How to Choose the Best Gym Manager for Your Franchise?
Did you just become a gym franchise owner? Congratulations!
As a new gym owner, you’ll face a variety of hurdles. However, the right team will always be there to support you and make all of your hard work worthwhile.
One of the first team members you should bring on is a skilled and experienced gym manager. They will oversee a wide range of tasks to keep your facility running smoothly.
If you’re not sure how to find the right manager for your gym, the information outlined below can help.
What Does a Gym Manager Do?
Gym managers do much of the heavy lifting when it comes to a gym’s day-to-day operations. The following are some specific tasks they carry out:
Managing class offerings and class schedules
Managing and training trainers and other staff members
Selling and retaining gym memberships
Ensuring all gym equipment meets safety standards
Balancing budgets
Handling payroll
From personnel management to administrative tasks, gym managers do a little bit of everything. Because they have so many responsibilities, you must ensure you’re hiring someone who you trust to help you keep your new gym franchise business afloat.
How to Find a Great Gym Manager
As you can see, the gym manager role is one of the most important and demanding positions a gym owner must fill. Here are some tips that will help you choose the right person for the job:
Write an Effective Job Ad
The first step to hiring any employee — but especially a gym manager — is writing a clear, convincing job ad. You need to sell the position you’re trying to fill and convince job seekers to apply.
Be sure to list the primary responsibilities the gym manager will carry out, as well as the specific education and experience requirements you want them to meet. Clarify the salary range for the position and the benefits it comes with, too.
Invest in Hiring/Recruiting Services
You might be hesitant to invest in hiring or recruitment services because you don’t want to spend extra money while trying to get your gym franchise off the ground.
In reality, investing in these services can provide greater returns and help you build your business faster.
When you have a skilled gym manager on your side, your gym will run more smoothly. As a result, you’ll have more time to focus on other things. This includes things that make your gym more profitable in the long run.
Schedule and Prepare for Job Interviews
Once you’ve started receiving resumes and applications from interested job seekers, it’s time to schedule interviews.
Don’t just wing these interviews and hope for the best. Take some time to prepare a list of questions.
Be sure to ask about each applicant’s management experience and experience in the fitness industry, as well as the skills that make them a good fit for the job (administrative skills, customer service skills, problem-solving skills, etc.).
Focus on Business Experience
When asking about experience, focus on each candidate’s business and management experience. Don’t get too hung up on the amount of time someone has spent in the fitness space.
Remember, their business acumen will be more beneficial to you as a new gym franchisee. It should hold more weight than their specific fitness knowledge and experience.
Take Your Time to Find the Best Candidate
You might be eager to find a manager and get your business up and running. However, it’s best to take your time when searching for such an important employee.
The more careful you are when hiring your gym manager, the less likely you are to end up firing them a few months after.
Skills Every Gym Manager Should Have
In addition to following the tips discussed above, be sure to evaluate candidates based on their personalities and skills.
Listed below are some of the most beneficial skills and characteristics every gym manager should possess:
Good Communication Skills
The best gym managers — and other types of business managers, for that matter — are good communicators.
Your gym manager should know how to set clear expectations, explain roles and responsibilities to other employees, and address issues directly but tactfully.
They should also be good listeners and willing to hear what others have to say — and take their ideas into account.
Creative Problem-Solving Skills
Your new gym manager shouldn’t be afraid to think outside of the box. They should be willing to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions to issues affecting your gym.
During the interview process, be sure to ask candidates about a time they had to creatively solve a problem. Pay attention to their response and consider how they could benefit your gym moving forward.
Financial Management Skills
Gym managers have to handle a lot of finance-related tasks, from budgeting to payroll. Look for a candidate who has experience with these kinds of responsibilities and considers themselves to be financially savvy.
Teaching Skills
Part of being a good manager or leader is being a good teacher.
From new personal trainers to the front desk staff, you’ll have a lot of employees working at your franchise, and your gym manager will oversee all of them.
The manager should be good at clarifying expectations, breaking down complex issues, and giving employees the tools they need to succeed in their jobs.
Patience
Finally, the best gym managers are patient and supportive.
Gym managers should create a workplace culture in which people aren’t afraid to ask questions, express concerns, or make mistakes. They shouldn’t rule with an iron fist, nor should they fly off the handle at the first sign of trouble.
Start Your Gym Manager Search Today
Now that you know more about what to look for in a gym manager, it’s time to start your search.
Keep the tips and top qualities discussed above in mind and you’ll have no trouble finding a great fit for your gym franchise.
Owning a gym is a challenging yet incredibly rewarding experience. And now, thanks to Stepz, it just got a whole lot easier.
We are a rapidly growing fitness franchise in Australia with a great reputation and a unique model that combines 24/7 access with group fitness under 1 roof.
When you open a Stepz Gym you don’t just get a turnkey system that will turn your passion into profit, you’ll become part of a tight knight family that supports you every step of the way. Click here to learn more about our franchise model — it might just be the opportunity you’ve been looking for!