Posted by on February 24, 2023 — Updated on March 8, 2025
Learn how to increase gym revenue and profitability with the 6 must-know gym profit increase keys and a list of 100 ways to increase gym profit.
Many gym owners want to learn how to increase gym revenue, but what they really need to learn is how to increase gym profitability. Learning how to make your gym more profitable will typically give you more cash in the bank, more cash in your pocket, and more breathing room to invest in gym growth or take distributions from your gym business.
| Strategy | How It Increases Revenue | Implementation Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Increase Gym Membership Sales | More memberships lead to a stable recurring revenue stream. | Run targeted promotions and local ad campaigns. |
| Introduce Premium Gym Membership Tiers | Higher-tier plans offer more value at increased prices. | Bundle premium memberships with additional perks like wellness coaching. |
| Expand Personal Training Services | Personal training has a high-profit margin and creates additional income. | Create tiered personal training packages to suit different budgets. |
| Host Specialty Fitness Classes & Workshops | Workshops and specialty classes attract new members and increase revenue. | Market exclusive workshops on social media and via email campaigns. |
| Offer Online Training & Digital Programs | Virtual training expands audience reach beyond local members. | Use Exercise.com to automate online fitness programs and subscriptions. |
| Sell Gym Merchandise & Supplements | Selling branded products increases non-membership revenue. | Offer limited-time merchandise deals and branded fitness apparel. |
| Implement Gym Referral & Loyalty Programs | Referral incentives bring in new clients at a lower marketing cost. | Incentivize referrals with discounts, free trials, or bonus services. |
| Rent Gym Space to Independent Trainers | Renting space provides passive income without additional overhead. | Use Exercise.com to manage trainer bookings and rental agreements. |
| Optimize Gym Pricing Strategies | Smart pricing ensures competitive and profitable membership plans. | Adjust pricing based on competitors and perceived member value. |
| Improve Gym Retention & Member Engagement | Engaged members stay longer, increasing long-term profitability. | Use Exercise.com’s retention tools to keep members engaged and active. |
Sure, there are many ways to increase gym revenue, but sometimes revenue can be a vanity metric; what you really want is to maximize gym profitability, and ultimately gym cash collections. As the old accounting maxim goes: profit is an opinion; cash is a fact.
In the below gym guide loaded with ways to increase gym revenue and profitability, you will find expert guidance from our friends over at NPE Fitness. And of course, let us help you with the best gym management software to help you grow and manage your gym better (reach out to us for a free demo).
Choosing the right gym business model, finding your fitness niche, working hard to reduce gym overhead expenses, and getting better than the average gym profit margins based on the different types of gyms are all things that you can learn to do if you knuckle down and focus on understanding your gym KPIs, work hard on gym member retention strategies, and learn to run a successful gym that will help you, the gym owner, make more money in take home pay that the average gym owner income.
BONUS: Read to the end of the article for 100 ways to increase gym revenue and profitability. If this doesn’t get your creative juices bubbling, we don’t know what will!
If you’re looking to increase revenue at your gym, then implementing the right strategies can help boost profitability and long-term success. From increasing gym membership sales to optimizing gym business profit margins, focusing on revenue growth ensures sustainability in a competitive fitness market. Get access to all the free fitness templates you need, including gym business financial guides, gym profit solutions, and gym sales strategies to maximize gym revenue.
So, how profitable is a gym? Many gym owners wonder, “How to increase profitability in a gym business?” and “How to grow gym business profit?” The answer lies in diversifying revenue streams, improving member retention, and optimizing gym business operations. Whether you’re researching how to make more money in the fitness industry, gym business profit solutions, or fitness profit strategies, increasing gym profitability starts with structured planning. If you’re considering expanding your facility, looking into a gym building for sale, or researching gym franchises for sale, evaluating gym income, setup costs, and profit margins is essential. With Exercise.com, you can automate billing, optimize member engagement, and increase profitability through streamlined operations. Get a demo now and see how our platform helps gym owners grow revenue efficiently.
From learning how to value a gym business to finding the most profitable fitness business model, Exercise.com provides the best gym management software for fitness business owners. Whether you’re increasing profit margins, managing gym trainer salaries, or growing gym memberships, the Exercise.com platform helps to increase revenue at gym front desk operations, online booking, personal training packages and sessions, and more—and helps streamline operations and maximize profitability. Get a demo now.
See how the best gym payment processing software and the best marketing software for gyms is part of the best unified platform for managing your entire gym.
