The two biggest cons of opening a gym are the high upfront and continuous costs of maintenance and the incredible amount of competition in the industry. Gyms need to be efficient and attractive to succeed. As mentioned, the cost to open a gym can be well into the five- to six-digit range, which can make the industry inaccessible to those unable to raise capital quickly or efficiently.  It can also be difficult to open a gym in a setting where there are many fitness businesses competing for business, such as in larger cities.