Opening a new facility is an exciting time for owners. It means that your business is successful and the community you have created is growing. While you may be excited to open a new location as soon as possible, it’s not something that you should rush into.
Here are five things you should do before opening your new facility:
#1: Decide if it’s Right for Your Business
Your gym community may be growing quickly, but is opening a second location the right move, and what’s the other option? Sometimes gym owners simply need more space for their growing base of students. If this is the case, and the building you are in allows for it, you can consider expanding on your current facility.
To see the pros and cons of opening a new facility and expanding on your current location, take a look at our quick guide.
#2: Find the Right Location
If you still believe that opening a second location is the best move for your students, your business and the community you have formed, the best thing that you can do for your new facility is find the right location.
Only you can truly decide where the best location for your new facility will be, but here are a few tips that should ring true for all businesses:
- Make sure your second gym is not too far away from your original location (you may have to frequently travel between the two).
- Having said that, make sure it’s also not too close (otherwise, you risk cannibalizing your own gym memberships).
- Your location should be conveniently located for your target audience (are you targeting urban, suburban or rural communities?).
#3: Decide on the Layout
Once you have the right location, it’s up to you to decide how you want the gym layout to look. Do you want it to have all the same features as your current facility, or will you be using the space to work on different fighting styles?
If your current facility doesn’t have any space for weight training, consider setting aside some space for weight room flooring so that your students can use the space for strength training. If you have a lot of open space, you can also consider adding a ring or cage to the facility, giving your student a place to spar in a professional environment.
#4: Hire the Right Staff
It’ll be impossible for you to be in two locations at the same time, so now is the time for you to seek out other instructors or facility managers to help you expand your business. Finding the right staff can take time, and since you shouldn’t settle on hiring anyone who simply has some experience (you want to make sure they are also good fit for the community), you will want to leave yourself plenty of time to find the right people before you open the new facility.
#5: Market Before You Open!
It’s time to tell people about your new facility! But don’t wait until your doors open to start marketing. You want to have a full roster of students by the time your new facility is ready to open.
Start marketing as soon as construction on your facility is in the works. This will give you plenty of time to advertise your business to the community.