How To Grow Your Gym In Uncertain Times Run A Profitable Gym podcast

25:02

Gabriel Mayer-Bédard, owner of CrossFit St-Basile-le-Grand in Quebec, Canada, used semi-private training to generate over $200,000 in new revenue in just one year. Adding semi-private training also boosted his gym’s client retention, solved scheduling challenges, and produced higher pay and improved career paths for his coaches. In a semi-private model, about four clients train at the same time under one coach, and each client receives personalized programming and attention—making it a high-value service for both clients and gyms. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Gabriel outlines exactly how he launched the new service with the help of Two-Brain’s semi-private specialist, Brian Bott. Gabriel explains how he set pricing and coach pay, sold existing clients on the service, and shifted his onboarding process to funnel new clients into the program. Looking for a way to grow your gym without burning out? Gabriel’s story will show you what’s possible. Links Gym Owners United Book a Call 0:54 - What is semi-private training? 5:43 - Selling semi-private training 10:27 - Session pricing and trainer pay 14:48 - Onboarding into semi-private 21:58 - Working with a specialist…

Run a Profitable Gym

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$OPs: Business Basics That Make Big Bucks 23:15

3 days ago23:15

23:15

Tired of answering the same questions, fixing the same mistakes and doing everything yourself? In this episode, Corey Lewis, Two-Brain mentor and owner of Xtra Mile Fitness, shares how systemizing his gym with SOPs (standard operating procedures) has helped him save time, improve retention, onboard staff more efficiently and build a more profitable business. Creating SOPs doesn’t have to be painful. Corey reveals his quick hack for writing them in minutes with help from AI, and he explains why systemizing even the smallest tasks—like opening the gym or cleaning equipment—can unlock massive growth. He also walks through his process for presenting SOPs to staff to get their buy-in and create a better client experience. Stop doing everything yourself. Tune in to learn how to buy back your time, reduce stress and run a more profitable gym. Links Gym Owners United Book a Call 3:01 - How to create efficient SOPs 7:04 - Presenting SOPs to your staff 10:01 - When to review & update SOPs 14:41 - Examples from Corey’s mentees 17:52 - Buying back your time…

Run a Profitable Gym

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Want to Earn $100K From Your Gym? Start With This Checklist 10:45

6 days ago10:45

10:45

Want to earn $100,000 a year from your gym? Passion alone won’t cut it. You need a clear plan. Today, Chris Cooper introduces a proven, step-by-step guide: “The Gym Owner’s Checklist for Hitting $100K+ Annual Income.” Based on data from thousands of gyms worldwide, this checklist outlines exactly what you need to do to build a profitable, sustainable business. It’s broken down into six essential areas: - Get More Clients - Average Revenue Per Member (ARM) - Length of Engagement (LEG) - Effective Hourly Rate (EHR) - Staff - Finance If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the business side of gym ownership, this checklist will give you a clear path forward. Join Chris for a live walkthrough and Q&A on April 29 at 12 p.m. EDT in Gym Owners United—linked below. Links Gym Owners United Book a Call 0:01 - Intro 2:29 - Overview of the checklists 3:48 - Client headcount, value & retention 8:13 - Owner pay, staff & finance 9:50 - Your next step…

Run a Profitable Gym

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$450+ Average Revenue Per Member 5 Months After Opening! 27:10

10 days ago27:10

27:10

At just five months old, Emilie Towns’ gym is already averaging more than $450 per member per month. Instead of offering big group classes, Emilie built Ardent Fitness on a high-value foundation by focusing on semi-private and small-group training. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Emilie shares how her mentor helped her launch with clarity and confidence, and she lays out the systems that drive her success. She breaks down her onboarding process and pricing strategy, and she explains how the Prescriptive Model has helped her retain clients, reinforce value and consistently deliver results. She also shares how she overcame early sales fears to find high-value clients. If you've ever wondered how some gyms can charge so much more than others, dig into this episode! Links "Help First" The Prescriptive Model Gym Owners United Book a Call 0:01 - $454 ARM in 5-month-old gym 3:32 - Small group vs. semi-private 11:24 - Running a semi-private program 14:27 - How to find high-value clients 22:18 - The Prescriptive Model…

