Customer Onboarding Templates

Email Templates for Gyms & Fitness

Professional emails that onboard new members, reduce class no-shows, and keep your gym community engaged.

Fitness businesses live and die on member retention. Acquiring a new member costs 5-10x more than keeping an existing one, yet most gyms invest heavily in marketing and almost nothing in member communication. These templates help you build the habit loop that keeps members coming back — from the excited first visit to the crucial 30-day danger zone when drop-off peaks.

Ready-to-Use Templates

Copy these templates and customize them for your needs. Each includes HTML and plain text versions.

New Member Welcome
Welcome a new gym member and guide their first week
General use
Subject Line

Welcome to {{gymName}} — here's your first-week plan

Preview Text

Your membership is active. Here's exactly what to do in your first week to build momentum.

Personalization Variables:
Email Preview
Class Reminder
Remind a member about an upcoming class they registered for
General use
Subject Line

{{className}} tomorrow at {{classTime}} — you're in

Preview Text

Quick reminder: you're registered for {{className}} tomorrow. Here's what to bring.

Personalization Variables:
Email Preview
Progress Milestone
Celebrate a member reaching a visit milestone to boost retention
General use
Subject Line

{{memberName}}, you just hit {{milestoneCount}} workouts at {{gymName}}

Preview Text

That's a real milestone. Here's what it means for your progress and what's coming next.

Personalization Variables:
Email Preview
Win-Back Email
Re-engage a member who hasn't visited in 30+ days
General use
Subject Line

We miss you, {{memberName}} — your spot is waiting

Preview Text

It's been {{daysSinceVisit}} days since your last visit. Here's what you're missing and how to get back on track.

Personalization Variables:
Email Preview

Best Practices

Send the welcome email within minutes of signup — momentum matters when motivation is high

Include a specific first-week plan with 3-4 concrete steps, not generic 'come visit us' messaging

Class reminders should include what to bring and arrive-early instructions to reduce anxiety for new members

Milestone emails work best at meaningful numbers (10, 25, 50, 100) — don't over-celebrate every single visit

Win-back emails should be empathetic, not guilt-tripping — assume life got busy, not that they quit

Include a welcome-back incentive in win-back emails — a free personal training session or guest pass works well

Common Mistakes

Waiting days to send the welcome email — by then the signup excitement has faded

Generic welcome emails that don't tell new members what to do first

No cancellation option in class reminders — frustrated members just no-show instead

Sending milestone emails for trivial numbers like 2 or 3 visits

Guilt-heavy win-back language ('you're wasting money') that makes members feel worse

Not stopping win-back emails once the member returns

Subject Line Examples

Timing & Performance

Best Days
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Best Times
9:00 AM, 2:00 PM
Open Rate
25-35%
Click Rate
3-5%

Personalization Tips

Member retention is the single biggest lever for gym profitability. Acquiring a new member can cost $50-200 in marketing spend, while keeping an existing one costs almost nothing — if you communicate with them. These email templates target the critical moments in the member lifecycle where a well-timed message makes the difference between a loyal regular and a quiet cancellation.

The onboarding email is where it all starts. New members who receive a clear first-week plan with specific actions — book an intro session, try a class, download the app — are dramatically more likely to build the habit that keeps them coming back. Generic "welcome aboard" emails don't create action.

From class reminders that reduce no-shows to milestone celebrations that reinforce commitment, each template is designed for the realities of running a fitness business. Customize them with your gym's branding, class schedule, and personality, then let automation handle the communication while your team focuses on what they do best — coaching members.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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