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Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
How to start a gym business and make it succeed: Here's a 6-step guide
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Challenges on the floor Talent management How to start a gym business Fifteen years ago, when Saif Malik joined Anytime Fitness as general manager, he had no designated seat and zero access to the owner. 'I saw how things worked and, more importantly, how they didn't,' says Malik, who had grown up observing his older brother run a gym . Since then, he had dreamt of owning one himself. 'I knew the gaps that needed to be plugged: poor amenities, angry members walking out, staff with no voice,' he says. So, when he opened his own gym, Component Fitness, in 2021, he set out to fix these drawbacks. The gym was launched along with a friend with an investment of Rs.1 biggest expenses were for the equipment and rent, which comprised Rs 7 lakh annually and accounted for 60% of the total capital. Another 30% went into space design, and the remaining 10% on marketing and advertising. 'We didn't cut corners on quality,' he a year, Malik had expanded the gym from 3,000 to 7,000 sq ft to accommodate the surge in footfall. The reason for this rapid growth, he says, was his 'consumer -first approach'. He offered premium amenities at affordable prices and supported members through personal challenges, waiving fees for accident victims and pregnant women. Empathy guided his decisions. After the Pahalgam attack, he extended free memberships to all army tried various marketing channels—pamphlets, newspaper ads, billboards and online campaigns. At the outset, he spent Rs.20,000-25,000 a month on Instagram, which proved very effective. His priority was brand awareness over profits. 'I was okay about breaking even as long as people knew about us,' he gym now offers three-, six-, and 12-month plans priced at Rs.10,000, Rs.15,000, and Rs.24,000, respectively. The monthly revenue ranges from Rs.20-25 lakh, with profits of Rs.10-12 faced teething troubles. 'The biggest challenge for gym owners is underinvesting in amenities due to tight budgets,' he says. Most people also overlook the opportunity cost. 'If you could earn Rs.20, but settle for Rs.10 by selling at Rs.12, that's not profit; it's an unseen Rs.8 loss,' he explains. His industry experience helped him avoid such the right location was also a challenge. 'If your rent is too high or you open a premium gym in a low-income area, you're setting yourself up for failure,' he says. Success depends on research, knowing the local demographic, and pricing to match purchasing discovered that the largest operational expense wasn't marketing, but salaries. With a team of over 30, people management has been both fulfilling and demanding. 'Finding well-educated, professional trainers remains a challenge, and lack of formal education often reflects in their conduct,' he notes. To address this, Malik places a strong emphasis on training his staff in etiquette and professionalism, particularly to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for keep his team engaged and motivated, his company offers generous appraisals, subsidised meals, and regular team outings Malik has also implemented an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) to ensure the gym's equipment is of the ongoing challenges for him is the demanding nature of work. He cautions against viewing the gym business as a passive income stream. 'This isn't a side hustle. You have to give it your all,' he says. In the early days, Malik clocked up to 20 hours a day; even now, he puts in 14-15 hours ahead, he is focused on scaling the business through franchise partnerships. His model is straightforward: 50:50 investment, with the brand contributing half the capital. 'It ensures that the partner knows we have skin in the game,' he every gym in your target area. Check the facilities they offer, how much they charge, and what their weak points are. Your goal should be to offer better services at the same or slightly higher price. That's how you create assume what customers want; observe and ask. Is your target area price-sensitive or driven by quality? Avoid launching a premium facility in a low-income neighbourhood or a basic gym in an upscale area. Your offering must align with the local people through the door is the hardest part. Use Instagram, flyers, newspaper ads, and word of mouth to create brand awareness. Even if your initial revenue just covers your marketing spend, it's worth it. Conversion happens once people is where many gym owners go wrong. Invest in annual maintenance contracts and fix broken machines. Poorly maintained equipment leads to cancellations and bad reviews. Customers expect trainers represent your brand. Look beyond certifications, check how they talk, behave, and treat people. Most trainers need to be trained in professionalism. Make sure female clients feel safe at all on building good reputation, not just revenue. Give discounts and help out members going through personal challenges. Such details go a long way and profits will automatically Malik, owner of Component Fitness
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Dharampeth zone tops list of illegal hoardings in city
Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) intensified action against unauthorized hoardings, with the Dharampeth zone recording the highest number of violations over the last six months. A total of 185 individuals were penalized across Nagpur between January 1 and June 30, 2025, for putting up illegal advertisement boards, banners, and hoardings without prior approval. Dharampeth zone led the crackdown, with 51 violators fined a cumulative Rs3.41 lakh for flouting NMC's outdoor advertising policy, 2001. The policy mandates that all advertising structures in public or designated private spaces must be approved by the NMC's sky sign department, which has pre-identified specific locations for permitted hoardings. However, many continue to put up advertisements on electric poles, trees, compound walls, public buildings, and flyovers without necessary permissions, violating civic norms and contributing to visual pollution. Following Dharampeth, Hanuman Nagar recorded 28 violations (Rs1.09 lakh collected), Nehru Nagar 25 (Rs73,000), and Dhantoli 20 cases (Rs1 lakh). Other zones such as Gandhi Bagh (19 cases), Mangalwari (15), Laxmi Nagar (13), Ashi Nagar (7), Satranjipura (5), and Lakadganj (2) also witnessed action. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Premium 3 & 4 BHK ( 1079 - 1829 ) from ₹72.03 Lacs* at Jessore Road Srijan Realty Learn More Undo In all, NMC collected Rs9.27 lakh fine from offenders citywide during the six-month period. Officials said the crackdown will continue, and strict action will be taken against anyone found violating the advertising norms. The civic body has appealed to individuals and agencies to seek formal permission before displaying any outdoor advertisements to maintain the city's aesthetic and avoid penalties. Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) intensified action against unauthorized hoardings, with the Dharampeth zone recording the highest number of violations over the last six months. A total of 185 individuals were penalized across Nagpur between January 1 and June 30, 2025, for putting up illegal advertisement boards, banners, and hoardings without prior approval. Dharampeth zone led the crackdown, with 51 violators fined a cumulative Rs3.41 lakh for flouting NMC's outdoor advertising policy, 2001. The policy mandates that all advertising structures in public or designated private spaces must be approved by the NMC's sky sign department, which has pre-identified specific locations for permitted hoardings. However, many continue to put up advertisements on electric poles, trees, compound walls, public buildings, and flyovers without necessary permissions, violating civic norms and contributing to visual pollution. Following Dharampeth, Hanuman Nagar recorded 28 violations (Rs1.09 lakh collected), Nehru Nagar 25 (Rs73,000), and Dhantoli 20 cases (Rs1 lakh). Other zones such as Gandhi Bagh (19 cases), Mangalwari (15), Laxmi Nagar (13), Ashi Nagar (7), Satranjipura (5), and Lakadganj (2) also witnessed action. In all, NMC collected Rs9.27 lakh fine from offenders citywide during the six-month period. Officials said the crackdown will continue, and strict action will be taken against anyone found violating the advertising norms. The civic body has appealed to individuals and agencies to seek formal permission before displaying any outdoor advertisements to maintain the city's aesthetic and avoid penalties.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
What is Bahrainization? The Kingdom's drive to localise jobs across multiple sectors
Bahrainization has evolved into a structured national workforce strategy, backed by legal enforcement/Image: Shutterstock TL;DR: Bahrainization is Bahrain's official workforce nationalization policy aimed at increasing Bahraini employment in the public and private sectors. It sets sector-specific ratios requiring companies to hire Bahraini nationals or face restrictions on government contracts and foreign worker permits. Employers benefit from wage subsidies up to 70% in the first year, tapering to 30% in the third and face fines or imprisonment if they fail to comply. Administration is handled by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), working closely with Tamkeen, Bahrain's labour fund. Bahrainization, began in the 1980s under a government-led initiative known as 'Project 10,000', designed to train and transition Bahraini nationals into private-sector roles. By the 1990s, quotas were introduced across multiple sectors. New business licenses triggered mandatory national hiring percentages, requiring firms with over 10 employees to have at least 20% Bahraini staff, with annual incremental growth to a 50% workforce threshold. Small firms were required to employ at least one Bahraini besides the owner. These foundational policies were formalized into legislation in 2006 through the creation of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, which oversees foreign work permits and Bahrainization targets throughout the private sector. How Bahrainization Works in Practice Quotas and Enforcement Under current regulation, private-sector employers must meet Bahrainization ratios specific to their industry. These ratios are actively enforced: failure to comply disqualifies firms from government contract tenders and may block further employment of foreign workers. As per News of Bahrain, public-sector organizations had already achieved 100% Bahrainization in 15 agencies by March 2024. Incentives and Wage Subsidies To ease the shift, the state finances wage subsidies via Tamkeen. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe the Price of These Dubai Apartments Binghatti Developers FZE Get Offer Undo Employers can receive up to 70% of Bahraini wages in Year 1, 50% in Year 2, and 30% in Year 3. Tamkeen is funded through fees imposed on companies for foreign work permits, with 80% of that revenue directed to national training and employment programmes. Penalties Non-compliance carries legal weight. Employers may face BHD 300 per foreign application, fines ranging from BHD 500 to BHD 1000, suspension of business operations, and even closure. Individuals with violations may face penalties of BHD 1000–2000 or imprisonment, and expatriates can be deported. Key Sectors and Reform Priorities Government Sector Progress News of Bahrain reports, as of early 2024, nine out of 17 government ministries and municipal councils had fully eliminated foreign staff, replacing them entirely with Bahraini employees. Hiring mandates now require public agencies to train Bahraini workers as a core duty of any non-national staff member. Focused Professional Sectors In mid-2025, Bahrain's Shura Council advanced draft legislation mandating up to 50% Bahrainization in sectors like healthcare, banking, legal services, aviation, education, and accounting. The National Health Regulatory Authority will oversee healthcare-specific targets, ensuring that expatriates are only retained where no qualified Bahrainis exist. Corporate and Trade Responses Business associations, including the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry have welcomed the intent to localize the workforce. However, they urged cautious implementation to avoid unintended consequences such as talent shortages, especially in technical fields where Bahraini participation is still evolving. Implementation & Oversight Role of LMRA and Tamkeen The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) was established in 2006 to manage work permits, enforce Bahrainization targets, and regulate residency and employment rules. The agency collects fees from foreign work permits and channel these into Tamkeen, which is responsible for training, wage subsidy schemes, and local talent development. Annual Targets and Reporting In early 2025, Bahrain reported achieving 24% of its target to employ 25,000 Bahrainis in the private sector, while 28% of a training goal to train 15,000 citizens had been met. These figures were presented to the Cabinet at Gudaibiya Palace, illustrating progress on annual quotas. Challenges and Ongoing Reforms Skills Gap and Workforce Mismatch Employers in sectors such as engineering, accounting, and medical fields have raised concerns over the availability of qualified Bahraini professionals. Proposals to fully Bahrainize engineering, HR, media, and hospitality roles have sparked debate about feasibility and whether sufficient training infrastructure exists. Some critics also fear disruption if firms are forced to replace experienced expatriates prematurely. Wage subsidy schemes and partnerships with local institutions like Bahrain Polytechnic aim to close these gaps over time. Strategic Alignment with National Vision Bahrainization is central to the Economic Recovery Plan Pillar 5 and Bahrain Vision 2030, which focus on private-sector growth, reducing reliance on oil, and meaningful employment for citizens. Public–private initiatives such as large-scale shared service centres, youth training centres, and Tamkeen collaborations are part of an effort to create 20,000 Bahraini jobs and train 10,000 nationals per year through 2024. Comparative Context: Bahrainization and Gulfization Bahrainization falls under the broader umbrella of "Gulfization", a regional strategy seen in GCC countries like Saudization, Qatarization, and Emiratization. These policies aim to reduce dependency on expatriate labour by instituting quotas, training, and layered penalties or incentives. Bahrain differed by implementing early nationalization efforts in the 1980s and later abolished the Kafala sponsorship system, enabling greater mobility and labour rights for migrant workers. Impact to Date and Outlook Public-Sector Successes Government agencies achieving 100% Bahrainization showcase how sectors can fully transition to national workforces. This is backed by policy instruments mandating training clauses for hiring managers of expatriates. Private Sector Progress Employment and training figures indicate that roughly one-quarter of annual targets were already reached within the first quarter of 2025. This implies that by year-end, a majority of the planned nationalization benchmarks may be met if momentum continues. Future Enforcement As Bahrain accelerates Bahrainization in sectors like healthcare and banking, the potential conflict between demand for skilled national talent and existing workforce structures remains a key governance challenge. However, by anchoring implementation in training, wage support, and phased targets, the policy aims for sustainable growth. Bahrainization in 2025 As of mid-2025, Bahrainization has evolved from a quota-based initiative into a structured national workforce strategy, backed by legal enforcement, financial incentives, and capacity-building infrastructure. Bahrain's policy now spans public entities fully Bahrainized, sector-specific legislation in progress for professional roles, collaborative training systems via Tamkeen, and firm penalties for non-compliance. This multifaceted framework aligns closely with Vision 2030 and Bahrain's broadened economic objectives. Success indicators like rising citizen employment rates, institutional compliance, and employer engagement suggest Bahrainization is entering a more mature phase balancing citizen aspirations, private-sector needs, and national growth targets. Given the complexity and political sensitivity of the policy, Bahrain's approach hinges on the continuous alignment between regulation, education, business readiness, and social inclusion. For the coming years, maintaining this balance will determine whether Bahrainization can deliver structural transformation without disrupting competitiveness, positioning Bahrain as a model in GCC workforce nationalization strategies.
