How many housekeeping and maintenance employees are needed for a 5,000 sq. foot facility?
Hello, I am a CFO for a private club in Michigan. Our members would like the club to build a fitness facility. The proposed facility will be 5,000 sq. feet with machines, free weights, locker facilities, and a smoothie bar. How many housekeeping and maintenance employees are necessary? Should we hire a manager for the fitness center?
This is a very complicated question. Do you want the facility to be cleaned completely everyday? or just some parts (restrooms, locker rooms, showers, etc.)? Will you be budgeting for an outside maintenance person for you equipment or having someone in house? And so on.
This is where hiring a facility manager comes into play. This person can provide you with everything you need. It is possible to find a fitness manager with the ability to do both, manage the facility and the fitness programming. But don’t try to skimp on paying someone to both or you will very likely get what you pay for in performance. Bringing the management team on before the facility is built is also very wise. Experienced faciltiy/program managers can save you time, money and frustration in the short and long term with such a project. There is a lot more to creating a smooth operating facility than just having equipment and space.
I do consulting work, but I am not available to come to Michigan anytime soon. But I am sure you can find a very qualified person there. Check with other facilities to see who they used to help with such projects. You have some fine universities and colleges that may be able to provide students studying in the field to work with you and fulfill course requirements for design, etc.
And remember. OH-IO, Go Buckeyes! Sorry couldn’t help myself.