What Retired Gym Owners Want You to Know
June 8, 2025
What Retired Gym Owners Want You to Know
The cheer industry is high-energy, high-impact, and high-stakes. But what happens when the music fades and a gym owner decides it’s time to step away? We sat down with several retired gym owners to ask: What do you wish someone had told you during your journey? Their answers were honest, insightful, and packed with lessons every current owner should hear.
1. It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Most owners start their gym with adrenaline and ambition. But according to our retired leaders, the real secret to sustainability is pacing yourself. The early hustle can lead to burnout if not balanced with smart systems, strategic hiring, and personal boundaries. One retired owner shared, "I worked 14-hour days thinking it would slow down later. It never did."
Takeaway: Build a business model that works without you in every room. Sustainability > hustle.
2. Your Culture Outlives You
Your staff, your athletes, your families—they absorb your values. Even after you're gone, your legacy lives through your culture. Owners stressed the importance of investing early in leadership development, team standards, and values-based decision making.
Takeaway: You’re not just building teams. You’re building a culture. Lead like it matters, because it does.
3. Know When It’s Time to Pivot
From industry trends to personal capacity, things change. One former owner said, "The hardest decision I ever made was closing a program that didn’t align with my mission anymore. But it saved my gym."
Takeaway: Flexibility isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.
4. Profit Isn’t a Dirty Word
Almost every retired owner we spoke to said they wished they had been more financially focused earlier on. "I thought if I just loved it hard enough, the money would follow. But loving it doesn't pay the lease," one owner reflected.
Takeaway: Build for impact and income. Healthy gyms fund healthy futures.
5. Exit Strategy Isn’t Just for Retirement
Whether you plan to sell, pass it on, or step back, your exit should be intentional. Several owners said they never created a real succession plan and it left their teams struggling.
Takeaway: Start planning your exit before you need it. Your future self will thank you.
Final Words from the Retired Elite
- "Say no more often. Protect your peace."
- "Train your staff to lead without you."
- "Your identity is not your business."
Being a gym owner is one of the most rewarding and challenging journeys out there. And while these retired leaders may no longer be running practices, their wisdom echoes loudly.
Ask yourself today: Am I building a gym that can thrive without me?
Because true success isn’t just about winning titles. It’s about building something that lasts.
Owning a gym can feel like a never-ending grind. But it doesn’t have to. The key to freedom isn’t working harder—it’s working smarter . And that starts with systems. Let’s talk about the top systems you need to get out of the weeds and into the visionary role your gym deserves. 1. Scheduling: Automate Your Calendar Use tools like Calendly, Google Calendar, or class management software to eliminate the back-and-forth. Set recurring team meetings Automate trial class sign-ups Create time blocks for admin vs. creative work Bonus: Protect your "off time" like it’s sacred. Because it is. 2. Onboarding: New Hires Done Right Create a step-by-step onboarding system that includes: Orientation checklist Video trainings Culture manual Weekly check-ins Why it matters: The faster your team is up to speed, the faster you can delegate. 3. Delegation: Build a Leadership Ladder Stop trying to do it all. Identify tasks you can train, trust, and transfer. Admin? Delegate. Social media? Delegate. Warm-ups? Delegate. Your job is vision, not micromanagement. 4. Communication: Say It Once Use a central platform (Slack, Band, Trello) to communicate consistently. Create channels or boards for: Team updates Weekly goals Parent communication templates Stop repeating yourself. Start systemizing. 5. Billing + Admin: Automate the Back End Use platforms like Jackrabbit, iClassPro, or Studio Director to: Auto-bill tuition Track attendance Send reminders Less time chasing payments = more time leading. Bonus: Weekly CEO Time Block 1-2 hours a week for high-level strategy. No interruptions. No "quick questions." Use it to: Review metrics Brainstorm growth strategies Plan your next move Final Word: Freedom Comes From Systems The goal isn’t to do less work—it’s to do your best work . The kind of work that grows your gym, inspires your team, and energizes you. Start small. Pick one system to build this week. Because when your business runs on systems, you don’t have to run on empty.
Owning a gym can feel like a never-ending grind. But it doesn’t have to. The key to freedom isn’t working harder—it’s working smarter . And that starts with systems. Let’s talk about the top systems you need to get out of the weeds and into the visionary role your gym deserves. 1. Scheduling: Automate Your Calendar Use tools like Calendly, Google Calendar, or class management software to eliminate the back-and-forth. Set recurring team meetings Automate trial class sign-ups Create time blocks for admin vs. creative work Bonus: Protect your "off time" like it’s sacred. Because it is. 2. Onboarding: New Hires Done Right Create a step-by-step onboarding system that includes: Orientation checklist Video trainings Culture manual Weekly check-ins Why it matters: The faster your team is up to speed, the faster you can delegate. 3. Delegation: Build a Leadership Ladder Stop trying to do it all. Identify tasks you can train, trust, and transfer. Admin? Delegate. Social media? Delegate. Warm-ups? Delegate. Your job is vision, not micromanagement. 4. Communication: Say It Once Use a central platform (Slack, Band, Trello) to communicate consistently. Create channels or boards for: Team updates Weekly goals Parent communication templates Stop repeating yourself. Start systemizing. 5. Billing + Admin: Automate the Back End Use platforms like Jackrabbit, iClassPro, or Studio Director to: Auto-bill tuition Track attendance Send reminders Less time chasing payments = more time leading. Bonus: Weekly CEO Time Block 1-2 hours a week for high-level strategy. No interruptions. No "quick questions." Use it to: Review metrics Brainstorm growth strategies Plan your next move Final Word: Freedom Comes From Systems The goal isn’t to do less work—it’s to do your best work . The kind of work that grows your gym, inspires your team, and energizes you. Start small. Pick one system to build this week. Because when your business runs on systems, you don’t have to run on empty.
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Introducing The Prime Alliance Some of the industry's most respected leaders joined together with a shared belief—That both industry competitors and customers alike benefit from cooperation and collaboration. These individuals representing The CheerExpo, Choice Events, All Out Brands, All Day Cheerleading, and American Spirit Cheerc have dedicated their careers to creating exceptional experiences for young athletes—together they are The Prime Alliance. Creating an Extraordinary New Experience When these visionaries first gathered, the energy was electric. The possibilities seemed endless. As they shared stories from their collective decades of experience, a powerful truth emerged, their combined knowledge, relationships, and passion could allow them to give back something truly extraordinary to an industry that had given them so much. Their abilities, existing relationships and highly regarded reputations in the industry allow them to secure a new venue in a proclaimed destination. The Prime Alliance creates a foundation that allows them to reimagine what an industry event can be. Drawing on their firsthand understanding of innovation, these leaders are committed to building something genuinely new, not simply derivative of the past. This commitment requires patience as they carefully craft every detail, even as curiosity naturally builds throughout the industry. The founding members unanimously agree: strategic planning forms the cornerstone of every successful venture. While anticipation builds across an industry eager for reinvention, these leaders remain laser-focused on building something truly transformational. Their unwavering commitment? Prioritize thoughtful preparation without compromising ambition. The planning process is well underway, with every founding member dedicated to delivering an experience that exceeds expectations. Mark Your Calendars The Prime Alliance is thrilled to announce its inaugural event—a gathering that will redefine industry standards and create new opportunities for those ready to embrace something bold. May 8-10, 2026 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks, and be sure to follow @joinmotus for the official event name reveal on May 14th, 2025. The Visionaries Behind The Prime Alliance CX Brands Cole Stott, Kevin Brubaker, Casey Jones, Stacy Rowe Choice Events Robin Coe, Dennis Worley All Out Brands Emilee Fenn, James Kersey All Day Cheerleading Andrew Day, Carlos Foster American Spirit Cheer Paul and Tammy Skinner Are you going to be part of history or watch it?
