Opening a commercial fitness center can be a stressful and expensive venture; one way you can lessen this stress and financial strain is to consider fitness equipment leasing. Once you understand fitness equipment leasing basics, you'll quickly see why gym equipment leasing is a viable option. There are many benefits to leasing gym equipment, such as lowering monthly costs, deducting lease payments for tax purposes and conserving company capital.

From reduced cash outlay to the ability to upgrade equipment at no extra cost, leasing fitness equipment has many advantages. Whether you're dealing directly with top-name fitness equipment manufacturers or fitness equipment leasing companies, you'll find that equipment gym leasing is basically the same across service providers. Here are some ways to better understand and appreciate fitness equipment leasing basics:

1. Learn the process of leasing fitness equipment.

2. Familiarize yourself with the different types of fitness equipment leasing programs available.

3. Review terms found in most any fitness equipment lease.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Become familiar with the step-by-step process of leasing gym equipment

Once you discover how relatively easy it is to obtain a fitness equipment lease, you'll quickly understand why so many gym owners pursue this option. From submitting a credit application for fitness equipment financing to delivery of the gym equipment, fitness equipment leasing is considered a far easier and quicker practice than buying equipment. You can apply for a lease and have gym equipment delivered to your business in as few as four easy steps.

I recommend: Read about the process of applying for a fitness equipment lease and review an online application at GymCor. Pinnacle Funding offers a very simple four-step process to getting a gym equipment lease, explaining what you'll need, outlining how to submit the required information and providing access to an online application.

Discover the many types of fitness equipment leasing programs offered today

One of the greatest benefits of fitness equipment leasing is that you can get the type of plan that will best fit your individual needs. You might, for instance, opt for lower monthly payments, buying options or a no obligation lease. You can even choose a no obsolescence lease, which allows you to get new equipment during the life of your lease to ensure you'll never be operating with outdated machines.

I recommend: View the different types of fitness equipment leases available at USA Fitness Direct, from fair market value leases that allow you to both purchase and return options, to a one-dollar buyout lease that gives you the chance to buy equipment at the end of the lease for as little as one dollar. Innovative Fitness Solutions briefly explains fixed interest and replacement/upgrade leases and various other options for fitness equipment leasing.

Get to know many of the basic conditions presented in almost any exercise equipment lease

Though there are many leasing companies and fitness equipment manufacturers offering leases, many gym equipment lease conditions are the same, or very similar. For instance, most terms of fitness equipment leasing are between 12 and 60 months. In addition, many fitness equipment leases offer similar options, such as end lease conditions.

I recommend: Find answers to many basic questions about fitness equipment leasing, including terms, credit qualifications and payment schedules, at FitnessLeasing.com. Learn about multiple equipment incentives, "soft costs" and other quirks offered by many fitness equipment lessors, at UsedGymEquipment.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Work maintenance, replacement and installation costs into your fitness equipment lease.

As people become more and more health conscious, they are seeking a variety of ways to fit exercise into their daily routine. Why not help employees who have made fitness a priority in their lives by creating a workout center in your business? It doesn't have to be a mega gym with all the bells and whistles - a decent-size room with a couple of aerobic machines and weight machines will suffice.

Best of all, your upfront costs will be minimal if you opt for fitness equipment leasing. While you may pay more in the long run with an exercise equipment lease, leasing gym equipment allows you to have more up-to-date equipment than you might have been able to purchase outright. In addition, since most gym equipment leasing terms run one to two years, if you decide your on-site fitness room isn't being used, you can abandon mission after the fitness equipment lease is up and not have a bunch of exercise machines to get rid of. When exploring fitness equipment leasing, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Determine a gym equipment leasing budget, including the costs involved in creating a comfortable area in which to put the exercise equipment.

2. Ask employees which types of equipment they would be most likely to use. Your chances of success will be much greater if their needs are met.

3. Take the time to shop around for different gym equipment lease options and lessors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stick with a traditional leasing company

Many financing companies have a leasing arm for businesses in need of up-to-date equipment - and fast. You can often secure equipment fitness leasing with a minimal approval process.

