mma gym business plan sample

Martial Arts Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Martial Arts Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their martial arts companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a martial arts business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a martial arts business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Martial Arts Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your martial arts business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Martial Arts Dojo

If you’re looking to start a martial arts business or grow your existing martial arts company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your martial arts business to improve your chances of success. Your martial arts business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Martial Arts Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a martial arts business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for martial arts companies.

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How to write a business plan for a martial arts business.

If you want to start a martial arts business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The business plan outline below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your martial arts business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of martial arts business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a martial arts business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of martial arts businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the martial arts industry.
• Discuss the type of martial arts business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of martial arts business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of martial arts businesses:

• Boutique-Boxing: This type of fitness studio focuses on practicing boxing techniques as a way to stay in shape.
• Japanese Martial Arts: This type of martial arts studio may teach one or more Japanese styles such as Aikido, Jiu-Jitsu, or Judo.
• Chinese Martial Arts: This type of martial arts studio may specialize in teaching one or more Chinese styles such as Tai Chi or Karate.
• Korean Martial Arts: This type of martial arts studio may focus on one or more Korean styles such as Tae Kwon Do or Hapkido.
• Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): This type of martial arts studio combines full-contact techniques from a variety of different kinds of martial arts and combat sports.

In addition to explaining the type of martial arts business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, the number of classes offered, reaching $X amount in revenue, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the martial arts industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the martial arts industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your martial arts business plan:

• How big is the martial arts industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your martial arts business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your martial arts business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, families, and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of martial arts business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other martial arts businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes other types of sports studios, recreation centers, and fitness clubs. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of martial arts business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you make it easier for customers to acquire your services?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a martial arts business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of martial arts company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide MMA, boxing, or Karate classes?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your martial arts company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your martial arts business located in a busy retail district, a business district, a standalone studio, or purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your martial arts marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your martial arts business, including answering calls, planning and providing classes, billing customers and collecting payments, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to acquire your Xth customer, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your martial arts business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your martial arts business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing martial arts businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a martial arts business or successfully running a small sports club.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you employ 5 instructors, and will each instructor teach 3 classes of 30 students per day? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your martial arts business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a martial arts business:

• Cost of equipment and studio supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your studio location lease or testimonials from happy customers.  

Writing a business plan for your martial arts business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the martial arts industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful martial arts business.  

Martial Arts Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my martial arts business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your martial arts business plan.

How Do You Start a Martial Arts Business?

Starting a martial arts business is easy with these 14 steps:

• Choose the Name for Your Martial Arts Business
• Create Your Martial Arts Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Martial Arts Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Martial Arts Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Martial Arts Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Martial Arts Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Martial Arts Business Equipment
• Develop Your Martial Arts Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Martial Arts Business
• Open for Business

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Martial Arts business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to hire someone to write a business plan for you from Growthink’s team.

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MMA Gym Business Plan Template

Trusted by 400+ Downloaders

What You Get

• A compelling & detailed pre-written MMA Gym business plan template in WORD
• A full & automatic MMA Gym financial plan model in EXCEL you can easily customize
• Customized text tailored to the MMA Gym business
• The ability to paste advanced charts and tables within a click
• No accounting or specialized financial knowledge needed
• A truly cost-effective solution saving you time and money

MMA Gym Business Plan Template Description

If you are planning to start an MMA Gym you need a robust business plan with financial projections. By downloading our ready made MMA Gym Business Plan template you get a pre-written business plan in Word and an automatic financial plan in Excel tailored to your upcoming MMA gym project. You will only need to spend a couple of hours to customize these documents to make them perfectly fit your vision. Check the full details below.

MMA Gym Business Plan Document in Word

Our ready-made MMA Gym business plan template is in Word format and includes 26 pages. The document is divided into multiple sections. Each section contains the essential points that are necessary to effectively present your MMA Gym project. Each section and sub-section offer you a sample text that you can easily customize to make your business plan unique. Below is a small sample of our pre-written MMA Gym business plan in Word.

Automatic Martial Arts Financial Plan in Excel

Our pre-populated financial model is in Excel format and includes multiples worksheets. You can easily edit the model’s inputs including changing costs and revenue assumptions to generate pro-forma financial forecasts including P&L, Cash flows and Balance Sheets. Below is a small extract of our MMA Gym financial plan in Excel.

This Ready-Made MMA Gym Business Plan is For

• Entrepreneurs wishing to start an MMA Gym
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• MMA professionals who wish to better understand the potential of the opportunity

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Your MMA Gym Business Plan Content

Executive Summary:  Our MMA Gym business plan template starts with a compelling Executive Summary. This key section is very important as it summarizes in 1 page your MMA Gym concept. It will introduce your business model, the key people behind the project as well as the unique selling proposition offered by your MMA Gym concept. This section will also mention how market conditions and consumer trends are favorable for launching your project.

The Problem Opportunity: Next, your ready-made MMA Gym business plan will list a number of problems experienced by your prospects in your target market and will show how this presents a unique opportunity for your project. These can include issues such as the lack of MMA dojos in a certain location, undifferentiated offering by current actors in the market…etc.

The Solution:  This section explains how your MMA Gym will take advantage of the current problems in the market and will detail your innovative solutions.

Mission & Vision:  Your mission will explain in a couple of sentences your MMA Gym’s philosophy. In other words, it will summarize your unique value proposition and will explain how you are different than the competition. Your vision will explain the long-term plans for your MMA Gym concept. Are you planning to start with one branch today and expand to a multi-branch business model? Are you looking to transform your MMA Gym business into a franchise model?…etc.

Business Model:  This section details your MMA Gym concept using the business model canvas method. In a visually appealing table, we will detail your MMA Gym’s key partners, activities, resources, value proposition, customer segments, customer relationship plan, marketing channels, cost structure and revenue streams.

Products & Services:  Next, we will talk in detail about your various products and services. We will describe your various types of MMA and Martial Arts classes, memberships, ancillary products and services…etc. We will also provide information about your pricing.

Market Analysis: This important section describes the various market statistics and consumer trends in the Martial Arts industry and explains how they support your own MMA gym concept. The purpose of this section is to show that the market conditions are favorable for launching your new MMA gym.

Global Market Trends: In this sub-section of the market analysis, we will discuss the latest general market trends in the MMA and Martial Arts industry. We will look at the global industry size, growth rate, growth diving factors and consumer trends.

Local Market Trends:  This sub-section explains the local market trends that are relevant to your specific MMA Gym business.

Target Customers:  In this section, we will describe your various customer profiles by providing information about their demographics, behavior and purchasing habits.

Competitive Analysis:  We will analyze key competitors active in your target market and provide insights about their strengths and weaknesses.

Competitive Advantages:  After looking at the competitive landscape, we will then show how your MMA Gym business is differentiating itself from the competition through a number of key advantages.

SWOT Analysis:  This section features a 4-quadrant table with explanations about how your MMA Gym intends to leverage its key strengths, mitigate weaknesses, capture opportunities and thwart any future threats.

Marketing Plan : This chapter provides detailed information about your go-to-market strategy. It includes a detailed action plan to help you build brand awareness and generate sales.

Branding & Awareness:  We will describe in this sub-section your choice of key marketing channels to build branding and awareness.

Customer Acquisition:  We will describe in this sub-section your choice of key marketing channels to acquire customers and increase sales.

Operating Plan:  This chapter provides information about your MMA Gym’s opening hours, internal processes and describes the interactions between various key departments and teams.

Management Team:  It is very important to present the key people behind your MMA Gym project and thus we have dedicated a section for this very purpose. It is also important to talk here about the founder’s vision, his past education and professional experience.

Hiring Plan:  No business can succeed without having on board the right team. This section lists all the key positions you plan to hire with information about their salaries and expected start dates.

Key Milestones:  To be able to launch and execute your MMA Gym project, you need to follow a set of actionable tasks with target deadlines. This section serves this purpose.

Financial Plan:  Without a robust financial plan, your MMA Gym business plan would be an incomplete document. This important section provides crucial information about your pro-forma financial projections and shows that you have really done your homework. The data mentioned in this and the following sections will be provided by the dynamic Excel financial model accompanying your MMA Gym business plan.

Projected Revenue:  This module shows your MMA Gym’s revenue projections over the next three years.

Projected Profit and Loss:  This module shows your MMA Gym’s income statement (also called profit and loss statement) over the next three years. Your income statement includes detailed projections about your sales and expenses and shows how your MMA Gym’s revenue is converted into a net profit.

Projected Cash Flows:  This module shows your MMA Gym’s cash flow projections over the next three years. The first year of operation is even detailed on a monthly basis. Your cash flow statement will detail the various cash inflows your Dojo will generate from its day to day operations and from funding sources, as well as the various cash outflows required to pay for operating expenses and business investments.

Projected Balance Sheet : This module shows your MMA Gym’s balance sheet projections over the next three years. The balance sheet will provide a summary of your MMA Gym’s short term and long term assets in addition to your short term and long term liabilities and capital.

Profitability Analysis:  In this section, we will provide information about your gross margin, net margin and discuss the profitability of your Dojo.

Funding Requirement:  This module states the amount of funding your need to be able to comfortably launch your MMA Gym business. It also describes the planned allocation of the funds between Opex and Capex.

Conclusion : Finally, we will conclude your business plan by recapitulating the key points that make your MMA Gym project compelling and reiterate the rationale behind your business opportunity.

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• High Quality:  Your MMA Gym business plan has been written by our professional team of business plan writers and experts from the Martial Arts industry. You will receive a professional MMA Gym business plan template ideal for presenting to potential investors or banks.
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Gym Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Gym Business Plan & Example

You’ve come to the right place to create a gym business plan.

We have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their gyms.

Gym Business Plan Example

Use the example below as a template to write a gym business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Steven’s Gym is a startup locally owned gym located in El Paso, Texas. Steven’s Gym will include various exercise equipment, strength training equipment, free weights, aerobic equipment, and plenty of cardio equipment. The gym will also offer HIIT group classes, spin classes, strength training instruction, and personal training.

Located in an up and coming, newly developed, and highly trafficked area of town, Steven’s Gym will attract both men and women ages 16 to 75+. There is something for everyone at Steven’s Gym, whether someone is just beginning their fitness journey or is a seasoned athlete and gymrat. The gym will have a welcoming atmosphere, experienced personal trainers, friendly staff, and frequently cleaned equipment and restrooms.

The membership options are affordable and will be offered on a month-to-month basis, a 6 or 12 month contract, or the ability to pay for an entire year upfront. Discounts will be offered to military, teachers, and healthcare workers.

Service Offering

The following are the services that Steven’s Gym will provide:

• Strength training equipment
• Cardio equipment
• Free weights/dumbbells
• Aerobic equipment
• HIIT group classes
• Strength training instruction

Customer Focus

Steven’s Gym will target all men and women ages 16 – 75+ who are interested in achieving and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. El Paso is a very diverse city that includes men and women from all walks of life. There are numerous blue collar individuals, white collar individuals, government employees, and military members as the local Army base is one of the largest in the country. Since Steven’s Gym will be very affordable, it will be able to attract people from all walks of life.

Management Team

Steven will manage the day-to-day tasks of running the gym. Steven will hire a gym manager to manage membership and three trainers. Steven will outsource a local CPA to handle payroll, accounting, and tax payments. He will also outsource a local advertising company to develop the gym’s logo, branding, photography, social media accounts, website, and billboard design.

Success Factors

Steven’s Gym will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Large, clean, and spacious fitness center that has all the necessary equipment for their fitness routine.
• Knowledgeable and friendly staff of trainers.
• Best value for membership pricing. The membership pricing options are affordable and offer military, teacher, and healthcare employee discounts.
• Convenient hours of operation.

Financial Plan Highlights

Steven’s Gym is seeking $300,000 in debt financing to begin operations of the business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the warehouse space, gym build-out, and purchase of the equipment. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and working capital. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Securing warehouse space, gym build-out, and design: $25,000 to $125,000
• Gym equipment purchase: $50,000 to $100,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $15,000 to $55,000
• Marketing & advertising: $15,000
• Working capital: $10,000

Company Overview

Who is steven’s gym.

Steven’s Gym is a new, locally owned gym located in El Paso, Texas. Steven’s Gym will include strength training equipment, free weights, aerobic equipment, and plenty of cardio equipment. The gym will also offer fitness classes, strength training instruction, and personal training. Located in an up and coming, and highly trafficked area of town, Steven’s Gym will attract both men and women ages 16 to 75+. There is something for everyone at Steven’s Gym, whether someone is just beginning their fitness journey or is a seasoned athlete and gymrat. The gym will have a welcoming atmosphere, experienced trainers, friendly staff, and frequently cleaned equipment and restrooms. The membership options are affordable and will be offered on a month-to-month basis, a 6 or 12 month contract, or the ability to pay for an entire year upfront. Discounts will be offered to military, teachers, and healthcare workers.

Steven’s Gym History

Steven’s Gym is owned by Steven Malone, a retired Army Master Sergeant who is also a seasoned powerlifter. Steven was stationed at El Paso’s Fort Bliss for many years before eventually retiring and deciding to stay in El Paso and embark on his dream of eventually owning his own gym. As a frequent gym goer, Steven recognized that El Paso lacks high quality independent gyms. The nicest and most equipped gyms in El Paso are large franchises that have too many rules and regulations. Steven envisioned a gym that was welcoming to all types of people that is encouraging, clean, and adequately equipped for those who are focused on sustaining an active, healthy lifestyle.

Since incorporation, Steven’s Gym has achieved the following milestones:

• Found a 10,000 square foot warehouse space for lease in El Paso, Texas that can easily be converted to a gym.
• Registered Steven’s Gym, LLC to do business in the State of Texas.
• Began the branding image, logo, website, and social media accounts for the gym.
• Began researching and pricing out equipment.

Steven’s Gym Services

The following will be the services Steven’s Gym will provide:

Industry Analysis

The Gym industry is expected to grow to an annual revenue of $38 billion in the next five years. This growth is likely a result of increased per capita disposable income, in addition to growing health-consciousness. As consumers’ disposable income levels rise, individuals are usually more willing to purchase gym memberships. Additionally, time spent on leisure and sports is expected to increase over the next five years, effectively increasing the potential pool of consumers.

During this period, demographic changes are expected to drive revenue growth for operators. In particular, as healthcare costs continue to escalate, health insurance providers may implement incentives to promote preventive health practices, including the use of fitness centers among individuals within their provider network. Additionally, initiatives that promote the health benefits of exercise will likely increase over the next five years, stimulating industry revenue.  

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Steven’s Gym’s target audience will include all men and women ages 16 – 75+ who are interested in achieving and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. El Paso is a very diverse city that includes men and women from all walks of life. There are numerous blue collar individuals, white collar individuals, government employees, and military members as the local Army base is one of the largest in the country. Since Steven’s Gym will be very affordable, it will be able to attract people from all walks of life.

Customer Segmentation

Steven’s Gym will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• High school and college students
• Locally-based Military
• Athletes who frequently train for fitness competitions

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Steven’s Gym will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below. Gold’s Gym Gold’s Gym is a large franchise-owned gym with two locations in El Paso. Gold’s Gym gives access to everything one needs to transform their life: state-of-the-art amenities, a variety of fitness classes tailored towards someone’s fitness needs, and the world’s best trainers. There are weekly fitness classes for group workouts ranging from martial arts-inspired cardio classes to foundational yoga sessions. There are also certified trainers if someone is new to exercise or just looking for more guidance and coaching. Gold’s Gym’s amenities include cardio equipment, group exercise, personal training, a pro shop, sauna/steam rooms, group cycle, free weights, functional training, kids club, locker rooms, and wifi.

Planet Fitness Planet Fitness is for people from all walks of life, whether they’re a first-time gym user or a veteran member, they are there to provide a workout environment in which anyone and everyone can be comfortable. All Planet Fitness members enjoy unlimited access to their home club and the support of their friendly, knowledgeable staff anytime they need it. PF Black Club members receive additional benefits, including the ability to bring a guest for free and access to any of their 2,000+ PF locations. Also, the PF member can take advantage of their free fitness training or find motivation by reading real member experiences on Planet of Triumphs. The goal of Planet Fitness is to provide a clean, safe, welcoming environment for anyone who walks through the door, and all the equipment, amenities, and support they need once they arrive.

Anytime Fitness Anytime Fitness is a welcoming gym that exists to help someone get to a healthier place – by giving the right support at the right times, in the ways the member wants. Every member receives a free, personalized Get Started Plan when they join. Their friendly, professional staff is trained to help someone along their fitness journey, no matter how much support they need. Aside from a large selection of strength and cardio equipment, Anytime Fitness offers the following services – 24-hour access, 24-hour security, convenient parking, anywhere gym access, private restrooms, private showers, health plan discounts, wellness programs, cardio TVs, and HDTVs.

Competitive Advantage

Steven’s Gym will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Large, clean, and spacious facility that has all the necessary equipment for their fitness routine.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Steven’s Gym will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Large, clean, spacious, and well-equipped facility.
• Dedicated team of trainers.
• Affordable membership pricing plans.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Steven’s Gym is as follows: Social Media Marketing Strategy Steven’s Gym will invest in advertising the gym on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. By using targeted social media marketing, Steven’s Gym will be able to reach the appropriate target audience of El Paso. Before opening, Steven will hire an advertising agency to develop the branding and photography needed to create captivating social media posts.

Billboards Steven will invest in two billboards strategically located at busy intersections that receive thousands of traffic daily. The advertising agency will develop the print for the billboard design. Website/SEO Marketing Strategy Steven’s Gym will invest in a strong SEO presence so that when someone enters “El Paso gym” or “local gym near me” in their Google or Bing search bar, Steven’s Gym is at the top of the list. Their website will list all of Steven’s Gym’s services, location, pricing, and contact information. Word of Mouth Word quickly spreads around town and once a few people experience the clean, affordable, and professional staff at Steven’s Gym, more and more people will come in to see for themselves and sign up for a membership plan.

The pricing of Steven’s Gym will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing their services.  

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Steven’s Gym.

Operation Functions:

• Steven Malone will be the sole gym owner and operator of Steven’s Gym. He will oversee the staff, maintain that the cleaning schedules are being enforced, and ensure that all equipment is working per standard and safely. He will also manage all ordering of new and replacement equipment, schedule the group HIIT classes, and daily management tasks.
• Steven will hire a gym manager to be in charge of members and member management.
• A team of three trainers will run all of the fitness classes. As the membership grows and clients require more attention, more trainers and fitness classes will be added.
• A local CPA will manage all high level accounting functions, such as payroll and tax payments.
• Steven will also hire an advertising agency to develop the gym’s branding, photography, website, social media accounts, and billboard design.

Milestones:

Steven’s Gym will have the following milestones completed in the next six months. 8/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease warehouse space. 8/15/202X – Begin build-out and design converting warehouse space into a functional gym. 9/1/202X – Hire advertising company to begin developing gym’s branding, logo, social media accounts, website, and billboard design. 9/15/202X – Order all equipment. 10/5/202X – Hire gym manager and team of personal trainers. 10/15/202X – Train staff on proper policies and procedures. 11/1/202X – Grand Opening of Steven’s Gym.  