Avoiding Burnout: How Cheer Gym Owners Can Balance Coaching, Leadership, and Business Management
5 Metrics That Elevate Cheer Gym Profitability When running a cheer gym, it goes beyond just coaching but also requires solid business acumen. To sustain your business, you must track the appropriate metrics. These five indicators will allow you to monitor progress, improve operations, and make sound decisions. Keeping Athletes Coming Back: Member Retention Rate – It is often less costly to retain athletes than to continually recruit new ones. Determine the number of athletes who return every season and identify the reasons leading to some of them leaving the program. Use various retention strategies like Rewarding staff with high retention rates. You can also ask parents to complete a survey and give them something in return. This is a great way to get feedback on your program. Turning Interest into Commitment: Lead-to-Member Conversion Rate – In the case where the lead to athlete inquiries ratio is above zero, how many of them actually convert? If this lately adopted method has an unsatisfactorily high conversion rate, through sales and responses, make sure that you close on new members at a higher rate. Consider streamlining the onboarding process with special trial classes, grab bag gifts, and automation of welcome messages. Maximizing Financial Stability : Revenue Per Athlete – When evaluating the pricing and value of services, this becomes especially useful. Consider whether there are any additional services that could increase revenue like merch, classes, and specialty clinics. Maximize the dollars that each member is spending. Operational Costs vs. Revenue: Maintaining a Healthy Financial Balance – Know where your money is going. If expenses are high, look for areas to streamline. Conduct regular financial audits, negotiate better vendor deals, and optimize staffing efficiency to maintain a profitable gym. Social Media Engagement Rate: Measuring Your Brand’s Impact – A strong online presence leads to more visibility and trust. Track likes, shares, and comments. A high engagement rate often correlates with strong brand loyalty and potential leads. If engagement is low, experiment with different content types and posting times. The Takeaway Numbers don’t lie. Tracking these metrics helps you make smarter, data-driven decisions for long-term success.
Time Management How many times a day or week do you say…I don’t have enough time for that? We all have the same 24 hours, 1440 minutes, and 86400 seconds in a day. So why is it that some people are able to accomplish so much more than others? YOU GUESSED IT – TIME MANAGEMENT! Okay so now we know what the difference maker is, let’s discuss some time management. This is a good time to get out some pen and paper or click on the note’s app on your phone. Let several things that you need to get done over the next few days or weeks. I’ll give you a minute. Okay, you’ve made your list. Now you are going to make everything on the list with an I for IMPORTANT or an NI for NOT IMPORTANT. What does this mean because everything is important and it all has to get done, right? Keep reading. IMPORTANT to-dos or responsibilities are ones that contribute to the achievement of your goals. NON-IMPORTANT to-dos or responsibilities are ones that DO NOT contribute to the achievement of your goals. Alright, now you want to consider your list and decide if the items on it are URGENT or NOT URGENT. You can have very important items are your list, but perhaps they are not urgent or non-important items on your list, but they are very urgent. Urgent responsibilities require immediate attention. These are often linked to the accomplishment of someone else’s goal. Ignoring urgent issues will have negative consequences. For example, you have a parent that is unhappy with their instructor and is in your office demanding a meeting right now. You must take the meeting because it is good customer service and you don’t want an unhappy customer, but this meeting is time spent not working to achieve your goals of starting a new program at your facility. It is an urgent meeting, it is necessary, but it isn’t moving the needle so to speak. After you have assessed your list you want to consider the following things – Items with important deadlines and high urgency need immediate attention; this cannot be helped. Unfortunately, these tend to be crises, pressing problems, projects that are deadline-driven, emergencies, or things that require last-minute preparations. Items with high importance but do not have urgent deadlines. These are items are usually planning, preparing, and training. The more you can add items like this to your agenda and plan far in advance, the more you are working toward your goals. The items from #1 will slow you down from #2, so you want to do everything you can to get out in front of those items and see the smoke before there’s fire, you know the old saying. Items that are both not important with high urgency are distractions. Assign these to someone else if you can. These tasks do not contribute to your goals and they take energy away from tasks that will have a positive impact on your business. Items that are not important and are not urgent basically yield no value to your objectives. They are time wasters for you and should be eliminated when possible. Here are some additional things that you can do to help you along the way in your time management journey. Question if an activity brings your closer to your goals. Consider the four statements above and categorize you to-dos. Prioritize tasks that bring you closer to your goals versus tasks that do not. Plan ahead as much and as far as possible. The more you can live in this space the less distractions you will have. Always sort your to-do list. This will help you identify what needs your attention, what can wait and what you can delegate to someone else. Good luck and happy planning!
