We sat down to talk about the 10 biggest mistakes new gym owners make when they launch their studios. We know these mistakes because we've made them ourselves, and we've seen our clients make them too. We wanted to keep this real and share stories from our own experience so others don't fall into the same traps.

We went back and forth with our own top five each. It got us thinking about the things we wish someone had told us sooner—from not planning cash flow properly to forgetting to tell your story in the local community. It’s about knowing where money’s going, how to talk to new members, and making sure you don’t try to do it all alone.

If you’re about to launch, or even if you’re a year in, we think this chat will help you avoid some painful and expensive lessons.

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SHOW NOTES:

1:17 – Why this topic matters for new studio owners

2:48 – Mistake 1: No financial modelling

4:40 – Mistake 2: Not negotiating rent-free periods

6:04 – Mistake 3: Trying to do it all yourself

7:24 – Mistake 4: Not building a waiting list early

9:00 – Mistake 5: Wrong hire terms

11:36 – Mistake 6: Publishing your prices too soon

14:30 – Mistake 7: Emotional decisions from limited feedback

17:02 – Mistake 8: No measurable sales process

19:00 – Mistake 9: No in-person selling at launch

20:56 – Mistake 10: Not telling your story locally

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In this episode, we break down the four big buckets every studio owner needs to get right—marketing, sales, operations and finances. We talk honestly about where we’re strong, where we’ve slipped, and what we’re doing to keep each area working well. We share how we think about Facebook ads, team systems, consult calls and even managing finances with our dad (yep, our CFO). The goal? Help you think about your studio in a clearer way so you can stop reacting and start leading.

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And learn how to build, grow and scale your fitness studio.

Join 3,500+: gym owners here: https://www.thefitpreneur.com

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SHOW NOTES:

2:24 – What most studios forget to do well

4:24 – Why cost per acquisition is our North Star

11:12 – Why founders shouldn’t chase every lead

16:00 – Team systems that keep things running

20:03 – What we track financially and why it matters

22:59 – Stop trying to please everyone

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Twitter: x.com/cardybrothers

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In this episode, we share what it was really like to go through a price increase at one of our locations. We talk through why we did it, how we did it, and what we learnt from the reaction. We cover the honest fears we had before hitting send, the careful planning behind it, and how we made sure it added more value — not less — for our members. If you’ve been putting off a price increase for months (or years), this one will hit home. There’s also some behind-the-scenes stuff in here about how we’re shifting the podcast to support more of you who are on the journey to launch.

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And learn how to build, grow and scale your fitness studio.

Join 3,500+: gym owners here: https://www.thefitpreneur.com

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SHOW NOTES:

00:00 – No plan, just press record

00:58 – Why we raised prices after 19 months

03:10 – The true cost of running a gym right now

04:45 – How we communicated the price increase

06:55 – What we’re improving and adding for members

08:10 – Run club, nutrition and new membership options

10:00 – Handling member feedback (good and bad)

12:57 – Preparing our team and systems

15:40 – Studio owner mindset during tough decisions

18:05 – Rebranding the podcast and what’s next

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Facebook Page: facebook.com/cardybrothers

Twitter: x.com/cardybrothers

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Join the waiting list for Studio Prep Kit: cardybrothers.com/prep

We’re building something new and we wanted to bring you behind the scenes as we map it all out.

Over the past few months, we’ve been developing GymHQ, a full operating system for studio owners. But after digging into our email list, podcast listeners, and social followers, we realised something big: most of you don’t own a studio yet—but you want to.

So in this episode, we talk through the big pivot we’re making. Instead of building something after you’ve signed a lease, we’re working on a tool to help you get to that point with more confidence. We break down the key questions you need to ask before opening a gym, how to find a great location, what to look for in a lease, and how much you’ll need to budget for the build-out.

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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER

And learn how to build, grow and scale your fitness studio.

Join 3,500+: gym owners here: https://www.thefitpreneur.com

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SHOW NOTES:

01:00 – Why we’re pivoting from GymHQ

04:00 – Should we build something earlier in the journey?

07:00 – The mindset shift from trainer to owner

08:30 – How to test if a location is worth pursuing

10:00 – “Are you ready?” scorecard idea

11:00 – The location scorecard tool

12:00 – Lease negotiations and what to watch out for

14:00 – Tools to help you decode your lease

15:00 – Realistic costs of a studio build-out

16:30 – P&L and cash flow templates

18:00 – Choosing the right model for your space

21:00 – Our Notion dashboard plan

22:00 – Join the waitlist for early access

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FIND US ELSEWHERE:

Instagram: instagram.com/thecardybrothers

Facebook Page: facebook.com/cardybrothers

Twitter: x.com/cardybrothers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we talk about why we started this podcast and how we’ve grown from helping one studio owner to launching a full-on movement. We open up about the shift from personal trainer to business owner, what that mindset change really takes, and how freedom doesn’t just come from going online. We also unpack our offer timeline for the rest of the year—what’s working, what’s not, and how we’re planning to beat rising ad costs without losing steam. If you’re running a studio, or want to, there’s loads in here you’ll relate to.