I recommend: Capital Funds Leasing and General Funding Corporation are traditional leasing companies that will provide funds for companies to lease a variety of equipment, including fitness equipment financing. Best of all, you can be approved in many cases in less than 24 hours.

Seek out specialized gym equipment leasing agents

If fitness equipment is what you seek, then it only makes sense to seek out fitness equipment financing from those who specifically offer this type of equipment and service.

I recommend: Fitness Leasing and GymCor.com specialize in - you guessed it - fitness equipment leasing. You will find all of the top-of-the-line equipment here plus be able to talk to experienced representatives who can help you choose the best machines for your needs.

Contact manufacturers directly

Some large manufacturers of fitness equipment will consider leasing fitness equipment to companies.

I recommend: Check out SoleFitness for exercise equipment lease options for treadmills and elliptical machines. Bowflex TreadClimber also has options for leasing gym equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Visit a local gym to see what machines are popular. Try a few out to really get a feel for what you would like to include in your on-site gym.
• •  Consider lease-to-buy deals that feature some of the same benefits of fitness equipment leasing, such as no upfront costs, but will result in you owning the equipment in the end.

One aspect that a gym has to deal with is getting all of the necessary equipment on site -- and when you're standing in a new, empty space, the thought can be daunting, with all of the fitness equipment leasing, buying, renting or borrowing options flying around inside your head.

There are few, if any, course-based solutions for this immediate goal -- although you can go to school for management, you can't just send someone to school to figure out how to get your gym equipment. What you can do is use the web for "fitness equipment leasing education and training" -- and the web can be one of your best options for ramping up quickly. Find:

1. Direct information from fitness equipment leasing services that will help you evaluate and compare offers.

2. More from online authors knowledgeable about gym equipment leasing and similar options.

3. Tips from gym or fitness forums about when leasing gym equipment might be a good idea.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get some expert training on gym equipment leasing

Take some seminars on finance tailored to gym managers, then sharpen your skills by studying strategies for business equipment leasing.

I recommend: The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association's university and institute aim to educate fitness club managers in sophisticated approaches to equipment leasing and other financial issues. Before you sign a fitness equipment lease, study The Complete Equipment-Leasing Handbook from The American Management Association, billed as "a deal maker's guide with forms, checklists, and worksheets".

Use fitness equipment leasing services to learn about exercise equipment lease options

You can often find a lot of what you're looking for 'straight from the horse's mouth' -- those who offer fitness equipment leasing services will tell you all about it, including pricing, strategy for new businesses, and much more. Shop around to get good deals and find out about what features are included in your equipment lease.

I recommend: Innovative Lease Services offers a lot of options for a gym or fitness club: ask about Start-Up and Newer Clubs, 2nd and 3rd Location and Expanding Clubs, Franchise Concepts, Women or Men Only Clubs, Not-For-Profit Clubs, and more! Or compare gym equipment lease quotes over the web at All Options Leasing. You can also read about how leasing may fit your needs on exercise equipment for lease at Fitness-Leasing.com.

Learn from fitness equipment leasing consultant firms

Another very popular option for busy gym managers is to go to a fitness business consultant firm. These specialized companies can really get solutions in terms of figuring out what a gym can hold and how to go about getting it...quickly!

I recommend: Healthy Lifestyle Marketing is dedicated to helping gyms and fitness businesses deal with tricky aspects like acquisitions of equipment through leasing or buying. Get more from Fit and Functional's gym consulting and design services.

Utilize public forums on leasing fitness equipment

Another way to capitalize on web options for starting up a gym or supplying an existing facility is to look through online forums offering tips on B2B procurement of equipment for fitness and related gear. Find examples of past transactions and 'case studies' for ongoing management and commercial fitness equipment leasing.

I recommend: Find various opinions on the cost of opening up a gym, including lease vs. buy equipment options, at Bodybuilding.com forums. Learn more at Equipment.net.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When getting fitness equipment leasing education and training from the net, doing a space check is going to be an essential part of figuring your needs. Do detailed 'mockups' of machine placement to make sure you don't end up getting too much for your space. Also try to anticipate customer needs as much as possible.