Building a corporate gym: how do you approach it?

Written by Thibaud Martens, fitness advisor at Fitnessdepot

Building a corporate gym involves five steps: determine who it is for and how often it will be used, choose and measure the space, lay a good sport floor, select equipment that many people can use safely, and arrange financing, installation, and guidance. For a company with 5 to 10 users, a space of 30 to 35 m² is often sufficient.

A small corporate gym typically starts at around € 8,000, depending on how many people train simultaneously and the occupancy rate, and renting or leasing allows you to spread this over a fixed monthly amount.

In this guide, we walk through the steps as we approach them in corporate projects, focusing on the choices that make the difference between a gym that gets used and a room that sits empty after three months.

Why do companies invest in their own gym?

• Energy and focus. Employees who exercise regularly have more energy and are mentally sharper.
• Team spirit. Working out together strengthens the bond between colleagues.
• Reduced absenteeism and stress. Exercise helps reduce stress and maintain good health.
• Employer branding. A well-equipped fitness area makes your company more attractive to current and new talent.

Step 1: determine who the gym is for

Do not start with the equipment, but with the users. How many employees will use the gym, and at what times? Are they mostly beginners, or experienced athletes as well? Will there be supervision, or do people train alone?

Those answers determine almost everything: the size of the space, the type of equipment, and how many people need to be able to train at the same time. In a corporate gym, peak times are before and after working hours and during lunch. Plan for those peaks, not the average.

Step 2: choose and measure the space

For 5 to 10 users, 30 to 35 m² is often sufficient. With more users or more cardio, you will need more space. When choosing the space, pay attention to:

• Ceiling height. Racks with a pull-up bar and cables require height. A Martech M6 is 213 cm high; check the height of any other rack before choosing.
• Floor and storey. On an upper floor, we look at the load-bearing capacity and the noise transmitted to the rooms below, especially with barbell sets and cardio.
• Ventilation and light. A room without windows or ventilation quickly becomes stuffy.
• Power supply. Treadmills and some cardio equipment require a power outlet in the right location.
• Changing and showering. Employees find it easier to train if they can change and freshen up on-site.

We will come to view and measure the space, and then create a free 3D drawing showing the layout and routing between the equipment.

Step 3: start with the sports flooring

Our proposal always starts with the flooring, as it determines acoustics, cushioning, and hygiene. A rubber sports floor protects the substrate, dampens the noise of weights, and provides grip. In a corporate gym, we opt for easy clean tiles with a fine top layer that you can simply mop clean. This keeps the space looking neat, even when many people are training. We work with professional sports flooring from VB Rubber for this purpose.

Step 4: choose equipment that many people can use safely

In a corporate gym, people of very different fitness levels train, often without supervision. Therefore, choose equipment that is both versatile and easy to use.

• A multifunctional rack as the centerpiece. An all-in-one rack combines a rack, cables, and often a smith machine. With 1:1 and 2:1 cable ratios, such as on the Martech M8 2.0 Ace (€ 3,750) or the Martech M10 (€ 5,250), beginners and advanced athletes can train on the same machine.
• Guided strength equipment for beginners. Machines with a fixed movement path, such as the Martech Dual Lat Pulldown / Seated Row (€ 3,149), are easy to learn and safe to use without a spotter.
• A fixed dumbbell set with a rack. Adjustable dumbbells are not practical when multiple people are training at the same time. A Martech hex dumbbell set from 5 to 40 kg (€ 2,350) with an adjustable bench (€ 425) makes a solid foundation.
• Cardio. A Concept2 RowErg (€ 1,195) or BikeErg (€ 1,399) is robust, compact, and suitable for everyone. You can find more equipment under cardio.

The broader the range of equipment, the more people can train at the same time. For each piece of equipment in our proposal, we explain which exercises are possible so you know what you are choosing.

Step 5: budget and financing

What a corporate gym costs depends on the size of the room, the number of users, the equipment, and the services you include. A small corporate gym typically starts at around € 8,000, depending on how many people train simultaneously and the occupancy rate. Some companies handle the installation themselves, which is also an option.

If you prefer not to invest all at once, you can opt for renting or leasing. You then pay a fixed monthly amount, with a term between 24 and 60 months. Installation and maintenance can be included in the contract, and complete gyms are available from € 150 per month.

You can read how this works in renting or leasing fitness equipment and on the renting and leasing page. You can get an initial price indication via the corporate fitness price configurator.

Delivery, installation, and startup

Upon approval, we deliver and install everything according to the approved plan. Our own team assembles the equipment on-site, lays the floor, and takes the packaging waste back with them. We work with a fixed price and take into account building access, timing, and workplace safety.

Items in stock are dispatched quickly from our warehouse in Ranst. Installation by our own team typically takes place within 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the period, so it is best to call us or get in touch. Some equipment requires a longer production time, in which case we schedule the delivery for a later date.

Onboarding for your employees

A gym is only used when people feel confident in it. That is why Jonas, fitness advisor at Fitnessdepot, provides midday onboarding sessions after delivery: two one-hour sessions, included in the quote. This ensures everyone gets acquainted with the equipment and can ask questions. Afterwards, you can optionally book additional sessions.

Post-delivery maintenance

Every year we visit for an inspection: we check all equipment, re-grease moving parts and inspect electrical appliances. In between, you can contact us with questions or for service. This keeps the gym safe and extends the lifespan of the equipment.

What it looks like in practice

You can read how such a project proceeds from an empty space to a complete corporate gym in the customer case setting up corporate fitness for 100+ employees. You can find more about our approach for companies at custom corporate fitness.

Frequently Asked Questions

How large should a corporate gym be?

For a company with 5 to 10 users, a space of 30 to 35 m² is often sufficient; with more users or more cardio equipment, you will need more space.

How much does a corporate gym cost?

A small corporate gym typically starts at around € 8,000, depending on how many people train simultaneously, the occupancy rate, the space, the equipment and the services; via renting or leasing you can spread this starting from € 150 per month.

What equipment belongs in a corporate gym?

A good foundation is a multifunctional rack with cables, a fixed barbell set with bench, a few guided strength machines for beginners and one or two cardio machines, on a rubber sports floor.

How quickly is a corporate gym ready?

Items in stock are delivered quickly from our depot in Ranst; installation by our own team usually takes place within 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the period, so it is best to call us or get in touch.

What if employees are not familiar with the equipment?

After delivery, Jonas, fitness advisor at Fitnessdepot, provides midday onboarding sessions, 2 times one hour and included in the quote, so that everyone gets acquainted with the equipment and can ask questions; afterwards you can optionally book additional sessions.

How is a corporate gym maintained?

We schedule an annual inspection where we check all equipment and lubricate moving parts, and we remain available for service in between.

Read also: rent or lease fitness equipment, buy an all-in-one rack and the customer case corporate fitness for 100+ employees.

Ready for your corporate gym? Request a custom proposal with free 3D design, or schedule a space analysis or showroom visit.

Updated on November 1, 2026.