Run a Profitable Gym

Hyrox affiliation gives Rob Sowden-Taylor 25 to 40% of his gym’s leads and creates long-term members who stick around for an average of 2.5 years. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” host Mike Warkentin sits down with Rob, owner of Ion Strength and Conditioning in Wales, to break down exactly how he uses Hyrox as a client-acquisition tool. Rob shares how he structures Hyrox simulations to m...

If you put all your clients on podiums and celebrate their achievements, they'll stay longer and you'll earn more. Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper breaks down the in-house competition he’s refined over 15 years: the Intramural Open. The four-week event can be run completely on its own or combined with the CrossFit Games Open. Two-Brain's signature fun competition is a...

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper explains why gym owners need to stop consuming clickbait speculation about CrossFit’s sale and start working on what actually matters: their businesses. Stop paying the “distraction tax”—hours spent watching videos, scrolling comments and worrying about things you can’t control cost you opportunities to generate revenue, bui...

Industry data reveals that 2026 could be the best year gym owners have ever seen. Revenue is up across every gym model, average revenue per member is rising, and even the lowest-performing gyms are earning more than they were a year ago. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper presents data from Two-Brain’s latest “State of the Industry” report and highlights 10 reasons gym owners...

About 65% of small businesses fail by Year 10, so very few gym owners get to see what works across two decades of ownership. But Bill and Staci Russell have endured to achieve something rare: Their gym, CrossFit Cleveland, has been their sole source of income for nearly 20 years. In this episode, Bill shares hard-earned lessons learned from surviving multiple economic cycles, overcoming staff chal...

Why do most gyms plateau at 122 members? The answer: leadership. In this episode of "Run a Profitable Gym," Two-Brain CEO Chris Cooper explains how your leadership skills determine whether your gym grows, stalls or shrinks. Your gym will rise to the level of your leadership and fall to the level of your worst staff members. To take your gym to increasingly higher levels, you must evolve...

Unleash’d Strength Gym generates 15 times as many leads as the average fitness facility and sets eight times as many appointments. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” owner Joseph Strada reveals the tactics that produce 200 leads and 60 sales appointments per month. He walks through his marketing funnels, explaining how he earns leads through organic social media outreach, paid Meta ads and...

Most coaching gyms add just five clients a month—but the world’s best fitness facilities are consistently adding more than 20 with stellar sales systems. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper analyzes the data behind top-performing marketing funnels, and he reveals which tactics landed these owners on our Top 10 leaderboards, from instant lead follow-up to simplified booking proc...

The fastest way to figure out what people want is by asking the right clients the right questions. Today, Mike Warkentin sits down with gym owner Toni Roy of Breathe CrossFit to break down how the Pumpkin Plan transformed her business. Following the steps, Toni created a list of clients who bring her the most joy and a second list with her highest-value clients. Typically, a gym owner circles the...

You won’t build a successful gym by guessing what people want. You just can't read minds—but every entrepreneur tries to do that, and it's costly. Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper provides the simple fix: Start using the “just ask method"—a proven way to boost every single metric in your gym. Chris walks through exactly which questions you must ask to...

In 2015, Corey Lewis expanded to a second gym before he was ready. He ended up with two failing locations instead of one thriving facility. This mistake nearly sunk his business. Now, as a Two-Brain mentor, Corey helps gym owners avoid feels-good-in-the-moment traps that come with severe long-term consequences. In this episode, Corey joins Mike Warkentin to break down some of the most costly mista...

Just because a decision feels good now doesn’t mean it’s the right one for your gym’s long-term success. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper breaks down 12 choices that seem smart in the moment but can sabotage a gym's profitability down the line. He explains how mistakes such as paid-in-full deals and monthly discounts erode value and bleed out revenue,...

