Month: November 2015

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How To Start A Gym Business

How To Start A Gym Business

By Bee Ingram

Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.

•

3 mins read

Table of contents

Table of contents

Introduction
1. Identify what you want to achieve
2. Location is everything
3. Know your market
4. Find the right suppliers and partners
5. Be financially savvy
6. Don’t forget the details
Disclaimer

Table of contents

Introduction
1. Identify what you want to achieve
2. Location is everything
3. Know your market
4. Find the right suppliers and partners
5. Be financially savvy
6. Don’t forget the details
Disclaimer

Contributors

Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creatin...

View profile
Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.

Starting your own gym business offers the benefits of being your own boss and reaping the rewards of a (hopefully) successful business. Whilst it seems attractive, we always hear of how difficult it can be, so what are the key things to remember when opening your own gym?

 

1. Identify what you want to achieve

What will be the focus of your business, is there a particular sport or discipline that you want to promote?

Is there a gap in the market in the area you targeting?

Keep this in mind throughout your planning and running of your business.

As tempting as it might be to offer all sports to all people, make sure that you provide an attractive service and get it right.

2. Location is everything

Look at a number of venues and ensure that you identify somewhere that is accessible with plenty of parking and is easy to find. Your hard work in setting up the business and advertising will be wasted if your clients can’t get to you easily!

3. Know your market

Check out your competitors, either direct competitors offering exactly the same business model or other gyms. Look at the service and facilities that they provide as well as the prices that they charge and be sure to consider this when making decisions about your own gym. There’s no point in charging twice the price of a gym nearby – you just won’t get the custom!

4. Find the right suppliers and partners

Use your knowledge and expertise to find the right people to work with. Ensure that the people you choose are trustworthy with a proven reputation. The last thing you need when you are just starting out is to be let down by a supplier.

5. Be financially savvy

​Go into your new venture being clear of and keeping track of all of the financial aspects. New business start-ups always require a degree of investment. As it can take some time to recover some of this it is essential to keep a record of everything and if you aren’t great with numbers then employ a bookkeeper to help you.

You will need to register your business or yourself depending on whether you set up a limited company or self-employed – again, best to seek advice on what is best depending on your circumstances.

6. Don’t forget the details

Ensure that you get any legal protection for any intellectual property and ensure that you have all of the relevant insurance for your business. There is a minimum requirement is buildings and contents as well as public liability. Get more information about our gym business insurance and find out the relevant insurance for your business.

As well as gym insurance we offer personal trainer liability insurance, and cover to other leisure section entities such as Sports Clubs. Get your quote today by visiting our Sports Club Insurance page.
So, keep these things in mind when starting a gym business and make your dream of being your own boss a reality!

 

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date. 

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Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.

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Starting A Pet Sitting Business

Starting A Pet Sitting Business

By Bee Ingram

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Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.

•

6 mins read

Table of contents

Table of contents

Introduction
What to ask yourself
Experience
Business knowledge
Legal and medical responsibility
Criminal record check
Insurance
Advertising
Disclaimer

Table of contents

Introduction
What to ask yourself
Experience
Business knowledge
Legal and medical responsibility
Criminal record check
Insurance
Advertising
Disclaimer

Contributors

Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creatin...

View profile
Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.

Pet sitting is still a relatively new profession but with the rise of pet ownership, it can be very successful as people have great affection for their furry friends and are keen to find a professional person to help care for them.

The benefit of using a pet sitter instead of a helpful friend or neighbour is that a pet sitter is a contract service providing care at agreed times. This makes it not only more reliable but also gives a pet owner peace of mind that their pet is being cared for in the best possible way.

The vast majority of responsible dog owners and walkers will not need reminding about the importance of maintaining control over the canines in their care. However, there are certain things that do require extra consideration and pet sitting insurance is one of them.

 

What to ask yourself

There are some questions that you should ask yourself before embarking on a career in pet sitting.

These include: Would you offer the service at your home or theirs? How many animals would you plan to look after? Are there any additional services that could be included? Some pet sitters offer grooming, play options and where the care takes place in the owner’s home extra services such as mail collection and plant watering could be added.

When starting out however it might be sensible to start with the basics and grow from there once you have an established business.

To become a pet sitter there is no specific licence required in the UK. However there are associations for professional pet sitters and dog walkers which you can join. These associations encourage members to follow their guidelines and code of conduct thus giving your clients peace of mind. An association such as this can also offer a great deal of support to you in terms of training and advice as well as access to a great database or network of clients.

Whether you decide to go down the route of joining an association or not, there are some essential points that you should consider when setting up any pet business:

 

Experience

Pet owners are more likely to consider employing your services if you can show that you have experience with animals, an interest in them and their welfare. Anything from your family pets to previous work experience can help to demonstrate what a pet lover you are.

 

Business knowledge

When running any business it is ideal to have basic business skills. Start by setting your prices – consider your costs and your competitor’s prices and ensure that you at least match them.