Offer profit maximizing gym booking online and in-person (with upsells and more).
Handle gym check-ins with ease.
Create and sell gym memberships, fitness products, and digital gym offers.

Manage, message, and market to your gym leads and followers to squeeze every dollar of profit potential from every lead and member.
All from your very own custom branded fitness apps that put your gym’s brand front and center.
See why Exercise.com is the best gym management software for increasing gym revenue and increasing gym profitability.
To increase revenue at a gym, gym owners must diversify gym income streams, optimize pricing strategies, and enhance member retention. Whether you’re looking for gym profit solutions, how to make gym business profitable, or fitness profit strategies, implementing these key approaches will help boost gym business profit margins.
Below is a comprehensive guide to improving gym revenue and profitability with actionable strategies.
Does this sound familiar? You’re busy …but you’re struggling to pay the bills month after month – and you’re not banking the kind of cash you expect.
Worse, you’re really not sure what is wrong.
We’ve worked with thousands of fitness studio/gym owners since 2006.
One of the first places we look when studio/gym owners are struggling is the “money math” that they use to run their business. If the gym profit margin is below 15%, you’ll struggle in “survival mode” until you fix the margins.
If your gym profit margin is between 15% and 29%, you’ll grow and experience some financial relief, but you’ll still be at risk.
If you want a stable, sustainable, growing business, you need to do what high performing gyms do – reach 30% or higher gym profit margins.
| Gym | Profit Margin |
| “Survival Mode” | <15% |
| “Some Financial Relief” | 15-29% |
| “High-Performing” | 30%+ |
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So, how do you do you increase gym profit margin?
You need to assess how well you are executing 6 “profit keys” that make up the high-performing gyms’ “money math.”
Here’s what you need to focus on to grow gym profitability and get into the high-performing gym category.
Strong revenue is the first step to a high-profit fitness business. What drives your revenue growth?
You’ll start with your best clients/members – who are they, what do they buy, how much do they pay, and how can you better serve? Are they capable of driving the revenue growth you need, or is there another customer (or better customer) you should evaluate serving?
You should be bringing in 80% of your revenue from core services and another 20% from ancillary revenue.
After revenue this is the second most important number in your business. If you get this wrong, it’s impossible to achieve high gross profit and operating profit margins. Look at these two numbers:
Once you have those numbers, you’re ready for the next step.
How much money do you have to spend to sell and fulfill your services? That’s your gym Gross Profit Margin. The money math: Your revenue minus your cost of revenue equals your gross profit.
The most successful fitness businesses operate at a 80% Gross Profit Margin. Most fitness businesses struggle here because they are not generating enough revenue to cover their costs plus margin, or because their cost of revenue is too high.
Watch this number like a hawk! Struggling gyms will find themselves below 65% – and wonder why they feel like they are fighting to survive.
When you get GROSS PROFIT right, now comes the easy part. Just don’t spend all the money your business has brought in!
Of course you’ve got to have the right gym lease terms and rent percentage, but you must also ensure the other investments you’re making are working hard for you to optimize client lifetime value.
What does that mean? Make your business so awesome that people never want to leave.
There is a lot that goes into making strategic business investments in your facility and optimizing cost structure. But growing and retaining revenue is job #1… or you won’t have a successful business for the long term.
Read More:
More money math: Your revenue minus the cost of revenue and expenses equals operating profit. Your operating profit should be 20% to 30%. If it’s not, you need to re-engineer the money math so it is.
AND you must continuously improve the returns you’re getting on investments to grow (find and sign up new awesome clients/members) and retain (deliver value, ensure people want to stick around and keep buying from you) revenue.
Next you need to deduct taxes. Hire a good accountant and tax advisor. Because at the end of the day, it’s not what you make… but what you KEEP that will create wealth for you and your family.
Tax advisory (and optimization) is essential for every business owner. Maximize the way your money works for you to support your personal and professional goals.
Once you’ve assessed where you are, you’re ready to address your key issues. Get the money math right, execute, and you’re ready to grow throughout the next year.
Want to predictably grow your profitability to 30% while increasing revenues and building a strong team? Register for the Fitness Business Growth Machine to get 5 proven playbooks with short (15-20 min videos) that give you the exact strategies you need to create a highly profitable and predictable studio/gym business.
Read More: NPE Fitness Reviews
✔ The profit margin in the gym business depends on location, membership pricing, and additional services.
