reopenings at Your Fitness Business

In the current COVID-19 landscape, your fitness studio or gym may be forced to close more than once to prioritise your community's health. So, it's in your best interest to prepare for the next stage of the coronavirus pandemic—and your business. Whether your gym has reopened or remains closed due to COVID-19, you can (and should) be ready at a moment's notice.

From class scheduling and memberships to staff meetings and fresh signage around your studio or gym, there are a variety of updates to make when the status of your gym or fitness studio changes. With so much to get done, you'll need a step-by-step plan in place. The coronavirus pandemic might be unpredictable, but your process doesn't have to be.

Download our checklist template to help prepare your studio or gym for repeated closings and reopenings. 

We've outlined important to-dos with room for updates to fit the unique needs of your business, team, and clientele. This checklist template will organise both closures and reopenings at your studio or gym due to the coronavirus pandemic, including:

Steps to temporarily close your fitness business:

• Operations: Add closed business days, cancel or reschedule in-person appointments (1:1 workouts, nutrition, etc.), prioritize virtual fitness classes, address gym memberships, cut expenses, and more. 
• Staff: Hold virtual team meetings and 1:1s to discuss changes in availability (for virtual fitness classes and personal sessions), compensation, and more. 
• Email and push notifications: Send an email announcing that your gym will be closed until further notice, make adjustments to auto emails (should be relevant for both in-studio and virtual offerings), and more.
• Website, online profiles, and social media: Make adjustments to your website and online profiles like Yelp and Google My Business, promote your virtual classes on social media, and more.
• In-studio: Place "Closed" signage both inside and outside of your gym for both clients and passersby. 

Steps to reopen your fitness business:

• Operations: Remove closed business days, reschedule in-person appointments, add in-person workouts (outdoor workouts included) back to your schedule, address gym memberships, adjust class capacity to allow for social distancing, and more. 
• Staff: Host a virtual team meeting and 1:1s with each staff member to discuss updated availability and comfortability returning to the gym or studio. You'll need to create a schedule with their health (mental and physical) in mind, too. 
• In-studio: Make updates in your physical space to allow for social distancing (both during and after workouts), stock up on cleaning supplies (make sure they're on the COVID-19 EPA-approved list to disinfect) and personal protective equipment. 
• Email and push notifications: Send a welcome-back announcement and push notifications, if applicable.
• Website, online profiles, and social media: Make updates to your website and online profiles and announce your gym's reopening update on social media (include any COVID-19-specific health and safety protocols as well as measures to encourage (and ensure) social distancing in your fitness facility).