mma gym business plan

How to Create a Business Plan for a Martial Arts Gym: Key Insights

Martial Arts Gym Bundle 2025

Launching a successful martial arts gym requires meticulous planning and preparation. Before diving into the business plan, there are 9 crucial steps that aspiring entrepreneurs must consider. From conducting market research to assembling a team of experienced instructors, this comprehensive checklist will ensure your martial arts studio is poised for long-term success.

Steps Prior To Business Plan Writing

Conduct market research on local martial arts demand.

Before embarking on the journey of opening a Martial Arts Gym, it is crucial to conduct thorough market research to understand the local demand for martial arts services. This step lays the foundation for a well-informed business plan and ensures that your Martial Arts Gym aligns with the needs and preferences of your target audience.

Begin by analyzing the competitive landscape in your target market. Identify the existing Martial Arts Gyms, their specialties, pricing structures, and target demographics. This will help you differentiate your offering and identify unmet needs in the market.

Next, delve into the demographic data of your local area. Examine factors such as age, income levels, and population density to determine the potential customer base for your Martial Arts Gym. This information will guide your decisions on program offerings, pricing, and marketing strategies .

• Conduct surveys and interviews with potential customers to understand their preferences, pain points, and willingness to pay for martial arts services.
• Analyze industry reports and trends to stay informed about emerging styles, equipment, and training techniques that may influence your Martial Arts Gym's offerings.
• Reach out to local community organizations and martial arts associations to gather insights on the growth potential and industry dynamics in your area.

By thoroughly understanding the local market demand , you can develop a tailored business plan that addresses the unique needs of your target audience and positions your Martial Arts Gym for long-term success. This comprehensive market research will also help you secure financing and attract potential investors who recognize the viability of your business idea.

Identify Target Audience and Their Preferences

Identifying the target audience and understanding their preferences is a critical step in developing a successful business plan for a martial arts gym. By clearly defining the demographics, interests, and needs of your potential students, you can tailor your offerings, marketing strategies, and overall business model to better meet their expectations and preferences.

To identify your target audience, start by conducting thorough market research on the local martial arts landscape. Analyze factors such as the age distribution, income levels, and activity patterns of the population in your target geographic area. This will help you determine the most suitable martial arts disciplines, class formats, and pricing structures that align with the preferences of your potential customers.

Additionally, consider the specific needs and motivations of your target audience. Some individuals may be drawn to martial arts for its physical fitness benefits, while others may seek personal development, self-defense, or a sense of community. Understanding these underlying drivers can inform the development of your program offerings and the messaging used in your marketing campaigns.

It's also important to assess the competition in your local market and identify any underserved or niche segments that your martial arts gym can cater to. For example, you may find that there is a demand for family-friendly classes, women-only programs, or specialized training for children and teenagers.

• Conduct market research to understand the demographic and psychographic profile of your target audience.
• Identify the specific needs, motivations, and preferences of your potential students, such as fitness goals, self-defense interests, or personal development aspirations.
• Analyze the competitive landscape and look for underserved or niche segments that your martial arts gym can uniquely serve.

By thoroughly understanding your target audience and their preferences, you can develop a tailored business plan that effectively addresses their needs and positions your martial arts gym as a unique and valuable offering in the local market. This targeted approach can lead to higher student enrollment, increased customer loyalty, and a more sustainable and profitable business in the long run.

Determine Unique Selling Proposition for the Martial Arts Gym

Establishing a unique selling proposition (USP) is a critical step in crafting a successful business plan for your martial arts gym. Your USP is the factor that sets your studio apart from the competition and compels potential students to choose your services over others. To develop a compelling USP, you'll need to carefully analyze the local market, understand your target audience's preferences, and identify the unique value your gym can offer.

Begin by conducting thorough market research to understand the competitive landscape in your area. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of existing martial arts studios, their class offerings, pricing structures, and the overall quality of their services. This will help you identify gaps in the market that your gym can fill and highlight the areas where you can outshine your competitors.

Next, delve into understanding your target audience. Who are the individuals most likely to enroll in your martial arts programs? Consider factors such as age, gender, fitness level, and previous martial arts experience. Gather insights into their motivations, pain points, and the specific benefits they seek from a martial arts studio. This information will be crucial in shaping your USP to resonate with your ideal customers.

• Conduct a SWOT analysis to identify your gym's unique strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the local market.
• Leverage customer surveys and focus groups to gain a deeper understanding of your target audience's needs and preferences.
• Explore niche market segments that may be underserved, such as specialized programs for women, children, or individuals with disabilities.

With a solid understanding of the market and your target audience, you can now begin to define your gym's unique selling proposition. This could be anything from your specialized teaching methods, unique program offerings, state-of-the-art facilities, or a focus on holistic wellness. Ensure that your USP aligns with your target audience's desires and addresses their pain points in a way that your competitors cannot.

Ultimately, your USP should be a clear, compelling, and easily communicable statement that captures the essence of your martial arts gym. By crafting a strong USP, you'll be able to effectively position your studio in the market, attract your ideal students, and build a loyal customer base that recognizes the exceptional value you provide.

Assess Availability and Suitability of Potential Locations

Selecting the right location is a crucial step in establishing a successful Martial Arts Gym. The availability and suitability of potential locations can make or break your business venture, as it directly impacts factors such as accessibility, visibility, and overall operational feasibility.

When assessing potential locations for your Martial Arts Gym, consider the following key factors:

• Demographic Analysis: Carefully examine the demographics of the surrounding area, including population density, age distribution, and household income levels. This information will help you identify the most suitable target market for your martial arts programs.
• Accessibility and Visibility: Ensure that the location is easily accessible to your target audience, with ample parking and clear signage for visibility. Consider factors such as proximity to public transportation, major roads, and other high-traffic areas.
• Zoning and Regulations: Research local zoning laws and regulations to ensure that the potential location is zoned for commercial use and allows for the operation of a Martial Arts Gym. Obtain the necessary permits and licenses required for your business.
• Rental Costs and Lease Terms: Evaluate the rental costs and lease terms for each potential location, taking into account factors such as square footage, build-out requirements, and any additional expenses (e.g., utilities, maintenance, insurance).
• Competitor Analysis: Investigate the presence and proximity of other martial arts studios or gyms in the area. Identify any gaps in the market or opportunities to differentiate your Martial Arts Gym.
• Consider the potential for future expansion when evaluating locations, as your Martial Arts Gym may grow and require additional space over time.
• Seek input from experienced martial arts professionals or industry experts to help assess the suitability of potential locations for your Martial Arts Gym.

By thoroughly assessing the availability and suitability of potential locations, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and maximizes the chances of success for your Martial Arts Gym. This step lays the foundation for the rest of your business plan development and ultimately contributes to the long-term sustainability of your martial arts enterprise.

Evaluate equipment and facility requirements for the studio

Establishing a successful martial arts gym requires careful consideration of the equipment and facility requirements. This step involves assessing the specific needs of your target audience, the type of martial arts you plan to offer, and the overall vision for your studio. By thoroughly evaluating these factors, you can ensure that your gym is equipped with the necessary resources to provide a high-quality, immersive training experience for your students.

