The verdict in three sentences
A chain of 5 to 10 gyms can get custom management software (memberships, access control, class booking, member app) for 250,000 to 550,000 MAD in 2026 (about EUR 23,000 to 51,000, or USD 25,000 to 55,000). Market licences, the norm in Dubai, cost EUR 150 to 300 per gym per month, i.e. 136,000 to 272,000 MAD a year for 7 gyms, and do not always handle local CMI card payments or Arabic. The real return comes from monthly churn cut from 6% to 4% thanks to recurring billing and inactivity alerts.
What each module costs in 2026
Order of magnitude for a 7-gym chain with 9,500 members, built in Morocco or francophone nearshore:
| Module | Range MAD (excl. tax) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-plan memberships (monthly, annual, student, corporate) | 45,000 to 90,000 | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Recurring payment by tokenised card (CMI) and bank debit | 40,000 to 80,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Access control: QR code, RFID badge, turnstiles, multi-site access | 35,000 to 75,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Group class and coaching booking, waiting lists | 30,000 to 70,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Member PWA (FR, AR), notifications, session tracking | 50,000 to 120,000 | 5 to 7 weeks |
| Automated inactivity alerts and anti-churn reminders | 20,000 to 50,000 | 2 weeks |
| Network dashboard (attendance, revenue per gym, churn) | 30,000 to 65,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
Total: 250,000 MAD for memberships plus payment plus access plus booking, up to 550,000 MAD with a full app and anti-churn engine. Hosting and maintenance: 4,000 to 9,000 MAD a month. Hardware (turnstiles, readers) is separate, about 15,000 to 35,000 MAD per access point.
Market licence or owned software over 3 years
| 3-year item (7 gyms) | Licensed software | Custom software |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 20,000 to 60,000 MAD | 250,000 to 550,000 MAD |
| Licences | EUR 150 to 300 per gym per month, i.e. 408,000 to 816,000 MAD | 0 |
| Hosting and maintenance | Included | 144,000 to 324,000 MAD |
| Recurring CMI card payment | Rarely native | Native |
| Arabic and French interface | Partial | Full |
| Opening an 8th or 10th gym | +1 licence each time | Near-zero marginal cost |
| Estimated 3-year total | 430,000 to 880,000 MAD | 394,000 to 874,000 MAD |
At 7 gyms, both options converge over 3 years. Custom wins as soon as the chain plans new openings, or when local payment and Arabic are essential.
Anti-churn levers that move from 6% to 4%
| Lever | Mechanism | Observed effect (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic recurring billing | No more forgotten manual renewals | -1 point of monthly churn |
| Inactivity alert after 10 days without a visit | SMS or WhatsApp from the coach | 25 to 30% of inactive members return |
| Online membership freeze (travel, Ramadan) | Pause instead of cancellation | 15% of cancellations avoided |
| Class booking with waiting list | Less peak-hour frustration | +18% class attendance |
| In-app referral programme | Recruitment by active members | 8 to 12% of new sign-ups |
| Expired card reminders | Update before payment failure | 60% of failed debits recovered |
Mini case study
Karim, founder of a 7-gym chain in Casablanca, has 9,500 members paying 350 MAD a month on average, i.e. 3,325,000 MAD of monthly revenue. With churn down from 6% to 4%, he keeps 190 more members every month. Over the first year that averages 1,140 extra members, or about 4,800,000 MAD of additional revenue. Taking only half of that effect to be prudent, the gain is still 2,400,000 MAD, for a 420,000 MAD project and 78,000 MAD of annual maintenance.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Does the software handle a member who uses several gyms in the chain?
Yes, multi-site membership is native: the same QR code or badge opens all 7 gyms depending on the plan. Per-gym attendance feeds the dashboard to adjust coach schedules.
Which payment methods are supported in Morocco?
Bank cards through CMI with tokenisation for recurring billing, bank debit, cash at reception and transfer for corporate plans. Card fees run around 1.5 to 2.5% depending on the contract.
Can we connect our existing turnstiles?
Usually yes, through a relay box or the manufacturer's API, for 5,000 to 15,000 MAD per access point. A one-day audit confirms compatibility.
How long to launch the software across 7 gyms?
Plan 4 to 5 months: development, a 4-week pilot in one gym, then switching the others two at a time. Migrating the 9,500 member records takes 2 to 3 days.
Is member data protected?
Yes, in line with Moroccan law 09-08 and CNDP requirements: processing declaration, consent for WhatsApp reminders and secure hosting.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of gyms, members and access equipment and we will price software between 250,000 and 550,000 MAD, rolled out gym by gym in 4 to 5 months. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
