
Run a Profitable Gym
Run a Profitable Gym is packed with business tools for gym owners and CrossFit affiliates. This is actionable, data-backed business advice for all gym owners, including those who own personal training studios, fitness franchises, and strength and conditioning gyms. Broke gym owner Chris Cooper turned a struggling gym into an asset, then built a multi-million-dollar mentoring company to help other fitness entrepreneurs do the same thing. Every week, Chris presents the top tactics for building a profitable gym, as well as real success stories from gym owners who have found incredible success through Two-Brain Business mentorship. Chris’s goal is to create millionaire gym owners. Subscribe to Run a Profitable Gym and you could be one of them.
Latest episodes

Jul 14, 2025 • 15min
Reclaim Your Time: The Exact System to Move From Coach to Owner
Stop wearing every hat in your gym. It’s time to move from coach to owner.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper shares the exact steps gym owners can take to reclaim their time, take regular vacations and build businesses that run on systems. He walks you through the process of “climbing the value ladder,” aka buying back your time:- Identify the roles you fill.- Calculate the replacement cost for each role.- Write step-by-step instructions for each role.- Delegate roles from lowest to highest value.- Take time off to test the system.- Identify problems and upgrade instructions so they're perfect.Coop also explains how to coach and evaluate staff and why gym owners often mistake poor systems for “people problems.”Tune in for the full playbook, then apply it and put it to the test by finally taking some time off.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call 0:48 - The steps to take time off2:57 - How Coop climbed the value ladder4:26 - Get the systems out of your head8:45 - Activate your staff11:52 - Is it a people or process problem?

Jul 10, 2025 • 27min
Client Success and Big Revenue: Goal Reviews for the Win
If you’re not regularly sitting down with your clients to talk about their goals, you’re leaving money on the table.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” gym owner and chiropractor Dr. Brian Strump shares how quarterly Goal Review Sessions became one of the most effective tools in his gym for increasing retention, referrals and average revenue per member.Brian walks through exactly how his team at Live Active Charlotte uses these short conversations to keep clients engaged, identify new opportunities to help them, and increase gym revenue without running ads or pushing sales.He also breaks down how he tracks key metrics and gets buy-in from his staff.Tune in to hear the full breakdown, then implement goal reviews and watch what happens to your gym’s revenue and your clients' results. LinksSemi-Private Launch PlaybookGym Owners UnitedBook a Call 1:05 - Why use goal reviews?8:53 - Impact on gym metrics13:42 - When to do goal reviews18:56 - Goal reviews help clients23:50 - Brian’s No. 1 tip for gym owners

Jul 7, 2025 • 3min
Free Training: Generate $10K in PT Without Adding a Single Member
In this episode, Chris Cooper shares a preview of his upcoming training session for gym owners: “How to Add $10K in PT Without Adding a Single Member.” During the live, interactive webinar, you’ll learn how to sell PT confidently, prescribe it in Goal Review Sessions and No Sweat Intros, and set simple targets to quickly grow your revenue. Coop will also show you how to overcome common mindset barriers. For example, many of your members actually need one-on-one coaching to get better, faster results, and other members don't need PT but want it because they prefer convenience, attention and privacy.You don’t have to chase new members to boost your gym's revenue. Find out exactly how to add $10K with personal training on July 8 at noon Eastern in Gym Owners United: http://gymownersunited.comLinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call

5 snips
Jul 3, 2025 • 25min
Revenue Secrets: Gamification and Annual Planning for Massive Months
John Bartholomeo, one of Two-Brain’s Top 10 leaders, added $15,000 in monthly revenue through annual planning and smart gamification of challenges at Mohawk Valley Wellness.Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” he shares how his gym uses simple, repeatable systems to run revenue-generating nutrition challenges and events that clients love.These events aren’t last-minute attempts to fill revenue gaps. They're part of a clearly defined annual plan that's created each year in collaboration with a mentor to drive engagement, retention and profitability.John reveals how he turns nutrition into a competitive game, using streaks and point systems to boost client results, consistency and fun. He also explains how challenges help onboard new clients and support long-term retention.You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to bring in more revenue. Tune in to find out how predictable planning and mentorship can improve your gym’s bottom line.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call 1:08 - $15K per month in additional revenue3:44 - Planning events and challenges6:60 - Gamifying nutrition challenges15:47 - Converting to ongoing programs18:51 - Where mentorship fits in

Jun 30, 2025 • 17min
How These Gyms Generate Over $60K in Monthly Revenue
In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper explains how the Top 10 gyms on the revenue leaderboard drive consistent, high-level monthly income.These gyms have moved beyond the "group only" model to add high-value services such as personal training, small-group training and semi-private training. Some gyms are generating significant revenue with challenges and special events that include gamification to drive retention.Chris shares what the top performers have in common—such as strong client avatars, structured annual planning and a focus on delivering measurable results—and explains why mentorship is a key part of their stories.He also serves up quotes and tactical insights directly from gym owners who are generating $61,000-$114,000 per month.Aiming for a big revenue milestone? This episode will show you what’s possible and help you start working toward your goal today.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call 1:26 - Top 10 revenue leaderboard2:53 - What the Top 10 have in common8:06 - Tips from revenue leaders9:45 - Gamification and challenges15:42 - Success is possible