When determining the equipment and facility requirements for your martial arts gym, it is essential to consider the following key elements:

• Training Space : Assess the square footage required for your gym based on the number of students you aim to accommodate, the type of martial arts disciplines, and the necessary training areas (e.g., mat space, sparring areas, and specialized zones for different techniques).
• Flooring : Choose the appropriate flooring material that provides cushioning, traction, and safety for your students. Common options include martial arts-specific mats, sprung floors, or a combination of both.
• Equipment : Determine the essential equipment needed for your gym, such as punching bags, kicking shields, grappling dummies, and any specialized training tools required for the martial arts you offer.
• Changing Rooms and Showers : Ensure that your facility includes adequate changing rooms and shower facilities to meet the needs of your students.
• Safety Considerations : Prioritize the safety of your students by incorporating safety features like protective padding, first-aid kits, and emergency exits.
• Amenities : Consider adding amenities that enhance the overall experience, such as a reception area, waiting lounge, or a small retail space for selling merchandise or equipment.

When estimating the startup costs for your martial arts gym, it is crucial to factor in the expenses associated with the facility itself, including rent, utilities, and any necessary renovations or build-outs. Additionally, you will need to budget for the initial investment in high-quality equipment and ongoing maintenance costs.

• Consult with experienced martial arts instructors and gym owners to gain insights into the specific equipment and facility requirements for your chosen martial arts disciplines.
• Research local building codes, zoning regulations, and safety standards to ensure your gym meets all necessary legal and safety requirements.
• Explore opportunities to lease or purchase used equipment and furniture to reduce startup costs while maintaining quality.

By thoroughly evaluating the equipment and facility requirements for your martial arts gym, you can create a well-equipped and safe training environment that caters to the needs of your target audience and aligns with your business goals. This strategic planning will lay the foundation for a successful and sustainable martial arts studio.

Estimate Startup Costs and Ongoing Operational Expenses

Launching a successful martial arts gym requires a thorough understanding of the startup costs and ongoing operational expenses. This critical step in the business planning process will ensure you have the necessary financial resources to get your gym off the ground and maintain its long-term sustainability.

When estimating the startup costs for your martial arts gym, you'll need to consider a range of factors, including:

• Facility Costs: This includes the initial lease or purchase of the gym space, as well as any necessary renovations or build-outs to meet your specific requirements.
• Equipment and Supplies: You'll need to invest in high-quality martial arts equipment, such as mats, bags, and protective gear, as well as office supplies and technology infrastructure.
• Legal and Licensing Fees: Depending on your location, you may need to obtain various licenses, permits, and insurance policies to operate your martial arts gym legally.
• Marketing and Advertising: Allocate a portion of your startup budget to developing a strong brand identity and promoting your gym to attract new students.
• Initial Staffing Costs: You'll need to hire experienced martial arts instructors and administrative staff to run your gym effectively.

Estimating the ongoing operational expenses for your martial arts gym is equally important. These may include:

• Rent or Mortgage Payments: If you're leasing the gym space, factor in the monthly rent. If you've purchased the property, account for the mortgage payments and associated costs.
• Utility Bills: Your gym will incur monthly expenses for electricity, water, internet, and other utilities.
• Maintenance and Repairs: Set aside funds for regular maintenance, equipment repairs, and potential facility upgrades.
• Payroll and Benefits: Ensure you have enough budget to retain high-quality instructors and administrative staff, including competitive wages and benefits.
• Marketing and Advertising: Ongoing marketing efforts are crucial to attracting new students and retaining existing ones.
• Consider seeking the advice of a financial advisor or accountant to help you accurately estimate the startup costs and ongoing expenses for your martial arts gym.
• Research industry benchmarks and best practices to ensure your financial projections are realistic and aligned with the martial arts gym market.
• Develop a detailed budget and cash flow analysis to identify potential areas of cost savings and ensure the long-term financial viability of your business.

By carefully estimating the startup costs and ongoing operational expenses, you'll be better positioned to secure the necessary funding, create a realistic financial plan, and ultimately, build a thriving martial arts gym that meets the needs of your local community.

Explore Financing Options and Secure Necessary Funding

Securing the necessary funding is a critical step in the process of establishing a successful martial arts gym. As you embark on your entrepreneurial journey, it's essential to explore a range of financing options that can help you bring your vision to life. In this section, we'll delve into the various avenues you can pursue to obtain the capital required to launch and sustain your martial arts studio.

One of the primary considerations when it comes to financing your martial arts gym is the startup costs involved. These can include the lease or purchase of a suitable location, the acquisition of specialized equipment and gear, the recruitment and training of qualified instructors, and the implementation of a comprehensive marketing strategy. It's crucial to carefully evaluate these expenses and develop a realistic budget that accounts for both the initial investment and the ongoing operational costs.

To finance your martial arts gym, you may consider a combination of the following options:

• Personal savings : If you have access to personal savings or investments, this can be an excellent starting point for funding your venture. Leveraging your own resources demonstrates a strong commitment to the business and can make you a more attractive candidate for additional financing.
• Small business loans : Explore the possibility of securing a small business loan from a bank or alternative lender. These loans can provide the necessary capital to cover startup costs and help you get your martial arts gym off the ground.
• Angel investors or venture capitalists : Connecting with angel investors or venture capitalists who share your vision and believe in the potential of your martial arts gym can be a valuable source of funding. These investors may provide not only financial support but also valuable industry insights and strategic guidance.
• Crowdfunding platforms : Utilizing online crowdfunding platforms, such as Kickstarter or Indiegogo, can be an effective way to raise funds from a wide network of supporters who are interested in your martial arts concept.
• Grants and government programs : Research and explore any available grants or government programs that may provide funding or other forms of financial assistance for small businesses or startups in the martial arts industry.
• Develop a comprehensive financial plan that outlines your startup costs, ongoing expenses, and projected revenue streams to demonstrate the viability of your martial arts gym to potential investors or lenders.
• Establish strong relationships with financial institutions and explore various loan programs, such as Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, that may offer favorable terms and conditions for your martial arts gym.
• Consider offering equity or revenue-sharing arrangements to attract investors who are willing to take an active role in the growth and success of your martial arts studio.

Securing the necessary funding is a crucial step in turning your martial arts gym dream into a reality. By exploring a diverse range of financing options and developing a well-thought-out financial plan, you can position your business for long-term success and create a thriving hub for martial arts enthusiasts in your community.

Assemble a Team of Experienced Martial Arts Instructors

Assembling a team of experienced martial arts instructors is a crucial step in establishing a successful Martial Arts Gym. These instructors will be the backbone of your studio, responsible for delivering high-quality training and fostering a positive learning environment for your students.

When selecting your instructors, it's important to prioritize their technical expertise, teaching abilities, and alignment with your studio's values and vision. Look for individuals who have a deep understanding of various martial arts disciplines, as well as a proven track record of successfully training students of all ages and skill levels.

• Seek out instructors with a minimum of 5-10 years of teaching experience in their respective martial arts disciplines.
• Ensure that your instructors hold relevant certifications and belts, demonstrating their mastery of the arts they will be teaching.
• Consider hiring instructors with a diverse range of specialties, allowing your studio to offer a more comprehensive curriculum.

In addition to technical expertise, look for instructors who possess excellent communication skills, patience, and a genuine passion for empowering their students. These qualities will be essential in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment that fosters personal growth and a love for martial arts.

When assembling your team, consider the following factors to ensure a well-rounded and cohesive group of instructors:

• Diversity: Aim to have a diverse team that represents different martial arts styles, ages, genders, and backgrounds to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of your target audience.
• Complementary Skill Sets: Ensure that your instructors have a range of specialties, such as striking, grappling, weapons training, and fitness-focused classes, to offer a comprehensive program.
• Collaborative Spirit: Seek out instructors who are willing to work together, share best practices, and contribute to the overall growth and development of the studio.