Run a Profitable Gym

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Elite Earnings: Why Top Gyms Prioritize Client Value Over Headcount 21:24

13 days ago21:24

21:24

What if every client in your gym happily paid you $20 more per month? What about $50 more? Or even $100 more? In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper presents the Top 10 leaderboard for average revenue per member (ARM), with the No. 1 gym earning $724 per client per month. He explains how these elite gyms have boosted their revenue by prioritizing client value over headcount. In fact, one gym on the leaderboard increased its revenue by 38 percent while reducing its client base by 20 percent. Chris also breaks down the Prescriptive Model, a client-centric strategy that aligns gym services with individual goals to produce better results. Focusing on measurable results—instead of just workouts—builds trust, boosts retention and justifies premium pricing. Tune in to hear why “more clients” isn’t always the answer and then start scaling your gym’s average revenue per member. Links The Prescriptive Model Gym Owners United Book a Call 00:28 - Top 10 gyms for ARM 04:30 - Why you must be profitable 09:03 - Fewer members, more revenue 11:54 - Quotes from top gym owners 16:30 - Method versus model…

Run a Profitable Gym

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4X Revenue, 2X Members, 2X ARM in Just 17 Months! 29:24

16 days ago29:24

29:24

When Theresa Straight signed up for mentorship, she was working 70-80 hours per week—coaching for 30-plus of those—and barely scraping by. Seventeen months later, she’s doubled her client headcount, doubled her average revenue per member and quadrupled her revenue. Theresa raced through the stages of Two-Brain mentorship and has reached the elite Tinker level, where gym owners are earning over $100,000 per year. Her focus now is on using her gym to support her family’s lifestyle and create a bright future. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” host Mike Warkentin talks with Theresa about the exact steps she took to grow a thriving business and get her time back. Theresa breaks down the mindset shift that helped her transition from “coach” to “CEO” and shares key actions that fueled the gym’s growth: developing onboarding and retention systems, implementing goal reviews, and hiring staff. Ready to grow without grinding yourself into the ground? This episode is for you. Links The Stages of Mentorship "The Golden Hour" Gym Owners United Book a Call 0:01 - Theresa’s 17-month transformation 3:57 - Pre-mentorship struggles 9:34 - Quick wins in Stage 1 13:12 - Moving from coach to CEO 21:29 - Becoming an elite gym owner…

Run a Profitable Gym

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Sales Funnel First Aid: Why Leads Aren't Turning Into Members 12:42

17 days ago12:42

12:42

Struggling to turn gym leads into paying members? Your sales funnel might need some first aid. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” marketing experts John Franklin and Matt Temby break down sales data from three gyms, identify gaps in their sales processes and explain how to fix them. The pair dial in on three key lead-tracking metrics: set rate, show rate and close rate. They explore why one gym has trouble getting leads to set appointments, why another has so many no-shows, and why a third struggles to close high-ticket sales. John and Matt walk through changes each gym could make to improve their sales, such as contacting leads faster and asking better questions during the sales consultation. Tune in to hear real-world examples of sales-funnel remedies, then find and fix the weak points in your gym’s funnel. To learn more about improving your sales process, check out Matt’s last two appearances on the show, linked below. Links Sales Process Overview Handling Objections Gym Owners United Book a Call 0:01 - Intro 0:39 - Setting more appointments 5:13 - Getting leads to show up 6:07 - Closing more sales 8:28 - Increasing high-ticket sales…

Run a Profitable Gym

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Help First: How to Boost Gym Sales Without Slimy Tactics 21:04

20 days ago21:04

21:04

If you own a gym, you must sell. That probably makes you uncomfortable, but Chris Cooper is here to remind you that selling is actually the first act of coaching. If you can't get people to sign up, you can't coach them to improve their health and fitness. Still, no fitness coach wants to feel pushy or slimy. In this episode, Coop explains how to sell while maintaining a philosophy of generosity and service. He lays out the Help First funnel, which has four sections: Introduction Conversation Invitation Conversion It's a system characterized by honesty, and it allows gym owners to move from "selling" to "helping": If you are trying to get only what you want , you are selling. If you are trying to supply what they want and need , you are helping. This mindset shift will make all the difference when a desperate person is asking you how to lose 20 lb. As a coach, it's your duty to tell that person exactly how to solve the problem and offer your expert help. If you remember that, you'll change more lives and close more sales. Links Gym Owners United Book a Call 0:01 - Intro 0:33 - The Help First strategy 3:29 - How to start conversations 6:35 - How to extend an invitation 12:22 - Sales: the first act of coaching 14:30 - The Prescriptive Model…

