Out of all the different investment and business opportunities, there are few quite so rewarding. We’re talking about getting into a community focused business. That’s exactly what recreational business, sports centers, and youth activity clubs are. They offer a space for the community to get together and get active. You look after the health, morale and motivations of people in the community. If you do it right, you can become a real force for positive change. But to do that, you’re going to need to get your thinking hat on. Here are just a few of the things you need to consider.
Gain experience
Before you get into opening up your own center, you need to know what it’s like to be in the thick of it. Even if you can’t work in a recreational business, it’s a good idea to cobble together the different parts of the experience. For example, it’s essential you learn how to work with children and families. There are a lot of opportunities to get the qualifications you need to work with younger people. At the same time, you should try to get a job or volunteer with working in a gym or a sports team. Not just the fitness angle, but the administrative angle as well. This can help you get a better understanding of what is needed to organize an active business.
Consider the niches you’re going to fill
You want to provide a centralized location that members of the community can come and enjoy. You offer something different from teams and gyms, but it’s important that you make that a focus. You can offer soccer just like any other team. But you also need separate niches that can help you draw attention. You’re not there to compete. You’re there to get people active and involved with other people. So consider some of the different sports that your area might not have the opportunity to offer. For example, think of offering a baseball pitch or martial arts lessons on top of the usual gym environment.
Permissions you’re going to need
As you might expect, there are going to be a lot of hoops you have to jump through. You’re going to need to find all the right permits and licenses for your business. For example, you’re going to need to get certification for working with children. This will include a background check in most cases. You may also need permission for making changes to the property you buy, including adding sports grounds. We can’t offer any more specifics because a lot of these permissions are state based. So you need to do your own research and find out what your state will ask of you. Just don’t make the mistake of trying to start your business without having the right permits. Otherwise, it can cost you the business and plenty else besides.
The staff that you need
You’re going to need people besides yourself working at the center of course. For one, you’re going to want people who have experience in gyms or with the sports you host. You should also look at local colleges for volunteers to help facilitate these gyms and take care of the admin. Again, it’s likely that you’re dealing with children. So you should look those who have qualifications in working with children. As it’s a community driven business, you should also consider getting into schemes that let you take on paid interns and volunteers. Help those in your community get work experience as well as helping you with your business.
How to promote yourself
You’re going to need to stand out. Particularly as a new place. We’ve mentioned how offering niche sports and activities can play a big role. But that’s not the only thing. For one, you need to organize a launch and put a lot of effort into making it as visible as possible. You need an event where you can safely assume your numbers are going to be big. After all, there are few things worse for a community recreation center than someone arriving only to find there’s no-one else there. Promote yourself by enlisting the help of other active businesses and sports teams around you. You have the potential to foster mutually beneficial relationships with these businesses. Having them present at any launch events is going to do wonders for your attendance.
Looking after the property
A vital aspect of running any kind of community center is looking after the building itself. Firstly, it needs to be a safe place for people to come and be active. You need to look in detail at things like asbestos, mold, and ventilation. If people are going to exert themselves, they need to breath safely. Assured them that nothing in the building is going to negatively affect their respiration. If you’re providing sporting grounds outside, then you need to ensure that it’s kept in good condition. That kind of ground needs more maintenance and protection than the average lawn. For example, in bad weather, you should consider covering the field. That way the grounds won’t get water-logged and cancel your activities.
Social responsibility is the name of the game
You also need to consider the branding that your center is going to carry with it. As a community-based business, you need to focus on social responsibility. Not just in terms of fitness and bringing the community together. We’ve already mentioned, for example, getting involved in volunteering/internships schemes. You should also do your best to help local charities and initiatives. Another aspect of social responsibility well worth considering is sustainable living. Lead by example by trying to run a green business as much as possible. If you want people to believe that you are a positive force for the community, you need to actually be that positive source.
We hope that the above points have only strengthened your desire to open up your recreational business. If you have the money and the will, we hope we’ve given you the focus you need to really make it a success.
This article was provided by ellie jo