Gym Membership Agreement
Agreement between a gym/fitness club and a member — member info, membership type and term, dues and fees, billing, cancellation and statutory cooling-off rights, automatic-renewal disclosure, an assumption-of-risk and liability waiver, and signature.
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Summit Fitness Club
GYM / FITNESS CLUB MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT
CLUB: Summit Fitness Club
500 Market Street, Springfield, IL 62701 +1 217 555 0100
MEMBER: Jordan Rivera Age: 29
128 Oak Avenue, Springfield, IL 62704
+1 217 555 0142 jordan.rivera@example.com
Emergency contact: Sam Rivera — +1 217 555 0188
1. MEMBERSHIP
Type: Month-to-month Start date: June 1, 2026
Included: Full gym floor, locker rooms, group classes, and one orientation session. Personal training and tanning billed separately.
2. DUES & FEES
Monthly dues: $49.00
Initiation / enrollment fee: $0.00
Annual maintenance fee: $49.00
Billing: Auto-pay (card/ACH) on the 1st
3. AUTOMATIC RENEWAL
This membership AUTOMATICALLY RENEWS on a month-to-month basis after any initial commitment period until the Member cancels per the cancellation policy below. The Member may cancel an automatic renewal at any time as provided here and under applicable automatic-renewal law.
4. CANCELLATION
Cancel anytime with 30 days' written notice after any commitment period; final payment covers the notice period. No cancellation fee on month-to-month.
Freeze/hold: Membership may be frozen up to 3 months per year for medical or travel reasons with written request.
5. STATUTORY COOLING-OFF / RIGHT TO CANCEL
The Member may CANCEL this agreement without penalty within 3 business
day(s) of signing (or longer if required by the Member's state health-club
law) by delivering written notice to the Club at the address above. Any
refund of prepaid amounts will be made as required by applicable law.
6. ASSUMPTION OF RISK & RELEASE OF LIABILITY
The Member understands that exercise and use of the facility/equipment carry
inherent risks of injury. The Member participates voluntarily and at their
own risk, certifies they are physically able to exercise, and agrees to use
equipment properly and follow club rules. To the fullest extent permitted by
law, the Member RELEASES AND HOLDS HARMLESS the Club, its owners, employees,
and trainers from claims arising from ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE in connection with
use of the facility. This release does NOT apply to gross negligence or
willful misconduct, and does not apply where prohibited by state law (e.g.,
New York). The Club should maintain liability insurance regardless.
7. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Illinois,
including its health-club services and automatic-renewal statutes.
SIGNATURES
Member: _______________________________ Date: ______________
Jordan Rivera
Club representative: ___________________ Date: ______________
About this template
A gym membership agreement is one of the most heavily regulated consumer contracts, because health clubs have a long history of aggressive sales and hard-to-cancel terms — so most states passed a **Health Club Services Act** that overrides whatever the contract says. The clauses that matter most, and that the law cares about, are: the **dues and fees** (monthly dues, any initiation/enrollment fee, and the often-surprising **annual maintenance fee**), the **automatic-renewal disclosure** (state and federal auto-renewal laws — like California's — require clear, conspicuous disclosure and an easy way to cancel), the **cancellation policy**, and — critically — the **statutory cooling-off / right to cancel** (most states give a new member at least three business days to cancel a health-club contract without penalty, and some give more or special rights on relocation, medical disability, or club closure). Two more points protect both sides. **Minors**: a member under 18 generally cannot be bound, so a parent or guardian must co-sign. **The liability waiver**: gyms rely on an assumption-of-risk and release for ordinary negligence, which is enforceable in most states — but **never for gross negligence or willful misconduct, and outright void in a few states** (New York's General Obligations Law §5-326 voids waivers for gyms and recreational facilities), and it is not a substitute for the club carrying liability insurance. Keep the agreement clear and one-to-two pages, state the dues and every fee plainly, disclose auto-renewal up front, and spell out the cooling-off and cancellation rights — and confirm the specifics against your state's health-club statute before using it, since the numbers (notice periods, prepaid-term caps, bonding) vary widely.
When to use it
- Enrolling a new member at a gym or fitness studio.
- Documenting dues, fees, term, and billing for a membership.
- Disclosing auto-renewal and cancellation/cooling-off rights.
- Capturing an assumption-of-risk waiver and signatures.
What to include
- Club and member details (plus a parent co-sign for minors).
- Membership type/term, monthly dues, initiation and annual fees.
- Automatic-renewal disclosure and billing method.
- Cancellation policy and the statutory cooling-off right.
- Assumption-of-risk / liability waiver and signatures.