Uma Rhodes
@uptimeuma
2026-08-05
I am putting together the opening budget for a 3,000 sq ft commercial gym, and the equipment number keeps bouncing around between $50,000 and $170,000 depending on who I ask. I need a defensible way to set the equipment line before I start talking to suppliers.
Keep equipment under 40% of total startup cash, with a realistic range of 35-50% of total cost depending on build-out. For a $200,000 budget, cap equipment at roughly $80,000 and protect the rest for build-out, deposits, pre-sale marketing, and working capital.
Equipment typically runs 35-50% of total startup cost and should be capped under 40% of total startup cash to protect build-out and working capital.
A viable phase-one package for a 2,500-4,000 sq ft gym costs $50,000-$90,000 factory-direct versus $100,000-$170,000 at major brand retail.
Treadmills and selectorized strength should consume 50-60% of the phase-one equipment budget because they drive the highest utilization per dollar.
Build-out is usually underestimated by 30-40%, so keep a 15-20% contingency that is not carved out of the equipment line.
The first budget question is not “which machines” — it is “what share of total cash should equipment take.” Get that wrong and every downstream decision, from build-out to pre-sale marketing, gets squeezed.
Cap equipment at 40% of total startup cash. In a real $148,000 commercial gym startup we documented, equipment consumed roughly 38%, build-out and construction took 34%, and the remaining 28% covered deposits, permits, professional fees, pre-sale marketing, and working capital. On a $200,000 budget, that is an $80,000 equipment cap.
Price the phase-one package before you talk to suppliers. A viable phase-one package for a 2,500-4,000 sq ft commercial gym runs $50,000-$90,000 factory-direct or $100,000-$170,000 at major brand retail. The full checklist — including what belongs in phase one versus what can wait — is in our gym equipment checklist for new owners.
Concentrate spend where utilization is highest. Treadmills and selectorized strength machines should consume 50-60% of the phase-one equipment budget. These categories generate the most usage per dollar and directly support member retention. The full cost breakdown is in Gym Startup Costs Explained, which walks through the real numbers line by line.
Protect the build-out line. Build-out is the most underestimated line in a startup — the documented project ran 40% over its original estimate. A 15-20% contingency ($22,000-$30,000 on that project) covers the overrun without pulling from equipment. Model the full picture with the gym startup cost calculator, then set your equipment budget and hold it.