✔ Gym profit solutions like personal training, premium services, and digital training programs can increase gym profitability.
✔ How to grow a gym business profit – Implementing strong retention strategies and smart pricing structures is key.
📢 Exercise.com is the best gym management software to optimize revenue, member retention, and operations. Features include:
✅ Automated billing & membership tracking for revenue consistency.
✅ Online workout programs & virtual coaching to expand income streams.
✅ Integrated sales & marketing tools to increase gym membership sales.
✅ Custom branded fitness apps for client engagement and retention.
📢 Looking to increase gym profitability? Request a demo of Exercise.com today! 🚀
Now that you know the “money math” behind how to increase gym revenue and profitability, let’s talk concrete, tactical ways to move the needle in your gym today. Here is a big list of ideas to grow your gym’s profit margins and increase gym profits quickly. Use one, many, or none, but each of these ideas should give you something to think on, which you can then take and make your own.
NPE recently hosted a 3-part workshop to teach you the 6 keys for growing a highly profitable and predictable studio/gym over the next 12 months. We recorded the whole thing and you can get access to those recordings here.

Visit NPE Fitness for more expert gym growth guidance and gym staff management advice and then let us help arm you with world-class gym software to help you grow and manage your gym better.
Get a demo and see how we can help today.
Read More: 100+ Gym Marketing Ideas
About the Author
Sean Greeley, NPE Founder and CEO, has an unrelenting passion for empowering fitness entrepreneurs to create the income and lifestyle they want.
NPE delivers the #1 suite of business growth systems, tools, and coaching for fitness entrepreneurs to grow to 6-, 7-, and 8-figures. Since 2006, NPE has helped over 53,000+ fitness businesses in 96+ countries grow to the next level. NPE has been featured 8x on the Inc 500/5000 list of fastest growing companies, and has a global team based in the USA, Canada, UK, and Australia.
Website: NPE Fitness
Making your gym more profitable involves a combination of increasing revenue and reducing costs. You can increase revenue by attracting new members, retaining existing ones, and offering additional services or products for purchase. Reducing costs can involve streamlining operations, maintaining equipment to prevent costly repairs or replacements, and managing utilities and other expenses effectively. Utilizing the best gym management software, Exercise.com, can also greatly aid in improving profitability by increasing efficiency and enhancing the member experience.
Additional gym revenue streams that could increase gym profitability include personal training sessions, specialized classes, nutrition counseling, massage services, or selling fitness-related products. Offering childcare services can also be a significant draw for parents. Remember, the key is to offer services that align with your members’ needs and interests.
Read More: How to Add Multiple Gym Revenue Streams
Gym management software, like Exercise.com, can enhance gym profitability in several ways. It can streamline operations, reducing administrative time and costs, and provide valuable insights through reporting features that can inform decision-making. Features like online booking and a branded mobile app can also enhance the member experience, contributing to member retention and attracting new members.
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Increasing member retention involves consistently meeting or exceeding your members’ expectations. This could include maintaining a clean and well-equipped facility, offering a variety of classes, providing excellent customer service, and fostering a positive community atmosphere. Regularly gathering and acting on member feedback can also help you understand and address any issues or areas for improvement.
Read More: How to Increase Gym Member Retention
Attracting more members to your gym can be achieved through effective marketing and by offering a high-quality, value-for-money service. This might include targeted advertising, community outreach, offering trial memberships or discounts, and maintaining a strong online presence. Ensuring your gym meets the needs and preferences of your target market is also crucial.
A custom-branded gym mobile app can increase gym profitability by enhancing the member experience and boosting your brand visibility. Features like workout tracking, online booking, and social interaction can increase member engagement and satisfaction. It can also serve as a marketing tool, showcasing your gym’s offerings and promoting special deals or events.
Read More: Best Gym Mobile Apps Software
Absolutely. Reducing energy usage in your gym can lead to significant cost savings, improving your bottom line. This might involve investing in energy-efficient equipment and lighting, implementing energy-saving practices, or even considering renewable energy options. In addition to the cost benefits, taking steps towards being a more environmentally friendly business can also be attractive to many customers.
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Implementing referral programs, optimizing class schedules to peak times, and offering short-term boot camps or challenges can boost gym profitability without significant costs. Utilizing social media for marketing and community building can also enhance member engagement and retention.
Analyzing past performance to identify areas of inefficiency, seeking feedback from members, and researching successful gym models can provide insights. Consider consulting with a fitness business expert like NPE or utilizing resources from comprehensive management platforms like Exercise.com.