Steven’s Gym will be solely owned by Steven Malone. Steven is a retired Army Master Sergeant who has been stationed off and on at El Paso’s Fort Bliss for the past twelve years. Upon retirement, Steven decided to make El Paso his permanent home and embark on his dream of owning his own gym. Steven recognizes the lack of quality, independent gyms in El Paso and wants to open a gym that fits his idea of what a high-quality gym should be.

As a former powerlifter and personal trainer while serving in the military, Steven is aware of the proper equipment and facilities a gym should have. Steven envisions his gym to be friendly, clean, well-equipped, and affordable for the average person so that people from all walks of life will feel comfortable going to the gym and achieving their fitness goals. Steven will dedicate his life and focus on ensuring that his gym is always clean, staffed with the best trainers, and members are happy with what the gym has to offer.  

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Steven’s Gym are the membership fees it will charge each person that signs up to become a member. Each member will be placed on a membership plan where they can either pay month to month, enroll in either a 6 or 12 month contract, or pay for the entire year upfront.

The cost drivers will be the payroll for the staff, rent, utilities, cleaning supplies and equipment, and gym equipment purchase and maintenance. Other cost drivers will be the targeted marketing costs on social media and monthly fees for the CPA and advertising company.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Initial Number of New Clients per Month: 60
• Average Monthly Membership Fee: $150
• Gym Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Gym Business Plan FAQs

What is a gym business plan.

A gym business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your gym. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing strategies and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your gym business plan using our gym business plan template here .

What Are the Main Types of Gyms?

There are many types of gyms or fitness centers. There are large, franchise gyms that have multiple locations across the country. There are also large single facility gyms. Finally, there are smaller gyms that tend to focus on a particular fitness segment, such as strength training, CrossFit, or group HIIT training.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenue and Expenses for a Gym Business?

The primary source of revenue for a gym or fitness center are membership fees. Typically, members pay month-to-month, or fulfill a year-long contract.

The key expenses for a gym or fitness center are the costs associated with payroll, purchase and maintenance of equipment, cleaning supplies, marketing costs, and working capital. Other expenses will be rent, utilities, taxes, accounts payable, and other licensing fees (if necessary).

How Do You Get Funding for Your Gym?

Gym businesses are most likely to secure funding from banks. Typically you will find a local bank and present your gym business plan to them. Family and/or friends could also be potential investors and other types of capital-raising such as crowdfunding are other common funding sources.

A well-crafted gym business plan, complete with a solid financial plan is essential for attracting any type of potential investor. This is true for a new gym business or established businesses looking to grow.

What are the Steps To Start a Gym Business?

Starting a gym or fitness center can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Write A Gym Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a solid gym business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include market research on the fitness industry and potential target market size, information on the services and/or products you will offer, marketing strategy, mission statement, business model and pricing strategy and a detailed financial plan.  Our business plan template is the perfect guide to show you how to start a gym business plan.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your fitness   business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your gym business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Gym Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your gym business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your gym business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Gym Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your gym business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your gym or fitness   business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising to reach your target audience.

Learn more about how to start a successful gym or fitness business:

• How to Start a Gym Business

Where Can I Get a Gym Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free gym business plan template PDF here. This is a sample gym business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Business Plan Templates

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Featured article.

How to Write a Martial Arts Business Plan

Gymdesk Library /

Josh Peacock

First and foremost, martial artists open martial arts schools to spread their arts to their communities. But they also, often, open their own schools as a way to gain more control over their curriculum and enhance their own training. While both of these are good things, they do not form the best roadmap for building that school into a profitable, sustainable business. For this reason, it’s important that future martial arts school owners write out legitimate business plans to guide their efforts.

One of the big pitfalls of running any business is to have a vague idea of who your customers are and the direction that the business is headed in. Another major pitfall is to neglect your numbers; to have little to no idea of what you’ll be spending and what milestones you need to hit in order to begin making profit. 

Putting pen to paper, so to speak, is a proven way to get your brain thinking in more realistic terms about your new martial arts business. It helps you iron out what martial arts services you offer, who you offer them to, and how you’re going to reach them with that offer.

It’s for that reason that you should strongly consider writing a business plan for your martial arts school. In this article, we’ll be exploring two different ways to write a good business plan: the traditional way and the “lean” way.

Traditional Martial Arts School Business Plan

Traditional business plans are extremely thorough and very clear. They offer exceptionally concrete guidance to the opening and running of a new business, which can often be a messy affair full of distractions that threaten its profitability.

A typical business plan should include these elements:

Executive & Company Summary

Market analysis.

• Marketing Plan

Operations & Management Plan

Financial projections.

Below, we’ll summarize what each of these business plan sections entails.

The Executive Summary should summarize all the information and insights from the rest of your business plan. It shouldn’t be several pages long, but it also shouldn’t only be a few sentences long. It should give a clear picture of your martial arts school and the business opportunity it is capitalizing on.

Your company summary defines the structure, values, and purpose of your martial arts school. Overall, you should answer these questions:

• Who does my school serve?
• What problems of theirs does it solve?
• What competitive advantages does my company have?

Be clear about who you serve, and then make the case for why you, uniquely, will be successful.

Take a look at the demographics in the town that your school is opening in. Then analyze all the martial arts and related businesses in that area. You want to prove that there is room for your business; and more than that, you want to find, define, and map out what particular market you’re going to target with your martial arts services. If it’s an underserved market, you’ve definitely got a great business opportunity.

Marketing & Sales Plan

Martial arts marketing is a cinch if you have the right knowledge and some budget. The key is to have a plan for how to approach it, adjusting as you gain data, and not burning money on sporadic efforts.

This section should detail all the marketing channels you will be using, a tentative estimate of which you will be your dominant channels, and how you leverage those channels (ads, articles, posts, etc.). Estimate how you will allocate marketing budget between the different channels and if any contractors, consultants, or agencies will be needed to execute these campaigns.

Talk about the legal business structure your martial arts school will have, such as an LLC or a corporation. Clarify who will manage the business, his or her responsibilities, and how other potential employees or contractors will relate to that manager.

For a martial arts school, this shouldn’t be as complicated or lengthy as it would be for more complex business, but it could also cover onboarding new students, supporting current students through customer service, and procedures on hiring help.

Understanding the financial feasibility of your new dojo is one of the main and most important reasons why any school owner should write a business plan. 

Take your fees, your member targets, and your estimates for other income streams (e.g., merchandise sales, events) and place them into a nice graph or tables to show income and profit potentials. Be sure to include estimated expenses, accounting for overhead and emergency expenses. This should all err on the side of cautious conservativeness: be sure to inflate your expense numbers to account for unexpected expenses.

To do all this, you first need to estimate all of your expenses – from one-time startup costs to your projected ongoing costs. Those costs include but are not necessarily limited to:

• CAM/leasing costs
• General liability insurance
• Management software/CRM
• Phone & internet cost
• Electric & utilities
• Marketing budget
• Equipment & gear orders
• Point-of-Sale hardware
• Initial equipment expenses
• Cleaning & maintenance supplies
• Furnishments for the dojo
• Office supplies
• Technology (computer, phone, tablet, etc.)

To learn more, read our article about the cost of opening a martial arts school . Now, moving on the next step, list out your planned income stream and how much money each brings in per unit. We want to calculate how many memberships and product sales you need to make in order to break even. 

Since it’s hard to calculate pro shop sales and event profits, we can simplify this by dividing the projected overhead costs + startup costs with the 12 month dollar value of a membership. So if a membership is $130 a month, the 12 month value will be $1,560. The number you get from this will be the number of active students you need to break even. Growing beyond that is all profit.

To learn more about how to set your prices and design your business in a way that allows you to pay yourself a handsome salary, check out our martial arts pricing article .

Lean Business Plan for Martial Arts Schools

Also known as a “one page business plan,” lean business plans cover more topics than traditional ones, with the key difference being that each is addressed with drastically greater brevity. The plan is divided into four major sections: “strategy,” “tactics,” “business model,” and “milestones.” Overall, it’s a less time-intensive, more agile way to put together a plan for your martial arts school.

Below is a breakdown of the proposed subsection each main section should contain. Since this all should fit on one page, only a sentence or two is used to describe what should be found in each subsection.

• Identity . Write down what your company is all about, including your company values. This is your branding and your culture.
• Service(s) . What services do you offer to the community? One martial art, several, classes for adults and/or kids?
• Target Market . What is the specific group of people you are targeting? As a taekwondo school, your primary market might be children ages 6-12 from homes with a median income of $70,000 a year or more. As a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school, your target market might be adults ages 25-50 with a similar financial situation.
• Competition . Analyze the other dojos in town. What do their services look like? What audience do they seem to appeal to? Figure out what your niche is.
• Marketing activities . Map out all the most important marketing methods you will use, like website SEO, PPC, social ads, and any traditional marketing materials. Our martial arts software can help to streamline this process.
• Partners and resources . Most school owners don’t have business partners; but if you do, be sure to write them down here. Moreover, list out the resources available to you, be it advice from business connections, loans, investments, or anything else.
• Team . If you have help with your school, who’s on staff, and what are their duties?
• Put together an action list of all the most important tasks that need to be completed to open the school and get it operational, including who owns each task (if you have help).
• Plan a schedule to revisit and revise your lean business plan at a later date, as appropriate.
• Map out what the major achievement milestones will be for your business (first 10 students, first 50 students, first belt promotion, etc.).
• Revenue . List all the ways your dojo will bring in money. The main way will usually be monthly tuition, but also incorporate seminars, paid trials (if you plan on using them), and merchandise sales.
• Expenses . List all your projected overhead expenses, including marketing your budget.
• Financial Projections . Project income and profit based on your revenue, expenses, and milestones. Show what your income and profit will look like at different stages of growth of your student body.

While most martial arts school owners are the sole proprietors of their businesses, many still sometimes have business partners or investors. In this case, the sparseness of the one page business plan might not be enough. But for single-operated martial arts schools, it’s sufficient (and much more practical).

Business plans are an indispensable part of planning a martial arts school. While it might seem like a martial arts school doesn’t warrant one, the truth is that you are in danger of wasting money if you don’t have one.

If you’re starting a school with a partner or investors, or you plan on starting a chain of schools, a traditional, full business plan is the right move. If you’re opening one school by yourself, the lean business plan is the most practical and a huge time-saver.

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How To Write a Business Plan for Martial Arts Gym in 9 Steps: Checklist

By henry sheykin, martial arts gym bundle.

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Are you thinking about opening a martial arts gym? You're not alone! The martial arts industry in the US is booming, with a growing number of people looking to get fit and learn self-defense. In fact, according to the latest statistics, the industry has experienced a steady growth of 8.8% per year , making it a highly lucrative market to tap into.

To ensure the success of your martial arts gym, it's crucial to have a solid business plan in place. This will help guide you through the process of starting and running your gym, and ultimately help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a seasoned martial artist or a business entrepreneur looking to enter the fitness industry, our 9-step checklist will walk you through the essential elements of writing a business plan for your martial arts gym.

Conduct Market Research: Gain insights into existing market trends and potential customer demand for martial arts classes in your area.

Identify Target Market: Define the specific demographic of individuals you want to attract to your gym, such as children, adults, or a specific martial arts style.

Analyze Competition: Evaluate other martial arts gyms in your area to understand their offerings, pricing, and marketing strategies.

Define Business Goals and Objectives: Clearly outline what you want to achieve with your gym, whether it's earning a certain revenue, expanding to multiple locations, or becoming a renowned training center.

Determine Business Structure and Legal Requirements: Decide whether you'll operate as a sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation, and ensure you comply with all necessary permits, licenses, and insurance.

Develop a Financial Plan: Create a detailed budget, including startup costs, monthly expenses, and projected revenue, to understand the financial viability of your gym.

Create a Marketing Strategy: Identify effective marketing channels to promote your martial arts gym, such as social media, local advertising, and partnerships.

Outline Potential Revenue Streams: Explore various income sources for your gym, such as class fees, merchandise sales, and private lessons.

Identify Necessary Resources and Equipment: Determine the equipment, staff, and facilities required to run your martial arts gym efficiently and attractively.

By following these 9 steps, you'll be well on your way to writing a comprehensive business plan for your martial arts gym. Remember, a strong plan is the foundation for success in any business venture, so take the time to develop yours with care and precision. Good luck!

Conduct Market Research

Before starting a martial arts gym, it is crucial to conduct thorough market research to gather valuable insights and data. This research will help you understand the industry trends, customer preferences, and potential demand in your target market. It will also assist you in identifying any gaps in the market that you can exploit to position your gym uniquely.

Here are some important aspects to consider during your market research:

• Identify the demographics of your target audience, including age, gender, income level, and location. This information will help you tailor your classes and services to meet their specific needs and preferences.
• Evaluate the existing martial arts gyms in your area. Assess their strengths, weaknesses, and the classes they offer. Pay attention to their pricing structures, promotional activities, and customer reviews to gain insights into what works and what doesn't.
• Analyze the demand for martial arts classes in your area. Consider factors such as population density, interest in fitness trends, and the availability of similar fitness facilities to understand the potential market size and customer base.
• Stay updated on the latest industry trends and innovations. This will help you differentiate your gym and stay ahead of the competition. Research popular martial arts styles, emerging training techniques, and fitness equipment to provide a unique and engaging experience for your future students.

Market Research Tips:

• Utilize online survey tools to gather feedback from potential customers. This will provide you with valuable insights into their preferences, expectations, and willingness to pay.
• Join relevant martial arts forums and social media groups to connect with enthusiasts and understand their needs.
• Attend local martial arts events, workshops, and competitions to network with professionals in the industry and gain a deeper understanding of the community.
• Contact local fitness instructors or personal trainers to gather insights on the demand for martial arts classes and potential partnerships.

By conducting comprehensive market research, you will be equipped with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions and develop a successful business plan for your martial arts gym.

Identify Target Market

Identifying your target market is a crucial step in developing a successful business plan for your martial arts gym. By understanding who your target audience is, you can tailor your offerings and marketing strategies to meet their specific needs and preferences. Here are some important factors to consider when identifying your target market:

• Demographics: Analyze the age, gender, income level, and other relevant demographic characteristics of the population in the area where your gym will be located. This will help you determine the segment of the population that is most likely to be interested in martial arts training.
• Psychographics: Dive deeper into the mindset, interests, and motivations of your potential customers. Understand what drives them to participate in martial arts and what their goals and aspirations are. This will allow you to cater to their specific desires and create a more compelling value proposition.
• Location: Consider the proximity of your gym to residential areas, schools, and other facilities that attract your target market. Accessibility and convenience play a significant role in attracting and retaining customers.
• Interview existing martial arts gym owners or instructors to gain insights into their target market and learn from their experiences.
• Utilize online tools and forums to gather information and engage with potential customers who are interested in martial arts.

By identifying your target market, you can tailor your marketing messages, classes, and services to meet their needs, ultimately increasing the likelihood of attracting and retaining loyal customers. This understanding will also help you in developing effective promotional campaigns and strategies to reach your target market in the right place at the right time.

Analyze Competition

When starting a martial arts gym, it is crucial to analyze the competition in your area. Understanding your competitors can help you position your gym strategically and gain a competitive advantage. Here are some important steps to consider when analyzing the competition:

• Identify Competitors: Begin by identifying other martial arts gyms or fitness centers in your local area. Make a list of their names, locations, and the services they offer. This will provide you with a clear overview of the market and help you identify potential gaps or opportunities.
• Research Their Offerings: Take the time to thoroughly research and understand the services, pricing, and class offerings of your competitors. This will allow you to identify any unique selling points or areas where you can differentiate your gym.
• Assess Their Strengths and Weaknesses: Analyzing your competitors' strengths and weaknesses will help you identify areas where you can outshine them. Look for areas where they may be lacking, such as limited class schedules, less experienced instructors, or outdated facilities.
• Observe Their Marketing Tactics: Pay attention to how your competitors are marketing their gyms. Look at their online presence, social media activity, and promotional efforts. Take note of what seems to be effective and think about how you can tailor your own marketing strategy to stand out.
• Consider Their Customer Reviews: Online customer reviews can provide valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors. Take the time to read reviews and understand what customers appreciate or dislike about their services. This will help you identify areas where you can improve and exceed customer expectations.

Tips for Analyzing Competition:

• Visit your competitors in person to experience their classes and facilities firsthand.
• Engage with their social media accounts to gain insights into their customer interactions and engagement.
• Join local business networks or attend industry events to connect with other gym owners and learn from their experiences.

By thoroughly analyzing your competition, you will be able to better understand the market landscape and develop strategies that differentiate your martial arts gym. This will ultimately help you attract and retain customers, leading to the success of your business.

Define Business Goals And Objectives

Defining clear and concise business goals and objectives is a crucial step in creating a successful martial arts gym. These goals will serve as a roadmap for your business, guiding your decision-making process and helping you stay focused on what you want to achieve. Here are some key steps to help you define your business goals and objectives:

• Identify your long-term vision: Start by envisioning the future of your martial arts gym. What do you want it to become in the next few years? Think about the size, reputation, and impact you want your gym to have in the community.
• Set specific and measurable goals: Once you have a clear vision, break it down into specific and measurable goals. For example, you may aim to increase your gym's membership by 25% within the first year or achieve a certain revenue target.
• Align goals with your target market: Consider the needs and preferences of your target market when setting your goals. What do your potential students look for in a martial arts gym? How can you tailor your goals to attract and retain them?
• Establish realistic timelines: Determine realistic timelines for achieving your goals. This will help you stay accountable and track your progress along the way.
• Include both short-term and long-term objectives: While long-term goals provide direction, it's important to have short-term objectives that contribute to reaching those goals. These objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
• Regularly review and update your goals as your business grows and evolves.
• Ensure your goals are challenging yet attainable to keep you motivated and driven.
• Consider seeking input from industry experts or mentors when setting your goals to gain valuable insights.
• Communicate your goals and objectives to your team to align everyone's efforts towards a common vision.

By clearly defining your business goals and objectives, you will have a clear roadmap for success. These goals will help you make informed decisions, prioritize tasks, and measure your progress as you build and grow your martial arts gym.

Determine Business Structure And Legal Requirements

When starting a martial arts gym, it is crucial to determine the appropriate business structure and legal requirements . This step ensures that your gym operates legally and protects your interests. Here are some key considerations:

• Choose a legal structure: Decide whether you want to establish your gym as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. Each structure has its advantages and disadvantages, so carefully research and consult with a legal professional to make the best choice for your business.
• Register your business: Once you have selected a structure, register your gym's name with the appropriate local, state, or federal authorities. This step formalizes your gym's existence and prevents others from using the same name.
• Obtain necessary licenses and permits: Research and acquire any required licenses and permits to operate a martial arts gym in your area. This may include health permits, zoning permits, and business licenses. Check with your local government or small business administration for specific requirements.
• Secure insurance coverage: Protect your gym and its members by obtaining the appropriate insurance coverage. This may include general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and property insurance. Consult with an insurance agent who specializes in fitness facilities to determine the specific coverage needed for your martial arts gym.
• Comply with employment laws: If you plan to hire instructors or staff, ensure that you comply with employment laws regarding wages, taxes, and worker's compensation. Stay informed about the legal obligations and responsibilities as an employer to avoid potential legal issues.
• Consult with an experienced business attorney to understand the legal requirements specific to your location and industry.
• Keep thorough records of all legal documents and permits for easy access and reference.
• Regularly review and update your insurance coverage to adapt to any changes in your business.
• Stay informed about changes in employment laws to ensure compliance and protect your gym and employees.

