Back when we started in 2008, fitness centers were among the only companies needing automated door access and billing solutions for their membership-based businesses. Today, the subscription category has exploded: batting cages, gun ranges, suntan salons, and even pickleball courts now sell monthly memberships. As these businesses grow, they all share one priority: fewer employees and better automation.This category—which we call “non gyms”—is now our fastest-growing division. In this blog, we spoke with four of our “non gym” customers about why and how they use our software.
T’s Sports Club – Lothrop, Michigan
Taylor Copes, owner of T’s Sports Club, needed “something that would run itself without employees.” His 14,000-square-foot complex offers two indoor pickleball courts, three golf simulators, a small “bring your own drinks” lounge, and enough games and recreation equipment to feel like an indoor country club.
Any software he installed needed to allow guests to book and pay for each amenity individually, based on an hourly schedule, and charge customer credit cards automatically each month.
Unfortunately, most gym management software firms priced him out. Gym Insight—with unit-based pricing and minimal fees—fit his budget.
Three years later, Taylor’s business is solid and running 24/7 with no employees. After three winters with us, Taylor says his favorite (and unexpected) benefit is the financial reporting, which simplifies end-of-year accounting.
Kingdom City Boxing – Normal, Illinois
This small business began three years ago after outgrowing its original location in the owner’s garage. Today, owner Sid Edwards runs a vibrant 2,500-square-foot boxing center that has become a lighthouse for young and aspiring boxers.
Soon, the center will expand again into a larger space offering more gym services. Some people, Sid believes just want to be around the spirit of boxing rather than in the throes of the punches.
Not surprisingly, his staff is young and mostly volunteer. Together, they’ve found their switch to Gym Insight eye-opening. Where he once faced redundant steps for sign-ups and check-ins, Gym Insight eliminated all that. Now everything flows smoothly using our digital keytag system with auto-refresh QR technology—an important part of automated access control.
Originally, Sid only needed scan-in software. After installing Gym Insight, he discovered additional advantages:
- Simple to learn — He and his staff learned the system in under two weeks.
- Unexpected online sign-up surge — Many new customers join through digital sign-up links on social media and the website.
- Digital key tags streamline busy times and prepare the business for a future 24/7 model.
- Freedom to grow without sacrificing his other jobs—Sid is also a PE teacher, a father of four, and a part-time barber.
How’s that for busy and successful?
Dogwood Play Park – Seattle, Washington
Ten years ago, Lex Pederson and Tara Millar opened the first private indoor dog play park in Seattle—only the second of its kind in the U.S. Beer, dogs, and shelter from Seattle weather is a natural combination.
From the beginning, the business required a reliable way to automate recurring credit card charges. Gym Insight offered an affordable solution and the automation they needed to generate steady, reliable revenue. Since then, Dogwood has grown alongside Gym Insight, using digital keytags, financial reports, and punch cards to keep operations organized.
Today, Dogwood employs six people and hosts up to 100 dogs a day between the play park and daycare services.
Although private dog parks have grown nationwide, Tara says the most consistent perk of using Gym Insight is our customer service. For more than a decade, she’s worked with the same support staff—no phone trees, no runaround.
That personal service proved invaluable during a recent state audit. Our financial reporting and support turned a stressful situation into a successful regroup.
Sam’s Sun Bar – Gorman, Texas
Madison Warren grew up in a tanning family. When she opened her own tanning studio, she knew bronzing—but she didn’t know how to run a business without giving up her full-time job as a surgical vet tech.
Naturally, she turned to the Internet, searching online for software that could schedule appointments and provide automated door access.
Today, she uses Gym Insight’s digital keytags, Member’s App, and built-in scheduling calendar to run her business completely autonomously. She only visits the studio for spray tan appointments, marketing events, or restocking supplies.
“If not for the software and door access control, my business would be impossible,” she explains.
As for our customer service? “I’m obsessed. It (the software) was super easy to learn…I did three or four training sessions with Jaz — she taught me everything I needed.”
Being Gen Z, Madison runs nearly everything from the Member’s App—scheduling, checking daily numbers, and monitoring her studio remotely.
Only open since September, Sam’s Sun Bar is still growing, but we have no doubt Madison will thrive.
Gym Insight
Thank you to all our “non gyms” for taking the time to speak with us for this blog. We are a gym management software company providing every tool you need to run a profitable gym—or almost any subscription-based business that needs automated door access, digital check-ins, and recurring billing.
From tablet-based sales tools to fully integrated cloud software that allows you to run your business from anywhere, Gym Insight is built with your profitability in mind.