Commercial Grade Fitness Equipment from Northern Fitness

Building an incredible commercial gym has never been easier. What constitutes an excellent commercial gym? What must you consider to put together a functioning commercial gym?

Providing an enjoyable experience is a vital aspect when in this business. We are you should speak to for designing a gym space that’s pleasant and has all the equipment your patrons need to have.

Who is going to supply the equipment?

When starting a commercial gym, you must have a supplier who will provide you with the equipment. Northern Fitness will meet all your design and equipment needs.

Northern Fitness has a long-standing history of providing its customers with professional gym designing services and equipment. We know how to ensure that your new gym is utilized and enjoyed to its fullest.

As a new gym owner, you need to find a supplier who provides you with up to code commercial grade fitness equipment.

Critical factors to consider when searching for a commercial gym supplier:

• A supplier who understands your needs

• Can stay within your budget

• Can work around your schedule

• Has the equipment that you’re looking for 

What equipment do you need?

To start a gym, you must be prepared to purchase and install only standard commercial gym equipment. These may include:

Training Bench

This is an adjustable platform that’s used to perform weight training exercises. Customers should be able to adjust the backrest of the training bench to enable it to shift from a flat position to an incline. Northern Fitness provides well-constructed, easily adjustable training benches for clients.

Dumbbell Set

You can also get a set of dumbbells that range from very lights to very heavy. The weight of the dumbbell sets depends more on who will use them. Dumbbells also come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. So, ensure that you make the right pick for your gym. You should also get a rack for the dumbbells to save space. 

Kettlebell Set

This equipment is a better alternative for users who don’t prefer dumbbells. Kettlebell sets activate a different muscle profile. Although they are not necessarily superior, kettlebells are very popular and, therefore, worth purchasing. They also come in different weights, sizes, and shapes.

Treadmill

The treadmill is one of the most popularly and widely used cardio equipment to have in the gym. It would do your new gym a lot of justice if you can afford a few of these, depending on your space.

 

You also want to invest in a treadmill that has different speeds and inclines and provides heart rate monitoring. Northern Fitness provides robust, commercial gym-standard treadmills at affordable prices. You can also check out other machines with virtual tracks and other add-ons if you are willing to spend more.

Pull-Up Frame and Bar

This equipment is meant for doing pull-ups and chin-ups. You can also look for a squat rack that has a pull-up bar up top to save on cost.

Stationary Bicycle

This is a better alternative to the treadmill and a very popular gym equipment too. The stationary bicycle is another excellent machine for cardiovascular endurance training. The stationary bike is a more low-impact way of getting the heart elevated.

Fitness Ball

Users can perform several types of exercises around the fitness ball, especially the core exercises. The fitness ball also adds extra stability challenges to different moves like bicep curls, dead bugs, chest presses, and plank knee tucks.

Rowing Machine

Unlike the treadmill or stationary bike, the total-body rowing machine focuses more on the users’ lower body. The rowing machine offers a head-to-toe workout by engaging the upper body, the core, and the legs. Plus, it burns a lot of calories and is an excellent option for low-impact cardio.

Other accessories

You can also add smaller equipment items to complement what you already have like the rollout wheel for abs, bands and tubes for resistance and rehabilitation exercises, and a wooden bar for stretching the upper body.

A word from Northern Fitness

Equipment like cable machines, Smith machines, and lever machines are standard equipment in most commercial gyms. However, they aren’t necessary for all gyms. Above all else, it’s vital that you consider your audience and your current budget before purchasing the equipment. 

How big is the equipment going to be?

Another critical factor to consider when purchasing gym equipment is how big they will be and how much space they will take. You must consider the type of space that’s required to operate such equipment safely, especially when you have more than one person exercising in the gym space at one time.

How do I decide the design and placement of said equipment?

As aforementioned, spacing can affect the types of gym equipment that you purchase. 

Any gym setup can be very complicated, especially if you don’t follow certain rules and guidelines. There must be proper spacing within the gym and adequate traffic flow. Improper public gym setup can lead to injury, sometimes even death, which may result in litigation that may ruin your business altogether.

Some advice on how the design and placement of your purchased gym equipment should be:

Tall Machines

The tallest equipment and gym machines should always be places nearer to the building walls. These pieces of equipment include power racks, squat racks, assisted pull-ups, etc. This isn’t usually pleasing for customers, but it reduces the risk of tall machines falling and hitting other clients. It’s also standard that all tall machines be bolted to the floor to provide extra stability.

Dumbbells, Barbells, and Racks

This equipment is also traditionally placed along the walls or in front of mirrors if available. It’s also standard that all barbells are positioned in such a way that there’s a minimum of 36 inches of space between them. This also improves overall traffic flow and spotters within the premises. Racks and weight trees should also be at least 36 inches clear of areas near plate loaded equipment such as the bench press, hammer strength equipment, and squat racks.

Other Equipment

For Olympic platforms, you should have at least 3 to 4 feet of clearance on all sides. This accounts for any dropped weights. Circuit training machines or machines with adjustable weight stacks must also be a minimum of 24 inches of clearance and an optimal clearance of 36 inches. Also, all equipment must be placed at least 6 inches from all mirrors within the gym. And the mirrors must be at least 20 inches above the gym floor.

Traffic Flow

All pathways must be a minimum of 36 inches wide throughout the perimeters designated for exercises. If your facility is large enough and has multiple areas to travel, circulation rooms should be a minimum of 60 inches wide to account for the high-volume traffic of gym equipment. 

How Much Will It All Cost in the End?

The startup cost of opening a commercial gym can vary immensely depending on various factors. These may include the size of the gym, the location, and the type of gym that you plan to launch. Often, the basic startup cost ranges between $10,000 to $50,000 on average. But this cost can exceed, depending on other factors as well.

Note that it’s almost always impossible to provide customers with entirely accurate estimations that represent all gyms. However, you must also consider that the financial planning aspect plays a massive role in the success and management of the business.

Your startup costs may go into:

• The rent – usually the most expensive and monthly

• Licenses/permits

• Legal fees

• Equipment

• Employees

• Software

What Has to Be “Up to Code” For a Typical Commercial Gym?

Some of the most vital aspects of your gym that must be up to code include the building itself. Ensure you check with the landlord if the building you intend to rent is seismically retrofitted and meets the city’s Seismic Code.

You must also check the electrical and plumbing requirements of the building and ensure that they meet the city’s building requirements. Check the bathrooms and toilets as well.

The basic heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system must also be up to code and meet the minimum threshold required by the city. It must have basic lighting, sheetrock perimeter walls, and clean concrete floors that are up to code. This helps to create easy and low-cost situations for everyone on the premise.

What Is the Turn-Around Time for a Project Like This?

Usually, it takes anywhere between six months to a year or more before your commercial gym is in full flow. You should notice a turn-around time within a year of starting your project. If you took all the steps mentioned above and stuck to your opening checklist, then you should witness an even quicker turn-around time.

Opening a commercial gym can be extremely profitable. Search for a company that can help you start your firm with a strong foundation and build a truly strong business today.

Call Northern Fitness To Get Started

Northern Fitness works closely with all clients to ensure that you get exactly what you pay for. The company always strives to meet all its customers’ budgets while providing the best standard gym services.

Contact us today for more information on commercial gym services, designs, and equipment. We are excited and cannot wait to build your desired commercial gym for you.