Develop A Financial Plan

Developing a comprehensive financial plan is crucial for the success of your martial arts gym. It will not only help you track and manage your business finances effectively but also provide a clear roadmap for achieving your financial goals. Consider the following steps when developing your financial plan:

• Estimate start-up costs: Calculate the initial investment required to set up your martial arts gym, including building or rental costs, renovation expenses, equipment purchases, and any necessary permits or licenses.
• Projected income: Determine your expected revenue streams, such as pay-per-class fees, package sales, and monthly memberships. Consider factors like class capacity, average class attendance, and pricing strategies to estimate your income accurately.
• Operating expenses: Identify and analyze all operating expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, insurance, marketing costs, instructor salaries, and general administrative expenses.
• Break-even analysis: Perform a break-even analysis to determine the point at which your gym's income equals its expenses. This will help you assess how many classes or memberships you need to sell each month to cover your costs.
• Financial projections: Create detailed financial projections for at least the first three years of your gym's operation. Consider factors like class growth, potential market trends, and the introduction of new revenue streams to forecast your financial performance.
• Funding options: Determine whether you will need external funding to start or expand your martial arts gym. Explore options such as personal savings, loans, grants, or partnerships and consider their implications on your financial plan.

Tips for developing a solid financial plan:

• Consult with a certified public accountant or financial advisor to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Regularly review and update your financial plan as your business evolves and circumstances change.
• Conduct a sensitivity analysis to understand the potential impact of fluctuations in factors like class attendance or pricing on your financial projections.
• Consider implementing an effective accounting system to track your gym's income, expenses, and cash flow.

By developing a sound financial plan, you will be better equipped to make informed decisions and steer your martial arts gym towards profitability and long-term success.

Create A Marketing Strategy

Once you have conducted thorough market research, identified your target market, and analyzed your competition, it's time to develop a marketing strategy for your martial arts gym. A well-designed marketing strategy will help you attract potential students and promote your gym effectively.

Here are some key steps to consider when creating your marketing strategy:

• Define your brand: Clearly define your gym's unique selling points and value proposition. Determine what sets you apart from other martial arts gyms and build your brand around those differentiators.
• Identify your target audience: Based on your market research, identify your ideal customer profile. Understand their demographics, interests, and motivations. This will help you tailor your marketing messages and reach your target audience effectively.
• Choose your marketing channels: Select the most appropriate channels to reach your target audience. Consider digital marketing tactics such as social media advertising, search engine optimization, and email marketing, as well as traditional methods like flyers, local newspaper ads, and banners.
• Create compelling content: Develop engaging and informative content that resonates with your target audience. This can include blog posts, videos, social media posts, and testimonials. Highlight the benefits of martial arts training, showcase success stories, and demonstrate the positive impact your gym can have on students' lives.
• Set clear goals and metrics: Clearly define your marketing objectives and establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of your marketing efforts. This can include metrics such as website traffic, conversion rates, social media engagement, and student enrollment rates.
• Establish partnerships: Collaborate with other local businesses, schools, or organizations to expand your reach and attract a wider audience. Consider offering special promotions or workshops in partnership with relevant entities to increase your brand visibility and establish credibility.
• Offer a free trial class or introductory session to potential students to give them a taste of what your gym has to offer.
• Encourage satisfied students to leave reviews and testimonials on your website or social media platforms to build social proof and credibility.
• Utilize social media platforms effectively by posting regularly, engaging with your audience, and running targeted ad campaigns to reach potential students.
• Consider hosting community events or workshops to connect with the local community and showcase your gym's expertise.
• Monitor and analyze the results of your marketing campaigns regularly to make informed decisions and optimize your strategies.

By creating a comprehensive marketing strategy, you can effectively promote your martial arts gym, attract a steady stream of students, and establish a strong presence in your target market.

Outline Potential Revenue Streams

When outlining potential revenue streams for your martial arts gym, it is important to consider all possible avenues that can contribute to your financial success. Here are some key areas to focus on:

• Class fees: As a pay-per-class or drop-in based gym, the primary source of revenue will come from class fees. Set competitive and attractive pricing that is in line with the market demand and the value you deliver.
• Package options: To encourage regular attendance and foster loyalty among your students, consider offering package options. This could include discounted rates for purchasing multiple classes in advance or a monthly membership that allows unlimited classes.
• Private lessons: Capitalize on the demand for personalized attention by offering private lessons. Some students may prefer one-on-one training or have specific goals they want to achieve.
• Workshops and seminars: Organize workshops and seminars, inviting renowned martial artists or specialists in related fields, to attract enthusiasts and generate additional income. These events can cover advanced techniques, self-defense, nutrition, or meditation.
• Martial arts merchandise: Consider selling branded merchandise such as uniforms, belts, gloves, protective gear, or even branded apparel. This not only adds an additional revenue stream but also serves as a marketing tool, creating brand recognition and loyalty.
• Partnerships and collaborations: Explore potential partnerships with local businesses or organizations to offer joint promotions or cross-marketing opportunities. This can include collaborations with fitness clubs, yoga studios, or even corporate wellness programs.
• Online classes or tutorials: Leverage the power of technology by offering online classes or tutorials for those unable to attend in-person sessions. This opens up your target market to a global audience and provides an additional revenue stream.
• Regularly assess and adjust your pricing strategy based on market trends and feedback from your students.
• Offer special promotions or discounts during certain periods, such as holidays or the gym's anniversary, to attract new students or incentivize current ones.
• Consider implementing a referral program where existing students can earn rewards or discounts for referring new students to your gym.
• Always prioritize quality and value in your offerings to ensure customer satisfaction and retention.

By diversifying your revenue streams and continuously improving your offerings, your martial arts gym can thrive financially while providing an exceptional experience for your students.

Identify Necessary Resources And Equipment

When starting a martial arts gym, identifying the necessary resources and equipment is crucial for a smooth and successful operation. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:

• Training space: Ensure you have a dedicated area with enough space to comfortably accommodate your classes. Consider factors such as ceiling height, flooring type (preferably martial arts mats), and ventilation.
• Equipment: Depending on the type of martial arts you will be offering, you may need various equipment such as punching bags, focus mitts, kicking shields, grappling dummies, and sparring gear. Make a comprehensive list of all necessary equipment and ensure you acquire them before launching your gym.
• Basic amenities: Your gym should have essential amenities like changing rooms, lockers, bathrooms, and a waiting area for students and visitors. These amenities create a comfortable and professional environment for your clientele.
• Instructors and staff: Determine the number of instructors and support staff you will need to effectively manage your classes and provide excellent customer service. Hire qualified instructors who have experience in the martial arts style(s) you offer.
• Office supplies and software: To efficiently manage your gym's administrative tasks, invest in office supplies like computers, printers, and software for scheduling, payment processing, and record-keeping. This will help streamline your operations and improve overall productivity.
• Sound system and audiovisual equipment: Consider investing in a quality sound system and audiovisual equipment to enhance the experience for your students. This will allow you to play music during classes and also give demonstrations or show instructional videos.
• Safety equipment: Safety should be a top concern in a martial arts gym. Make sure to have first aid kits, emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and proper ventilation systems in place. Additionally, provide protective gear for students to ensure their safety during training sessions.
• Consult with experienced martial arts gym owners or instructors to get insights on the essential equipment and resources required.
• Consider leasing or renting equipment initially to minimize the upfront costs. As your gym grows, you can gradually purchase your own equipment.
• Regularly maintain and inspect your equipment to ensure it remains in good condition and does not pose any safety hazards.
• Stay updated with the latest industry trends and advancements in martial arts equipment to provide the best experience for your students.

In conclusion, creating a solid business plan is crucial for the success of a martial arts gym. By following the 9-step checklist provided, gym owners can effectively assess the market, define their target audience, identify competitors, set clear goals, establish the necessary legal requirements, develop a financial plan, create an effective marketing strategy, outline potential revenue streams, and identify the necessary resources and equipment. Implementing a pay-per-class or drop-in model can attract a wide range of students, while offering packages for regular attendees ensures a steady stream of income. With a well-thought-out business plan in place, martial arts gym owners can set themselves up for long-term success and growth.

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June 17, 2021

Here's how to start a martial arts studio (and get it right), how to start a mixed martial arts gym (stuff to get right).

There’s never been a better time to get into -- or invest in -- mixed martial arts. 

MMA’s popularity has skyrocketed in the last ten years, turning into the world’s third most popular sport behind soccer and basketball. Thanks to events like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), One Championship, and the pop culture veneration of figures like Conor McGregor, it looks like MMA is here to stay as a major cultural force.

This popularity is a veritable goldmine for potential gym owners. Maybe you want to start your first MMA-focused gym from scratch. Maybe you’ve got an existing gym you want to pivot into the MMA space. Whichever one you are, there’s a long but rewarding road ahead of you.

It’s going to take a lot of hard work, and no small amount of planning, to get this right. Luckily, we at Wodify have a helpful primer to help you get started. ‍

Pick the right martial arts management software

This is Step #1.

MMA gyms aren’t easy businesses to run. You have to market. You have to sell. You have to clean. You might even have to run classes. 

Perhaps one of the best initial investments you can make in your business is gym management software . 

Gym management software can help you set up recurring invoices, manage clients, create class schedules, track attendance, and even send digital waivers (important for MMA gyms). 

It can be a true Swiss army knife for gym owners, and it could significantly reduce the amount of time that you need to spend working on administrative tasks, giving you more time to focus on running classes and bringing in new customers.

We have gym management software to show you, and we can walk you through how it works if you’d like.

Understanding the martial arts business model

For MMA gyms, these are generally the primary revenue channels:

• Membership fees ( example )
• Private lessons ( example )
• Summer camps and seminars
• Merchandise and gear sales ( example )

For most gyms, the biggest chunk of revenue comes from membership fees. In this space, membership fees might be as low as $75/mo or as high as $200/mo (using examples of a range of gyms from MMA Guru)

Tracey Heinz at RDX Sports lays it out in this example (she’s talking about Crossfit gyms, but the math still applies): “If membership at your gym is $1,000 per year [($85/mo)], you only need 100 members to turn over $100,000 in annual revenue. But adding just one new member every week puts annual revenues at $152,000. Adding two new members per week puts it at $204,000.” 

In the simplest terms, the success of an MMA gym is often just a game of getting people through the door and getting them to sign up. 

Of course, there are expenses to consider: rent, equipment, coaches, insurance, and so on. Additionally, not everyone who signs up stays; Noobgains notes that about half of people who sign up for a gym membership leave within six months.

So, really, starting and running an MMA gym can be a bit of a balancing act; you’ve got to get people in the door and get them to stay (more on this in the marketing section), and you’ve got to balance that with customer churn and expenses.

Hire the right coaches

For MMA gyms, often, the coaches are the product (or a big part of it, anyway). 

And if you’re looking to gain new customers, it’s important to keep in mind that people may prioritize MMA gyms with quality instructors.

One option, of course, is for you to be the coach. MMA gyms are often run by owner-operators, and for an MMA gym, the “operator” part of that usually includes teaching classes. 

But even if you’re coaching some classes, it could be good to pick up a few spare hands who either know more than you or who are specialists in specific parts of MMA. Coaches might be people like this:

• People who have competed a lot in MMA 
• Specialists striking coaches (boxing, muay thai, etc.)
• Specialist grappling coaches (wrestling, jiu jitsu, etc.)
• Long-time students who are both skilled and know the students

Plenty of MMA schools build class schedules around their coaches. At the American Top Team gym in Fort Lauderdale, for example, most of the coaches have MMA experience, but for the most part, classes are taught by people with specialist backgrounds. 

As a gym owner, this could even be part of your business strategy. You could recruit a long-time amateur boxer with a strong boxing track record and add boxing classes to your offering, for example. The MMA Guru notes that the quality of instruction can impact how much you’re able to charge (e.g. a jiu jitsu school with a black belt instructor may be able to charge more than a gym without one).

A few other considerations here: pay and health insurance.

It’s not uncommon for coaches to work part-time in small MMA gyms, since a particular class pay only be held a handful of times per week. If you’re looking to hire a full-time coach, the median salary (for fitness instructors in general, according to Salary.com ) is between $21,464 and $74,931 per year. And of course, because of the nature of the work, instructors may want health insurance benefits.

The basics: location, licenses, equipment and gear

Starting a small business is never easy; starting a mixed martial arts gym, even less so. You’ve got to be practical and tactical in the same breath, which starts with finding the right location . 

Find a location in your city that complies with local zoning requirements (i.e. in a commercially-zoned area), 

You must also find a building that has the right amount of open space to host mixed martial arts classes. (Or you could build your own, but if you’re just starting out, it’s way easier to just occupy an existing space.)

MMA gyms specifically benefit from being located in high-traffic spots in busy city centers , with plenty of walk-through traffic to entice potential new members. But that often comes with higher leases, so you might want to consider an industrial or rural location in a smaller city -- customers there are much more willing to drive to where you are. 

Once you’ve found where your gym is going to go, it’s time to figure out licensing. Licenses vary wildly between states and local municipalities, so there’s no one size fits all for an MMA gym license. 

Just check the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Local Assistance directory ; they’ll get you sorted with your local assistance center, which can get you started on your paperwork.

Now that you’re licensed, begin filling your gym up with the gear you need. 

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll want to have before opening your doors up to the public:

• Lots of cushy mats
• Heavy punching bags
• Boxing gloves
• Protective head and body gear
• Target shields
• Grappling dummies 

For a more comprehensive list, Fight Quality has you covered. 

Once you’re zoned, licensed, and fully equipped, you’ll want to make sure you’ve set up a bank account for your business and a point of sale system. 

The POS features in Wodify Core give you an easy interface for admins, managers, and coaches to sell products to clients and guests -- as well as manage refunds and memberships. Click here to learn more. 

Marketing your MMA gym

Now that you’ve got your location and your gear, it’s time to begin marketing your gym to your target audience.

To do that successfully, you first need to understand a few things.

Understanding your target audience

First thing’s first: you need to figure out who you’re trying to reach with your ads. And that means figuring out who’s into MMA, who’s actively practicing, and who might actually pony up to join your gym.

According to a Medium post from World’s Greatest CEO Bob Ciosek, 41% of MMA fans are 25-34 years old, and 66% are male. A 2018 report from Statista indicates that there are over 977,000 participants in mixed martial arts competitions around the world aged six and above . 

This report from Simmons Market Research shows 18.1 million Americans practicing karate or some other form of martial arts -- 9.4 million adults, 5.5 million teenagers, and 3.2 million children. 

That same report indicates that most MMA enthusiasts are relatively high-income earners, with 28% of children in martial arts training coming from households that earn over $50,000. 

In America, this list of the best MMA gyms in the world from The MMA Guru indicates that most MMA gyms can be found in California and New York, though others can be found in places like New Mexico, Florida, and even Wisconsin. 

To sum up, it would do well for you to market to MMA enthusiasts who are either a) active adults, or b) parents of active children, who are higher-income-earning and live on the coasts.

Picking the right marketing channels

Once you know your target audience and your brand, you’re ready to begin running advertisements. There are lots of different channels to choose from and the most successful companies use several of these.

Zebra Athletics , among other gyms, have several ideas for how you should consider advertising your mixed martial arts gym:

• Being active in local social media groups
• Listing your business on Google My Business
• Placing ads in local papers or magazines
• Hosting free events or seminars
• Free trial memberships
• Offering discounts to new customers and establishing membership programs
• Rolling out referral programs to incentivize current customers to bring friends
• Putting up flyers
• Partnering with other local businesses to run promotions

Each of these channels can be successful -- it just might benefit you most to try and test different marketing tactics just to see what works. 

Reducing customer churn

Now, getting customers in the door is one thing; keeping them is quite another. Sometimes, the best marketing you can do is keeping the members you have, which is no small feat.

Customer churn , according to Hubspot , is the percentage of customers who stop using your service or product during a particular time frame. The lower your customer churn is, the more likely you’ll build a solid baseline of customers you can rely on to keep the lights running and your gym profitable.  

For gyms specifically, here are some solid ways to reduce churn:

• A good onboarding experience. Keep your customer at ease at the very beginning of the process, and that solid first impression may carry through to higher retention.
• A pleasant, safe atmosphere. Your members should feel safe; gyms, especially mixed martial arts gyms , can be high-pressure environments that easily intimidate folks who are new to fitness. Make them feel welcome and taken care of.
• Clean, streamlined facilities. One part of that feeling of ease comes from keeping a clean gym; the more attractive it looks, the more likely to draw in and keep more clients.
• A sense of progress. One major reason members quit gyms is because they feel themselves plateauing in their progress, and give up. Build programs and incentives to keep working, and you can keep members from feeling like they’re going nowhere fast. 

Want even more help with your mixed martial arts gym marketing? Wodify gives you free resources every month with our Monthly Marketing spotlight. Click here for more information.

We can help you get set up

All of these tips should leave you better prepared to start a mixed martial arts gym. It can be difficult, but intensely rewarding, especially if you put in the work to draw in the kinds of people who will stick around and help make your gym the high-kicking psion of fitness you’d like it to be.

But don’t take our word for it. Book a free demo of Wodify today to learn exactly what we can do to help you take your MMA gym to the next level.

Need more resources? Read The Ultimate Guide to MMA Training Equipment For Your Gym

You might also like…

• Online classes
• Tips and tools

Gym business plan: a checklist with templates & examples

In this article, you'll find a checklist of everything you need to know to create a business plan for your gym or fitness business.

If you've recently discovered an ambition to start a gym , or this has been your dream for years, we've got you covered!

The first step in your journey is to create a gym business plan. This will include understanding your business's structure, determining your target market and what sets you apart from other gyms (your unique selling point), forecasting future finances, and any further details about your venture.

Your gym business plan is the key to your success. It will help you make better decisions and attract potential investors. Creating a business plan is ongoing; it's not something you do once and then forget about. Your business plan should be flexible and adapt as you move forward. 

You have to consider many elements to ensure your gym will succeed. All stages of your business plan are critical. In this article, we'll be doing a deep dive into understanding the core essentials of creating a fitness business plan.

What is a gym business plan? 

A gym business plan is a document that informs the reader about your company and where it's headed. In other words, it answers essential questions such as:

• How does your business work?
• How are you going to succeed?
• What steps do you need to take to succeed?

According to research, entrepreneurs who write formal business plans are more likely to be successful . 

This is especially true for business owners seeking external financial support. A formal business plan can help new businesses by providing a clear focus for their ideas.

Why it’s important to have a business plan for your gym? 

Simply put, your gym business plan is an organized and detailed process that provides a roadmap for your business. If someone reads it – like a potential investor, for example – they should be able to understand how you expect the gym to progress and succeed over time.

Plus, putting together a business plan with detailed description forces you to take a critical look at your operation as it currently stands and identify room for improvement or new areas of opportunity altogether.

Depending on where your business is located, a well-crafted business plan can serve multiple purposes.

Keep reading for even more reasons you need a business plan from day one!

Taking advantage of a steadily growing industry

The gym industry is booming, allowing gyms to capitalize on this growth. In the US alone, over 87 million people regularly attend the gym and spend billions of dollars annually on membership fees.

And according to projections, the global gym market is expected to reach 434 billion USD by 2028 – a 171% increase from 2021! This steady growth provides room for gym owners to get in on the action and reap the benefits.

By having a gym business plan that considers the health & fitness industry as a whole, you'll be able to capitalize on this growth.

Ensures your business idea is feasible 

If you're considering starting a fitness business, know it will be complex. You have a fantastic idea and think it could take off--but how can you test that theory without launching the business? 

This is where a business plan comes in handy. By working through your concept and creating a well-rounded plan of action, you'll be able to figure out key details like numbers, market trends, and what your competition is doing and save yourself loads of time down the line.

It helps to bring in investors and secure funding 

To secure funding for your gym business from investors, you need a comprehensive business plan. This document helps startup businesses obtain the initial capital they need and provides established companies with funds for expansion.

Would-be contributors usually request substantiated data— such as numbers backed up by facts and figures—before deciding whether or not to invest in a project.

If you don't have a business plan, chances are slim that you'll receive money from sources like investors, banks, or other financial organizations outside your company.

Set and reach goals, both big and small 

Having long-term and short-term goals is a great start, but it's time to take the next step. A successful business plan will contain specific tactics on how you plan to achieve your objectives. 

This might be through your business model, acquiring equipment, hiring new talent, or marketing campaigns.

A successful business needs a clear plan to achieve its goals. Breaking down important goals into smaller, more manageable pieces would be best. 

And remember-- as your business changes and grows over time, so should your plan. Keep it updated regularly. 

Business planning is no longer a daunting task

A business plan is a vital tool for new and established businesses. It provides direction and helps to set the foundation for a successful start. 

By budgeting, analyzing your market, and setting out your goals and strategies, you can make more informed decisions about how to proceed. This process also makes it easier to track your progress over time and assess whether or not you are on track.

Something to consider before creating a gym business plan

Consider the cost of starting a gym. There are many potential expenses, such as equipment, personal trainers, class instructors, insurance policies, property fees, etc.

Also, consider how much time you are willing to invest in this venture – especially during the beginning stages when there is likely to be a lot of work involved in getting everything up and running smoothly.

It can be challenging to maintain a good work/life balance when starting any business; it will probably require working additional hours outside of your usual schedule.

Money and time are essential, but there are other things you need to be successful. 

People skills, marketing know-how, and financial smarts are essential if you want to succeed in the gym business world. It's not going to be easy, but it will be worth it if this is your passion. A solid plan is the first step toward making your dream a reality.

The 11 key elements of a detailed gym business plan

Before you develop your business plan, think about where you are and where you want to see yourself. Keep this vision in mind, as it will help guide you through writing your business plan. There will be countless opportunities wherein consulting your business plan will assist you in making a decision.

To create an effective health club business plan, you will need extensive research on your fitness industry, competitors, and future finances. 

Following these 11 steps, you can build an excellent gym business plan that covers all aspects of your health club.

Step 1: Executive summary

Your executive summary needs to be clear and concise while also grabbing attention. What you want readers to know is:

• Your mission/purpose
• How you'll achieve success (What will make you a success story?)

And finally, your vision for the future. Though it may seem tempting to hurry through this section because it is shorter than other parts of the business plan, don't rush! 

This is your chance to shine and explain what makes your company special. Don't worry if you feel like you have more to say about your goals and vision. You can expand on these topics in your company overview.

Step 2: Company overview

Your company overview is where you get to sell your gym and its potential. Build on your executive summary's vision and mission statement, delving deeper into what makes your gym unique. 

Think of your vision statement as a tagline for your future website. When outlining the purpose of your gym, which audience it will cater to, and how you plan to achieve business goals, also consider including the following: 

Your personal mission statement for the business- i.e., what outcome do you hope to see?

Then, give your readers some information on your background:

• What have you done in the past?
• Have you had any other businesses?
• What is your current status?

This is helpful for investors and partners to know so they can understand where you've been and where you're going. The more they know about you, the more trust they'll have in you.

Step 3: Services and amenities

Outline your strategy in detail: what services you'll offer and how you will develop new offerings. This includes if you need to hire someone or build a facility, such as a spa or a studio. 

This information will help you realize when or where your business requires more funding and extra staff.

By describing your products and services, you can gain valuable insights into your gym's size. Test your vision to determine if you have the necessary funding for these assets. If not, consider how you might acquire the required financing.

Some potential products you could invest in are: 

• Gym equipment like treadmills and rowing machines 
• Specialist equipment to cater to different types of gym-goers, such as bodybuilders 
• Food and drinks like energy drinks or healthy foods 

And services like: 

• Personal training sessions 
• Group classes like yoga, spinning, or body pump 
• Lockers for storing belongings while working out 
• Spa amenities like saunas or massages 
• A swimming pool 
• Physiotherapy

Furthermore, thinking about increasing your market share is a significant next step. You could start by offering pro bono services at local workplaces and schools, eventually introducing a fee.

This way, you can attract larger customers while still providing value.

When creating a business plan - be it for a gym or something else entirely - remember that its purpose is to lay out your objectives easily for potential bankers, partners, employees, and investors.

Step 4: Management team

It is essential to consider the positions you'll need to fill and how these people can help your gym succeed. 

You should write a summary emphasizing their skills and management experience while incorporating what they will be responsible for and any incentives you plan on offering.

Furthermore, creating an employee ladder is vital to establish who or what each new hire will report to so your business can secure its success.

Step 5: Market research and marketing strategy

Marketing is a field where creativity can shine. It's all about identifying different groups of people who would buy your product, coming up with reasons why they should choose you over others, and figuring out ways to get more sales.

Learn more:

Gym marketing strategy

Gym promotion ideas

Gym membership pricing

Best gym features

Even if marketing your fitness business isn't your favorite thing, remember that your marketing strategy will help you lay out a plan for expansion if you do it right. Your first target should be to summarise what you found in your market research. Are you still stuck? 

Consider where you are situated, similar businesses nearby, and who makes up the community around you.

Define your target market here. It could be

• Working professionals
• Senior executives

Or a particular group, like cyclists. After that, try to understand why this specific demographic would join a gym – for example, are they looking for cardio?

After you have completed your market research, take some time to understand your target audience. Ask yourself the following questions:

• How can I make this customer base loyal?
• What makes my company unique?
• What's the best membership package I can offer?
• Is there a need for special equipment or offerings?

In your plan, identify and communicate what makes your business valuable and unique. 

This is called a Unique Selling Proposition (USP), and it will help instill confidence in potential investors that they are making a wise choice by investing in your company. 

Furthermore, detailing marketing strategies in this document provides peace of mind that future income streams are lined up and secure.

There are many marketing strategies you can use to grow your business, including:

• Improving your services
• Advertising and sponsorship
• Loyalty plans and website promotions
• Email marketing campaigns
• Investing in new equipment or technology

Step 6: Competitor analysis - Understanding direct and indirect competitors

To do a competitor analysis, research businesses in your field that offer similar services. These are your direct competitors. 

You can mention indirect competitors, but this section is mainly for an in-depth look at businesses like yours. Depending on your business type, you could have brick-and-mortar and online rivals.

When investigating a competitor, these are some critical areas you'll want to focus on: 

• Services and products they offer 
• Target audience 
• Pricing and business model 
• Strengths and weaknesses

Step 7: Create comprehensive financial projections

Starting a gym requires careful budgeting. Make sure you consider every possible purchase and estimate the cost of each item.

The following are key areas to cover when starting your business:

• Lawyer fees
• Recruiting expenses
• Constructional endeavors
• Exercise equipment for the workplace
• Three months' worth of bills and other operational costs
• An accounting software

It's time to be practical and ascertain how much money you will need to open your gym and make it thrive. This way, you'll get a better understanding of what falls within your budget and what will require additional funding.

Next, you need to prove to investors, stakeholders, and employees that you have a feasible plan for attaining ROI. 

Consider revenue streams such as classes, services provided, and product sales- anything that brings in money. Set down an estimate here based on research and expert opinion.

If you're looking for ways to make money, selling healthy food could be a great option. You could create your protein shakes or energy bars, for example. 

If you plan to sell food, ensure you stay up-to-date with food hygiene standards.

Step 8: Financial forecasting

Your sales forecast for your business's first, second, and third years should be detailed. Specifying the number of active members, you estimate for your first year would also be beneficial. Estimate using:

• Unit sales per month
• Any relevant past data
• How purchases will be broken down (as specified in financial projections)

Step 9: Financial strategy

How can you use your fees in a way that will increase customer registration? For example, if all the other gyms in your area charge higher prices than average, this could be an opportunity to set your business apart by being financially conscious (lowering membership fees or having better offers than competitors).

Consider ways to show your appreciation for loyal customers, such as discounts or complimentary services.

Furthermore, if you're in the process of creating a gym and spa business plan, consider adding discounts for those who use both facilities. For example, many people would love to take advantage of the jacuzzi after working out.

Writing your pricing strategy down will help give you peace of mind about what's to come for your gym.

Step 10: Payment option

An easy and accessible payment system is crucial for any business, let alone a gym. To retain customers , ensure your payment processing is up-to-date and user-friendly. 

Let potential investors know what platform you're using or planning to use, so they can see that you're taking customer experience seriously. A positive buyer experience will encourage loyalty among your clientele.

Step 11: Funding

Make it clear where your business will obtain the extra startup capital it needs. 

This is a chance to be practical about your company. Can you realistically obtain the funding required to reach your targets? Or do you need to readjust your plan?

Below are some vital external resources that might provide the necessary funding:

• Loans from friends or family members
• Crowdfunding campaigns
• Business partners or sponsors

If you are looking to gain investors, be sure to detail where the funding for your project will come from and how much of a return they can expect. You should also include any previous loan applications related to this venture here.

You're almost there!

Now it's time to put all the elements outlined above into a gym business plan. This plan will be a reference point when you need to make tough decisions, help secure investment, and show direction to new employees or partners.

Your next steps to successfully run your gym

Here's a personal checklist to help you ensure that you have everything covered before you open your gym. Use it as a reference point throughout the development process to ensure nothing is overlooked.

• Write a business plan
• Register business
• Apply for a business license and permit
• Open business bank accounts
• Select an online payment platform
• Obtain taxpayer's ID
• Purchase insurance
• Rent/purchase facility
• Purchase/rent equipment
• Secure funding
• Recruit employees
• Drafting contract documents along with any other legal documents required
• Design company logo
• Develop website
• Write website content
• Create social media accounts
• Design leaflets & brochures
• Organize branded uniforms
• Launch party

Any business, no matter how big or small, comes with its fair share of challenges. However, the payoffs in the end always make it worth your while

Starting a gym can be an exciting and rewarding venture. However, it is important to ensure that you are well-prepared with all the necessary information before you open your gym. 

A comprehensive Gym Business Plan detailing the market research, financial projections and strategy, services and amenities, management team, and more should be developed to ensure success. 

Additionally, obtaining the necessary licenses, finding and hiring trainers, investing in the right equipment , and appealing to members with friendly incentives are all important steps.

Gym business plan template & examples

In addition, we've gathered a few of the gym business plan templates and examples below. These samples will provide you with suggested language for your own document as well as guidance on what to include.

Adam Fitness Centre

Grow think's template

PAWSitively Fit Club

Ecogym business plan

Capital Health and Fitness Club

Frequently asked questions on good gym business plan

How can i start my own gym business.

Follow these steps and understand gym business plans:

• Choose your area/location
• Develop a comprehensive business plan
• Apply and obtain all necessary licenses
• Find and hire certified trainers
• Invest in the right equipment for your business
• Appeal to members with friendly incentives

How do I write a business plan for a gym?

To write a gym business plan, you can implement the steps below:

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Services and amenities
• Management team
• Market research and marketing
• Competitor analysis 
• Financial projections
• Financial forecasting
• Financial strategy
• Payment option

What type of gym is the most profitable?

Out of the gyms surveyed in November 2020, 69 percent of CrossFit gyms were profitable, while half of martial arts gyms reported being in the black.

Is owning a gym a good business?

Owning a gym can be profitable, but you will need more time to make yourself rich. To succeed in this industry, you must put in the effort.

Do gym owners make money?

According to ZipRecruiter, an American jobs marketplace, gym owners in the United States will earn an average of $69,472 annually as of June 2022.

Do gyms make a lot of money?

A gym that is managed efficiently and has a good mixture of members can generate quite a bit of money. For example, if a gym has 1,000 people paying $50 monthly, the gym could bring in $50,000 each month. And if the monthly expenses for the gym are $20,000 per month, the profit would be $30,000 per month.

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Complete Guide On How To Start Your Own MMA Gym

MMA is still a developing sport and is growing in popularity each year. Mixed Martial Arts are already part of American culture, and the practice of the sport is widespread, unlike in most other countries.

So if you want to start your own MMA gym, you must realize what kind of audience you are working with and consider some tips to make it as profitable as possible.

Let’s talk about the essential things you should consider about how to start your own MMA gym.

How To Start Your Own MMA Gym Step By Step

If you’re ready to start your MMA gym, here’s a list of steps to make the dream happen. 

Find Coaches For Each Combat Sport

Firstly, it is going to be challenging to hire the best coaches.

Use your connections; if you are interested in opening your own MMA gym, you might know old coaches, talented young fighters who need pocket money, or others willing to help you initially.

Schedule every day. Hire Jiu-Jitsu , Wrestling, and striking coaches, and try to mix it on the sparring days.

Not every technique from Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, or striking works in MMA, so mixing all this at the latest two times per week is essential. 

Choose Location Carefully

Having a good location is as crucial in MMA as in other things. First of all, safety is the priority. It depends on what kind of region you want to make an MMA gym . 

However, you will still have a budget limit, better locations cost more, and not everyone can afford it, so try to find the area where it will be easier to find and go with public transport.

While renting or buying a place for your MMA gym, think about what kind of gym you want. Do you want to have an office inside or not? How many bathrooms do you need? Of course, more bathrooms are an advantage, but also harder to take care of.

You Will Need Some Equipment

We don’t think having many fighters’ gear is a good idea.

MMA fighters should have gloves , protectors, headgear, and shin guards, whether professionals or amateurs.

This is not a matter of comfort but hygiene. It can also save you some initial investing money.

You can’t wash them every day, but wearing someone else’s headgear is not a great long-term idea. So unlike other “fancy” gyms, you can save that money and put it elsewhere. 

You will still need to purchase things like:

• Punching bags
• Inventors from fitness gyms for physical exercise.
• Boxing/Kickboxing pads

You can put that extra money into getting quality gear that matters for your gym. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative and save money by having affordable and beautiful training gear, like tires such as punching bags, wheels, heavy hammers, Swedish Wall, etc.

No matter what – don’t go cheap on bathrooms.

You might not have the best locker room, but having clean showers and bathrooms are things most people value, and smaller MMA gyms often neglect.

New students won’t train in your gym if they cannot have a good clean shower after training.

Like other businesses, you must go through official confirmation steps to legally start your own MMA gym. 

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Get your legal structure in order, employ identification number (ein).

In the USA, the state government charges the opening gym, but gyms must pay taxes to the federal government, which means they have to have EIN. 

It is not as complicated as it sounds. All you have to do is  sign the form online , which will automatically give your EIN code. 

Business Licence

Your business needs the license to start your own MMA gym legally. Different states have different requirements for specific licenses to own a gym. 

You must check information via the  Small Business Administration’s Licenses and Permits Resource .

Federal, State, And Local Taxes

Every business pays taxes, and everyone should expect to register for federal taxes with an EIN. The tax system depends on the location since there are different rules for different states. 

Register Name Of The Business

Your business needs an official name to start running it legally. Sometimes if the official name of the gym is the same as the owners, registering might not be necessary, but in the USA, there are different rules in different states, so you need to specify what kind of rules are in your state. 

Depending on the state, registering the business in the USA costs between $600 and $1,400. 

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The most basic things you should consider if you want to start an mma gym.

Not all great fighters are great coaches, and not every great coach is a great fighter. 

It does not matter whether you are in the USA or not. There are some things you should do and others that you need to avoid at all costs if you want to run a successful MMA gym business.

Improve Skills And Knowledge In MMA As A Gym Owner

If you are interested in starting your own MMA gym, you will most likely have some experience on the mats.

Still, having more theoretical knowledge will be relevant because fighters, especially beginners, will ask lots of questions. And you have to give them the correct direction, which requires a deep understanding of this sport. 

There are a few things you can do to improve your knowledge. 

Attend Different Martial Arts Seminars

It is not necessary to train as hard as fighters do because you will not participate in MMA competitions. 

However, practicing MMA is always a good idea for the coach. It is easier to communicate with students when you experience the same technical problems while doing some movements, and explaining some things after testing them with yourself is more accessible. 

Also, you might discover some new techniques or keys that will make you grow as a coach. 

Watch Paid Videos Of Famous And Lesser Known Fighters

Watching different paid videos of fighters like Henry Cejudo or Ryan Gordon is a great idea. You will discover lots of great stuff and learn to share the knowledge with others by watching the same technique as often as you want. 

It is also a good idea to check lesser-known fighters with impressive records. Everybody will check the big names for inspiration. You can differentiate yourself by learning from unknown killers and adding your twist to their teachings. 

Simply put, find inspiration everywhere you can to grow your coaching skills.

Watch UFC/Bellator Events And Fight Previews

Watching at least UFC fights is a great idea. The best fighters are in the UFC, and the best are testing great strategies and techniques against each other. Watching lots of stylistic fights and strategies will give you lots of knowledge.

Watching fight reviews of great analysts will help you understand the fights’ strategies deeply. 

Watching fights, and analyzing them, is like everyday homework for the head coach. Watching some great battles and thinking more about the strategies will not be hard if you love it. In a word, you should learn new things every day because MMA is still developing.

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How do you market your mixed martial arts gym.

There are different ways to advertise your newly opened gym. Let’s start with the cheapest and must-do thing if you start your own MMA gym. 

Ask Your Friends To Join You

You might know some great fighters who are well known in your area. Inviting them will create an incentive for less experienced fighters to come.

Also, they will post a picture or story on social media, which will be a great promotion for your target audience. And this is an excellent beginning to your promotional efforts.

Ask your former teammates and friends to come and join you.

It is not a fitness gym where people hate being in the line, this is an MMA gym, and people love crowded MMA gyms. For some people, social proof of quality and popularity.

If they see many people inside your gym (through pictures or live), they will be more interested in you. 

They will post more pictures and stories, which will be another great way to promote your gym, not to a targeted audience but to a broader one.

Optimize Social Media

Optimizing your social media is not cheap. However, there is not some minimum or maximum limit you can spend on it. 

Still, it requires a social media manager who knows how to use “Ads Manager” to optimize the audience for your content and budget needs.

The more you pay, the more people will see your posts. The budget is up to you; use as much money as you can afford, but take notice that a lower budget needs a more optimized strategy to be effective. 

When starting an MMA business, one of the most important things you have to focus on is social media marketing.

It’s the easiest way to be available for everyone interested in sports. The probability of getting more clients increases, and your gym becomes more famous for people as well.

To do that, you’ll need to hire a group of people that are on an expert level in:

• Advertising on the social media page
• Creating relevant content on it
• Audience research

You can do this yourself, but the time it will take you to master those skills is better spent teaching classes or raising more capital. 

If you have a natural talent for it, you don’t need experts but there’s a trade with other activities you need as an MMA gym owner. 

Your primary purpose is to find the specific group of consumers most likely to want your product or service, so you’ll have to choose the right team with the appropriate experience and vision.

