For any business to succeed, obtaining the proper funding should be the number one priority. Fortunately, if you’re considering opening a gym, there are lots of options for you.

In this blog, we’re going to take a look at some of the main sources of funding for opening a new gym. This will help you decide what your best option is for securing the funding to open your gym.

7 Options to Secure Funding to Open a Gym

Below are 7 options for securing funding to open a gym.

Direct Pay

If you have the available funds, this is the least expensive option. When you pay out of pocket, you don’t have to worry about monthly payments and interest rates. Though the up-front cost is higher, you’ll save money in the long run.

Investor

If you don’t have the available funds, you might want to find an investor that would be willing to front the money without being part of the daily operation of the gym. They typically make a return on their investment, but the terms are much more flexible than a formal institution.

Partner

In the business world, there are 2 types of partners: silent and working. A silent partner provides the money and gets a percentage of the profits. On the other hand, a working partner provides the funds and is involved with the daily operations of the gym. They are part owners in every sense of the word. A working partnership works well because each partner is doing what they can without interfering with the duties of the other partner.

Bank Loan

This is a common way for those who don’t have the funding to open a new gym. The best place to start is with the bank where your accounts are. They already know you and are interested in getting more business from you. Additionally, since they are local, they are interested in developing the local community.

Of course, the bank may require further documentation, including personal tax returns and collateral to secure your loan.

SBA Loan

The SBA, or Small Business Administration, offers loans directly from the government to help people start their businesses. These are easier to obtain if the applicant is a woman, part of a minority group, or disabled. Even if you don’t fit into these categories, it may be worth looking into to start your gym.

This does take longer, so if you’re on a time crunch, you may want to speak with a representative from the SBA to find out the actual time frame.

Leasing

This describes financing-to-own and is worth considering- especially if you don’t have the cash upfront. This is a type of loan that requires less documentation than a traditional bank loan. When you apply, the leasing company will do a credit check to see what you qualify for. When you lease, you are not renting your equipment. A lease is similar to a traditional loan, but with different advantages/disadvantages. At the end of the term, you own the equipment.

Direct Pay/Leasing Hybrid

This type of funding is when you pay a certain amount up front and then make lease payments on the balance. You decide how much you want to direct pay (basically a down payment), which allows you to get the lease payments where you want them and helps you save your upfront costs.

Conclusion

If you are looking to open a gym, contact Porter Capital Group to learn more about these options. This can help you decide which would be best for you and will get you up and running sooner than later.