By carefully selecting and assembling a team of experienced and dedicated martial arts instructors, you'll be well on your way to creating a Martial Arts Gym that delivers exceptional training, fosters a strong sense of community, and provides a transformative experience for your students.

Develop a Marketing Strategy to Attract New Students

Attracting new students is the lifeblood of any successful martial arts gym. To develop an effective marketing strategy, it's crucial to understand your target audience, their preferences, and the competitive landscape. By crafting a compelling value proposition and leveraging a multi-channel approach, you can build a steady pipeline of new students and ensure the long-term growth of your martial arts studio.

Begin by conducting thorough market research to identify your target audience. Analyze factors such as age, gender, income level, and martial arts experience to create detailed buyer personas. Understand their pain points, motivations, and preferred communication channels. This information will help you tailor your marketing messages and choose the most effective channels to reach them.

Differentiate your martial arts gym from the competition by highlighting your unique selling proposition (USP). This could be your specialized training programs, experienced instructors, state-of-the-art facilities, or a focus on holistic wellness. Craft a brand identity that resonates with your target audience and positions your gym as the premier destination for martial arts training in your local market.

• Leverage social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to showcase your gym's offerings, share success stories, and engage with your target audience.
• Implement a referral program that incentivizes your existing students to bring in new members, leveraging the power of word-of-mouth marketing.
• Explore partnerships with local businesses, schools, or community organizations to cross-promote and reach new potential students.

Allocate a significant portion of your marketing budget to digital channels, as this is where your target audience is likely to be most active. Develop a strong online presence through a responsive, informative website that showcases your gym's unique value proposition. Invest in search engine optimization (SEO) to improve your visibility in local search results and attract new students organically.

Additionally, consider implementing a comprehensive lead generation and nurturing strategy. This may include offering free trial classes, downloadable content (e.g., fitness guides, self-defense tips), or email newsletters to capture and engage potential students. Utilize marketing automation tools to streamline your lead management process and ensure a seamless customer journey.

By developing a well-rounded marketing strategy that combines digital and traditional tactics, you can effectively attract a steady stream of new students to your martial arts gym. Continuously monitor your marketing performance, analyze the data, and make adjustments to optimize your approach and achieve your growth goals.

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Martial Arts Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Martial Arts Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their martial arts companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a martial arts business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a martial arts business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Martial Arts Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your martial arts business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Martial Arts Dojo

If you’re looking to start a martial arts business or grow your existing martial arts company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your martial arts business to improve your chances of success. Your martial arts business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Martial Arts Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a martial arts business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for martial arts companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to Write a Business Plan for a Martial Arts Business

If you want to start a martial arts business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The business plan outline below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your martial arts business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of martial arts business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a martial arts business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of martial arts businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the martial arts industry.
• Discuss the type of martial arts business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of martial arts business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of martial arts businesses:

• Boutique-Boxing: This type of fitness studio focuses on practicing boxing techniques as a way to stay in shape.
• Japanese Martial Arts: This type of martial arts studio may teach one or more Japanese styles such as Aikido, Jiu-Jitsu, or Judo.
• Chinese Martial Arts: This type of martial arts studio may specialize in teaching one or more Chinese styles such as Tai Chi or Karate.
• Korean Martial Arts: This type of martial arts studio may focus on one or more Korean styles such as Tae Kwon Do or Hapkido.
• Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): This type of martial arts studio combines full-contact techniques from a variety of different kinds of martial arts and combat sports.

In addition to explaining the type of martial arts business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, the number of classes offered, reaching $X amount in revenue, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the martial arts industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the martial arts industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your martial arts business plan:

• How big is the martial arts industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your martial arts business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your martial arts business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, families, and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of martial arts business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other martial arts businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes other types of sports studios, recreation centers, and fitness clubs. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of martial arts business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you make it easier for customers to acquire your services?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a martial arts business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of martial arts company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide MMA, boxing, or Karate classes?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your martial arts company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your martial arts business located in a busy retail district, a business district, a standalone studio, or purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your martial arts marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your martial arts business, including answering calls, planning and providing classes, billing customers and collecting payments, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to acquire your Xth customer, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your martial arts business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your martial arts business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing martial arts businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a martial arts business or successfully running a small sports club.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you employ 5 instructors, and will each instructor teach 3 classes of 30 students per day? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your martial arts business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a martial arts business:

• Cost of equipment and studio supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your studio location lease or testimonials from happy customers.  

Writing a business plan for your martial arts business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the martial arts industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful martial arts business.

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Martial Arts business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Hire someone to write a business plan for you from Growthink’s team.

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• A compelling & detailed pre-written MMA Gym business plan template in WORD
• A full & automatic MMA Gym financial plan model in EXCEL you can easily customize
• Customized text tailored to the MMA Gym business
• The ability to paste advanced charts and tables within a click
• No accounting or specialized financial knowledge needed
• A truly cost-effective solution saving you time and money

MMA Gym Business Plan Template Description

If you are planning to start an MMA Gym you need a robust business plan with financial projections. By downloading our ready made MMA Gym Business Plan template you get a pre-written business plan in Word and an automatic financial plan in Excel tailored to your upcoming MMA gym project. You will only need to spend a couple of hours to customize these documents to make them perfectly fit your vision. Check the full details below.

MMA Gym Business Plan Document in Word

Our ready-made MMA Gym business plan template is in Word format and includes 26 pages. The document is divided into multiple sections. Each section contains the essential points that are necessary to effectively present your MMA Gym project. Each section and sub-section offer you a sample text that you can easily customize to make your business plan unique. Below is a small sample of our pre-written MMA Gym business plan in Word.

Automatic Martial Arts Financial Plan in Excel

Our pre-populated financial model is in Excel format and includes multiples worksheets. You can easily edit the model’s inputs including changing costs and revenue assumptions to generate pro-forma financial forecasts including P&L, Cash flows and Balance Sheets. Below is a small extract of our MMA Gym financial plan in Excel.

This Ready-Made MMA Gym Business Plan is For

• Entrepreneurs wishing to start an MMA Gym
• Aspiring MMA dojo owners who want to create a business plan fast and easy
• MMA instructors who wish to pitch their MMA Gym project to investors
• MMA professionals who wish to better understand the potential of the opportunity

Immediate Delivery by Email

• Once you complete the order, you will receive an email with links to download your documents
• Your order will contain the full pre-written business plan in Word
• Your order will contain the full customizable financial model in Excel

Your MMA Gym Business Plan Content

Executive Summary:  Our MMA Gym business plan template starts with a compelling Executive Summary. This key section is very important as it summarizes in 1 page your MMA Gym concept. It will introduce your business model, the key people behind the project as well as the unique selling proposition offered by your MMA Gym concept. This section will also mention how market conditions and consumer trends are favorable for launching your project.

The Problem Opportunity: Next, your ready-made MMA Gym business plan will list a number of problems experienced by your prospects in your target market and will show how this presents a unique opportunity for your project. These can include issues such as the lack of MMA dojos in a certain location, undifferentiated offering by current actors in the market…etc.

The Solution:  This section explains how your MMA Gym will take advantage of the current problems in the market and will detail your innovative solutions.