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And learn how to build, grow and scale your fitness studio.

Join 3,500+: gym owners here: https://www.thefitpreneur.com

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SHOW NOTES:

0:00 – Why we’ve been off the mic and recovering

1:56 – How the podcast started

4:48 – Our first studio client and the results

5:59 – Revamp: the studio journey

6:56 – Why online isn’t the only way to grow

7:56 – The trap of building a job, not a business

10:15 – Letting go of the vine: stepping into ownership

11:17 – Offer planning for the year ahead

13:35 – Why our offers stay the same but look different

15:50 – Filling the gaps between campaigns

17:08 – Making the most of your email list

18:40 – One simple email that books consults

19:57 – Creative ways we’re keeping lead costs down

20:32 – How you can share what’s working with us

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FIND US ELSEWHERE:

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Facebook Page: facebook.com/cardybrothers

Twitter: x.com/cardybrothers

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We just wrapped up our first two events of the year and wow, it’s been busy! In this episode, we look back at how they went, what we’d change, and why these types of events matter so much for building a strong studio community. We talk about how we plan, budget, and promote each one—especially what we’ve learned the hard way. If you’ve ever thought about running member socials or off-site activities at your gym, this one will give you loads to think about. We also share our best tips to get bums on seats and make sure your event doesn’t flop. Let’s dive in.

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And learn how to build, grow and scale your fitness studio.

Join 3,500+: gym owners here: https://www.thefitpreneur.com

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SHOW NOTES:

02:00 – What went down at Ninja Warrior (and who got injured)

05:00 – Clip & Climb and helping members push past fear

06:45 – The budget chat: where we went wrong last year

10:45 – Why we plan all events at the start of the year

14:00 – How we promoted events using poems and teaser posts

15:00 – Smarter signups with Stripe and CRM landing pages

17:00 – Why events boost retention and re-signs

19:00 – Building repeatable event systems that save time and money

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FIND US ELSEWHERE:

Instagram: instagram.com/thecardybrothers

Facebook Page: facebook.com/cardybrothers

Twitter: x.com/cardybrothers

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In this episode, we look back at everything that happened for us in Q1 across both gym locations. We share what worked, what didn’t, and how we’re planning for Q2. We also walk you through the exact quarterly review template we use inside Gym HQ—our full operating system for gym and studio owners. You’ll hear real numbers, wins, lessons we learned, and what we’re doubling down on next. If you’re running a gym and want to grow it the right way, this one’s for you.

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CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR GYM HQ

CLICK HERE FOR FREE QUARTERLY PLANNING TEMPLATE

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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER

And learn how to build, grow and scale your fitness studio.

Join 3,500+: gym owners here: https://www.thefitpreneur.com

*************************

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 – Intro & what this episode is all about

01:00 – What Gym HQ is and why we built it

02:30 – Our biggest win this quarter: centralised online sales

05:00 – How we kept a premium feel with online consults

06:30 – First events of the year and what we learned

08:00 – Lessons learned around time, systems and team care

10:40 – Full Q1 numbers breakdown from Location 1

13:00 – Full Q1 numbers from Location 2

15:00 – How we now manage our waiting list differently

16:40 – Top 3 goals going into Q2

18:50 – Creative ways we’re telling client stories

20:40 – Plans for a run club and future events

22:30 – Optimising systems, processes and AI lead handling

24:00 – Wrapping up with key takeaways and template download info

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FIND US ELSEWHERE:

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Facebook Page: facebook.com/cardybrothers

Twitter: x.com/cardybrothers

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We’ve been flat out with events lately, but in this episode, we wanted to talk about something that keeps popping up with gym owners—and honestly, we’ve fallen into the same trap too. It’s the habit of focusing on the wrong stuff. Decorations over foundations. Looking busy instead of doing the real work. We talk about the things that feel productive—like tweaking your Canva posts or stressing over your Instagram grid—but don’t actually grow your studio. Then we get into what does move the needle: sales, retention, knowing your numbers, and building the kind of business that lasts. This one’s a bit of a rant, but it’s a useful reminder for us too. If you’re a studio owner who sometimes loses focus or overthinks the small stuff, this episode’s a line-in-the-sand moment.

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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER

And learn how to build, grow and scale your fitness studio.

Join 3,500+: gym owners here: https://www.thefitpreneur.com

*************************

SHOW NOTES:

01:45: Focusing on the wrong stuff

05:20: Decorations vs foundations

09:00: Avoiding hard things like sales

12:00: What foundational work actually looks like

20:50: A simple action plan to shift focus

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FIND US ELSEWHERE:

Instagram: instagram.com/thecardybrothers

Facebook Page: facebook.com/cardybrothers

Twitter: x.com/cardybrothers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.