Most basketball trainers fantasize about opening their own facility. But when it comes to actual numbers, the information gets vague fast.
“A lot of people just want the convenience and be able to say that they own a gym just so they can say that they do,” says Tyler Leclerc, owner of two successful Massachusetts training facilities. “When in reality, it doesn’t actually make economic sense.”
Tyler opened his first facility in 2020 after two years of grinding and saving. Here’s the complete financial breakdown - the real numbers trainers need before signing a lease.
The $50,000 Startup Reality
Tyler’s First Facility (Lowell, MA – 3,500 sq ft total, 2,500 sq ft court):
Initial Capital Required: $50,000
Lease Deposits & Fees: ~$12,000
- First month’s rent: $3,100
- Last month’s rent: $3,100
- Security deposit: $3,100
- Broker fees/misc: $2,500-3,000
Court Installation: $25,000 (Largest single expense)
- Sport court flooring
- Line painting (NBA, high school, free throw)
- Installation labor
- Subflooring prep (if needed)
Basketball Equipment: $8,000-10,000
- Hoops and mounting systems (2-4 hoops)
- Basketballs (various sizes)
- Agility equipment (cones, ladders, resistance bands)
- Storage racks and organization
- Training aids (shooting machines optional but add $5K-15K)
Miscellaneous: $5,000-8,000
- Insurance (liability, property): $2,000-3,000/year upfront
- Utilities setup and deposits: $500-1,000
- Signage and branding: $1,000-2,000
- Lighting upgrades: $1,000-2,000
- Sound system: $500-1,000
- Waiting area furniture: $500-1,000
Monthly Operating Expenses: $4,000
Fixed Costs:
- Lease: $3,100/month
- Insurance: $200-250/month
- Utilities (electric, heat, water): $300-500/month
- Internet/phone: $100-150/month
- Software/systems: $100-200/month
- Miscellaneous/maintenance: $150-300/month
“I knew worst case, even if I don’t rent the gym at all, I’m making $8,000 a month from training and my expenses are $4,000,” Tyler explains. “So I’m at $4,000 profit, but also counting in the opportunity costs.”
The Break-Even Calculation
Here’s the critical math trainers miss:
Option A: Keep Renting Courts
- Training 30hours/week
- Court rental: $50-60/hour
- Monthly cost: $6,000-7,200 in rental fees
- Zero equity, zero control, limited hours
Option B: Open Your Own Facility
- Same 30 hours/week training
- Monthly expenses: $4,000
- Own equity, full control, unlimited access
- Can rent court when not using (+$2,000-4,000/month potential)
“At that point, I was paying just as much in court rental fees as I would have in my own gym,” Tyler says. “So it just made sense.”
Tyler’s break-even logic:
- Monthly revenue from training: $8,000
- Monthly facility expenses: -$4,000
- Net profit: $4,000/month
- Court rental revenue: +$2,000-3,000 (covers lease entirely)
- Effective profit: $6,000-7,000/month
Payback Period
With $50,000 startup and $4,000/month profit from training alone:
- 12.5 months to recoup initial investment
- After month 13: Pure profit (minus ongoing expenses)
Add court rental income and the payback accelerates to 8-10 months.
