Climbing gyms: profitable?

Can't answer that, but what I've seen is that they make most of their income from families, i.e. kid's birthday parties.

over 500 facilities in multiple industries are using RGP to run their entire operations – and Rock Gym Pro is processing over $1,000,000 in transactions each day for these gyms

A bouldering gym seems like a better choice for a one-off, capital investment and space requirements are much lower. Finding existing industrial space with 30+ft clear spans is not as easy as you'd think, and if you want a 70' clear span, better plan on building from scratch.

Mesa Rim: the Mission Valley location is definitely built from scratch.

I know someone who had a big investment at what was a new gym. Kris and Reilly will know it, it's the gym on Santa Anita across from REI.

I don't know the particulars, but I do know he got burned big time.

I think to be a successful business owner you have to love actually being in business. Making payroll, picking a new insurance provider, getting your HR stuff right, financial planning, hiring, firing, counseling and training, stretching out accounts payable, tightening down accounts receivable, cash flow cash flow cash flow; accountants.

Doesn't matter what the business might be doing, all of the above apply.

My opinion: you gotta love it. Because if you don't? You'll hate it.

Think of all the startups that fail. A good number of them fail because well-intentioned folk decide to try to make a living doing what they love; restaurants, gyms, gear mfg, whatever; but are lacking in business skills and acumen. Most of them are doomed from the inception, sadly.

I'd hate owning a gym. I'd hate owning and having to run any business. Been there, done that, made money and sold out. I wanted my personal life back, and got it. I was much happier working for and selling to those who love doing it. I didn't.

I watched a friend first dream and then open his own climbing gym. It wasn't pretty. Getting your ass strapped to a losing proposition can have some serious repercussions in the rest of your life. Be careful what you wish for :)

Great information here. Thanks to all. 'Climbing Business Journal'? Wow, the industry is far more mature than I envisioned, even visiting gyms all around the US while traveling (for my real business). I've been to Mesa Rim, great gym and I had a lot of fun. Plenty of interesting boulder problems that I could do and the crack routes are awesome. Loved the points about route setters. Yes, I have encountered the 16 y.o. local hotshot setting V0+ routes that have moves that I could only get with a full set of hooks and a Lovetron.

Sounds like economies of scale are the real path to long term profitability. And it sounds more like my real job than I'd like. Still pondering

Anyway, a year or two ago someone told me that PG had like > 5000 members who called Sunnyvale their home gym. No idea if that's true, but damn if so.

It's like lift ticket prices. When you make a lifestyle sport a core part of someones identity they will pay any amount of money to keep it that way.

Yup, that's exactly what it's like--no economic theory like supply and demand applies at all--it's just a bunch of idiot/rich/nerds both as customers and as gym owners.

It's inconceivable that the gym owners are supplying a service to their customers at a price that benefits both parties, simply inconceivable (to old ST farts at least).

I think 'Vital' may be trying to go nation wide as mentioned up thread a bit. I climbed at the one in Oceanside

simply inconceivable (to old ST farts at least).

Always with the barb.

DMT

(WA go figure?)
Jon Beck

No, not at all. I've just noticed you're back to a barb in nearly every post. You got away from that for a while, I think you were sick or some sh#t. Glad you're feeling well enough to take a sh#t on other people.

Enjoy.

bad weather at least 1/2 of the year.

Werner- Vertical World opened in 1987=88. City Rock opened in 1989-90

Dunno about profitability but I can't think of a gym that's gone out of business...

Schurman Rock in West Seattle

while peter had the vision, it was melvin, touchstone, who brought us the gym experience we know today.

i'd still argue that city rock was the first purposely built indoor climbing gym on the model of bolt-on interchangeable holds. the first iteration of vertical world was largely fixed holds, ie rocks epoxied to cinderblock walls. while peter had the vision, it was melvin, touchstone, who brought us the gym experience we know today.