Gymnastics club with its own facility

Parents and guardians of children, plus competitive athletes' families who pay for extra training and competition fees.

Monthly or term memberships and session fees, with extra income from camps, parties, competition fees and clothing. Income grows as classes fill and you add coaches.

• Strong gymnastics coaching background
• Managing and training coaches
• Running a business: budgeting, marketing and lease negotiation
• Safety and risk management

• A long lease and a large upfront cost before you know how many members you will have
• Zoning, building, fire and occupancy rules, which differ by municipality
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire (rules vary by province)
• Coach certification, Safe Sport policies and background checks, which are expected by many federations and parents
• Equipment safety standards and regular inspection, and seasonal dips in enrolment (often summer)

Startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $200,000, depending on the unit, fixed equipment and fit-out. A long lease and a large upfront cost come before you know how many members you will have.

Monthly revenue is typically around $7,000 to $35,000, depending on membership numbers, programs and fees. These are estimates, and enrolment often dips seasonally, commonly in summer, so plan for uneven months.

Check zoning, building, fire and occupancy rules with your municipality, plus commercial liability insurance and WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire. Also check coach certification, Safe Sport policies, background checks, and equipment safety standards and inspections.