Run a Profitable Gym

Chris Cooper
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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
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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
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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  
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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
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Jun 9, 2025 • 10min

Knowledge Isn’t Enough: Why Gym Owners Need Mentorship

Knowledge won’t grow your gym—action will.In this episode, Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper explains how to close the gap between learning and doing so you can move your business forward.For gym owners, the cost of inaction is high: wasted payroll, lost revenue, clogged marketing funnels and low retention. Chris has seen thousands of gym owners get stuck in a cycle of compounding mistakes—not because they lacked information but because they didn't have someone to help them sort through the info and figure out what to do "right now."The solution? Building a clear plan for your gym with an expert mentor who will tell you exactly what to do and hold you accountable for doing it.If you’ve been consuming videos, blogs and books without making progress in your business, tune in to find out what separates growing gyms from stagnant gyms.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call  0:32 - The implementation gap1:31 - The cost of inaction3:54 - How mistakes compound4:49 - Value of an outside perspective7:38 - Why Chris still has mentors
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Jun 6, 2025 • 38min

All the Secrets From a 420-Member CrossFit Affiliate in Portugal

CrossFit Mondego has 429 members—and they’re not bleeding out the door.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Mike Warkentin sits down with one of CrossFit Mondego’s owners, Luísa Mesquita, to find out exactly how she and her partners transformed a gym with high churn into a 400-plus-member powerhouse with great retention.Luísa breaks down the key additions that fueled their explosive growth, including a data-driven referral funnel that consistently brings in new leads without ad spend.In addition to expanding client count, CrossFit Mondego has boosted its revenue with a high-value on-ramp program, as well as small-group and hybrid training.Luísa explains how her Two-Brain mentor, Brian Foley, helped the gym’s owners make gradual changes to move the needle and scale with sustainable systems—without burning out.Listen to Luísa's full story, and then use her tips to build a gym where more people stay longer and pay more.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call  2:12 - How retention has increased5:32 - The impact of on-ramp12:50 - Additional programs driving growth19:47 - Hyrox at a CrossFit gym24:30 - Why Luísa slowed down ads31:56 - Advice for getting more clients
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Jun 3, 2025 • 12min

 How the Top Gyms Serve 370+ Clients (Without Burning Out)

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper presents the leaderboard for gyms with the most paying members.Coop reveals what the leaders have in common: They all focus on improving business fundamentals—such as retention, staffing and repeatable systems—instead of chasing shiny objects such as ad campaigns.Another commonality: boosting average revenue per member (ARM) rather than just adding a ton of cheap, new members. To accomplish this, many have added high-value options such as small group training, personal training and Hyrox programming.Chris also shares real quotes from these leaders, including one from an owner whose gym halved its ad spend while increasing front-end revenue.Tune in to hear tips from top gym owners for growing your client headcount without spending your hard-earned profit on advertising.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call 0:01 - Intro1:42 - Gyms with the most clients3:05 - What they have in common4:53 - Quotes from the leaders9:43 - CrossFit gyms in Europe
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May 29, 2025 • 20min

Double the Revenue: When More Members Stay Longer and Pay More

Gym owner Aaron Scott followed Two-Brain content for six years before finally signing up for mentorship. When he did, everything changed.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Aaron shares exactly how he doubled his revenue at CrossFit Structure in the U.K.—without dramatically increasing his client count.He reveals how implementing high-value onboarding, raising rates with confidence and improving back-end systems helped him grow monthly revenue from £7,500 to over £15,000.With mentorship, Aaron also increased average revenue per member (ARM) by £40 and tripled his length of engagement (LEG).Building the right systems allowed Aaron to reduce stress and buy back hours so he can spend more time with his family. If you’ve been sitting on a pile of free content but still feel stuck, tune in to hear what happened for this gym owner when he finally started working with a business expert.LinksThe Prescriptive ModelGym Owners UnitedBook a Call 1:28 - Before and after mentorship6:00 - Results using free resources7:44 - Immediate changes with a mentor11:60 - Three rate increases15:49 - Aaron’s recent accomplishments
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May 26, 2025 • 25min

The 6 Reasons Gym Owners Fail

If your gym isn't paying you at least $100,000 a year, you need to listen to this podcast—or check it out on YouTube to see the visuals.Chris Cooper shares the six reasons gym owners fail and provides the tools fitness entrepreneurs need to solve these problems.Coop was a struggling gym owner, too, and this is the exact video that would have saved him 15 years ago when he was struggling to pay the rent as an overworked, underpaid gym owner.The data-backed, battle-tested resources in this video have:Helped over 2,700 gym owners take home 24.9 percent more than the average gym owner.Produced almost 300 gym owners who earn six figures or more.Minted almost 60 new millionaires.There’s no catch. Two-Brain leaves no gym behind. These resources are designed to give you a few quick wins and help you build momentum. Get our A+, gym-saving resource package today.To move faster and accomplish your goals sooner, work with a mentor. A mentor analyzes your business and tells you exactly what to focus on right now so you don’t get overwhelmed.Because all the knowledge in the world is useless without action.LinksFree Tools Package for Gym OwnersBook a Strategy SessionGym Owners United1:11 - Problem 1: Inconsistent Lead Generation4:27 - Problem 2: Charging Less Than You’re Worth7:49 - Problem 3: High Churn15:27 - Problem 4: Underpaying Yourself16:49 - Problem 5: Flying Blind on the Numbers21:43 - Problem 6: Finding and Keeping Great Staff
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May 22, 2025 • 22min

Hyrox Data Dive: Exact Revenue and ROI Stats on Affiliation

Robin Sowden-Taylor added Hyrox to his gym and credits it with bringing in 30+ new clients and thousands in extra revenue.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” host Mike Warkentin talks with Rob, owner of ION Strength & Conditioning in Wales, who opens up his books and shares the exact ROI he’s getting from Hyrox. He breaks down what he’s paying, what he’s earning and how the program has improved lead generation and member retention—without changing his gym’s core identity.Rob runs Hyrox classes alongside his existing strength-and-conditioning model, filling underused class times while generating additional revenue and community engagement from Hyrox events.If you’re considering affiliation or looking for a new revenue stream, tune in to hear exactly what Hyrox delivered for ION Strength & Conditioning.LinksHyrox in a CrossFit Gym Gym Owners UnitedBook a Call  1:02 - ROI on Hyrox affiliation6:13 - Rob’s pricing and retention11:15 - Extra revenue from events12:52 - Is it difficult to get started?16:30 - Adding Hyrox to a CrossFit gym

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