Maybe you are thinking . . . "Should I join?"...Perhaps this will help you to decide. Here are some comments from our members . . .

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"I honestly don't think we could have done it without all of the information from this website...I think it would've taken twice as long to get going if we didn't have this wonderful resource for great ideas."

Wow... Hello to all! Haven't been posting much these days, due to extremely busy life since opening on Jan 9th!!! I finally have the new pics of our place...

We have had an awesome response in the first month... more activity than expected. Just incredible. I honestly don't think we could have done it without all of the information from this website. We got our equipment, our club software, our access system, flooring... pretty much all referrals from HERE. I think it would've taken twice as long to get going if we didn't have this wonderful resource for great ideas.

After being open one month, we are at our 3-month goal as far as memberships and it feels SOOOO good! Finally, some breathing room! Things are sort of settling down and we are on our way to the desired "auto-pilot mode".

Thanks again, Dennis, for this site and for all of the advice and encouragement from all of you since the beginning.

Gina
Melissa, TX

PLEASE NOTE: You can read Gina's first testimonial further down below.

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"Your website is providing valuable resources as I prepare to open my first gym. Thanks so much!"

Cindy Martin
Georgia, U.S.A.

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"Thank you for all your valuable help."

Kyle D.
Nova Scotia, Canada

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"I would have no hesetation in recommending
this website or its owners to anybody."

As a testemonial to fitnesscenterowner.com... I would have no hesetation in recommending this website or its owners to anybody.

Aidan Byrne
Boston MA.

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I am in the middle of converting my gym (Temple Gym in Tuscaloosa, Alabama). Thanks for your website, I only wished I would have found it before now, Thanks for the wonderful information. - Shannon

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"This website has already given me loads of information
that I know is only going to help me with
my dream of opening a fitness center."

I have to say this is a great site! I have learned a great deal of information in only a few short months. I have been in the vitamin retail business for over 10 years and even have worked for a gym not too long ago.

Your website has been a huge help at moving quicker in this endeavor. Thanks again.

Mike S.
Future Gym Owner
New Jersey

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I am lovin' this website! I am in the beginning stages of my gym, probably known as step #2 (#1 is love for the business...) Anyway we are (my husband/partner and I)in negotiations with the landlord--getting an absolutely fantastic location (4,000 sq. ft). We have begun this adventure that has completely taken on a life of it's own.

I read a comment from another poster who is at the same point we are and we will look for the basic 1. 2. 3. start-up steps as well! Working on a business plan right now... it's all going so fast I can't believe it. We know it is imperative to cover all bases and any suggestions are appreciated. We'll continue to research and make good use of the information on this site!

Blessings,
Gina M.
Opening a new gym in Texas

PLEASE NOTE: After Gina posted this message in our forum, we compiled a comprehensive list of start-up steps that you can follow to open your own fitness center. You can learn more about the start-up steps by clicking here.

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"FitnessCenterOwner.com is a place the gym owner can go
to share and learn from other gym owners
who share the same goals..."

I own a 24/7 fitness facility in Maine. As I was in process of  exploring the possibility of opening another club, I discovered FitnessCenterOwner.com. I can truthfully say that FitnessCenterOwner.com has been a godsend to me.

For example, I never seriously considered adding the electronic funds transferring (EFT) component to my management system until Dennis explained to me the great benefit of building and growing a receivables base, -- and the great folly of failing doing so. To some, such knowledge may seem elementary. To me, it was an epiphany. Now I understand the key financial tool that, in my opinion, is responsible for driving  the "low fee" and "24/7" franchise explosion. I had been running my gym the old fashion way, -- cash only. If only 60% of the members who signed up in my all cash gym had been paying their dues electronically, I was astonished to discover that my gross revenues would have been at least triple what they actually were! This one piece of advice alone has enabled us to project a higher, more reliable and more realistic cash flow in planning for our new facility.

That's not all. In the middle of considering build out costs on a certain lease space for our new gym, I read an article on FitnessCenterOwner.com that said many gyms, including at least one of the new franchises out there, have made a considered decision to not offer shower facilities. I think I might do that too in my new club. Very few people use the shower in my gym now, so why bother with the build expense or the maintenance headache. I can truthfully say that I would have never considered making that decision on my own.

In short, FitnessCenterOwner.com is a place the gym owner can go to share and learn from other gym owners who share the same goals, and encounter the same problems in reaching those goals. Its been great for me.

Sincerely,
Robert P. Woodman
Millside Fitness
Dexter, Maine

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I had joined this site to get information on the fitness center business. Thank you so much, I have learned a lot already. I just saved several thousand dollars by purchasing equipment through the secret source and have made a contact to where I will be able to get all the equipment I need to fully outfit my fitness center.
 
Thanks,
Kris Mealer
Stone County Fitness Center
Mountain View, Arkansas

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"FitnessCenterOwner.com is the most useful website that I have ever seen on how to run, own and manage a fitness center. I would recommend that anyone and everyone join the site..."

We started Xtreme Fitness in June of 2004 and we thought that we were going to be making money right off the get go and all my dreams of owning a successful business would come true.  That was not the case!  I found out quick that when it comes to working out people are not as dedicated as I thought. 

We were doing month-to-month memberships and offering all kinds of discounts on top of that and it was just not cutting it.  My family owns four businesses now and we were borrowing money from the others to keep the fitness center a float.  We were at the end of our rope when we met Dennis. 

I had listed my business for sale and was going to take a huge loss on it just to get out from under it.  But I found out quick that no one wants a club that is losing money.  It seems that the first question potential buyers would ask was "How much money is the club making each month"?  And my answer of coarse is that the club has never made any money and that was the extent of most of the conversations. 

Except when I got the call from Dennis.  He was very interested in my club but like all the rest was not in the position to purchase a club that was on the downhill slide.  After talking with Dennis my father talked with him and Dennis suggested that we convert our club to a 24 hr facility.  But of coarse we did not know anything about the conversion and was leery of investing more money in something that was losing so much money. 

But after Dennis agreed to ride it out with us agreeing to give us all the information possible to get the conversion done we decided to go ahead and do it.  PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!  That conversion literally saved my club.  I was working long hours for a small pay and now am working little hours for a bigger pay.  At the time Dennis was helping us get started he was telling us of a website he was working on called "FitnessCenterOwner.com".

When all the work was finished and we got the 24hr system going in September of 2006 we asked Dennis how much we owed him for all the help and all he said is "if you want to give me anything just make a donation to my upcoming website".  It was not a large amount by any means but that is what we did.

And let me tell you FitnessCenterOwner.com is the most useful website that I have ever seen on how to run, own and manage a fitness center.  I would recommend that anyone and everyone join the site and start learning things you never thought of.  The biggest upside to the site for me is the discussion board.  Fitness center owners can talk about various areas that they are in need of and can also have the opportunity to help others.  So if you are reading this and have not yet joined up, do it now, as you will not regret it!
 
Thanks again Dennis for all your help and support!  You are truly one of Gods greatest helpers here on this earth.
 
God Bless,
 
Tim Ferrie
Xtreme Fitness Center, Inc.
Campbellsville, KY