How to Open a BJJ Gym in the UK: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Before risking £20,000-£50,000 and committing to 50-70 hour weeks for 12-24 months, conduct honest self-assessment across five critical dimensions.

Required Qualifications Assessment

Belt Rank Considerations: No UK legal requirement for minimum belt rank exists, but purple belt represents community expectation minimum for credibility. Black belt provides substantial advantages: Independent grading authority without external examiner, significantly higher credibility with students and parents, easier governing body affiliation (BJJA, UKBJJA often require brown belt minimum), stronger instructor recruitment capability, higher pricing justification through demonstrated expertise.

Can you open as lower belt? Yes, but challenges include: Need affiliation with black belt for grading authority, students may question credentials, governing body options limited, competitive disadvantage against higher-ranked local gyms, pricing pressure (difficult to charge premium). Mitigation strategies: Partner with black belt as co-founder or technical director, affiliate with established academy as satellite location, focus on business excellence whilst continuing rank progression, target underserved demographics (women's self-defence, kids programmes) where business execution matters more than competition pedigree.

Beyond Belt Rank: Enhanced DBS check mandatory if teaching anyone under 18 (£49.50 government fee, 2-8 weeks processing time). Safeguarding training required for children's programmes (£20-£50 online courses, valid 3 years). First aid certification recommended (4-hour course £40-£80). Business registration (Companies House if limited company, HMRC for all structures). Public liability insurance non-negotiable (£5M minimum, £400-£1,200/year).

Business vs Coaching Mindset

Reality Check: Gym ownership is 70% business owner, 30% coach—especially first 2 years. Critical business skills matter more than coaching ability for gym viability: Sales and marketing (member acquisition, trial conversion, handling objections), financial management (cash flow tracking, P&L interpretation, break-even analysis, tax compliance), customer service (retention, complaint resolution, member communication), operations management (scheduling, staffing, facility maintenance, supplier relationships), staff management (hiring, training, compensation, performance management, UK employment law compliance).

Many excellent coaches make poor gym owners because they: Prioritise technical perfection over member experience, struggle with sales and marketing ("if I build it they will come" fallacy), avoid difficult conversations (payment issues, cancellations, problem members), neglect financial tracking until crisis hits, undervalue business systems and documentation. Conversely, many successful gym owners are adequate coaches but excellent businesspeople who: Build member-focused experience beyond technical instruction, embrace marketing as member service (helping people find solution to their goals), systematise operations to free time for high-value activities, track metrics relentlessly (member count, churn rate, revenue per member, acquisition cost, lifetime value), delegate coaching to senior students or hired instructors whilst focusing on business growth.

Honest Assessment: Do you enjoy sales and persuasion or resent "selling"? Can you track finances and interpret spreadsheets or do numbers intimidate? Are you comfortable delegating and systematising or need to control every detail? Do you view marketing as helpful (connecting people to BJJ) or sleazy? Can you fire problem members or instructors when necessary? Weak business skills can be learned—but willingness to learn and execute is non-negotiable.

Time Commitment Expectations

Year 1 Reality: 50-70 hours per week typical breakdown. Teaching classes 10-20 hours (evenings 6-10pm, weekends for workshops and open mats). Admin 15-25 hours (membership management, billing, scheduling, communications, social media). Marketing and sales 10-15 hours (Facebook ads, local partnerships, trial follow-ups, content creation). Facility maintenance 5-10 hours (cleaning, equipment maintenance, minor repairs). Financial management 5-10 hours (bookkeeping, cash flow tracking, tax compliance, bank reconciliation). Total: 50-70 hours minimum.

Evening and Weekend Commitment: Peak class times 6-10pm Monday-Friday when members finish work. Weekend morning classes popular (9-11am). Open mats Saturday or Sunday afternoons. This schedule conflicts with traditional family time. Partner/spouse support essential—discuss impact on relationship and family before proceeding. Single parents face additional challenges (childcare during evening classes, reduced flexibility).

Part-Time Possibility: Yes but slow growth. Typical approach: Keep employment, rent church hall or leisure centre 2-3 evenings/week (£20-£50/hour), build to 40-60 members over 12-18 months, transition to full-time when revenue covers salary replacement. Advantages: Income security during build phase, test market demand, lower startup costs (£2,000-£5,000). Disadvantages: Limited growth (can't compete with gyms offering full schedule), no equity building in facility, time and energy constraints managing both job and gym, extended timeline to profitability (18-24 months vs 6-12 months full-time). See phased approach details.

