Question on club membership/pricing

[wingnut]

Our club has been at the local YMCA for some time now. Our member base keeps growing, and we had thought about striking out on our own, and finally being able to get our own place! (I feel like a teenager all over again! )

I'm curious for those clubs who have their own spaces:

1) How do you structure your pricing for members?
2) Do you charge a floor fee on top of that?
3) What about lessons / equipment rentals / etc?

What are the important things to consider before we decide to do this or not?

Thanks!

Steve

[penguin_2000]

1) How do you structure your pricing for members?
2) Do you charge a floor fee on top of that?
3) What about lessons / equipment rentals / etc?

What are the important things to consider before we decide to do this or not?

1) Monthly fee (~$60), + discount for paying 1 yr. in advance + family discount
2) floor fee for non-members only (~$10)
3) membership fee includes any "group lesson" you wish, private lessons extra, equipment is covered in floor fees and membership dues

4-ish) Not only do you have to pay for floor space, but (usually) you need to pay for electric, water, heat, phone, etc. Also, you need to spend lots of money (initially) to setup the floor/office/visitor area.

Good luck.

[Fernando Diaz]

1.- Monthly fee 42,50 € adults, 33,50 € juniors kids and so on, 10% discount for 1 year in advance.
2.- Group lessons and 1 private lesson a week included. Members of the team as much private lessons as needed.
3.- 25,50 €/year for equipment use.

[Fernando Diaz]

Although I have to say that we don´t have our own space we have an agreement with the State goverment (Sport Ministry) as an elite club and we get a free salle in a High School. Is a fixed installation and we just pay the phone. Dropback is that we close at 10 pm and we can´t open on weekends.

[fluidfencer]

I bet there are some long threads on this, but it will depend on your costs (all costs, including coaching salaries), and secondarily on the prices of similar activities in your market.

This is a business decision. Make a detailed budget. Analyze what is being charged by clubs that offer swimming, tennis, dance (those that are oriented toward individual competition, where there aren't hundreds to share the costs like in a baseball or soccer league... talk to some parents).

You need to have a clear idea about how you're going to get students too.

Here's our information. Our club has done studies of other fencing clubs around the country that are somewhat similar in size and coaching and objectives. Our kids are in other activities so we have a pretty good idea of what the market will pay. Don't use only ours as a model.
http://www.fencingclub.org

[oso97]

Also check out this month's American Fencing for a nice discussion of costs associated with a studio.

[jrgunn]

This is a business decision. Make a detailed budget. Analyze what is being charged by clubs that offer swimming, tennis, dance (those that are oriented toward individual competition, where there aren't hundreds to share the costs like in a baseball or soccer league... talk to some parents).

You need to have a clear idea about how you're going to get students too.

Precisely. To build a successful club you have to have an actual, honest to goodness business plan. Fluidfencer has just scratched the surface of the research you will have to do. You'll also have to meet your municipality's requirements in terms of insurance and occupancy of the space, so find out what those rules are and don't cut corners.
Develop a marketing plan to organize and continue to build the club beyond what you've already got. Those fencing now may not want to pay what you will have to charge just to keep the doors open, so they will have to be replaced.
If I sound a little serious about this, its because I recently had the privilege of helping a private club get off the ground. Its a lot of work, a full time job. Make sure you are ready for the commitment that all small businesses need to be successful.

[luv2fence]

You can look on the internet and get
prices for fencing in similar economic
areas. Compare apples to apples; it
sounds like your club is non-elite, so
compare to these. You also need to
compare your prices to those of
other recreational activities.

Here is good advice on a similar thread:
Beginner classes must pay for themselves
and provide some surplus. If they don't,
they will suck money and energy out of
the club.

You are about to risk some money;
make some good plans and have somebody
review and comment.

It is especially important to have a marketing
plan with alternative ways of attracting students.
For instance,
1) Can you stay listed with the YMCA catalog of
classes?
2) Can you register with your recreational district
classes catalog?
3) Do you have a relationship with any high school
coaches or teachers who would refer students?

luv2fence

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

1. Determine how many paying members you have (m)
2. Determine your monthly costs (c)
3. Determine how much profit you want per month (p)



(c+p) / m = f

* f is your monthly fee

If your monthly fee is too high, you have to either reduce your montly costs/profit or increase paying members.

[Li'l Bebe]

1)depending on how long you sign-up for, the price ranges between $100-$65, or do a "Quick-Start" which gives you an electric foil and 3 months of fencing practice for $315 or something like that. You can also come for a one-time practice to try it out and see if you like it or not without paying.

2)No floor fees that I know of

3)1 private lesson and any general group lessons are included in the monthly fee. Club equipment is available to any members free of charge, but everyone's highly encouraged to get their own equipment, because it's not washed, and crunchy jackets, gloves, and masks are really sick to fence in.

Before picking a place, be sure you have neighbors (if you're sharing a building) that doesn't mind the perpetual beeping and occasional yell or crash leaking through the walls.