Are you looking to start a gym business in Kenya? What are the requirements and costs? How do you market your gym business and attract customers quickly?

We will be answering these and more questions in this guide.

So, if you want to set up and run a gym business that will thrive in no time, follow this step-by-step guide very closely because we will reveal some secrets to building your business.

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Let’s start with the basics.

Overview of the Gym Business in Kenya

People care more about their physical looks than they let on. And as more become self-aware and crave social admiration and a need to lead a healthy lifestyle, there is a growing demand for services in the fitness industry.

This means that now more than ever, a gym business would be a perfect business to start in Kenya; or anywhere else.

Here is why:

In 2020, the global gym industry was worth a whopping $96.7 billion.¹ Now, this is a big number.

And while this revenue might have dropped by over 13% during the pandemic, there is still a huge potential for people looking to venture into this business.

As the COVID-19 pandemic settles down, we expect more people to go to the gym, so there will be an even higher demand.

What Does the Gym Business Entail

A gym is a facility that focuses on physical fitness and exercise. Each gym has different features, such as weight lifting, and cardiovascular exercises such as rowing, spinning, treadmill running, etc.

Gym training involves using equipment such as barbells to strengthen the musculature, gymnastic rings to perform bodyweight exercises, and medicine balls to enhance power and flexibility.

In a nutshell, a gym encompasses such exercises as: ²

Squat
Box Jump
Plank
Bench Press
Treadmill Interval Sprints
Foam Roller
Weight lifting
Lunges
Push-Ups
Bent-Over Row

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Gym in Kenya?

You can set up a gym business in Kenya for as low as Kshs. 100,000 to over Kshs. 50 Million.

However, it is difficult to get an absolute amount because several factors can affect the cost of starting a gym business in Kenya.

These include:

Type of gym
The location
Size of your gym
Legal requirements
Equipment to be used in the gym
Franchise fee and the availability of a franchisee in your area
Business Insurance
Training Costs etc.

Therefore, it is essential that before you start thinking about how much it will cost to open a gym business in Kenya, you have to know for sure what type of gym you want to open.

If you don’t have much money, you can start with basic equipment and a small space, then upgrade gradually.

Types of Gym Businesses in Kenya

There are three major types of gym businesses in Kenya.

They include

Franchise Gyms
Independent Gyms
Community Gyms

Franchise Gyms

A Franchise Gym belongs to a large fitness club chain with other branches in different parts of the country or even abroad.

Here is this work;

A large and popular fitness brand lets others open a gym business using their name. This way, you benefit from their credibility, popularity, training programs, and even marketing strategies.

This way, your gym business can pick up very quickly.

You must pay a franchise fee on top of your investment money. So, this might not be a good idea if you don’t have enough money but great if you want to take off quickly.

Some great examples of gym franchises you can use in Kenya include:

Anytime Fitness
Orangetheory Fitness
Planet Fitness
Crunch Fitness
Pure Barre

Independent Gyms

On the other hand, an independent gym or an unbranded gym belongs to an individual entrepreneur.

They invest the money needed to start the gym business and also develop their own training programs and marketing strategies, among other things.

Community Gyms

A community group or neighborhood association owns a Community gym.

The group members pool their money together to set up this gym facility for themselves and others in their area. They train together, motivate each other to work out more often, and play different games to keep fit.

Is a Gym Business Profitable in Kenya?

Yes, a gym business can be very profitable in Kenya.

This is because there is increasing awareness of the need for a healthy lifestyle today, and most people are going to gym training to achieve this.

In fact, according to reports, over 10 million people are currently using gym services in Kenya alone.

Therefore, a gym business can be very profitable if you follow the right strategies.

That said, your gym business’s profitability and ROI (Return on Investment) will vary depending on several factors.

These include:

Availability of a franchisee in your area
Proximity to other gyms
Number of staff you hire
Fees you charge for training and the cost of equipment used in your gym.
Demand for gym services in your area
Your marketing strategies
Legal expectations

Steps to Starting a Gym Business in Kenya

Get the necessary training and accreditation
Come Up With a Good Gym Business Plan
Register your gym business
Get Required Capital
Get Gym Insurance
Find a Good Location
Buy the Right Equipment
Hire Staff
Work on Branding
Create your Gym Website
Come up with a good marketing strategy

Get the Necessary Training and Accreditation
The first step to starting a gym business in Kenya is ensuring you have the right skills and knowledge to run this business.

As such, before you even start thinking about what type of gym business to start and how much it will cost to open a gym business in Kenya, you have to know for sure what kind of fitness training or gym activities you want to offer clients and which certifications and qualifications you need.

For example, if you plan to open a gym that offers boxing, Muay Thai, and Crossfit training. You have to get the proper training from an institution that is accredited by the relevant authority to provide those services.

On the other hand, if you plan to start an unbranded gym business in Kenya where you will train people and also offer them services such as massages, and personal training programs, among other things, then you need to do more research on the kinds of courses and certification that will be relevant for your particular situation.
Write a Gym Business Plan in Kenya
A gym business plan will enable you to get all the other things that you need, including the capital, and equipment, among others.

We recommend you spend enough time researching to find out what your target market wants and develop a gym business plan that will provide the services they want.
For instance, if you are starting an independent gym in Kenya, you will need to draft a business proposal that includes your budget and the cost of setting up all the equipment and facilities you need.