Run a Profitable Gym

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Financial Freedom for Gym Owners: How to Retire Comfortably 36:06

24 days ago36:06

36:06

How can gym owners achieve financial freedom and retire comfortably? Traditional retirement plans are not always the best answer for gym owners, and relying solely on gym income can be risky. To tackle this question, Chris Cooper sits down with Joey Mure from “Wealth Without Wall Street,” a podcast and online community designed to educate people on how money truly works. Chris and Joey discuss how gym owners can become financially independent, invest wisely and build wealth beyond their gyms. Joey introduces alternative wealth-building strategies such as syndication, land flipping and infinite banking. He also breaks down legal ways to minimize what you owe in taxes and keep more of your hard-earned money working for you. Gym owners, it’s time to start planning for your financial future—tune in to hear how. Use the link below to access free resources and take the financial freedom quiz. Links Free Resources Gym Owners United Book a Call 05:24 - Where to invest your money 12:45 - Passive income from your business 19:05 - Small ways to get started 22:29 - How syndication works 25:28 - Infinite banking breakdown 32:41 - Free resources for listeners…

Run a Profitable Gym

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How to Grow Your Gym in Uncertain Times 23:09

27 days ago23:09

23:09

Economic uncertainty is coming, but that doesn’t mean your gym has to struggle. In fact, the best gym owners use challenging times as an opportunity to grow, refine their businesses and come out stronger on the other side. In today’s episode, Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper lays out the exact steps gym owners can take to thrive during an economic downturn. Slashing membership rates is the wrong move—Chris shares smarter strategies for growing top-line revenue, from prioritizing high-value services to improving retention by strengthening relationships with existing clients. He also explains how to cut unnecessary costs before you’re forced to and optimize your sales process to convert more leads. Tune in to learn how to build resilience, stay ahead of financial challenges and run a profitable gym—no matter what the economy brings. Links Gym Owners United Book a Call 01:19 - Go upmarket, not down 05:34 - Market for retention 08:44 - Improve your weakest metric 10:38 - Grow top-line revenue 20% 13:17 - Plan for the worst, hope for the best 16:26 - Cut spending & maximize ROI 19:42 - Lean on your network…

Run a Profitable Gym

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How $18K Months Became $30K Months in Just 3 Years 30:50

30 days ago30:50

30:50

Struggling to pay yourself enough as a gym owner? James Harris of Brentwood Barbell went from barely scraping by to generating $30,000 a month in revenue—and today, he’s sharing exactly how he did it. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” host Mike Warkentin sits down with James to unpack his journey from burnout to six-figure success. A former physical therapist turned gym owner, James reveals how Two-Brain Business helped him triple his revenue in less than three years. He also shares how ego nearly cost him his business and explains why “going out of business isn't the worst thing—staying in business and not making money is.” James breaks down the key tactics that transformed his business, including tracking his metrics, planning his year, raising rates and building “gap strategies” to overcome revenue shortfalls. Tune in to hear how to systemize your gym and boost your income, just like James did. Then, shoot Chris Cooper a DM to get free copies of his sample profit-and-loss statement (P&L) and annual plan. You can find Chris—and thousands more supportive gym owners—in Gym Owners United, linked below. Links Gym Owners United Book a Call 02:17 - Journey with Two-Brain 05:26 - Overview of James’ gym 09:37 - Low points to $100k NOB 13:28 - Paying yourself more 21:21 - What’s next for James?…

Run a Profitable Gym

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Zero to $100,000 Annual Income in Less Than 1 Year 22:15

