Podcast
Run a Profitable Gym
Hosted by Chris Cooper · EN
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.
52episodes
Episodes
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She Made $6K in 60 Days With 1 Hyrox Class Per Week
Apr 2300:40:52Tap to summarizeGym owner Lauren DiSessa’s weekly HYROX class has generated $6,000 in revenue in just two months, and she’s not even charging members extra for it. How’d she do it? Two-Brain CEO John Franklin gets the full scoop from Lauren today on “Run a Profitable Gym.”Lauren walks through her V1 mistakes—treating HYROX as an afterthought with no real launch strategy—and explains what she did differently the second time around: a high-energy open house that drew 40 people, 70% of whom were non-members who paid to train at her gym.She breaks down her pricing structure for drop-ins, class packs and full race simulations, and reveals the three things every gym owner needs to launch HYROX successfully: 1. Someone genuinely passionate about the sport2. A dedicated class time that gives the program its own identity3. The right equipment to attract serious athletes.Lauren also shares how the program is pulling in a steady stream of prospects every single week and why even converting just one or two of them into full members each month is a bigger deal than it sounds.Tune in to find out how a single Saturday morning class is quickly becoming one of the smartest revenue moves Lauren has ever made.Then get "The Complete Guide to HYROX Affiliation for Gym Owners" in Gym Owners United, linked below.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:56 - Gym overview7:52 - Adding HYROX16:33 - Open house results20:37 - Pricing structure29:46 - Keys to success
Transcribe →Should Your Gym Become a HYROX Affiliate?
Apr 2000:19:58Tap to summarizeAre you sleeping on HYROX? That's a mistake.In this episode, Two-Brain CEO John Franklin and founder Chris Cooper discuss the hottest thing in fitness right now: HYROX.John, fresh off a race in Miami Beach, had nothing but praise for the event, and Chris Cooper suggests the races give your members a reason to keep training and way to find success and smiles outside the gym.The best part? HYROX affiliation fees for gyms are low—about US$150 a month—so it's easy to get huge ROI, if you have a plan. No plan? No ROI. Solid plan? Huge ROI is possible.For example, one Two-Brain gym generates $12,500 a month in HYROX revenue, and another added $100,000 in annual revenue just by setting up two HYROX training sessions a week.Chris and John dig into the details to help you determine if a HYROX program is right for your gym, even if you're a CrossFit affiliate. Newsflash: CrossFit gyms don't need to be scared of HYROX; the program is complementary. Check out this discussion, and if you want to take the next step, "The Complete Guide to HYROX Affiliation for Gym Owners" is available if you DM Chris Cooper through our Gym Owners United group, linked below.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:29 - Why is HYROX working?4:02 - The opportunity5:48 - Should CrossFit gyms be afraid?8:05 - How to get ROI15:48 - Marketing, selling, retaining
Transcribe →The Alumni Whisperer: How to Win Back Old Gym Members
Apr 1600:18:07Tap to summarizeMost gyms treat old members as if they’re gone forever—but Xtra Mile Fitness brought back 36 departed clients in one year.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Corey Lewis (owner of Xtra Mile Fitness) reveals how he reactivated 36 alumni—comprising nearly 40% of his “new” members—last year. Corey’s philosophy: The client journey doesn’t end when someone leaves your gym.To help you reacquire members, he lays out fundamental exit practices every gym should implement: exit goal reviews, thank you postcards and 90-day follow-up texts. He also shares more advanced tactics for winning old members back, including social media engagement, video texts and coffee meetings.Corey never “pitches” to alumni. He leads with a "help first" mentality and checks in genuinely. The resale happens naturally when the person is ready. Tune in to get Corey’s complete system for reactivating former gym members, then implement it in your gym!LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:00 - 36 returning members2:44 - Exit goal reviews6:22 - Postcard follow-ups9:03 - Social media engagement13:13 - Why this works
Transcribe →The Future Is Niche: Specialization for the Win in Your Gym Biz
Apr 1300:21:44Tap to summarizeThe future belongs to gyms that specialize.The data proves it: Small group training has a 7% higher profit margin than large group training, and length of engagement in niche gyms is double the industry average.Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper lays out how niching down will transform your gym. Yes, you can find and own a niche without kicking out existing clients.When you niche down, everything gets easier: Marketing becomes crystal clear, referrals become automatic, your schedule shrinks, facility costs drop, staffing simplifies, and retention skyrockets.Generic “fitness for everyone” gyms compete on price and lose. Specialized gyms charge premium rates and win.Stop trying to be everything to everyone. Find your people and serve them exceptionally well.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:01 - Intro0:40 - The industry right now5:25 - Why niche down?8:39 - How to find your niche18:37 - What isn’t a niche?
