Jim Thomas' Fitness Management & Consulting www.fmconsulting.net

User Manual for Health Spa Act by State

Jim Thomas’ Fitness Management & Consulting

When The Going Gets TOUGH The Smart Get Help ™

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User Manual for Health Spa Act by State

IHRSA’s Summary of Consumer Protection Laws

State Health Club Consumer Protections Statutes - Automatic Renewal Restrictions

Alabama          Alaska          Arizona          Arkansas

California          Colorado          Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho          Illinois          Indiana         Iowa

Kansas          Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine        Maryland       Massachusetts        Michigan        Minnesota        Mississippi      Missouri       Montana

Nebraska        Nevada        New Hampshire       New Jersey       New Mexico        New York      North Carolina        North Dakota

Ohio         Oklahoma         Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina        South Dakota

Tennessee        Texas

Utah

Vermont        Virginia

Washington        West Virginia        Wisconsin        Wyoming

 

Consumer Affairs USA: Directory of Official Consumer Websites by State

State Laws on Cardiac Arrest & Defibrillators

AED Laws

AED Registry and Laws | AED Laws and Legislation

State Regulations for Tanning Salons

Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act

Fitness Management & Consulting

When The Going Gets TOUGH The Smart Get Help ™        

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Buying a Health club, Fitness Center or Gym in 3 Easy Steps

Overcome Your Fear of Buying a Health club, Fitness Center or Gym in 3 Easy Steps with Jim Thomas’ Fitness Management & Consulting 

If you want to own your own health club, it is easier to buy an fitness business than it is to start you own gym business from scratch. An established health club allows you to skip past the startup phase entirely, which is where the majority of all new gyms fail. If you buy a health club then you can concentrate your efforts on making your health club larger and more profitable. 

Buying a health club does not have to be a challenge. You want to avoid overpaying for the business or buying a lemon. The easiest way to avoid this is to follow these three steps in buying your own business.

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STEP 1: Due Diligence
The first step is due diligence where you determine whether or not this gym or fitness center is one you want to buy and at what price you are willing to pay for it. Find out why the seller is selling the health club.  This may involve talking to the employees, suppliers, and customers. Once you are satisfied that the reason is not to flee from something negative that you will be inheriting, you can do further due diligence. 

Your examination of the health club will start with analyzing the last three years of financial data. You should uncover any pending lawsuits, relationship with supplier and customers, intellectual property rights such as copyrights or patents, and any potential liabilities.

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STEP 2: Make Offer
There are formulas that are commonly used to value a health club or gym and this should be the starting point to determine how much to offer. The value needs to be adjusted to account for any information uncovered during the due diligence period. Having an accurate picture of the value of the gym will help you to decide whether or not to proceed and the maximum price you are willing to pay. Once you have arrived at a price you present the seller with a letter of intent. This letter of intent will detail the price and terms in which you will purchase the fitness business. Once both parties agree, a purchase and sale agreement is drawn up for both parties to sign. The purchase and sale agreement can be quite lengthy because it itemizes every aspect of the sale. This step usually involves hiring an accountant and a lawyer to assist you in the process.

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STEP 3: Arrange Financing
The last step in buying a health club is financing. There are many sources available that you can tap to put together the financing. These sources include family, friends or banks. Whatever the source of funds, lenders will have requirements that you will need to meet in order to be approved for the funds. They will require you to have enough money available for the down payment as well as have enough adequate working capital to maintain the health club. You can either pay for the closing costs out of pocket or arrange to have them included in the amount that you are financing. 

Owning your own health club is something that many people dream of accomplishing. Buying a health club is one way to make this dream come true. If you follow these three steps you will be on your way to owning your own gym.