4 weeks ago22:15

22:15

First-time entrepreneur Natalie Winslow opened her gym with the support of a Two-Brain mentor and brought her income from $0 to $100,000 in under a year. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym” host Mike Warkentin talks with Natalie, owner of The Gym at Tierra Verde in Florida, to find out the exact steps she took to build a profitable gym fast. Natalie shares how her mentor guided her to develop a solid plan for her business, including standard operating procedures that ensured the gym ran smoothly from Day 1. Another key aspect of this plan was the Two-Brain Founders Club, which allowed Natalie to hit the ground running with 45 members on opening day—and 75 percent of them are still clients today! Mentorship also helped her avoid costly mistakes gym owners make when structuring their businesses and hiring new employees. Tune in to hear about Natalie’s journey from stay-at-home mom to six-figure-earning gym owner—then book a call via the link below if you want to talk about how mentorship can help you, too. Links Gym Owners United Book a Call 00:53 - Journey to $100k NOB 04:10 - Summary of Natalie’s gym 06:56 - Starting a gym with a mentor 11:42 - Setting goals with a mentor 15:30 - Where gym owners can start…

Run a Profitable Gym

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Greg Glassman: 1-on-1 With Chris Cooper 1:22:09

5 weeks ago1:22:09

1:22:09

CrossFit founder Greg Glassman is back with a new project: MetFix. In this exclusive interview on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain Business CEO Chris Cooper gets the inside story on Glassman’s latest venture—a program designed to attack chronic disease through its focus on metabolic health. Glassman explains why he believes sugar is public enemy No. 1, how broken science has misled the fitness industry and why MetFix is in a position to address problems that CrossFit can’t. He also shares his thoughts on the failures of modern education and why changing one life at a time is the only way to win the war on metabolic dysfunction. Greg discusses MetFix’s potential applications in hospitals, schools and CrossFit affiliates, and he clarifies the relationship between MetFix and CrossFit. This is a conversation you can’t miss. Tune in to hear more about MetFix and get Greg Glassman’s unfiltered take on health and nutrition. To learn more about MetFix, visit the link below. Links MetFix Gym Owners United Book a Call 00:11 - How to teach nutrition to a 6-year-old 21:50 - Getting proactive about health 38:04 - How Greg teaches his kids science 48:11 - Joy from teaching 01:17:45 - Greg’s closing thoughts…

Run a Profitable Gym

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How to Make $100,000 Per Year From Your Gym (While Working 4 Hours a Day) 1:40:11

5 weeks ago1:40:11

1:40:11

This episode features important visuals. For the best experience, watch it on YouTube . Two-Brain Business has helped hundreds of gym owners hit their income goals with dramatically reduced work hours—and Chris Cooper is here to give you a detailed look at the exact system they used to do it. This plan has produced 55 millionaire gym owners (and counting) and helped gym owners around the world reach six-figure income without working extreme hours. Coop holds nothing back. You'll see the entire Two-Brain mentorship system. Stage 1 is all about increasing revenue, Stage 2 is where you systemize your business, and Stage 3 is where you take clear steps to build a legacy and live your Perfect Day. In this detailed video, you'll also get to work through six essential exercises with Chris. He'll teach you how to find and replicate your best clients, learn to read a profit-and-loss statement, acquire new clients fast, and more. If you've ever wondered how mentorship for gym owners works, this video is the answer. A thousand fitness entrepreneurs around the world are using this exact system right now to build profitable gyms that help them live the way they want to live. Watch the video, and when you're ready to talk about a precise plan to help you earn six figures or more from your gym, book a call via the link below. Links Gym Owners United Book a Call 0:01 - Intro 8:17 - Stage 1: Increase Revenue 22:20 - Exercise 1: Seed Clients 40:03 - Stage 2: Systemize Your Gym 41:30 - Exercise 2: The Simple Six 51:12 - Exercise 3: Sell Week 1:03:33 - Exercise 4: SOPs 1:13:12 - Exercise 5: P&L Statement 1:25:40 - Exercise 6: Role Replacement Cost 1:30:11 - Your Perfect Day 1:39:32 - Next Steps…

Run a Profitable Gym

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The No-Paid-Ads Plan That Pays Gym Owner More Than $20K Per Month! 31:06

5 weeks ago31:06