Fitness Business University Podcast

Vince Gabriele
  • 4.9 (168)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Fitness Business University Podcast — The #1 Fitness Business Podcast — is the go-to educational show for gym owners, by gym owners. Hosted by Vince Gabriele, a seasoned pro with 18 years in the trenches of the fitness industry, this podcast pulls back the curtain on the real strategies, systems, and money-making wisdom that have helped gyms around the world grow and thrive. If you’re a Gym Owner or Fitness Entrepreneur ready to get more clients, make more money, and free up your time to do what you love, this is your playbook. Vince delivers a funny, straight-talking, no B.S. approach — no fluff, no theories, just the proven, real-world skills you need to win in business and in life.

  1. What Keeps Gyms Stuck at 20K FOREVER (interview with Thomas Plummer)

    4D AGO

    What Keeps Gyms Stuck at 20K FOREVER (interview with Thomas Plummer)

    Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout?  Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Podcast Summary In this episode of Business Secrets for Gym Owners, Vince sits down with the legend himself — Thomas Plummer — to answer one powerful question: What keeps gym owners stuck at $20K–$30K per month… forever?  Drawing on nearly 50 years in the fitness industry and over 1,100 workshops taught around the world, Tom breaks down the patterns he’s seen over and over again between struggling gym owners and those who build real wealth and freedom.  From ego and resistance to change, to lack of clarity about what the business is actually supposed to do for your life, Tom explains why so many owners stay busy — but never truly profitable. The conversation dives deep into commitment, evolution, sales mastery, and the difference between treating your gym like a job versus treating it like a vehicle to create long-term freedom. This episode is a masterclass in humility, leadership, and the mindset shifts required to break past mediocrity and build something meaningful. 5 Key Points Most Owners Don’t Know What They Want If you don’t define what the business is meant to do for your life, you’ll drift — and drifting leads to stagnation.  Ego Blocks Growth Struggling gym owners resist coaching, resist change, and refuse to evolve — while the most successful remain humble and coachable.  Sales Is the Core Skill Every successful gym owner masters lead generation and conversion — and delegates everything else.  Stop Training So Much Owners who train 20–30+ hours per week trap themselves in $20K–$30K months. Real growth requires stepping into the CEO role.  The Best Gyms Evolve Every 3–5 Years Top operators reinvent their model, messaging, and systems regularly — instead of clinging to outdated methods.  This is one of the most honest conversations you’ll hear about what actually separates average gyms from elite ones. If you’ve felt stuck… busy but not growing… working hard but not building wealth… this episode will hit home. Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout?  Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Need help getting more leads, making more money, or buying your time back from your gym business? Click here to schedule a free one on one strategy session!

    41 min
  2. How To Fill Your Empty Sessions

    FEB 9

    How To Fill Your Empty Sessions

    Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout? Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Podcast Summary In this episode of Business Secrets for Gym Owners, Vince tackles one of the most overlooked profit leaks in the fitness industry: empty training sessions. Using examples from businesses like Medieval Times and the hotel industry, Vince explains why capacity — not just leads or pricing — is one of the fastest ways to increase revenue without adding more work, staff, or overhead. If a session costs the same to run whether it has one person or six, empty spots represent lost profit. Vince breaks down how to properly track session capacity, why most gym owners don’t look at this number consistently, and what a healthy benchmark actually looks like. He explains why aiming for roughly 80–83% capacity creates the best balance between profitability, energy, and client experience. The episode also covers practical ways to fix low-capacity sessions: adjusting schedules, reducing excess session offerings, improving time-based marketing, and building intentional promotion plans to fill blocks before they start. This is a must-listen for gym owners who feel busy but aren’t seeing the profit to match — because the answer may already be sitting on their schedule. 5 Key Points Capacity Is a Profit Multiplier The cost to run a session stays the same — empty spots are pure lost revenue. Track Capacity Weekly If you don’t measure it consistently, you can’t fix it or improve it. 80–83% Is the Sweet Spot Five out of six spots filled creates strong margins without burning out staff or frustrating clients. Too Many Sessions Kill Energy Low-attendance sessions hurt culture, experience, and profitability. Market Time Blocks Intentionally Fill sessions before they start with structured renewal, reactivation, and outreach plans. Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout? Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Need help getting more leads, making more money, or buying your time back from your gym business? Click here to schedule a free one on one strategy session!

