Why Fitness Professionals Should Consider a White-Label Fitness App

Understanding White-Label Fitness Apps

White-label apps are templates that let you fill in your brand name, logo, and images. You may have purchased a website template from Wix or Squarespace to build your business site. White-label apps are similar. They're essentially blank — but structured — slates that can work for any business.

Benefits of White-Label Fitness Apps

Purchasing a white-label app means you don't have to create an app from scratch. It also offers several other benefits for your business:

Customization and Branding

Business owners often feel like they're running a one-person show. If you're accustomed to managing the administrative side of your business while acting as your own marketing manager, you probably dread the idea of taking on more work. White-label apps save you time by allowing you to plug in your business's already-built branding, color schemes, and information along with your content.

You can also customize white-label apps to suit your audience's needs. For example, if you run a fitness studio that already caters to a wide variety of clients, you could incorporate pilates videos, yoga tutorials, and exercises that pair well with your most popular gym equipment. However, an owner of a residential complex with a smaller gym may tailor the app's content and interface to reflect their residents' preferences, age, life stage, and the gym equipment available on the property.

Cost-Effectiveness

If you hire a developer, you may pay per project or by the hour. Ask yourself how many bells and whistles your fitness app truly needs. For those requiring a simple app, a white-label product is the most cost-effective solution:

• A white-label app: While there's no set price point for white-label apps, a simple model may cost between $2,000 and $10,000. You may pay tens of thousands more if you request many customizations or hire a developer to help you with this.
• An app built from scratch: Hiring a developer will typically cost much more than purchasing a white-label app. A unique, personalized app for your business may set you back between $25,000 and $1 million in development costs and testing. Naturally, the more complex you want your app to be, the more you'll spend.

If you're wavering between hiring a tech-savvy acquaintance to create a simple app and purchasing a white-label model, remember that the development cost is only one consideration. If you build an app from scratch, you'll likely pay extra for testing and further development after its release. White-label apps, in contrast, have the added benefit of being guaranteed to work from day one.

Speed to Market

New apps can take from months to years to develop. This includes conceptualization, development, and working out any bugs in the system. Even if you have an excellent concept for an app, keep in mind that you may need to complete extra steps, such as hiring a developer (or several) and others to design and test your ideas. By the time your app is ready for market, you've lost valuable time attracting and retaining new customers.

With a white-label app, you may sacrifice the intricacies a developer could customize for your business. For most fitness professionals, though, functionality is key. To determine which type of app is right for your business, ask yourself whether you need a complex and unique product built from scratch or a polished template that's ready to meet your needs.

Addressing Specific Business Needs

Gym owners have different needs than those hoping to offer a fitness app as an amenity in their multi-family housing units. Consider how white-label solutions will serve your current and future needs.

Flexibility for Different Fitness Models

Is the app you're considering flexible enough to adapt to your customers' needs? For example, some customers may prefer strength training, while others only want yoga videos. Many will want fitness tracking with metrics and data, while others will focus more on following specific personal trainers or influencers.

Scalability for Growing Businesses

As your customer base grows, your app will need to adapt. Can it handle increased traffic without shutting down? Can 50 people sign up for the same class, or is it restricted to 10? Ask yourself whether the app can grow with your business and help — not hurt — when you need to pivot strategies.

How To Choose the Right White-Label Fitness App

Though white-label fitness apps are customizable, they're not all the same. Is your new app attractive, easy to navigate, and user-friendly overall? Can it be further customized and scaled as your business grows?

White-label apps may be more cost-effective than their built-from-scratch counterparts, but they're still an investment. If you're searching for the best white-label fitness app, consider these factors to help make the decision.

Identifying Business Goals

Your app might need different features depending on the direction you hope to take your business. Do you want to attract more customers with a fun, youth-oriented, gamified workout app? Perhaps you hope to appeal to busy people who work all day and don't have time to go to the gym, or you want to connect with those who enjoy working out at home.

The beauty of a white-label fitness app is that it can support many different goals and directions — including increased retention rates. But you need to solidify these goals before you start. Everything you plan now will influence how successful your app ultimately becomes.

Evaluating Features and Usability

While a white-label app can be customized to suit your purposes, you should consider which features are standard when you purchase it. UX design plays an important role in creating a seamless experience that will attract and retain customers. Nobody wants to use a fitness app that's difficult to navigate, unattractive, or slow.

If your primary purpose is streaming fitness content, the home page should quickly direct customers to the right place. It's also a good idea to assume that changes may be necessary as more people interact with your app. Choosing a white-label app allows you the flexibility to make these changes without hefty developer fees.

Assessing Technical Support and Updates

There's a good chance you're looking at white-label apps because you're not a developer — or, at the very least, you want a quick plug-and-play solution without the headache of coding issues. Anticipate that, at some point, you will need assistance with your app. Choose a product that allows for readily available customer support and the ability to download updates as needed.

Evaluating Customization Capabilities

You may feel stuck if your initial trial run didn't attract as many new customers as you hoped. Fortunately, white-label apps that allow quick customization options can help solve this problem. You might also want to make some changes along the way as you introduce new content and grow with your clientele.

As you evaluate potential apps, make sure you can modify them in ways that are critical to your goals. For example, you may need to offer a wider selection of on-demand fitness videos, create seasonal fitness challenges for your community, or change your logo and images as you refine your brand.

Future Trends in Fitness Apps

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, most people want their fitness options to be available 24/7. If your app can be used on a phone, watch, or tablet, you're keeping up with the times.

In addition to the boom in virtual workouts, here are a few upcoming trends to look for:

• Weight loss and strength training programs: There's no surprise here. Much of the industry focuses on getting fit and staying that way. Apps that teach people how to do this wherever they are — at home, during breaks at work, or on vacation — are becoming popular.
• Programs tailored toward older adults: While fitness training benefits nearly everyone, older adults need programs that consider their unique strengths and needs. One option is working out at home with an app.
• Combining exercise with mental health: If your app doesn't include classes that nod to the mind-body connection, such as meditation, breathwork, and yoga, your customers may see it as somewhat outdated. Nowadays, many people are committed to strengthening themselves both mentally and physically.

In a business landscape of constantly evolving trends and technology, it's important to have a custom-branded app that works for you. If your current app isn't ideal — or if you envision something more personalized, user-friendly, and fully customizable — contact us today to see how Fitness On Demand's Flex App can help improve your retention rates and grow alongside your business.