Gym Management Blog

The Business of Fitness Blog

Learn about the business of fitness in the PushPress Gym Management blog. Trends, best practices, case studies, tips and more!

Category: Starting & Growing a Gym

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How to Negotiate a Gym Lease: The Clauses That Quietly Cost You $50,000
Starting & Growing a Gym

How to Negotiate a Gym Lease: The Clauses That Quietly Cost You $50,000

Your landlord's first draft is written for the landlord. Five things worth fighting for before you sign.

July 23, 2026
 min
How to Start a Gym: The Complete Step-by-Step Playbook
Starting & Growing a Gym

How to Start a Gym: The Complete Step-by-Step Playbook

New gyms rarely fail on workouts. They fail on lease clauses, cash gaps and payment headaches.

June 3, 2026
 min
Why Coach Buy-In Is the #1 Predictor of a Successful HYROX Program
Starting & Growing a Gym

Why Coach Buy-In Is the #1 Predictor of a Successful HYROX Program

Paul flew his coaches to a race in Toronto. Brad got all 8 of his to compete. Neither pays for ads.

April 17, 2026
7
 min
How to Create a Gym Business Plan in 6 Steps
Starting & Growing a Gym

How to Create a Gym Business Plan in 6 Steps

Running a gym without a business plan is like building IKEA furniture without the instructions.

April 3, 2026
7
 min
Capture More Revenue at Your Gym... Without Slowing Down
Starting & Growing a Gym

Capture More Revenue at Your Gym... Without Slowing Down

Drop-ins, forgotten wallets, long merch lines. Tap to pay lets your staff take payment anywhere.

November 25, 2025
6
 min
Introducing the New and Improved Grow
Starting & Growing a Gym

Introducing the New and Improved Grow

Our biggest Grow update ever, shaped by feedback from current and churned users. Here's what's new.

April 3, 2025
5
 min
Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 10: Avoid Trying to Please Everyone
Starting & Growing a Gym

Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 10: Avoid Trying to Please Everyone

People pleasing leads to burnout. Irene Lea Smith of CrossFit Prescott Valley on finding the balance.

October 17, 2024
7
 min
Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 8: How to Run a Business, Not a Hobby
Starting & Growing a Gym

Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 8: How to Run a Business, Not a Hobby

Passion opened your doors. Bold City CrossFit's Anna Elisabeth Ngo on running it like a real business.

October 10, 2024
7
 min
Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 6: Listening to Member Feedback
Starting & Growing a Gym

Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 6: Listening to Member Feedback

Feedback doesn't mean hearing everyone out. Three gym owners on listening to your best members instead.

September 26, 2024
5
 min
How an Arkansas PushPress Gym Grew to 300 Members in First Year
Starting & Growing a Gym

How an Arkansas PushPress Gym Grew to 300 Members in First Year

Legendary Fitness hit 150 members in two months and is closing in on 300 before its first birthday.

September 24, 2024
4
 min
Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 5: Insights for Sustainable Growth
Starting & Growing a Gym

Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 5: Insights for Sustainable Growth

Lululemon started with yoga clothes for women. The lesson for gym owners: own your niche, then grow.

September 20, 2024
5
 min
Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 4: Building a Strong Gym Community
Starting & Growing a Gym

Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 4: Building a Strong Gym Community

You decide who belongs in your gym, and who doesn't. Five steps to build your community on purpose.

September 17, 2024
6
 min
Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 2: Ownership Over Coaching
Starting & Growing a Gym

Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 2: Ownership Over Coaching

CrossFit Unforgiven's Sarah Elizabeth Heimer says the business side needs as much attention as coaching.

September 5, 2024
5
 min
Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 1: Systems, Policies & Procedures
Starting & Growing a Gym

Gym Growth Blueprint Series, Part 1: Systems, Policies & Procedures

Systems and policies are the backbone of a gym that runs without you. Two owners on where to start.

September 4, 2024
8
 min
“We Had No Idea”: A Lesson from Turning a Hobby into Opening a Gym
Starting & Growing a Gym

“We Had No Idea”: A Lesson from Turning a Hobby into Opening a Gym

Randy Lauer thought opening a gym would mostly mean fun with friends. Then it became a real business.

March 12, 2024
4
 min
Finding Gym Space Part VII: When Owning a Gym is Better than Renting
Starting & Growing a Gym

Finding Gym Space Part VII: When Owning a Gym is Better than Renting

Sarah Elizabeth Heimer bought her gym's building and paid off the mortgage in three years.

January 31, 2024
4
 min
Finding Gym Space Part VI: Successfully Investing in Gym Real Estate
Starting & Growing a Gym

Finding Gym Space Part VI: Successfully Investing in Gym Real Estate

Dave Henry opened his affiliate in 2007. He later sold the building for four times what he paid.

January 25, 2024
5
 min
Finding Gym Space Part V: The Dos and Don’ts of Building a Gym
Starting & Growing a Gym

Finding Gym Space Part V: The Dos and Don’ts of Building a Gym

Three buyers were already in line. How the Westers rushed to build their gym, and what they'd change.

January 24, 2024
5
 min
Finding Gym Space Part IV: A Tale of Retail Space and Triple Net Leases
Starting & Growing a Gym

Finding Gym Space Part IV: A Tale of Retail Space and Triple Net Leases

Nikki Adams' landlord died and the retail center sold. Her lease had nothing in it to protect her.

January 18, 2024
5
 min
Finding Gym Space Part III: A Tale of the $30,000 Lease Mistake
Starting & Growing a Gym

Finding Gym Space Part III: A Tale of the $30,000 Lease Mistake

A handshake deal with a fellow first responder turned into a $30,000 mistake. Get it in writing.

January 16, 2024
4
 min
Finding Gym Space Part II: A Tale of Three Locations in Three Years
Starting & Growing a Gym

Finding Gym Space Part II: A Tale of Three Locations in Three Years

Canada's first CrossFit affiliate took three tries to find the right home. Here's what went wrong.

January 11, 2024
4
 min
Finding Gym Space Part I: The Dos and Don’ts of Negotiating Your Lease
Starting & Growing a Gym

Finding Gym Space Part I: The Dos and Don’ts of Negotiating Your Lease

Zach Forrest owned five Vegas gyms and lost one to rezoning. His lease advice starts with: go shorter.

January 9, 2024
5
 min
Ten Profit Hacks to Increase Gym Revenue When Starting a Gym
Starting & Growing a Gym

Ten Profit Hacks to Increase Gym Revenue When Starting a Gym

Profit isn't a dirty word. Without it, you can't help anyone. Ten ways to grow revenue from day one.

December 28, 2023
8
 min
How PushPress Free Helped GRIT Grow to 150 Members in Nine Months
Starting & Growing a Gym

How PushPress Free Helped GRIT Grow to 150 Members in Nine Months

"We suck at social media." So GRIT ran free outdoor workouts instead, then grew to 150 members.

October 31, 2023
3
 min

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