The short answer

A gym fitout package in Australia typically costs between $50,000 for a small personal training studio and $500,000 or more for a full commercial facility, with equipment usually accounting for 40 to 70 per cent of the total spend. VERVE Fitness supplies the racks, rigs, strength machines, plates, barbells, flooring and storage that sit inside that budget, plus package bundles and design coordination to help you spend it well. If you want a single supplier that covers most of the equipment side of a fitout and offers ready-made packages, VERVE is a strong starting point, though larger builds usually involve mixing suppliers, which is normal and acceptable.

What a gym fitout package actually includes

A fitout is more than a shopping list. A well-planned package matches equipment to your floor space, your training concept and your business model. Most equipment-led packages fall into a few tiers, and the density of gear you choose is one of the biggest cost drivers. Starter packages bundle the essentials so you save versus buying piece by piece, while dedicated power rack packages, squat stand packages, weight plate packages and storage packages let you build a floor in logical blocks.

It helps to separate two different budgets. The first is the equipment and flooring you buy from a supplier like VERVE. The second is the building works, walls, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and amenities that a licensed builder handles. Confusing the two is one of the most common budgeting mistakes.

Real cost ranges for 2026

Australian industry sources are fairly consistent on the big numbers. A focused personal training studio can launch for under $100,000, while a large fully fitted club can exceed $800,000. On a per square metre basis, a complete commercial fitout including building works typically lands between $1,500 and $3,000 per square metre.

Broken into project totals, one supplier guide estimates that a 150 square metre studio gym often requires $225,000 to $450,000, a 300 square metre 24/7 facility pushes into the $450,000 to $900,000 range, and larger 500 square metre clubs can climb toward $1.5 million once all works, equipment and services are included.

For equipment alone, budget roughly $300 to $700 per square metre depending on gym type, with machine-heavy facilities at the higher end and functional training spaces at the lower end. Flooring, the second biggest equipment cost after racks and machines, generally runs $40 to $70 per square metre for quality rubber or EPDM tiles installed.

Where the money goes

• Equipment: usually 40 to 70 per cent of total fitout cost.
• Cardio: commercial treadmills built for heavy daily use commonly cost $5,000 to $10,000 or more each, versus $800 to $2,000 for a residential treadmill.
• Strength machines: plate-loaded stations run roughly $1,500 to $4,500 each, and pin-loaded commercial stations $3,000 to $6,000.
• Flooring: a 200 square metre commercial gym can need $8,000 to $15,000 or more for flooring alone.
• Amenities: showers, toilets, reception and change rooms can add $30,000 to $100,000.

How the suppliers compare

No single supplier is best for every project. The table below names real Australian and global players and where each tends to fit. Always confirm current pricing and warranty terms directly, as these change.

A few honest points. The Force USA range carries a lifetime structural warranty with 2 years on cables and pulleys, but that warranty applies to first owners and does not cover second-hand or re-sold equipment, and some brands cap lifetime cover at a maximum life expectancy of around 10 years. AlphaFit is 100 per cent Australian owned and has manufactured commercial-grade equipment on the Gold Coast since 2012, used by AFL and NRL clubs and the Australian Institute of Sport, which is a real advantage if local manufacturing and custom rigs matter to you.

New versus second-hand

Second-hand equipment can save 30 to 50 per cent upfront, but you generally get no warranty, unknown wear history and no support if something fails. For commercial use where gear is under constant load, new commercial-grade equipment with proper warranties is usually the smarter long-term investment. Refurbished plate-loaded machines and benches from a reputable supplier can be good value for specific items, but treadmills and other high-use cardio are where cutting corners tends to backfire.

Timelines and hidden costs

A straightforward mid-size fitout commonly takes 8 to 12 weeks, while complex projects with significant building works run 16 to 24 weeks. In-stock equipment can be delivered quickly, but made-to-order items often carry lead times of 8 to 16 weeks, so order those early and run building works in parallel.

Two costs that buyers routinely underestimate: ventilation and lease timing. A gym generates far more heat, humidity and CO2 per square metre than most commercial tenancies, and inadequate ventilation is one of the top reasons members do not renew, so it is far cheaper to design it in than to retrofit later. On leasing, if a landlord offers four weeks rent-free but the fitout takes six to eight weeks, you are paying rent before you open, so build a buffer into your plan.

How to buy smart

• Get multiple equipment quotes. Prices vary significantly between suppliers, and a full fitout order often has 10 to 20 per cent negotiation room.
• Buy durable free weights and flooring, since they last and hold value. Consider financing or leasing high-cost cardio to preserve working capital.
• Add a 15 to 20 per cent contingency buffer. Hidden costs almost always appear.
• Use a supplier that offers a design or layout service so equipment placement, user flow and floor loading are considered before you buy.

Where VERVE fits

VERVE is well suited to operators who want a single Australian supplier for the equipment side of a fitout, from a compact PT studio to a full commercial floor, with package bundles that reduce the cost of buying item by item. For premium branded cardio fleets or specialist pin-loaded lines, you may still mix in a specialist supplier, and that is a perfectly sound approach. The goal is the right equipment for your concept, not the most equipment.