It is always helpful to write a business plan. Even if you aren’t looking for an investor, this will enable you to capture all of your plans in one document and detail what you are looking to achieve which will help to keep you focused.

Keeping on top of the financials is really important and if you know that managing the books might be too challenging for you then employ an accountant who will help you with the details and you can ensure that everything is declared efficiently in terms of income and earnings.

It always pays to do your research and there are a host of great websites offering a wealth of information and helpful tips to aid you in getting your business started.

 

Legal and medical responsibility

Familiarise yourself with some of the laws and regulations that might affect your business. For example be aware of The Animals Act of 1971, The Dogs Act 1971; The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.

These are easily found through online searches or organisations associated with the relevant animal will also be able to help eg. The Kennel club.

​There are also first aid for pets courses which would be a valuable qualification to hold as this can give you greater credibility and give your clients peace of mind that in the event of an accident, their dearly loved pet would receive the right medical attention. There are a number of providers that offer courses which can specialise in particular animals or give broader training.

 

Criminal record check

In the case that you hold keys to your client’s house then it is advisable to have a criminal record check done through the Disclosures and Barring Service of your local police. This can take time to process so this is best applied for early in the set-up of your business and then you have a copy on file for clients to see. Contact your local police authority to find out more.

 

Insurance

Pet sitting insurance is essential to protect you, the owner, the pet and anyone else that your pet might come into contact with. For more information about Pet business insurance and exactly what is covered on our Pet Sitting Insurance page.

 

Advertising

Promoting any business can be a daunting task but when providing a service such as pet sitting, word of mouth and personal recommendation are so valuable. So, get testimonials from existing clients and utilise social media to ensure the best reach.

Make the most of advertising opportunities in the local area – through vets surgeries, pet stores and community social media sites.

So, if you are a pet lover then the rise in pet ownership combined with many of us facing increasing working hours could present the perfect opportunity for you to set up your own business.

Considering the points above should help you to get started. So why not turn your love of pets into a career?

 

About Us

We’re one of the leading providers of insurance for pet businesses, and we offer a variety of tailored products such as insurance for dog walkers, insurance for a pet sitting business and Dog Grooming Insurance policies.

 

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date. 

Last updated by

Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.

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How To Write A Professional Business Plan For Your Sports Business

How To Write A Professional Business Plan For Your Sports Business

By Bee Ingram

Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.

•

4 mins read

Table of contents

Table of contents

Introduction
Writing a business plan for your sports business
Disclaimer

Table of contents

Introduction
Writing a business plan for your sports business
Disclaimer

Contributors

Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creatin...

View profile
Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.

If you are putting together a business plan for your sports business there are some important elements to remember. No matter what type of business you are setting up, you should have a business plan. A business plan summarises everything about it from objectives and strategies to marketing plans and financial forecasts.

One thing not to leave out of your business plan is the necessity for insurance cover. Get a quote for our Sports Business Insurance today to ensure you and your business are protected should things not go as planned. If you are running an after-school club you should consider our after-school club insurance.

It is an essential tool if you are looking to secure funds from a bank or investor but can also be helpful when talking to new suppliers or customers as it will help to articulate those aspects of your sports business that will be of particular interest. There are lots of online resources to help you to write a plan, but here is a summary of the key points to include:

 

Top Tips:

  1. Outline your objectives – be clear about what you are looking to achieve and how you intend to reach your goal.
  2. Define your business – Provide a clear and accurate summary of your business and what it is about. Outline what produces/services you will provide.
  3. Identify your market – and more specifically your target consumers. Who will you sell to, what are their demographics ie. What age groups, gender are they and what regions of the country do they live in?
  4. Competitive Analysis – what and who could your competitors be? Remember that this doesn’t just have to be direct competitors.
  5. Pricing structure – Be sure to detail your selling price, costs any other investors in the business so you have a clear financial plan. This will help the bank/potential investors to be clear about the opportunity that your business can provide.
  6. Operations – detail the operational side of the business from facilities to employees including management and the structure of the business.
  7. Sales and Marketing – how will you sell your products/services? How will you promote your business and your products? What will the costs be and the expected results?
  8. Demonstrate that you have identified any potential risks and have plans in place in certain scenarios – investors will be more prepared to part with their cash if they can see that a risk assessment has been done.

 

Other top tips:

  • Allow plenty of time – putting together the right business plan can take time. Not only do you need to gather all of the information required but then you need to sit down and put it together in the right way.
  • Start with a template – there are lots of great business plan templates available which are an excellent starting point to help you to build the perfect business plan. Both Princess Trust and Barclays provide great examples.
  • Keep the plan clear, precise and professional. Your business plan represents you and your business so it is important to deliver the right impression
  • Avoid too much detail in the main body of the plan. Many business plans are simply too long! Keep the body of the document clear and accurate and include any supporting information in the appendix (making sure that you reference it).
  • Don’t be afraid to ask advice – review the document with any business colleagues or friends you trust to give you constructive feedback.

 

So get writing your winning business plan and remember ‘A goal without a plan is just a wish’ – Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

 

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date. 

Last updated by

Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.