Financial Readiness Assessment

Total Capital Needed: £17,000-£45,000 including working capital. Breakdown: Physical startup costs (mats, deposit, equipment, insurance, software, marketing, professional services): £11,000-£30,000. Working capital (6 months operating expenses): £6,000-£15,000. Regional variation: Provincial gym £17,000-£30,000 realistic. London gym £30,000-£50,000+ realistic.

Personal Financial Buffer: Can you and dependents survive 12-24 months of low or no income from gym? Many owners draw minimal salary first year whilst building member base. Need separate personal savings: 6-12 months personal living expenses (mortgage/rent, food, bills, transport, debt payments, emergency fund). Example: £2,000/month personal expenses × 12 months = £24,000 personal buffer. Total capital requirement: £17,000-£45,000 gym startup + £12,000-£48,000 personal buffer = £29,000-£93,000 total accessible capital recommended for comfortable launch. Can launch with less but increases risk significantly.

Funding Sources: Personal savings (60-70% of UK gym owners). Bank loans (£10,000-£50,000 possible with good credit, 5-12% interest). Start Up Loans (government-backed £500-£25,000 at 6% fixed interest). Partners/co-founders (shared risk and capital). Crowdfunding (£5,000-£20,000 if well-promoted). See comprehensive funding guide for all options.

Financial Obligations Assessment: Current debt levels (mortgage, loans, credit cards)—can you service these with reduced income? Dependents (partner, children)—who relies on your income? Financial responsibilities (school fees, elderly parents, medical costs). Credit score for loan applications. Assets for security (property equity for secured loans). Be realistic—financial pressure whilst building gym creates immense stress. Under-resourced launch attempts often fail despite viable business model.

Risk Tolerance Evaluation

Gym Failure Rate Reality: 30-40% of new gyms fail within first 3 years (based on small business failure rates—specific BJJ gym data limited). Primary failure reasons: Undercapitalisation (ran out of money before break-even, most common), poor location (weak demographics, excessive rent, parking issues), inadequate marketing (insufficient member acquisition), competition (saturated market), personal circumstances (health, family, burnout), economic downturn (recession reduces discretionary spending).

Personal Liability Risk: Sole trader structure: Unlimited personal liability—creditors can pursue personal assets (home, savings, vehicle) for business debts. Example: Lease obligation £2,000/month, gym fails month 18, 30 months remaining = £60,000 personal liability to landlord. Limited company structure: Limited liability—only business assets at risk, personal assets protected. BUT personal guarantees (common for leases, loans) override limited liability protection—landlord can still pursue personal assets if gym fails. Insurance gaps: Injury not covered by public liability policy—personal liability for damages. Professional negligence claims exceeding insurance limits.

Plan B Requirement: What's your fallback if gym fails? Return to previous employment (do you maintain industry contacts and certifications)? Alternative income source (spouse income, rental properties, investments)? Willingness to declare bankruptcy if necessary (impact on credit, future borrowing, homeownership)? Emotional resilience to handle failure (many gym owners face depression after closure)? Don't proceed without realistic Plan B—blind optimism insufficient.

Decision Point: If self-assessment reveals concerning gaps (inadequate capital, poor location options, weak business skills with no learning commitment, insufficient risk tolerance, lack of family support), wait and prepare rather than launch prematurely. Use gym owner resource hub to systematically address weaknesses before investing capital.

UK law offers several business structure options with significantly different tax treatment, liability protection, and administrative requirements. This decision impacts your tax bill, personal risk exposure, and operational complexity for the life of your gym.

Sole Trader Option

Setup Process: Simplest option. Register online with HMRC at gov.uk/set-up-sole-trader within 3 months of starting trading. Free registration. Receive Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) within 10 working days. No Companies House registration required. Can operate under your own name or register business name separately (check availability at gov.uk/search-for-trademark).

