The Growth In Fitness Franchises

The booming fitness industry seems to be recession-proof. We continue to see a rise in the number of fitness centers and a rise in the number of people joining these centers. The more concerned Americans become with improving their health and their bodies, the more the fitness industry will benefit. Now is the perfect time to start a business in the fitness industry because of the baby boomers. This group represents a high percentage of the US population and wants to find the best way to age gracefully. They are actively searching for ways to fight the clock to stay healthy and physically fit.

Some interesting statistics

• According to their 2010-2011 forecasts, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that from 2008-18 employment of fitness workers is expected to increase by 29%. This is much faster than many other occupations.
• The United States Department of Commerce reports that there is around 31,000 fitness centers and health clubs in the US, and franchises represent about 65% or 20,000 of them.
• From 2009 to 2010 the number of new franchisees in fitness companies that were franchising less than five years grew over 120% .

These statistics can help us see the growth in the fitness industry and mainly, the rise of the fitness franchise. The increased popularity of these businesses is expected to keep growing over the next few years, making it a wise business choice.

Know your target market

Perhaps one of the biggest factors in the present and future growth of the fitness industry is that adults aged 55 and older currently make up approximately 25% of health and fitness club members in the US. From 1998 to 2005, the number of fitness club members aged 55 and older increased by 33%, while those in the 35 to 54 year-old age range showed a 13% gain and the 18- to 34-year-old group showed no change. The fact that our population continues to age, we can expect more and more people to join fitness clubs. In order to benefit from this rise in members, we need to know where to focus our attention and tailor our fitness centers to meet their needs.

The fitness industry appeals to a large and growing market. It appears to be the perfect time and the right market to open your own fitness franchise. The key to a opening a successful fitness franchise is to do your research. With so many different types and companies out there, you should select the one that is the best match for you. You need to feel comfortable with their rules and regulations. As all franchises have different rules and regulations, this may take awhile. However, it is in your best interest to look into as many as possible. You want to know that you are well aware of how the franchisor expects their franchises to run. You should be comfortable in running your business this way, and you should feel that it will be successful according to the franchisor's guidelines.