Over 70% of employers now offer some form of wellness benefit, and nearly half are looking to expand those offerings within the next year.
More and more companies are investing in employee health than ever before, and they’re actively looking for local fitness partners to make that happen. According to a recent report by IBISWorld, corporate wellness services have grown into a $13 billion market in the U.S. alone, with fitness being a major piece of that puzzle.
That’s a huge opportunity for gyms, studios, and health clubs—not just to increase revenue, but to build steady, long-term relationships with local businesses and bring in new members who otherwise wouldn’t walk through your doors.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through five corporate exercise program ideas that you can implement based on what some successful health clubs and gyms are already doing.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- Five corporate exercise program ideas, from group fitness and private events to fully managed wellness packages.
- Examples from real gyms and health clubs, so you can see how others are making it work.
- What each model offers companies, and why they’d want to partner with you.
- How to position and pitch these programs when reaching out to local businesses.
Let’s get into it.
1. Group Training Program
What It Is:
Group fitness training for corporate clients is designed to bring employees together in a shared workout experience, boosting morale and encouraging teamwork while promoting fitness. These sessions can be held at your gym, on-site, or virtually, making them flexible for different workplace settings.
Barry’s offers exclusive private events and group bookings in their famous Red Room, available both in-person and online. Companies can invite their employees to join these high-energy sessions as a team, turning a workout into a memorable, motivating experience that doubles as team building.
Why This Corporate Exercise Program Works:
- Makes fitness social and fun, which increases participation.
- Flexible delivery suits different work models and schedules.
- Helps companies offer a wellness perk that goes beyond typical gym discounts.
- Builds camaraderie through a shared challenge and goal.
How You Can Adapt This:
- Offer branded private group classes for companies—think “Team Power Hour” or “Corporate Fitness Challenge”.
- Provide virtual or hybrid options to accommodate remote employees.
- Incorporate elements like company logos, team challenges, or rewards to boost engagement.
- Use these sessions to introduce participants to your gym’s wider services and convert them to regular members.
2. Corporate Memberships That Scale
What It Is:
A branded membership package tailored for companies and their employees. These programs give businesses a way to subsidize fitness access whether partially or fully while giving employees the flexibility and motivation to get started.
Companies can choose to fully cover the cost, subsidize part of it, or simply offer a discount through an employee-paid model. Such corporate exercise programs are designed to be simple—month-to-month, no long-term contracts, and easy to enroll.
For instance, Crunch Fitness partners with companies to offer month-to-month corporate gym memberships. Employees can access all amenities, including group classes and equipment. Some companies cover part of the cost, while others simply give employees access to Crunch’s discounted corporate pricing.
Why This Corporate Exercise Program Works:
- Employees get flexible access with no contract pressure.
- Easy for companies to roll out across locations.
- The variety of amenities and classes keeps usage and engagement high.
- Affordable plans make it realistic even for smaller companies.
How You Can Adapt This:
- Create a branded, discount-based membership tier for local companies.
- Offer companies the option to co-pay or fully cover their team’s memberships.
- Waive joining fees for corporate groups to remove barriers.
- Add simple tracking to measure usage and demonstrate value to the company.
3. Hybrid Corporate Exercise Program (Multi-Location + Digital Access)
What It Is:
With more companies embracing remote and hybrid work, employees are often scattered across cities, states, or even countries. That’s where a corporate exercise program with multi-location access comes in. This setup allows employees to use their gym benefits wherever they are.
Anytime Fitness offers corporate memberships that include access to over 4,000+ locations worldwide. That means whether an employee is working from home in Austin or on a business trip in Singapore, they can still get a workout in without needing a new membership or registration process.
Why This Corporate Exercise Program Works:
- Removes location as a barrier to participation.
- Perfect fit for distributed and travel-heavy teams.
- Offers consistency – employees know what to expect no matter the location.
- Helps HR departments offer one simple, scalable wellness benefit.
How You Can Adapt This:
- If you run a multi-location gym or are part of a franchise, promote access across locations in your corporate packages.
- Use a map or club finder tool on your landing page to show your geographic reach.
- Offer a “travel-friendly” perk that includes temporary guest access to other gyms in your network.
- Consider digital add-ons (like online classes, on-demand videos & live-streaming) to support employees in remote areas without a nearby gym.
4. Custom Exercise Programming for Corporate Teams
What It Is:
This type of corporate exercise program goes beyond general access, instead, you build tailored exercise plans designed around the specific needs and goals of a company’s workforce. It might include guided workout plans, virtual training sessions, or monthly fitness challenges aligned with company wellness goals. The focus is on making fitness structured, goal-oriented, and easy to follow for employees of all fitness levels.
Equinox’s partnership with Morgan Stanley is a standout example. Equinox developed a comprehensive corporate wellness program that included personalized workout plans, group classes, and fitness challenges tailored to Morgan Stanley’s employees.
Many local gyms are also starting to offer similar custom programming at a group or team level for companies.
These include things like 6-week strength programs for sales teams, daily mobility flows for remote workers, or hybrid fitness challenges that combine step counts, strength circuits, and recovery sessions.
Why This Corporate Exercise Program Works:
- Makes fitness feel achievable and personal, even in a group/corporate context.
- Employees have structure and guidance instead of just “access”.
- Encourages ongoing engagement and measurable progress.
- Can be run virtually or in-person, offering flexibility.
How You Can Adapt This:
- Build 4–8 week templates (e.g. “Desk Job Reset,” “Remote Hustler Fit Plan”) that you can brand and deliver to multiple companies.
- Assign a coach or trainer to check in weekly or host a kickoff session on your gym app.
- Incorporate gamification—like leaderboards or completion badges—to keep it fun.
- Use your gym member app (if you have one) to deliver and track programming.
5. Holistic Wellness Programs That Go Beyond Fitness
What It Is:
Holistic corporate wellness programs combine physical activity with mental, emotional, and social wellness. These aren’t just about gym access—they’re about helping employees feel supported in every area of health. Programs might include fitness classes, mental health workshops, nutrition seminars, access to wellness coaches, and even family-friendly benefits.
YMCA’s Corporate Wellness Program, for instance, offers customizable wellness packages to local businesses. Depending on the partnership, employees get discounted memberships, access to group exercise, child care while they work out, stress management programs, and more. Many local Y branches also offer workplace wellness workshops onsite or virtually.
Why This Corporate Exercise Program Works:
- Meets employees where they are—physically and emotionally.
- Offers more value than just a gym membership.
- Helps employers promote balance, reduce burnout, and improve productivity.
- Family and mental wellness benefits make it easier for employees to stick with it.
How You Can Adapt This:
- Partner with a local health coach, therapist, or nutritionist to offer bundled resources.
- Host occasional mindfulness or wellness seminars alongside your workouts.
- Create a monthly email newsletter with wellness content for partnered businesses.
- Add family-friendly options like kids’ classes, flexible hours, or child watch services.
Final Words
If you’re thinking about launching or improving your own corporate exercise program, here’s what to remember:
- Know your audience. Local businesses have different needs—start by listening.
- Keep it scalable. Don’t overpromise a one-off experience. Build something sustainable.
- Make it clear and repeatable. If a company wants to sign up 20 employees, they shouldn’t need a PDF and a phone call to do it.
📥 Want to attract more corporate partners and boost your gym’s visibility online?
Check out our blog on Gym Landing Page Best Practices – it’s packed with real tips to help you turn more visitors into paying members.
