How to Choose the Right Equipment for your Gym

The gym industry is fiercely competitive. From the dusty rooms filled with rusty equipment, to the modern super-gyms with the latest in fitness tech innovation, there’s something for everyone out there.

But how do you decide what’s the right equipment for your gym?

In this article we look at some of the decision-making process around gym equipment, and we’ll have input from a couple of gym owners who have been through this very process. By the end of the article, you’ll know exactly how to choose the right equipment for your gym.

Starting with the cash...

The first and most important point is understanding what you can spend. All the best gym plans can be ripped up and thrown away if you can’t fund the project.

There are several ways you can fund your gym equipment…


•    Buy it outright with cash reserves.
•    Take finance from a commercial gym equipment specialist.
•    Take a business loan from a bank or investment fund.
•    Arrange a HP deal.

All of them have their advantages and disadvantages… 

•    Buying outright costs more upfront but removes ongoing costs which is helpful in slower times.
•    Finance from a gym equipment specialist may be less competitive than a bank but preserves cash in the business.
•    A bank loan may be cheaper in terms of interest rates, but you might not get the full amount you need.
•    A HP (hire purchase) or lease purchase deal may allow you to buy more kit than you could previously afford, but it’ll keep you tied in for the long term, giving you less flexibility.

Work out what you’re willing to spend at the start or can afford in monthly repayments and go from there. Just make sure you don’t over-stretch yourself.
 

Think of the markets you service

If you’re setting up as an independent gym, you’ve got to think of the market you want to service. There’s no point spending all your money on cardio equipment if you want to open a powerlifting gym for example.

Steve Hoyles is the owner of MyGym in Stockport, which is a strength and conditioning facility. He said this…

“I knew what the budget was and the kind of facility I wanted to open. This meant equipment decisions had to be made with members and training styles in mind. More of the budget went on the gym equipment members and I would use a lot, and any additional bits were either saved for or bought on a needs-must basis.”

Look at what you know your members will use and start with that. Whilst experimental equipment might be great, it’s a gamble. In the early days, play safe and buy what you know you’ll need.

Space and functionality considerations

Another point to factor in is the amount of space you have available. If you have a lot of space, you need to worry less about the footprint the gym equipment you buy. If space is tighter, you must get more creative.

Adam MacAllister of AdMac Fitness in East London has faced this dilemma. His take is…

“We don’t have a huge amount of room in our facilities, so we have to pick equipment that allows us to work effectively in a small space. It means we use multi-use kit such as barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells. We also have racks that fold away to give us space back when we don’t need the rack.”

Think of multi-use items. A chest press can only ever be a chest press, but a dumbbell can be hundreds of different exercises for example. If you have limited space, maximise its functionality with clever kit decisions.

Think of the competition

You must fight a fight you can win. If your gym is near a fantastic competitor with a huge array of equipment, perhaps your best bet is to go more niche.

Back to Steve Hoyles at MyGym…

“We have 5 of the major gym chains within a 15-minute drive of us, so it’s very competitive. To help combat this, MyGym was designed to be a specialist strength and conditioning facility that the local general fitness gyms couldn’t match or replicate. It made MyGym stand out from the crowd.”

If you’re an independent gym, there’s a great chance you’re not going to have the budgets to compete with the huge competitors, so play them at a different game. By opening the best bodybuilding gym in your town for example, you’ll be the go-to gym for the bodybuilders in your town.

Speak to other gym owners

As long as they’re not local competition, most gym owners will be helpful enough to give you some guidance. By asking what equipment their members use and don’t use, you can make an informed decision.

Cardio equipment is very expensive, so finding out the items people don’t use can save you a lot of money and space. This allows you to instead spend the money more effectively. You might also be surprised – long held assumptions can prove to be wrong when you speak to an owner of a facility. 

Choosing gym equipment – final thoughts

When it comes to choosing the right equipment for your gym, there’s no absolute right or wrong approach – just one that works for you. By following these tips you’ll be more informed of the process, steering yourself away from wasted money. 

Your cart is empty
Search
Search

Select Currency

{CC} - {CN}
Cancel

Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy