Run a Profitable Gym

The holidays are coming—and for most gyms, that means fewer check-ins, more cancellations and panic about cash flow. But it doesn’t have to be that way.Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper shares five simple tactics gym owners can use to boost year-end revenue without falling into the discount trap.He explains how smart, seasonal offers—such as holiday retail presales, meaningful gift cards and “save your spot” promotions—can generate real income while keeping your clients engaged and excited.Chris also dives into using bring-a-friend events and January kickstart programs to attract new leads, re-engage old clients and strengthen relationships with current members.All five tactics are practical, repeatable and proven to work in real gyms just like yours.  Want to boost cash flow and retention? Get Coop's free “Year-End Revenue” guide in Gym Owners United, linked below. LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call2:01 - Retail presale5:32 - Gift certificates9:04 - Reserve spots for January12:44 - Bring-a-friend party17:45 - January kickstart group

What does it take to run two thriving gyms and serve more than 900 clients?Tyler Quinn has the answers: He operates two Denver fitness studios with nearly 1,000 members combined. But here's the surprising part: He didn’t reach these members with paid ads or gimmicks like discounts. Seventy percent of his new clients come from referrals.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Mike Warkentin asks Tyler about the systems and strategies behind building high-volume gyms that actually work.Tyler explains how to stand out from competitors, how to scale Two-Brain best practices such as No Sweat Intros for 1,000 clients, and why fundamentals like clean facilities and genuine care drive 16-month retention.His gyms prove you don't need low prices to get high member counts, but you do need to build strong systems and provide great results for clients.Tune in to hear how Tyler scaled to 900+ clients without sacrificing quality.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call1:17 - Tyler’s business model7:59 - How his client count has changed21:01 - Challenges of huge client counts26:18 - How he finds so many clients32:45 - The keys to retention

The average big-group gym has 129 members—but some Two-Brain gyms are thriving with 300-700 clients.Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper breaks down what the Top 10 gyms for client headcount are doing differently. Coop explains how five critical systems allow these gyms to retain clients for over 24 months, deliver a consistently high-quality experience and attract new members month after month.He also shares real insights from the leaders on how they reactivated former clients and found the perfect balance of class size and pricing to maximize value.Key detail: These gyms don’t need 300+ members to be profitable; every single one would be way into the black with just 150. That's your first target: 150 high-value members who stay for two years or more. After you hit that, you'll have a world-class business and can scale up if you want to.Tune in to hear how these elite gym owners grew their member counts with proven business fundamentals and mentorship—not gimmicks or discounts.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:01 - Industry average client count1:36 - Gyms with the most clients2:46 - 5 things the Top 10 share5:42 - Quotes from the leaders11:25 - What the leaders don’t do

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” host Mike Warkentin talks with gym owner and Two-Brain mentor Tim Caputo about a simple idea that brought in $720 in one hour—and generated six new leads.It all started with a client suggestion that evolved into a “moms and kids” pop-up class. The event sold out quickly, generated profit right away and opened the door to a steady stream of high-quality referrals.Tim explains the strategy behind his pricing and promotion, how he used the class to build relationships and why this type of event works even in slower seasons.He also shares how he designed the workout to be fun and accessible while creating an experience that kept participants talking long after it ended.Tune in to hear how a single pop-up session can generate immediate income and new leads. LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call1:07 - Pop-up class logistics4:20 - Pricing & marketing the class8:11 - Post-event lead generation10:22 - Planning the pop-up class14:49 - Changes for his next pop-up

Feeling pressured to run a Black Friday deal at your gym? Don’t do it.Your gym is a premium service provider, and it should compete on results and relationships, not price.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder and CEO Chris Cooper breaks down the dangers of discounting and explains why most gym owners who offer sales end up trapped in the “discount death spiral.”Black Friday deals attract the wrong clients and weaken your brand, and you have better ways to grow your gym during the holiday season.Coop shares simple, high-value alternatives, including running bring-a-friend events and adding bonus offers that don’t undercut your pricing. Tune in to learn how to make this Black Friday your most profitable yet—without slashing your rates or cheapening your brand.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call1:20 - Why not offer discounts?2:43 - 5 dangers of discounts7:26 - Focus on value instead8:07 - Run alternative promotions13:36 - Use the Prescriptive Model

