Run a Profitable Gym

Most gym owners don’t make enough money—not because they need more clients but because their rates are too low. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper explains how to set your prices the right way so your gym becomes profitable and pays you what you deserve. Too many gym owners copy their competitors’ pricing or assume their clients can’t afford to pay more. Chris walks you throug...

When a nearby gym shuts down, its members risk losing their momentum—but you can step in to offer them a welcoming community where they can continue their fitness journeys. That’s just what Matt Michaud, owner of EverProven, did when two gyms in his area closed their doors. This influx of new members helped his gym earn a spot on all three of our sales leaderboards: set, show and close rates. In o...

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper reveals the monthly leaderboards for set, show and close rates in top gyms around the world.  These gyms aren’t just getting a ton of leads—they’re following through by booking appointments, getting people to show up and closing sales. Chris shares the exact strategies these top performers are using, from lead-nurture systems to high-converti...

If your leads are “bad” but you aren’t publishing solid organic content regularly, you're missing a key part of your marketing plan. Why should complete strangers give you the time of day? They don’t know you, like you or trust you.  The solution: Use organic content to build trust before your conversation starts. Leads who have already seen your face, your business and your happy clients wil...

Want to get 30 new leads for your gym in 30 days without spending a dime on ads? Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper walks you through 10 proven no-ad tactics for generating more leads—including selling by chat, making "5130 posts," actively generating client referrals and creating lead magnets. Chris breaks down each tactic step by step, showing you how to use them to start mo...

Growing a gym from $800 to $25,000 per month doesn’t happen by accident. Gym owner Ian Smith achieved this revenue increase by working with a Two-Brain mentor to refine key entrepreneurial skills. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Ian breaks down the five skills that fueled his gym’s growth: objective reflection, focus, tact, forward thinking and an abundance mindset. Objective reflection...

Here’s a hard truth: You might be the main reason your gym isn't more successful. Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper shares five essential entrepreneurial skills that will help gym owners break through self-imposed limits: - Focus - Objective reflection - Tactful action - Forward thinking - Cultivating an abundance mindset He also explains why knowledge alone isn’t enough and provi...

As a gym owner, you understand the value of coaching. In fitness and business, the right coach will accelerate your success. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper leads you through a simple exercise for finding the best business mentor for you. You’ll be prompted to reflect on wins throughout your life and identify coaching styles that helped you achieve them.  Chris also explain...

Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain Business founder Chris Cooper breaks down the four types of business mentorship available to gym owners and explains why one-on-one mentorship delivers the best results. He also dives into the pros and cons of masterminds, group coaching and roundtables, revealing what works—and what doesn’t—for gym owners at different stages of growth. Two-Brain Business...

Hari Singh, owner of CrossFit NYC, has found a unique way to add value for his members and grow his revenue: Hyrox training. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Mike Warkentin sits down with Hari as he shares how he successfully implemented Hyrox training at one of the world’s oldest CrossFit affiliates—earning himself a spot on Two-Brain's Top 10 leaderboard for revenue. Hari explains...

What separates gyms that are generating more than $68,000 every month from the rest? In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper presents the Top 10 leaderboard for monthly revenue and lays out the exact strategies these gym owners are using to create long-term, sustainable growth. Some of their tactics include: - Creating value for clients by consistently over-delivering on services....

In 2022, Indiana gym owner Vel Bates attended the Two-Brain Summit and left with a new mindset that transformed his business. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Vel shares how the welcoming community and actionable advice shared at the event helped him take the leap into mentorship. He details the changes he’s made with the help of his mentor, Peter Brasovan,  such as cleaning up systems a...

The 2025 Two-Brain Summit will inspire and equip fitness professionals to make a difference in their clients’ lives—in other words, to Help Best. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper provides a sneak peek into this year’s summit for gym owners and coaches, happening June 7-8 in Chicago. He walks through the action-packed itinerary, starting with morning workouts featuring Rogue...

Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder and CEO Chris Cooper shares his top book recommendations for gym owners in 2025. He unpacks the lessons he learned from these titles and how he applied them to grow his gym and his other businesses. Remember, it’s not how many books you read that matters; what matters is that you put what you learn into action. Ready to learn and take action to gr...

Jonathan Goodman, author of “The Obvious Choice,” knows what it takes to keep clients around—and it’s not long-term contracts. Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain CEO Chris Cooper talks with Jonathan about why trust is more valuable than credentials and how creating meaningful connections with clients leads to sustainable success. Jonathan shares how to transform short-term programs into la...

The Intramural Open is a key retention tactic at Brian Foley’s gym, Activate in Ireland. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Brian shares how the event makes his clients three times more likely to stay another year, driving significant indirect revenue. The Open also directly boosts his gym’s revenue in late winter through pre-competition skill work and retail sales. Brian breaks down strat...

What if one event could help you build community, retain clients and boost your gym’s revenue? In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper explains how to make the 2025 Intramural Open a profitable and meaningful event your members will never forget. From choosing team captains to creating teams to scoring , Chris outlines exactly how to turn the Intramural Open into a win for everyone...

The ownership group of The Tribe tripled owner earnings—and the quartet did it without frantically dumping new members into the business. In this episode, host Mike Warkentin sits down with Andi and Ed Conway—who co-own The Tribe along with Nick and Chelsea Vera—to learn how they increased revenue and profit while consistently serving about 160 members. The Conways share how their Two-Brain mentor...

Every gym owner can learn valuable lessons from 2024. The key is using them to grow in 2025. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper guides gym owners through a year-end exercise to analyze their wins and losses and lay the foundation for success in the future. He explains how to review metrics, identify bright spots and turn lessons into actions that will measurably improve busine...

Torben Keller, owner of CrossFit North 579 in Denmark, runs a gym with more than 740 members—he took the No. 1 spot on Two-Brain's recent leaderboard for client count. In today’s episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Torben shares exactly how he built a thriving gym with multiple revenue streams and an unbeatable client experience. He explains how he started with 250 members in the first month,...

Some gyms have over 300 members and are still growing—but how do they do it? In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper reveals the secrets behind the gyms with the highest client headcounts on Two-Brain’s leaderboard. These gyms don’t rely on gimmicks or flashy marketing campaigns. Instead, they focus on retention, onboarding and delivering incredible value to their members. Chris ex...

Tax season doesn’t have to be a headache; smart planning can reduce stress and save gym owners money. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” former multi-gym owner John Franklin joins host Mike Warkentin to share seven tax strategies every fitness entrepreneur should know: - Keep your books clean and updated. - Get a tax estimate. - Don’t waste money to "save on taxes." - Hire your k...

Gym owners can take control of their businesses with a simple tool: the profit and loss statement (P&L). In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper explains how to master a P&L to improve retention, increase revenue and grow your gym. Sharing examples from his own gym, Catalyst, Chris walks you through metrics tracking and expense auditing in a spreadsheet ta...

Annual planning puts gym owners in control of their businesses. Elite gym owners take it further, crafting plans that give them the freedom to choose where they spend their time—whether inside or outside the gym. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Joleen Bingham, leader of Two-Brain’s Tinker program, reveals how top gym owners use annual and three-year plans to achieve massive growth, fina...

Chris Cooper has a gift for gym owners who want to crush it in 2025: a complete, step-by-step annual plan. In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris breaks down the exact strategies you can use to grow your gym next year. From kickstarting the year with a habits challenge to boosting retention with client goal reviews, he explains how a clear plan can help you stay consistent and avoid over...