How to Open a HYROX Gym: 5 Steps to Get Started

Over just the past few years, HYROX has exploded in popularity around the world. You’ve probably seen the tidal wave of popularity in your own market. And that’s why it’s no surprise that savvy fitness business owners are exploring options to add HYROX into the mix at their gyms. If that’s you and you’re wondering how to open a HYROX gym, we’ve got you covered!

On Wodify’s “The Next Rep” podcast, HYROX HQ’s David Magida, a gym owner himself, put it perfectly: “What a great opportunity, if you are the first in your market to be launching a HYROX gym you get to corner the market.”

In fact, Douglas Gremmen of HYROX HQ shared a staggering statistic: four years ago, a London event had 670 people. This year, an event in Birmingham has 25,000.

And if you’re a growth-minded gym owner or an aspiring founder looking to open a new HYROX gym, you could be perfectly positioned to capitalize on the movement—if you do it right.

Through our indepth interview with the crew from HYROX HQ, and bringing together some of the most useful information and resources out there, we’ve created this step-by-step guide on how to open a HYROX gym or add HYROX to your fitness facility.

Why Opening a HYROX Gym—or Adding It to Your Programming Lineup—Is a Smart Play for Gym Owners

Before we dive into each step of the process, here are a few reasons why gym owners should consider adding HYROX to their fitness services.

1. It’s pretty straightforward. Becoming an official HYROX Affiliate gives you the “business in a box” model that shows you how to open a HYROX gym and how to run it like a well-oiled machine.
2. There’s significant revenue potential. With a minimal upfront investment and the opportunity to score the “first mover advantage” in your area, HYROX could be a major additional revenue stream for your fitness business. First, there’s potential for attracting new customers in your market. Second, diversifying your training options presents opportunities to raise membership rates. And don’t forget the retention benefits as your community enjoys new challenges.
3. The community changes the game. Global momentum within the HYROX community doesn’t seem to have an end in sight, which likely means long-term market viability for your gym. And with that community comes client benefits like motivation and satisfaction, driving retention numbers up for your business.

“For the [affiliation] price, it’s a no-brainer. People like that the programming never changes—there’s something refreshing about the consistency. CrossFit is always evolving, which we all love, but a lot of people are drawn to HYROX because they know exactly what to expect. It’s nice to have an option like that.” – Kaylyn & Jeremy Lancaster, owners of Triad Training, when asked what gym owners should know about opening a HYROX gym.

What It Means to Be a HYROX Affiliate Gym

There are three main benefits to being a HYROX Affiliate.

The most obvious benefit is being able to offer HYROX training classes at your gym. With the growing popularity of HYROX around the world, people in your area are looking for these classes. In addition, affiliating allows you to create progressive programming cycles and run HYROX-specific workshops. xxx

Next, your members will love testing their progress through race simulations, HYROX Physical Fitness Tests, and in-house challenges or seasonal competitions. As seasoned gym owners know, improved results through performance tracking drives retention for the business and motivation for members.

Lastly, there are a number of business advantages to becoming a HYROX Affiliate. You’ll likely notice new member acquisition from HYROX event hype and marketing support. After all, there’s brand power in being associated with HYROX, plus you must be an affiliate in order to market and advertise HYROX training in your space. You’ll also get partner discounts and early access for your members to major events, which sell out quickly around the globe.

How to Open a HYROX Gym: 5 Steps to Get Started

1. Test Your Local Market for HYROX Demand

• Check with your current members. Identify runners, endurance athletes, and functional fitness competitors. Then send a quick survey or ask in your community to see how many would train for a HYROX-style event soon.
• Run a low-lift test event. Host a HYROX-style workout or mini-challenge and measure sign-ups vs. attendance, energy/engagement, and how many people ask for another one or bring friends.
• Pilot a small training group. Start with 2–3 committed members for 4–6 weeks and use their results and word-of-mouth to confirm demand before scaling up.
• Run a local Google search. Using the term “HYROX,” see if reviews mention classes.
• Check out the HYROX partner map. On it, you’ll be able to see where other HYROX Training Clubs and Performance Centres are in your area.

