The Owner Seat

If you’re a personal trainer who’s tired of giving 40–60% of your revenue to a gym… or a fitness operator who knows the next era won’t be won by “more memberships”… this episode is for you.Because the most underrated business model in fitness right now isn’t a new modality. It’s fitness infrastructure — letting coaches run their business without leases, long-term contracts, or gym politics.In this episode of The Owner Seat, Albert Ramos sits down with Steve Pirt — founder of FlexWerk Fitness, a premium, app-driven training concept built around private reservable training spaces that function like a “WeWork for fitness professionals.”Instead of paying rent to a gym, trainers can reserve private fully equipped rooms by the hour, deliver a high-end client experience, and keep the revenue they earn — while FlexWerk runs the environment, the operations, and the platform behind the scenes.Steve isn’t a “concept guy.” He’s a career operator who’s spent decades in the trenches building gyms, fixing broken operations, and learning why most clubs struggle with culture, staffing, front desk execution, and trainer dissatisfaction. FlexWerk is his answer to those problems — built as a scalable platform model that franchisees and multi-unit operators can learn from.If you’re a franchisor, franchisee, gym owner, or wellness operator looking for the next evolution in fitness business models — this episode is essential.Because the future of fitness isn’t just selling access. It’s creating repeatable environments where professionals and customers win.🔍 In this episode, we cover:Why the traditional gym model structurally fails trainers — even the top producers — and what FlexWerk changesHow Steve designed the FlexWerk concept: private FlexSpaces, premium experience, app-driven booking, and operational controlThe real unit economics behind monetizing time + space (utilization, yield per hour, packages, cost control)Why “experience design” isn’t décor — it’s the product, and it drives retention and pricing powerThe unsexy operational systems that prevent chaos in a high-turnover environmentStaffing and service: why FlexWerk keeps a host model and what it protects in the customer journeyWhat makes FlexWerk scalable and franchisable — and what must be standardized so locations don’t freestyleWhat other franchisors and franchisees can steal from FlexWerk’s platform approach to build the next era of fitnessWork with Albert — Fractional CFO for Fitness, Wellness & Franchise BrandsI’m Albert Ramos, Fractional CFO and Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting. I help fitness, wellness, and franchise brands ($500K–$30M) build 13-week cash visibility, standardize unit-level economics, create pricing and utilization models that hold up under growth, and scale with clarity — not chaos.If you want CFO-level clarity as your business scales into its next era: 👉 Book a CFO Strategy Call: https://calendly.com/albertramosjr-st...📘 Free Resource — Stratego CFO Playbook (Fitness & Wellness) Get the exact framework I use with franchisors, franchisees, and multi-unit operators — 13-week cash flow structure, location-level unit economics template, core KPI dashboard, and the Owner Seat weekly finance rhythm. 🔗 Download the free Stratego CFO Playbook: https://bit.ly/owner-seat-cfo-playbook🎙 More from The Owner SeatThe Owner Seat is where fitness, wellness & HALO owners talk: cash flow, scaling, exits, leadership, and the messy middle of franchise growth — without the fluff.🗓 New episodes every Monday & Friday at 8:00 AM CST ▶ Subscribe: / @theownerseatpodcast📧 Stay in the Owner Seat — Newsletter Weekly breakdowns on fitness & wellness unit economics, cash flow and multi-location scaling, leadership ROI, and AI-powered finance workflows for owners and franchisors. 🔗 Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relati...🌐 Learn More Fractional CFO services (Stratego): https://www.StrategoIntel.com Connect with Albert on LinkedIn: / albertramosjr#fractionalcfo #FitnessFinance #WellnessBusiness #fitnesstrainers #personaltrainingbusiness #fitnessfranchise #wellnessfranchise #franchisegrowth #studioowner #gymowner #franchisee #franchisor #FlexWerk #StevePirt #theownerseat #albertramos #scalewithoutchaos

