Why isn’t your fitness facility open 24 hours a day? It used to be a good question with many relevant answers, and while the idea of a 24-hour gym might sound appealing at first glance, in the past there were several important reasons to decided against it.

Staffing Costs

Old Thinking: Keeping a gym open 24 hours requires staffing during late-night and early-morning hours, which can be expensive. Even if the gym is automated with keycard access, there still needs to be maintenance and security staff available. The costs associated with hiring staff for these hours can quickly add up, making it financially impractical for many gym owners.

New Solutions: No longer. You can have your facility open without staff for many hours. Gone are the days requiring key fobs and cards. With Smartphone access from systems like Kinect and inexpensive, easy to manage camera systems like those from Blink you can securely and reliablyGrant ask us to your members windows that are on site.

Insurance

Old Thinking: This is not directly related to the technical side of offering 24-hour gym access, but it is foundational. It’s essential to check with your business insurance provider to ensure they allow for 24-hour access to your members. Often, you'll need a specific insurance clause to offer 24-hour access, which can increase premiums significantly.

New Solutions: When I opened my first gym just over 10 years ago and I mentioned to Insurance Agents that I would like to have access 24 hours a day but staff would not be there all the time they just looked at me with a blank face. It was quickly evident after speaking with a few insurance agents that I was breaking new ground. fast forward to today and most agents have a few companies that they can check on pricing with. The cost has also come down exponentially.

Updated Waivers and Documents

Old Thinking: With specific insurance policies come updated waivers and documents. It’s crucial to ensure that members who have access agree to your terms and liabilities. This involves additional administrative work and legal considerations that can be cumbersome to manage.

New Solutions: Most good gym management software Solutions now include what could be considered Plug and Play editing to the waiver. Waivers can still be an area that needs some special attention as each region and Country can have different rules. However with the ability to add paragraphs according to your needs in most software this is a relatively quick process that also saves you money on legal advice.

Door Access Control System

Old Thinking: Implementing a reliable door access control system is another critical factor. There are very few trusted systems for boutique fitness gyms. These systems can require significant investment for installation and implementation plus ongoing maintenance. Replacing key fobs for key cards is not only an inventory and cost issue but the staff time involved can really increase your expense for the systems.

New Solutions: Today Canadian gym software systems like the one from Facility Kinetics enables and members' smartphones to be their access key. This solves the issue of lost or shared fobs and cards plus staff are rarely needed to add a new member or update a cell phone. The hardware for this system in provided for free by the company in the monthly fee is affordable.... especially compared to staff expenses it saves.

Security Cameras

Old Thinking: Some gym owners choose not to install cameras because they can make members feel watched and self-conscious, especially beginners, older adults, or anyone rehabbing an injury. They are worried that could hurt sign-ups and retention. On top of that, cameras bring legal and compliance baggage: clear signage, strict rules about where you can’t record, secure storage of footage, and the risk of misuse or data breaches.

New Solutions: If you’re going to run a 24 hour gym, you have to assume there will be long stretches with no staff in the building. That’s where cameras earn their keep. You’re not just “keeping an eye on things,” you’re creating a record of what actually happened if something goes sideways when no one’s there. Yes, it’s another layer of cost and setup, but most people already know they’re probably on camera in public spaces and they behave accordingly. In reality, the usual reaction is the opposite of what you might fear. People tend to feel safer, not creeped out. Even something as simple as a sign that says “For your protection and ours, this facility is monitored by cameras” can cut down on vandalism and sketchy behaviour and quietly reassure the members you actually want to keep.

Gym Management System

Old Thinking: I don't want expensive frustrating software.

New Solutions: A gym management system that ties into your door access control system can be a game-changer. This allows you to manage who has access to your gym and sync it with their membership status. You do not want a cancelled member still having access to your gym. Software automation can eliminate this concern.

Higher Insurance Premiums

Old Thinking: Operating a 24-hour gym might increase liability and insurance costs due to the higher risk of accidents and incidents occurring during unattended hours. This is a significant consideration that can impact the overall financial health of your business.

New Solutions: Increased Wear & Tear on Equipment

Old Thinking: Constant use of gym facilities can lead to faster wear and tear on equipment and infrastructure. Closing for a few hours each day provides a break and helps reduce long-term maintenance costs. This downtime is crucial for keeping the gym in good condition and ensuring equipment longevity.

New Solutions: Yes, with new members comes more wear and tear on equipment. But not selling a membership because there's going to be extra mileage on your treadmill is ridiculous……that's why you're there. If people who can't always make it during your normal hours or may feel rushed in doing so, will join and stay as members because you are available to them then you will have more revenue.

Energy Costs

Old Thinking: Keeping the gym well-lit, air-conditioned, or heated 24/7 can lead to high energy costs. These costs might not be justified by the additional revenue generated from being open all night, especially if the demand during these hours is low.

New Solutions: Most gyms are open to 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. and reopen between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. For as little as six additional hours of being open. HVAC professionals will recommend that maintaining a constant temperature is the most efficient use of energy.

Low Demand for 24/7 Access

Old Thinking: Depending on the location and target market, there may not be enough demand for a 24-hour gym. If very few members use the gym during off-peak hours, it may not be financially viable to remain open around the clock. Understanding your community’s needs is crucial before making such a decision.

New Solutions: When you look at everything we’ve talked about, staying open an extra 5 to 7 hours overnight usually doesn’t add much to your expenses. But it can make a big difference competitively. If the gym down the road is 24/7 and you are not, that is a clear selling point you cannot offer. If they are not 24/7, then you have a chance to leapfrog them. With the right software and access system, going 24/7 is a real opportunity to match or beat your competition, serve your members better, and grow revenue and profit. I ran both of my gyms 24 hours, and I have never once thought about going back.