NEWS RELEASE

AFS Releases 3rd Annual Fitness Studio Operating & Financial Benchmarking Research Report

Key Findings: Client Base Up 6%; AFS Members Earn 14.3% More Than Non-Members (Revenue per Square Foot)
 

(OAKLAND, CA, October 24, 2017) – The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) announced today the release of its 3rd annual financial research study on the fitness studio market.  The 2017 Fitness Studio Operating & Financial Benchmarking Report was conducted over a three-month period earlier this year.

The study builds on the 2016 Report that identified and measured key financial elements of the studio business, with insight narrative provided by ClubIntel, the study’s author. The most notable change in the study was the inclusion of a significant number of internationally located studios.

“We’re proud to bring this trend-setting annual research to the industry,” said Josh Leve, AFS founder and CEO. “The inclusion of international data provides an additional level of clarity that can be used by studios, aspiring studio owners, and industry suppliers.”

The Report identifies data to answer fundamental questions to positively impact the bottom line for studio owners.  Among the key findings:  

  • “Driving Traffic” is still the #1 challenge facing fitness studios, followed by “Finding Qualified Staff”
  • Average studio client base is up 6%
  • The first place studios look for new staff is current staff recommendations (32%). Internet search is second (21%).
  • Average studio size is 3,442 sq. ft.
  • Staff compensation is down 3.6%
  • Average retention rate is unchanged over previous year (76%)
  • Average daily visits are down (-6.9%)
  • AFS members average 16.9% more than non-members in Revenue per Client
  • Average annual spend on fitness equipment and accessories was up (13.9%)
  • Plus, 70 pages full of great additional nuggets of data 

The fitness studio business is generally acknowledged as the fastest growing segment of the fitness facility industry.  Prior to the AFS studies, owners, investors and marketers were dependent on anecdotal and unsubstantiated information.  Now there’s real data.

The 2017 Fitness Studio Operating & Financial Benchmarking Report was generously sponsored by:

  • Sports & Fitness Insurance Corporation
  • American Barbell
  • Pure Solutions
  • SportsArt                                              
  • Matrix
  • Power Plate
  • MYZONE
  • Precor                                                            

The full Report is available free of charge to AFS Premier members, sponsors, and associate members (vendors). For non-members, the full Report is available for $149.  For more information: https://member.afsfitness.com/content/2017-operating-and-financial-benchmarking-report

 

About AFS 

The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) is the only membership community dedicated solely to the business of fitness studios.  AFS provides studio owners and developers a wide array of business-specific products, services, and benefits that enable them to more effectively manage and grow their businesses, building on the passion, compassion and courage they’ve already shown. www.afsfitness.com