The Honest Truth About Running a Fitness Business: Candid Lessons from 17 Years in Fitness Business

In this candid solo episode of Profit Made Simple, Dan Henderson pulls back the curtain on his entrepreneurial journey, sharing the real stories behind the businesses that shaped him—from his humble beginnings with a tiny personal training studio to building industry-leading education platforms. Dan reveals not just his wins, but also the costly mistakes, burnout, and hard lessons that every gym owner and fitness entrepreneur can learn from, including the importance of shifting from coach to business operator, mastering compliance and systems, and building a resilient community. He discusses how he scaled his businesses, navigated regulatory pitfalls, and ultimately achieved the freedom to step back, all while maintaining authenticity and transparency about the challenges of the fitness industry. If you want actionable insights, honest advice, and inspiration to build a smarter, more sustainable fitness business, this episode is a must-listen.

Our favourite quotable moments:

“You're about to hear the mistakes, the missteps and the hard lessons [I went through], so you can avoid them, learn faster and build smarter.” - Dan Henderson

“One of the keys with each one of the businesses was knowing when to pivot, when to partner and when to exit. And my compass for making these decisions has always been alignment with my values.” - Dan Henderson

“My solution for everything was just to work harder... This put me on a course of burnout because I didn't have any leverage.” - Dan Henderson 

Resources:

Dan Henderson - Website, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

About Dan:

Dan Henderson, founder of Fitness Profit, is a coach and business consultant who helps fitness owners achieve more freedom, impact, and income. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Dan is a well-respected leader, owning two successful businesses within the space: Momentum 360 gym and Australia's largest fitness conference, Filex. As a published author and entrepreneur, Dan shares his knowledge on the Profit Made Simple podcast, where he interviews industry experts and offers practical advice for growing your fitness business, building your brand, and achieving your goals. Join Dan each week and take your fitness business to new heights with Profit Made Simple.

Related: Gym partnership agreement mistakes, building a fitness community, personal trainer career progression, functional training business model, fitness industry financial literacy, profitable gym business systems, fitness business compliance checklist, scaling a fitness studio, fitness business exit strategy, gym owner burnout prevention.