Transcribe →How to Buy a Gym Step by Step
Apr 900:39:59Tap to summarizeBuying a gym can be one of the best business decisions you’ll ever make or one of the most expensive mistakes of your life.In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain Business CEO John Franklin and attorney Matthew Becker of Gym Lawyers PLLC walk you through exactly how to buy a gym without overpaying, buying a disaster or landing on legal landmines.Matthew has handled over $50 million in gym transactions, and John has personally bought and sold five gyms in New York City.In this step-by-step training, the pair break down:The formula for valuing a gym.Factors that impact the valuation.How to define and find the gym you’re looking for.The legal process for buying a gym.Options for financing a gym purchase.Before you commit to a buy, check out this show and make sure you're setting yourself up for long-term success in the fitness industry.LinksFree valuation calculator: "How to Buy a Gym""How to Value a Gym: SDE, Multiples and What a Gym Is Actually Worth"Book a CallGym Lawyers Consultation2:41 - How to value a gym17:14 - Define your “buy box”18:55 - The search22:12 - Legal and financing36:43 - The full playbook
Transcribe →Gym Owner Burnout Is Real: Here's How to Deal
Apr 600:25:56Tap to summarizeIf you burn out, your gym dies. That’s why taking care of your mental health is the best business decision you can make. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper explains why burnout happens to gym owners and how to prevent it.If you pour your energy into clients all day, manage staff, call leads, clean bathrooms and run your business, then go home and scrape the bottom of the bowl for whatever’s left for your family, you'll eventually run out of gas.Your clients will know exactly when that happens. And they'll walk out. Chris shares six practical strategies for improving your mental health before you burn out, including setting boundaries, finding someone to talk to and systemizing your business.You can’t sell your clients energy if you don’t have it. Tune in to learn how to keep your cup full—and your gym alive.Connect with gym owners just like you at the Two-Brain Summit. Get tickets via the link below!LinksTwo-Brain Summit TicketsGym Owners UnitedBook a Call1:46 - What we’re really selling6:18 - The money problem9:29 - Mental health strategies 1-315:37 - Mental health strategies 4-621:35 - The Two-Brain Summit
Transcribe →Coop's Comfort Zone Challenge: How to Deal With Big Biz Changes
Apr 200:19:47Tap to summarizeMost gym owners stay stuck because of fear. Fear of failure. Fear of confrontation. Fear of making things worse.But here’s what Chris Cooper learned after 15 years of mentoring gym owners: The only thing stronger than fear is love.You have to love the local people who need your help more than you fear publishing that Instagram post. You have to love your family enough to fire that coach who’s hurting your gym.Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris presents gym owners with a challenge: Expand your comfort zone.Coop gives you 10 difficult scenarios to choose from and a simple four-day process for practicing them until they become easy:Day 1: Practice the uncomfortable task in a mirrorDay 2: Practice with a supportive friend or spouseDay 3: Practice with your mentorDay 4: Do it for realYour comfort zone is like a muscle. When you exercise it, it gets bigger—and you become more capable of making the changes your business needs.To get the free Comfort Zone Challenge worksheet, DM Chris in Gym Owners United, linked below.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:01 - Intro1:57 - How to change3:27 - Do you care enough?11:01 - Comfort Zone Challenge15:09 - Which gym owners succeed?