Jun 26, 2025 • 32min
From $0 to $200,000 in Semi-Private Training Revenue
Erik Zeyher’s gym, Warlock CrossFit, generates over $200,000 in annual revenue from its semi-private training program. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Erik breaks down the exact steps he took to build a premium program that works across the board—for clients, coaches and the business. As Erik puts it, “It is aces.”Erik shares how he structures sessions, pricing and coach pay, and he explains how he generated internal buzz around the program to fill it fast. When his first semi-private session filled up in just 45 minutes, Erik knew he had a winner. He also gets into logistics issues such as scheduling, onboarding, space constraints and last-minute cancellations.Now, with expert mentorship and dialed-in systems, Erik can rely on his semi-private program to add $15,000-$22,000 to his gym’s revenue each month. Thinking about adding a high-value semi-private personal training program? Tune in to hear from a gym owner who’s done it successfully.LinksThe Prescriptive ModelPrerequisites for Semi-PrivateGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:01 - Semi-private revenue boost6:51 - Increased coach pay12:41 - Biggest challenge in this model18:36 - Time and space logistics29:36 - Should gyms implement this?

Jun 23, 2025 • 24min
Never Launch a Semi-Private Program Without Doing THIS First
Small-group and semi-private training can dramatically increase your gym’s revenue, improve coach pay and boost client results.In this episode, gym owner and semi-private specialist Daniel Purington shares exactly how to build a high-revenue, high-retention semi-private program from the ground up.Certain prerequisites must be in place before you offer this service. If you miss steps, your program will flounder, you'll get frustrated and your members won't sign up for coaching that can help them get better results faster. Daniel's got your do-this-first checklist. Daniel also identifies the biggest mistake gym owners make when building semi-private programs, offers his tips for success and explains how to fill your program. Hint: You don't need to spend money on ads or create a new marketing campaign.As a bonus, Daniel breaks down how his own gym—Woodslawn Fitness in Portland, Oregon—runs concurrent sessions in just 650 square feet, generates $230 per session and pays his semi-private coaches up to $11,000 a month.Thinking of adding a high-value revenue stream to your gym? Tune in for a step-by-step guide.LinksThe Prescriptive ModelGym Owners UnitedBook a Call 1:00 - Small group & semi-private revenue3:25 - How to know if you’re ready6:56 - Big vs. small group logistics14:13 - How to fill a program20:41 - Next steps to get started

Jun 19, 2025 • 31min
How to Book More Intros and Sell More Without Buying More Ads
Does your gym really need more leads, or are you wasting the leads you already have?In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” marketing expert John Franklin shares six simple strategies that will help you book more intros and close more sales without spending a dime on ads. Even small improvements in your lead-nurture process can produce huge returns—just one extra sale per month can add over $17,000 in revenue to a gym.John explains:How and when to contact leads.How to personalize lead nurture so your gym stands out. How to use long-term lead-nurture tactics that convert cold leads into paying clients months down the line.How to use automations without losing the human touch.He even shares a never-miss script you can use verbatim to start more conversations.Tune in to hear all six strategies, then start implementing them today to convert more leads into high-value gym members who stay for years. Links2026 Two-Brain Summit TicketsGym Owners UnitedBook a Call 0:29 - Call your leads7:55 - Follow up with leads11:12 - Optimize availability15:32 - Personalize lead nurture20:49 - Long-term lead nurture

Jun 16, 2025 • 4min
10 Lead-Nurture Strategies to Unlock Hidden Profit
Today, Two-Brain Business founder Chris Cooper previews his new lead-nurture webinar and free checklist guide. If you’re chasing more leads but not seeing results, this training is for you.Learn how to stop wasting the leads you already have, get more leads to show up and improve your conversion rate by 21X.Ready to unlock hidden profit with 10 proven lead-nurture strategies? Attend the free training on June 17 at noon Eastern in Gym Owners United.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call

Jun 12, 2025 • 16min
No Gym Left Behind: A Message to Owners Who Feel Stuck
If you’re struggling to keep your gym afloat or feeling stressed about your business, this is the podcast for you.Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper shares a powerful message for owners who are exhausted, overwhelmed or unsure what to do next:You’re not alone.Coop explains how gym owners can turn things around and why “hope” isn’t a feeling. It’s a decision.Chris lays out the real reasons gyms fail and lists the key differences between those that thrive and those that shut down. Then he lists the exact first steps to take if you're losing money and offers a formula for creating hope.No gym should be left behind. This episode will show you how to move forward.And if you want to move forward at the greatest speed, get a coach. Mentorship gives gym owners the clarity, focus and accountability they need to transform struggling gyms into world-class businesses.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call 0:18 - Why we leave no gyms behind3:10 - Defining success for owners & coaches6:51 - What separates those who get results8:12 - Creating hope with the GAP formula10:36 - What you can do right now