How much cash should a gym keep?

A gym collects membership dues by card or bank draft, often at the start of the month. Rent, equipment loans and payroll go out on their own schedule. Cash looks strongest right after the billing run and thinnest just before the next one.

Payroll per run, all-in $ How often you run payroll Fixed bills per month (rent, loans, insurance, software) $ Days your customers take to pay, on average days Cash in the bank today $

Minimum to keep

Two payroll runs plus one month of fixed bills

Comfortable level

Covers costs while you wait for customers to pay, plus one month

Weeks your cash covers

If no customer paid you

The starting numbers are an example. Replace them with yours.

How cash moves in a gym

Membership dues arrive in a few big batches each month.
Rent and equipment leases are large and fixed. They do not shrink when members cancel.
January brings new members and February brings cancellations. Cash follows both.
Failed card payments are revenue you booked but never collected.

Why the usual rule falls short

Two gyms each bill $60,000 a month in dues. One bills everyone on the 1st. The other bills each member on their join date. The first one has a big cash swing inside every month and needs more in the bank before the 1st.

How the calculator works

Result	Formula
Minimum to keep	2 × payroll per run + 1 month of fixed bills
Comfortable level	Monthly costs × (days to collect ÷ 30 + 1)
Weeks your cash covers	Cash ÷ weekly costs

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Also for gym owners, see the gym monthly financial report.