How do you turn 13 leads per month into sustainable gym growth? In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper and chief marketing officer John Franklin analyze new data from Two-Brain's 2025 “State of the Industry” guide and show you how to use it to grow your gym in 2026. John, who is also co-founder of Kilo, explains why most gyms still struggle to get enough lea...

A year from now, your gym will be better or worse. That is a hard truth.  And “better” doesn’t happen by accident. It only happens if you, the CEO, choose a direction, set priorities and execute today. To help you thrive next year, Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper shares the exact annual plan he's using at his gym, Catalyst. It's 12 months of simple, battle-tested activities that will: ✅...

Why is youth training the fastest-growing segment in fitness? Today on "Run a Profitable Gym," Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper sits down with youth performance expert Bill Parisi to analyze the explosion in sports and fitness training for kids. Over the last 35 years, Bill has built a network of more than 100 Parisi Speed Schools, with most locations averaging $20,000 in revenue per month...

What does it take to earn the top spot on Two-Brain’s revenue leaderboard? In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” host Mike Warkentin interviews gym owner Brandon Stratton to discuss the upgrades and operational systems that have allowed Bell House Training Co. to gross $1.2 million annually. Brandon explains how a strategic rebrand, smart price adjustments and the removal of outdated discount...

Good news! Revenue is up in gyms worldwide from 2024 to 2025. And for the first time ever, the average monthly revenue across Two-Brain’s Top 10 leaderboard has crossed US$83,500—over $1 million annually. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper reveals what the highest-grossing gyms are doing to generate between $70,000 and $119,000 per month in consistent, sustai...

This episode features important visuals. For the best experience, watch it on YouTube . Gym owners, if you need more clients, this training is for you. In this detailed video, Two-Brain Business founder Chris Cooper breaks down his bulletproof system for fixing your leads problem forever by creating a never-ending stream of people who are eager to join your gym. You’ll learn the exact strategies t...

The skills you’ve learned through fitness training can help you grow your business—if you know how to apply them. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder and CEO Chris Cooper explains why workout habits directly translate to gym ownership and entrepreneurialism. Every gym owner already has 11 critical fitness skills, such as resilience, adaptability, discipline and virtuosity,...

The data every gym owner needs is finally here!  Two-Brain's sixth annual “State of the Industry” guide was released on Nov. 10 on "The Sevan Podcast." Check out this rebroadcast as hosts Sevan Matossian and Matt Souza break down key gym business stats with Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper. The free 72-page guide delivers critical benchmarks and insights from thousands of gyms worldwi...

How many clients should your gym have? What should you charge? When’s the best time to run classes? In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper shares highlights from Two-Brain’s 2025 “State of the Industry” report—a comprehensive analysis of stats from gyms around the world, including thousands of Wodify clients. Chris is joined by Wodify’s CEO, Brendan Rice, to discuss what the numbe...

If you want to improve lead flow, add more high-value clients and generate more revenue, these three simple words can work wonders: “Bring a friend.” In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” gym owner and chiropractor Dr. Braeden Cordts shares his secrets for using bring-a-friend events to replicate his very best clients and grow his membership. Braeden walks through his plan to get red-hot lead...

The holidays are coming—and for most gyms, that means fewer check-ins, more cancellations and panic about cash flow. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper shares five simple tactics gym owners can use to boost year-end revenue without falling into the discount trap. He explains how smart, seasonal offers—such as holiday retail presales,...

What does it take to run two thriving gyms and serve more than 900 clients? Tyler Quinn has the answers: He operates two Denver fitness studios with nearly 1,000 members combined. But here's the surprising part: He didn’t reach these members with paid ads or gimmicks like discounts. Seventy percent of his new clients come from referrals. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Mike Warkent...

The average big-group gym has 129 members—but some Two-Brain gyms are thriving with 300-700 clients. Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper breaks down what the Top 10 gyms for client headcount are doing differently. Coop explains how five critical systems allow these gyms to retain clients for over 24 months, deliver a consistently high-quality experience and attract new members month afte...