Do you want to build a home gym? But are equipment costs scaring you away?
If yes, I will introduce you to home gym financing options that can make your dream of a fully functional home gym come true.
Home gyms offer the freedom of working out at your convenience. You do not have to worry about long commutes or waiting times. In addition, with different financing options, your home gym can be more cost-effective than a commercial gym.
You can take out a loan to finance your gym equipment purchase. Or you can opt for buy now, pay later (BNPL) plans.
You can then make monthly installments over an agreed-upon period of time. Depending on the provider, these installments may or may not attract an interest rate.
How to Finance a Home Gym?
Setting up a home gym can be a reality for most users today. You can buy used equipment or opt for flexible payment plans or loans.
Let us look at the top financing options available.
Personal Loan
You can take an unsecured personal loan meant for home improvement purposes. This means the lender will not require any collateral from your end.
The loan period may last from one to seven years. You will be charged interest on the entire loan amount. You will typically pay the resulting amount in the form of monthly installments.
Before applying for a loan, decide on the home gym equipment you need and compare vendors’ prices.
Some loan providers allow pre-qualification, which lets you check for loan conditions with a soft credit inquiry. Also, check for repayment conditions, fees, and other charges.
No-Interest Credit Cards
If you have a strong credit score, consider one of the many 0% APR credit cards in the market. These credit cards charge no interest for a trial period on new purchases and balance transfers.
The trial period can range from 15 to 21 months. This is a good time to pay off the amount for your home gym equipment.
According to CNBC, some of the best 0% APR credit cards are offered by Citi, Wells Fargo, Amex, Chase, and American Express.
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)
BNPL is a form of short-term loan financing. Instead of paying the total amount upfront, it gets divided into fixed installments over time. You typically do not have to pay an interest.
So, for example, if you buy a home gym machine for $300, it can get divided into $75 over four months. Or if the vendor offers more flexibility, it can be paid in 6 installments of $50 each.
Some popular BNPL service providers are Affirm, Klarna and PayPal, and Afterpay.
Make sure you make the payments on time. Because if you keep missing them, it can damage your credit score.
Payment Plans
Home gym equipment brands also offer flexible payment plans. It could be through BNPLs or their in-house promotions.
For example, Bowflex offers a suggested equal monthly payment plan. For home gym machines, they provide an 18-month promotional period. And if you complete the payment within the period, Bowflex will not charge interest.
It is basically a credit card account issued by Synchrony Bank. So your application will be subject to credit approval.
Speciality Home Gym Financing Companies
Some third-party vendors offer gym equipment backed by BNPL payment plans. Here you can buy gym equipment from different categories like lifting racks, trainers, home gym machines, benches, and accessories.
Torque Fitness
Torque offers payment plans backed by Affirm. You can make monthly payments for a period of 3, 6, 12, 24, or 36 months. The interest rate can vary from 0% to 36%, depending on customer qualification.
Torque also offers purchases through PayPal Credit. The variable purchase APR is currently at 23.99%.
Rogue Fitness
Rogue is another good website for buying home gym equipment. They offer daily deals, closeouts, and sale offers. You can buy high-quality used equipment at discounted prices.
If you want to purchase weights, Rogue offers deals that let you pay less per pound for the more weights you buy.
Rogue has partnered with Affirm and PayPal Credit to offer flexible payment options. If you want to start a commercial gym, then their partners, LeaseProcess and Rigquipment Finance, can help you with the same.
Strength Warehouse USA
Strength Warehouse provides transparent finance plans to users. You can buy equipment from categories like home gyms, strength, cardio, recovery, and accessories.
You can finance your home gym with BreadPay. The monthly installments will attract interest. They do not charge any prepayment penalties.
You can make bi-weekly payments with Shop Pay and monthly installments with Affirm. They also support PayPal Credit.
Buy Used Gym Equipment
Buying used equipment can significantly reduce the cost of your home gym. You can still opt for flexible payment plans to complete your purchase.
Several reliable brands sell used gym equipment at great prices. Some of these brands you can explore online are Used Gym Equipment, Fitness Superstore, Fitness Factory, Gym Pros, and more.
Some of these vendors offer almost 50 to 70% off from the retail price.
You can also look for local vendors or garage sales. It is best to stick to accessories like free weights at local sales.
Tips to Build a Home Gym
If you are looking to set up a home gym, here are some tips to help you with the process.
- Start with your fitness goals. Do you want to improve your overall fitness, strength, flexibility, or balance? This will determine the type of equipment you should explore.
- Measure the amount of space you can spare for a home gym. This includes equipment size and enough room for you to move around freely.
- Next, consider your budget. Even with home gym financing options, you should be able to meet payment deadlines. Failure to do so can result in penalties and higher interest rates, hurting your credit score.
- Do not buy all equipment at once. Start with the essentials. You can add new equipment as you progress and build endurance and strength. This will give you breathing space in terms of financing as well.
- Consider the other costs of building a home gym. These could be flooring, ventilation and installation, accessories, and maintenance.
FAQ’s
Home gyms can cost anywhere from $300 to $2000 and above. If you want a simple setup, including dumbbells, weight plates, and exercise balls, you can get them for under $300. If you want a power rack, cardio, and isolation machines, you can get a good setup for around $2000.
Typically, yes. You can get a decent home gym setup for $300 to $1000, which will last for multiple years. But note that you will be responsible for equipment maintenance. On the other hand, annual memberships for commercial gyms will cost you around $500 to $1200 or more.
Yes. As a beginner, you can start with bodyweight exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, planks, and lunges. Then, you can perform exercises like bicep curls, squats, and calf raises using weights. Finally, you can slowly increase your reps, sets, and weights for resistance.
Summary
A home gym can be a good addition if you want to work on your fitness. However, gym equipment is no doubt a significant investment. If cost is a factor holding you back, consider the several home gym financing options.
You can take a personal loan or a no-interest credit card. You can buy directly from brands that offer flexible payment plans. Or you can buy from vendors that provide BNPL services.
Some plans can be interest-free, while others may attract interest rates. In addition, the installment periods can range from 3 months to 3 years.
Consider aspects like your goals, space, and budget when building a home gym.