The 3 Worst Mistakes that MMA Gym Owners Make

Making the transition from MMA teacher to gym owner isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Many trainers who seek to own their own gym sometimes find that, while they are great instructors, they underestimated what it took to be a business owner.

Owning an MMA facility is not as easy as showing up and teaching. You have to reach out and acquire new students, build a place where people want to train and foster a community that keeps people coming back.

But not to worry, owning your own gym is not an impossible task. It takes hard work and dedication, but you have to start somewhere.

If you are just getting started out in the business, make sure you avoid these rookie mistakes.

Mistake #1: Not Marketing Your Business

You may be inclined to spend all of your time training your students (that is the reason you opened a gym, is it not?), but doing so means that you are neglecting the future of your business.

You need to focus on acquiring new students as much as you focus on training the ones that you have. This is especially important for new facility owners. If you are not actively reaching out and marketing your gym to potential students, you will quickly find that your facility is quite empty.

Mistake #2 Having Too Narrow of a Focus

You likely have your own preference of martial arts style, but not everyone in the world shares the passion that you have. While you do want to build a community of likeminded athletes, having too narrow of a focus will severely limit who will be interested in attending your gym.

It’s important as a business owner to diversify what you have to offer to potential students. Try some of the following strategies:

Mistake #3: Buying the Wrong Equipment

Some gym owners like to cut corners when they first start out, which can lead to owning a gym with sub-par equipment. Don’t try to use something like roll out mats on weight room flooring. It’s better to go for the right equipment right off the bat.

It may seem like a heavy investment, but it’s worth it in the long run. You will be able to train hard, and you won’t have to replace your equipment for a long time. If you are concerned about the startup costs associated with buying the right equipment for your facility, ask about our financing program. It’s perfect for people who need great equipment but can’t afford to pay in full right out of the gate.