How to choose the right studio location in 15 minutes

Hey, it’s the Cardy Brothers.

New name + we’re building a course! 🎉 If you want to open your first fitness studio and have no idea where to start, this will be for you. Join the waiting list.

In today’s issue:

• How to choose the right location in 15 mins

• Brainstorming ideas for our new course

• Why your rent might not be the issue

📝 Studio launch diary

How to choose the right studio location in 15 minutes

One bad location decision can cost you more than just money.

• It can kill your momentum.

• Drain your cash.

• And set your launch back 12 months or more.

We’ve opened studios ourselves and helped dozens of clients do the same.

Here’s a quick framework we use to evaluate gym locations fast without getting stuck in decision paralysis or chasing the “perfect” unit.

You can run this in 15 minutes.

Step 1: Shortlist 3 options

Never compare just one location.

If you’re only looking at one unit, you’ll convince yourself it’s “the one.”

Why? Because you don’t have anything else to measure it against.

That’s how people end up signing a lease based on gut feeling. And usually regretting it.

Instead, pick 3 solid contenders.

They don’t need to be perfect. They just need to tick the basics:

• Right rough size

• Within your budget

• Not a huge job to renovate

Could be 3 you found on Rightmove. Could be 1 from an agent, 1 from a competitor selling, 1 from your network.

The goal is to create contrast. That’s how better decisions get made.

Step 2: Score each on 7 factors

Now give each location a score from 1–5 in a simple table.

Here’s what to rate:

1. Footfall – Will people see the space? Is it on a high-traffic road or in the middle of nowhere?

2. Parking – Can members easily find free or cheap parking nearby?

3. Competition – Are you up against 3 better-looking gyms within walking distance?

4. Rent per sq ft – Is it affordable now and when you grow a team and stop coaching every session yourself?

5. Demographics – Are your ideal clients (age, income, mindset) actually based in that area?

6. Accessibility – Can people get to it before or after work? Is it easy to find on Google Maps?

7. Condition – How much time and money will the fit-out take?

Add up the scores for each location. It won’t tell you everything, but it’ll make your decision way clearer.

We’ve had clients completely switch directions after running this. Just because the numbers forced them to step back and see the big picture.

Step 3: Ask the “gut-check” question

Here’s the final filter we use:

“If a competitor opened in this location, would I be worried?”

If the answer is yes, that’s probably your spot.

If the answer is no, then deep down, you already know it’s not quite right.

This question helps you tap into instinct without relying on it alone.

🎧 Listen to the episode

In this episode, we brainstorm ideas for our new course. We break down the key questions you need to ask before opening a studio, how to find a great location, what to look for in a lease, and how much you’ll need to budget for the build-out.

You’ll learn:

• The mindset shift needed to go from trainer to owner

• How to test if a location is worth pursuing

• Lease negotiations and what to watch out for

• The essential tools to help you decode your lease

• Choosing the right model for your space

Or listen to the audio only

💡 Launch lesson

Most first-time studio owners don’t fail because the rent’s too high. They fail because they didn’t plan for a few slow months, fit-out costs, or paying themselves. Make a plan.

That’s it from us. Reply any time…

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