Episode 199: Small Town Domination — How 27-Year-Old Gym Owner & Equipment Expert Colton Burt Built an Empire Across Rural Wisconsin cover art

Episode 199: Small Town Domination — How 27-Year-Old Gym Owner & Equipment Expert Colton Burt Built an Empire Across Rural Wisconsin

Episode 199: Small Town Domination — How 27-Year-Old Gym Owner & Equipment Expert Colton Burt Built an Empire Across Rural Wisconsin

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 How a 27-Year-Old Built 6 Gyms, a Statewide Equipment Company, and a New National Repair Service — with Colton BurtEp 199: Small Town Domination — How 27-Year-Old Gym Owner & Equipment Expert Colton Burt Built an Empire Across Rural Wisconsin Core Themes:Building profitable gyms in towns of 500–5,000 peopleHow to launch multiple locations with low overheadThe power of saying YES to opportunityHow the fitness equipment industry really worksGym Repair Now — the new service that’s changing equipment repairs foreverContact Colton directly for equipment/repairs (details below)Most gym owners believe you need a huge city, big budgets, and prime real estate to grow a successful fitness business.But today’s episode proves the exact opposite.Scott Carpenter sits down with 27-year-old gym owner and equipment operations expert, Colton Burt, who built:🔥 6 profitable gyms (“Grizzly Fitness”) in rural Wisconsin 🔥 Priority Fitness — a 20,000–25,000 sq ft equipment install/moving company 🔥 Gym Repair Now — a new national mobile diagnostics and repair service…all starting from flipping used gym equipment in a town of 1,200 people.His story is INSANE — and filled with practical, replicable lessons for every gym owner, big or small.🔍 Inside the EpisodeHow a Simple Craigslist Hustle Became a Multi-Business EmpireAt 18 years old, Colton just wanted a place to record workout videos. He ended up stumbling into a gym space… then into buying/selling equipment… then into partnering with a local equipment dealer… then into full-scale installs… then into owning dozens of machines… …which snowballed into a gym empire across Wisconsin.His first studio? 1500 sq ft, $200/month rent. His next space? 3000 sq ft, $500/month. Only in small towns.Why Small Town Gyms Are MASSIVE OpportunitiesColton breaks down the rural advantage:Zero competitionRidiculously low rentTight-knit communitiesMembers stay loyal for years“You’re the only game in town” pricing powerIncredible word-of-mouthAnd the kicker:Small towns with lakes or summer tourism become year-round revenue engines.The Business Model: Open Gym → Semi-Private → Full EcosystemColton shares how he:Opens an unmanned or lightly staffed open-gym facilityUses his equipment business to reduce startup costsGrows membership to profitabilityAdds semi-private training for high-margin recurring revenueUses each gym as a “warehouse” for his equipment operationsMoves that warehouse to build the next locationA repeatable, scalable small-town blueprint.Behind the Scenes of Priority FitnessColton explains exactly how the equipment industry works:Manufacturers ship equipment to his facilityHis team assembles, preps, installs, and extracts old equipmentThey refurbish or recondition used unitsThey buy out old equipment at gymsThey source used + affordable new machines for gym owners nationwideHe even reveals how he saves gyms hundreds of thousands by sourcing smart.Gym Repair Now — The Future of Equipment DiagnosticsGym owners HATE repairs. The industry is slow, expensive, and full of upsells.That’s why Colton launched Gym Repair Now — a fast, mobile diagnostic service where:You submit photos/videos of the problemHis team diagnoses remotelyYou get honest feedback on whether it’s worth repairingThey source the parts cheaper than most providersThey can connect you with a local repair techNo travel fees, no wasted visitsHe explains exactly how it works, how it saves money, and why most traditional repair companies overcharge.Why Colton’s Story MattersBecause it proves:“You don’t need big cities, fancy buildings, or giant loans. You need hunger, resourcefulness, and the courage to say yes before you’re ready.”His story is proof that you can build a multi-location gym business from practically nothing — if you know how to leverage your environment.🎯 You’ll Walk Away WithA replicable blueprint for opening gyms in small townsHow to start a gym with low overheadHow to source gym equipment without overspendingHow to avoid getting ripped off by equipment repair companiesThe hidden profit potential in rural marketsHow to add semi-private training for more predictable revenueHow to diagnose equipment problems BEFORE paying a techWhy saying “yes” before you’re ready leads to explosive growth🔧 Resources MentionedGuest Contact — Colton BurtPriority Fitness (Equipment Install / Used + New Equipment Sourcing)📧 Colton@pf-pros.com 🌐 PF-Pros.com 📞 Customer/Service Line: 920-765-3644 (Calls & texts — staffed 24/7)Gym Repair Now (Fast Mobile Diagnostics + Parts Sourcing)🌐 GymRepairNow.com Submit: serial number, photos, video → get diagnosis & part sourcing🎟️ Gym Profits Summit 2026 — Official Event Mention🚀 Gym Profits Summit 2026 February 12–13, 2026 — Scottsdale, AZ 📍 Venue8600 – 8600 E Anderson Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 🎟️ Capacity: 120 gym owners onlyJoin Scott Carpenter and special ...
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.