

Run a Profitable Gym
Chris Cooper
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 25, 2023 • 14min
Our Top 10 Earners Have 1 Simple Tip for You
Imagine bringing home more than $15,000 each month. What would that do for you and your family? This month’s leaderboard show is all about take-home pay: net owner benefit (NOB)—salary, dividends and any other benefits the business provides.Every single gym owner in the Top 10 is currently earning over $15,000 US per month, and the top earner’s number is even more impressive.These are not one-hit-wonders: Our leaderboard is based on three-month averages, showing sustainable, consistent income. In today’s episode, Chris Cooper presents Two-Brain’s Top 10 earners for November 2023. More importantly, he shares quotes from the leaders so you know exactly how they posted their numbers.Our November leaders had one thing in common—and it might surprise you as much as it did Chris.Listen, then take action to boost your NOB, too. LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call1:36 - Gyms 4 to 104:40 - The Top 35:57 - How did they do it?11:34 - Mentorship and accountability

Dec 21, 2023 • 34min
Building Your Dream Lifestyle (It's Harder Than You Think)
Many entrepreneurs think that their dream lifestyle will just appear when they achieve business success. But creating the life you want is harder than most people realize. It takes serious thought and planning, whether you want to work remotely on the beach all day or carve out three hours to play with your kids every afternoon. In today’s episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper chats with Ashley Haun, co-owner of Nika Athletics in DeLand, Florida, and owner of The Traveling Bee Business and Lifestyle Mentoring.In her mentoring business, Ashley helps entrepreneurs define their dreams, and then she helps them work backward to figure out how their businesses can make those dreams reality.Ashley believes there’s no limit to what your gym can provide for you. Tune in to learn how to start planning the life you want today. LinksInstagram: @braveashleyhaunAshleyhaun.comGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:43 - Succeed and keep building7:30 - A day in Ashley’s life13:53 - Feel good about success22:54 - How far can a gym owner go?29:05 - Be comfortable

Dec 18, 2023 • 37min
High-Efficiency Entrepreneur: Systems for Work-Life Balance
Joleen and Leighton Bingham have about a million things going on. On top of being parents of three, they own multiple gyms, have an impressive real-estate portfolio, mentor other entrepreneurs through Two-Brain Business and travel regularly. In the last 13 months, they’ve been to Greece, Sweden, Portugal, San Diego and Nashville—to name just a handful of countries and cities. How can they possibly have the time for all this?In today’s episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper gets the Binghams to spill the secrets of their impressive time-management skills. They share how they develop an annual plan to map out what they want to accomplish for the year and balance their work, family and personal goals. Then Joleen explains how she breaks her days into blocks, ensuring she gets the most out of her time. Listen to find out how to manage your time better, and if you want to get in touch with Joleen and Leighton, contact them here: joleen.bingham@twobrainbusiness.comleighton.bingham@twobrainbusiness.com LinksInstagram: @joleenbingham and @leighton.binghamGym Owners UnitedBook a Call1:04 - What about travel?06:34 - Talking properties14:20 - Build a plan to get there23:56 - Planning your schedule31:19 - Daily and annual planning

Dec 14, 2023 • 24min
Broke Gym Owners: Breaking the Cycle and Building Wealth
Should gym owners care about becoming millionaires? Even struggling gym owners who can’t see past the day-to-day challenges of keeping their gyms afloat?In today’s episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Mike Warkentin and Chris Cooper dig into Chris’ upcoming book, “Millionaire Gym Owner,” which will be out in early 2024. In the book, Chris shares his journey to reaching millionaire status, as well as stories from some of Two-Brain’s 43 certified millionaire gym owners. These entrepreneurs detail the steps they took to get from $100,000 net owner benefit (NOB) to $1 million net worth. On average, gym owners who invest in Two-Brain mentorship reach $100,000 NOB in two years, one month and nine days—regardless of starting point. And the average timeframe for reaching millionaire status is just under two more years after that. Listen to learn more, then start working toward your financial goals (a mentor can provide a plan). And be sure to read “Millionaire Gym Owner” when it comes out in 2024.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call3:13 - The plan6:03 - Scaling and investing8:44 - Make a stable business14:23 - The barbell strategy19:27 - Be inspired

Dec 11, 2023 • 14min
Top Secrets of Millionaire Gym Owners
With a clear goal, a plan and a mentor, every gym owner can make $100,000 a year. But did you know that it is also possible—and a lot easier than you probably think—to become a millionaire? In this episode, Chris Cooper shares a preview of his upcoming book, “Millionaire Gym Owner,” which arrives early in 2024. Coop explains how you can invest to improve your life, the lives of the people around you and your local community, and he gives you a simple strategy to guide your investments and ensure that your attention—your most valuable asset—isn’t split too many ways. Two-Brain has helped 43 gym owners reach millionaire status, and 12 of them share their stories in Cooper's soon-to-be-released book. They detail their precise paths to success so you can replicate the steps they took and avoid their mistakes. Keep an eye out for “Millionaire Gym Owner” in early 2024. LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:50 - 4 areas of investment03:05 - Income to investment06:34 - Conserving your attention08:20 - Attention: a finite resource10:43 - Imagine you own a coffee shop

