senior fitness center

A fitness center specifically designed to service people over the age of 40. The facilities, equipment, classes, services, and knowledge of the staff would be catered towards an aging population. Advertising and image would be key, as with any chain of fitness centers, but the image would have to be that of a judgment-free fitness center where the elderly can go to not only maintain a healthy lifestyle but learn from a knowledgeable staff about how they can manage health concerns without going to a hospital or a doctor’s office.

Target market would obviously be anybody over the age of 40. With the baby boom generation aging, right now would be the ideal time to launch a business of this type. Aging people could use the fitness center to prevent health issues or deal with health issues after the fact (i.e. rehab facility). People under 40 could still become members at the fitness center, but they have very different fitness goals than people over 40 – this fitness center would cater towards the needs and desires of an aging population. The services and equipment would not be geared towards "getting big" but rather preventing health issues and maintaining health, so it has the potential for partnerships with physicians and hospitals which would enhance the services and overall experience – could even receive subsidies from medicare and other private insurance companies due to its preventative health focus.

The most obvious competitor would be existing fitness centers such as L.A. Fitness or hospital-affiliated fitness centers, but most senior citizens would be more attracted to this fitness center because it specifically caters to their needs and desires. It would have to be located in a community with a high average age and high income (probably in florida).

Startup costs would be very high because of the cost of rent on a large space and machinery/equipment. It would be a huge investment to start, but would be very successful if marketed and operated effectively - it would even have the potential to become a franchise.