What it costs to buy a gym in Australia
Between 260 and 300 gyms are listed for sale in Australia at any one time, and the asking prices run from under $100,000 to well over a million. The spread is not really about floor space. It is about whether you are buying a membership base that earns without you.
What gyms sell for
| Recent listings | Asking price |
|---|---|
| Plus Fitness 24/7 franchise | $99,000 |
| Boutique studio, turnover $645,181, EBITDA $321,905 | on application |
| 24/7 gym, 300+ members, under management | on application |
| Sports complex and gym, VIC, 1000+ members, turnover $795,238, EBITDA $339,705 | $1,085,000 plus stock |
The two numbers that matter on any listing are members and EBITDA, not turnover. A club doing $795,000 a year and keeping $339,000 of it is a different business to one doing the same revenue on thin margins, and it will be priced that way.
How gym income actually works
Recurring membership is the whole asset. It is why a gym with a stable direct-debit base sells for a multiple that a studio relying on class packs does not, and why churn is the first thing to interrogate. Ask for the membership report, not the P&L summary: how many members, on what contract terms, joined when, and how many cancel a month.
Ask who runs it, too. A club sold as "under management" has a manager and staff already in place, which is what makes it an investment rather than a job. An owner-operated studio at the same price usually means you are buying yourself forty hours a week on the floor.
Franchise, independent or boutique
A 24/7 franchise is the cheapest way in, and the entry prices show it. You get a brand, a system and a member-management platform, and you carry franchise fees and a territory agreement in exchange. Independent clubs cost more and give you the pricing and programming freedom that franchisees do not have.
Boutique studios, reformer pilates and strength-focused rooms, run smaller floor plates at higher yield per member. The listing above showing $321,905 of EBITDA on $645,181 of turnover is a boutique economics profile, not a big-box one. If you are weighing building instead of buying, our guides to gym fit-out costs and reformer pilates studio costs cover the other side of the decision.
Financing a gym purchase
Most gym acquisitions fund as two separate things. The goodwill and membership base is business acquisition lending, which generally wants property security or a solid deposit behind it because there is no asset to repossess. The equipment on the floor is straightforward asset finance, and it can often be structured separately at a sharper rate because the racks, rigs and cardio have a real resale market.
Splitting the deal that way usually beats funding the whole purchase as one unsecured lump. Tell us the purchase price, what the equipment is worth and whether you own property, and we will structure it across the panel. See also gym equipment finance.
This is general information only and not financial, credit, or tax advice. Prices are indicative market listings, not Ventas figures, and move with the market. Consider your own circumstances and speak to a professional. All finance is subject to lender assessment and approval.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to buy a gym in Australia?
Listings run from around $99,000 for a 24/7 franchise to $1,085,000 plus stock for a full sports complex with more than 1000 members. Price tracks the recurring membership base and EBITDA far more than floor space.
What should I look at before buying a gym?
The membership report before the P&L: member count, contract terms, join dates and monthly churn. Then whether it is owner-operated or under management, because that decides whether you have bought an investment or a job.
Can I finance a gym purchase?
Yes, usually as two parts. Goodwill and the membership base fund as business acquisition lending, which generally wants property security or a deposit. The equipment funds as asset finance against its own resale value, often at a sharper rate.
Is it better to buy a gym or build one?
Buying gets you revenue from day one and a member base you can test. Building lets you choose the site and the fit-out but carries a ramp with no income. Compare the asking price against a realistic fit-out budget and the months of no revenue.
Get your number from the lender panel
The figures above are indicative. Tell us what you are buying and we will come back with the real rate and repayment, usually within a day. No upfront fees and no credit check to get a quote.
Licence, freehold and funding, read together
Tell us the LPO and whether freehold is included and we will structure it, usually within a day.
This article is general information only and not financial, credit, or tax advice. Ventas Asset Lending is a finance broker, not a lender. Approvals are subject to lender assessment. Consider your own circumstances and speak to a qualified professional, including your accountant for any tax questions.