Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain Business founder Chris Cooper breaks down the four types of business mentorship available to gym owners and explains why one-on-one mentorship delivers the best results.

He also dives into the pros and cons of masterminds, group coaching and roundtables, revealing what works—and what doesn’t—for gym owners at different stages of growth.

Two-Brain Business delivers one-on-one mentorship: Your mentor will help you set goals and develop a plan to accomplish them, and you'll receive all the accountability and assistance you need to take action. A mentor will help you score quick wins, learn to focus, grow your gym and improve your lifestyle.

When Two-Brain mentees reach $100,000 in annual earnings, they gain access to a mastermind group full of high-level mentors and elite gym owners who provide peer support, networking, brainstorming and experienced-based advice. This group meets four times a year in person, and outside subject-matter experts are brought in to provide coaching on specific aspects of entrepreneurialism.

Tune in if you’re ready to make faster progress, avoid costly mistakes and use your gym to build the life you’ve always wanted!

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00:43 - Mentorship and coaching

04:51 - 1-on-1 mentorship at Two-Brain

7:40 - Masterminds: pros and cons

12:13 - Group coaching: pros and cons

16:26 - Roundtables: pros and cons

20:17 - Choosing the right model

Hari Singh, owner of CrossFit NYC, has found a unique way to add value for his members and grow his revenue: Hyrox training.

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Mike Warkentin sits down with Hari as he shares how he successfully implemented Hyrox training at one of the world’s oldest CrossFit affiliates—earning himself a spot on Two-Brain's Top 10 leaderboard for revenue.

Hari explains how this additional revenue stream has differentiated his gym from the competition, filled dead hours and created more opportunities for client retention.

He also dives into the logistics: how to set up the program, determine pricing and market it to members and non-members.

If you’re looking for creative ways to maximize revenue, tune in to hear tips from a 20-year gym owner.

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00:50 - Create, develop & market

08:25 - CrossFit NYC's space

11:47 - CrossFit NYC program details

20:07 - Retention play for general members

25:02 - On-ramp at CrossFit NYC

What separates gyms that are generating more than $68,000 every month from the rest?

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper presents the Top 10 leaderboard for monthly revenue and lays out the exact strategies these gym owners are using to create long-term, sustainable growth.

Some of their tactics include:

- Creating value for clients by consistently over-delivering on services.
- Adjusting offerings to maximize revenue per square foot.
- Focusing on high-ticket services such as personal training, small-group training and on-ramp.
- Working with a mentor to build systems that produce steady, predictable growth.

Listen to hear all the insights from these top performers and then take action to boost your gym’s revenue. 

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02:00 - Two-Brain high scores

05:37 - What are the leaders doing?

09:20 - Gym owner quotes

19:15 - Hyrox as a revenue stream

21:00 - Final thoughts from Chris

In 2022, Indiana gym owner Vel Bates attended the Two-Brain Summit and left with a new mindset that transformed his business.

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Vel shares how the welcoming community and actionable advice shared at the event helped him take the leap into mentorship.

He details the changes he’s made with the help of his mentor, Peter Brasovan,  such as cleaning up systems and building marketing funnels, and how the adjustments have improved his confidence and his revenue.

Vel has since made the Top 10 leaderboard for marketing and sales metrics, a testament to his growth as a gym owner.

If you’re a gym owner who wants to make positive changes in your business, come to the 2025 Two-Brain Summit. Tickets are $300 off through Jan. 31. Get them via the link below.

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01:18 - Not a client? Why attend?

02:54 - Why sign up for mentorship?

05:45 - What mentorship did for Vel’s business

09:21 - Mentors hold you accountable

11:39 - No. 1 reason to go

The 2025 Two-Brain Summit will inspire and equip fitness professionals to make a difference in their clients’ lives—in other words, to Help Best.

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper provides a sneak peek into this year’s summit for gym owners and coaches, happening June 7-8 in Chicago.

He walks through the action-packed itinerary, starting with morning workouts featuring Rogue equipment and coaching from Jason Khalipa and other top pros. Coop also runs through the workshops that will happen in two rooms—one for owners and another specifically for fitness coaches.

Special guests will include Joey Coleman, bestselling author of “Never Lose a Customer Again,” and Jonathan Goodman, owner of the Personal Trainer Development Center and author of the newly released book “The Obvious Choice.” Also taking the stage are Mayhem Nation and Bill Parisi of Parisi Speed School, as well as several of Two-Brain’s elite mentors.

On the coaches side, Khalipa and the NCFIT crew have 2.5 hours to get trainers moving in a hands-on, high-energy coaching workshop.

Tune in to hear the full schedule. Then use the link below to get your tickets before prices go up on Feb. 1.

