Equipping a CrossFit box: the profitable guide 2025

Opening or modernizing a CrossFit box is a sporting project... and a real subject of investment. This guide helps you choose the equipment that creates value in the first month, then scale without wasting your cash flow. To centralize reservations, payments and customer monitoring, consider EKKLO: https://info.ekklo.com/.

Before buying: clarify your model and your budget

Capacity and flow of sessions

• Useful surface area: aim for 8-10 m² per athlete in collective WOD.
• Cadence: 5-7 slots/working day, 2-4 on weekends at the start.
• Mix: 80% group classes, 20% open gym or personal coaching to optimize the occupancy rate.

Prioritize: essential, growth, comfort

• Essential: which makes it possible to open and ensure 80% of WODs without traffic jams.
• Growth: duplication of the most requested positions to streamline peaks.
• Comfort: acoustics, reception, audiovisual improve the experience and retention.

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New vs second-hand, safety, guarantees

• Used: very relevant for racks, disks and kettlebells if the condition is checked.
• New: Olympic bars, cardio and floor to limit maintenance.
• Safety: PPE, first aid kit, evacuation plan, weekly visual inspection.

The essential base (0-6 months)

Objective: open your CrossFit box with a reliable and bottleneck-free park. Indicative budget for 120-180 m²: 20-35 k€.

Weightlifting: bars, bumpers, storage

• Bars: 1 bar/athlete (15 and 20 kg). Bronze bushing, 190-215 k PSI.
• Bumpers: per post, pair 5-10-15-20-25 kg. Homogeneous density, drop-friendly.
• Collars and vertical storage for safety and longevity.

Strength and gym: racks/rigs, pull-ups, rings

• Modular wall rig for squats, presses, pull-ups and toes-to-bar.
• Rings and bands for progressions and scaling.
• High density foam plyo boxes to limit injuries.

Metcon: rower, air bike, ropes

• Start ratio: 1 air bike/8 athletes, 1 rower/8. The two complement each other.
• Jump ropes: encourage each member to have their own. Have 4-6 ready.
• Medicine balls (6-12 kg) for wall-balls and power work.

Mobility and safety

• Mats and tiles 20 mm mini to absorb shock and noise.
• Complete first aid kit and alert plan visible.
• Post-session cleaning kit: wipes, brushes, disinfectant spray.

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The scaler park (6-18 months)

Minimize bottlenecks

• Add 1 SkiErg/12 athletes to diversify the cardio.
• Sled + 10-15 m tracks when space permits.
• Additional wall targets for wall-balls.

Acoustics, audio, display

• Thicker tiles in the weight zone, anti-fall stops.
• Clear audio system and WOD screen visible from everywhere.
• Wall timer with modes EMOM/AMRAP/Tabata.

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Tech and management: from data to profitability

The right software tools transform full slots into predictable revenue.

Timekeeping, scoring, screens

• Central timer + screens: readable instructions, rapid transitions.
• Score entry: follow PR, loads, volumes to adapt the programming.

Reservations, payments, no-shows

• Reservations with space limit and waiting list.
• Recurring payments and automatic reminders to reduce unpaid debts.
• Email/SMS reminders: reduce no-shows by 15-25% on average.

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Progress monitoring, coaching, content

• History per member: loads, WOD, mobility, injuries.
• Plans personalized and rapid feedback to build loyalty.
• Premium content (cycles, workshops) to create new sources of income.

Layout and member experience

A high-performance CrossFit box is also fluid, clean and clear.

Circulation, security, zones

• Zones: reception, strength/weight lifting, metcon, mobility, open gym.
• Visible travel corridors, no blind spots.
• Display drop rules, scaling and hygiene protocol.

Cloak rooms, reception, signage

• Ventilated changing rooms, hooks, benches, hand dryer.
• Simple counter: quick check-in, sale of grips, bands, drinks.
• Clear signage: signage, safety instructions, emergency numbers.

Energy and maintenance

• 4000-5000K LED for clear, bright light economical.
• Maintenance schedule: brushing of bars, tightening of rigs, lubrication of hinges.
• Weekly check: wear of bumpers, stability boxes, floor fixings.

Checklists and purchasing ratios

Setup 100-120 m² (10-12 athletes)

20, 24, 28, 32), 6 med-balls (6-12 kg).
• 20 mm panels, timer, 55" screen.

Setup 180-220 m² (16-20 athletes)

• 20 bars, double bumpers on 10-20 kg.
• Rig 10-12 stations + linear pull-up bars.
• 3 air bikes, 3 rowers, 2 SkiErg, 1 sled.
• 12 kettlebells (doublets 12-24), 10 med-balls.
• Audio 2-4 speakers, 2 screens 55-65".

Ratios per 10 athletes

• 10 bars, 10 pairs of bumpers 5-25 kg.
• 1-2 air bikes, 1-2 rowers, 0-1 SkiErg.
• 4 kettlebells (12/16/20/24), 4 med-balls.
• 1 plyo foam box for 2 athletes.

Indicative CAPEX and OPEX

• Initial CAPEX: 150-250 €/m² in equipment.
• Monthly OPEX: 3-5% of the CAPEX for maintenance/renewal.
• Insurance, DAE, PPE: budget from the start.

Investment plan: 90 days + 12 months

Roadmap 0-90 days

• Week 1-2: floor, rig, bars, bumpers, timer, 2-4 cardio machines.
• Week 3-4: reception, changing rooms, first aid kit, signage.
• Week 5-12: duplication of small equipment, audio, screen, security check.

KPI to follow

• Filling rate by slot and by zone.
• Retention 3/6/12 months, no-show rate, NPS.
• Margin/hour of coaching, machine utilization rate.

Financing

• Leasing 36-60 months to smooth cash flow.
• Mix new/used to optimize entry cost.
• Standardize brands to facilitate maintenance and resale.

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To remember

• Buy first against bottlenecks: bars, bumpers, rig, 2-4 cardio machines.
• Duplicate as soon as the occupancy rate exceeds 80% on a station.
• Good software reduces no-shows and unpaid bills, and improves retention.
• Standardize and maintain: fewer stops, longer lifespan.
• Measure each month: filling, retention, margin/hour, use of the park.

Conclusion: equip correctly, scale smart, centralize with EKKLO

Your CrossFit box wins when the equipment serves method, security and fluidity. Prioritize the base, measure actual usage, then only duplicate what is overflowing. For daily management (scheduling, payments, messages, progress monitoring), centralize with EKKLO: https://info.ekklo.com/.

Need broader business support? Also discover how respond to a prospect who finds your price too high and how to create attractive offers and packages.

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