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

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.

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.

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.

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.
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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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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