Mission & Vision:  Your mission will explain in a couple of sentences your MMA Gym’s philosophy. In other words, it will summarize your unique value proposition and will explain how you are different than the competition. Your vision will explain the long-term plans for your MMA Gym concept. Are you planning to start with one branch today and expand to a multi-branch business model? Are you looking to transform your MMA Gym business into a franchise model?…etc.

Business Model:  This section details your MMA Gym concept using the business model canvas method. In a visually appealing table, we will detail your MMA Gym’s key partners, activities, resources, value proposition, customer segments, customer relationship plan, marketing channels, cost structure and revenue streams.

Products & Services:  Next, we will talk in detail about your various products and services. We will describe your various types of MMA and Martial Arts classes, memberships, ancillary products and services…etc. We will also provide information about your pricing.

Market Analysis: This important section describes the various market statistics and consumer trends in the Martial Arts industry and explains how they support your own MMA gym concept. The purpose of this section is to show that the market conditions are favorable for launching your new MMA gym.

Global Market Trends: In this sub-section of the market analysis, we will discuss the latest general market trends in the MMA and Martial Arts industry. We will look at the global industry size, growth rate, growth diving factors and consumer trends.

Local Market Trends:  This sub-section explains the local market trends that are relevant to your specific MMA Gym business.

Target Customers:  In this section, we will describe your various customer profiles by providing information about their demographics, behavior and purchasing habits.

Competitive Analysis:  We will analyze key competitors active in your target market and provide insights about their strengths and weaknesses.

Competitive Advantages:  After looking at the competitive landscape, we will then show how your MMA Gym business is differentiating itself from the competition through a number of key advantages.

SWOT Analysis:  This section features a 4-quadrant table with explanations about how your MMA Gym intends to leverage its key strengths, mitigate weaknesses, capture opportunities and thwart any future threats.

Marketing Plan : This chapter provides detailed information about your go-to-market strategy. It includes a detailed action plan to help you build brand awareness and generate sales.

Branding & Awareness:  We will describe in this sub-section your choice of key marketing channels to build branding and awareness.

Customer Acquisition:  We will describe in this sub-section your choice of key marketing channels to acquire customers and increase sales.

Operating Plan:  This chapter provides information about your MMA Gym’s opening hours, internal processes and describes the interactions between various key departments and teams.

Management Team:  It is very important to present the key people behind your MMA Gym project and thus we have dedicated a section for this very purpose. It is also important to talk here about the founder’s vision, his past education and professional experience.

Hiring Plan:  No business can succeed without having on board the right team. This section lists all the key positions you plan to hire with information about their salaries and expected start dates.

Key Milestones:  To be able to launch and execute your MMA Gym project, you need to follow a set of actionable tasks with target deadlines. This section serves this purpose.

Financial Plan:  Without a robust financial plan, your MMA Gym business plan would be an incomplete document. This important section provides crucial information about your pro-forma financial projections and shows that you have really done your homework. The data mentioned in this and the following sections will be provided by the dynamic Excel financial model accompanying your MMA Gym business plan.

Projected Revenue:  This module shows your MMA Gym’s revenue projections over the next three years.

Projected Profit and Loss:  This module shows your MMA Gym’s income statement (also called profit and loss statement) over the next three years. Your income statement includes detailed projections about your sales and expenses and shows how your MMA Gym’s revenue is converted into a net profit.

Projected Cash Flows:  This module shows your MMA Gym’s cash flow projections over the next three years. The first year of operation is even detailed on a monthly basis. Your cash flow statement will detail the various cash inflows your Dojo will generate from its day to day operations and from funding sources, as well as the various cash outflows required to pay for operating expenses and business investments.

Projected Balance Sheet : This module shows your MMA Gym’s balance sheet projections over the next three years. The balance sheet will provide a summary of your MMA Gym’s short term and long term assets in addition to your short term and long term liabilities and capital.

Profitability Analysis:  In this section, we will provide information about your gross margin, net margin and discuss the profitability of your Dojo.

Funding Requirement:  This module states the amount of funding your need to be able to comfortably launch your MMA Gym business. It also describes the planned allocation of the funds between Opex and Capex.

Conclusion : Finally, we will conclude your business plan by recapitulating the key points that make your MMA Gym project compelling and reiterate the rationale behind your business opportunity.

Why Use our Ready-Made MMA Gym Business Plan?

• Speed & Convenience:  Once you complete your order, you will receive the MMA Gym business plan directly in your mailbox. Since it is already pre-written with fully customizable financials, you will only need to spend a couple of hours to edit it and adapt it to your own MMA project.
• High Quality:  Your MMA Gym business plan has been written by our professional team of business plan writers and experts from the Martial Arts industry. You will receive a professional MMA Gym business plan template ideal for presenting to potential investors or banks.
• Low-Cost:  Our pre-written MMA Gym business plan template is the most cost-effective solution in case you need to build a solid and professional MMA Gym business plan. We are confident you will save hundreds if not thousands of dollars by ordering our premium business plan compared to hiring a consultant or subscribing to complicated and expensive software.

If you have any question regarding our ready-made MMA Gym business plan package,  do not hesitate to contact us , we are here to help.

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Martial Arts Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Martial Arts Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Martial Arts business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Martial Arts businesses.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Martial Arts business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Master Mike’s Martial Arts is a new martial art academy located in Spokane, Washington. We teach students of all ages a wide range of martial arts, including judo, karate, and taekwondo. We split our lessons based on skill level, so we have classes for beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced learners. We also divide our classes by age range, offering separate classes for learners ages 9 to 12 and adults 13 and up.

Master Mike’s is founded and run by Mike Conway. Mike has been a martial artist since childhood, having won several tournaments and earning black belts in taekwondo, judo, and karate. He is passionate about teaching martial arts and has already trained dozens of students while working for another local martial arts studio. Mike has the skills, experience, and knowledge to make Master Mike’s the most successful martial arts studio in the Spokane area.

Product Offering

Master Mike’s Martial Arts will provide martial arts lessons for children and adults. The children’s classes will be for young students ages 9-12, and the adult classes will be for anyone 13 and older. We will offer lessons in multiple forms of martial arts, including taekwondo, karate, judo, krav maga, and general self-defense. For each martial art, we will offer separate courses for beginners, intermediate students, and advanced students.

Customer Focus

Master Mike’s Martial Arts offers martial arts lessons to anyone age 9 and older. We have classes designed specifically for kids ages 9 to 12 and adults (anyone 13 and older). Everyone in these age ranges is welcome to try out our martial arts studio, but we expect our customers will primarily consist of adolescents, families, and young adults.

Management Team

Master Mike’s Martial Arts is run by Mike Conway. Mike has been a martial artist for most of his life, having begun his lessons at a very young age. He has a black belt in several martial arts and has won several championships. Though he has never run his own martial arts studio, he has worked at one for several years. Therefore, he understands how to run the general operations of such a business and has extensive experience teaching students martial arts.

Success Factors

Master Mike’s Martial Arts will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Welcoming and family-friendly environment.
• Knowledgeable and friendly staff of martial arts instructors.
• Affordable rates and membership pricing.
• Convenient hours of operation.

Financial Highlights

Master Mike’s Martial Arts is seeking $350,000 in debt financing to launch the business. The funding will be dedicated to securing the studio space, build-out, and purchase of the equipment. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include the payroll of the staff, rent, and working capital. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Securing studio space, build-out, and design: $200,000
• Equipment and supplies: $50,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $50,000
• Marketing & advertising: $25,000
• Working capital: $25,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Master Mike’s Martial Arts.

Company Overview

Who is master mike’s martial arts.

