I’m looking for some real-world input from anyone who’s been through a studio transition/buyout. I currently rent space in a high-intensity training studio owned by another trainer. She plans to retire in 3–5 years, and the rough idea is that I would take over the space at that point with a gradual transition of clients and relationship building. She trains her own clients with the help of her husband (around 90 clients), and I run my own business within the space (30-35 sessions/wk currently). What’s being discussed is a seller-financed buyout / equity over time, but I’m struggling with how that applies when the business doesn’t operate independently of the owner. In reality, it seems like I’d be: – Buying equipment – Taking over the lease – Hoping some percentage of clients stay (no guarantees) For those who’ve been through something similar: – Is there actually a “business” to buy in this scenario, or mainly equipment + opportunity? – How have you handled valuing a client base that buys session packages? – Have you seen cleaner transition structures (e.g. revenue share / transition period) that worked better? I’m want to take over the space, but want to make sure it’s structured in a way that makes sense. Appreciate any insight or examples.

Quick question for the crew — how do you handle billing when clients travel or miss sessions? I currently use monthly recurring billing, which keeps income predictable but gets tricky when clients miss more than a week or want to “bank” sessions or reschedule a bunch at once — even though it’s technically a use-it-or-lose-it setup to hold their spot. Have you found a system that keeps income consistent, sets clear expectations and is easy to manage for you? Curious what’s worked best for you.

Share your wins for October. Big, small, I don’t care. A win is a win. Better is better. A few of mine in the comments Cheers J

Every now and then, a story comes along that perfectly captures what this whole game is really about. Not hacks. Not funnels. Not overnight success — but patience, clarity, and showing up again and again when most people would’ve quit. This is one of those stories. Here’s how Owen Dockham quietly built one of the strongest, most systemized HIT studios in the world — and the life he always wanted along the way. In 2018, Owen Dockham joined HIB Pro. 💪 At the time, his studio — Live Oak Strength in Emeryville, California — was bringing in about $20K per month, and he was personally training more than 50 clients each week. Now? 👇 Owen leads a team of 5 trainers (2 full-time, 3 part-time), doing 160+ sessions per week at $100 per session — averaging $16K–$20K per week in auto-recurring passes. And here’s the kicker: 🎯 He doesn’t run ads. He doesn’t run funnels. He barely does any proactive marketing. As he told me: “The only real marketing I did was BNI in the beginning — and after that, it was just word of mouth. And to me, it was more about building a community with strong, meaningful relationships with other people doing really cool things in the world.” Let that sink in. 💭 Owen didn’t rely on flashy marketing or paid ads to grow. He built one of the most respected HIT studios in the world by focusing on relationships — with his clients, his team, and his community. And this year, Live Oak Strength celebrates its 10th anniversary — ten full years in business as of September 2025. 🎉 A decade of lessons, evolution, and staying the course through every challenge. No hype. No shortcuts. Just genuine connection, exceptional service, and consistency over time. Instead, he focused on 3 things: 1. Product First 🏆 From the start, Owen doubled down on building an exceptional service — not just the workout, but the entire client experience. Clients often mention how welcoming the team is and how the studio’s calm, inspiring aesthetic makes them feel at ease.