In Italy, you register the business through the Comunicazione Unica and file a SCIA with the SUAP of your Comune. What the SCIA needs is set largely by your Regione. Some regions require a technical director and qualified instructors, so whether a gym can run without staff depends on where you open it. Gym use is at the standard 22% VAT, unless you are under the flat-rate regime. Every invoice, including to consumers, goes through the tax authority’s SDI system. Sparekey costs €990 for setup and €26 a month for Operations.
Registration and the SCIA
A commercialista usually files the ComUnica, which covers the Chamber of Commerce, VAT number, INPS and INAIL in one step. Choose between an impresa individuale and a company such as an SRL. Some gyms run as an amateur sports association (ASD/SSD), which changes tax and permits but makes customers customers. Selling hourly access to the public is a commercial activity.
The SCIA attachments vary by Comune. One example list includes liability insurance, declarations of conformity for electrical and air systems, a technical report, a structural safety certificate, a health opinion, the technical director’s acceptance and qualified instructors. It also covers fire prevention above 100 people or 200 m², and a planning use (destinazione d’uso) that fits the municipal plan. Ask your SUAP for its list before you sign the lease, and check the agibilità of the premises.
Does an instructor have to be present?
There is no single national answer. Campania, for example, requires the SCIA to name a technical director under its regional sports law. Read your Regione’s sports law and ask the SUAP whether the director or an instructor must be present during opening hours before you plan an unstaffed or H24 model.
VAT and e-invoicing
Gym use is not on the reduced lists, so it is at 22%. Under the regime forfettario, invoices carry no VAT and cite Law 190/2014.
Every invoice between parties in Italy is an electronic invoice through SDI, including to consumers. Takings without an invoice go through an online cash register or the Agenzia’s free online procedure, and the payment instruments must be linked to it. If every booking is certified by an e-invoice, no link is needed. That is usually the simplest route for an online-booked gym.
Sparekey issues an invoice for every paid booking, in Italian, and exports a CSV file. Agree with your commercialista which e-invoicing service sends the invoices to SDI. We fit the booking data to it.
Payments
Italian customers pay by card and PayPal. In Italy we set up Stripe with cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay, with payouts in euros. The Stripe account is in your name, and setup is included.
Door access
We recommend a 2N keypad with a maglock, installed by a professional door installer. Nuki is the cheaper option on the existing lock, but it cannot be secured as well against tampering by customers. Sparekey costs the same for both. Each booking gets a time-limited PIN by SMS under your gym’s name, and the stored backup code covers internet outages. See 2N keypad and maglock.
Insurance and cameras
Liability insurance is often a SCIA attachment, not just good practice. Tell the insurer in writing that the gym runs without staff. See insurance and liability.
The Garante needs no prior approval. Assess proportionality yourself, put a sign before the covered area and keep recordings briefly. Beyond 72 hours needs a stronger reason. See cameras in an unstaffed gym.
What Sparekey costs in Italy
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Setup (one-off) | €990 |
| Operations (hosting, maintenance and SMS sender name) | €26 / month |
| Door-code SMS | €0.09 per message |
No VAT is added, because Sparekey is not VAT-registered. You pay in euros by bank transfer. See pricing.
FAQ
Can a private gym in Italy run without staff?
It depends on your Regione. Some require a technical director and qualified instructors. Check the regional sports law and ask your SUAP.
Do I have to issue e-invoices to private customers?
Yes. All invoices between parties in Italy go through SDI, consumers included.