Master Mike’s Martial Arts is a new martial arts studio located in the heart of Spokane, Washington. Our mission is to become the #1 martial arts academy in the area by providing a diverse selection of classes that are trained by fun, compassionate, and highly skilled instructors. We will offer lessons in several forms of martial arts (including taekwondo, judo, and karate) and offer lessons geared towards children (ages 9 to 12) as well as adults (13 and older). Classes will be further divided by skill level (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) so that all students get plenty of experience training with others at their skill level.

  Master Mike’s Martial Arts is owned and operated by Mike Conway, an experienced martial arts champion and master. Mike is a dedicated leader with the ability to effectively manage a team of instructors, build rapport with students, and maintain a fun, safe, and profitable operation. These skills will help him quickly attract customers and employees to the studio.

Master Mike’s Martial Arts History

Mike incorporated Master Mike’s as an S Corporation on July 1st, 2023. Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

• Found a studio space and signed a Letter of Intent to lease it
• Developed the company’s name, logo, social media accounts, and website
• Determined equipment and fixture requirements
• Began recruiting key employees

Master Mike’s Martial Arts Services

Master Mike’s Martial Arts offers a wide variety of martial arts lessons, including the following:

• Mixed Martial Arts
• General Self Defense

Our lessons will be divided by age and skill level. We will have lessons for students who are ages 9 to 12 as well as adults who are 13 or older. After that, lessons are divided by skill level depending on if they are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced student.

Industry Analysis

Revenue for the martial arts industry is expected to increase substantially over the next several years. According to Gitnux, the martial arts industry was valued at about $90.25 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach a value of $171.14 billion by 2028.

This growth is affected by multiple factors. First, the increasing popularity of health trends is encouraging millions of people to find new ways to stay active and fit. Martial arts provide a fun way for people to get healthy and make friends.

Second, post-pandemic, many people were eager to find fun ways to interact with others, get fit, and get out of their homes. The martial arts industry suffered during the pandemic years but is seeing a resurgence now that it is safe for people to partake in group indoor activities again.

Finally, the increase in per capita disposable income will help the industry. Many people will use their income increase on sports and similar activities. We expect many people will choose to spend their money on martial arts lessons.

Martial arts studios fare better when they offer lessons to both students and adults. About 50% of martial arts students are under the age of 18, so offering lessons that appeal to all age groups helps martial arts studios stand out against the competition.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market, customer segmentation.

Master Mike’s Martial Arts will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Adolescents
• Young Adults

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Master Mike’s Martial Arts will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Spokane Taekwondo

Spokane Taekwondo is the city’s largest taekwondo academy. It is run by a master taekwondo artist who has been perfecting his skills for several decades. Spokane Taekwondo offers affordable rates, compassionate staff, and a fun setting for students of all ages to learn Taekwondo. Though Spokane Taekwondo will continue to thrive, the studio will only be a minor competitor as it only offers taekwondo lessons, while Master Mike’s will offer lessons in several martial arts.

Lilac City Kids Martial Arts School

Lilac City Kids Martial Arts School is the most popular martial arts studio for children ages 4 to 12. The studio offers classes in several martial arts (judo, karate, taekwondo, etc.) and divides classes into several age ranges. The school is designed for those who want to be lifelong students of martial arts, helping them learn the basics in early childhood and as well as hone their skills as they grow into adolescence and adulthood. We expect Lilac City to be our biggest competitor for young martial artists.

Spokane Martial Arts Academy

Spokane Martial Arts Academy is the largest martial arts studio in the city. It offers lessons in multiple forms of martial arts, including krav maga, judo, jujitsu, karate, and mixed martial arts. They target a wide demographic base, offering lessons for children 4 and up as well as adults. Since Spokane Martial Arts Academy is the most popular studio in the city, we expect that it will be our biggest overall competitor.

Competitive Advantage

Master Mike’s Martial Arts will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Affordable pricing : Master Mike’s Martial Arts will offer its services for a more affordable rate than the competition.
• Friendly staff : Master Mike’s Martial Arts will only hire martial arts instructors who are friendly and compassionate. All of our instructors will positively encourage our customers to train harder and improve their skills.
• Management : Master Mike’s Martial Arts is run by a professional martial artist who is famous in the industry. Mike’s presence and popularity will entice many novice and professional martial artists to visit Master Mike’s Martial Arts.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Master Mike’s Martial Arts will offer a unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Large, clean, spacious, and well-equipped studio.
• Family-friendly atmosphere.
• Dedicated team of martial arts instructors.
• Affordable membership pricing plans.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Master Mike’s Martial Arts is as follows:

Social Media Marketing Strategy

Master Mike’s Martial Arts will invest in advertising the martial arts studio on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. By using targeted social media marketing, Master Mike’s Martial Arts will be able to reach the appropriate target audience in Spokane. Before opening, Mike will hire a marketing manager to develop the branding and photography needed to create captivating social media posts.

Mike will invest in two billboards strategically located at busy intersections that receive thousands of traffic daily. The Marketing Manager will develop the print for the billboard design.

Website/SEO Marketing Strategy

Master Mike’s Martial Arts will invest in a strong SEO presence so that when someone enters “Spokane martial arts” or “local martial arts near me” in their Google or Bing search bar, Master Mike’s Martial Arts will show up at the top of the list. The website will list Master Mike’s Martial Arts’ services, location, pricing, and contact information.

Word of Mouth

Word quickly spreads around town, and once a few people experience the fun lessons and professional staff at Master Mike’s Martial Arts, more people will come in to experience our lessons for themselves and sign up for a membership plan.

The pricing of Master Mike’s Martial Arts will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when attending classes and purchasing memberships.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Master Mike’s Martial Arts. Operation Functions:

• Mike Conway will be the sole owner of Master Mike’s Martial Arts. He will oversee the general operations of the studio and teach several martial arts lessons. Mike will spend the next several months hiring the following:
• An Accountant who will provide all budgeting, accounting, tax payments, and financial reporting.
• A Marketing Manager who will provide all sales, marketing, and PR campaigns.
• Several instructors who will teach martial arts to students of all ages.

Milestones:

Master Mike’s Martial Arts will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 8/1/2023 – Finalize contract to lease studio space.
• 8/15/2023 – Begin build-out and studio design.
• 9/1/2023 – Order all equipment and supplies.
• 9/15/2023 – Hire staff and martial arts instructors.
• 10/1/2023 – Begin marketing campaign.
• 10/15/2023 – Grand opening of Master Mike’s Martial Arts.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Master Mike’s Martial Arts are the rates charged to students to sign up for our classes and the membership fees we will charge to each student who wants to become a member. Memberships can either be paid monthly or annually.

The cost drivers will include the payroll for the staff, rent, utilities, supplies, and equipment. In the initial years, the company’s marketing spending will be high as it establishes itself in the market.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of students per month: 100
• Average monthly membership fee: $150
• Average class drop-in rate: $30
• Annual lease: $50,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, martial arts business plan faqs, what is a martial arts business plan.

A martial arts business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your martial arts business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Martial Arts business plan using our Martial Arts Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Martial Arts Businesses? 

There are a number of different kinds of martial arts businesses , some examples include: Boutique-Boxing, Japanese Martial Arts, Chinese Martial Arts, Korean Martial Arts, and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

How Do You Get Funding for Your Martial Arts Business Plan?

Martial Arts businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Martial Arts Business?