So let’s say you have already got the marketing team. 

Now, first of all, you need to introduce yourself to a new audience, which is so cold. They have no idea what your gym is all about, and you must convince them they will get what they want. 

People might want to be future UFC fighters, learn self-defense, relax after work, or just wants to be in shape.

Things you need to do when advertising on social media:

• Create a content / relevant photo&video ad
• Set up high-performing ad campaigns 
• Manage / Optimize of campaigns
• Retarget narrow & warm audience

Add Different Classes In Your Gym And Make Your Schedule Public

Having a well-organized schedule already leaves a good impression on the client because they feel you know what you are doing.

Start a Women’s Self-Defense Class 

Jiu-Jitsu is arguably one of the best martial arts for women because there are fewer injuries and no punches. The main idea behind this martial art is for smaller people to manage and defeat bigger and stronger opponents. 

You can also try boxing and other classes for women,

Create Different Packages 

People love when they have options. Creating different packages will attract more customers because, in this way, you give them other alternatives and freedom of choice. 

Salespeople say, when there is only one product, customers think either buy it or not, but when there are 2, they think about which one to buy.

Create a Website for your MMA gym

Having a website is one of the most crucial things in modern business. When people are interested in training MMA, they will search it on Google. A simple website version, even with 1-2 pages, but SEO optimized, will benefit you. 

If someone searches, for example, “MMA gym in Florida,” your gym should be in the top position. There are no guarantees, but it will help.

They’ll have an opportunity to instantly visit the checkout page on the website and purchase instead of talking a lot with the sales manager on Facebook, for instance. And you obviously will be able to have more info about their behaviors on the internet than before. 

You can always use the free website you can create when you join Google my business . It won’t be anything fancy, but probably better than 90% of what most gym owners are doing.

 Here’s a nice tutorial on how to do it:

Brand Yourself

In modern business, it is impossible to ignore having a solid online presence, which means that it is recommended to leverage your social media.

Brand yourself, take pictures in the gym with different famous fighters—Post old pictures of you training or fighting.

Take high-quality pictures and videos to be active on social media.

Don’t forget to follow up with modern tendencies. Instagram reels, Tik Tok tendencies, and whatever will work by your time because these tendencies change monthly.

• Upload stories, start lives from the gym, and show people some fun exercises from your gym. 
• Mention all the famous names you have ever trained with.
• Never state political or religious statements; be positive and helpful to others on social media.

 How Profitable Is An MMA Gym? 

It can be profitable if you plan every aspect of it well, and income will increase eventually because the most challenging thing is to take the first step since there are lots of initial costs. 

How Much Does It Cost To Start Own MMA Gym?

It depends on where you are. The highest fixed cost will be your location. Rent or buy it. It does not matter. Also, another one-time cost will be things like mats and punching bags. 

When people share their experiences of starting an MMA gym, they say the cheapest way will cost at least $15,000.  

You should pay for utilities, and Internet, which can be easily $600 or more, but this $15,000 as an early investment can easily be double the amount based on the location.

While starting your own MMA gym, realize you need cash flow for the next six months. The first steps are the hardest. 

There are lots of costs at the beginning, and low income, because you are new on the market. This negative balance will change, so your expenses will not be high for several months, and your income should increase.

How Much Does MMA Gym Owners Make? 

According to the different sources, top-tier gyms make between $100,000 and $200,000 per year. However, in the first year, you can expect around $50,000, which can be enough to cover all your initial costs and start having profit the following year.

Why Do MMA Gyms Fail?

Because of not having a solid business plan in advance and not having a strategy, knowing Martial Arts does not mean automatically having a successful gym. 

This is business; you need to sell the service, like any other company, requiring sales, marketing, management, and customer service skills. Most gyms fail because they lack long-term financial plans, do not have cash reserves, and have the wrong marketing strategies. 

People often underestimate the power of the Internet and social media and are not part of this group.

Another common mistake is going all in too soon. New MMA gym owners buy the best gym equipment, hire the best coaches, and rent a space in a premium location. All that without validating the business concept will set you up for failure.

What Percentage Of Gyms Fail? 

According to the IHRSA, around 81% of the gyms are failing. However, this is not the statistics of MMA gyms because it is not calculated, but still, we’re talking about similar industries, and it is a good approximation. 

How Can I Increase My MMA Gym Salary?

Make the official schedule public. Maybe not only MMA fighters will come to your gym, but Jitsers will attend your Jiu-Jitsu classes, Kickboxers will come only on Kickboxing days, and so on. Day after day, grapplers might wish to start Kickboxing, too, which will create an additional salary. 

Having private classes service is one of the most excellent methods. Often, most beginners are shy to ask some questions in public, and affordable private classes are great for them. 

Don’t focus only on MMA Fighters. Most of your net salary as an MMA gym owner might come from casual customers. Make an attractive and comfortable place for them. 

Also, having a fitness bar is a great idea for additional income. People love having healthy protein bars or other supplements after training so you can offer them this service, too. 

Having a cafe with some healthy food can be beneficial, but you need more research on the food business, and it might complicate permits and licenses in certain states.

Is It Hard To Start your Own MMA Gym / Is Opening A Gym a Good Investment?

Just like in any field, the hardest part is to start. The first steps can be very challenging, but if you have a good strategy and a love of this sport, you can handle it. 

Is it worthy? It can be an excellent investment if you have a great understanding of this sport and have good marketing plans, but the added value of this business should be your satisfaction level.

 If you love what you are doing and do it passionately, this business will grow, too, and income will increase. 

If you liked this article and helped you on your journey to becoming an MMA gym owner don’t forget to comment and share. 

Until the next one. 

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How to Write a Martial Arts School Business Plan [Free Template to Edit]

Ashley Mann

October 4, 2023

So you’ve decided to open a new BJJ gym or other martial arts school in your town, and you’re needing a business plan to present to your business partners, bank, or other investors.  How to go about writing one?  You’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ll go over the key elements a Judo, Karate, or Jiu Jitsu business plan needs to have, and I’ll also provide a free sample martial arts school business plan template that you can edit and download to create your own business proposal.

Section 1: The Executive Summary

This section should give a high level overview of your business and its goals.  The first paragraph should include the name of your martial arts school, your mission statement, and a brief description of what services you plan to offer, and to whom.

In the second paragraph, you might go into a bit more detail about what unique value your business offers and how you are differentiated from any competitors. Finally, summarize your business strategy and goals, including revenue projections and any funding requirements.

FREE ​ Sample Martial Arts Business Plan

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Section 2: Company Overview

In this section, provide a detailed description of your business model, including its legal structure (for example, LLC or Sole Proprietorship), location, history, and ownership.

Explain the reasons behind starting (or expanding) your martial arts academy, and what experiences or credentials make the owner(s) qualified to run the business.  In this case of a BJJ gym, this could be the head instructor’s rank of black belt, or it could be experience owning or managing a completely different type of business – anything that will help show that the martial arts business is likely to succeed.

Also be sure to mention any significant achievements of the business so far.  For example, maybe you’ve been training with a group of friends in your garage.  In this case, you could mention that the gym already has X number of students who have been training under the instructor for X number of years.

Customer Analysis

This section needs to detail thorough research you’ve done to understand your customers and the demand for martial arts in your area.

Start by outlining the categories of students you hope to have at your martial arts school, and what your business will offer to each of these types of students.

At first you might be thinking that you’ll be offering the same thing to all your students: martial arts classes.

But beyond the obvious service students will be paying for, think about the unique ways in which you will make training at your school attractive to different types of students.  For example:

• Kids – What will make your kids classes so much fun that kids look forward to coming and beg their parents to keep paying for classes?  What will make parents value these classes as something they want for their kids?  How will you make it easy for parents to involve their kids in your classes?
• Professional Adults – People with jobs and families may not have the same amount of time to devote to training as single young adults, but they are more likely have something that younger students may not have: money to pay for classes.  How will you make training convenient for them?  For example, will you offer showers so that they can go directly from class to work?  Will you offer classes at multiple times per day?
• Women – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu especially is a sport where men still outnumber the women who train, but this martial art is becoming increasingly popular with women, and gyms that go out of their way to make sure they offer an environment that is welcoming to women will have an advantage in an untapped area of any market.  What can you offer that would make women more likely to train at your gym?  Maybe it’s a woman-led self-defense class, or even childcare during adult classes to make it easier for couples with kids to train together.

Competitor Analysis

In this section, you’ll want to address any competitors in your area, including gyms offering the same type of martial art as you, as well as alternative martial arts and activities that people could choose instead of training at your academy.  For each competitor or competing activity you list:

• Detail their success (including numbers if possible) to show how that means that a market exists for what you are offering.
• Will you offer more affordable pricing?
• Will you offer a no-contract option?
• Will you have nicer facilities?
• Are your classes safer or more welcoming?
• Are your classes more accessible to a wide variety of people?
• How will what students gain from your academy impact their lives outside of class?

Marketing Strategy

In this section, outline in detail your plan for marketing your business, including how you will make your target audience aware of your business, including advertising channels (including Google and Facebook as well as local marketing opportunities) and how you will use them to attract new students.

Include detailed estimates of how much you plan to spend on marketing, how fast you plan to grow, and how much revenue new students will generate for the business.

If you need help creating and implementing a martial arts marketing strategy, get in touch with us to learn how we can help!

Operations & Management

This section explains the day-to-day operations of your business.  Introduce the members of your team and their qualifications.  (If you are the only staff member, you could mention professionals you hire for services such as a bookkeeper or marketing agency.)  Explain who will teach classes, who will clean the gym, who will answer phone calls and emails, who will handle finances and bookkeeping, and who will be in charge of marketing (such as running advertising campaigns and promotions, nurturing leads, and maintaining an email newsletter).

Financial Plan & Projections

This is part that requires math.  The goal of this section is to demonstrate when and how your business will be profitable, and, if you are applying for a loan, that the business will produce enough income to sustain itself and repay the loan.

The first section should list All sources of revenue, how much income these generate per month, and how much income you predict they will generate by the end of Year 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.  In addition to class tuition, think about other ways you might generate revenue for your gym, such as offering private lessons, hosting special events, or selling uniforms and gear with your logo.

The second section should list ALL forecasted expenses, including:

• Construction and renovation costs
• Signage / branding
• Website design
• Gym equipment
• Gym furnishings and decor
• Technology and office supplies
• Building lease
• Loan repayment
• Utilities, phone, and internet
• Liability insurance
• Building cleaning and property maintenance
• Website hosting
• Staff salaries

Forecast when your gym’s income will be able to pay for its monthly expenses (and explain the reasoning behind your forecast).  Then detail your plan to cover startup costs, including personal investment and/or the funding you’re requesting.

Finally, provide a calculation of the number of students you’ll need to break even, and how much profit you’ll make in Year 1, 2, or 3 (with funding) if your gym grows at the projected rate.  Include an explanation of your assumptions about the rate of growth, for example, using data from other martial arts schools in cities of a similar size to yours.

Funding Request

In this final section, be very clear about your request for funding,  Include:

• How much money you are requesting.
• How the funds will be used.
• When the loan will be repaid.

The appendix to your business plan would be any supporting documents you can provide that help explain or detail your martial arts business plan, such as market research data, legal documents, staff resumes, and financial projection tables.

• Be sure to proofread your business plan carefully.
• Ask a trusted friend, colleague, or service professional to read your business plan and provide feedback on its clarity, as well as any concerns they might anticipate.
• Download our free Martial Arts Business Plan Template as a guide to help you with writing and formatting yours.

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Fitness Business Plan Template (+ Free Examples)

Use this free fitness business plan template to modify and use as you learn how to create a fitness business plan.

Do you dream of starting your own fitness business ? With the increasing demand for health and wellness services, now is the perfect time to turn your passion for fitness into a profitable venture. There are many ways to make money with fitness (you can even start a fitness business from home or start a fitness business with no money ). However, before diving headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive fitness business plan that will serve as your roadmap to success.

Looking to start a fitness business? Our comprehensive fitness business plan template will guide you through the process, helping you create a solid foundation for success. Then learn how to create a gym business plan , how to create a gym budget , how to create a gym sales forecast , how to get a gym loan , and more—all part of understanding how much it costs to open a gym , how to start a fitness business , and how to start a gym . Or maybe you want to learn how to become a fitness influencer —we’ve got you covered with the best online fitness coaching software and the best fitness software for fitness influencers who want to start a fitness influencer business online.

And, of course, managing your fitness business online with the best gym management software and the best personal training software means that you can easily create fitness session plans, waivers, forms, fitness assessments, lead forms, registration forms, online booking, workout plans, and much more. Save yourself some time and hassle and get a demo with the best fitness business platform: Exercise.com.

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Fitness Business Plan Template

[business/brand name], executive summary.

Business Concept

• Briefly describe the fitness business idea, its core offerings, and unique value proposition.
• Outline the short-term and long-term goals of the business.

Mission Statement

• A clear statement defining the business’s purpose and approach to reaching its goals.

Vision Statement

• A depiction of what the business aspires to achieve in the future.

Business Description

Nature of the Business

• Detailed explanation of the type of fitness business (e.g., gym, personal training studio, online coaching service).

Target Market

• Description of the target demographic and their fitness needs.
• Details about the business location and why it’s beneficial.

Market Analysis

Industry Overview

• Overview of the fitness industry, current trends, and future projections.

Target Market Analysis

• Detailed analysis of the target market, including demographic, psychographic, and behavioral aspects.

Competitive Analysis

• Analysis of competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, and your business’s competitive edge.

Services and Products

Service/Product Offering

• Detailed description of services and products offered (e.g., personal training, group classes, wellness programs).

Pricing Strategy

• Rationale behind pricing models for services and products.

Marketing and Sales Strategy

Marketing Plan

• Strategies for reaching and attracting the target market.
• Channels and tactics to be used (e.g., social media marketing, community events, referral programs).

Sales Strategy

• Approach for converting prospects into customers.
• Sales funnel and customer journey mapping.

Operational Plan

Daily Operations

• Description of daily business operations, including opening hours and staffing.

Facilities and Equipment

• Details about the physical space and equipment required for the business.

Suppliers and Partnerships

• Information on any third-party suppliers and partnerships.

Management and Organization

Organizational Structure

• Breakdown of the business’s organizational structure.
• Roles and responsibilities of key team members.

Management Team

• Profiles of key management team members.

Financial Plan

Start-Up Costs

• Detailed list of initial expenses to start the business.

Revenue Projections

• Forecast of revenue for the first few years.

Profit and Loss Statement

• Projection of income, expenses, and profitability.

Funding Requirements

• Total amount of capital needed to start and run the business.
• Plans for securing funding (e.g., loans, investors).
• Additional supporting documents like market research data, resumes of key team members, detailed financial forecasts.

Using a platform like Exercise.com can significantly enhance the operation of a fitness business. Its comprehensive tools for client management, workout programming, scheduling, and reporting can streamline business processes and improve client engagement and retention.

This template provides a structured approach for creating a fitness business plan. It can be customized to reflect the specifics of your fitness business idea, market, and operational strategy.

Fitness Business Plan Example 1: Dynamic Pulse Gym

Dynamic pulse gym.

• Dynamic Pulse Gym, a state-of-the-art fitness center specializing in personalized training programs and high-energy group classes.
• Short-term: Establish a member base of 500 within the first year.
• Long-term: Expand to multiple locations and incorporate wellness services.
• To provide an empowering fitness environment that motivates members to achieve their health goals.
• To be recognized as the premier fitness destination in [City/Region] that transforms lives through innovative fitness solutions.
• A full-service gym offering cutting-edge equipment, diverse fitness classes, and personalized training.
• Health-conscious adults aged 20-50, looking for a motivating and supportive fitness environment.
• Situated in [City/Region], in a densely populated area with high foot traffic.
• Growing interest in personal health and fitness, with an increase in demand for versatile workout options.
• Busy professionals and fitness enthusiasts seeking convenient and varied workout options.
• Competitors include local gyms and fitness studios. Dynamic Pulse Gym differentiates itself with advanced technology integration and a wide range of services.
• Personalized fitness assessments, one-on-one personal training, various group classes like yoga, spin, and HIIT.
• Wellness workshops and nutritional counseling sessions.
• Competitive membership fees with premium options for additional services.
• Launch campaign with social media ads, local partnerships, and community events.
• Ongoing engagement through a referral program, member testimonials, and fitness challenges.
• Focus on building relationships through free trial sessions and personalized gym tours.
• Implement a tiered membership system to cater to different customer needs.
• Operation hours from 5 AM to 11 PM, with a staff of trained fitness professionals.
• 10,000 square feet facility equipped with cardio machines, weightlifting areas, a yoga studio, and a spin room.
• Equipment sourced from leading manufacturers; partnerships with local wellness brands.
• Led by a CEO, with departments for operations, marketing, and training.
• CEO with extensive experience in the fitness industry.
• Operations Manager with a background in gym management.
• Marketing Manager skilled in digital marketing.
• Estimated $250,000 for facility lease, equipment purchase, and initial marketing.
• Projected $500,000 revenue in the first year based on membership and service sales.
• Expected profitability within the first two years with controlled operating expenses.
• Seeking $300,000 in funding for initial start-up and operational costs.
• Market research data, equipment lists, detailed biographies of management team members.

Exercise.com’s comprehensive platform enhances Dynamic Pulse Gym’s operational efficiency, offering seamless scheduling, client management, workout creation, and progress tracking. This robust system ensures that Dynamic Pulse Gym operates at the forefront of the fitness industry with superior client engagement and retention.

Fitness Business Plan Example 2: Holistic Harmony Online Coaching

Holistic harmony online coaching.

• Holistic Harmony, an online coaching service focusing on holistic health, combining fitness, nutrition, and mental wellness.
• Short-term: Build a client base of 100 active clients in six months.
• Long-term: Develop a holistic wellness app and expand service offerings.
• To guide clients towards a balanced lifestyle through tailored online coaching.
• To become a leading online platform for holistic health and wellness coaching.
• Online personal coaching with a holistic approach, offering custom workout plans, nutrition advice, and mindfulness coaching.
• Individuals seeking a balanced approach to health, particularly remote workers and those with busy lifestyles.
• Fully online operation with the potential for global reach.
• Increasing demand for online health services and a shift towards holistic health approaches.
• Individuals aged 25-45, primarily working professionals who prefer the flexibility of online coaching.
• Other online fitness and wellness platforms. Holistic Harmony’s comprehensive approach and personalized services provide a competitive edge.
• Custom online fitness programs, nutritional planning, and virtual mindfulness sessions.
• Subscription-based pricing with different tiers based on service levels.
• Digital marketing strategy focusing on content marketing, influencer collaborations, and targeted social media campaigns.
• Offering free initial consultations and introductory discounts to new clients.
• Leveraging testimonials and success stories for client acquisition.
• Regular client check-ins, content creation for the platform, and ongoing program adjustments.
• No physical facility required. Investment in a high-quality website and coaching software.
• Collaboration with freelance nutritionists and mental health experts.
• Founder-led with a small team of certified coaches and administrative support.
• Founder with expertise in fitness training and holistic health.
• Team of freelance professionals for specialized coaching needs.
• Approximately $50,000 for website development, marketing, and initial software setup.
• Anticipated $150,000 in the first year, based on subscription model and consulting services.
• Profitability projected within the first year with minimal operating expenses.
• Seeking $75,000 in seed funding for initial setup and marketing.
• Detailed website plan, service descriptions, and credentials of coaching team.

