What 24 Years in the Corporate World Taught Me About BJJ Gym Success

According to the IHRSA, 81 percent of health and fitness studios fail within their first year. A gym is still a business and must be treated as such if it is to succeed. The surest way to set your new gym up for failure is to open it before you know what you're doing.

In this interview, Coach Ben Poppelaars, a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and co-owner of Renzo Gracie Pearland, shares his expertise on the business side of conducting a gym. With 24 years of corporate experience and a partnership with UFC Coach Joe Murphy and Renzo Gracie Professor Brian Marvin, Ben reveals the keys to creating a thriving gym business. From crafting a 50-page business plan to leveraging his corporate background, he leaves no stone unturned in his pursuit of fool-proofing his gym from failure. As a father of four, he also shares how he balances family life while excelling as a gym owner and corporate Shell employee. If you're an aspiring gym owner, this interview is a must-watch for valuable insights on planning and achieving success in the BJJ industry. 🎯