Starting a martial arts business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Martial Arts Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed martial arts business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your martial arts business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your martial arts business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Martial Arts Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your martial arts business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your martial arts business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Martial Arts Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your martial arts business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your martial arts business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Complete Guide On How To Start Your Own MMA Gym

MMA is still a developing sport and is growing in popularity each year. Mixed Martial Arts are already part of American culture, and the practice of the sport is widespread, unlike in most other countries.

So if you want to start your own MMA gym, you must realize what kind of audience you are working with and consider some tips to make it as profitable as possible.

Let’s talk about the essential things you should consider about how to start your own MMA gym.

How To Start Your Own MMA Gym Step By Step

If you’re ready to start your MMA gym, here’s a list of steps to make the dream happen. 

Find Coaches For Each Combat Sport

Firstly, it is going to be challenging to hire the best coaches.

Use your connections; if you are interested in opening your own MMA gym, you might know old coaches, talented young fighters who need pocket money, or others willing to help you initially.

Schedule every day. Hire Jiu-Jitsu , Wrestling, and striking coaches, and try to mix it on the sparring days.

Not every technique from Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, or striking works in MMA, so mixing all this at the latest two times per week is essential. 

Choose Location Carefully

Having a good location is as crucial in MMA as in other things. First of all, safety is the priority. It depends on what kind of region you want to make an MMA gym . 

However, you will still have a budget limit, better locations cost more, and not everyone can afford it, so try to find the area where it will be easier to find and go with public transport.

While renting or buying a place for your MMA gym, think about what kind of gym you want. Do you want to have an office inside or not? How many bathrooms do you need? Of course, more bathrooms are an advantage, but also harder to take care of.

You Will Need Some Equipment

We don’t think having many fighters’ gear is a good idea.

MMA fighters should have gloves , protectors, headgear, and shin guards, whether professionals or amateurs.

This is not a matter of comfort but hygiene. It can also save you some initial investing money.

You can’t wash them every day, but wearing someone else’s headgear is not a great long-term idea. So unlike other “fancy” gyms, you can save that money and put it elsewhere. 

You will still need to purchase things like:

• Punching bags
• Inventors from fitness gyms for physical exercise.
• Boxing/Kickboxing pads

You can put that extra money into getting quality gear that matters for your gym. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative and save money by having affordable and beautiful training gear, like tires such as punching bags, wheels, heavy hammers, Swedish Wall, etc.

No matter what – don’t go cheap on bathrooms.

You might not have the best locker room, but having clean showers and bathrooms are things most people value, and smaller MMA gyms often neglect.

New students won’t train in your gym if they cannot have a good clean shower after training.

Like other businesses, you must go through official confirmation steps to legally start your own MMA gym. 

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Get your legal structure in order, employ identification number (ein).

In the USA, the state government charges the opening gym, but gyms must pay taxes to the federal government, which means they have to have EIN. 

It is not as complicated as it sounds. All you have to do is  sign the form online , which will automatically give your EIN code. 

Business Licence

Your business needs the license to start your own MMA gym legally. Different states have different requirements for specific licenses to own a gym. 

You must check information via the  Small Business Administration’s Licenses and Permits Resource .

Federal, State, And Local Taxes

Every business pays taxes, and everyone should expect to register for federal taxes with an EIN. The tax system depends on the location since there are different rules for different states. 

Register Name Of The Business

Your business needs an official name to start running it legally. Sometimes if the official name of the gym is the same as the owners, registering might not be necessary, but in the USA, there are different rules in different states, so you need to specify what kind of rules are in your state. 

Depending on the state, registering the business in the USA costs between $600 and $1,400. 

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The most basic things you should consider if you want to start an mma gym.

Not all great fighters are great coaches, and not every great coach is a great fighter. 

It does not matter whether you are in the USA or not. There are some things you should do and others that you need to avoid at all costs if you want to run a successful MMA gym business.

Improve Skills And Knowledge In MMA As A Gym Owner

If you are interested in starting your own MMA gym, you will most likely have some experience on the mats.

Still, having more theoretical knowledge will be relevant because fighters, especially beginners, will ask lots of questions. And you have to give them the correct direction, which requires a deep understanding of this sport. 

There are a few things you can do to improve your knowledge. 

Attend Different Martial Arts Seminars

It is not necessary to train as hard as fighters do because you will not participate in MMA competitions. 

However, practicing MMA is always a good idea for the coach. It is easier to communicate with students when you experience the same technical problems while doing some movements, and explaining some things after testing them with yourself is more accessible. 

Also, you might discover some new techniques or keys that will make you grow as a coach. 

Watch Paid Videos Of Famous And Lesser Known Fighters

Watching different paid videos of fighters like Henry Cejudo or Ryan Gordon is a great idea. You will discover lots of great stuff and learn to share the knowledge with others by watching the same technique as often as you want. 

It is also a good idea to check lesser-known fighters with impressive records. Everybody will check the big names for inspiration. You can differentiate yourself by learning from unknown killers and adding your twist to their teachings. 

Simply put, find inspiration everywhere you can to grow your coaching skills.

Watch UFC/Bellator Events And Fight Previews

Watching at least UFC fights is a great idea. The best fighters are in the UFC, and the best are testing great strategies and techniques against each other. Watching lots of stylistic fights and strategies will give you lots of knowledge.

Watching fight reviews of great analysts will help you understand the fights’ strategies deeply. 

Watching fights, and analyzing them, is like everyday homework for the head coach. Watching some great battles and thinking more about the strategies will not be hard if you love it. In a word, you should learn new things every day because MMA is still developing.

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How do you market your mixed martial arts gym.

There are different ways to advertise your newly opened gym. Let’s start with the cheapest and must-do thing if you start your own MMA gym. 

Ask Your Friends To Join You

You might know some great fighters who are well known in your area. Inviting them will create an incentive for less experienced fighters to come.

Also, they will post a picture or story on social media, which will be a great promotion for your target audience. And this is an excellent beginning to your promotional efforts.

Ask your former teammates and friends to come and join you.

It is not a fitness gym where people hate being in the line, this is an MMA gym, and people love crowded MMA gyms. For some people, social proof of quality and popularity.

If they see many people inside your gym (through pictures or live), they will be more interested in you. 

They will post more pictures and stories, which will be another great way to promote your gym, not to a targeted audience but to a broader one.

Optimize Social Media

Optimizing your social media is not cheap. However, there is not some minimum or maximum limit you can spend on it. 

Still, it requires a social media manager who knows how to use “Ads Manager” to optimize the audience for your content and budget needs.

The more you pay, the more people will see your posts. The budget is up to you; use as much money as you can afford, but take notice that a lower budget needs a more optimized strategy to be effective. 

When starting an MMA business, one of the most important things you have to focus on is social media marketing.

It’s the easiest way to be available for everyone interested in sports. The probability of getting more clients increases, and your gym becomes more famous for people as well.

To do that, you’ll need to hire a group of people that are on an expert level in:

• Advertising on the social media page
• Creating relevant content on it
• Audience research

You can do this yourself, but the time it will take you to master those skills is better spent teaching classes or raising more capital. 

If you have a natural talent for it, you don’t need experts but there’s a trade with other activities you need as an MMA gym owner. 

Your primary purpose is to find the specific group of consumers most likely to want your product or service, so you’ll have to choose the right team with the appropriate experience and vision.

So let’s say you have already got the marketing team. 

Now, first of all, you need to introduce yourself to a new audience, which is so cold. They have no idea what your gym is all about, and you must convince them they will get what they want. 