In this episode of The Owner Seat Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Chris Skeates, franchise owner of TYG Whitby and CEO of CW Wellness, to break down what it really takes to build a scalable fitness business that delivers consistent results.Chris shares his journey from operating F45 studios through COVID chaos to transitioning into The Yard Gym model, a strength-focused system built around measurable progress and structured programming.The conversation dives deep into the realities of franchise ownership, including rapid expansion mistakes, legal battles, financial pressure, and the importance of resilience. Chris also explains how an 8-week linear progression model drives real member results, why most studios fail without systems, and how combining training, coaching, and nutrition creates a complete fitness ecosystem.Key Takeaways:Progress Beats Novelty: Most gyms rely on hype and energy. The Yard model focuses on structured progression, where members track weights and consistently improve over time.Strength Training Is the Future of Fitness: Chris explains the shift from HIIT-style workouts to strength-focused programming, especially for long-term health, muscle retention, and bone density.You Can’t Out-Train a Bad Diet: Sleep, hydration, and nutrition are the foundation. Exercise only works when those three are in place.Systems Create Scalability: Successful studios don’t depend on the owner’s presence. They build repeatable systems for coaching, programming, and member experience.Adaptability Is Survival: From COVID shutdowns to legal challenges, the ability to pivot quickly kept the business alive.Community + Coaching = Retention: Group energy combined with personalized coaching creates accountability and better results than traditional gyms.Track Everything That Matters: Leads, conversions, member retention, and revenue are monitored weekly to allow quick business decisions.Episode Timestamps:[00:00:01] – Podcast Introduction & Guest Overview: Albert introduces Chris Skeates and the focus on building scalable fitness systems.[00:03:18] – Starting with F45 & Entrepreneurial Leap: Chris shares how he entered the fitness franchise space and opened just before COVID.[00:04:01] – Surviving COVID & Pivoting Fast: From closures to online workouts, the importance of adaptability and member connection.[00:09:17] – Expansion Challenges & Lessons Learned: Opening a second location, overexpansion, and navigating post-COVID competition.[00:11:37] – Transitioning from F45 to The Yard Gym: Why Chris shifted toward strength training and how the transition unfolded.[00:17:21] – Handling Stress, Leadership & Resilience: Military mindset, coaching, and family support during tough times.[00:22:02] – Inside The Yard Gym Model: How the 8-week linear progression system works and drives real results.[00:26:49] – Building a Complete Fitness Ecosystem: Combining training, coaching, and nutrition for long-term success.[00:31:40] – Hiring & Developing High-Level Coaches: How the model naturally attracts experienced coaches and ensures consistency.[00:34:23] – Tracking Business Metrics & Growth: Lead generation, conversions, retention, and financial tracking systems.[00:37:36] – Advice for Future Franchise Owners: What to know before investing, including real estate, budgeting, and expectations.[00:39:50] – Final Thoughts & How to Connect: Closing insights and where to reach Chris and Albert.Connect with the guest Chris Skeates:👉🏼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-skeates/Connect with Host Albert Ramos:👉🏼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertramosjr/More From the Owner Seat:👉🏼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratego-intel-consulting/👉🏼 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-owner-seat/id1853608387👉🏼 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78jWN8OnnBLGpGpRfhWutl?si=9604f4493acd4dcb#FitnessBusiness #GymOwners #FranchiseLife #StrengthTraining #EntrepreneurJourney #PodcastEpisode

