Legal requirements to open a gym in Spain

If you're considering opening your own professional gym, the legal requirements for opening a gym in Spain are probably one of the issues that can cause the most headaches.

It is true that certain requests must be made. Permits for opening a gym are just some of the tasks involved in opening a business, in addition to the administrative ones. But don't worry. In this post, we'll try to show you everything you need to know. Requirements for opening a gym , step by step, as if it were a teaching guide.

Let's start with the licenses that are specific to opening a commercial establishment and, even more specifically, to starting a sports-related activity. To do this, familiarize yourself with a term: The Business license of the gym, or also called Opening License .

Gym business license or opening license

A opening and activity license It's a document issued by the city council. It's the permit granted by the council for the use of a premises as a commercial establishment, and it's absolutely essential for the legal operation of your business. Although it's a single document, it has several aspects that you need to be aware of, which we'll now break down for you.

How to obtain an opening license

You should bear in mind that the autonomous system we have in Spain means that, depending on the Autonomous Community we are in, the procedures and legal requirements to open a gym and, therefore, to obtain the opening license, may vary.

Qualification in sports

For example, many regions require qualifications to open a gym ; that is, you need to have accredited training that allows you to open a sports center. You will need to provide proof of one of these three things:

• That you have a degree in Physical Activity and Sport or the equivalent degree depending on the educational law in force when you obtained it.
• That you have completed and passed regulated training as a Sports Technician.
• Demonstrate your skills in the subject with a professional certificate.

A technical report of the premises

Another one of the To obtain a business license for your gym, you will need a technical report certifying that the premises meet safety and occupational risk prevention requirements, as well as municipal planning regulations. This type of report should typically be prepared by a professional in one of the following fields: architect, building engineer, quantity surveyor, or registered industrial engineer.

Now, what would happen if, after the inspection, the technician disqualifies the installation? In that case, we should make the necessary modifications that will probably require a building permit.

Planning permission

In Spain , a building permit must be requested for any type of work that involves construction, demolition, extension, rehabilitation or structural modification of the premises and that involves the safety of the premises and of those present during the work and afterwards (structure, fire safety, electrical installation, ventilation…).

The request must be submitted to the local town hall and must include a detailed description of the modifications to be made. Furthermore, if the work is extensive, it may even require hiring an architect or engineer.

If you'd like some advice on this, we recommend that when choosing a location, you consider the modifications you'll need to make. Failing to do so could lead to an unexpectedly high cost, including renovations, permits, and taxes.

Although these guidelines will be very helpful, we also recommend that you contact your local town hall for information on all matters relating to the Business license to open a gym . We also recommend that you get help. By hiring a consultancy. They will handle most of the paperwork for you and save you a lot of headaches.

How much does a business license cost?

He The cost of a business license for a gym , taking into account the expenses related to each of the points mentioned above, varies depending on the location. We estimate that the technical report will cost between €500 and €1,000, to which we will add the cost of the building permit, which, depending on the size of the gym and the city, ranges from €600 to €3,000 in the most extreme cases. These expenses must be added to the list of costs explained in our post: How much does it cost to open a gym?

Occupational risk assessment

If you plan to have staff hired at your gym, you will also need to carry out a Workplace risk assessment . A risk assessment is a study that provides the necessary knowledge to determine if our employees' workplaces are safe. It also offers measures and solutions to minimize workplace risks. For this, you can consult with an occupational health and safety consultancy. The price of this type of consultancy ranges from €100 to €300.

As you can see, many of these requirements add to the costs associated with opening your gym. Therefore, if you don't have sufficient capital, we recommend that you explore the different financing options available for your gym .

Legal and tax procedures for opening a gym

We have already listed the particularities of opening a gym in a physical space. Now we will address the legal procedures that are inherent to any company and that are based on a fundamental decision: the legal form.

For the creation of new businesses, there are two options for acquiring a legal form: creating a Limited Company or registering as self-employed.

Create a Limited Company

A Limited Liability Company (SL) is a legal structure where liability is limited to the amount invested. In other words, the company's members are not personally liable for the company's debts beyond their initial investment. It is a very common legal structure among Spanish SMEs.

Forming a Limited Liability Company is an interesting option When the business is started by several partners , once created, it involves drafting articles of association and registering it with the Commercial Registry, where it will obtain a tax identification number.

In Spain, the minimum share capital required to establish a Limited Liability Company (SL) is €3,000, which can be contributed by all members of the company, either in cash or in kind. This requires going to a notary, whose fees range from €400 to €800. Finally, the company must be registered in the Mercantile Registry, the costs of which vary depending on the share capital, but typically cost around €300.

A Limited Company must be up to date with its tax obligations, that is, the payment of Corporation Tax, VAT, Withholdings and payments on account, Informative Declarations and taxes specific to its commercial activity.

To establish oneself as self-employed

A self-employed individual is a professional who works independently. Unlike a limited liability company, they are personally liable for the debts incurred by the business. However, the costs of starting a business are lower , requiring only the self-employment social security contribution and taxes related to the business activity: income tax, VAT, and the costs associated with hiring employees, if applicable.

Currently in Spain, self-employed social security contributions are tiered based on monthly turnover. They will range from €230 to €590 until 2025. Some professional profiles may be eligible for a flat rate of €80 per month for 12 months. The following may also be eligible:

• Those who have never been self-employed before.
• Those who have been self-employed before but not in the last 2 years.
• Those who were already self-employed enjoyed the flat rate back in the day, but more than 3 years have passed since then.

As you can see, opening a gym in Spain requires meeting certain requirements These procedures can sometimes be quite cumbersome. As we mentioned earlier, we recommend seeking advice, especially from professionals at a consultancy or business management firm specializing in tax and labor matters. This will save you time and headaches in many cases.