Transcribe →Two-Brain Summit 2026: 2 Days, 16 Speakers, Unlimited ROI
Mar 3000:24:01Tap to summarizeThe Two-Brain Summit is back for its 10th year this June in Chicago, and it’s bigger than ever before!Get your tickets via the link below and make June 6-7 the most valuable weekend of your entire year.Headlining the owners side, bestselling author Mike Michalowicz will teach you how to stand out and attract the right customers to your gym. You’ll also hear from fitness business experts such as:- Matt Souza of “The Sevan Podcast” and “Souza’s Show”- Street Parking co-founders Miranda and Julian Alcaraz- Rick Mayo, founder of Alloy Personal Training (1992)And while you’re leveling up as a gym owner, your coaches will be honing their skills with some of the best in the industry, including: - HWPO’s Michele Letendre, CrossFit Games coach and former athlete- Power Monkey’s Dave Durante (gymnastics) and Chad Vaughn (weightlifting), both former elite athletes- Bill Parisi, fascia expert and founder of Parisi Speed SchoolTune in as Chris Cooper presents the full lineup and shares exactly what gym owners and coaches will be working on at the world's biggest gym business conference. Then, use the link below to get your tickets before prices go up on Apr. 1.LinksTwo-Brain Summit TicketsGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:01 - Intro2:16 - Saturday lineup: Owners9:18 - Saturday lineup: Coaches11:50 - Sunday lineup: Owners18:30 - Sunday lineup: Coaches
Transcribe →Exactly How to Sell Personal Training in a CrossFit Gym
Mar 2600:24:23Tap to summarizeFor almost a decade, CrossFit affiliate owners followed a misguided mantra:"CrossFit is done in big groups only."In 2026, we know this is false. CrossFit is an incredible tool you can use to get clients fit, and you can deliver coaching one on one, in semi-private groups, in small groups and in big groups. The more individual attention a client receives, the higher the rate.That's critical: High-value services such as PT help CrossFit gyms dramatically increase average revenue per member (ARM). Back in the day, ARM scores of $100-$150 were common, and many gym owners struggled to make a profit.Now, with PT sales and group-plus-PT "hybrid packages," CrossFit gyms can push ARM north of $200.Chris Vasseur of Bionic CrossFit is the proof: His ARM is $400+ on the strength of PT sales. The best part: Vasseur doesn't get slimy to sell PT. He just tells people exactly how to accomplish their goals."Want to be able to link 20 double-unders? I can teach you. Let's book a one-on-one slot next week."It's that simple.Tune in as host Mike Warkentin gets all the details from a CrossFit affiliate owner who uses real talk and a desire to help to sell lots of PT.Links"Help First" by Chris CooperAffinity Marketing: How to Get Clients FastGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:01 - Intro0:45 - Who needs more help?5:29 - PT rates7:56 - Selling PT13:30 - New PT clients16:31 - ARM boosters
Transcribe →Top Tactics From Gyms Earning $400+ Per Member Per Month
Mar 2300:13:35Tap to summarizeWhat if every one of your clients paid $400 or more per month?You probably wouldn't need more clients, staff, equipment or space, right?In this episode of "Run a Profitable Gym," Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper shows exactly how 10 top gym owners have solved the "need more clients" problem by earning world-class revenue from existing clients.In short, they price coaching services correctly and deliver monster value with premium services such as personal training, small group personal training, semi-private training and nutrition/habits coaching. These high-value members get results, so they stay longer and refer friends, creating a very profitable business model.Coop's got key details from our leaders, plus expert perspective to help you drive up average revenue per member in your gym. Your first target: $205. If you hit that—use Coop's tips!—you can earn $100,000 per year with just 150 members.LinksGym Owners UnitedBook a Call0:01 - Intro4:03 - Leaderboard reveal6:18 - How they increased ARM7:50 - Focusing on high-value clients9:50 - Starting a gym with Two-Brain
Transcribe →