🔗 Download the free Stratego CFO Playbook: https://bit.ly/owner-seat-cfo-playbook—--------------------------------In this episode of the Owner Seat podcast, host Albert Ramos is joined by Justin Kennington, a former high-performance tech executive (with experience at Google and Crestron) who transitioned into the wellness industry as a franchise owner of Altered State Wellness in Houston’s Vintage Park. Justin shares his journey from managing global technology alliances to launching a modern recovery studio that blends science-backed modalities with a clean, retail-focused consumer experience. They discuss the "unit economics" of wellness, the shift from fitness to recovery, and the logistical hurdles of building out a premier studio in record time.Key TakeawaysThe Leap from Tech to Wellness: Justin explains his career pattern of "blowing things up" to take bigger risks, moving from semiconductor manufacturing and neuroscience studies to the emerging recovery market.Multimodal Recovery: Altered State Wellness focuses on an "integration of science and wellness," offering services like float therapy, red light therapy, infrared saunas, cold plunges, and compression boots.The "Peak State" Model: Justin breaks down a tiered membership structure, ranging from modality-specific unlimited passes to the "Peak State" tier, which offers unlimited access to all services.Data-Driven Wellness: The studio is pioneering the use of nervous system scans (via BrainTap) to measure a client's sympathetic vs. parasympathetic state, allowing for customized recovery plans based on real-time neuroscience.The Realities of Build-Out: Justin shares the "good, bad, and ugly" of retail construction, including the 2,000-mile challenge of managing a Houston build-out from Cape Cod and the importance of having a trusted general contracting team.Episode Timestamps[00:00:00] – Introduction: Meet Justin Kennington, tech executive turned wellness entrepreneur.[00:04:00] – The Transition: Why Justin decided to leave the corporate world and dive into franchising.[00:06:17] – Discovery Process: Conducting due diligence on the Altered State Wellness brand.[00:10:11] – The Altered State Experience: A tour of the lobby, lounge, and recovery atmosphere.[00:14:30] – Unit Economics: Breaking down the credit-based and unlimited membership tiers.[00:18:28] – The Future of Neuroscience: Using BrainTap for nervous system scanning and bio-customized recovery.[00:21:44] – Build-Out Speed Bumps: Managing a construction project 2,000 miles from home.[00:27:00] – Real Estate Strategy: The "million-dollar commitment" of a commercial lease and the importance of financial modeling.Connect with the guest Justin Kennington:👉🏼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-kennington/Connect with Host Albert Ramos:👉🏼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertramosjr/More From the Owner Seat:👉🏼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratego-intel-consulting/👉🏼 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-owner-seat/id1853608387👉🏼 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78jWN8OnnBLGpGpRfhWutl?si=9604f4493acd4dcb#WellnessEntrepreneur #AlteredStateWellness #RecoveryStudio #UnitEconomics #Neuroscience #FranchiseOwner #MindBodyHealth #FitnessToWellness #HoustonBusiness #OwnerSeatPodcast

This episode explores the evolving fitness culture, highlighting a critical shift from forced memberships to flexible, on-demand access. We dive into effective distribution strategy and the importance of owning marketing channels for entrepreneurial success in the modern fitness landscape. Tune in to learn how to adapt your workout business model and stay ahead.In this episode, Albert Ramos Jr. sits down with Pawel Kiełkowski — Co-Founder and CEO of Fitual — to go behind the scenes on one of the most important shifts happening in fitness right now: the move from rigid membership models to flexible access infrastructure that actually works for operators, not against them.Pawel isn't a fitness influencer who built an app. He's a finance and systems operator with a background in asset management and automation analytics — and Fitual is built like it. It's a distribution wedge: a marketplace that helps users find gyms fast, pay for access simply, and helps operators capture incremental revenue without surrendering margin to high-commission aggregators.If you run a studio, a multi-unit fitness brand, a franchise, or you advise anyone in this space — this conversation will change how you think about your revenue model.Work with Albert — Fractional CFO for Fitness, Wellness & Franchise BrandsI’m Albert Ramos, Fractional CFO and Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting.I help fitness, wellness, and franchise brands ($500K–$30M+):Clean up multi-location financialsBuild 13-week cash visibilityModel utilization, pricing, and unit economicsPlan capital, scale, and exits with confidence👉 Book a CFO Strategy Callhttps://calendly.com/albertramosjr-st...📘 Free Resource — Stratego CFO Playbook (Fitness & Wellness)Get the exact framework I use with owners and franchisors:13-week cash flow structureLocation-level unit economics templateCore KPI dashboard for studios & franchises“Owner Seat” finance rhythm you can actually run weekly🔗 Download the free Stratego CFO Playbook:https://forms.gle/M9QSgEz9VqiqkHVv6🎙 More from The Owner SeatThe Owner Seat is where fitness, wellness & HALO owners talk:cash flow, scale, disruption, and survival — without fluff.🗓 New episodes every Monday & Friday at 8:00 AM CST▶ Subscribe to the channel:/ @theownerseatpodcast🎧 Binge past episodes:Operator deep dives, franchise scaling stories, and real P&L conversations📧 Stay in the Owner Seat (Newsletter)Weekly breakdowns on:Fitness & wellness unit economicsCash flow and multi-location scalingAI-powered finance workflows for owners & franchisors🔗 Subscribe on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/build-relati...🌐 Learn MoreFractional CFO services (Stratego):https://www.StrategoIntel.comConnect with Albert on LinkedIn: / albertramosjr #FractionalCFO #FitnessFinance #WellnessBusinessfractional

In this episode of The Owner Seat, Albert Ramos sits down with Lindsay Vastola — Leadership Strategist, keynote speaker, founder of VastPotential, and one of the most operationally grounded leadership advisors in the fitness and wellness industry.Lindsay isn't leadership theory. She ran a real fitness business — Body Project Fitness & Lifestyle — for over a decade, spent nearly a decade as Editor of Personal Fitness Professional, and has coached executive teams and high-growth service businesses with one non-negotiable standard: leadership development must produce measurable business outcomes. Or it's just an expense.If you're a fitness franchisor, franchisee, or studio owner who keeps saying "I can't trust my managers to hold the standard," "I'm always the bad guy," or "we're ready to scale but I'm still the answer to every question" — this episode was built for you.Because the reason your business can't run without you isn't a systems problem. It's a leadership problem. And the reason your managers bring you updates instead of solutions isn't their fault. It's yours.Lindsay is here to fix that — with Emotional Intelligence at the center, and real business outcomes as the only scorecard that matters.🔍 In this episode, we cover:Why high performers fail after promotion — even when they care deeply — and what EQ actually looks like on a random Tuesday inside a studio or franchise locationThe first operational symptom Lindsay looks for when an owner says "I want to stop being the bottleneck" — and why most owners are solving the wrong problemWhat a real leadership development system looks like for franchisees with 1–5 units, and the leadership seat that's almost always missing when scale stallsHow to teach leaders to bring solutions instead of problems without turning them into robots — and what "harmony" is quietly doing to your accountability cultureThe 30-day leadership reset she'd give any fitness or wellness owner trying to scale in 2026Work with Albert — Fractional CFO for Fitness, Wellness & Franchise BrandsI'm Albert Ramos, Fractional CFO and Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting. I help fitness, wellness, and franchise brands ($500K–$30M+) build 13-week cash visibility, standardize unit-level economics, create pricing and utilization models that hold up under growth, and scale with clarity — not chaos.If you want CFO-level clarity as your business scales into its next era:👉 Book a CFO Strategy Call: https://calendly.com/albertramosjr-strategointel/youtube-podcast📘 Free Resource — Stratego CFO Playbook (Fitness & Wellness)Get the exact framework I use with franchisors, franchisees, and multi-unit operators — 13-week cash flow structure, location-level unit economics template, core KPI dashboard, and the Owner Seat weekly finance rhythm.🔗 Download the free Stratego CFO Playbook: https://bit.ly/owner-seat-cfo-playbook🎙 More from The Owner SeatThe Owner Seat is where fitness, wellness & HALO owners talk: cash flow, scaling, exits, leadership, and the messy middle of franchise growth — without the fluff.🗓 New episodes every Monday & Friday at 8:00 AM CST ▶ Subscribe: / @theownerseatpodcast📧 Stay in the Owner Seat — NewsletterWeekly breakdowns on fitness & wellness unit economics, cash flow and multi-location scaling, leadership ROI, and AI-powered finance workflows for owners and franchisors.🔗 Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7288029005239267328🌐 Learn MoreFractional CFO services (Stratego): https://www.StrategoIntel.com Connect with Albert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertramosjr/#leadershipdevelopment #fitnessfranchise #wellnessfranchise #franchisegrowth #studioowner #gymowner #franchisee #franchisor #emotionalintelligence #EQ #multiunitoperator #LindsayVastola #VastPotential #theownerseat #albertramos #fractionalCFO #leadershipbench #scalewithoutchaos #fitnessbusiness #boutiquefitnessowner

In this episode of The Owner Seat, Albert Ramos sits down with Kory Angelin — Founder and CEO of CoreHaus Fitness, multi-unit Club Pilates operator, former President at The DRIPBaR, and one of the most direct, unfiltered voices in fitness franchising on what scaling actually costs when the cameras are off.Kory isn't here to give you a highlight reel. He's here to give you the grind behind it — the recruiting mistakes, the presale breakdowns, the churn pressure that shows up after the first hype wave fades, and the operational discipline it takes to run multiple studios like a platform instead of a hobby.If you're a fitness or wellness owner, franchisor, franchisee, or multi-unit operator who's tired of the "success porn" flooding your feed and wants the real framework behind building something that actually scales — this is the episode you've been waiting for.Because anyone can open a studio. Very few people can build a franchise platform. And the gap between those two things isn't capital or brand recognition. It's people, process, and member experience — executed without excuses, at every location, every single day.Kory has done it. And in this conversation, he's not holding anything back.🔍 In this episode, we cover:The exact mindset shift that separates a multi-unit operator from a platform builder — and the first thing Kory stopped doing once he committed to scalingWhy most owners hire charm instead of capability, what it costs them, and the screening process he uses to catch it before it's too lateThe unsexy presale work that actually drives membership momentum — the cadence, scripts, events, and outreach nobody posts aboutWhat a remarkable first 7 days looks like for a new member, the check-in dates that kill churn before it starts, and what most studios silently get wrong at the front deskThe one blunt message Kory has for every multi-unit operator building in 2026 — and why camera confidence is now a non-negotiable competitive advantage in franchisingWork with Albert — Fractional CFO for Fitness, Wellness & Franchise BrandsI'm Albert Ramos, Fractional CFO and Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting. I help fitness, wellness, and franchise brands ($500K–$30M+) build 13-week cash visibility, standardize unit-level economics, create pricing and utilization models that hold up under growth, and scale with clarity — not chaos.If you want CFO-level clarity as your business scales into its next era:👉 Book a CFO Strategy Call: https://calendly.com/albertramosjr-strategointel/youtube-podcast📘 Free Resource — Stratego CFO Playbook (Fitness & Wellness)Get the exact framework I use with franchisors, franchisees, and multi-unit operators — 13-week cash flow structure, location-level unit economics template, core KPI dashboard, and the Owner Seat weekly finance rhythm.🔗 Download the free Stratego CFO Playbook: https://bit.ly/owner-seat-cfo-playbook🎙 More from The Owner SeatThe Owner Seat is where fitness, wellness & HALO owners talk: cash flow, scaling, exits, presales, retention, and the messy middle of franchise growth — without the fluff.🗓 New episodes every Monday & Friday at 8:00 AM CST ▶ Subscribe: / @theownerseatpodcast📧 Stay in the Owner Seat — NewsletterWeekly breakdowns on fitness & wellness unit economics, cash flow and multi-location scaling, franchise platform strategy, and AI-powered finance workflows for owners and franchisors.🔗 Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7288029005239267328🌐 Learn MoreFractional CFO services (Stratego): https://www.StrategoIntel.com Connect with Albert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertramosjr/#fitnessfranchise #franchisegrowth #multiunitoperator #boutiquefitnessowner #gymowner #presales #memberretention #franchiseleadership #CoreHausFitness #KoryAngelin #wellnessfranchise #franchisee #theownerseat #albertramos #fractionalCFO #fitnessbusiness #scaleup #franchiseplatform #studioowner #memberexperience