What is Gym Performance Score?
A gym benchmark evaluates your fitness facility across member retention, revenue per square foot, class utilization, and member acquisition cost.
The Formula
Score = (ฮฃ Category Scores รท Number of Categories) ร 100
Worked Example
A boutique gym: 72% annual retention, $65 revenue per sq ft, 78% class fill rate, $100 member acquisition cost.
- Retention: 72/80 target = 90/100
- Revenue/sqft: 65/80 target = 81/100
- Class fill: 78/85 target = 92/100
- Acquisition cost: 100/120 budget = 83/100
- Overall = (90 + 81 + 92 + 83) รท 400 ร 100 = 87%
๐ The gym scores 87%, strong class utilization with revenue per square foot as the primary growth opportunity.
Why This Matters
Member lifetime value
Average gym member stays 4.7 months. Improving retention by just 2 months increases LTV by 40%.
Space optimization
Revenue per square foot reveals whether your floor plan and class schedule maximize earning potential.
Competitive positioning
The US gym market has 40,000+ facilities. Benchmark scores help identify your competitive advantages.
Common Mistakes
โ Chasing member volume over retention
Acquiring 100 members while losing 90 is expensive. Retention improvements have 5x the ROI of acquisition.
โ Ignoring off-peak utilization
Most gyms are only busy 20 hours per week. Improving off-peak attendance can double revenue per square foot.
โ Not tracking class profitability
Popular classes may not be profitable if instructor costs are high. Track margin per class, not just attendance.
Industry Benchmarks
| Category | Good | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member Retention | 80%+ annual | 65-80% | Below 60% |
| Revenue per Sq Ft | $80+ | $50-80 | Below $40 |
| Class Fill Rate | 85%+ | 65-85% | Below 55% |
Source: IHRSA (now Health and Fitness Association) 2025 Global Fitness Report
Benchmark data sourced from IHRSA (now Health and Fitness Association) 2025 Global Fitness Report.