Studio Launch Diaries

Cardy Brothers
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Welcome to Studio Launch Diaries with Jack & Jacob! We're two brothers on a mission to help personal trainers like you launch, grow and scale a fitness studio business. In our show, we'll share the secrets we've discovered from growing our own gyms. Plus, we'll give you tips that you can use to become the go-to for fitness in your local market. So, sit back, relax, and let's dive into the world of gym growth together. We're excited to have you with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 06/27/2025

    #44: 10 Launch Mistakes New Fitness Studio Owners Make

    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. ************************** 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: 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 ************************* 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.

    23 min

  2. 06/20/2025

    #43: The Real Reason Your Fitness Studio Marketing Isn’t Working

    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. ************************** 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: 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 ************************* 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.

    25 min

  3. 05/21/2025

    #42: The Hardest Decision We’ve Had to Make as Studio Owners

    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. ************************** 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 – 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 ************************* 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.

    23 min

  4. 05/16/2025

    #41: Brainstorming Ideas for Our New Studio Owner Course

    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. ************************** 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: 01:00 – 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 ************************* 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.

    23 min

  5. 05/08/2025

    #40: Why Online Isn’t the Only Way to Scale Your PT Business

    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. ************************** 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: 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 ************************* 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.

    21 min

  6. 04/23/2025

    #39: What We’d Do Differently After Two Big Member Events

    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. ************************** 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: 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 ************************* 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.

    20 min

  7. 04/09/2025

    #38: Breaking Down Our Q1 Numbers: Leads, Sales & Lessons

    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. ************************** CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR GYM HQ CLICK HERE FOR FREE QUARTERLY PLANNING TEMPLATE ************************** 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 ************************* 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.

    26 min

  8. 04/02/2025

    #37: Are You Focusing on the WRONG Things in Your Gym?

    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. ************************** 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 ************************* 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.

    24 min
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About

Welcome to Studio Launch Diaries with Jack & Jacob! We're two brothers on a mission to help personal trainers like you launch, grow and scale a fitness studio business. In our show, we'll share the secrets we've discovered from growing our own gyms. Plus, we'll give you tips that you can use to become the go-to for fitness in your local market. So, sit back, relax, and let's dive into the world of gym growth together. We're excited to have you with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Cardy Brothers
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Cardy Brothers
  • Show Website
    Studio Launch Diaries