Buckworths advises fitness businesses including gym operators, franchise owners, personal trainers, yoga and Pilates studios, online fitness platforms, fitness influencers, and sports technology companies.
We advise on commercial leases for gym and studio premises, fitness franchise agreements, membership terms and conditions, and supplier and equipment contracts. We draft employment and contractor agreements for fitness staff and instructors, advise on IR35 and employment status, and put HR policies in place.
For fitness brands, we advise on trademark registration, copyright in fitness content and programmes, and licensing of branded materials. We draft sponsorship agreements and advise on brand partnerships and merchandise arrangements.
For fitness businesses seeking investment or planning to scale, we advise on company structure, shareholder agreements, SEIS and EIS, and funding rounds. We also assist with franchising, business acquisitions, and exits.
Book a free consultation to discuss your fitness business.
Our Services
- Commercial
- Commercial Property
- Corporate
- Data Protection
- Dispute Resolution
- Employee Incentivisation
- Employment
- Franchising
- Funding
- General Counsel
- Intellectual Property
- Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
- Regulatory Services
- Secretarial Services
- Strategy and Business Support
FAQs
A gym or fitness studio needs member agreements covering fees, cancellation rights, liability, and use of facilities, employment contracts for staff, health and safety policies, and data protection documentation including a privacy policy and CCTV policy. If you lease your premises, we strongly recommend having your commercial lease reviewed before you sign. We advise fitness businesses on all of these.
Fit-out costs for a gym are typically substantial, which makes the lease terms particularly important. Key areas include the length of the lease, any break clauses, repair and dilapidations obligations, permitted use provisions, landlord consent for alterations, and whether you can assign or sublet. We review commercial leases for fitness businesses at a fixed fee.
Taking on a fitness franchise involves reviewing the franchise agreement, the operations manual, the lease for your premises, and any ancillary agreements. Key issues are the territory granted, the fees payable, the standard of fit-out required, what happens on exit, and whether you can sell the franchise. We offer fixed-fee franchise agreement reviews and advise franchisees throughout the process.