Starting a Gym Business in Singapore: Premises Approval, Trainer Contracts and Prepaid Packages

Short answer: To start a gym business in Singapore, incorporate a company under SSIC 93111 (fitness centres and gymnasiums), confirm the unit can lawfully be used as a gym, obtain SCDF approval for any change of use, and sell prepaid packages within consumer protection law. There is no gym-specific operating licence, but other approvals still apply.

If you plan to open a gym business in Singapore, most of the risk sits outside the incorporation: a unit that cannot lawfully be used as a gym, fit-out works needing fire safety approval, trainers on the wrong contract, and packages sold in breach of consumer protection law. This guide takes each in turn.

Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms who offer cost-effective and efficient legal service and advice. This article is general information only and is not legal advice.

What are the steps to start a gym business in Singapore?

Choose your model and SSIC code, secure premises that can be approved for gym use, incorporate, clear fit-out approvals, then set up contracts, insurance, payroll and tax. Premises approval is the step most likely to delay you.

1. Decide whether you run a facility (an equipment floor) or an instruction business (classes and coaching).
2. Check the approved use of shortlisted units, using URA’s guidelines or GoBusiness’s Premises Use Check e-Adviser, before signing a letter of intent.
3. Incorporate the company with ACRA. Our guide on how to register a company in Singapore sets out the full sequence.
4. If the unit is not already approved for gym use, lodge for instant approval where eligible or submit a change of use application. Engage a Qualified Person (a registered architect or professional engineer) for the SCDF submission.
5. Put in place trainer contracts, work injury compensation insurance, CPF accounts and music licences.
6. Draft member and package terms, and set up your accounts to track prepaid income.

Which SSIC code should a gym or fitness studio company use?

A gym or fitness centre normally uses SSIC 93111. A studio that mainly sells instruction, such as yoga classes or sports coaching, is better described by 85507. The Department of Statistics (SingStat) defines the principal activity as the one contributing the most value added. On Bizfile, ACRA asks for one primary code and, if applicable, one secondary code.

SingStat’s definitions exclude sports instruction from 93111 and direct it to 85507, which expressly lists yoga and martial arts instruction. If you run both an equipment floor and classes, use the main revenue stream as your primary code. For more on choosing codes, read how to find the right SSIC code for your business.

Can you open a gym in any commercial or industrial unit?

No. Before you lease or buy a unit, check whether a fitness centre can be approved there. URA defines fitness centres and gymnasiums as premises used for physical exercise and fitness activities, and its position depends on the property type.

Use URA’s current change of use assessment criteria for the specific unit, and where possible make the lease conditional on approval.

What fire safety approvals does a gym need from SCDF?

If turning the unit into a gym would make its existing fire safety measures inadequate, you need approval from the Commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) before you make the change. This is section 61(1) of the Fire Safety Act 1993.

SCDF says a Fire Safety Certificate must be obtained before premises are occupied or used. For a change of use, the owner or occupier engages a Qualified Person to submit plans and a Registered Inspector to inspect the completed works. Partitions, studio rooms and changing areas can affect escape routes, so involve your Qualified Person at layout stage.

The penalties are significant. Under section 61(5), failing to comply is an offence punishable by a fine of up to S$200,000, up to 2 years’ jail, or both, plus up to S$1,000 a day for a continuing offence. SCDF has also said it can require a temporary closure of the premises.

Is there a gym licence in Singapore?

We found no licence specifically for operating a gym: when we checked the GoBusiness Licence e-Advisers on 25 October 2026, none covered a fitness centre or gymnasium. Run your exact activities through the GoBusiness Licence e-Advisers, because several add-ons need their own licence or consent.

• Swimming pool: GoBusiness has a separate e-Adviser for operating a public swimming pool.
• Food and drinks: a protein bar or café brings in the Food and Beverage e-Advisers.
• Music: playing music to members is a public performance. The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) lists collective management organisations that license music, including COMPASS for public performance of musical works and lyrics, and Music Rights (Singapore) for public performance of sound recordings. You may need licences from both.
• Public liability insurance: we found no law requiring it, but check your lease, and consider it where members can be injured.

