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 BurtEp 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)📧 [e-mail] 🌐 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 onlyJoin Scott Carpenter and special ...