Can a gym be profitable with just 15 to 20 members? The answer is yes—and Oskar Johed is proving it.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” host Mike Warkentin sits down with Oskar, co-owner of two thriving CrossFit facilities in Sweden, to talk about why he chose a different path for his third gym: a small-group training model.Oskar breaks down the advantages of small-group training, from lower overhead and reduced staff burnout to higher client retention and stronger profitability.In a small-group model, gyms with limited square footage can break even with just a handful of high-value members—and scale up to major profitability with 80 to 100 clients.Oskar also explains why individualized attention in small-group settings produces better results and how he uses affinity marketing and community partnerships to grow without relying solely on ads.Listen and find out how to blend the best of group and personal training to build a sustainable, profitable gym.LinksThe Prescriptive ModelSemi-Private Launch PlaybookGym Owners UnitedBook a Call2:46 - The burnout problem7:52 - Pricing small-group training14:20 - Using the Prescriptive Model18:40 - Advantages of small group27:32 - Oskar’s marketing strategy

If you try to scale your gym the wrong way, you might kill it.In this episode, Two-Brain founder and gym owner Chris Cooper shares how his first attempt at scaling nearly bankrupted his family. But you don’t have to guess like he did.Today, Coop walks you through safe, profitable scaling using small-group and semi-private training.He explains the difference between the two services and how to transition existing clients into them, whether they’re coming from one-on-one or big-group training. You’ll also learn how to price small-group training correctly and connect members to fill sessions quickly. If you’re looking for a tested method to grow your gym without burning out or going broke, tune in to hear the exact steps.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:18 - Coop’s big mistake3:10 - Going from PT to small groups8:13 - The data on small groups10:17 - Going from big to small groups13:22 - Advertising small group training

Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” host Mike Warkentin talks with attorney and former gym owner Matthew Becker of Gym Lawyers PLLC about how to use AI safely in your business without creating massive liability.Matthew breaks down the legal risks gym owners face when using AI tools, including operating outside their scope of practice, violating privacy laws and infringing on copyright.Improper AI use can even increase exposure to lawsuits and eliminate liability protection.So how can gym owners use AI without endangering their businesses?Matthew recommends fitness entrepreneurs use AI as a research and education tool, not as a substitute for professional services, and leverage it to streamline admin work, generate ideas and polish client-facing materials.Check out the full episode to find out how to save time with new technology while keeping your gym insulated from legal risk.You can get in touch with Matt at Gym Lawyers PLLC via the link below. LinksGym Lawyers PLLCGym Owners UnitedBook a Call3:06 - Scope of practice dangers7:32 - Increasing exposure & liability14:23 - Skipping professional support17:12 - Uploading confidential information25:34 - How to use AI safely

CrossFit changed the fitness industry forever—but with affiliate numbers declining, gym owners are asking, “What’s next?”In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper digs into why affiliate numbers keep shrinking, where former CrossFit gyms are going and what gym owners can do right now to stay competitive.He explains how novelty-driven methods such as Hyrox are pulling attention and why the lack of clarity from CrossFit HQ has created uncertainty for affiliate owners.Coop lays out a solution for managing methods and giving clients what they want in confusing times: adopting the Prescriptive Model. Instead of just selling class packages, he shows you how to actually coach clients with tailored prescriptions that blend strength, aerobic and high-intensity training to get results. Done right, this approach improves retention, helps clients accomplish goals and ensures your gym thrives no matter what brand name is on the door.Tune in to learn how to implement the Prescriptive Model in your gym and build a business that wins—whether it is affiliated with CrossFit or not.  LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call3:03 - Why affiliates leave CrossFit6:36 - Hyrox taking over competition9:09 - Who has the best classes?11:46 - Why ClassPass doesn’t work13:57 - Solution: The Prescriptive Model

The key to steady gym growth and stronger retention? Turning your best members into your best recruiters.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper explains how to use affinity marketing to strengthen your community, keep members longer and bring in more people just like your favorite clients.Passive referral programs rarely work, so Chris shows you how to actively connect your clients’ families, coworkers and friends to your gym. He even provides an inside look at Two-Brain’s Affinity Marketing Cheat Sheet, shows you exactly when to ask for referrals and explains how to start those conversations without making them feel awkward or transactional.Tune in to learn how to build a referral system that generates steady growth and improves retention at the same time.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call1:18 - When to ask for a referral5:53 - Duplicating your best clients13:35 - The goal review conversation20:52 - Hosting group events24:35 - Affinity marketing highlights