Finance for leisure and fitness businesses
Membership income is exactly the kind of predictable revenue lenders like — provided you can show that members stay as well as join.
Request a callback- Commonly funded
- Gym equipment, fit-out, expansion
- Typical facilities
- Asset finance, term loans
- Lender focus
- Membership churn and lease
This page describes what businesses in this sector typically fund and what lenders generally look for. It is not a recommendation, and what is available to you depends on your own circumstances.
About leisure
Recurring membership income is a genuine asset when you go looking for funding. Unlike a retailer starting each month at zero, a gym with three thousand direct debits has visible, predictable revenue, and lenders will lend against that pattern with some confidence.
The scrutiny falls on retention rather than acquisition. Joiner numbers are easy to inflate with discounting; what a funder actually wants to know is how many members are still paying after six months, and what it costs you to keep replacing the ones who leave.
What gets funded
- Cardio and resistance equipment, free weights and functional training kit.
- Studio fit-out, flooring, mirrors, lighting and sound systems.
- Changing rooms, showers and locker installations.
- Access control, membership management systems and payment technology.
- Soft play, climbing walls, activity equipment and attraction rides.
- Expansion into a second site or an extension of an existing one.
What lenders assess
- Membership numbers with churn broken out, not just headline sign-ups.
- Average revenue per member and how it has moved over time.
- Lease length and rent as a proportion of turnover.
- Local competition, particularly the arrival of budget operators nearby.
- How much of the equipment base is owned outright against already financed.
Frequently asked
Can I fund a full gym kit-out in one go?
Yes, and it is usually the sensible approach. A single facility covering the whole equipment package is simpler to manage and often prices better than funding machines piecemeal as budget allows.
Does used gym equipment fund well?
Reasonably. Commercial cardio and resistance equipment from recognised manufacturers has an active resale market. Funders will want to know the age and condition, and terms will be shorter than for new equipment.
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Tell us what your business does
We will tell you which funders lend into your industry, and roughly what they are likely to say.
