Profile: Dearthe2212

Hey everyone — I’m launching a personal training studio next quarter (about 2,000 sq ft), and I’m torn between leasing vs. buying the gym equipment.

I’ve got enough funds to maybe buy the essentials upfront… but that would wipe out most of my startup budget. Leasing seems like a smoother entry, but I’m worried about getting locked into something long-term or paying more overall.

So I figured I’d ask:

👉 If you’ve opened a gym, did you lease or buy?
👉 What would you do differently now that you've been through it?

🔍 What I’ve Learned So Far
Leasing Pros
✔️ Lower upfront cost — Keep more cash for marketing, staff, rent
✔️ Often includes service/maintenance
✔️ Tax-deductible in most states (check w/ accountant)
✔️ Easy to upgrade if you grow quickly
✔️ NtaiFitness even offers custom leasing bundles with flexible terms

Leasing Cons
⚠️ Total cost may be higher long-term
⚠️ You don’t own anything at the end unless there’s a buyout
⚠️ Limited customization with some providers

Buying Pros
✔️ You own it — no payments after
✔️ Can buy used/refurbished to save
✔️ Full control over brands and specs
✔️ Good ROI if you’re in it for the long haul

Buying Cons
⚠️ Huge upfront hit to cash flow
⚠️ Maintenance is all on you
⚠️ If a machine breaks, you're replacing it

📊 My Plan (So Far)
I’m leaning toward leasing cardio + big-ticket items, and buying smaller stuff like free weights, mats, plyo boxes. I saw NtaiFitness offers a 1-3 year lease program with buyout options, which sounds perfect if it’s as flexible as they say.

Would love to hear how y’all handled this.
Especially if you’re a solo owner or small studio — did leasing save your butt in the early days? Any companies you’d recommend (or avoid)? Let's break this down.

HIIT is cool and all... until your lungs feel like they’re texting 911. But yeah, it works. Personally, I walk like I’m being chased by rent collectors on level 15 incline. It’s my “I wanna lose fat without dying” method. Still sweating like I ran a marathon.

Back in 2024, I fell for this “scientifically proven” weight loss program from a TikTok coach ($199, non-refunded). Promised I’d shed 20 lbs in a month—spoiler: I lost 2 lbs and my dignity.

They said it’s “low-carb, high-energy,” but the meal plan had me eating kale smoothies that tasted like lawn clippings. I’m no chef, spent hours figuring out their macro tracker (who has time to weigh spinach?).

One time, I skipped the shake and ate a burger—felt like I betrayed the fitness gods. My coworker’s on Noom and dropped 15 lbs way easier. The guidebook’s binding fell apart in, what, six weeks?

But, not gonna lie, the HIIT workouts were kinda fire (here’s a sweaty selfie, lol).

Think they said “lifetime access” to the app, or was it a year? Anyone else get suckered? Worth selling the recipe book on eBay?

I snagged this all-in-one workout tower during Black Friday 2023 (was $799, got it for $499). Looked dope in the influencer’s IG reel, but now it’s just holding my hoodies in the guest room. They hyped it as “compact and versatile”—yeah, right!

Takes up half my living room, and the pull-up bar wobbles like it’s auditioning for a horror flick. Spent a week googling how to adjust the resistance bands (turns out you need their app, but it’s iOS-only?). Once, I didn’t lock the weight stack right, and it nearly took out my cat’s water bowl.

My buddy’s got a cheaper model from Walmart, and it’s honestly smoother. The padding started flaking after, like, three months? Still, gotta admit, when I actually use it, my lats feel jacked (check this blurry arm pic).

The manual says “5-year warranty,” or maybe 3? Anyone else stuck with this thing? How do I sell it without eating a huge loss?