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0:59 - This year’s theme

2:56 - What to expect 

6:24 - Owners: speakers & workshops

18:36 - Coaches: speakers & workshops 

25:31 - Why bring your coaches?

Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder and CEO Chris Cooper shares his top book recommendations for gym owners in 2025. He unpacks the lessons he learned from these titles and how he applied them to grow his gym and his other businesses.

Remember, it’s not how many books you read that matters; what matters is that you put what you learn into action.

Ready to learn and take action to grow your gym? Check out Chris’ suggested reading list below:

- “The Mountain Is You” by Brianna Wiest
- “The Courage to Be Disliked” by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi
- “High Road Leadership” by John C. Maxwell
- “Tribalnomics” by Justin Garcia
- “Be the Unicorn” by William Vanderbloemen
- “10x Is Easier Than 2x” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
- “The Obvious Choice” by Jonathan Goodman
- “The Road Less Stupid” by Keith J. Cunningham
- “The Golden Hour” by Chris Cooper

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01:24 - Books 1 and 2

05:53 - Books 3 and 4

11:24 - Books 5 and 6

14:16 - Books 7 and 8

19:05 - “The Golden Hour” by Chris Cooper

Jonathan Goodman, author of “The Obvious Choice,” knows what it takes to keep clients around—and it’s not long-term contracts.

Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain CEO Chris Cooper talks with Jonathan about why trust is more valuable than credentials and how creating meaningful connections with clients leads to sustainable success.

Jonathan shares how to transform short-term programs into lasting commitments through quick wins, thoughtful storytelling and genuine connection.

He also explains why gym owners should focus on delivering real-world results instead of chasing social media fame, and he reveals why great coaching will always outshine AI and automated solutions.

This episode is packed with practical advice to help gym owners grow their businesses while delivering life-changing results. Tune in to hear Jonathan’s actionable insights for making your gym “The Obvious Choice.” 

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01:21 - Why write "The Obvious Choice"?

05:54 - Understand the games out there

18:24 - A better way to operate

21:50 - Getting new clients hooked

31:16 - Teaching with storytelling

The Intramural Open is a key retention tactic at Brian Foley’s gym, Activate in Ireland.

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Brian shares how the event makes his clients three times more likely to stay another year, driving significant indirect revenue.

The Open also directly boosts his gym’s revenue in late winter through pre-competition skill work and retail sales.

Brian breaks down strategies for creating an unforgettable event that builds community without burning out your staff—such as celebrating members throughout the Intramural Open and delegating responsibilities among coaches and team captains.

His top tips for a successful Intramural Open? Make it fun and inclusive and follow the steps in Chris Cooper’s 2025 Intramural Open guide.

The guide lays out exactly how to run the event, generate revenue and improve retention. New for 2025: Coop's even programmed workouts so you can plan way ahead.

Get your free copy via the link below.

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02:03 - The Intramural Open and revenue

07:24 - Goal-setting sessions

09:24 - Leaving an impression

15:02 - Avoiding stress

17:18 - Top tips for a successful Intramural Open

What if one event could help you build community, retain clients and boost your gym’s revenue?

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Chris Cooper explains how to make the 2025 Intramural Open a profitable and meaningful event your members will never forget.

From choosing team captains to creating teams to scoring , Chris outlines exactly how to turn the Intramural Open into a win for everyone.

He also explains how the event can become a huge revenue generator through entry fees, prep courses and merchandise sales. Even better, he lays out a plan to put clients on podiums so they're fired up to train with you for another 12 months.

If you’re ready to celebrate your clients and grow your gym in 2025, this episode is for you!

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00:27 - Where the intramural idea comes from
05:21 - The 2025 Intramural Open guide
13:30 - Set-up activities
17:21 - The workouts
27:41 - Plan to share the load

The ownership group of The Tribe tripled owner earnings—and the quartet did it without frantically dumping new members into the business.

In this episode, host Mike Warkentin sits down with Andi and Ed Conway—who co-own The Tribe along with Nick and Chelsea Vera—to learn how they increased revenue and profit while consistently serving about 160 members.

The Conways share how their Two-Brain mentor, Storm Strout, guided them to increase their average revenue per member (ARM) by eliminating discounts, raising rates and introducing an on-ramp program.

Other secrets to their growth: focusing on coach development and defining ownership roles and responsibilities.

And The Tribe isn’t done growing: Its owners plan to boost revenue even further in 2025 by focusing on personal training and high-value clients.

Tune in to hear practical tips for increasing your gym’s profit without adding more members.

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01:06 - What changed over the past 3 years

03:51 - Getting through the fears

8:50 - Events throughout the year

16:11 - 2025 net owner benefit goal

20:26 - Multiperson gym ownership