People might want to be future UFC fighters, learn self-defense, relax after work, or just wants to be in shape.

Things you need to do when advertising on social media:

• Create a content / relevant photo&video ad
• Set up high-performing ad campaigns 
• Manage / Optimize of campaigns
• Retarget narrow & warm audience

Add Different Classes In Your Gym And Make Your Schedule Public

Having a well-organized schedule already leaves a good impression on the client because they feel you know what you are doing.

Start a Women’s Self-Defense Class 

Jiu-Jitsu is arguably one of the best martial arts for women because there are fewer injuries and no punches. The main idea behind this martial art is for smaller people to manage and defeat bigger and stronger opponents. 

You can also try boxing and other classes for women,

Create Different Packages 

People love when they have options. Creating different packages will attract more customers because, in this way, you give them other alternatives and freedom of choice. 

Salespeople say, when there is only one product, customers think either buy it or not, but when there are 2, they think about which one to buy.

Create a Website for your MMA gym

Having a website is one of the most crucial things in modern business. When people are interested in training MMA, they will search it on Google. A simple website version, even with 1-2 pages, but SEO optimized, will benefit you. 

If someone searches, for example, “MMA gym in Florida,” your gym should be in the top position. There are no guarantees, but it will help.

They’ll have an opportunity to instantly visit the checkout page on the website and purchase instead of talking a lot with the sales manager on Facebook, for instance. And you obviously will be able to have more info about their behaviors on the internet than before. 

You can always use the free website you can create when you join Google my business . It won’t be anything fancy, but probably better than 90% of what most gym owners are doing.

 Here’s a nice tutorial on how to do it:

Brand Yourself

In modern business, it is impossible to ignore having a solid online presence, which means that it is recommended to leverage your social media.

Brand yourself, take pictures in the gym with different famous fighters—Post old pictures of you training or fighting.

Take high-quality pictures and videos to be active on social media.

Don’t forget to follow up with modern tendencies. Instagram reels, Tik Tok tendencies, and whatever will work by your time because these tendencies change monthly.

• Upload stories, start lives from the gym, and show people some fun exercises from your gym. 
• Mention all the famous names you have ever trained with.
• Never state political or religious statements; be positive and helpful to others on social media.

 How Profitable Is An MMA Gym? 

It can be profitable if you plan every aspect of it well, and income will increase eventually because the most challenging thing is to take the first step since there are lots of initial costs. 

How Much Does It Cost To Start Own MMA Gym?

It depends on where you are. The highest fixed cost will be your location. Rent or buy it. It does not matter. Also, another one-time cost will be things like mats and punching bags. 

When people share their experiences of starting an MMA gym, they say the cheapest way will cost at least $15,000.  

You should pay for utilities, and Internet, which can be easily $600 or more, but this $15,000 as an early investment can easily be double the amount based on the location.

While starting your own MMA gym, realize you need cash flow for the next six months. The first steps are the hardest. 

There are lots of costs at the beginning, and low income, because you are new on the market. This negative balance will change, so your expenses will not be high for several months, and your income should increase.

How Much Does MMA Gym Owners Make? 

According to the different sources, top-tier gyms make between $100,000 and $200,000 per year. However, in the first year, you can expect around $50,000, which can be enough to cover all your initial costs and start having profit the following year.

Why Do MMA Gyms Fail?

Because of not having a solid business plan in advance and not having a strategy, knowing Martial Arts does not mean automatically having a successful gym. 

This is business; you need to sell the service, like any other company, requiring sales, marketing, management, and customer service skills. Most gyms fail because they lack long-term financial plans, do not have cash reserves, and have the wrong marketing strategies. 

People often underestimate the power of the Internet and social media and are not part of this group.

Another common mistake is going all in too soon. New MMA gym owners buy the best gym equipment, hire the best coaches, and rent a space in a premium location. All that without validating the business concept will set you up for failure.

What Percentage Of Gyms Fail? 

According to the IHRSA, around 81% of the gyms are failing. However, this is not the statistics of MMA gyms because it is not calculated, but still, we’re talking about similar industries, and it is a good approximation. 

How Can I Increase My MMA Gym Salary?

Make the official schedule public. Maybe not only MMA fighters will come to your gym, but Jitsers will attend your Jiu-Jitsu classes, Kickboxers will come only on Kickboxing days, and so on. Day after day, grapplers might wish to start Kickboxing, too, which will create an additional salary. 

Having private classes service is one of the most excellent methods. Often, most beginners are shy to ask some questions in public, and affordable private classes are great for them. 

Don’t focus only on MMA Fighters. Most of your net salary as an MMA gym owner might come from casual customers. Make an attractive and comfortable place for them. 

Also, having a fitness bar is a great idea for additional income. People love having healthy protein bars or other supplements after training so you can offer them this service, too. 

Having a cafe with some healthy food can be beneficial, but you need more research on the food business, and it might complicate permits and licenses in certain states.

Is It Hard To Start your Own MMA Gym / Is Opening A Gym a Good Investment?

Just like in any field, the hardest part is to start. The first steps can be very challenging, but if you have a good strategy and a love of this sport, you can handle it. 

Is it worthy? It can be an excellent investment if you have a great understanding of this sport and have good marketing plans, but the added value of this business should be your satisfaction level.

 If you love what you are doing and do it passionately, this business will grow, too, and income will increase. 

If you liked this article and helped you on your journey to becoming an MMA gym owner don’t forget to comment and share. 

Until the next one. 

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About the author.

Erick Garner

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June 17, 2021

Here's how to start a martial arts studio (and get it right), how to start a mixed martial arts gym (stuff to get right).

There’s never been a better time to get into -- or invest in -- mixed martial arts. 

MMA’s popularity has skyrocketed in the last ten years, turning into the world’s third most popular sport behind soccer and basketball. Thanks to events like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), One Championship, and the pop culture veneration of figures like Conor McGregor, it looks like MMA is here to stay as a major cultural force.

This popularity is a veritable goldmine for potential gym owners. Maybe you want to start your first MMA-focused gym from scratch. Maybe you’ve got an existing gym you want to pivot into the MMA space. Whichever one you are, there’s a long but rewarding road ahead of you.

It’s going to take a lot of hard work, and no small amount of planning, to get this right. Luckily, we at Wodify have a helpful primer to help you get started. ‍

Pick the right martial arts management software

This is Step #1.

MMA gyms aren’t easy businesses to run. You have to market. You have to sell. You have to clean. You might even have to run classes. 

Perhaps one of the best initial investments you can make in your business is gym management software . 

Gym management software can help you set up recurring invoices, manage clients, create class schedules, track attendance, and even send digital waivers (important for MMA gyms). 

It can be a true Swiss army knife for gym owners, and it could significantly reduce the amount of time that you need to spend working on administrative tasks, giving you more time to focus on running classes and bringing in new customers.

We have gym management software to show you, and we can walk you through how it works if you’d like.

Understanding the martial arts business model

For MMA gyms, these are generally the primary revenue channels:

• Membership fees ( example )
• Private lessons ( example )
• Summer camps and seminars
• Merchandise and gear sales ( example )

For most gyms, the biggest chunk of revenue comes from membership fees. In this space, membership fees might be as low as $75/mo or as high as $200/mo (using examples of a range of gyms from MMA Guru)

Tracey Heinz at RDX Sports lays it out in this example (she’s talking about Crossfit gyms, but the math still applies): “If membership at your gym is $1,000 per year [($85/mo)], you only need 100 members to turn over $100,000 in annual revenue. But adding just one new member every week puts annual revenues at $152,000. Adding two new members per week puts it at $204,000.” 

