Is It Possible to Make a Full-Time Living Running a Gym?
Is It Possible to Make a Full-Time Living Running a Gym?
“Passion may start the journey, but systems sustain it.”– Brandon Gross
If you Google “full-time living,” it’s defined as living a life of purpose, passion, and engagement. Sounds inspiring, right?
But let’s be real...
When most gym owners ask, “Can I make a full-time living running a jiu-jitsu school?” — what they’re really asking is: “Can I earn enough to live comfortably, without needing a side hustle or second job?”
The short answer?
Yes. But only if you run your academy like a business—not a hobby.
Myron Golden says, "If you don't have automation and delegation you don't have a business."
When I first opened my doors, I was fueled by my passion for jiu-jitsu but I had no systems. My partner and I invested roughly $36,000 to get started. Needless to say, we were all in.
In fact, here were my top financial goals:
1) Make enough to cover all monthly business expenses
2) to earn back our $36k initial investment (mats, renovations)
3) To pay off $20,000 in personal debt
4) To earn enough money to cover all of my personal monthly expenses ($10k/month)
5) To earn “enough money” after expenses to make it “financially sustainable” for my family
6) To Do it ASAP
Based on my calculations, 400 students became the ‘magic number’ that would get me to achieve all 5 goals.
And in the beginning I wore every hat. I was the coach, the janitor, the marketer, and the front desk. Not soon after I was burnt out and left wondering if I could make a full time living without living at my gym full time.
The turning point came when I stopped winging it and started thinking like a CEO.
I learned how to:
Generate leads on demand
Automate follow-up
Convert prospective students into loyal members
Keep students from quitting after 30 days
Today, I run a profitable school that supports my family, impacts my community, and gives me freedom.
The good news?
You can too.
In fact here are 5 tips that helped us grow from 0-400 students in 12 months and hit all of my financial goals within our first year of being open.
Tip 1: Don’t Rely Soley on Word of Mouth
Word of mouth is a bonus—not a strategy.
You need consistent lead flow from:
Facebook & Instagram ads
Google My Business reviews
Local community partnerships
Intentional referral campaigns
🧮 Tip 2: Know Your Numbers
If you don’t track it, you can’t improve it.
Key metrics to monitor:
Cost per lead
Show-up rate for intros
Close rate on memberships
Monthly student value
Make data-driven decisions, not emotional ones.
Image suggestion: Dashboard showing lead-to-member funnel stats
ALT text: “Jiu-jitsu academy sales funnel performance metrics”
🤖 Tip 3: Automate Your Follow-Up
Most leads go cold because no one follows up fast enough.
Use systems like GoHighLevel or Mat-netic.io to:
Send instant texts after opt-in
Trigger missed-call texts
Automate reminders and appointment confirmations
Speed = trust = conversions.
SEO Keyword Tip: “automated follow-up for gym leads”
🥋 Tip 4: Create a World-Class Onboarding
Your intro experience is everything.
New students should feel like they joined a mission, not just a gym.
Try:
Welcome packets
Orientation calls
Personal messages from coaches
A “quick win” class experience
This increases retention and referrals.
🧠 Tip 5: Be the CEO, Not Just the Coach
You already know how to teach. But are you running a business—or just running yourself into the ground?
Start thinking in terms of:
Systems
Marketing
Staff development
Culture
Student lifetime value
Want to thrive, not just survive? Treat your gym like the empire it could be.
💬 Final Thoughts (H2)
Running a profitable jiu-jitsu school full-time isn’t a fantasy—it’s a formula.
It takes strategy. Systems. And a mindset shift from “grappler” to “growth-minded leader.”
You already have the passion.
Now build the playbook that lets you do this for real—without burning out or selling out.