    16 min
  3. One Million Dollars in Debt

    FEB 5

    One Million Dollars in Debt

    Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout?  Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Podcast Summary In this episode of Business Secrets for Gym Owners, Vince sits down with Tony Bianchino of Outrun Your Fork Personal Training — one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of the SPF Mastermind. Tony opens up about the darkest chapter of his journey: running his gym at just $5,000 per month in revenue, working 120-hour weeks, drowning in stress, and carrying over $1 million in personal credit card debt at nearly 30% interest — all while supporting his family. Rather than sugarcoating the story, Tony walks through the exact decisions, mindset shifts, and systems that helped him turn things around. From finally getting real mentorship, fixing his marketing and follow-up, narrowing his focus to the right client, and committing fully to small-group personal training — Tony explains how clarity and consistency replaced chaos. The episode also dives into the resilience required to keep going when life hits hard — including a traumatic spinal cord injury, a major surgery, opening a new facility right before COVID shutdowns, and continuing to lead with integrity even when it cost him financially in the short term. Over four and a half years, Tony and his wife paid off every dollar of debt, grew the business to over $67K per month, and built a gym rooted in values, leadership, and long-term sustainability. This is more than a business story — it’s a masterclass in perseverance, focus, and doing the right thing even when it’s hard. 5 Key Points Hard Work Without Direction Is a Trap Tony was working nonstop — but without the right strategy, effort alone only created more exhaustion. The Right Mentor Changes the Trajectory Clear guidance around marketing, follow-up, and ideal clients unlocked growth almost immediately. Focus Beats Fancy By narrowing the business to one clear model and one clear avatar, momentum finally followed. Integrity Always Wins Long-Term From honoring contracts during COVID to leading with values, Tony built trust that fueled retention and referrals. One Clear Goal Can Pull You Through Anything Paying off debt became the singular focus — and that clarity drove every decision and sacrifice. Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout?  Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Need help getting more leads, making more money, or buying your time back from your gym business? Click here to schedule a free one on one strategy session!

    39 min
  4. 101 Ways To Get New Clients At Your Gym Without Facebook ADS

    JAN 30

    101 Ways To Get New Clients At Your Gym Without Facebook ADS

    Want 101 proven, practical ways to get more clients at your gym without relying on Facebook ADS?  Click the link below to get my new free guide that has 101 ways to get new clients at your gym without Facebook ads: https://vincesfreegift.com/101ways Podcast Summary In this episode of Business Secrets for Gym Owners, Vince breaks down the thinking behind one of his most popular resources ever created: 101 Ways to Get New Clients Without Facebook Ads — and why most gym owners are overlooking simple, effective growth strategies right in front of them. Vince explains how what started as a short list of ideas expanded into a comprehensive playbook pulled from nearly two decades of gym ownership and coaching hundreds of gym owners. Some strategies focus on immediate lead generation, others improve retention and referrals — but all of them are designed to compound over time. Rather than chasing trendy tactics or over-relying on paid ads, Vince emphasizes fundamentals: personal outreach, better follow-up, smarter use of your website, leveraging past members, and creating experiences clients actually talk about. This episode is a reminder that sustainable growth doesn’t come from complexity — it comes from doing the basics consistently and intentionally. 5 Key Points An Ounce of Personalization Beats a Pound of Automation Simple personal texts, calls, and videos consistently outperform generic automated campaigns. Your Website Has One Job It should capture leads and start conversations — not act like a digital brochure. Past Members Are a Hidden Asset Former clients are often the easiest people to re-engage when approached correctly. Talk Triggers Drive Referrals Create standout moments and experiences that give clients a reason to talk about your gym. Repeat What Works When an email, campaign, or event converts — reuse it instead of constantly starting over. Want 101 proven, practical ways to get more clients at your gym without relying on Facebook ADS? Click the link below to get my new free guide that has 101 ways to get new clients at your gym without Facebook ads: https://vincesfreegift.com/101ways Need help getting more leads, making more money, or buying your time back from your gym business? Click here to schedule a free one on one strategy session!

