Gym business plan template for the Philippines

1. Executive summary

[Gym name] will be a [size] square metre strength and conditioning gym on the [floor] floor of [building], [street], [city]. It will offer monthly memberships, day passes and [optional: personal training sessions or group classes]. The owner, [name], is a [background, for example certified fitness coach].

Start-up needs are ₱____, mostly equipment (₱____), fit-out (rubber flooring, mirrors, ventilation, shower and toilet: ₱____) and the lease deposit (₱____). The owner will fund ₱____ and seek ₱____ from [lender]. The plan targets [number] paying members by month [number], a figure the owner will check against the pre-sign-up list described below.

2. Concept and location

Choose the type of gym and say why the location fits it. A gym near offices fills at 6am, lunch and after work; a gym in a residential area fills in the evening and on weekends. Write the floor area, ceiling height, floor load (ask the building owner if heavy equipment is allowed upstairs), parking and nearby transport.

Offer. Monthly membership ₱____, day pass ₱____, [number]-session personal training package ₱____. Opening hours [time] to [time]. Equipment list: [racks, benches, dumbbells up to (weight), cardio machines, cables].

3. Market and competition

Fill this section with evidence you collect. A lender will ask how you know people will pay.

Example fill-in. "There are [number] gyms within [distance]: [gym 1] (monthly ₱____, open [hours], crowded at [time]), [gym 2] (monthly ₱____) and [gym 3]. Our pre-sign-up form collected [number] names in [number] weeks, of whom [number] paid a reservation fee of ₱____. Most were [age group] working at [nearby offices or schools]. We will compete on [longer hours / free coaching for new members / women-only hours / cleaner facilities]."

• List every gym within a 10-minute ride, with prices, hours and how full they look at peak times.
• Visit each one as a day-pass customer and note what members complain about.
• Run a pre-sign-up form or reservation list before signing the lease.
• Ask who your members are: office workers, students, retirees, athletes.
• Decide on one thing you will do better and test it with people on your list.

4. Operations and staff

Staffing. Front desk [number], coaches [number], cleaner [number]. Opening and closing shifts. Every staff member trained on equipment safety and first aid.

Health office requirements. The DOH rules for tonsorial and beauty establishments cover figure slenderizing salons, and Bacolod City, for example, groups fitness and aerobic centres with figure slenderizing salons when it issues sanitary permits. Under those rules, the establishment needs a sanitary permit before opening, and the operator and employees need health certificates. Bacolod also asks for updated health certificates of all employees. Ask your own city health office how it classifies a gym.^[3,4,5]

Cleaning routine. Wipe-down stations at each zone, equipment cleaned at [times], toilets and showers checked every [number] hours, logbook signed by the cleaner. A clean gym is the main reason members stay.

Member records. Signed waiver and health declaration for every member, attendance log and renewal reminders.

5. Permits and registration costs

Follow the registration steps for DTI, barangay, mayor's permit and BIR. DTI business name fees run from ₱200 for barangay scope to ₱2,000 for national scope, plus ₱30 documentary stamp tax. BIR stopped collecting the ₱500 Annual Registration Fee from 22 January 2024.^[1,2]

The sanitary permit and health certificate fees are not set nationally; Bacolod's requirements list does not publish an amount either. Mark both as assessed by the city until your health office gives you the figure.^[5]

6. Financial plan

Only the DTI (₱500 plus ₱30) and BIR (₱0) figures are filled in, from the permit table. Everything else is a blank.^[1,2]

Revenue. Members [number] × monthly fee ₱____ + day passes [number] × ₱____ + training sessions [number] × ₱____ = ₱____ per month. Show months 1 to 12 with members growing as your sign-up evidence supports, not faster.

Break-even. Monthly fixed costs ₱____ ÷ average revenue per member ₱____ = [number] members to break even.

• Equipment ₱____ (attach quotations)
• Flooring, mirrors, ventilation, shower and toilet ₱____
• Lease deposit and advance ₱____
• DTI business name ₱500 + ₱30 stamp tax
• Sanitary permit, health certificates, barangay clearance, mayor's permit ₱____ (assessed by the city, set by the barangay)
• BIR registration ₱0
• Monthly: rent ₱____, electricity ₱____ (air-conditioning and lights), water ₱____, staff ₱____, equipment upkeep ₱____, insurance ₱____

7. Risks

Write down the risks and a response for each. Lenders read this part closely.

• Members join in January and stop coming. Offer longer prepaid packages and track attendance to contact members who drop off.
• Injury on the floor. Signed waivers, trained staff on the floor at all hours, equipment checked weekly.
• High electricity bills. Get the building's past bills before signing; consider fans and open windows in some zones.
• A bigger chain opens nearby. Keep the one thing you do better and the community your members built.

Gym permits and registration costs

Questions people ask

Does a gym need a sanitary permit?

Many health offices treat gyms under the tonsorial and beauty sanitation rules, which require a sanitary permit before opening. Bacolod, for example, groups fitness and aerobic centres with figure slenderizing salons. Check with your city health office.

How much is BIR registration for a gym?

There is no registration fee. BIR stopped collecting the ₱500 Annual Registration Fee from 22 January 2024.

How many members do I need to break even?

Divide your monthly fixed costs by the average revenue per member. Both numbers are yours to fill in; we do not publish a typical figure because it depends on rent and pricing.