Training staff in customer service excellence, sales techniques, and member retention strategies can significantly improve gym sales and profitability. Emphasizing the personal touch and building relationships with members can lead to higher satisfaction and referrals.
The average profit margin for gyms typically ranges from 10% to 30%, depending on factors like location, gym type, and management efficiency. Boutique and specialized gyms often enjoy higher margins due to premium pricing.
Read More: Average Gym Profit Margins
Increasing gym revenue can be achieved by diversifying services such as personal training, group classes, online coaching, and retail sales. Upselling memberships and implementing dynamic pricing for peak times can also contribute to higher revenue.
Increasing sales in your gym involves enhancing the member experience, offering referral incentives, optimizing your marketing strategy, and regularly introducing new and exciting fitness programs or challenges to keep members engaged and attract new ones.
Making more money at the gym can involve offering additional services like nutrition counseling, massage therapy, or specialized classes, renting out space for events, and expanding retail offerings to include fitness apparel and equipment.
Gyms make a profit through membership fees, personal training, group fitness classes, ancillary services such as spa or café facilities, and merchandise sales. Effective cost management and high member retention rates are crucial for profitability.
Read More: How do gyms make money?
Boutique gyms and specialized fitness studios tend to be more profitable due to their ability to charge premium prices for specialized services, fostering a strong community and offering a personalized fitness experience.
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Gyms can make a significant profit, especially those that successfully manage operational costs, offer in-demand services, and maintain high member retention rates. Profitability varies widely based on gym size, location, and business model.
Unique and profitable gym services include niche fitness classes (e.g., aerial yoga, aquatic fitness), advanced personal training programs, wellness services like nutrition coaching and physiotherapy, and tech-driven offerings like virtual reality workouts.
Read More: Best Gym Features and Amenities
Profitable gym add-on services include personal training, specialized classes (e.g., spin, Pilates reformer), on-site child care, health and wellness seminars, nutrition coaching, and spa services such as massage or sauna.
Growing your gym business involves expanding your service offerings, improving member retention through enhanced engagement, leveraging digital marketing strategies, and potentially opening additional locations or franchising.
Simple improvements like updating equipment, refreshing the interior design, offering free Wi-Fi, and providing complimentary workout plans can enhance the member experience and contribute to revenue growth.
Read More: Gym Improvement Ideas
A successful gym business is characterized by a strong member community, a diverse range of high-quality fitness services, effective marketing and retention strategies, and efficient operational management, often supported by comprehensive software solutions like Exercise.com.
Read More: How to Have a Successful Gym Business
The highest gym revenues are often achieved by large, well-established gym chains or highly successful boutique studios in prime locations, with annual revenues reaching millions of dollars.
Read More: Most Successful Gyms in America
Leveraging online platforms like Exercise.com that offer marketing tools, e-commerce solutions, and business resources can help increase gym revenue and profit. Online courses, webinars, and fitness business coaching services can also provide valuable insights and strategies.
A gym’s profitability can vary greatly, but successful gyms can achieve profit margins of 20% to 30% or more, especially boutique studios offering specialized services at premium prices.
Common themes include analyzing membership retention rates, assessing the competitiveness of services and pricing, optimizing operational efficiency, and enhancing the overall member experience.
Profit potential increases with multiple locations due to economies of scale, but it also depends on efficient management and the ability to maintain high service standards across all sites. A single, well-managed location can also be highly profitable.
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The number of members needed for a gym to be successful varies based on the gym’s size, business model, and overhead costs, but a healthy member base typically ranges from a few hundred to several thousand members.
Read More: How many members does a gym need to be successful?
The toughest aspects include managing operational costs, differentiating the gym in a competitive market, maintaining high member retention rates, and adapting to industry trends and member expectations.
Read More: Gym Ownership Pros and Cons
Attracting customers involves effective marketing strategies, offering unique and in-demand fitness services, fostering a welcoming and supportive community, and leveraging member testimonials and referral programs.
Owning a gym can be lucrative, with owners of successful gyms potentially earning from $70,000 to several hundred thousand dollars annually, depending on the gym’s size, location, and profitability.
Read More: How much money can you make owning a gym?
Exercise.com can help run a profitable gym by providing an all-in-one software solution that includes member management, workout programming, scheduling, e-commerce, and custom-branded apps, streamlining operations and enhancing the member experience to support business growth and profitability.
