Starting a Men's Only Fitness Center - Need Advice
I'm ready to start my own men's only fitness center (circuit training)...target market is your Regular Joe. Alternative to your typical muscle-bound overcrowded box gym. Sports-themed (flat screens playing ESPN, sports decor, old cover of SI, nice sports art, posters of athletes and sports teams, etc). The long-term game plan is to manufacture the system and franchise.
I've managed to raise about $60K for start-up and 8 months of ongoing expenses. This is a HUGE risk for me of course. I don't have much money put away so if it fails, I'll have a shitload of debt.
So in order to downsize the risk and prove the concept will be a hit before I take the plunge, I would like to see how many advance memberships I could sell beforehand. Even if I could just get an idea how many people are interested and can make a promise to join (maybe by running a poll or something) that would be great too. What are some ideas I could try to test the market first? Any suggestions here would be greatly appreciated.
Any business owners out there who can share their own experience and apply it to my situation?
Again, thanks in advance for the help. The more suggestions the merrier.