Fitness Management & Consulting

When The Going Gets TOUGH The Smart Get Help ™        

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Jim Thomas’ Fitness Management and Consulting Presents The Health Club Sales Effectiveness Quiz

Jim Thomas’ Fitness Management and Consulting 

Presents 

The Health Club Sales Effectiveness Quiz 

1.  Has your gym sales team been trained or retrained in the last 90 days? 

2.  Are you totally satisfied with your gym sales team work habits, efforts, production levels, attitude and motivation? 

3.  Do you have key result areas and accountability structures for all production staff in your gym?  Do you use them? 

4.  Do you track and analyze all sales statistics and staff production daily? 

5.  Is your gym sales team trained and held accountable for time efficient prospecting (or just order takers)?

6.  Do you have lead follow-up systems in place and do you regularly inspect them? 

7.  Does your gym sales team have clear, written job descriptions, expectations, goals and well defined time frames for completion? 

8.  Does your team close sales mainly on "benefits, value and outcomes"?  Or just price?  (Tell the truth) 

9.  Has your gym sales team consistently met their goal the last six months? 

10.  Does your gym sales team never complain, "I don't have any leads" or "there's not enough guest traffic"? 

Scoring:  1 point for each "Yes" answer 

8 - 10            Highly Effective       

6 - 8              Moderately Effective

5 - 7              Kind of Effective

Below 5        Not Effective at all

 

Fitness Management and Consulting specializes in Sales Production, Marketing Management, Operations and Development 

Call Now for A Custom-Designed Consultation Package

800-929-2898 | www.fmconsulting.net | skype: jtmanagement

 

 

 

New Gym Start up | Gym Troubleshooting | Gym Sales Training

Jim Thomas' Fitness Management & Consulting

www.fmconsulting.net | 800-929-2898 

New Gym Start Up - No Franchise Fees - No Royalties - No Long Term Contracts - You Stay in Control | Gym Turnarounds and Troubleshooting | Gym Sales Training | Gym Management | Gym Marketing and Promotion | Real State Site Selection | Broker Services

Call us now and get one FREE session

We would like to get together with you to discuss your particular situation.  Give us a call and we'll give you one hour of our time FREE.  Who knows, it may be all the help you need! 800-929-2898

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Member Attrition as a PROFIT Center

Fitness Management & Consulting Announces “Just in Time” Sales Training for Health Clubs, Fitness Centers, Gyms and Studios

 

Fitness Management & Consulting to provide customized “Just in Time” sales and management training programs for health clubs, fitness centers, gyms and studios nationwide to help independently owned fitness facilities become more productive.

Dallas, TX – October 29, 2012 – Fitness Management & Consulting announced today they will provide customized “Just in Time” sales and management training services to health clubs, fitness centers, gyms and studios nationwide to help independently owned fitness facilities become more productive and efficient in their business operations and fitness center management.

According to Jim Thomas, President of Fitness Management & Consulting, “Through our on site and webinar sales and management training we will help health club, fitness center, gym and studio operators who want to be fully prepared for the busy selling season.  This training will help them see things they may be missing because of their closeness to the business.” A dynamic, articulate motivator, Mr. Thomas exudes confidence without artifice and accomplishes wonders without the bruised feelings that can so often accompany change. “Our - Just in Time - training program will cover the basics and creative ways of selling fitness memberships as well as how to properly manage and market the process.”

Fitness Management & Consulting sales training programs deliver practical, ready-to-use selling techniques to generate better results for your health club, fitness center, gym or studio.  In each and every sales training seminar, clubs will uncover ways to increase their membership sales numbers by using proven selling techniques. The unique training program is completely customized, interactive, delivered onsite to the clubs exact needs and will shorten the learning curve for a clubs newest salespeople or put a new spark in established veterans.

Whether you operate a health club, fitness center, gym or other type club, Jim Thomas and Fitness Management & Consulting have a sales program to fit your need, expand your market base, and keep your productive and enthusiastic.

About Fitness Management & Consulting

Fitness Management & Consulting is a consulting firm specializing in health club business consulting, turnarounds, troubleshooting, new gym start up with no franchise fees and sales training.  Areas of practice include management training and procedures, sales and marketing systems and operations.  Its’ founder, Jim Thomas, has over 25 years experience in all aspects of health club sales, club ownership and management. Fitness Management & Consulting is a privately held company based in Dallas, Texas. For more information on Fitness Management & Consulting, please visit www.fmconsulting.net. 

