Gyms get into legal trouble from time to time, and if you read the news, you'll see some scary stuff.To help you limit your risk as a gym owner, Matthew Becker of Gym Lawyers PLLC digs into the news, explains how some gyms found themselves there, and gives you simple steps to protect your business. From leases to liability for broken equipment to injured clients—Matthew and host Mike Warkentin cover it all so you can sleep better at night.LinksSudden closure in Mississauga due to legal disputeMan sues LA FitnessMan awarded $46 million after jiu-jitsu injuryYour LLC Isn't Protecting You if You Do These 5 ThingsGym Lawyers websiteBook a CallGym Owners United0:58 - Non-payment of rent7:31 - Avoiding issues with leases15:43 - Man sues LA Fitness29:05 - Jiu-jitsu injury41:31 - Waivers and other details

To build a successful gym that solves your clients' problems, define your mission, use a strong model, pick a fitness method that gets results and regularly utilize media to get the word out. In this episode, Chris Cooper lays out the blueprint: He explains how your mission guides you and your model supports you, your family and your staff. Selecting your method? That's the fun part: It's probably the style of fitness you're passionate about. Whatever it is, it must get results for clients and be flexible enough to fit into your business model.Your media exists to tell your story and build your audience. Without it, no one will find out about your business. Coop's even got a simple but effective media plan you can employ today.If your business isn't clearly defined, listen to this episode and then take action. If you do, you'll help more clients get better results faster.Links"How to Make $100,000 Per Year With 150 Clients"Gym Business PlanCatalyst missionBook a CallGym Owners United1:03 - Defining your mission3:40 - Applying the model9:14 - Using the method12:40 - The power of media

Gym owner Tina Selix was burned out and on the verge of selling her business. In an attempt to improve the business before the sale, she decided to hire a Two-Brain mentor. When things started to turn around, she saw daylight and was inspired to keep and grow the business. In July, she earned a spot on our Top 10 leaderboard with an average revenue per member (ARM) of $469. In this episode, she shares how she became a CEO who ensures her high-value clients get what they need every single day.Tina pulls back the curtain and shares all her secrets so you can improve your business, too. You'll hear what she sells and for how much, how much space she has, how many staff members she has, and how she acquires high-value clients without a huge advertising budget.You'll also get Tina's recommendations for first steps if you want to start improving your own ARM number. LinksBook a CallGym Owners United2:50 - Tina's story5:29 - Higher-value offerings8:48 - Pricing and systems16:05 - Client acquisition and retention26:36 - The first steps to increased ARM

What do gym owners with huge average revenue per member know that you don't?Chris Cooper will tell you in this edition of "Run a Profitable Gym."First, Coop runs through Two-Brain's July leaderboard and lays out what the top gym owners earned per client on average. Then he shares their tips for acquiring, serving and retaining clients who are only too happy to pay more than $429 every month.Just a few of the elements that go into big numbers: Add-on services, platinum packages, rate increases and lead-nurturing programs.Can you imagine if you added $50 or $100 to your average revenue per member? If you don't have a plan to do that, check out this episode and then take action.LinksBook a CallGym Owners United1:52 - Gyms 6-102:42 - The Top 53:39 - Greatest challenges4:34 - Advice from the leaders

Justin Dickson once earned nothing from his gym.Then he earned a spot on our Top 10 leaderboard for gym-owner incomeHow did he do it?In this episode, Justin explains his incredible turnaround: The key was an emphasis on high-value services, staff development, client retention and consistent delivery. If you've ever wondered how the best gym owners generate income, this is the show for you. No secrets, no hidden tactics. Just real information you can use to earn more from your fitness business.Check out Justin's story and then set your own income goals!LinksThe Value LadderStaff Ascension: From Mistakes to Managing 20 People at Two GymsBook a CallGym Owners United2:25 - About Salt Lake City CrossFit5:57 - Be worth it7:28 - Staff development13:12 - High-value retention18:33 - Benefits of mentorship