Tax Treatment: Pay Income Tax on all profits: £0-£12,570 (0% personal allowance), £12,571-£50,270 (20% basic rate), £50,271-£125,140 (40% higher rate), above £125,140 (45% additional rate). Plus National Insurance contributions: Class 2 (£3.50/week = £182/year) if profits above £12,570, Class 4 (6% on profits £12,571-£50,270, 2% on profits above £50,270). Example: £40,000 profit = £5,486 Income Tax (20% on £27,430 above personal allowance) + £182 Class 2 NI + £1,648 Class 4 NI (6% on £27,430) = £7,316 total tax (18.3% effective rate).

Advantages: Simple setup (online in 10 minutes, free). Low accounting costs (£300-£600/year for basic bookkeeping and tax return). Complete control (no board, no shareholders, no Companies House filings). Privacy (accounts not public, only HMRC sees financials). Take profits directly (no dividend complexity). Easy to close (simply stop trading and notify HMRC).

Disadvantages: Unlimited personal liability (personally liable for all business debts, lease obligations, injury claims beyond insurance, supplier debts). Higher tax at scale (40-45% vs 19% Corporation Tax on profits above £30,000). Harder to raise investment (no shares to sell). Harder to sell business (goodwill sale complex). Professional image weaker ("John Smith" vs "Smith BJJ Academy Ltd"). Mortgage applications may be harder (self-employed income scrutinised).

Best For: Testing concept part-time with low commitment. First year of operation whilst assessing viability. Low-profit operations (below £30,000 annual profit where tax advantage minimal). Solo operators not planning growth or exit. Those prioritising simplicity over tax optimisation. Situations where limited capital makes £100 registration fee and £800-£1,500 accounting costs prohibitive.

Limited Company Option

Setup Process: Register at Companies House via gov.uk/register-a-company. Cost £100 for online registration as of February 2026 (increased from £12—significant fee rise to fund regulatory reforms). Typically approved within 24 hours. Need: Company name (check availability, avoid restricted words), registered address (can be home address or use accountant's address), director details (minimum one director, can be sole director), share structure (typically 100 ordinary shares at £1 each = £100 share capital). Receive Certificate of Incorporation with company number. Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC within 3 months of starting trading. Open business bank account (required for limited company—legally must separate business and personal finances).

Tax Treatment: Company pays Corporation Tax on profits: 19% on profits below £50,000 (small profits rate), sliding scale 19-25% on profits £50,000-£250,000, 25% on profits above £250,000 (main rate). You pay yourself via: Salary (subject to Income Tax and National Insurance—typical strategy: pay yourself £12,570/year salary using personal allowance, avoids Income Tax and employee NI), dividends (taxed at 8.75% basic rate, 33.75% higher rate, 39.35% additional rate after £500 dividend allowance). Example: £40,000 profit. Company pays 19% Corporation Tax = £7,600, leaving £32,400 after-tax profit. Pay £12,570 salary (£0 tax using personal allowance). Distribute £19,830 dividends (£500 dividend allowance = £0 tax, £19,330 at 8.75% = £1,691). Total tax: £7,600 Corporation Tax + £1,691 dividend tax = £9,291 (23.2% effective rate vs 18.3% as sole trader—but protecting £32,400 with limited liability).

Employer National Insurance: If employing instructors, pay 15% Employer NI on earnings above £5,000/year per employee. Employment Allowance £10,500/year reduces NI liability for eligible employers (sole director companies don't qualify—need at least one employee who isn't director). Example: Instructor earns £20,000/year. Employer NI = 15% × (£20,000 - £5,000) = £2,250/year. Employment Allowance reduces this to £0 if eligible (£10,500 allowance > £2,250 liability).

Advantages: Limited liability protection (company is separate legal entity—only company assets at risk if business fails, personal assets protected unless you've given personal guarantees). Tax efficiency at higher profits (19% Corporation Tax vs 40-45% Income Tax saves £8,400-£10,400 on £40,000 profit). Professional image ("Smith BJJ Academy Ltd" perceived more established). Easier to raise investment (can sell shares to investors). Easier to sell business (transfer shares vs goodwill sale). Separate legal identity (can own property, enter contracts, sue/be sued in company name).

Disadvantages: Higher setup costs (£100 Companies House registration vs free). Higher accounting costs (£800-£1,500/year vs £300-£600—need limited company accounts, Corporation Tax return, annual confirmation statement). More admin burden (annual accounts filed at Companies House, confirmation statement £50/year, maintain statutory registers, board minutes for major decisions). Public accounts (anyone can view your accounts at Companies House—competitors see revenue, profits, assets). More complex finances (separate bank account required, dividend procedures, payroll for yourself if taking salary). Slower to close (formal dissolution process, final accounts, notify creditors).

