This industry is struggling with record debt. “The equivalent of 450 thousand hours of classes “

The fitness industry is struggling with financial problems. The data provided by the BIG InfoMonitor debtors register shows that at the end of November 2024, the expired debt of companies from this sector amounted to as much as PLN 90.3 million. This is an increase of 26.5 percent. Year on year, and at the same time the highest level of level. In 2023, the debt amounted to PLN 71 million, and a year earlier PLN 63 million.

BIG InfoMonitor calculates that the level of debt level of companies from the fitness industry is “the equivalent of over 450 thousand. Individual classes with a personal trainer in a large city. “Unpaid bills are, among others, the effect of growing costs of maintaining facilities, remuneration costs, the need to invest in modern technologies and expensive training equipment, but also a more cautious approach of Poles to plan their home budgets.

Sports facilities – 172 companies (5.6 percent of all enterprises in this category) have the biggest problem with the term payment of payments) struggle with outdated arrears in the amount of PLN 40.3 million, and the average overdue debt of entrepreneurs conducting sports facilities was 234,000. PLN 319 per company.

Problems of the fitness industry. The debt is growing from year to year

The image of the fitness industry – as Big Infomonitor notes – is full of contrasts. CBOS data shows that more than half of Poles declare that they care for physical activity at least once a week, but only 14 percent. He is involved in regular, organized forms of training.

– On the one hand, the leading and largest market entities continue their expansion and consolidate the local market by taking over smaller branches, on the other, small and medium -sized clubs operating independently, especially the influence of factors such as the rising costs of media, including electricity, financial costs related to the leasing of equipment or the need to incur high expenditure on investments in new technologies extending the scope of the current offer – emphasizes Big Infomonitor.

The key challenge is also balancing between maintaining the loyalty of current club members and attracting new members in the scope of the pricing policy.

Small fitness studies and gyms are facing the growing challenges related to the dynamic development of large networks, which dominated the market thanks to their scale of operation and financial resources

– Big players today offer flexible passes, modern applications supporting training and a wide range of additional services and often 24 hours availability – all on attractive terms. As a result, smaller business must compete primarily with the quality of service in this personalized approach, and at the same time watch the price that will not scare off customers, which at high costs often limits the possibilities of investing in development – comments dr hab. Waldemar Rogowski, prof. SGH, Big InfoMonitor main analyst.