Starbend Commercial Capital, a small-business funding service in Las Vegas, NV, explains business loans for gyms and fitness studios in Clark County, NV: commercial gym equipment financing, build-outs, membership cash flow, working capital for a gym business and what partners may review, with a link to a gym equipment payment calculator.
| Fitness centers with payroll, county | 218 (CBP 2023) |
|---|---|
| Employees | 4,893 |
| Under five employees | 38.1% |
| Centers with one to four staff | 83 |
| Without payroll, county | 1,071 (NES 2024) |
| Census category | Fitness and recreational sports centers |
Front-loaded costs, monthly revenue
Racks, platforms, selectorized machines, cardio units, rubber flooring, mirrors, sound, showers and check-in systems are bought before the first member walks in. Revenue then arrives as monthly dues, class packs and personal-training sessions, building over months as the member base grows. A specialist studio, such as cycling, boxing or yoga, has a different equipment list but still carries build-out costs.
Can you finance gym equipment?
Yes. A gym equipment loan or lease is secured by the equipment, and commercial gym financing can cover strength, cardio and functional training gear as well as flooring. Used equipment is financeable with condition details. The equipment financing page explains loans, leases and soft costs, and the gym equipment finance calculator estimates a payment from the figures you enter.
Build-outs and a second location
Locker rooms, HVAC, sound insulation and flooring make a gym build-out expensive. A term loan spreads that cost over years; partners read the lease and, for an existing gym, membership trends. Partners may weigh a second location against the first one's retention and revenue.
Working capital for a gym business
Between a launch and a stable member base, or during a renovation that limits capacity, working capital can cover payroll and rent. Partners look for evidence that membership revenue is recurring: billing reports, retention rates and how dues are collected.
What partners may review for a gym
- Bank statements and membership billing reports
- Active members, cancellations and retention over time
- Returns and financial statements for recent years
- Lease and build-out bids
- Equipment quotes, including flooring and installation
Illustrative example: a studio refresh (not an offer)
A functional-training studio replaces its racks and adds flooring for $38,000. Financed over 48 months at an annual rate of 11%, chosen for arithmetic, the payment is about $982 a month. At $120 a month per membership, about nine memberships cover it. The calculator lets you test other prices, terms and rates; a partner's offer sets the real ones.
Fitness centers in Clark County, NV
County Business Patterns counted 218 fitness and recreational sports centers with employees in Clark County, NV in 2023, with 4,893 employees; 38.1% had fewer than five employees, and ZIP 89103 had 4 (ZBP 2023). Nonemployer Statistics recorded 1,071 businesses without payroll in 2024 under a broader recreation code, so the two counts are not comparable. Related trades are on the industries page; county figures are on the Las Vegas, NV page.
Membership models and what they mean for funding
Gyms run different revenue models: low-cost memberships with high volume, premium memberships with fewer members, class packs, personal-training packages and corporate contracts. Prepaid annual memberships bring cash in early but create obligations; month-to-month memberships bring cash in as dues are billed and can be canceled sooner. Partners reading a gym's records look at the mix, at cancellations, and at how much revenue depends on a few trainers.
Questions before financing a gym floor
- Does the financing include flooring and installation, or only machines?
- Who services the equipment, and what does a breakdown cost you?
- Can used equipment be added later under the same agreement?
- What are the end-of-lease options?
- How many memberships does the payment equal?
Use the calculator to test the last question with your own prices.
By Starbend Commercial Capital · Updated