In the simplest terms, the success of an MMA gym is often just a game of getting people through the door and getting them to sign up. 

Of course, there are expenses to consider: rent, equipment, coaches, insurance, and so on. Additionally, not everyone who signs up stays; Noobgains notes that about half of people who sign up for a gym membership leave within six months.

So, really, starting and running an MMA gym can be a bit of a balancing act; you’ve got to get people in the door and get them to stay (more on this in the marketing section), and you’ve got to balance that with customer churn and expenses.

Hire the right coaches

For MMA gyms, often, the coaches are the product (or a big part of it, anyway). 

And if you’re looking to gain new customers, it’s important to keep in mind that people may prioritize MMA gyms with quality instructors.

One option, of course, is for you to be the coach. MMA gyms are often run by owner-operators, and for an MMA gym, the “operator” part of that usually includes teaching classes. 

But even if you’re coaching some classes, it could be good to pick up a few spare hands who either know more than you or who are specialists in specific parts of MMA. Coaches might be people like this:

• People who have competed a lot in MMA 
• Specialists striking coaches (boxing, muay thai, etc.)
• Specialist grappling coaches (wrestling, jiu jitsu, etc.)
• Long-time students who are both skilled and know the students

Plenty of MMA schools build class schedules around their coaches. At the American Top Team gym in Fort Lauderdale, for example, most of the coaches have MMA experience, but for the most part, classes are taught by people with specialist backgrounds. 

As a gym owner, this could even be part of your business strategy. You could recruit a long-time amateur boxer with a strong boxing track record and add boxing classes to your offering, for example. The MMA Guru notes that the quality of instruction can impact how much you’re able to charge (e.g. a jiu jitsu school with a black belt instructor may be able to charge more than a gym without one).

A few other considerations here: pay and health insurance.

It’s not uncommon for coaches to work part-time in small MMA gyms, since a particular class pay only be held a handful of times per week. If you’re looking to hire a full-time coach, the median salary (for fitness instructors in general, according to Salary.com ) is between $21,464 and $74,931 per year. And of course, because of the nature of the work, instructors may want health insurance benefits.

The basics: location, licenses, equipment and gear

Starting a small business is never easy; starting a mixed martial arts gym, even less so. You’ve got to be practical and tactical in the same breath, which starts with finding the right location . 

Find a location in your city that complies with local zoning requirements (i.e. in a commercially-zoned area), 

You must also find a building that has the right amount of open space to host mixed martial arts classes. (Or you could build your own, but if you’re just starting out, it’s way easier to just occupy an existing space.)

MMA gyms specifically benefit from being located in high-traffic spots in busy city centers , with plenty of walk-through traffic to entice potential new members. But that often comes with higher leases, so you might want to consider an industrial or rural location in a smaller city -- customers there are much more willing to drive to where you are. 

Once you’ve found where your gym is going to go, it’s time to figure out licensing. Licenses vary wildly between states and local municipalities, so there’s no one size fits all for an MMA gym license. 

Just check the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Local Assistance directory ; they’ll get you sorted with your local assistance center, which can get you started on your paperwork.

Now that you’re licensed, begin filling your gym up with the gear you need. 

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll want to have before opening your doors up to the public:

• Lots of cushy mats
• Heavy punching bags
• Boxing gloves
• Protective head and body gear
• Target shields
• Grappling dummies 

For a more comprehensive list, Fight Quality has you covered. 

Once you’re zoned, licensed, and fully equipped, you’ll want to make sure you’ve set up a bank account for your business and a point of sale system. 

The POS features in Wodify Core give you an easy interface for admins, managers, and coaches to sell products to clients and guests -- as well as manage refunds and memberships. Click here to learn more. 

Marketing your MMA gym

Now that you’ve got your location and your gear, it’s time to begin marketing your gym to your target audience.

To do that successfully, you first need to understand a few things.

Understanding your target audience

First thing’s first: you need to figure out who you’re trying to reach with your ads. And that means figuring out who’s into MMA, who’s actively practicing, and who might actually pony up to join your gym.

According to a Medium post from World’s Greatest CEO Bob Ciosek, 41% of MMA fans are 25-34 years old, and 66% are male. A 2018 report from Statista indicates that there are over 977,000 participants in mixed martial arts competitions around the world aged six and above . 

This report from Simmons Market Research shows 18.1 million Americans practicing karate or some other form of martial arts -- 9.4 million adults, 5.5 million teenagers, and 3.2 million children. 

That same report indicates that most MMA enthusiasts are relatively high-income earners, with 28% of children in martial arts training coming from households that earn over $50,000. 

In America, this list of the best MMA gyms in the world from The MMA Guru indicates that most MMA gyms can be found in California and New York, though others can be found in places like New Mexico, Florida, and even Wisconsin. 

To sum up, it would do well for you to market to MMA enthusiasts who are either a) active adults, or b) parents of active children, who are higher-income-earning and live on the coasts.

Picking the right marketing channels

Once you know your target audience and your brand, you’re ready to begin running advertisements. There are lots of different channels to choose from and the most successful companies use several of these.

Zebra Athletics , among other gyms, have several ideas for how you should consider advertising your mixed martial arts gym:

• Being active in local social media groups
• Listing your business on Google My Business
• Placing ads in local papers or magazines
• Hosting free events or seminars
• Free trial memberships
• Offering discounts to new customers and establishing membership programs
• Rolling out referral programs to incentivize current customers to bring friends
• Putting up flyers
• Partnering with other local businesses to run promotions

Each of these channels can be successful -- it just might benefit you most to try and test different marketing tactics just to see what works. 

Reducing customer churn

Now, getting customers in the door is one thing; keeping them is quite another. Sometimes, the best marketing you can do is keeping the members you have, which is no small feat.

Customer churn , according to Hubspot , is the percentage of customers who stop using your service or product during a particular time frame. The lower your customer churn is, the more likely you’ll build a solid baseline of customers you can rely on to keep the lights running and your gym profitable.  

For gyms specifically, here are some solid ways to reduce churn:

• A good onboarding experience. Keep your customer at ease at the very beginning of the process, and that solid first impression may carry through to higher retention.
• A pleasant, safe atmosphere. Your members should feel safe; gyms, especially mixed martial arts gyms , can be high-pressure environments that easily intimidate folks who are new to fitness. Make them feel welcome and taken care of.
• Clean, streamlined facilities. One part of that feeling of ease comes from keeping a clean gym; the more attractive it looks, the more likely to draw in and keep more clients.
• A sense of progress. One major reason members quit gyms is because they feel themselves plateauing in their progress, and give up. Build programs and incentives to keep working, and you can keep members from feeling like they’re going nowhere fast. 

Want even more help with your mixed martial arts gym marketing? Wodify gives you free resources every month with our Monthly Marketing spotlight. Click here for more information.

We can help you get set up

All of these tips should leave you better prepared to start a mixed martial arts gym. It can be difficult, but intensely rewarding, especially if you put in the work to draw in the kinds of people who will stick around and help make your gym the high-kicking psion of fitness you’d like it to be.

But don’t take our word for it. Book a free demo of Wodify today to learn exactly what we can do to help you take your MMA gym to the next level.

Need more resources? Read The Ultimate Guide to MMA Training Equipment For Your Gym

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