Rapidly increasing demand for fitness services is expanding the market, with major players capturing a profit margin of 7-9%.
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The fitness industry in Russia has seen significant growth and changes in the first half of 2025. According to recent data, the market volume increased by 23.9% year-on-year to reach 150.5 billion rubles.
One of the most notable trends is the increase in the number of transactions for paying fitness hall and sports center services, which grew by 5% year-on-year. This growth is reflected in the number of new openings in the industry, with 906 new companies specializing in "fitness center activities" being registered, marking a 27.4% year-on-year increase.
During the same period, 72 full-fledged fitness clubs were opened, representing a 1.5-fold increase from 2024. Most of the new openings are sports studios, accounting for 72% of openings in the first half of 2025.
However, the growth in the industry has not been without challenges. Rent costs in the fitness industry have increased by 8-9% year-to-date, and labor costs have risen by 11-12%. Repair and equipment costs have also increased by 12-13% year-to-date.
Despite these challenges, the profit margin of fitness businesses has remained relatively stable, decreasing by only 1 percentage point to 14% net profit in the first half of 2025. The profitability of the fitness business was 7-9% in the same period.
The average check for fitness services increased by 10.1% year-on-year to 4100 rubles in the first seven months of the current year. However, there is no specific information available on which companies operated fitness studios with swimming pools in Russia in the first half of 2025 or the construction costs of these fitness studios.
It is worth noting that the Olympic champion and founder of Run4Life school, Olesya Krasnomovets, shared her thoughts on the challenges facing a running club. She highlighted the importance of creating a supportive and welcoming environment, offering a variety of activities, and providing personalised coaching to keep members engaged and motivated.
In terms of investment, launching a studio of 70-100 sq.m costs approximately 3-5 million rubles, while a club of 100-500 sq.m costs from 10 million rubles. Launching a large facility with a pool costs over 200 million rubles. It is also worth noting that clubs with pools take more than five years to pay off, "dry" clubs take 3.5-5 years, and 15% of new studios close within the first year of operation.
As of now, there are 14,400 fitness centers and studios operating in Russia, representing a 2.9% year-on-year increase. The future of the fitness industry in Russia continues to be promising, with opportunities for growth and innovation amidst the challenges.
