I'm 18 years old, and I'm interested in starting my own business. After working at a low budget gym on weekends for 6 months, I realized that I really want to open a fitness club. The funny thing is that I'm not intent on being a personal trainer (although I work out regularly and take it seriously.) I'm much more interested in the business aspect of the field. I read "Making Money in the Fitness Business" by Thomas Plummer, which gave me some insight on just how difficult the job is, but I think I can handle it as long as I form a small team of individuals who bring unique qualities to the table. I am going to college in the fall, so I can't put my idea into action in the near future. There are two major things I'm worried about. One, how am I going to get the funding? Even if I write a well detailed business plan, how can a stranger put trust in me? Secondly, I'm taking courses that are unrelated to business in my first semester, because I still don't know what I want to do if the gym plans fails. I've heard that now-a-days an undergraduate degree in business is pretty much worth an MBA, at least career-wise (I'm going to a university with one of the top ten business schools in the country.) What if I minor in business? Would that still put me in fair ground for my goal? Maybe I just have to get lucky and find an emerging bodybuilder to help sponser a gym.

First as far as college goes---what is your major. Why not state that in your message? Why do you think you could run a gym?

Taking a minor in Business can't hurt. I have a B.S. Business Administration. I wish I had a more specific field as I did most sales/customer service. Reading books on sales is also a very good idea. Find some part-time work in the fitness industry while at college would be good. It's funny that my friend who does well with a pizza shop wishes he went to college and I wish I had a trade.

I think at 18 years of age you will change your mind a few times before deciding on your career path. Keep working in the industy to see if that is what you really want to do. I will take sometime to learn and move up the latter. If you like it you will find away to make it happen in time.

I didn't mention my major because I haven't decided on one yet. I'm taking Psychology, a comprehensive English course, and a few others.

Let me inject a little bit here that should help with whatever direction you decide on.

First, think about that education. I know at 18 you might not be sure what you really want to do, but with each possible choice, do some research and forward thinking. Be as sure as humanly possible that your degree will be useful, that you can find a job and that it will pay well enough to make the school loans worth the investment. There are many people with degrees not making much money.

This possible career might be your stepping stone to start a business if you decide to do that later. If you want to start sooner, take classes that will directly benefit the business you plan to operate.

Keep in mind, especially being so young, that things change, and they change fast. A career that is hot now may cease to exist very soon. Since you are interested in fitness, you might consider physical therepy. As long as people are getting hurt and we don't outsource that to China, you should be OK.

I would suggest you go with your dreams, but you MUST, MUST, MUST have a decent plan first. It is very painful to screw up.

The are many Poeple in USA who are overweight wegith. Perhaps by population USA is the fattest country in the whole world. No offense, but I am trying to say there is a market for the fitness business still

Thank you all for your suggestions. I know that if a club retains 20% of the money from the memberships it sells then it is on the right track and better than most gyms. Of course the transaction fees, amenities, advertisements, loss rates, and cancellation rates really add up, but it seems almost impossible to make good money in the business.

A gym, like many businesses, is all about the real estate. Think McDonalds is in the hamburger or fast food business? Even their executives will tell you they aren't!