Dec 7, 2023 • 49min
Level Up: Jason Khalipa Wants You to Coach Like a Pro
Successful gym owners master the science of business and the art of coaching. Two-Brain helps entrepreneurs level up on the business side. Jason Khalipa, founder and CEO of NCFIT, is focusing on the coaching side, so he created Coach Like a Pro, a live, online coach-development course that’s designed to provide constructive, honest feedback. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper chats with Jason about Coach Like a Pro, as well as NCFIT Collective programming and his latest endeavor, TRAIN HARD.To save valuable time and money, gyms can outsource their programming to the NCFIT Collective, where Jason’s team plans and tests each workout and creates in-depth session plans and instructional videos.Jason, a CrossFit Games champion a father of two, also offered a sneak peak at TRAIN HARD, his new brand for people like him who want to protect, provide and keep their momentum, whether in the gym or their garage. Tune in to hear Chris and Jason discuss the finer points of building a strong fitness business with consistent, high-quality coaching.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a CallNCFIT Collective (Two-Brain clients: Get a free month of NCFIT Collective programming by using this code: FREETBB )Coach Like a Pro2:31 - Hit it as 3 parts8:00 - The 8 modules16:59 - The hard truth27:04 - Formulate your program38:48 - Programming is a cornerstone

Dec 4, 2023 • 52min
Coaching Excellence in Gyms How to Serve Steak Instead of Sandwiches
Oskar Johed, co-owner of CrossFit Medis and CrossFit Sikla, shares tips for offering great service at your gym. Focus on basics, improve coaching, show empathy to clients. The importance of personability and empathy in the fitness industry. The power of a good product in a gym business and its connection to customer loyalty. Coaching development and the significance of feedback.

Nov 30, 2023 • 37min
16 Sales in September: Here's Exactly How Vel Bates Did It
102 leads, 45 appointments, 26 shows and 16 sales: These are real September stats for Vel Bates’ gym, 3D Fitness, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.In today’s episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Mike Warkentin talks with Vel, who shares the plan behind the numbers.Vel breaks down the main elements at the top of his marketing funnel: organic social media and paid ads. But his leads don’t just book free consultations automatically—so he’s got a lead-nurturing system designed to get people in the door, too.Then Vel explains how he closes sales by using the Prescriptive Model in an office packed with social proof from real clients. But the process doesn’t stop after initial sign-up: Vel’s clients commit to a 90-day journey he lays out for them in detail. This step alone has increased his gym’s retention and onboarding success. Vel’s built a system that truly works, and he’s sharing it with you so you can start bringing more clients into your gym today. LinksCheck out Vel’s gym: 3D FitnessVel's Instagram account: Hercules_BatesThe Prescriptive Model Gym Owners UnitedBook a Call00:56 - No. 1 secret for more appointments06:58 - Testimonials13:51 - The super-important things18:47 - Emotional connection26:38 - The sales binder

Nov 27, 2023 • 37min
Building Your Gym: Your 2024 Annual Plan for Growth
Do you have a plan for growing your gym in 2024? In today’s episode, Chris Cooper goes over Two-Brain’s free 2024 annual plan: It's designed to help gym owners like you get more clients, increase average revenue per member, improve retention, inspire your staff and pay yourself more. Chris runs through a basic but every effective plan month by month, detailing how you can level up your gym with client Goal Review Sessions, coach evaluations, marketing funnel audits, and more.If you’re a Two-Brain client, your mentor is already working with you to create a fully customized, detailed plan complete with done-for-you resources, instructional videos and accountability. But if you don't have a mentor yet, this general plan will help you stomp the accelerator in January. Coop's 2024 annual plan for fitness entrepreneurs is available in our Gym Owners United group. LinksGet the Guide: Gym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:22 - Why you need a plan5:23 - January to March17:27 - April to June27:47 - July to September32:25 - October to December

Nov 23, 2023 • 38min
Guided Access: Solving Labor Shortages at CrossFit MASS
Having trouble staffing your gym? You aren't alone.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper sits down with Joe Venuti and Alessandra Bisalti of CrossFit MASS, who share how they’ve used "guided access" to transform their gym in the face of staffing shortages. Essentially, they’ve learned to leverage technology. In a guided or enhanced access model, clients receive individually designed programming delivered to their phones and can access the gym during non-coached hours to get their workouts done. The gym's clients still receive top-tier fitness services, while Joe and Alessandra get to enjoy reasonable working hours and flexible time off.Because numbers never lie, Chris breaks down a model profit and loss (P&L) statement to show how guided access could be used to generate over $100,000 in net owner benefit.If you’re a gym owner who is struggling to secure staff, check out the guided access plan and decide if it might work in your fitness business.LinksBook a CallGym Owners United0:01 - Guided access in practice25:38 - P&L statement27:05 - How many clients to break even28:26 - Bringing in new clients32:56 - Bring in a backup36:31 - The big picture


