How To Set Up a Successful Mobile Gym

Whether you’re a commercial gym owner looking to offset lost memberships or a personal trainer looking to start up a personal training business, mobile gyms are quickly becoming the gym of the future. 

Commercial gym memberships have reduced drastically over the last year for a number of reasons. Many people have instead focused on building gyms in their garages or homes, or are relying on a single piece of equipment to workout. This has left gym owners and fitness trainers in a position where they need to adapt their business plan for those who no longer feel comfortable working out in large facilities. 

A mobile gym is a perfect solution for this issue. With a few pieces of quality equipment, you can create a mobile gym that can be brought right to your client’s front door for a personal training session. In this blog, we’ll provide you with our top pieces of equipment for your mobile gym, as well as some tips on how to get your new business venture started.

Connect with Prospective Clients

Maybe you already have a list of clients who would be interested in your mobile gym service, you may be training them at a gym or in their homes so this would be an easy transition. However, if you have limited clients, or are starting a new business it’s important that you begin to get the word out before you open your business. This is important for a couple of reasons – the first being it will show you if your business plan is viable. Second, if you’re able to secure some clients ahead of time by training them at home until your mobile gym is up and running you’ll be able to secure the necessary finances to operate a business. You can also get a good idea of the types of workouts people are looking for, so you can plan your equipment purchases accordingly. 

Some great ways to spread the word are posting on social media about your new business venture, running ads on Facebook or Instagram, even posting ads in local papers. Advertising is a critical part of  running a successful business venture – and remember, it’s doesn’t always have to be paid! Word of mouth is a great way to get new customers and more business!

Consider Pricing and Promotions

If you already have an hourly rate or have packages in place, you are in a good place. However, if this is a new business venture, you’ll need to decide on hourly rates and should consider putting together some multi-session packages clients can purchase. Doing some research to see what the going rate for personal training is in your area is a good place to start. You also need to consider your costs for running your business, which might require you to increase your current rates if you already train people. 

Some things to factor in when deciding on your pricing are:

• Initial investment costs
• Licensing and Permit Fees
• Operating Costs
• Travel Expenses
• Insurance Costs
• Advertising Expenses
• Your Personal Income

After you consider the above, you’ll be able to better determine pricing for your business. 

Next, you’ll want to think about promotions for your new business. You might want to offer a free personal training session with the purchase of a package, or a two for one pricing if they train with friends. 

The actual sales you run initially are a good way to get people to try out your business, but be careful not to offer pricing so low it damages your bottom line. You still need to make money after all! 

Consider the Logistics of Running Your Business

You’ve got clients lined up, ads running, and equipment ready to go – what’s next? Now is the time to consider how your business will operate. How will clients book sessions with you? Will they call or text, or will you use a scheduling system? How will you accept payment? Will you take cash, checks, credit cards using a credit card reader, or accept digital payments on platforms such as Venmo and CashApp? Will you have a cancellation policy and if so, what will it be? 

You’ll also need to consider a system for handling your taxes at the end of the year. Tracking expenses, mileage, and income will be extremely important. If you already have an accountant you should speak with them now to discuss what type of records you should be keeping. 

 Do Your Research on Equipment

There’s some pieces of fitness equipment that every mobile gym should have such as free weights and mats, and lightweight equipment for HIIT training like weighted balls, resistance bands, kettlebells, jump ropes, box jump equipment, and weighted ropes. 

Then there’s larger equipment such as functional gyms, barbells, rope trainers, and other strength equipment.

Here’s some of our favorite fitness equipment for mobile gyms:

Torque Fitness Tank™ M1 Push Sled

Torque Fitness Flat-Incline Adjustable Bench

The Abs Company X3S Pro Abdominal Bench

York Kettlebell Packages

York Slam Balls

TAG Fitness Rubber Olympic Weight Plate Set

First Degree Fitness Laguna AR Rower

We have highly trained Gym Consultants on staff ready to assist  you in determining the best equipment for your mobile gym, and can assist you in figuring out the right configuration for your space. Contact us today to learn more.