 

Press Contact

Fitness Management & Consulting

jthomas@fmconsulting.net

Facebook/gymconsultant

Skype: jtmanagement

214-556-4625

 

Is Your Gym Ready for the Busy Selling Season?

Is Your Gym Ready for the Busy Selling Season?

Health Club Sales Training is what we do best at FMC Sales Training Academy. Our powerful sales training program will motivate your sales force and generate greater profits. We’re the sales training leader in the health club industry.

Make your selling techniques work harder for you with a Fitness Management & Consulting sales training seminar.

Fitness Management & Consulting sales training programs deliver practical, ready-to-use selling techniques to generate better results for you and your health club.  In each and every sales training seminar, you’ll uncover ways to increase your numbers by using fundamental selling techniques.

What Makes Our Training Unique?

·         Completely customized to your club

·         Interactive, engaging for maximum results

·         Delivered at your club

·         Designed to your teams exact needs

·         Delivered by experienced trainer with 20+ years health club sales experience.

Our customized sales training seminars shorten the learning curve for your newest salespeople and put a new spark in your veterans.

Your team will derive long-term benefits from our powerful sales training seminars. Full-day and half-day seminars are available.

Sales Training Topics Include:

How to get club guests to buy faster | Eliminate the fear of prospecting | Getting more appointments | Eliminating price objections | How to get the Super Objective | How to differentiate yourself | Deepening rapport and trust with your guest | How to make a successful outgoing call | Benefits laced selling | Effective use of the Needs Analysis | How to get more point of sale referrals | Mastering the Telephone Inquiry | Controlling with questions | Understanding “decent boldness” | All forms used in the sales process | Membership Sales Manual | Sales training workbook

 

Fitness Management & Consulting

When The Going Gets TOUGH The Smart Get Help ™        

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p 214-556-4625 f 214-292-9553 skype jtmanagement

 

Health Club, Fitness Center and Gym Real Estate Site Selection

Health Club, Fitness Center and Gym Real Estate Site Location

Selecting the right location starts with knowing your area’s demographics.  Don’t know where to start? That’s okay because Jim Thomas’ Fitness Management & Consulting can provide you with a demographic report and help you analyze them. When selecting a site for your non-franchise model, you should also consider the following:

Does the location satisfy your target market?

Analyze the demographics around the proposed site, taking into account such factors as age, gender, family size, spending patterns, occupation, average income, etc.  Does the profile of the average local resident or worker coincide with the member profile outlined in your feasibility study?  If not, find another site or alter your plans to accommodate the needs of that market.

Does the street have heavy traffic?

If you’re depending on walk-in-traffic to generate sales, your gym must be located on a busy street.  To ensure this, research and compare the number of drive-bys that pass a prospective site during the curse of an average day.

Is the site visible from the street?

Locating a gym on a highly trafficked street does little good if your facility will be obscured from view.  In order to generate walk-in traffic, your facility must be visible to passersby.  Easily visible signage is also very important.

Is the location convenient?

Most people will join a facility only if they perceive it to be convenient.  Industry studies indicate that members will not spend much more than 15 minutes driving or walking to a gym, so it’s important that your facility be located within 15 minutes of the greatest concentration of prospective members.  This rule, however, can sometimes be broken.  In general, the smaller the community, the less people will want to travel because they’re used to having everything easily accessible.

Is there enough room for parking?

Adequate parking is a critical success factor.  In densely populated urban areas an abundance of parking may not be essential, since many people are likely to walk to the gym from their home or offices or use public transportation.

Fitness Management & Consulting

When The Going Gets TOUGH The Smart Get Help ™        

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p 214-556-4625 f 214-292-9553 skype jtmanagement

 

Fitness Management & Consulting Announcing Joint Venture with American Gym Trader

Fitness Management & Consulting Announcing Joint Venture with American Gym Trader

Jim Thomas’ Fitness Management & Consulting partners with Dave Didion and American Gym Trader, the industry leader in offering gyms, fitness centers and health clubs for sale

Dallas, TX – August 10, 2012 – Jim Thomas’ Fitness Management & Consulting announced today a joint venture agreement with Dave Didion and American Gym Trader, the industry leader in offering gyms, fitness center and health clubs for sale. 