Utilizing Exercise.com’s versatile platform, Holistic Harmony can streamline client management, workout and nutrition plan creation, and progress monitoring. This platform facilitates efficient operations and high client engagement, positioning Holistic Harmony as an innovative leader in online holistic coaching.

These examples demonstrate how a fitness business plan can be structured for different types of fitness ventures, emphasizing the integration of Exercise.com as a key tool for operational efficiency and enhanced client service.

Why You Need a Fitness Business Plan

A fitness business plan is more than just a document. It is your blueprint for building a thriving fitness empire. Whether you are seeking investors or planning to self-finance your venture, a well-crafted business plan will demonstrate your understanding of the industry, your target market, and your sustainable competitive advantage. Moreover, it will provide you with a clear roadmap and actionable strategies to navigate through the challenges and uncertainties that come with starting and running a fitness business.

Additionally, a fitness business plan can help you secure funding from banks or other financial institutions. Lenders often require a detailed business plan to assess the viability and potential profitability of your fitness business. By including financial projections, market analysis, and a comprehensive marketing strategy in your plan, you can increase your chances of obtaining the necessary funding to launch or expand your fitness venture.

Key Components of a Fitness Business Plan

When creating a fitness business plan, there are several key components that you need to include. These components will ensure that your plan covers all essential aspects of your fitness business, allowing you to make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively.

The first component is setting clear goals and objectives for your fitness business. This includes defining what you want to achieve and outlining specific milestones that will measure your progress. By setting clear goals, you can stay focused and motivated throughout your journey.

The second component is defining your target market. Understanding your ideal customers is crucial for tailoring your products and services to their needs and preferences. By conducting thorough market research, you can identify your target market’s demographics, interests, and pain points, enabling you to position your fitness business as the ultimate solution.

Next, you need to develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for your fitness business. Your USP is what sets you apart from your competitors and gives your target market a compelling reason to choose your fitness services over others. By identifying your unique value proposition, you can communicate your brand’s distinctiveness effectively.

Another essential component is analyzing the competition in the fitness industry. By assessing your competitors, their strengths, weaknesses, and market positioning, you can gain valuable insights to refine your business strategies and maximize your competitive advantage.

Creating a comprehensive marketing strategy is also crucial for attracting and retaining customers. Your marketing strategy should outline the channels and tactics you will use to reach your target market effectively. This includes online and offline marketing, social media, content creation, and building strategic partnerships.

Designing your products and services is another vital component of your fitness business plan. You need to clearly outline the range of services you will offer, including personal training, group classes, or specialized programs. Additionally, you should consider the equipment, facilities, and technology required to deliver exceptional experiences to your clients.

Outlining financial projections is essential for creating a sustainable business. This includes estimating your revenue, expenses, and profit margins. By projecting your financials, you can determine pricing strategies that balance profitability and competitiveness.

Estimating startup costs and funding sources is another critical component of your fitness business plan. This involves identifying the capital required to launch and operate your business and exploring financing options, such as loans, investors, or personal savings.

Formulating a management and organizational structure is crucial for streamlining your operations and ensuring smooth business processes. This includes defining roles and responsibilities, creating a hierarchy, and establishing efficient communication channels.

An effective sales and customer service strategy is essential for driving revenue and creating customer loyalty. You need to define how you will generate sales, whether through memberships, packages, or partnerships. Additionally, you should outline your approach to customer service, including feedback collection, complaint handling, and staff training.

Developing a strong brand identity is crucial for standing out in the crowded fitness market. Your brand identity should encompass your mission, values, visual elements, and tone of voice. By aligning your brand with your target market’s aspirations, you can create a powerful connection that inspires loyalty and drives referrals.

Implementing technology solutions is vital for enhancing your fitness business’s operations. This includes utilizing management software, scheduling systems, and online booking platforms to streamline administrative tasks and improve customer engagement.

Creating an actionable timeline and milestones will ensure that you stay on track and achieve your business goals within a specific timeframe. This involves breaking down your business plan into smaller, manageable tasks and setting deadlines to complete them.

Evaluating risk factors and formulating contingency plans is necessary for protecting your fitness business from potential threats and uncertainties. By identifying risks and establishing protocols to mitigate their impact, you can ensure business continuity and resilience.

Finally, monitoring and reviewing the performance of your fitness business based on the plan is essential for making data-driven decisions and adapting to market changes. By regularly analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs), such as revenue, customer satisfaction, and employee productivity, you can identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments to drive growth.

In conclusion, creating a comprehensive fitness business plan is the first step towards turning your fitness passion into a successful business venture. By addressing all key components, you can ensure that your plan covers every critical aspect of your fitness business, allowing you to make informed decisions and navigate challenges with confidence. Remember, a well-crafted business plan is not only a roadmap; it is your recipe for success in the ever-evolving fitness industry.

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Martial Arts School Business Plan

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Cents and Senseibility Value-Priced Martial Arts School

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

The Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation has been active in the United States for the past 30 years.  Being part of this organization will benefit Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School owned and operated by Rolly BonTemps, 5th Degree Black Belt. 

The Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation (CATISC) is the premier North American organization dedicated to the martial arts discipline of taekwondo, and is the founding organization of other international affiliates, overseeing over 1,500 schools and clubs, registering  over 300,000 members.

The focus of this program is to provide students the highest quality martial arts instruction available, in a safe and positive learning environment that people of all ages can enjoy.  Rolly BonTemps, a high ranking instructor, will combine excellent student instructor ratios with state of the art training facilities.  Instructor Rolly BonTemps, is a graduate of an instructor program that represents more than thirty years of research and development.  He will be with students every step of the way to help them reach their individual goals (and maybe even reach some new goals they’ve never before thought possible).

Cents and Senseibility will be value-priced taekwondo martial arts school serving its customers in our community by providing several programs for a variety of purposes, ranging from basic martial arts, to self defense, to esteem and life skills building, and more.  Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School plans to enhance its programs as it expands, developing new programs to ensure the students have as much access to the different aspects of Songahm Taekwondo as possible. 

The art of self defense is becoming more and more popular with the young people of this country as the terrorist threats to this country have become reality.  Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will also offer self-defense techniques to local Law Enforcement in the area.

Cents and Senseibility will offer what we believe is the best martial art in the world.  Taekwondo is an exciting and powerful martial art known for its dynamic kicking and hand techniques.  Although these martial art techniques are centuries old, the planned programs being offered are always evolving to keep pace with the rapidly changing world. 

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School realizes that each student possesses different physical abilities.  Size and strength vary with each individual.  Once a student has acquired a strong foundation in the basics, Rolly BonTemps’ outlined program will enhance the student’s physical capabilities and maximize his/her self-defense skills. 

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School, is not interested in just teaching self-defense. Rolly BonTemps, as a certified instructor remains interested in the complete personal development of each student.  Individual attention is a feature of each and every class, allowing all students to progress quickly and confidently toward their personal goals.  Rolly BonTemps takes his responsibility as a role model for younger students seriously, teaching them the importance of strong character, leadership and good values. 

The teaching curriculum at the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is based on two concepts: “positive mental attitude” and “high goal setting.” Rolly BonTemps is so positive about this program that he promises to give students and their families the most professional, well supervised, and  highest quality classes available in any sport or art. 

Future plans call for Cents and Senseibility to expand into Cardio Kick Boxing Classes for the young adults.  Pilates (fitness exercise) Classes will also be offered to young and older adults. 

Enrollment for the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is projected at 120-125 students as the break-even point for profitability.  Under the value-priced structure being planned, based on past experience in marketing and selling the different plans, Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is projecting 100-120 student enrollments within the first 6-8 months after opening.  Student enrollment in the Cardio Kick Boxing classes is projected at 45-50,  and the Pilates Exercising Classes are projected at 30-45 enrollments within the first six months after opening. 

Our financial plan is based on reaching our target sales goals while maintaining a reasonable cost base.  We plan to reach break-even sales volume in only four months after our opening and maintain a healthy 30+% bottom line profitability.  If we reach our financial goals, we plan to acquire a stand-alone building for the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School, which may better suit our growing needs.

1.1 Objectives

• Identify an area within the community that is centrally located to local Elementary, Middle and High Schools by mid-summer 2003. 
• Enter into lease agreement for 2,500-3,000 square foot (minimum) premises to establish Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School.  This area will include store front and visitor seating area, dressing/rest rooms for male and female students. 
• Actively recruit membership.  The marketing plan to be adopted has been extremely successful at other taekwondo schools across the country.  The success of this plan depends upon arranging with school administrations to visit local classrooms, especially at the Elementary School Level and provide a show and tell.  Here it is demonstrated to the children what the martial art can teach them.  Concentrating on discipline, self respect and self control, Rolly BonTemps works with the children for approximately one hour in the classroom setting.  The success of this program over the past four years has been remarkable.  As a result of this marketing plan, the membership for Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is expected to grow by 8-10 children a week.  The martial arts school, in which Rolly BonTemps is currently employed as lead instructor, has the highest membership for a single CATISC member Taekwondo school in the country.  This was largely due to this marketing plan, which Cents and Senseibility will be following.   
• Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will actively seek out membership by marketing and handing out fliers, business cards, and advertisements at the local shopping centers, malls, and grocery stores in the area.  This is expected to generate 8-10 members a week. 
• Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will offer Cardio Kick Boxing Classes for both the young and older adults.  This will actively be marketed through handing out fliers, business cards, and advertisements.  This is expected to generate 10-15 members for each of the first three months.  Maintaining a class of 45-50 students by end of year one. 
• Cents and Senseibility will offer Pilates Classes for young and older adults.  Pilates is an aerobic exercise through stretching that is sweeping the country.  The plan is to have a certified instructor by month one.  Classes are expected to be enrolled at 10-15 members for each of the first three months.  Maintaining a class of 45-50 students by the end of the first year. 
• Cents and Senseibility plans to increase paid membership to 180-200 by the end of the first year (equivalent to 80% of school capacity).
• Develop a cash flow that allows for an investment build-up to support expansion, with plans to construct and own a stand-alone structure to support the functions of the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School in the future.

1.2 Mission

1.3 Keys to Success

• Implement a solid budget and business plan.
• Establish a unique, modern, safe and clean martial arts school and environment.
• Focus on a good marketing plan to actively recruit students.
• Keep the students and family members happy and part of the Cents and Senseibility family.
• Plan on expanding to multiple locations.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is associated with the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation, a nationally recognized martial arts organization with over 1,500 active member schools across the United States.  CATISC is one of the most successful martial arts organizations in the world. 

Cents and Senseibility will serve a large community area.  It will offer group and individual classes in the art of Taekwondo and self defense.  Classes will also be provided in Cardio Kick Boxing and Pilates exercising.  As Cents and Senseibility grows, future plans include to expand and accommodate a health club exercise gym to be offered for parents to enjoy while the children are in classes.

The initial Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School store front will be located on a major street within a shopping center, with ample parking.

2.1 Company Ownership

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be operated as a sole proprietorship by owner Rolly BonTemps, Fifth Degree Black Belt.  All proceeds from membership, programs, tournaments, merchandise and other school activities are that of the owner. 

Cents and Senseibility will be affiliated with the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation.  Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be obligated to pay the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation approximately 15% of all testing fees.  All other income will be that of the owner.

2.1.1 Fulfillment

Trained black belt instructors are the #1 resource.  These instructors are well versed in the training of Taekwondo and are selected based upon their knowledge and ability to work with students.  Instructors are not paid, rather they are members of the inner circle of the do-jahng, a club of top students.  Instructors are given free membership and access to the do-jahng and receive payment for private lessons they perform on a contract basis.  Instructor materials (i.e., belts, weapons) are provided free for their participation in training of students. 

As the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School opens its doors, it will be actively seeking members with experience in the martial art of Songahm Taekwondo.  Often times students are moving into the area and are looking for the nearest Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation affiliated school. 

In the eventuality that no experienced instructors are available, the CATISC has several schools in nearby cities that could make instructors available should the owner become injured or disabled. 

Also, within the first year of operation, students will progress through the belt ranks to achieve senior student status.  Under the watchful eye of the instructor these students will be trained to assist with lower rank classes and be given the opportunity to join the inner circle of instructor ranks. 

The Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation is very large and if immediate assistance is required due to some unforeseen circumstance, the organization would assist in all ways possible to assist the school owner. 

2.2 Start-up Summary

The start-up funding requirements are estimated below.  This amount ear-marked for start-up expenses, includes carpeting the floor, installing mirrors, restrooms and and office area, front desk sales counter and store front sign.  The remaining funds will be applied to rent of the commercial property until profits are generated.  In addition, the company will require some initial cash reserves and additional assets.  The start-up costs are to be financed by the equity contributions of the owner, Rolly BonTemps, and his parents, as well as by a three-year commercial loan.  These start-up expenses and funding requirements are summarized in the tables below.

The initial start-up for Cents and Senseibility will be relatively inexpensive.  Martial arts schools do not require a substantial buildout to open their doors with a large overhead.  The insurance needed to operate the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be offered by the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation.  The school will open with a one million dollar liability policy being offered. 

CATISC will also provide the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School with a school number to open under the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation organizational umbrella.  All other required licenses to own and operate a small business will be obtained through the local community in which the do-jahng is located. 

CATISC offers future martial arts school owners with a Business Clinic, outlining all the requirements needed to open a successful Taekwondo school. 

2.3 Company Location

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be located in a major shopping center.  Plans are to open a Taekwondo Center in a 3,000 square foot facility with a 1,800 square foot training area, 300 square foot viewing area (lobby) with a receptionist desk, large men’s and women’s dressing areas, showers and rest room facilities.  There will be two offices, one will be used for storage and the other for the main office. 

Plans are to have the building face a major street and have considerable foot and drive-by traffic.  Parking will be available in the shopping center.  The facility will be leased yearly, with plans for constructing or purchasing an independent building in future years. 

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School provides services to improve fitness and the capacity for self-defense, the Songahm Taekwondo is not just a physical activity.  Taekwondo “is the martial art that trains people physically and mentally.” In addition to physical fitness, Taekwondo classes promote discipline, honor, self-control, respect, courtesy, perseverance and loyalty.  Cents and Senseibility specializes in teaching ages 3-63. When students join they will not only be improving their fitness and learning to defend themselves, they will be embarking on a path to improve many important aspects of their lives. And the truly wonderful thing is they get to have fun while doing it! 

Here are some benefits you can expect from training in Taekwondo:

• Fitness – The principles of Taekwondo techniques are based on the design of the human body.  For power the body develops the larger, powerful muscles of the torso.  The speed of the techniques comes from the fast, agile muscles of the arms and legs.  As students progress in Taekwondo, they learn to coordinate this speed and power, and develop a concentration to focus all of their body’s strength into a small, hard striking surface like the edge of the hand or the heel of a foot. 
• Self-defense – When the speed and power developed through Taekwondo is used in a self-defense situation against the vulnerable parts of an attacker’s body, the results can be incredible.  Taekwondo allows a woman to emphasize many of her natural physical strengths, such as power in the legs, while learning a method of self-defense efficient against a much larger opponent.  Knowing they can defend themselves, the student’s confidence will grow.  And confidence alone is usually enough to deter potential attackers. 
• Self-confidence – This does not come naturally for many people, but self-confidence can be developed over a period of time.  Through Taekwondo, as students accomplish new goals, their confidence level increases.  Taekwondo instils a sense of discipline and self confidence that can carry over to all aspects of life.

3.1 Tiny Tots Taekwondo Program

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will offer Tiny Tots Taekwondo program.  The 3T program was developed specifically for preschool children ages 3 through 6.  This program offers children a strong foundation in essential character qualities such as courtesy, respect, and discipline.  In addition, the program is designed to improve children’s motor skills and enhance their ability to pay attention and follow directions.  All classes are taught using the most safe, fun, and exciting instruction methods available for this age group. 

• Class will be held in the early evening and on Saturday
• Classes will be taught by Rolly BonTemps (5th Degree Black Belt) or experienced Certified Black Belt Instructor.

3Ts have their own unique achievement patch and “Starbursts.”  Starbursts are earned with slight modifications in recognition of the preschool age of the child.  Four different colored achievement patches are available to accommodate all the stars that can be earned by a high achieving 3T.  The rank and testing system used by the 3Ts is slightly different  from that of our regular programs.  3Ts can earn six collectable animal patches to display on the belts as follows: Lynx for orange belt; Jaguar for yellow; Badger for camo; Bear for green; Kestrel for purple; Falcon for blue.  All six patches, as earned, can be displayed on the child’s belt. 

Upon graduation from the 3T program students will be afforded the Basic, Black Belt Club, or Masters Club Program. 

3.2 Basic Program

The Basic Program is for children and adults of all ages.  Under this program the student will receive, upon membership, two times a week instruction in the basic core skills of Taekwondo.  Classes will be divided by age groups. 

• Classes will be held in the early and late evening and also on Saturdays. 
• Classes will be taught by Rolly BonTemps (5th Degree Black Belt) or experienced black belt instructor.

3.3 Black Belt Club Program

The Black Belt Program is for children and adults of all ages.  Students in this program will receive instructions three times weekly.  This program also features free sparring, board breaking and street self-defense.  Classes will be divided according to age group and rank. 

• Classes will be taught by Rolly BonTemps (5th Degree Black Belt) or experienced black belt instructor.

3.4 Master Club Program

The Masters Club Program is for children and adults of all ages.  All students will be encouraged to graduate into this program as they progress and experience the art of Taekwondo.  This program provides unlimited weekly instruction.  This program also features free sparring, board breaking, street self-defense and weapons training.  This program offers the complete package for Self-Defense Classes and will hold the largest portion of the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School enrollment.  Class instruction will be divided according to age group and rank. 

• Classes will be held in the early and evening hours and also on Saturdays. 

WEAPON TRAINING

• Single Ssahng Jeol Bong
• Double Ssahng Jeol Bong (Level I, II)
• Single Bahng Mahng Ee
• Double Bahng Mahng Ee (Level I, II)
• Jee Pahng Ee
• Jahng Bong (Level I, II)
• 3-Sectional Staff
• Knife Throwing

SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING

• Joint Manipulation (Level I, II)
• Ground Fighting (Level I, II, III)
• Breathing Exercises
• Olympic Style Gyeoroogi
• Modern Tai Chi (Level I, II, III, IV, V, VI)
• PPCT Defensive Tactics
• PPCT Spontaneous Knife Defense
• PPCT Pressure Point Control Tactics
• PPCT Sexual Harassment / Rape Prevention

3.5 Belts And Rank

The concept of belts and rank is probably one that most people associate with Taekwondo and martial arts in general, even if they only have a passing interest in the subject. 

In Songahm Taekwondo, our belts reflect a member’s proven level of competence and (just as importantly) the progression of colors reflects an inner journey that never truly ends.  Each belt achieved is truly an accomplishment worthy of respect.  It is also worth noting that achieving a belt isn’t just a matter of “spending enough time” in a previous belt.  In order to achieve their next rank, a student must demonstrate their proficiency in their current belt’s techniques, to include Basic Moves, Sparring and Forms. 

