Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

My name is David and I am new to the startupnation board.  I came to this forum to learn more about business and to connect with other people of like mind.  I am looking to start a new fitness business in Orange County, CA in 2007 and am open to any and all suggestions for how I might do that!

Hope to talk to you all soon...

David.

welcome to our community, david.

what are specific questions or challenges you currently have? there are a ton of smart and active people here and i`m sure with a little more detail they`ll be all over it!!!

START IT UP!!!

rich

-------------------------

Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the response.  The details of my business idea are that I want to combine fitness coaching (which much like personal training without the negative image people have of personal trainers) with physical therapy, massage therapy to create a wellness center type deal.  My questions for startupnation are:

-I have read everything I can find about choosing a location but what`s the right answer on how to pick one?  By this I mean that in the book it states that you should look for a place in a good "drive time" from you facility that has the demographic you are looking for.  While I understand this, how do I find this?  If I go into a shopping center type complex I will pay $2.50+ per square foot in California at the minimum (which shoots my business plan all to hell).  If I look at an industrial type building (as most fitness books recommend) how do I pay for the air conditioning that type of building in California?  Also, where do I look for properties?  I have looked on the internet with very limited success...should I just drive around and get phone numbers from signs?  

-the other detail I am trying to hammer out is I need to find a physical therapist that sees my vision of opening several wellness facilities in the next few years and wants to be a part of this (not really as a partner, but more in a sub-lease or co-renter type fashion, so I can lower my monthly rent and offer this type of service).  I don`t really want to go into a partnership with anyone and frankly as I am new to California in the last 4 years I don`t have a vast network of friends and colleges I can draw from.

-another detail I am struggling to solve is startup funding.  I am seriously thinking of using a home equity line of credit as we have a decent amount of equity in our home...  I don`t need a lot of money so I think that`s the right thing to do, but I would love input from others.

-Finally I guess I want to know what all business want to know...how do you bring people in your front door?  What works, and what is just a waste of time.  Once again I have read a lot and talked to a lot of my clients (which is a great help), but I still would like input from others who have or are doing the same thing I am going to do.

Thanks Rich for the interest and if you or any others can offer me any advice I am very interested...

David. 

welcome aboard, sd. 

-------------------------

sd - I can`t really answer most of your questions but I can tell you that I took out a home equity loan to fund remodeling our basement into a workspace and am paying it back as quickly as I can. I`m okay with it but the money is actually going toward improving our home. I don`t know if it`s the best answer for funding an outside biz. You have to be really confident that your business will be successful. I`m sure the others will chime in here and give you some good advice. Good luck!

Welcome David!

- J.




-------------------------

Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

Not to mention, Chris, that remodeling your home to use the workspace (for your business?) the tax benefits.

Ron

-------------------------

ReThink Solar Energy!
Get Your No-Up Front Cost Solar and help reverse greenhouse gases and global warming. Lock in Today`s electrical rate for up to 25 years.
Get Paid To Drive Your Car...
wear T-shirts, and more! Earn money effortlessly while you go about your day!

Hi David:  I was thinking of a few tips that could possibly help as far as figuring out a location.  If you`ll be working at the business you should consider proximity to where you`re living.  Your type of business works well in the more densely populated middle-upper middle class areas.  I would think twice about putting a wellness business in an industrial area though.  That idea clashes.  Perhaps a very small school building or an old park district, post office or library building.  Many of these buildings are being replaced by larger facilities. 

Welcome sd! We could always use another member for our team (Team SUN)!

-------------------------

Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Thanks to everyone who has offered advice and such a great welcome...it is appreciated. 

MiteyMite, I like the ideas of the old schools or post office.  Perhaps when I am ready to buy a building that would be perfect.  The problem with finding a place in southern California is the expense.  Even industrial type places (and I am talking about light industrial, not a fully industrial building) are expensive (in the $1.10 to 1.50 per square foot range) and if I am looking for a retail type place in a shopping center strip mall type deal they go for $2.50+ per square foot. 

Ideally I am looking to find a locations in a light industrial building that looks good from outside (a professional image) that has a good drive time (less than 15 minutes from mid to high end residential areas and office buildings).  I also would like it to be close to intersecting freeways so that clients not in the immediate area have relatively easy access to my facility. 

I guess what I want is peoples input for a place.  I don`t necessary need a retail type location as the foot traffic for a fitness facility is generally less than 5% of total sales...it`s the referals from existing clients and then drumming up business with cross promotion and so forth that brings in most of your business. 

I guess I`m just scared to death of choosing the wrong facility...anyone who can offer some advice please let me know...