Best For: Long-term commitment to gym ownership (planning 3+ years). Profitable operations (above £30,000 annual profit where tax savings exceed extra accounting costs). Growth ambitions (multiple locations, franchising, eventual sale). Employing instructors (Employer NI liability makes company structure more appropriate). Risk mitigation priority (limited liability protection worth accounting costs). Professional positioning (premium gym targeting corporate members values Ltd perception).

Partnership Option

When Relevant: Co-founding gym with one or more partners. Each partner shares ownership, profits, and liability. Can be informal partnership (default) or formal Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). Informal partnership: Simple setup, each partner taxed as sole trader on share of profits, joint and several liability (each partner liable for all partnership debts even if caused by other partner—risky). LLP: Separate legal entity like limited company, limited liability for partners, Companies House registration required (£100), more complex but safer.

CRITICAL Requirement: Written partnership agreement essential regardless of structure. Must cover: Ownership split (50/50, 60/40, 70/30), profit distribution (same as ownership or different arrangement), responsibilities (who does what—technical instruction, business management, marketing, finance), decision-making (unanimous, majority, designated areas), dispute resolution (mediation, arbitration, buy-sell provisions), exit terms (how partner can leave, valuation method, right of first refusal), death/incapacity provisions (insurance-funded buyout, transfer to heirs vs automatic buyout).

Advantages: Shared financial burden (£25,000 startup split between two partners = £12,500 each). Complementary skills (one technical expert, one business operator). Shared workload (50-70 hours split between partners more sustainable). Emotional support (co-founder understands struggles, celebrates wins). Resilience (if one partner has emergency, other maintains operations).

Disadvantages: Shared control (can't make unilateral decisions). Profit sharing (£40,000 profit split 50/50 = £20,000 each vs £40,000 solo). Relationship risk (75% of business partnerships fail within 10 years—higher than marriage divorce rate). Liability for partner's actions (in informal partnership, liable for debts partner incurs). Complexity unwinding (dissolving partnership when relationship sours creates legal and financial mess).

Partner Selection Critical: Don't partner just for capital (loan may be better than giving up 50% equity permanently). Choose partner for complementary skills and aligned values. Vet thoroughly (would you marry this person?—business partnership similarly intimate). Test collaboration before committing (work together 6-12 months before formalising partnership). Budget £1,000-£2,000 for solicitor to draft partnership agreement (cheap insurance against expensive disputes).

Decision Framework

Start Sole Trader If: Testing part-time with low commitment. First year assessing viability. Expect profits below £30,000 first 2-3 years. Prioritise simplicity over tax optimisation. Limited capital (£100 and higher accounting costs prohibitive). Planning solo operation indefinitely.

Choose Limited Company If: Committed to long-term gym ownership (3+ years). Expect profits above £30,000 where tax savings justify accounting costs. Planning to employ instructors. Risk mitigation important (want limited liability protection despite lease personal guarantees). Growth ambitions (multiple locations, franchising, eventual sale). Professional image matters (corporate members, premium positioning).

Consider Partnership If: Co-founding with complementary partner (technical + business skills). Need shared financial burden (neither can fund solo). Want resilience and support. Have tested collaboration successfully. Willing to invest in proper partnership agreement. Understand and accept profit-sharing and control-sharing implications.

Tax Efficiency Break-Even: £30,000 annual profit threshold approximates where limited company tax savings exceed additional accounting costs. Below £30,000: Sole trader typically better (simplicity outweighs small tax savings). £30,000-£50,000: Limited company saves £2,000-£4,000/year tax vs sole trader—exceeds £700 extra accounting costs. Above £50,000: Limited company clearly better—savings £5,000+/year. Calculate for your situation: Use detailed legal structure comparison with tax calculators.

Transition Strategy: Many gym owners start sole trader year one (simple, low costs, testing viability), then transition to limited company year two once profitable and committed (tax savings justify complexity). Transition process: Form limited company, transfer business assets and operations to company, notify members of new entity, close sole trader with HMRC. Cost £500-£1,000 in professional fees. Consult accountant before transitioning—timing and method matter for tax implications.