CATISC SONGAHM TAEKWONDO BELTS (RANKS)

White Belt “Pure and without the knowledge of Songahm Taekwondo.  As with the Pine Tree, the seed must now be planted and nourished to develop strong roots.”  The student has no knowledge of Songahm Taekwondo and begins with a clean (pure) slate.  Purity is often signified by the color white.

Orange Belt “The sun is beginning to rise.  As with the morning’s dawn, only the beauty of the sunrise is seen rather than the immense power.”  The beginner student sees the beauty of the art of Taekwondo but has not yet experienced the power of the technique.  Orange is found among the many colors of the sunrise.

Yellow Belt “The seed is beginning to see the sunlight.”  The student begins to understand the basics of Taekwondo.  The sun appears to be yellow.

Camouflage (Camo) Belt “The sapling is hidden amongst the taller pines and must now fight its way upward.”  The student begins to realize his/her place in the world’s largest martial art.  The student must now begin to spar in order to promote in rank.  Camouflage (greens) is used to hide among the trees in the forest.

Green Belt “The pine tree is beginning to develop and grow in strength.”  The student’s technique is developing power.  The components of the basic techniques are beginning to work in unison.  As the pine tree develops, it sprouts green pine needles.

Purple Belt “Coming to the mountain.  The tree is in the mid-growth and now the path becomes steep.”  The student has crossed over into a higher level of Songahm Taekwondo.  The techniques, poom-sae (forms), and level of gyeo-roo-gi (sparring) becomes more difficult, creating a “mountain” that must be overcome.  Mountains are often depicted as being purple.

Blue Belt “The tree reaches for the sky toward new heights.”  Having passed the mid-way point, the student focuses his/her energy upward toward black belt.  The sky appears as blue.

Brown Belt “The tree is firmly rooted in the earth.”  At this point the student has mastered the basics and developed deep roots in Taekwondo.  Brown is known as an earthy color, such as dirt.

Red/Black Belt “The dawn of a new day.  The sun breaks through the darkness.”  The previous day has ended, giving way to a new dawn.  The student must begin a new phase of training; that of being a black belt.  The red is the sun (in a sunrise) as it breaks through the black of night.

Black Belt “The tree has reached maturity and has overcome the darkness…  it must now ‘plant seeds for the future.'”  The color black is created when all the colors of the light spectrum have been absorbed into an object.  That object has “taken control” of the colors and retained them.  If one color was to “escape”, the object would no longer be black but would appear as that color.  The student has mastered the nine geup (grades) of Taekwondo.  He/she has “absorbed” all the knowledge of the color ranks and overcome or “mastered” that level or training.  The colors of the spectrum are bound together and are not reflected off an object, resulting in the absence of color, which we call black.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be owned and operated by Rolly BonTemps, 5th Degree Black Belt of the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation.  Rolly BonTemps has been a Martial Arts Instructor for 10 years and has been studying the art of Taekwondo for 17 years. 

Currently positioned as Lead Instructor in Metroburb, Rolly BonTemps has been actively involved with all aspects of the business and is now ready to own and operate Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School.  Since working in the Metroburb school, Rolly has developed a marketing plan that reaches out and actively seeks out membership.  Through this plan the Metroburb school has nearly doubled in membership over the past two years.  This school is now one of the top three single schools in the nation for membership. 

Rolly BonTemps has devoted himself to the teaching of Taekwondo because he believes it makes a difference in our young children’s lives.  Through the instruction of martial arts the parents can visually see the difference in their child’s daily behavior, attention span and their courtesy towards one another and the adult community.  Seeing children develop and fine tune their skills as they progress through the belt levels to Black Belt is not only a joy for the instructors, but also for the parents as they watch their child mature into a fine young adult.  An adult that walks with pride and gleam with self confidence. 

The Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation is one of the largest martial arts organizations in North America today.  Rolly BonTemps believes in it, is devoted to it, and plans to have the number one single school in the country.  By achieving this goal, the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will have helped hundreds of adults and children achieve their goal of becoming  more confident in their actions and themselves.  This will also develop the future leaders and Black Belts of tomorrow.   

The demographic research has shown opportunity exists in our local marketplace.  There are no CATISC affiliated Taekwondo martial arts schools in the area.  A tremendous opportunity for growth exists in this market and Cents and Senseibility believes that our position as the potential leader in our marketplace is not an impossible task. 

4.1 Market Segmentation

National sources relating to sports in general and martial arts specifically, it is estimated that 15% of the U.S.  population have participated in some form of martial arts training during their lifetime.

It is estimated that 3% to 5% of the U.S. population are currently active in some form of martial arts training (the variation in numbers is a result of some surveys using Tai Chi, Kick boxing and Yoga as a martial art form, and some include school programs, where others do not).

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be located in a county with a population of 251,377 (Our County 2000 census).  The population of Our County broken down by gender is 50.1% male and 49.9% female; broken by race; 87.4% White, 19.6% Hispanic (Latino), 5.5% African American and 0.8% Asian.  The median age in the city is 44.1.  The Neighboring County has a population of 440,888 (Lee County 2000 census).  The population of Neighboring County broken by down by gender is 48.9% male and 51.1% female; broken by race – 87.7% White, 9.5% Hispanic (Latino), 6.6% African American and .08% Asian.  The median age in the county is 45.2. 

For purposes of this plan, we are going to address Our County (pop. 251,377, average age 44.1) with plans to expand to Neighboring County as we grow and prosper.  The Census results  indicate the following breakdown related to age groups for this area:

Our County Population   251,377      Neighboring County Population  440,888

Results from a national survey on martial arts schools indicated on average, kids ages 4-14 account for 70% of the individuals participating in martial arts training.  Age groups 15-25, 26-49, and 50+ each account for approximately 10% of students enrolled in martial arts training.  (In comparison to the CATISC School where Rolly BonTemps has instructed the membership was as follows: ages 4-14 (53%), 15-29 (12%), 30-49 (28%) and 50+ (7%)).  Applying the national survey’s age segment enrollment statistics to the Census data on the age groups of Our County, we estimate our target market to be around 51,000 potential students. 

The table below outlines our estimated breakdown of the potential market by the age groups.

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

The target market has been broken into four age segments, all within the city limits and surrounding area.  The strategy is based on the research confirmed by the statistics of the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation and data collected as Lead Instructor from affiliated CATISC Schools. Parents want their children to learn karate to build confidence and to learn self defense, adults take karate for exercise and self-defense, and seniors take karate for social aspects and exercise.

While not specifically addressed, Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be placing emphasis on the Hispanic (Latino) market as their population continues to increase in this area.  Cents and Senseibility will also be targeting addresses with ZIP codes in medium and higher income brackets within our market, but not specifically in this plan.

Target market breakdown is as follows:

• Parents of kids ages 3-14: This market, is projected to provide the largest  potential of students and offers the most potential for new members.  In accordance with the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation statistics this group accounts for 70% of our membership of which 67% are male and 33% female. 
• Young Adults 15 -25: This market is projected to provide 10% of the market in accordance with the CATISC statistics.  This group of the market will be targeted to increase the membership.  The Cardio Kick boxing being offered is targeted to young adults as a fitness program. 
• Adults 26-49: This market is projected to provide 10% of membership in accordance with the CATISC statistics.  Cents and Senseibility will target this group to increase by 20% through Pilates Classes.  This generally attracts adult population.  Targeting this group will be to offer an alterative to health clubs and/or fitness centers.  In addition, this group “controls” the number one market, their kids.
• Adults over 50: This is our unknown market.  This group only accounts for 10% of the membership in accordance with the CATISC statistics.  It is felt that our traditional martial arts services may be too rigorous and may not meet their “social” and “exercise” needs.  However with the introduction of Pilates Classes this market may increase in participation and provide additional membership.

4.2.1 Market Needs

Based on a needs analysis taken at Rolly BonTemps’ current location in Metroburb, it was found that our survey was comparable to that of the national survey, reflecting similar results.  Our marketing efforts will be addressing the needs of these groups in the order given:

• Kids 3-14 ( as outlined by both the kids and their parents): self-confidence, fun, exercise, discipline, self-defense and socialization. 
• Ages 15-25: exercise, self-defense, self control, concentration.
• Ages 25-35: exercise, self-defense, stress reduction and weight control and participation with their children.
• Ages 35 +: exercise, stress reduction and socialization. 

4.2.2 Market Trends

In the mid-1960s there was a boom in martial arts studios, partially brought on by the success of Bruce Lee movies and the TV show ‘Kung Fu’.  In the mid-1980s, interest in martial arts moved towards offering children’s programs.  In the mid-1990s it was estimated that 5 to 10 million Americans were active in some form of martial arts training.

Recent trends such as the popularity of the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” not so suprisingly caused a mini-surge in the number of new applicants.  In addition, martial arts for kids has shown a trend towards more activities and less “traditional” training.  It has been noted that today’s kids have a lower level of patience, want to be involved in “movie” type karate styles (i.e., “Matrix”, “Shanghai Noon”, “Karate Kid” and “Power Rangers”) and are more demanding of their time. 

Another trend is that larger health/fitness organizations are moving into the martial arts field and a general consolidation is occuring.  Companies such as Bally Total Fitness and Gold’s Gym are offering kick-boxing, teabo and other forms of group “soft” martial arts training such as yoga. 

Finally, there is a push in the health/fitness industry to attract the ‘over 50’ crowd.  Fitness clubs have a difficult time applying their muscle building, fast-paced fitness programs into this market.  However, the ‘over 50’ group is expected to be marketed to more aggressively, as fitness/health clubs realize the potential of the “baby boomers” and the fact that baby boomers have both the time and money to pursue outside recreational activities. 

4.2.3 Market Growth

The U.S. Census (2000) shows that our region is experiencing tremendous growth.  More families are moving into the our community area than ever before.  Our region is experiencing a boom in adults ages 30 to 50 with young children, who can afford the ever increasing cost of homes in the area. 

A national survey taken indicated there are approximately six million Americans actively involved in martial arts training.  The survey indicated that a 14% growth rate was expected in the upcoming years as Americans move towards a more healthy lifestyle. 

As our area was once known for elderly retirement communities, the trend is turning towards the younger families and children moving into the area.  This could be a result of the cost of living, causing many seniors on retirement income to move to more affordable locations. 

4.3 Service Business Analysis

The business of owning and operating the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is similar to that of running a health/fitness club—membership is everything.  The ‘do-jahng’ (Taekwondo facility) is the teacher and place of learning, and can be looked at as a place of experience, an elder.  The word ‘do’ (way) ‘jahng’ (area) means “the area in which we learn the way.” Respect is given to the place where this training takes place.  This respect is not to the do-jahng as an object, but to remind students to keep their minds right, attitudes proper, and take care of the facility in which they train. 

Martial arts falls under the SIC (Standard Industrial Code) 7999 – Amusement and Recreational Services.  Under this heading we find groupings from Astrologers to Card Rooms, from Carnival Operations to Yoga.  In other words the code is too broad to provide solid analysis benefit, but it will be addressed in our comparative ratios analysis at the end of this plan. 

The martial arts industry consists primarily of thousands of small independent schools, most belong to one of hundreds of loosely organized martial arts associations (usually divided by style type).  The Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is proud to be affiliated with one of, if not the largest, martial arts organizations in the United States today, with over 1,500 Taekwondo Centers and 300,000 active students and growing. 

Other industries should be considered in any competitive analysis.  The health and fitness club industry (Bally Total Fitness, Gold’s Gym) and the non-profit (YMCA, YWCA and local schools) are in competition for the same group of potential customers. 

4.3.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

The nature of the business of a Taekwondo Center is to offer a facility with martial arts training.  Membership is everything and turnover (attrition) in the industry can be high.  Several reports place the average turnover of a do-jahng at 40 to 60%.  Selection of a do-jahng by a potential member is, in-part, done by the style of martial art (taekwondo, karate, judo, kung-fu or kick-boxing) the member wishes to participate. 

However, selection of a do-jahng by a new student is more basic in nature.  Based on past experience, generally a do-jahng selection is based on the following (most popular first):

• Friends/family attending
• Facility environment
• Class schedule (times)
• Friendliness of instructors (personal attention)

However, the marketing plan developed by the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation and perfected by the owner of Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School, Rolly BonTemps (5th Degree Black Belt), has generated more memberships for the school he has been affiliated with than all the advertisements and word-of-mouth put together.  This marketing plan actively recruits and goes out after membership and does not wait for the membership to walk into the do-jahng.  This marketing plan will be discussed within this Business Plan. 

Potential members are most aware of a do-jahng’s physical existence because:

• The marketing activities (50%)
• Friends and family (25%);
• Drive/walk by storefront (15%);
• Yellow Page/media advertising (10%)

4.3.2 Competing Martial Arts School’s and Health Clubs

Two martial arts schools have been identified as being the most competitive with our location.  All have a physical facility (dojo), both offer traditional martial arts training.  Both offer competitive pricing and are open Monday thru Saturday (closed Sunday).  In addition, each head instructor is well versed in his/her field.  Both facilities are located approximately 7-10 miles from locations being sought after for the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School.

At this time there are no major health clubs in the immediate vicinity of our proposed location. 

Strategy and Implementation Summary

In this somewhat competitive field, Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will focus on a broad market.  Special focus will be placed on recruiting students from the four Elementary Schools, two Middle Schools, and two High Schools in the immediate area. 

Special emphasis will be placed on these age groups:

• Age 3-5, the Tiny Tots Taekwondo Program is expected to make up 10% of the membership.
• Age 6 -12, is projected to make up 60% of the membership.  This group tends to establish the largest student base in most CATISC Taekwondo schools across the nation. 
• Age 13-18, is projected to make up 10% of the membership.
• Age 19-30, is projected to make up 10% of the membership.
• Age 30 and older, is projected to make up 10% of the membership. 

5.1 Competitive Strengths and Weaknesses

• Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation has been established for over 30 years and is one of the largest martial arts organizations, if not the largest, in the United States. 
• Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School location will be located in a major shopping center with easy access and ample lighted parking.
• Mr. Rolly BonTemps (5th degree black belt) is very knowledgeable and is nationally recognized as one of the CATISC’s leading instructors.
• Mr. BonTemps is an experienced Instructor with over 10 years as a certified Instructor with CATISC.  He has a strong desire and patience to teach the youth of today. 
• Mr. BonTemps has been recognized by leading instructors in CATISC as one of the organization’s leading marketing specialists in recruitment. 
• Mr. BonTemps has been recognized by the teachers in Metroburb, for his participation in “Show and Tell” activities at the Elementary Schools and is continuously being sought after to return to the classrooms for further presentations.  This results in the largest recruitment of students and has proven to be a highly effective marketing plan. 
• Competitive pricing and hours of operation.
• Solid untapped database from which to market.
• Lead Instructor for over 300 active students.

Weaknesses:

• New School. 
• Lack of Instructors during start up.
• Student attrition.
• No website at this time but it is planned for the future.

5.2 Marketing Strategy

In the Marketing Strategy the target is very broad, kids 3 to 14, young adults 15 to 25, and adults 26 to 49.  To address this market one must understand that Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be a “showplace” and in marketing efforts we want potential members to judge our “book by its cover.”

The first strategy will be to open a fully decorated and functional Taekwondo School (Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School).  This school will be a fun and exciting place where members will want to train.  The school will be neat, clean and offer a variety of functions and state of the art training facility. 

Show and Tell

The first marketing initiative is to meet with the local School Administrators and introduce ourself to the community.  The “Show and Tell” plan is introduced and when accepted lends the approach to meet the children in the classroom.  The “Show and Tell” is organized in different segments.  The first time the instructor addresses the children he/she will be in full Martial Art Uniform.  Most children are thoroughly impressed and fascinated as they enter the room.  Upon asking them if they would like to have a uniform and take Taekwondo, it immediately attracts their attention.  This is where the instructor immediately reaches out and begins to teach the students the meaning of discipline.  Discipline meaning how we act in the presence of adults and teachers and what is expected of students in the Taekwondo School.  The students are rewarded for their behavior during the “Show and Tell” by letting them break styrofoam (simulated wood boards) as they do in the Taekwondo School.  By the time the instructors leave the class room, the children are so fascinated by the instructor and his/her teaching application, all students are sitting straight up in their seats and answering the teacher and instructor with phrases like “Yes Sir, Yes Ma’am”. 

Because of the success of the first visit, the teachers are so astonished at the children’s behavior change in the classroom that the Instructor(s) are invited back for a second and third and often a forth time during the school year.  Each time the instructor is invited back he/she concentrates on a different element of the martial arts such as self control, concentration, respect.  Each “Show and Tell” reflects the topic the teacher would like demonstrated to the children.  This has been such a success that the word spreads quickly and the Instructors visit every classroom and address entire schools putting on demonstrations during the recalls in the Auditorium.  

During each of these visits at the end of the session, each child is given a card for a free 30 days of instruction.  On average 10 children will attend the free lessons.  Getting the parents and child into the Taekwondo School will usually sell itself.  However, once they enter the School, the instructor interviews the parents to see just what they would like their child to receive out of the Taekwondo Class.  Depending on the parents’ answer—discipline, self-control, respect, etc.—the instructor gears his focus for that student to the parents’ wish.  The child is then taken onto the do-jahng with the instructor for a one-hour introduction in Taekwondo.  The instructor is gearing his one-hour orientation toward what the parent has requested (e.g., discipline, self-control, respect, etc.). Once the instructor returns with the child, the parent sees the immediate change in their child’s behavior after only a one-hour session.  At this time, six to eight of the 10 students that enter that day enroll under contract to begin their Taekwondo lessons. 

V.I.P. Program

The second marketing initiative is a V.I.P. program.  Here we take to the parking lots of the local shopping and strip malls dressed in full uniform.  We actively hand out flyers and business cards to all parents we see with children, or any interested adult that approaches.  Again we offer 30 days of free lessons, to get the people in the door of the school.  Once they enter the do-jahng, the same process as above is used.  Through experience in exercising these methods, six to eight out of the 10 people that enter will sign a contract for lessons.  

As the students begin to enroll, Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School plans to participate in “Martial Arts” demonstrations at the local malls, Wal-Mart and grocery store location parking lots, public parks, etc., with the students participating in the demonstration.

Yellow Pages

The third marketing initiative is to advertise in the “Yellow Pages”, local newspaper, radio, websites and, as we become more profitable, on local television.  

5.2.1 Positioning Statement

For adults in the city who want to learn and/or have their children learn the art of Taekwondo and to build self-confidence, we offer competitive pricing, convenient hours, and quality instruction, under the leadership of a 5th degree black belt, nationally recognized instructor.

Unlike the competition, Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School plans to offer the most modern of facilities, in a convenient location with ample parking, and programs that are entertaining, adventuresome, with the tradition of Korean style Taekwondo.

5.2.2 Pricing Strategy

We must offer our services at a pricing structure that will both meet our financial needs and the needs of our members.  Our value-priced fee structure of $80 per month membership for the Tiny Tots Taekwondo (3T) Program, $85 per month for the Basic Program and $90 per month for the Black Belt Club is competitive for schools that own their own facility.  We will keep this fee but offer promotional discounts to members for bringing in new students.

There are as many introductory promotional pricing packages as there are do-jahngs.  All the programs are designed to draw or introduce the potential member to the do-jahng without requiring them to sign a long-term contract.  All offer the same basic package which includes anywhere from 1-6 months training, 1-3 private classes with gi (uniform), and prices varying from $50 to $99.