How should a gym sell prepaid packages and memberships?

A gym can sell prepaid packages, but must avoid the unfair practices listed in the Second Schedule to the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act 2003 (CPFTA). Prepayment protection is also under review.

The paragraphs of the Second Schedule most relevant to gyms are:

• Paragraph 13: terms so harsh, oppressive or excessively one-sided as to be unconscionable.
• Paragraph 14: undue pressure or undue influence to get a consumer to sign up, such as long hard-sell sessions after a free trial.
• Paragraph 23: omitting a material fact, or using small print to hide it, for example freeze fees, expiry dates or transfer rules.
• Paragraph 24: accepting payment when you know, or ought to know, that you will not be able to supply the service within the stated period or, if none is stated, within a reasonable period.

Paragraph 24 matters most when a business is in difficulty. If a member raises a complaint, our guide on what to do when a customer threatens a CPFTA claim sets out how to respond.

In a written parliamentary reply on 8 September 2026, the Minister for Trade and Industry said CaseTrust, the accreditation scheme run by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), is voluntary, and that the Consumer Protection Review Panel was expected to publish its findings later this year. As at 25 October 2026, we found no law requiring gyms to ring-fence prepayments.

Practical steps that reduce your risk:

• Put expiry, freeze, refund and transfer terms in plain language on the first page.
• Track unused sessions as a liability in your accounts. Our guide to deferred revenue and prepayments explains the accounting.
• Consider CaseTrust accreditation if you sell high-value packages.

Should personal trainers be employees or freelance contractors?

That depends on how the work is actually done, not on what the contract calls it. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) says there is no single conclusive test. It looks at control, who provides the tools and workplace, and whether the person works on their own account and bears profit or loss.

A trainer on set shifts, coaching the gym’s members at the gym’s prices, looks like an employee whatever the contract says. See MOM’s guidance on contract of service versus contract for service, and our guide to hiring freelancers as a Singapore company. If you are hiring foreign coaches, our associated licensed employment agency, Singapore Employment Agency, can help with work passes.

When does a gym company need to register for GST?

A gym company must register for GST if its taxable turnover is more than S$1 million at the end of a calendar year, or is expected to be more than S$1 million in the next 12 months. Memberships sold in Singapore count towards taxable turnover, so heavy pre-opening sales can bring the threshold forward.

On a forecast basis, IRAS requires you to apply within 30 days of the forecast date. Once registered, note that for most transactions GST is accounted for at the earlier of invoice or payment, so a 12-month package paid upfront is usually taxed when you collect the money. Use our free tools to plan your filings.

What does it cost to set up a gym company with Raffles Corporate Services?

Our fees are published on our packages page. Government fees, URA and SCDF submission costs, and professional fees for Qualified Persons are separate.

We incorporate within 1 business day of receiving complete documents, subject to compliance checks, and have served over 500 Singapore companies from our office in Singapore’s CBD.

Frequently asked questions

Do yoga and pilates studios use the same SSIC code as gyms?

Not always. SingStat lists yoga instruction under 85507. A studio mainly selling instructor-led classes usually fits 85507; one mainly selling access to equipment and space fits 93111.

Can I open a gym in an industrial unit?

Only in limited cases: in outlying areas, on the 1st storey, by change of use application to URA. Approval is not guaranteed and a land betterment charge at commercial rates may be levied.

Is CaseTrust accreditation compulsory for gyms?

No. It is a voluntary CASE scheme. The Consumer Protection Review Panel is expected to publish findings on prepayment protection later in 2026, so watch for changes.

Do freelance trainers need to be covered by my work injury insurance?

The Work Injury Compensation Act does not cover independent contractors or the self-employed. A trainer who is in substance an employee is covered, whatever the contract says.

Last reviewed: 25 October 2026. The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services.