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About Jim Thomas

Jim ThomasJim Thomas

Jim Thomas is the well-known founder and president of Fitness Management USA, Inc., a management consulting and turnaround firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry.

With over 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Mr. Thomas lectures and delivers seminars and workshops across the country on the practical skills required to successfully build teamwork and market fitness programs and products.

Phone: N/A
Email: jthomas@fmconsulting.net


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Top Financing Options For Your Gym Business
February 2022 - Are you seeking financing to open a new gym or expand your current gym business and are wondering where to turn to for funding? Finding financing for a gym business is always a challenge, but as a gym owner, you now have more financing options than ever before thanks to a number of creative web-based businesses offering new alternatives such as crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending. Banks? They are just the beginning of the journey. Here's an updated guide to gym business financing options you should know about as you seek funding for your gym business... Read Article...

Turn Yourself Into A Trusted Brand In Your Health Club
November 2011 - Health Club salespeople who still view themselves as an employee are in trouble in the new world of health clubs. Unless you have actual ownership in the health club you represent, you no longer have a "job" or a "career." You are now a business and the health club you represent is the platform on which you sell and market. Now, if all you want is a job, read no further. Read Article...

Unlocking Explosive Gym Business Growth
Four Powerful Strategies for Success

August 2023 - Are you a fitness enthusiast with an entrepreneurial spirit? Are you looking to skyrocket your gym business growth and leave your competitors in the dust? Look no further! In this article, I will reveal four proven strategies that will not only help you attract more customers but also keep them coming back for more. Let's dive in and unlock the secrets to success! Read Article...

Use a Proven System in Your Membership Sales Presentation for Better Results
May 2008 - Read Article...

Using Video Marketing to Grow Your Gym
July 2021 - Your member and client base is coming back, and your gym is gaining slow and steady recognition among your social media channels and your main website. However, to keep the momentum going, you'll need to inject a little more creativity into your blog posts, social posts, newsletter and email campaigns. And, video marketing is the perfect way to do precisely that! After all, who has time to read through so many words every time you publish a new post? Below, I review some ways you can incorporate video marketing to help increase the growth of your gym. Read Article...

Want to Grow Your Gym? Here's How.
October 2015 - It's the most commonly asked question that I get; "How can I grow my gym?" So, whether you're just getting started or you've been around for a while, your gym must grow (there's no other option that will work). There are three things we consider when getting a new gym started or helping to get an established gym back on track. Read Article...

What Do You Need to Do As a Gym Owner?
June 2020 - One of your primary responsibilities as a gym owner or operator is to make sure the door is swinging, the phone is ringing, the email is dinging and the text is pinging (and the cash register is ringing as one of my long-term clients like to say). In talking with many gym owners, I will remind them that 50% of their job is to be thinking, planning and implementing sales and marketing programs for their gym. You simply can't survive without oxygen (i.e. revenue). With that in mind, here are four tell-tale signs that help you with prospecting, marketing, advertising, lead generation and driving prospect traffic into your gym. Read Article...

What If You Are Not A Natural Health Club Salesperson?
May 2013 - I've always thought that one of my greatest assets when it comes to training health club salespeople is the fact that I was terrible at it when I first started. Nothing came natural. I had to learn it. Read Article...

When is the Best Time to Sell My Gym?
December 2019 - Many gym owners are so busy putting out fires and running the day-to-day operations of their gym that they typically do not give much consideration to this question (until it's too late). Before selling a gym, there are many factors that need to be addressed. However, if you do these things right, you can maximize the return on your gym. In a perfect world, the best time to sell a gym is when the gym is performing well and not when it is trending downwards. However, there are certain things gym owners can do to make their business as attractive as possible to potential buyers. To build value in the gym, take some time to review the following... Read Article...

When Struggling Becomes Comfort
Breaking Free from Familiar Chaos in the Gym Business

January 2025 - For many independent gym owners, the struggle to keep their business afloat is a constant battle. They grapple with dwindling memberships, rising operational costs and an ever-evolving fitness industry. Yet, amidst this chaos, some gym owners unknowingly settle into a dangerous pattern: the struggle itself becomes their comfort zone. The resistance to change solidifies, and the familiar chaos of an underperforming business feels safer than the uncertainty of doing something different. This article explores the phenomenon of struggle-induced comfort, the dangers it presents and actionable steps gym owners can take to escape this cycle and move toward sustainable success. Read Article...

Why Cutting Your Promotional Efforts Kills Your Gym
August 2015 - The biggest mistake you can make is to cut your marketing budget, or even worse, don't even have one. Marketing, advertising, promotion and branding are the lifeblood of your gym that brings in new members and other sales. A primary job function of any gym owner is to be sure the door is swinging, the phone is ringing and the email is dinging. You must continue to grow market share and avoid obscurity. Stay focused on helping people and solving problems for people. Now, before I share some tips on how to do this, many owners will say, "I just don't have time." Well, you do if it's a priority. Read Article...

Why Entrepreneurs Should Open a Fitness Business
July 2017 - If you discovered this article, you are likely an entrepreneur considering an investment in a fitness business. In the United States alone, the health and fitness club industry generates over $25.8 billion, with 55 million members. Many entrepreneurs, though, believe they need to be a personal trainer or have fitness experience to open a fitness business; however, that may not be true. Read Article...

Why Health Club Salespeople Fail
November 2010 - I see it and hear it frequently. Why do health club salespeople fail? It's a question that health club owners and managers seem to always be asking, and the primary reason that keeps health clubs asking this question is that there is not just one answer. Read Article...

Why Understanding the Stages of Growth is Useful to Your Gym Business
December 2022 - Small businesses are the heart of the economy. They generate more than half of the nation's job growth and contribute significantly to global financial wellness. Notwithstanding the challenges that accompany entrepreneurship, small businesses are increasingly thriving. The secret to success is persistence. To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to know how to lead your team through the necessary stages of growth in small business startups. By the end of this article, you will know and recognize the four stages of growth in small business management and understand how to lead your company through each. Read Article...

Why Work Here?
Building a Gym Culture That Attracts and Retains Top Talent

April 2024 - The fitness industry is booming, but so is the competition for talented employees. In this war for talent, your gym culture is your secret weapon. It's not just about treadmills and protein shakes; it's about creating an environment where people thrive, grow and feel valued. Here's how to build a gym culture that makes people say, "Why wouldn't I want to work here?" Read Article...

Would You Like to Increase Your Online Exposure, But You Don't Know How?
October 2016 - The number one job of any gym owner is to be sure the door is swinging, the phone is ringing and the email is dinging. I think most everyone realizes this. But, it continues to be a struggle for many gym owners. They will do a social media post here and there or post some offers on Facebook, but nothing seems to work. I was speaking with a gym owner recently, and he wanted to do more. But, he asked, "Where do I get all the content to do this right?" Good question; I'm glad you asked. Here are some tips to get you kick-started with an online marketing program. Read Article...

You Sell a Membership When You Ask
July 2006 - Read Article...

Your Health Club Sales Staff Won't Change Unless You Change
August 2008 - For many years, I have been asked by health club owners and managers to change their sales staff. Perform sales magic, as I call it. The truth is... a specific health club sales training program conducted by anyone outside of your health club will have only a temporary impact, unless the management team within that health club commits itself to reinforcing the information taught during the training. Read Article...

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