The Owner's Corner Helping gym owners achieve sustainable growth Rethink Your Job Post The best job ad ever written said nothing about the job. In 1914, Ernest Shackleton needed a crew to sail to the South Pole. He could have written: "Sailors needed. Must know how to hoist sails, swab decks, navigate ice waters. 2+ years experience required." Instead, he wrote: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
The Owner's Corner Helping gym owners achieve sustainable growth The 7 Phases of Gym Growth In the fitness industry, scaling a gym from a startup to a thriving enterprise requires careful planning and awareness of potential pitfalls. Jason Fernandez (aka "Fern"), co-creator of Best Hour of Their Day breaks down the key phases of business growth, highlighting revenue milestones, member counts, and critical risks that can make or break success. Whether you're just starting out or aiming for...
3 months ago • 3 min read
The Owner's Corner Helping gym owners achieve sustainable growth How to Turn Your Gym Members into Your Best Marketing Team Let’s be honest — in 2025, paid ads cost more than a new squat rack, and social media algorithms change faster than your clients’ excuses for skipping leg day. But there’s one marketing strategy that never goes out of style (and doesn’t require a marketing degree): your members. Here's how to make it happen. 1. Create “Instagram‑able” Moments People love to share their...
4 months ago • 1 min read
The Owner's Corner Helping gym owners achieve sustainable growth Proven Strategies to Boost Your Gym Website’s Lead Capture and Conversions Hi Reader, Your gym’s website is your digital front desk—make it work smarter to capture leads and convert them into members. Below are concise, data-backed strategies to turn your site into a lead-generating powerhouse, tailored for gym owners ready to grow. 1. Design a Mobile-First Site Use authentic images of your gym’s community and ensure mobile...
10 months ago • 2 min read
The Owner's Corner Helping gym owners achieve sustainable growth Five Gym Owner Hacks to Crush It the Rest of 2025 Hi Reader, Want to pump up your business and dominate the fitness game in 2025? Here’s the no-BS scoop on what’s working in the new fitness economy, straight from the trenches. 1. Boutique is Still King Big-box gyms are so last decade. Clients crave boutique spots with personality—think curated playlists blasting through sleek sound systems, Insta-worthy murals on the walls, and...
12 months ago • 2 min read
The Owner's Corner Helping gym owners achieve sustainable growth How 8th Day Gym Grew to 30,000 Sq Ft—And How You Can Too Hi Reader, If you’re looking to grow your gym, take notes from 8th Day Gym in Grand Rapids, MI. They started small in 2010 with just two members in a rented room. Fast forward 15 years, and they now operate out of a 30,000-square-foot facility with multiple revenue streams and a thriving team of coaches. Here’s what they did right—and how you can apply it to your gym: 1....
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
The Owner's Corner Helping gym owners achieve sustainable growth What Gym Owners Wish They Knew at the Start Hi Reader, We read a summary on BarBend about the lessons that some longtime CrossFit affiliate owners have learned over the years. We felt it was incredibly useful advice to all gym owners and we wanted to summarize the highlights here: "I wish I would have known this is a people and relationship-based business more than a fitness program." Dealing with members and staff is probably...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
The Owner's Corner Helping gym owners achieve sustainable growth Sales is the Best Tool in Your Toolbox Hi Reader, While we say we are in the fitness industry, we really make our living by selling. Being skilled at sales has a direct and undisputed correlation to success in your business. But not all owner-operator trainers are good at selling, and we've seen too many business casualties despite an owner being an arguably world class trainer. What do great sales people have that makes them so...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
The Owner's Corner Helping gym owners achieve sustainable growth The Art of Prospect Conversion Hi Reader, Let's say you have a newbie that was brave enough to inquire about your gym through a social media ad, online, through a referral... it doesn't matter; they've arrived at your inbox with an interest. How do you turn them into a paying member? The tactical answer The simple (but not easy) answer you've heard before is speed to lead. Whenever a prospect inquires about a gym, your gym is...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read