According to Jim Thomas, “If you want to experience the thrills of owning a fitness business - while avoiding the pitfalls by learning from people who have -been there and done that - you're in the right place.  American Gym Trader is the perfect place for you to buy or sell a gym - or to simply learn more about the business. ” 

 American Gym Trader was created to provide an easy, affordable way to buy or sell a fitness business.  Whether it’s a seasoned gym owner who wants to sell your business, or someone who's considering an entry into the fitness business, we can help.  “I am pleased to announce my joint venture with Dave Didion founder of American Gym Trader,” say Thomas

The extensive background and experience of Fitness Management & Consulting and American Gym Trader helps to maximize productivity and eliminate all of the guess work for health club and gym owners across the country. The philosophy of treating each club owner like a partner makes American Gym Trader an ideal business associate. “We have taken all of our knowledge and turned it into an easy-to-navigate, one-of-a-kind web site.  We pride ourselves on helping gym owners and future gym owners become more savvy about the business side of health and fitness.”.

Whether you operate a health club, fitness center, gym or other fitness vertical, Jim Thomas’ Fitness Management & Consulting has a program to fit your needs, expand your market base and keep you productive and profitable. 

About American Gym Trader       

American Gym Trader specializing in helping gym owners sell their gym and fitness franchise at the highest possible price, to the best possible buyer.  They do not put emphasis on conventions or equipment manufacturers; they assist the individual health club owner in the everyday operation of their center. Whether you have an 800sq ft or an 80,000sq foot facility they are there to assist you.  For more information, go to www.americangymtrader.com

About Jim Thomas’ Fitness Management & Consulting

Fitness Management & Consulting is a consulting firm specializing in health club business consulting, turnarounds, new club start ups without franchisee fees and sales training.  Its’ founder, Jim Thomas, has over 25 years experience in all aspects of health club sales, club ownership and management. Fitness Management & Consulting is a privately held company based in Dallas, Texas. For more information on Fitness Management & Consulting, please visitwww.fmconsulting.net.

Media Contacts:

Fitness Management & Consulting

jthomas@fmconsulting.net

www.fmconsulting.net

Skype: jtmanagement

800-929-2898 |Fax 214-292-9553

 

American Gym Trader

dave.didion@americangymtrader.com

www.americangymtrader.com

571-477-0201 | Fax: 1-866-808-7302

 

Characteristics of gyms that succeed

About Jim Thomas’ Fitness Management & Consulting

 Jim Thomas is the well-known founder and president of Fitness Management USA, Inc., a management consulting and turnaround firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. 

With over 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Mr. Thomas lectures and delivers seminars and workshops across the country on the practical skills required to successfully build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. 

Since forming Fitness Management, Mr. Thomas has been turning health clubs around at an amazing rate and garnering a reputation as a producer of change…a sharp-eyed troubleshooter, a brilliant sales trainer, and a motivator.  Fitness Management provides programs that show measurable results and Jim’s team is proud of their ability to glean profit from every square foot of a client’s investment. 

A dynamic, articulate motivator, Mr. Thomas exudes confidence without artifice and accomplishes wonders without the bruised feelings that can so often accompany change.  “We pride ourselves in reaching people and motivating change in a way that encourages self-esteem on the part of the players.” 

Whether you operate a health club, fitness center, gym or other type club, Jim Thomas and Fitness Management have a program to fit your need, expand your market base, and keep your members and staff productive and enthusiastic. 

