Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers Revenue Benchmarks
The average fitness and recreational sports centers business in the United States generates $785K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 32,447 fitness and recreational sports centers businesses in the U.S., employing 537,198 workers with an average profit margin of 12.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $22K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers Business Actually Do?
Gyms, health clubs, and specialty fitness studios — full-service gyms (Planet Fitness, LA Fitness), boutique studios (Orangetheory, CrossFit), yoga/pilates studios, and specialty sports facilities.
Who buys: Health-conscious consumers with a monthly membership. Retention (not acquisition) is the operational challenge.
Average Revenue
$785K
per year
Profit Margin
12.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$47K
per year
Total Businesses
32,447
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$94K
small business avg
Labor Cost
40.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$22K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
9.8
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers Charge?
Gyms earn recurring revenue from memberships plus classes, personal training, and merchandise.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Budget gym membership | $10–25/month |
Mid-tier gym | $25–60/month |
Premium / boutique gym | $100–250/month |
Personal training (per session) | $60–150 |
Group class drop-in | $15–35 |
Initiation fee (mid-tier) | $50–200 one-time |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete fitness and recreational sports centers business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a fitness and recreational sports centers business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the fitness and recreational sports centers industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Production & performer costs | $14 | $113K | Talent fees, equipment rentals, production supplies, licensing/royalties. |
Wages & benefits | $40 | $314K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $10 | $75K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $38K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $151K | Insurance, ticketing fees, venue maintenance, security. |
Net profit | $12 | $94K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
11.9%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.33%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+7.8%
annual
Businesses Closed
5,419
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
19 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a fitness and recreational sports centers business do?
- Gyms, health clubs, and specialty fitness studios — full-service gyms (Planet Fitness, LA Fitness), boutique studios (Orangetheory, CrossFit), yoga/pilates studios, and specialty sports facilities. Health-conscious consumers with a monthly membership. Retention (not acquisition) is the operational challenge.
- How much do fitness and recreational sports centers charge?
- Gyms earn recurring revenue from memberships plus classes, personal training, and merchandise. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average fitness and recreational sports centers make per year?
- The average fitness and recreational sports centers business generates $785K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $94K per year at a 12.0% profit margin.
- How many fitness and recreational sports centers businesses are there in the US?
- There are 32,447 fitness and recreational sports centers businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 537,198 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a fitness and recreational sports centers business?
- Startup costs for a fitness and recreational sports centers business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the fitness and recreational sports centers industry?
- The average employee in the fitness and recreational sports centers industry earns $22K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The fitness and recreational sports centers industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 7.8% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (11.9% entry vs 9.3% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 61% of fitness and recreational sports centers businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 5,419 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the fitness and recreational sports centers industry earns $21,530/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 44,125 establishments employing 620,848 people, the typical business has about 14 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The fitness and recreational sports centers industry has grown 33% since 2000 (from 44,720 to 59,619 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers revenue with other industries: