The Business of Fitness Podcast

This is part two of a conversation between Tim Karajas and Dan on the Extension Fitness podcast.  Tim and Dan we explore how to improve retention by helping our clients and members build long-term exercise habits within your business. They talk about practical strategies and mindset shifts you can use to turn your customers into life-time exercisers. We work so hard to increase retention rates in...

Dan was recently interviewed by Tim Karajas on the Extension Fitness podcast. This is part one of a two part conversation between Tim and Dan. Today, you'll hear Tim ask Dan about whether there are clues he can pick up on when first speaking with a business owner that let him predict whether a fitness business will be successful. Dan talks about the importance of being unique, how to test new idea...

Dan Williams explores nine powerful ways fitness business owners can stand out by being truly different, because in today's crowded market, being better isn't enough. For each area of differentiation we'll look at a well known business case study, and Dan will brainstorm some unique fitness business ideas. 5 things you'll learn in this episode: Why competing by being 'better' traps you in a red oc...

In this episode, Dan explores how successful fitness professionals are building multiple income streams. He covers real-world examples, lessons from failed ideas, and a repeatable framework to help you test your own. Dan is joined by Bodie Webster from Intent Strength and Fitness, Jake Morgan from Habitual Strength and Conditioning, Aidan Dawson from CrossFit Access, Lucia Tennant from Formotion P...

Today we're talking about how to create better videos for your fitness business.  In the first half of the episode, you'll hear Dan talking to professional videographer, Bruce Garrod from Gingerbeard Media. This was part of a webinar he ran for the business owners he mentors. Bruce teaches us how to create better video content with our phones. He covers the fundamentals of filming, lighting, audio...

Here's something very different from my usual stuff. Here's something I wrote for myself to help me 'work out life'. It helped me. Maybe it can help you too. I cover: The role of pain and suffering in life. How do I remove them? Should I remove them? How can I balance ambition with contentment? Striving with settling? Journey and destination? How can I balance work, productivity, time and money, t...

In this episode, I explore how Jesse from Bloom Allied Health consistently converts short-term trial clients into loyal, long-term customers, sharing her proven strategies to double client conversion rates. 5 things you'll learn in this episode: - How Jesse consistently converts 30–50% of trial sessions into long-term paying clients—double the industry average. - Three practical strategies to effe...

In this episode, I explore how Grant Hancock built a thriving fitness business with a 167-person waiting list by uniquely positioning his services, overcoming burnout, and balancing growth with life priorities. 5 things you'll learn: - How Grant created overwhelming demand in a regional location with minimal competition. - The hidden downsides of rapid business growth—and how to handle them. - Pra...

Exercise Professionals shouldn't sell 'exercise' or even 'results'. To create positive, long term change, they need to deliver an EXPERIENCE. In this episode, Dan explains why the best business strategy is to be DIFFERENT, not better. 5 things you'll learn in this episode: Why trying to be better isn't enough—and how being different creates your own category. How to write a Unique Selling Proposit...

Stories are the most powerful marketing tool we have for sharing ideas and experiences. In this episode, Dan shares the content from a presentation he's giving at the Exercise and Sports Science Australia National Conference in Hobart. He'll teach you how to craft and share stories to benefit your business, your career and the impact you have on the world. 5 things you'll learn: Why stories outper...

In this episode Dan unpacks the six-step system he uses (and recommend to fitness business owners) for launching a successful fitness side hustle – from identifying real problems to testing and scaling the idea. This is based on the process we follow in the Fitness Side Hustle Project . 5 things you'll learn in this episode: Why starting with a problem, rather than an idea, is the key to building...

Dan sits down with Renee Cabassi, who gets 80% of her new clients and members by being 'locally famous'. Renee walks us through the actual steps she took to make her fitness business widely known and talked about in her local community. This episode is extremely practical, and offers up clear and immediately actionable steps you can go out and take starting tomorrow. If you want to create local bu...

In this episode I explore whether gym owners should add Hyrox training to their fitness business, by unpacking six key questions to help decide if it's the right strategic fit. 6 things you'll learn in this episode How to assess whether Hyrox actually solves a meaningful problem for your specific target market. Why understanding your gym's USP is critical before adding new programs like Hyrox. How...

Download the PDF accompanying this article. Summary: In this episode I ask eight experts to rate the quality of ChatGPT generated training programs. I explore how AI-driven programming frees up hours for PTs by automating routines, preserving personal style, and allowing you to shift your focus to empathy and human connection.  5 things you'll learn in this episode How to use ChatGPT prompts to cr...

Summary: This episode uncovers the ten key questions every fitness business professional should ask to evaluate their side-hustle ideas, boosting the chances of success while minimising risk.   5 things you'll learn in this episode: How urgency can determine the immediate success of your fitness side hustle. Why narrowing down your market size can help you attract paying clients faster. How pricin...

Download the 2025 Fitness Business Strategic Plan here. In this episode, Dan explores how to review your fitness business for 2024 and strategically plan for a stronger and more successful 2025 using a step-by-step framework and workbook . 5 Things You'll Learn in This Episode: How to assess the impact your business has on your life and make adjustments for improvement. A method to align your time...

Five things you'll learn in this episode: How tracking every minute of work can transform your time management and life quality. The importance of balancing billable and non-billable hours for business and personal success. How to optimise your work schedule for deep, meaningful productivity. Strategies to increase your hourly rate while reducing overall working hours. Why time is your most valuab...

For this episode of The Business of Fitness Podcast, Dan has created a 12 book reading list for 2025. One book each month that will have massive impact on your fitness business.

Here are the five things you'll learn from this episode of The Business of Fitness Podcast : The five essential objectives every fitness business must meet to succeed. Why failing to create value turns your business into a hobby. How ineffective marketing leads to your business becoming a flop. The risks of undercharging and failing to deliver value. Why profitability is the ultimate measure of a...

If you're like a lot of fitness business owners, you're probably asking the wrong question when it comes to growing and scaling a successful business. And this wrong question might just be sabotaging your business and dooming it to failure without you even knowing it. The wrong question is… 'How do I get more clients?' In this episode, Dan Williams reveals the question you  should be asking to tru...

Owning a business is really tough. We can all agree on that. Whether you're a solo PT, or own a chain of gyms, this game is hard. And yet so many business owners Dan mentors and works with seem determined to make it even harder. Here are the five things you'll learn from this episode of The Business of Fitness Podcast to make business easier: Why starting with a problem, not an idea, leads to bett...

There's one number that not enough Fit Pros are tracking - APM, or average profit per member. Dan talks about why this number is so important, and how it can increase your profit margins. Here are the five things you'll learn from this episode of The Business of Fitness Podcast: Why revenue alone is a misleading metric for fitness business success. How to calculate average revenue, expenditure, an...

In this episode Dan looks at the 19 different strategies used by businesses to grow their customer base, and how fitness businesses can use them to attract new clients and members. Here are the five things you'll learn from this episode of The Business of Fitness Podcast: Why using multiple marketing channels is crucial for client growth. How viral marketing and referral programs can drive new cli...

In this episode, Dan sits down with the king of the referral network, to find out this health professional's secrets to building an army of referrers that earn him over $200,000 a year and how you can do it too. Here are the five things you'll learn from this episode of The Business of Fitness Podcast: How to build a strong referral network in the fitness and health industry. The benefits of persi...

  Here are the five things you'll learn from this episode of The Business of Fitness Podcast: The four Es model for organising entrepreneurial ideas and projects. How to balance creative passion with financial success. When to explore new ideas versus focus on existing income streams. The importance of minimal viable products (MVPs) in testing ideas. How to prioritise ideas from concept to success...