Indoor cycling studio

Local adults looking for a structured, social workout, including commuters, busy professionals and people who prefer classes to a regular gym.

Drop-in class fees, class packs and monthly memberships, plus extras such as shoe rentals, towels, private rides and branded merchandise.

• Leading and motivating groups
• Fitness and cycling knowledge
• Marketing and community building
• Managing a lease, budget and staff

• Commercial lease terms, build-out costs and zoning or occupancy permits, so check with your city or county
• General liability insurance, plus signed waivers for every rider
• Music licensing for group fitness classes, so check what licenses you need to play music publicly
• Whether your state taxes class fees or memberships, and workers' compensation once you hire instructors
• High fixed costs: rent and bike payments continue even in slow months

Startup costs are typically around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on your lease, build-out, how many bikes you buy, and your sound and lighting setup. Rent and bike payments continue in slow months, so it is worth planning for those fixed costs.

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on class size, pricing, membership numbers and how many classes you run. These are estimates, not guarantees. Plan on at least about 30 hours a week to run the studio.

Check commercial lease terms, build-out costs, and zoning or occupancy permits with your city or county. Also check general liability insurance and signed rider waivers, music licensing for classes, state taxes on memberships, and workers' compensation for instructors.