Ryan Ketchum describes the five stages of a fitness business owner’s journey as an individual transitions from a fitness professional to a fitness business owner.

One of the most important elements of running a fitness studio, no matter the discipline or the size, is understanding the competitive landscape. Gaining a key perspective on what is happening not only in the market, but also in the fitness industry as a whole, can provide owners and managers with the insight necessary to uncover the data and trends for their business to thrive.

David Crump, Owner of Spark Fitness and a business consultant, discusses the importance of utilizing systems to improve the customer experience.

Little information is available for personal trainers in regards to differentiating the requirements and responsibilities of working as an employee or an independent contractor. Personal trainers and gym owners would benefit from understanding professional guidelines, details, and general knowledge of these two options.

Just as any decent coach would not have a client perform a heavy deadlift without first conducting a fitness or movement assessment, a potential facility owner should not move forward without assessing the state of their current business. This article explains three steps for conducting an assessment.

Finding a well-educated and open-minded employee is, in most cases, simply luck of the draw. Instead of hoping for the perfect new hire to come walking through the door, a business owner could try a different technique in which they shed their business owner mindset and transition into a mentorship role. Using an internship program, the mentor can ideally build themselves the near-perfect employee.

In the final stage of the gym opening process everything starts to feel very real. Once a location has been chosen, the next steps are to negotiate and sign a lease, create an opening timeline, and plan the grand opening event for the facility.

It is no secret that it takes a lot to differentiate yourself in today’s competitive market. But what does it truly take for a fitness studio owner to thrive in this industry? What are the strategies necessary to deploy that get you to the next level?

Three top personal trainers—Juan Carlos Santana, Robert Linkul, and Chat Williams—discuss “best practices” in the profession of personal training.

At the end of the day, remember one thing: it is all about the member/client experience. Provide your clients with the best member experience and they will stay and continue to pay.