2. Understand the HYROX Affiliate Model and Costs

If you’ve done some research, you already know that HYROX is set up with a low-risk, high-reward structure. It’s not a franchise but instead designed to be an additional revenue stream for your fitness business.

With a minimal investment of less than $1,500 per year, one new member could essentially pay for your annual fee. Plus, the HYROX model uses assets you already have, such as your facility space, coaches and equipment.

Similar to being a CrossFit affiliate, your HYROX affiliation gives you marketing rights, brand alignment and community exposure. It also gives you the ability to run official HYROX-style classes, PFTs (Physical Fitness Tests) and race sims. Lastly, your fitness business will be listed in the HYROX Training Club Finder.

3. Choose Between a HYROX Training Club or Performance Centre

There are actually two options when it comes to how to open a HYROX gym. The most common path is to become a HYROX Training Club.

Any gym can qualify, making it ideal for fitness businesses that already offer CrossFit, functional fitness, personal training, HIIT, etc. Programming is designed to be integrated into—as opposed to replacing—your regularly-scheduled programming. Space requirements are flexible and the monthly cost is the lower of the two HYROX affiliation choices.

The premium option is to become a HYROX Performance Centre. First, this alternative is designed to replicate race-day setup for serious athletes, which requires a minimum of just under 2,000 square feet (1,937.5 to be exact) of dedicated HYROX floor space. In addition, HYROX Performance Centres must use the official equipment, including HYROX, CENTR and Concept2, and the monthly fee is higher than the HYROX Training Club option.

There are some pretty powerful benefits to becoming a HYROX Performance Centre though. You’ll get geographic exclusivity, elevated branding, custom design and onboarding support.

If you’re unsure which option is best for your business, the HYROX team is available to help you explore the two paths in detail.

4. Meet the HYROX Coaching and Equipment Requirements

Whether you’re opening a HYROX Training Club or Performance Centre, it’s helpful to know all the requirements in advance.

It likely goes without saying but safety is the top priority, so you’ll need enough room to run HYROX classes, and the ability to host small in-house race events or simulations is beneficial.

For running, treadmills or a 1,000m running space is required. From there, functional workstations should include the following:

• SkiErg machine
• Concept2 rower
• Sled push track + bumpers
• Sled pull setup + rope
• Kettlebells (35lb, 53lb and 70lb pairs)
• Sandbags (25-70lbs)
• Wall balls (10lbs, 14lbs, 20lbs)

HYROX affiliation also requires a specific education path for coaches. At minimum, coaches must have a national personal training certification and complete two HYROX365 Academy courses.

5. Apply to Become an Official HYROX Partner Gym

Once you’ve made the decision and know how to open a HYROX gym, applying to be an affiliate is simple.

Assuming that your gym meets the space and equipment standards, you’ll decide if you want to be a Training Club or Performance Centre, and create an account on the HYROX365 portal. That’s where you’ll submit the partnership application, provide billing details and choose your payment plan. Once your activation is complete, congratulations—you’re officially a HYROX gym!

6. Choosing the Right Software for Your HYROX Affiliate or Performance Center

Choosing the right software for your HYROX affiliate or gym is essential for streamlining operations, managing athlete performance, and creating a seamless member experience. From workout tracking and class scheduling to billing and performance insights, the best HYROX gym software should support the unique needs of hybrid training environments while helping you grow your community. Learn more about how Wodify supports HYROX gyms to discover the tools and features designed specifically for functional fitness and performance-driven training spaces.

Let Wodify Help You Lead a HYROX Fitness Movement

If you’ve been thinking about how to open a HYROX gym—or whether it’s the right move for your fitness business—now is the time to take action.

HYROX momentum is building, and gym owners who get in the game early stand to gain the biggest long-term advantage. With the right approach, the small up-front investment could turn into a significant new revenue stream for your business.

And the best part is, Wodify is here to help!

Wodify is the all-in-one platform to launch and scale your new HYROX business. HYROX programming is available through the Wodify marketplace from HWPO Affiliate, PRVN Affiliate and The Progrm HYROX. Simply head over to the Wodify marketplace and filter by HYROX to see your options!

Ready to build your HYROX gym with Wodify? Book a demo with our team today!