How to Save Money on Gym Membership

How to Save Money on Gym Membership

I have never had a ‘proper’ job outside of the fitness industry – I’m up to 10 years in the fitness industry. During that time I have learned a thing or two about gym membership sales and how to save money on gym membership.

This article doesn’t go through long-winded ways to save a few quid such as ‘change insurance providers’ – these tips can be used today!

Gym managers have heaps of pressure applied from target-driven bosses and will do all kinds of things to make sure these are hit – this creates opportunities for you to save money on gym membership!

Here are a few fitness industry inside-secrets that will save you some of your hard-earned cash!

If you are joining a gym…

1. Negotiate the joining fee.

Despite being in an around gyms for 10 years, I still don’t know what the joining fee is actually for, other than providing a few quid worth of cash for the business. The gym will usually explain it is an admin fee, or say that it pays for your welcome pack etc. Don’t believe it – the receptionist who will process your order is probably on £7 per hour and it will take them 5 minutes to enter your details into the computer. The welcome pack of a towel, a bag and a water bottle has a cost price of less than £5 when bought in the volume they buy.

The sales staff are often instructed they can ‘drop close’ – this means they are allowed to reduce the joining fee in order to convince you to join. As a customer you think you are getting a bargain and the salesman is happy as he has another sale without upsetting the boss – the reduction was pre-authorised.

Use this to your advantage – negotiate the joining fee. Meet them half way if needs be – decline the welcome pack.

2. Join with a partner, friend or family member.

Gyms will often discount to those joining in multiples. Depending on the amount of you who join, you could expect to save up to 30% per month on your subscription. Most places don’t mind if you are no relation – friends still count!

Ask about the discounts for multiple joiners – you may save on joining fee or access a deal that isn’t advertised!

3. Use staff discounts to your advantage.

If you know or are related to a member of staff at a gym, ask do they have a friends and family membership package. Some gyms allow staff members a free membership for a person of their choice. Even if they don’t offer this, they may still offer a discount – I know a company that offer a 50% discount to friends and family members of staff. Often these deals are unlimited, so take advantage by getting other friends to join and save them money too!

If you are already a member of a gym…

1. Find out if there are varying levels of membership package. 

If you are paying for times or services you don’t need or use, ask can you remove them from your membership package.

Lots of gyms offer discounted packages if you only use the gym or only use classes. Make sure you are taking advantage of this if you can. Additionally, lots of gyms offer a peak or off peak package. If you only use the gym in the morning, see if you can get your price down to an off-peak rate.

2. Find out if your job has a corporate gym membership deal.

Lots of companies or government workers offer their staff a reduced rate on gym membership.

Ask the HR department or the gym of your choice if they have a corporate deal you could take advantage of. If you work for the NHS, Police, Fire Service etc I will almost guarantee you will be able to access cheaper gym membership than normal. Again, these deals aren’t advertised very often so you need to ask, but you will save a lot of money over the course of a membership.

Even if you are already a member, you will be able to drop your subscription fee to the corporate rate and save that way.

3. Bring new members with you.

If you are a member of a club, society or simply have lots of friends who want to join a gym, negotiate with the management for a reduction in fee if they join.

When I was a gym manager, I gave a free membership to a man who had his rugby club join. I had a guarantee of 25 new members (I gave them all a corporate rate) and a happy member who had his £420 annual bill reduced to nothing! It was well worth giving the membership away for the massive increase in revenue (they would also buy massages, drinks, accessories etc) so contributed a lot to the club.

Gym managers have heavy sales targets on their shoulders, so appeal to their salesman side by dangling a carrot of lots of new members!

4. Threaten to leave for a rival gym.

It isn’t well known that as well as sales targets, gym managers also have leavers targets – they have to keep their leavers below a given figure each month.

At the end of your contract (not before as you are liable to buy yourself out), suggest you might leave as a gym down the road is offering a better deal (only do this if there is a gym not far away, or risk looking like a tool). There may be a way the manager can manipulate your membership fee to reward your loyalty.

So there are 7 ways you can save money on gym membership that you can use TODAY!