Insurance represents non-negotiable operating cost—attempting to run gym without adequate coverage risks personal bankruptcy from single injury claim. UK insurance market offers specialist martial arts providers who understand BJJ-specific risks.

Public Liability Insurance (Essential, Non-Negotiable)

What It Covers: Third-party injury claims (student injured during training, visitor slips in changing room, parent breaks ankle on wet floor). Third-party property damage (gym equipment falls and damages landlord's property, water leak from gym damages neighbouring business, student's phone damaged during class). Legal defence costs (solicitor fees defending injury claim even if claim ultimately rejected). Typical coverage limit: £5M minimum legally adequate, £10M recommended for better protection and lower excess.

What It Doesn't Cover: Intentional acts (instructor deliberately injures student—criminal matter not insurable). Injuries to employees (covered by separate Employer's Liability Insurance). Professional negligence (coaching advice causing injury—needs Professional Indemnity Insurance). Normal wear and tear (mats deteriorating from use not insurable event). Injuries inherent to BJJ (broken finger during rolling—insurance may reject as expected risk unless negligence proven).

Claims Examples: Student breaks arm during takedown technique—alleges instructor demonstrated incorrectly (claim £15,000-£50,000 medical costs, lost earnings, pain/suffering). Visitor trips on gym bag left in walkway—breaks wrist (claim £8,000-£25,000). Student develops MRSA infection—alleges gym failed to clean mats adequately (claim £20,000-£100,000). Ceiling tile falls during class—injures student's head (claim £30,000-£150,000). Water leak from changing room damages neighbouring business computers (claim £5,000-£30,000). One claim can bankrupt uninsured gym—£50,000 settlement destroys business and pursues personal assets.

UK Costs 2026: £400-£1,200/year depending on: Gym size (larger gyms = higher premiums), member count (more members = more exposure), location (London higher than provincial), claims history (past claims increase premiums significantly), coverage limit (£10M costs 10-20% more than £5M), excess level (higher excess reduces premium—but you pay more per claim). Example quotes: 50-member provincial gym, £5M coverage, £250 excess = £450/year. 100-member London gym, £10M coverage, £500 excess = £850/year. 200-member established gym, £10M coverage, £1,000 excess = £1,100/year.

Specialist UK Providers: BMABA (British Martial Arts & Boxing Association)—specialist martial arts insurer since 1994, understands BJJ grappling risks explicitly, often includes insurance in governing body membership package, competitive pricing for affiliated clubs, claims experience with martial arts context. Everywhen—specialist martial arts and combat sports insurer, explicit BJJ coverage, flexible policy terms, good customer service reputation. Simply Business—online broker aggregating multiple insurers, easy quotes and comparison, competitive pricing, less martial arts specialisation (read policy carefully for grappling exclusions). Hiscox—professional business insurer, higher premiums but comprehensive cover, strong claims handling reputation, good for premium-positioned gyms. AXA, Aviva—high street insurers, may be cheaper but often have grappling sport exclusions (read policy extremely carefully).

Selection Process: Get quotes from minimum 3 providers (compare coverage not just price). Read policy wording carefully (don't just accept quote—request full policy document before purchasing). Check grappling sports explicitly covered (some policies exclude BJJ, judo, wrestling—must be explicitly included). Verify excess levels (amount you pay per claim before insurance covers remainder—£250-£1,000 typical). Check exclusions carefully (what's not covered can destroy you). Verify claims process (24-hour claims line, named claims handler, track record of paying claims vs fighting them). Annual renewal: Review coverage annually, compare quotes (loyalty doesn't pay—switching saves £100-£300/year), increase coverage as gym grows (£5M sufficient for 50 members may be inadequate for 200 members). See comprehensive insurance provider comparison.

Employer's Liability Insurance (Legally Required If Any Employees)

Legal Requirement: Compulsory if you employ anyone—even part-time instructor one evening per week, even family members, even volunteers in some circumstances. Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 mandates £5M minimum coverage. Penalties for non-compliance: £2,500 per day fine (not £2,500 total—£2,500 every single day without insurance). Prosecution possible. HSE (Health & Safety Executive) inspectors can visit and request certificate. Must display certificate at premises where employees can see it.