Jim can be reached at jthomas@fmconsulting.net, 800-929-2898 or by fax at 214-292-9553 

Characteristics of gyms that succeed 

• The club conducted a third party feasibility study and projected sales growth conservatively
• Management brought proven sales, service and management skills to the project
• The club has sufficient operating capital to cover inevitable cash shortfalls in its first 6 – 18 month period.
• The owners regularly reinvest in the facility.
• The club operates within normal industry expense range.
• The club enjoys a reputation for cleanliness, friendliness, hospitality, efficiency and integrity.
• The club is involved in community activities and enjoys proactive relationships with community leaders and community institutions.
• The size and scale of the club is consistent with the potential of the market.
• The club negotiated lease agreements that keep lease payments, once the club reached maturity, in the 15% to 18% range.
• The club exceeded its revenue projections in the first 12 months of operation.  The measure of a club’s long-term success can almost always be accurately projected from how it performed in its first 12 months.  A fast start is a sure sign of a successful club.  Conversely, a slow start is almost always a sign of future trouble. 

Characteristics of gyms that fail 

• Developers never conducted third party feasibility study.
• Owners/managers had no previous club sales, service or management experience.
• Club owners consistently chose not to reinvest in club while continually extracting cash from club.
• Club had marginal location and/or poor visibility and accessibility.
• Club facilities were inferior in size, quality, and cleanliness to those of close competitors.
• Club never has sufficient operating capital.
• Club’s routine response to competition was discounting.
• Club was unable to operate within standard industry expense ratios.
• Club acquired negative image because of sales tactics, service quality or unkempt facilities.
• Developers built “too much club,” I.e., the scale (size and cost) of the project exceeded by far the ability of the market to support it. 

Thought for the Day

A man fell into a deep hole and couldn’t find a way to get out.  Several people walked by and the man pleaded for help.  Each person stopped and tried to help him, but none of them could see how to get him out of the hole. 

Then, a friend was walking by, heard him crying out, and stopped.  When the friend saw the situation, he jumped into the hole. 

The man cried, “Why did you jump into this hole?  Now, we’re both in here!” 

And the friend replied, “Yes, but I’ve been here before and I know the way out.” 

Moral:  You don’t need to know how to do everything yourself.  You need to find enough friends who can help you when you don’t know. 

When The Going Gets TOUGH The Smart Get Help

www.fmconsulting.net

800-929-2898 | jthomas@fmconsulting.net | Skype: jtmanagement 

New Gym Start ups * Gym Sales Training * Operational Analysis/Troubleshooting and Turnarounds * Real Estate Site Selection/Lease Negotiation/Broker * Webinars/Tele-Consulting * Gym Equipment and Accessories * Direct Mail * Leasing & Finance *

 Corporate Fitness Management * Health Club Promotions

 

Jim Thomas Announces Program for Gym & Health Club Ownership With No Franchise Fees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jim Thomas Announces Program for Gym & Health Club Ownership With No Franchise Fees

SUMMARY:

Thanks to an innovative new program from Jim Thomas Fitness Management & Consulting there are now opportunities to own a health club, gym or fitness center without paying any franchise fees or royalties. 

BODY:

“The Fitness Industry is booming.”  So says Jim Thomas, CEO of Jim Thomas Fitness Management & Consulting.

According to Thomas, the number of people belonging to health clubs and gyms has doubled over the past 20 years, and it is expected to continue to grow at a rapid pace in coming years.   This is because of the aging Baby Boomers looking for ways to stay in shape and look younger.

“The health club industry has proven to be recession-proof, averaging an 8% annual growth rate since the early 1990’s,” said Thomas.  “We help people buy into this very profitable industry and then help them with professional management to assure their success.”

Usually there are hefty franchise fees and royalties to pay after buying a successful franchise business.  But under Thomas’s proven program these all disappear, saving the new gym owner thousands of dollars per year.

“We help people realize their dreams of owning their own health club,” said Thomas.

For more information please visit www.fmconsulting.net or call 800-929-2898.

 

Contact:

Jim Thomas, CEO

Jim Thomas' Fitness Management & Consulting

www.fmconsulting.net

Phone: 800-929-2898   Fax:  214-556-4625

Email:  jthomas@fmconsulting.net