The Small Group Gym Pod

In this chat, Mark Fisher, founder of Business for Unicorns and seasoned gym operator, shares why now is a prime moment to open a gym. He discusses the advantages of in-person coaching over online options, emphasizing that the small and simple approach trumps big ambitions. Mark also advises on readiness, suggesting aspiring owners assess their motivations and learn from current gym owners. He breaks down effective strategies on pricing, scheduling, and successful pre-sales, giving listeners a solid roadmap to kickstart their gym journey.

When Nora Matthew moved back to the U.S., she had no plans to open a gym.Fast forward a decade, and she’s the founder of Her Strength, a thriving 4,000 sq ft women's-only studio with 160+ members, a strong 55+ community, and zero paid ads.In this episode, Nora shares how she evolved from prenatal classes to a local women’s brand, simplified her programming to scale, and built a business that runs without her on the floor.If you run small-group training or want to begin to step back from being the one who does everything in your gym, this one’s well worth your time.🎙 Topics: niche clarity, 55+ training, paid trials, staff leadership, and organic growth.

Want your clients raving about your sessions?In this episode, Tom Hamilton (Foundry Gyms & @Lift Strong Look Strong) breaks down what separates good small-group coaching from world-class.We dig into:How to create five-star client experiencesWhy most gym owners neglect coaching developmentBuilding consistency and culture across your teamThe framework Tom uses to deliver “gold-standard” SGPT sessionsIf you want to level up your sessions, retain more clients, and build a gym that people never want to leave—this one’s well worth a listen!

5 essential lessons you can apply to your SGPT gym from the first 5 episodes.Want the free referral training I mentioned in the episode? DM me "referrals" on Instagram (@stuart__aitken)

What Jean-Claude Vacassin doesn't know about building, running and growing SGPT gyms isn't worth knowing. He's not only running the successful London-based gyms, Foundry, but he's also consulted and coached hundreds of gyms for the best part of 10 years.From running effective front-end offers to leveraging referrals as a key marketing method to having key exit strategies in place so clients who leave can always return, JC discusses the many lessons learned from years in the industry.

Lisa Jarratt, of Downham Ladies Fitness in Downham, didn’t start with a big facility, a huge budget, or even a long-term plan. What she had was £6k, a love for fitness, and a background in marketing.Fast-forward to today, and she runs a thriving small-group gym on her high street with over 100 members, a strong community, and a business that only needs 10–15 hours a week to keep growing.In this episode, Lisa shares:How she turned a £6k back-garden build into a 100+ member gym.Why her marketing background shaped how she grew the business.The systems and mindset shifts that let her run things in 10–15 hours a week.What she wishes more gym owners understood about community and growth.

Many gym owners feel pressure to chase big numbers, 150, 200, even 300 members, to feel “legit.” But what if your gym could be successful, sustainable, and fulfilling with far fewer?That’s exactly what Harry Morris has built in his 50-member SGPT gym. In this episode, Harry opens up about:Why he doesn’t hide from having a lower member count, and why more gym owners should talk about it.How he’s grown steadily without sacrificing coaching quality.The underrated marketing practices that keep the right people coming through the door.What sustainable success actually looks like for a small-group training gym.If you’ve ever felt like your numbers weren’t “big enough,” this conversation will reframe what success really means as a gym owner.

When Sean Armstrong first started coaching, he poured every ounce of emotional and physical energy into clients, and quickly burned himself out. Mainly from doing so many 1-1s. Fast-forward to today, and Sean is running a thriving small-group training gym with over 100 members, a growing team of coaches, and systems that make the business sustainable.In this episode, Sean shares:The summer events he runs that create massive client buy-in.How the challenges of retention change as your gym scales from 40 to 140 members.The biggest lessons he’s learned about follow-up in sales (and why most trainers get it wrong).How he’s building a team so he can step back from doing everything himself.How he doubled his member numbers in barely any time at all by getting serious about his marketing.If you’re a PT or gym owner who wants to grow past the early hustle without burning out, this conversation with Sean is packed with practical lessons.

When George Branford first saw the barn that would become his 5th gym, it didn’t look like much. But with vision, systems that have been built after learning the lessons in his 4 others, and a heck of a lot of persistence, he’s turned it into a thriving small-group facility, capped at 150 members.In this episode, George shares:Why he caps membership at 150 per gym (and why that number works).The marketing and sales processes that keep trialists flowing in each month.How selling memberships over the phone has become a non-negotiable system in his gyms.The lessons he’s learned about scaling locations without losing control.If you’re a SGPT gym owner looking for practical, proven ways to fill, sustain and effectively run your small-group model, this conversation is a must-listen.

Running a small-group gym isn’t easy. Most owners get stuck at 30–60 members, burn out trying to do everything themselves, or struggle to build systems that actually help them grow.That’s why I sat down with Mike MacDonald, owner of AKR Fitness in Aberdeen, who’s just celebrated 10 years in business and grown to 200+ active members with a thriving team behind him.In this episode, Mike opens up about:The hardest stage of growth for SGPT gyms (and how he got through it).Why hitting milestones like 100 members doesn’t mean you’ve “made it.”The systems and mindset shifts enabled him to step back from doing everything himself.His philosophy on running a gym as an “infinite game” rather than a finish line.Whether you’re at 20 members or 200, this conversation with Mike is filled with lessons you can apply to your own SGPT gym today.