    23 min
  5. If You Hired Me For a Full Day to Grow Your Gym, This is What We Would Do

    JAN 24

    If You Hired Me For a Full Day to Grow Your Gym, This is What We Would Do

    Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout? Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Podcast Summary In this episode of Business Secrets for Gym Owners, Vince breaks down exactly what he would do if you hired him for a full day to grow your gym — not theory, but the real “under the hood” framework he uses to create breakthroughs for owners who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to focus on next.  He explains that most owners don’t need more hustle — they need clarity, certainty, and a structure that helps them see their business objectively. The process starts with vision: getting crystal clear on what you actually want in 12 months (and beyond), because if you don’t know where you’re going, it’s impossible to build the right plan.  From there, Vince reviews the last 90 days of numbers to identify what’s really happening — because data is the truth-teller. Instead of reacting emotionally to one “bad month,” he looks at trends to pinpoint the real constraints: leads, conversions, attrition, profit, attendance, and usage.  Next, he tackles the org chart and people structure — because most business problems are people problems. Vince maps the roles the business actually needs, identifies who owns what, and builds a path for delegation and leadership so the owner isn’t trapped in every box.  Finally, the day ends with a 90-day execution plan: the specific projects, hires, systems, and priorities that will move the business forward — plus targeted problem-solving around the biggest issues keeping the gym from breaking through.  5 Key Points Clarity Starts With Vision If you don’t know what you want, you can’t build a plan — a clear 12-month vision is non-negotiable.  Data Tells You What to Fix Next Looking at 90-day trends (not emotional snapshots) reveals the real constraints and where focus should go.  Solving Problems Is the Job Breakthroughs come faster when you stop treating problems like emergencies and start treating them like a normal part of ownership.  Org Charts Reduce Stress and Chaos Defining roles, ownership, and accountability helps you stop doing everything — and builds a business that runs without you.  90-Day Plans Create Momentum Owners build confidence by setting clear priorities and finishing what they start — one quarter at a time.  Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout? Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Need help getting more leads, making more money, or buying your time back from your gym business? Click here to schedule a free one on one strategy session!

    24 min
  6. The 4 Cornerstones of Confidence

    JAN 24

    The 4 Cornerstones of Confidence

    Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout? Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Podcast Summary In this episode of Business Secrets for Gym Owners, Vince breaks down what he calls the “4 Cornerstones of Confidence” — a simple framework he learned through Dan Kennedy and Dr. Maxwell Maltz that explains how confidence is built (and protected) through repeatable habits, not personality.  Using Tony Soprano as a fun reference point, Vince explains that confidence isn’t about pretending you have it — it’s about building internal stability so you can lead, make decisions, and stay calm under pressure. He walks through the four pillars: managing the voice in your head, developing skills, gaining knowledge, and improving your ability to relax.  Vince also shares practical tools that helped him personally reduce anxiety and improve his ability to stay steady — including meditation and a specific breathing protocol (in for 4, out for 7) done consistently.  He then connects the message back to gym ownership: confident leaders create confident teams, and teams that feel steady build stronger businesses. The episode closes with an invitation to the Gym Pranos event, designed to help gym owners become the boss their business needs through skill-building, leadership development, and a clear 90-day plan.  5 Key Points Manage the Voice in Your Head The internal voice never disappears — confidence improves when you stop reacting emotionally to it.  Skill Development Builds Confidence As your marketing, leadership, and business skills grow, confidence naturally follows.  Knowledge Creates Certainty Learning daily and sharpening your understanding of business removes uncertainty and increases control.  Relaxation Is a Performance Skill If you’re always tense and anxious, you can’t lead well — learning to relax improves decision-making and presence.  Confidence Is Mechanical, Not Magical Confidence is built through consistent practices — not luck, personality, or hype.  Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout? Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Need help getting more leads, making more money, or buying your time back from your gym business? Click here to schedule a free one on one strategy session!

