The Math Hammer

A “math hammer” is a calculation so brutally simple that it destroys any argument to the contrary.

You are likely staying at your commercial gym because of a feeling.

• “It feels safe.”
• “It feels convenient.”
• “It feels like I have a team.”

Feelings are expensive. In this case, your feelings are costing you roughly $60,000 a year.

It is time to look at the cold, hard numbers.

1. The Feudal System (60% Tax)

If you work at a Big Box gym (Lifetime, Equinox, EOS, LA Fitness), you are paying a premium for a false sense of security.

• The Deal: You trade 60% of your revenue for “safety” (leads and a floor).
• The Reality: You are paying a 60% tax on your own labor.

There is no other industry where this is accepted.

• Real Estate Agents keep 70-90% of their commission.
• Hair Stylists rent a chair for a flat fee.
• Lawyers bill by the hour and keep the firm’s cut small.

Only in fitness do we convince professionals to give away the majority of their income for access to a squat rack.

graph TD
    subgraph BigBox [The Feudal Model]
        A[Client Pays $100] -->|The House Takes $60| B(Gym Revenue)
        A -->|You Keep $40| C(Your Income)
    end
    style BigBox fill:#18181b,stroke:#ef4444,color:#fff,stroke-width:2px
    style A fill:#27272a,stroke:#52525b,color:#fff
    style B fill:#ef4444,stroke:#ef4444,color:#fff
    style C fill:#27272a,stroke:#52525b,color:#fff

2. The Lifestyle Tax (The Hidden Cost)

The financial cost is obvious. The lifestyle cost is insidious.

When you only keep 40% of what you earn, you have to work 2.5x harder to make the same living.

• To take home $4,000/mo at a Big Box: You need to deliver 100 sessions (25/week). That is a full-time grid of mornings, evenings, and weekends.
• To take home $4,000/mo at Fitness 48: You need to deliver 48 sessions (12/week).

Think about that. You could work half the hours and make the same money. Or you could work the same hours and make double the money.

3. The Math Hammer (The Audit)

Let’s look at the raw numbers. We will assume a standard session rate of $100/hr.

{
  "title": "Income Scale Analysis"
}

The Impact: At a full-time workload ($10k/mo), staying at a commercial gym costs you $62,400 per year.

That is a Mercedes E-Class. Every single year. Gone. Because you were afraid to pay for your own liability insurance ($14/mo).

4. The Variable Rent Trap (The Hybrid Split)

Many trainers leave the Big Box for a “Hybrid Studio” that offers a 70/30 or 80/20 split. They think, “Wow, I’m making double!”

This is a mathematical error.

Percentage splits are a Success Tax. The better you do, the more you pay.

• If you make $5,000, looking at a 20% split ($1,000) feels fine.
• If you scale to $20,000, giving the gym $4,000/month just for rent is insanity.

Wealth is built on fixed costs. You cannot scale if your overhead scales with you.

5. The Independence Model (Fixed Costs)

At Fitness 48, we treat you like a business, not a revenue stream.

• Rent: $80/client.
• Cap: Never pay more than $800/mo.

graph TD
    subgraph F48 [The Independence Model]
        D[Client Pays $100] -->|The House Takes $0| E(Gym Revenue)
        D -->|You Keep $100| F(Your Revenue)
        F -.->|Rent Capped at $800| G{Net Profit}
    end
    style F48 fill:#18181b,stroke:#ccff00,color:#fff,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#27272a,stroke:#52525b,color:#fff
    style E fill:#27272a,stroke:#52525b,color:#fff
    style F fill:#ccff00,stroke:#ccff00,color:#000

Conclusion: Stop Negotiating with Math

The math is binary.

1. Variable Cost (Split): The gym is your partner. They own 60% of your business.
2. Fixed Cost (Rent): The gym is your landlord. You own 100% of your business.

You are a professional. You have done the work. You have built the relationships. Why are you still paying someone else for your own success?

Make it right.

Apply for Space