What It Covers: Employee injuries at work (instructor tears ACL demonstrating technique, receptionist slips on wet floor, cleaner injures back lifting mats). Occupational illnesses (instructor develops chronic pain from years teaching without injury but alleges inadequate training or equipment). Legal defence costs. Compensation claims. Typical limit: £5M minimum legally required, £10M available for minimal extra cost. Claims can be substantial: Permanently disabling injury £100,000-£500,000+, chronic pain £20,000-£100,000, temporary injury £5,000-£30,000.

Who Counts as Employee: Anyone working under contract of employment (full-time or part-time instructor on payroll). Many contractors legally reclassified as employees by HMRC and courts (if you control when, where, and how they work—likely employee not contractor). Volunteers may require coverage depending on arrangement (regular volunteers doing employee-like work may be deemed employees). Family members count as employees if working for business. Sole director of limited company usually exempt (but check policy—add coverage if directors do physical work like cleaning or maintenance).

Costs: £150-£400/year typically depending on number of employees and total payroll. Often bundled with Public Liability Insurance for combined discount (combined package £600-£1,500/year for both coverages). Some providers offer single policy covering both (saves admin).

Professional Indemnity Insurance (Recommended for Specialist Coaching)

What It Covers: Negligent instruction claims (coaching advice causes injury—"instructor told me to push through pain, now I need surgery"). Professional negligence (nutrition advice causes health issues, conditioning programme causes overtraining injury, competition advice leads to weight cut complications). Breach of professional duty. Misrepresentation of qualifications. Typical coverage: £100,000-£1M depending on services offered.

When Essential: Offering personal training (one-to-one coaching with individualised programmes). Nutrition coaching or dietary advice (even general advice can trigger claims). Specialist seminars (charging premium for expert instruction creates higher duty of care). Competition coaching (weight cutting advice, competition strategy, cornering). Online coaching (remote instruction without direct supervision increases negligence risk). Kids programmes (higher duty of care to minors, parental litigation common).

When Optional: Standard group BJJ classes only (Public Liability Insurance primary). No specialist coaching services. No nutrition or conditioning advice. Referring members to qualified specialists for advanced needs.

Costs: £200-£500/year for £250,000-£500,000 coverage. Higher limits (£1M) cost £400-£800/year. Often bundled with Public Liability for package discount.

Equipment and Contents Insurance

Coverage: Theft of equipment (mats, bags, pads, sound system, computers, retail stock). Fire damage (building fire destroys all mats and equipment). Flood damage (water leak ruins mats). Vandalism (break-in damages mirrors and equipment). Typical valuation: New replacement cost (insurer replaces with new equivalent items—premium option) vs indemnity basis (insurer pays depreciated value—cheaper but inadequate for significant claims).

Costs: £100-£300/year for £10,000-£30,000 equipment value. New replacement cost adds 20-30% to premium vs indemnity. May be required by lease (landlord requires tenant to insure contents). Often bundled with Public Liability and Employer's Liability as comprehensive gym policy.

Decision: Essential if: High equipment value (£10,000+ in mats and equipment at risk), lease requires it, crime-prone area (higher theft risk). Optional if: Low equipment value (used mats, minimal equipment), tight budget (prioritise Public and Employer's Liability first), low-crime area with good security. Budget permitting, include for peace of mind—£10,000 mat replacement would devastate cash flow without insurance.

Insurance Budget and Package Approach

Annual Insurance Budget: Public Liability (£5M-£10M): £400-£1,200. Employer's Liability (if employees): £150-£400. Professional Indemnity (if specialist coaching): £200-£500. Equipment/Contents (£10,000-£30,000 coverage): £100-£300. Total unbundled: £850-£2,400/year. Package policy discount: 10-20% savings bundling all with single provider = £700-£2,000/year total.

Recommendation: Work with specialist martial arts insurance broker (not just online comparison site). Get comprehensive package quote (all coverages with single insurer saves admin and ensures no gaps). Explicitly confirm BJJ grappling covered (in writing—email confirmation insufficient, need policy wording). Budget £1,000-£1,500/year for established gym with employees (adequate coverage without overpaying). Review annually and shop around (switching saves £200-£400/year typical). Increase coverage as gym grows (£5M adequate for 50 members, upgrade to £10M at 100+ members). See detailed provider comparison and quote checklists in comprehensive insurance guide.