Check out the inspiring stories of fitness entrepreneurs who grew from hands-on operators to business leaders with NPE Fitness coaching.
At 5 a.m., the gym lights flicker on. Bleary-eyed from yet another short sleep, the owner unlocks the door and gets ready to welcome the first client of the day. By 9 p.m., he’s still there, teaching the final session, balancing the books, and planning tomorrow’s marketing efforts. This grueling schedule repeats every day, leaving little time for strategic planning or a personal life.
This scenario is all too common for many fitness entrepreneurs. A personal trainer’s passion for opening their own studio often clashes with the harsh realities of being a business owner. Long hours, unpredictable income, and the constant juggling of roles from coach to accountant to marketer can leave even the most dedicated gym owner exhausted and bogged down.
But a growing number of fitness professionals are breaking out of this exhausting cycle, transforming their businesses and getting their time back – through strategic business coaching and implementing robust systems that allow them to step away from the day-to-day and focus on growth.
NPE, a business coaching firm specializing in the fitness industry, is at the forefront of this transformation by providing structured guidance and support that has helped thousands of fitness entrepreneurs transition from hands-on operator to strategic business leader.
Here are three case studies that highlight the challenges gym owners face and the strategies that have led them to success.
Overworked and Understaffed: Tales from Locker Room Gyms
At Lockeroom Gym in Sydney, Australia, owners Lachlan Rowston and Raph Freedman were caught in a cycle of overwork that seemed impossible to escape. Despite having a small team of five trainers, they were working 16-hour days trying to balance coaching, marketing, and client retention. Revenue was plateauing at $30,000 a month, and they were experiencing high client turnover.
“We lost a lot of customers in some of our stores and didn’t know how to fill the gap,” Rowston admitted.
“We talk to owners all the time who get dragged into operations every time a trainer quits or they have to lay someone off,” says Sean Greeley, founder and CEO of NPE. “So having a healthy team is essential to growth and scale. But before we solve that problem, we want to first increase gross margins so these businesses can win. You need a good sales and marketing system to attract quality clients. And you need to maximize the client experience so that those good clients stay, pay, and refer.”
Friedman said revenue has grown to $300,000 a month and the team now has a full coaching staff and two general managers.
“This has allowed us to focus 100% on the strategy and leadership of the company,” Freedman reports. “It has allowed us to create a consistent system for training our staff so that we can retain customers and increase sales and marketing to increase revenue.”
Riding the Revenue Roller Coaster: The Struggles of Mint Condition Fitness
Colin Triplett of Mint Condition Fitness in Los Gatos, California, faced another challenge: wild fluctuations in revenue. His monthly salary fluctuated between $24,000 and $35,000, making it nearly impossible to plan for the future or invest in growth.
NPE provided Triplett with a strategy to stabilize cash flow: They helped Triplett develop new, higher-margin, long-term membership packages that not only improved customer retention but also provided a more predictable revenue stream.
“In the first month, our recurring revenue dropped from an average of about $35,000 to $24,000,” Triplett recalls. “The next month after joining the program, we sold $75,000 worth of packages and our recurring revenue rose to $40,000. Now, a year later, our monthly revenue has increased to $96,000.”
When selling fitness services, Greeley says, the best customers want to work with the best experts.
“And they know that professionals don’t come cheap,” he added, “which is why it’s important to position your services properly – and optimize your packaging and pricing – so you attract the right customers, ready to achieve their health and fitness goals.”
Beyond financial stability, NPE has offered Triplett something equally valuable: a supportive community of fellow gym owners.
“It’s hard to actually share the day-to-day stresses and problems you’re facing. It’s something else to actually talk to someone who’s in your shoes and feel understood,” Triplett said.
From Mobile Trainer to Gym Owner: The Uplift Strength & Spirit Journey
Nancy Townsend worked as a traveling trainer in Washington, DC, driving from client to client each day. She dreamed of setting up a permanent storefront to build a thriving fitness community, but had no knowledge of sales, financial management, or securing commercial space.
NPE provided the comprehensive support Townsend needed, helping him develop sales systems and tools, implement a strong financial tracking system, and find the best location for his gym.
“Great coaches have so much value to offer the world, but too many struggle because they’re not business experts,” Greeley said. “Our job is to help them put the right strategies, systems and tools in place to make their business a success.”
Townsend said NPE provided solutions to challenges she hadn’t anticipated. “Their proactive approach helped me avoid pitfalls and focus on sustainable growth,” she said.
The results were impressive: Townsend’s monthly income increased from $6,000 to $40,000. She expanded her client base, hired additional trainers, and achieved personal goals, like buying her dream home and starting a family.
“Partnering with NPE has revolutionized my business. I’ve gone from being a traveling trainer barely scraping by to a business owner with a team that trains clients even when I’m not in the building,” she added.
These real-world examples demonstrate how fitness facility owners can realize the full potential of their business by shifting their focus from day-to-day operations to strategic growth. They also highlight the importance of having the right support and systems in place to overcome common challenges in the fitness industry.
For gym owners considering making a similar transition, NPE will host a 90-minute virtual workshop, “From Operator to Owner: Three Systems for Growing Revenue, Acquiring Customers, and Building a Healthy Team,” on July 17. The event promises to provide actionable insights and strategies to help fitness entrepreneurs make the transition from operator to owner and thrive in their business while regaining their freedom.