You can manage a full-time career and own a gym—it just takes some finesse.In this episode, Chris Cooper explains how you should set up your side-hustle gym to ensure profitability. Then you have the option to leave your day job or keep the gym as an income generator on the side.Whatever you do, don't just leap and try to build wings on the way down. The chasm between a solid day job and entrepreneurship is filled with wreckage. But Coop's got a host of ways to reduce your risk and ensure success.If you have ever thought of opening a gym on the side, listen to this show first!And if you eventually want to own a gym without running it personally, Coop will tell you how to offload tasks so you can do that, too.LinksGym Business PlanPersonal Trainer Business Plan Book a CallGym Owners United0:45 - Charge premium rates2:23 - Go small4:38 - Coaching elsewhere5:22 - Full-time transition7:21 - Bridging the gap10:37 - Making the leap13:32 - Remote ownership19:11 - Mentoring your manager

Great gym businesses run on hard data, and Two-Brain's annual "State of the Industry" report is a gym owner's best source for verified fitness-industry numbers. We're collecting data right now, and we're inviting you to spend about six minutes entering your info here. When our report comes out in mid-November, you'll get access to our collected numbers and expert analysis so you can use the info to grow your gym.In this episode of "Run a Profitable Gym," Chris Cooper and Mike Warkentin set the table for 2023 by going over five key stats from 2022.Coop reviews interesting numbers on nutrition coaching, kids programs, staff pay, owner pay and group-class rates, then offers tactical tips to help owners change these numbers. For example, is it more profitable to start a nutrition program or to add a few more members to an existing program at your gym? Coop has the answer because he has the data.Listen to this episode, then be sure to fill out our 2023 survey to get the numbers you need to earn more from your gym.Links2023 State of the Industry Survey for Gym OwnersBook a CallGym Owners United2:35 - Nutrition coaching6:45 - Kids programs11:36 - Staff pay15:28 - Owner pay20:08 - Group class price

Since 2020, we've been collecting, analyzing and publishing hard numbers so gym owners get the info they need to improve their businesses. No one else has. In this episode, Chris Cooper will tell you why the annual "State of the Industry" report is so important and why we need your help to make it even better this year.We're collecting data right now, and we're inviting you to spend about six minutes entering your numbers here.Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey. Your data will help us to complete our guide—an unbiased, comprehensive and illuminating snapshot of the microgym industry. You'll get the final report in mid-November for free. Use it with our compliments to grow your gym business!Links2023 State of the Industry Survey for Gym OwnersBook a CallGym Owners United0:26 - What’s good advice?4:56 - Why do our survey?9:04 - Collective power11:09 - Why track metrics?12:29 - 6 Key Metrics

So you're a gym owner—that means you've got to grind and can't ever take a vacation, right?Wrong. In this episode, Two-Brain Business founder and CEO Chris Cooper will explain how you can free yourself from low-level jobs to become a CEO who can take time off.When Coop got food poisoning in 2019 before Two-Brain's huge annual summit for gym owners, it was a blessing in disguise. He suddenly realized he could let his team members run the show, then audit and improve things after the fact with their input. He didn't need to do everything himself if staff members knew the plan and could execute it.You can use the same strategy at your gym. Develop and document your systems and operations, then teach them to others. Give them the space to perform. Then evaluate and upgrade as needed. When you've got things humming, try a greater test: Take a week off from the gym with no contact and see what happens. When you return, figure out what broke and then upgrade your systems so it doesn't happen again.If you follow this plan, your business will constantly improve with minimal oversight from you. And you'll get to take a well-deserved vacation. LinksBook a CallGym Owners United0:17 - Coop gets sick2:44 - Win with systems4:49 - Two examples9:34 - Testing and improving

How can you make your gym run like a finely tuned self-driving car? By systemizing and optimizing before automating. If you just hit the "autopilot" button without getting solid systems in place, you should prepare for a crash.Every aspect of a gym—from cleaning to marketing to sales to coaching—must be governed by a process. You need to carefully document your processes, then test and optimize them. When they're perfect, you can automate them, either by delegating or outsourcing.If your get the order wrong, you'll find yourself back at Square 1 every time.To help you level up, Chris Cooper explains how to automate your gym correctly so you can increase speed, reduce stress and grow your business.LinksBook a CallGym Owners United0:56 - DIY then delegate3:07 - Systems and processes4:25 - Don’t abdicate6:02 - Metrics and optimization