Running a gym wasn’t just a 9-to-5 job for Lexi Bengston, the owner of Hybrid Fitness in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, a gym she opened in June, 2024.
Although she has a team of two coaches, and one substitute coach, “getting away” from the gym was very challenging at times. Further, after just one year in operations, Bengston realized she wanted to better serve her clients by giving them access to the gym “whenever it worked best for them,” she said.
She reached out to HybridAF in May to tackle both problems — and just two months later, things are looking better than ever.
Quick Results
To drive interest, Bengston offered the first month of unattended access for free to current members, but today she charges an additional fee for the perk.
Twenty five percent of her members currently pay for it, and she charges $75 a month for unattended access, revenue that is essentially hands off for her.
Further, Hybrid Fitness has picked up an additional 10 new members in the first two months alone who specifically joined due to the unattended access option.
“It has been going fantastic,” she said, adding that she has already experienced her return on investment.
As for her own life: “I definitely have more freedom,” Bengston added.
“Being able to give our members 24/7 access allows myself time to be a human and step away from work without feeling guilty. I feel a vacation is on the horizon,” she said.
One More Thing: An Easy Transition
Bengston also credits HybridAF with making the implementation and transition process smooth and easy.
- Read more here about the implementation system and how HybridAF makes it easy. Other gym owners share their experiences here.
Bengston explained HybridAF handled all of the heavy lifting, so to speak, and everything she needed to do was communicated to her clearly, including updating her waiver, creating a 24/7 rules sheet for members to follow, installing a camera and automatic lights, and writing a new music system.
Once it was set up, Bengston notified all of her clients and they were off to the races.
Bengston’s Message: HybridAF Helps the Small Gym Owner
For any gym owner looking for, either a little more guilt-free freedom, or a way to increase value or increase revenue in an easy way, HybridAF is a great solution.
“I would absolutely recommend HybridAF to other gym owners. It’s been a smooth process, great communication, and so simple once it’s installed,” Bengston said.
She added: “And it gives gym owners an ability to have some freedom without feeling guilty.”