    19 min
  7. 5-7 Ideas to Get New Clients and Get Them to Stay Forever

    JAN 22

    5-7 Ideas to Get New Clients and Get Them to Stay Forever

    Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout?  Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast   Podcast Summary In this episode of Business Secrets for Gym Owners, Vince shares practical, in-the-trenches lessons pulled from eight full days of consulting with gym owners — specifically around how to get more clients, keep them longer, and stop relying on a constant marketing grind to replace churn.  He explains why improving retention even slightly (as little as 1%) can create massive growth over a year, while also reducing the pressure to constantly generate leads. From there, Vince breaks down several real strategies gym owners are using right now to improve retention: consistent client check-ins, tracking attendance trends before members disappear, and upgrading coaching quality — because the people on your floor ultimately drive results, referrals, and retention.  Vince also dives into simple marketing ideas that create word of mouth and improve conversion: building “talk triggers” that clients can’t help but share, tightening your coaching environment so clients feel truly coached (not ignored in a spread-out session), and adding small amounts of personalization in follow-up instead of relying only on automation.  This episode is a rapid-fire playbook of real ideas you can implement immediately — to get more leads, keep clients longer, and build a business that grows without burnout.  5 Key Points Retention Is the Real Growth Lever Improving attrition by even 1% can create a surprising revenue and stability increase over 12 months.  Proactive Check-Ins Prevent Cancellations Quarterly goal reviews (in-person or short calls) and consistent client touchpoints keep members engaged and committed.  Track Attendance Before It Becomes a Quit When visits drop from 12/month to 9… to 7… people start questioning why they’re paying — and churn follows.  Create “Talk Triggers” That Drive Referrals Build memorable moments or symbols in your gym that clients brag about (like a standout strength milestone) to spark word of mouth.  Personalization Beats Automation in Follow-Up A short personal video, a real text, or a direct call can outperform a “perfect” automated sequence — especially for reactivation.  Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout?  Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Need help getting more leads, making more money, or buying your time back from your gym business? Click here to schedule a free one on one strategy session!

    33 min
  8. Gym Owners Are Focused If They Do These 2 Things

    JAN 16

    Gym Owners Are Focused If They Do These 2 Things

    Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout?  Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Podcast Summary In this episode of Business Secrets for Gym Owners, Vince breaks down why focus isn’t about working harder — it’s about having the right structure in place to consistently make the right decisions. Using real-world examples from professional sports, elite gym owners, and his own experience, Vince explains how even highly talented operators struggle when they lack systems, accountability, and clarity. Just like great athletes thrive in the right system, gym owners perform best when they operate inside a structure that forces them to slow down, evaluate, and execute with intention. Vince pulls back the curtain on what actually keeps high-performing gym owners focused: regularly reviewing key numbers, setting quarterly priorities, and surrounding themselves with second voices that challenge assumptions and prevent emotional decision-making. This episode is a deep dive into why most gym owners feel overwhelmed, stressed, and reactive — and how installing simple accountability rhythms can replace chaos with certainty, control, and confidence. 5 Key Points Structure Creates Focus Gym owners don’t lack motivation — they lack a system that forces them to pause, reflect, and prioritize. Critical Numbers Drive Everything Leads, trials, new clients, and attrition tell you more about your business than your profit and loss statement ever will. Quarterly Goals Build Confidence Confidence grows when you consistently do what you say you’re going to do — one quarter at a time. Accountability Beats Willpower Most owners won’t review financials or set priorities without external accountability and deadlines. Focus Creates Certainty When you know what matters and what to work on next, stress drops and decision-making improves. Tired of winging it? Want a real playbook for gym growth without burnout? Click the link below to learn more about the 3-day marketing conference built for gym owners like you: https://gympranos.com/podcast Need help getting more leads, making more money, or buying your time back from your gym business? Click here to schedule a free one on one strategy session!

    19 min
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4.9
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168 Ratings

About

The Fitness Business University Podcast — The #1 Fitness Business Podcast — is the go-to educational show for gym owners, by gym owners. Hosted by Vince Gabriele, a seasoned pro with 18 years in the trenches of the fitness industry, this podcast pulls back the curtain on the real strategies, systems, and money-making wisdom that have helped gyms around the world grow and thrive. If you’re a Gym Owner or Fitness Entrepreneur ready to get more clients, make more money, and free up your time to do what you love, this is your playbook. Vince delivers a funny, straight-talking, no B.S. approach — no fluff, no theories, just the proven, real-world skills you need to win in business and in life.

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