Our value-pricing strategy is to offer a very short introductory package of two personal training sessions and a gi for $29.  If the potential member wants to continue, we will offer a six month introductory package at $299.  After six months, if the potential member wants to continue we will offer the annual contract at $1,000 (with discounts for payment up front).  Monthly or quarterly billing options will be offered.

In addition, we will be working to identify other pricing structures which address families and lower income students.

5.2.3 Promotion Strategy

Based on buying pattern research, we determined marketing in local schools and public places is the most successful  marketing strategy, followed by “word-of-mouth” for promoting our do-jahng, followed by the “storefront” and finally advertising.” With this in mind we have established the following promotional strategies:

• Our members (students) must like who we are and what we do, in order for us to succeed.
• To assist in promotion, we will offer an incentive to members who bring in new members.  We want potential members to judge our “book by its cover.”
• Our storefront (external and internal) will be redesigned to sell itself.  People will want to go in just to see what a do-jahng looks like.
• We will be holding an annual Taekwondo Tournament as we grow in numbers.  This will be held in the local community at a location that will handle several thousand participants, such as a school gym or civic center, etc. 
• Cents and Senseibility will be holding Taekwondo demonstrations locally at the mall, shopping centers and at events around the city.
• Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will continue to offer free self-defense seminars to local grade schools and retirement communities.
• Cents and Senseibility will offer self-defense and weapon techniques to local law enforcement agencies.
• We will offer self-defense training for women.
• The Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School Web page will be designed to reflect our image and be very informative. 
• Cents and Senseibility will advertise in “The Yellow Pages”,  the #1 source of new recruitment in media.  We will purchase “competitive” ad space.
• We also will advertise in the local “entertainment and news” paper, which will also provide good advertisement opportunities.

5.2.4 Marketing Programs

In our Marketing Strategy the primary market will be kids 3 to 14 and young adults from 15 to 25 and adults 30 to 49.  The senior adults (50+) market will be addressed separately.

• To address the largest market one must understand that the do-jahng is a “showplace” and in the marketing efforts we want potential customers to judge our “book by its cover.”
• Another key marketing program is to introduce simple methods of training to the instructors to reinforce students, i.e., “want to train, not have to train” concepts.  This program is intended to reduce high level of membership attrition.
• The final program is to advertise in the Yellow Pages and weekly newspaper.  Both programs will be tracked, but the weekly newspaper appears to offer more clearly defined (short-term) success to specific advertising promotions and plans can be adjusted accordingly.
• Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will create a very professional brochure on what the facility has to offer.  Mr. BonTemps will head up this program.

5.2.5 Strategic Alliances

There are a number of establishments surrounding the do-jahng.  We will contact select establishments for an agreed brochure trade, with emphasis on a positive, well-designed showcase that will benefit both parties with possible discounts being made available.

5.3 Sales Strategy

The overall strategy is to increase membership to 300 by year-end 2004, which is 80% of the do-jahng capacity and an aggressive two year growth.  Through effective marketing efforts Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will make potential customers aware of the do-jahng.  From this awareness Cents and Senseibility will increase the number of potential members that walk in the front door. 

These new potential members will be met by either the Instructor or a well-trained sales associate/receptionist who will have all sales materials, promotions and a computer for data entry.  The sales associate will be empowered to offer select promotions, however, if the potential member is interested in joining, an instructor will be made available for immediate consultation.

5.3.1 Sales Forecast

The following chart and table reflects the aggressive, but obtainable sales forecast.  Membership is projected to grow at a steady pace.  Introductory membership fees will be adjusted accordingly after the three month grand opening. 

Special classes will be conducted upon demand.  Weekend activities such as birthday parties and special events will also be conducted for a minimal price. 

Private lessons will also be made available by Rolly BonTemps, 5th Degree Black Belt, upon the students request for lessons. 

Belt testing will be conducted every 8 weeks and fees will be according to rank and group membership. 

Self-defense seminars for women will be held periodically throughout the year, teaching females the basic self-defense techniques in case of emergencies.

Special Law Enforcement self-defense seminars will be held periodically throughout the year, teaching Law Enforcement Officers basic and advanced self-defense techniques. 

5.4 Milestones

The following table lists important program milestones, with dates and managers in charge, and budgets for each.  The milestone schedule indicates the emphasis on planning for implementation.  The most important programs are the sales and marketing programs listed in detail in the previous topics.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Rolly BonTemps is the owner of Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School.  Mr. BonTemps (5th degree black belt) is an experienced Taekwondo instructor with over 10 years as a certified Instructor with the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation.  He has also recognized by leading instructors in the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation as one of the organization’s leading Marketing Specialists in recruitment. 

Upon opening the School he will contract an accountant.  At this time there are no other employees.  The Taekwondo School will be a self-running establishment.  The owner will oversee operations and provide all of the instruction at this time. 

6.1 Personnel Plan

The do-jahng itself is a small business.  However, the company is putting together a quality management team (Board of Advisors) to assist in business matters.  Gaps in legal, tax, marketing and personnel will be covered by the Board of Advisors.  Our strength will be in the technical and management fields.  Computer graphic designing and software programs is expected to assist with the advertising and marketing for Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School.  While currently the Black Belt Academy has no employees, as soon as the school opens the owner’s father and mother will be assisting part-time as sales associate/receptionist to handle the expected increase in new membership and serve on the Board of Advisors for business issues.  The Board of Advisors will consist of a three member team, each with experience in general business (insurance), accounting, small business, legal issues and human resources. 

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will have the below listed employees:

• Rolly BonTemps , Owner and Instructor.  Rolly BonTemps has been actively involved in the Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation since he was 9 years old.  Rolly achieved Black Belt status in June 1990.  Since then he has progressed through the ranks achieving his Instructor Certification and in June 2003 received his 5th Degree Black Belt.  Rolly has worked at the Taekwondo School in Metroburb as the Lead Instructor for the past five years.  Mr. Pivayoke, 7th Degree Black Belt has been Rolly’s Instructor over this period.  Mr. Pivayoke has entrusted Rolly with the full running and the operation of the Taekwondo School.  Over this period, Rolly has learned all aspects needed to fully run his own establishment.  He has mastered a marketing plan that has made the Metroburb School one of the top three single owned CATISC Taekwondo Schools in the United States.  The membership at this location is actively operating at 450 to 500 students.
• Meg LeFevre , is the fiancee of Rolly BonTemps. Meg actively participates in several health club fitness programs.  Meg is working on receiving her certification as a  Pilates Instructor.  Once this certification is achieved, the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will also expand into the fitness program for young and and older adults.
• Fiorello BonTemps , father of the owner will serve as consultant, financial advisor, and manage the maintenance and any construction needs for the building.  Mr. BonTemps will enter into this business retired from the United States Department of Justice, where he served for 23 years.  Mr. BonTemps retired as Facility Administrator for our region of the United States.  His knowledge in business management, construction industry, business finances, legal issues, human resources and computer programs, will assist Rolly BonTemps, owner and operator with business decisions and expansions.  Mr. BonTemps will serve as a Board of Advisors Member for the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School.
• Merry BonTemps , mother of the owner will serve as consultant and financial advisor and manage the bookkeeping and financial affairs for the business.  Mrs. BonTemps has worked in the medical field for 25 years and has managed office finances and has worked for ten years in human resources.  Mrs. BonTemps will serve as a Board of Advisors Member for the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School.

The owner will actively seek advice from SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business”, a national non-profit organization with an office in our community.  This is a group of retired executives and business owners who donate their time to serve as counselors and advisors to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners.

These experienced counselors provide FREE small business counseling for business owners in the region from their office in downtown. 

In calendar year 2002, our SCORE Chapter handled 824 new cases, 341 follow-up cases (of which 335 were new e-mail cases and 181 were follow-on e-mail cases).  Also, SCORE counselors put in a total of 1,748 volunteer hours.  Currently, there are five counselors approved by National SCORE to handle U.S.-wide e-mail cases.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The initial investment in the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be provided by Rolly BonTemps and his parents.  The owner will also seek a 3-year bank loan to provide the remainder of the required initial funding. 

Our financial plan is built on the assumption that Cents and Senseibility will be able to recruit the required amount of students on a rolling basis.  The owner strongly believes that his previous successful experience as one of the industry’s most distinguished marketing specialists will allow him to become successful with the enrollment for his own Taekwondo school. 

The break-even point of + or – 70 students should be achieved in just three months.  The goal of 300 students in 12-18 months is very obtainable.  When this goal is met, Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be a very profitable business.  The long-term goal is to have enough cash on-hand and a solid credit history to pursue the ultimate goal of owning our own building.  This facility will include the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School and a fitness center for young and older adults to participate in several fitness programs, as well as a universal gym. 

7.1 Important Assumptions

It was necessary to make certain broad-based assumptions in planning for the future.  The financial assumptions are listed below in the table.  In addition, several other important assumptions have been made:

• The economy will grow at a steady pace, without a major recession.  Our network of local communities is among the fastest growing areas in the country.  The Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is expected to grow with the growth of the local communities.
• There will be no major change in the martial arts industry, other then those discussed in the trends section earlier in this document.
• The State will not enact “impact” legislation on the unregulated martial arts industry.

7.2 Break-even Analysis

For the break-even analysis, the assumed running costs will include full payroll, rent, and utilities, and an estimation of other running costs.  Based on our assumed variable cost, we show below our estimated break-even sales volume per month.  We expect to reach that sales volume by our fourth month of operations.

7.3 Projected Profit and Loss

Cents and Senseibility’s monthly profit for the first year varies considerably, as we aggressively seek improvements and begin marketing the business.  However, after the first six months, profitability should take hold, which will allow a modest increase to the owner’s salary.

7.4 Projected Cash Flow

Like profit, the first year’s monthly cash flows will vary.  Since we will mostly deal with private customers, we expect that most of our sales will be done in cash or by credit card, which will positively affect our planned cash flow, especially during the most crucial first year of operations.  A 3-year commercial loan sought by the owner will be required to cover working capital requirement. 

Our projected cash flow, as summarized in the table below, is expected to meet the needs.  In the following years, excess cash will be used to finance more aggressive service plans.

7.5 Projected Balance Sheet

The balance sheet is quite solid.  Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School does not project any real trouble meeting its debt obligations—as long as it can achieve the specific objectives. We are very confident we will meet all objectives in the Business Plan, if not exceed them. 

7.6 Business Ratios

As indicated in the “Service Business Analysis” the martial arts industry is not properly reflected in the SIC Code provided (7999).  However, with this said, we have made some preliminary business ratio comparisons using the SIC (2000 figures).  The results are very favorable. 

We have much lower long-term assets than the industry standard because we are beginning our business with a rented space, rather than buying one. If Cents and Senseibility sees sufficient growth over the first three yeears, we may buy a suitable location for permanent space.

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Best MMA Workout Plans: 5 Great Methods

• October 28, 2023

Whether you are a novice MMA practitioner or a professional fighter preparing for your next big fight, one of the most important aspects of your training is going to be the workout.

In this workout guide, I’ll be going over workout plans for MMA fighters of every level as well as the focus and idea behind each workout plan to best suit your needs. All you need to do is read on to find out more!

Table of Contents

1. Best MMA Workout Plan for Beginners

2. best mma workout plan for weight training, 3. best 8 week mma training program, 4. best 3 day mma weight training, 5. best mma workout plan for professional athletes, what workout do mma fighters do, what type of workout is the best for mma, how many hours a week should i train mma, can i learn mma in 1 year.

Before I explain the best workout plans for your level, I have to make a few things clear. MMA is a combat sport that places extreme emphasis on skill and techniques. The main focus of any MMA workout plan should be to develop agility, strength, and fitness levels since these things will supplement your MMA techniques. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you already have a workout regime, you can use the workout plans listed here as a guideline and add the relevant exercises to your routine. The plans here are made to give the best results to as many people as possible at a given skill level. 

However, the plan might be too easy or too difficult for you depending on your fitness level. In such a case, feel free to adjust the intensity in a way that best matches your capabilities. With all of that out of the way, let’s get into the five great methods. 

If you’re a complete beginner to MMA or fitness in general, the best place for you to start your fitness journey is with calisthenic exercises. Calisthenics helps train all muscles in the body to work together to produce the most power and stability. It is also one of the best ways to develop your core strength that will enhance performance across the board. 

Here’s the routine:

Day 1: Upper body workouts:

·        Jogging/Running: 1 km or until you feel warmed up

·        Pushups: 3 or 5 sets of 5-20

·        Leg Raises: 3 or 5 sets of 10-25

·        Pull-ups: 3 or 5 sets of 3-5 

·        Plank: 30s-60s or until failure

·        Stretching

Day 2: Lower body workouts 

·        Jump Rope

·        Lunges: 3 or 5 sets of 10-30 (5-15 on each side) 

·        Squats: 3 or 5 sets of 10-30 

·        Sit-ups: 3 or 5 sets of 10-30 

Day 3: Rest

Day 4: Upper body workouts

·        Burpees: 3 or 5 sets of 3-5 

Day 5: Lower body workouts

·        Squats: 3 or 5 sets of 10-30

Day 6: Rest

Day 7: Full-body workout 

·        Jogging/Running: 2km 

·        Pushups: 3 or 5 sets of 15-25 

·        Burpees: 3 or 5 sets of 5 

·        Pull-ups: 3 or 5 sets of 3-10 or until failure

·        Lunges: 3 or 5 sets of 15-30

·        Squats: 3 or 5 sets of 15-25 

·        Sit-ups: 3 or 5 sets of 20

·        Plank: 60s or until failure

·        Stretching 

Day 8: Rest

If you prefer going to a gym or have access to weights, this is the training regime for you. The weight training workout plan focuses on isolated muscle training to build strength and resilience. One of the advantages of weight training over purely calisthenic training is that it helps build strength a lot quicker. 

The weight training workout plan is divided into muscle groups that you will target per workout. You should only train a single set of muscle groups per weight training workout and be sure to rest for 3-5 days minimum before retraining the same muscle group.

Ideally, you’d want to alternate rest and workout days with weight training since weight training is a lot harder on your body. 

Here’s how you can do weight training for mixed martial arts:

Workout 1: Arms and Back

·        Deadlifts: 3 sets of 5 

·        Rows: 3 sets of 5-10

·        Bench Press: 3 sets of 5-10

·        Pull-ups: 3 sets of 3-5 (If it’s too easy you can do weighted pull-ups)

·        Hammer Curls: 3 sets of 10 on each side

Workout 2: Lower body

·        Jump Rope: 3 sets of 60s each 

·        Squats: 3 sets of 15 

·        Goblet Squats: 3 sets of 5-10

·        Weighted Lunges: 3 sets of 10 

·        Box Jumps: 3 sets of 10

Workout 3: Core and lower back

·        Weighted Sit-ups: 3 sets of 10 

·        Leg Raises: 3 sets of 5-10 

·        Renegade Rows: 3 sets of 5-10

·        Dumbbell Crossover Punch: 3 sets of 10 on both sides

·        Plank: 3 sets of 60s or until failure

·        Cat Cow: 3 sets of 60s 

For those looking to supercharge their physique for MMA quickly, here’s my 8-week plan for you, the plan includes 3 workouts per week with a minimum 1-day rest between each workout.  

·        Front Squats: 3 sets of 10 

·        Bench Press: 3 sets of 5 

·        Barbell Rows: 3 sets of 10 

·        Farmer Walk: 3 sets of 30 ft

·        Neck Harness: 3 sets of 20

·        Sandbag Carry: 3 sets of 50ft

·        Rear Delt Fly: 3 sets of 15

·        Rope Pull-ups: 4 sets of 10

·        Barbell 45 Degree Back Raises: 3 sets of 10

·        Fat Grip Rope Press Downs: 3 sets of 15

Workout 3 

·        Split Jumps: 3 sets of 5 

·        Deadlifts: 3 sets of 3

·        Overhead Med Ball Throw: 3 sets of 5

·        Inverted Rows: 3 sets of 15

·        Landmine Rotations: 3 sets of 14 (7 on each side)

·        Wrist Rollers: 3 sets of highest weight

·        Lateral Jumps: 3 sets of 10 (5 on each side)

·        Dumbbell Rows: 5 sets of 10 (5 on each side)

·        Farmer Walk: 3 sets of 50ft 

·        Kettlebell Swings: 3 sets of 10

·        Sandbag Over Shoulders: 5 on each side

·        Cable Face Pull: 3 sets of 10 

·        Pull-ups: 5 sets of 5 

·        Prone Superman: 3 sets of 15

·        Barbell Curls: 3 sets of 10

·        Deadlifts: 4 sets of 4

·        Double Kettlebell Snatch: 3 sets of 15

·        Meadows Row: 3 sets of 10

·        Landmine Rotations: 4 sets of 10 (5 on each side)

·        Wrist Roller: 3 sets of highest weight 

A warning before you begin the 3-day MMA workout. For most people, I would advise against taking up the 3-day MMA weight training program. This workout plan is extremely intensive and has a high risk of injury if you’re not a well-trained individual.

This combat athlete training program is suited for those looking to quickly move up or down a weight class or those who feel like they’ve reached a plateau in their training. Discuss the regime with your trainer before you try it out. With that said, here’s the plan. 

Day 1 workouts:

·        Rear Delt Fly: 4 sets of 20

·        Leg Raises: 4 sets of 15

·        Back Extensions: 3 sets of 20

·        Pushups: 4 sets of 25

·        Hammer Curls: 3 sets of 12 (6 on each side)

·        Lying Triceps Extension: 3 sets of 5

Day 2 workouts: 

·        Box Jump: 4 sets of 5 

·        Med Ball Rotational Throw: 3 sets of 4

·        Weighted Squats: 3 sets of 10

·        Bench Press: 3 sets of 5

·        Rows: 3 sets of 5

·        Swiss Ball Leg Curl: 3 sets of 5

Day 3 workouts: 

·        Overcoming Iso Split Squats: 3 sets of 5 seconds per side

·        Landmine Jerks: 3 sets of 3 on each side

·        Continuous Hurdle Hop: 3 sets of 10

·        Pendlay Row: 3 sets of 5

·        Landmine Rotation: 3 sets of 10 (5 on each side)

·        Wrist Rollers: 3 sets of maximum weight

It’s hard to recommend a generalized workout plan for professional athletes. This is because every athlete has a unique style, physique, and preferences. If you’re a professional athlete, I recommend you consult your trainer for the best workout plan for you. 

If you want to figure out the best MMA plan for yourself, you can mix and match the previous four MMA training programs in addition to MMA drills to maximize your results. 

Every fighter has a different MMA workout routine depending on what area they want to focus on. There’s no universal MMA workout but the key themes of any MMA workout are building core strength, grip strength, and stamina without bulking or gaining more mass. 

Calisthenics and endurance-building are the best things for an MMA fighter workout. Generally, any type of workout can be used for MMA but workouts that improve core strength and stamina are preferred by most MMA fighters. 

Professional MMA fighters train 14-15 times a week or about 16-18 hours every week. If you’re an MMA amateur, you should pace yourself to train for as many hours as you can without risk of injury or burnout. A good estimate would be 4-8 hours a week for beginners and 8-12 hours per week for advanced-level MMA practitioners.  

You can learn the basics of MMA within one year as long as you’re doing it for recreation. The IMMAF also offers belt promotions after one year of MMA training. For professional MMA fights, however, you will need to train for several years before you stand a chance in the octagon.

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