You can then seek financial aid from banks or other financial institutions after they have reviewed your business plan.

In a nutshell, a gym business plan in Kenya should include such things as:
– Your marketing strategies
– Financial projections
– Description of your business
– Business rules and policies
– The market you want to serve
– Physical location
– Method of keeping records and accounts
– Your goals
– Processes in place for dealing with customers and staff
Register Your Gym Business
Before you o register your gym business, familiarize yourself with the laws governing fitness facility businesses in Kenya to ensure that everything you set up complies with all local and international requirements.

In Kenya, most types of businesses must be registered by paying a certain fee and submitting relevant documentation to the relevant authority.

For instance, if you want to start a gym business in Kenya under a limited liability company or any other type of business structure, we recommend you engage a lawyer who can help with the registration process and all other legal requirements of running a business.

Original documents such as the certificate of incorporation issued by the Registrar of Companies and your articles of association will also be necessary when registering your gym in Kenya.

READ: How to Quickly Register a Business in Kenya [The Right Way]
Get the Required Capital
After you have registered your fitness center in Kenya, it is time to get all the financial resources you need to start running your business.

We have already looked at the factors determining how much you might need to start your gym business in Kenya, so here we will look at how you can get this capital.
There are several ways to get money for your gym business. These include:

a) Your savings
b) Bank loan
c) Fundraising from family and friends
d) Borrowing from suppliers
e) Credit cards
f) Invoice finance companies

Crowdfunding or peer-to-peer lending is where people who want to start a business get funds by borrowing small amounts of money from large numbers of individuals online. You may be required to give your financial records, business plan, and other information.

Business partners or shareholders: If you are lucky, you might find a business partner or even an angel investor who can provide the financial resources your gym needs to grow.

READ: How To Calculate Realistic Business Startup Costs [For Beginners]
Get Gym Insurance
Before you open a gym business in Kenya, find out what type of liability insurance you must take out to cover all your bases.

These could include public liability insurance, equipment insurance, and other types of gym-related insurance, for example, protection against business interruption.

You should use an independent broker when buying the right coverage so that they can help you find a plan that fits your needs at an affordable price.
Find a Good Location
The location of your gym business will play a vital role in attracting and serving customers.
You, therefore, need to find an area that is easily accessible and has plenty of parking space for customers and their vehicles.

It should also be centrally located to not inconvenience people who want to use it.
The best place to set up your gym business will be somewhere with a high population density and many people looking to stay fit.

READ: 10 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Business Location in Kenya
Buy the Right Equipment
The right equipment will go a long way in ensuring that your gym business in Kenya runs smoothly and makes profits as you expect them to.

Be sure to research thoroughly and buy only good quality products, likely to give you value for your money. You also need to find different suppliers for your equipment and gym supplies who will provide you with the best deals.
Hire Staff
Depending on the size of your gym, you might need to hire some assistants.
Think about how many employees you want to have and their roles. You also need to consider the salaries that they are likely to receive.

Some of the people you might need to hire for your gym business include:
✓ Receptionists
✓ Accountants
✓ Graphic designers
✓ Marketing and sales staff
✓ Front desk staff
✓ Instructors
✓ Customer service assistants
✓ Maintenance assistants.
Work on Branding
Your gym brand is essential because it will help people identify your business more efficiently, leading to increased membership. This is especially important if you run an independent gym instead of a franchise.

There are several things you can do to enhance your brand, including:
– Creating a unique logo that is related to your business.
– Writing an effective slogan that summarizes what your gym is about.
– Maintaining a website for your gym with original content and images by professional photographers. Diversify its contents as much as possible.
– Creating social media pages
– Approaching the media to publicize your gym business.
Create Your Gym Website
You should also have a website for your gym, which will be an essential way of marketing it online. This is especially important now because most people rely on their mobile devices to search for different businesses around them.

A website makes it easier for people to find your gym and contact you. This would be an excellent opportunity to tell them about your gym’s different classes and activities and promote all of your memberships and deals.

READ: How to Create a Website in Kenya
Come up with a Good Marketing Strategy
The right marketing strategy can help you increase membership and attract more clients to your gym.

There are several strategies that you can use when marketing your gym business in Kenya including:
✓ Using radio, television, and social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to advertise your products
✓ Approaching local news channels to create stories about your gym business that will inform the public of what you offer
✓ Distributing leaflets and giving out discount coupons to people who live in your area
✓ Sponsoring local events such as marathons and races where you can promote your gym business by handing flyers and brochures
✓ Direct marketing through email, text messages, and recorded phone calls.

Conclusion: What You Should Do Now

With these steps, you should be able to start your gym business in Kenya, generate good profits, and take the first step toward fulfilling your dreams.

There are people who can assist you if you need help with a particular aspect of starting a gym business. You can also learn more by reading books, attending seminars, and attending conferences. It will help you know more about the different aspects of running a business in Kenya.

But more importantly, the vital step to starting a gym business in Kenya is starting right away. If you have the right training and resources, there is no longer reason to wait.

Take action now and watch your business grow rapidly.

If you need any advice, feel free to leave a comment here. I’m always happy to help out.

References

Policy Advice, 19+ Statistics and Facts About the Fitness Industry
WebMD, 7 Most Effective Exercises

How to Start a Gym Business in Kenya [Complete 2024 Guide]

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