Episode 199: Small Town Domination — How 27-Year-Old Gym Owner & Equipment Expert Colton Burt Built an Empire Across Rural Wisconsin
How a 27-Year-Old Built 6 Gyms, a Statewide Equipment Company, and a New National Repair Service — with Colton Burt
Ep 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)📧
[email protected]
🌐 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 only
Join Scott Carpenter and special guest Matt Wilber — multi-location gym owner & creator of the 7-Figure Marketing Method — for two days of hands-on implementation.
Inside the Room, You’ll Learn:Build a Winnable Model (profit with 150–200 members)High-Ticket Sales Framework ($10K–$20K/month without extra members)7-Figure Marketing Method (flood your gym with profitable trials)Retention & Pricing Power (why charging more increases loyalty)Done-in-the-Room Systems (leave with scripts, offers, funnels ready to deploy)👉 Grab your ticket: ptlegends.com/gym-profits-summit
⚠️ Will sell out — waitlist gets first access
💬 When You’re Ready, Here Are 3 Ways We Can Help You1️⃣ Subscribe to the Profit Lifestyle Podcast
2️⃣ Join our free Facebook community
3️⃣ Book a free strategy deep dive with Andy
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[email protected]
Questions about mentorship or events?
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[email protected]