LoanLogic founder Ben Arhin also co-owns and operates StrongCo, an independent gym in Bournemouth. His gym-finance guidance combines commercial-finance experience with first-hand decisions about equipment, premises, fit-out, working capital, membership revenue and expansion.
Use these guides to plan a launch, compare equipment funding, or understand how an independent operator approached an investment decision.
Plan premises, fit-out, equipment and working capital before committing to a launch.
Compare hire purchase, leasing and other ways to finance identifiable equipment.
Understand the main ways established fitness businesses can fund growth.
Read Ben’s first-hand account of balancing investment, capacity and cash flow.
£15k - £150k
New cardio suites, free weights, functional training rigs, resistance machines. Spread costs over 1 to 5 years while the equipment pays for itself through new memberships.
£20k - £200k
Complete facility overhauls, flooring, lighting, changing rooms, studio spaces. Finance the transformation that attracts premium members and higher retention.
£50k - £500k
Buy an existing gym, purchase a franchise, acquire a competitor. Structure deals that work with existing cashflow and membership income.
£30k - £300k
Second site fit-outs, franchise openings, new territory expansion. Fund the full buildout without draining your existing gym's working capital.
£10k - £100k
Cover seasonality gaps, fund marketing campaigns, hire trainers, bridge cashflow during growth phases. Unsecured options available for established gyms.
£5k - £50k
Member management systems, access control, booking platforms, CRM. Finance the tech stack that makes your gym run smoother and scale faster.
Banks struggle with gym finance because they see liability without understanding the revenue model. Membership income looks unstable to them. Equipment depreciates. Leases feel risky. They apply retail lending criteria to a service business with recurring revenue.
Specialist lenders get it. They understand membership retention rates, understand equipment holds value in the secondhand market, understand that gym businesses scale predictably when managed well. We work with lenders who have funded hundreds of gym projects and know how to structure deals that work.
For identifiable equipment purchases, asset finance often makes most sense. The equipment itself secures the loan, rates vary depending on your profile (pricing on application), and you preserve cashflow. Terms commonly run from 1 to 5 years. Compare the structures available on our commercial gym equipment finance page.
For refits, expansions, or working capital, unsecured business loans work better. No assets tied up, faster decisions, more flexibility on use. Rates typically 8% to 40%+ depending on business strength and term. Terms from 3 months to 5 years.
We talk through what you are funding, what your gym currently does, where you want it to go. We ask the questions lenders will ask.
We shortlist 2 to 4 lenders from our panel of 70+ who are most likely to say yes at the best terms for your situation.
We help you pull together the information lenders need. Bank statements, business overview, equipment quotes, whatever is relevant.
Most decisions come back in 24 to 72 hours. Once approved, funds typically arrive in 3 to 7 working days.
Yes. Many lenders will finance quality secondhand equipment. The equipment needs to be commercial grade and have decent remaining lifespan. Rates are usually slightly higher than new equipment finance but still competitive.
Lenders who understand the fitness industry expect seasonality. January spikes, summer dips. They assess you on annual performance, not monthly volatility. We structure repayments that work with your cashflow pattern where possible.
For asset finance on equipment, typically no deposit required if the business profile is strong. For larger facility projects or acquisitions, lenders often want to see 10% to 30% skin in the game. But there are always options.
We work with lenders who specialize in adverse credit. If your gym is trading well now and the credit issues are historical and explainable, we have options. The rates might be higher but the door is not closed.
From initial call to funds in your account, typically 1 to 3 weeks for straightforward deals. More complex acquisitions or large facility projects can take 4 to 8 weeks depending on due diligence requirements.
LoanLogic is a commercial finance brokerage serving SMEs across South West England. We connect businesses to 70+ specialist lenders when traditional banks say no or move too slowly. Funding from £10k to £500k for equipment, expansion, acquisitions, and working capital.
Founded by Ben, an independent gym owner with 17 years of financial-services experience. We prioritize client suitability over commission potential and operate with full transparency.
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