Dear Dangerously in Love with Finance,
I opened my small gym seven years ago in Houston, Texas, with a lot of passion and not a lot of planning. I knew how to program killer workouts, motivate people through burnouts and breakthroughs, and create a tight-knit community. What I didn’t know—what no one really teaches you—is how much financial leadership it takes to make a gym thrive, not just survive.
At first, I treated the numbers the way a lot of people treat their personal fitness goals: with good intentions and a whole lot of avoidance. I thought, If I just work harder… If I just sign up more members… the money part will work itself out.
It didn’t.
Every month felt like sprinting uphill with a weighted vest. Revenue looked okay on the surface, but underneath? I was overwhelmed. Bills were sneaky. Payroll was terrifying. I never felt safe or steady. I didn’t know if I could afford to hire a second coach or if I was just winging it again, hoping for the best.
Then something shifted. Two years ago, my wife told me she was pregnant with our first child.
And in that moment, all the “maybe next months” and “someday I’ll figure it out” excuses collapsed.
Because suddenly, it wasn’t just about me.
I wasn’t just running a business anymore.
I was going to be someone’s father.
And I’ll be honest—there was a part of me that wanted to quit. To sell the gym and take a job with a steady paycheck. I felt ashamed that I’d built something I couldn’t fully rely on. I loved my clients—but I feared the future. I had no real clarity about how the business was actually doing. I had passion but no plan.
That’s when I made myself a promise: No more hiding from the numbers. No more treating money like a stranger.
If I could coach people through building strong bodies, I could coach myself through building a strong financial foundation.
Here’s what changed:
It was uncomfortable. Some days I stared at the numbers like they were in a foreign language. Other days I felt unstoppable, like I had finally stepped into the role I was always meant to lead.
And here’s what happened in two years:
My profit doubled.
My team grew.
I stopped living in fear of payroll week.
I pay myself a consistent salary.
And last summer? I took two and a half weeks off to be with my wife and our newborn daughter—without checking my phone every five minutes to make sure nothing was falling apart.
But most importantly, I started trusting myself.
That same discipline I teach my clients—to show up, to push through discomfort, to build habits that support their goals—that’s the same discipline I now bring to my business finances. And it’s changed everything.
So now I’m standing in a new place—one that I never thought I’d reach. And I’m asking this from that place:
How do I keep this momentum going? And how can I help other fitness entrepreneurs see that building financial habits is every bit as vital as building strength or endurance?
Because I know there’s another gym owner out there right now, wide awake at 2 AM, scared about rent, scared about taxes, scared they’re failing—but too proud to say it out loud.
I want to help them like someone helped me. I want them to know: it doesn’t have to be this way.
Sincerely,
Flexing My Financial Muscles
Dear Flexing My Financial Muscles,
Reading your letter felt like standing in front of a mirror — not just as a financial leader, but as a parent.
I know exactly what it feels like to stare down at the weight of a future you’re suddenly responsible for… and realize that passion alone isn’t enough anymore.
It’s one thing to hustle for your dreams.
It’s another to build something steady enough to hold your family.
So first, let’s start here: I am proud of you.
Not because you did it perfectly — but because you stayed in the room when it got hard. Because you chose to lead yourself first, even when fear was louder than faith. That’s real financial leadership. That’s the heart of what we believe at Healthy Bodies of Finance, that financial health isn’t about cold spreadsheets or rigid rules. It’s about building lives and legacies with clarity, courage, and care.
And now you’re asking the right question: How do I keep growing — and how do I help others find their way too?
Let’s talk about it:
1. Protect Your Habits Like You Protect Your Family
You didn’t just build financial habits — you built anchors.
Your Friday money dates, your real bookkeeping system, your savings discipline — these are no longer just business tasks. They are protective rituals for your future, your child’s future, and your own peace of mind.
Financial management for fitness businesses isn’t a seasonal thing.
It’s the way you protect what matters most — month after month, year after year.
Stay fiercely loyal to these habits the way you stay fiercely loyal to your family. Even when it’s boring. Even when it’s overwhelming. Stay.
2. Teach From Your Story, Not Just Your Success
You want to help other fitness entrepreneurs?
Start where it matters: be honest about where you struggled.
So many gym owners — and wellness business owners — are silently drowning because no one told them that passion isn’t enough. No one told them that accounting and bookkeeping for gym owners isn’t just about taxes; it’s about sleeping at night and staying married and being present for your kids.
Tell the full story.
Tell them how you almost gave up.
Tell them how you fought your way back.
People don’t need perfect heroes. They need real examples of what’s possible when you stop hiding and start leading.
3. Surround Yourself With Financial Leadership
You’ve grown because you didn’t try to figure it all out alone. You found help. You found systems. You made sure you had the right support.
Keep building on that foundation.
As your business keeps growing, your financial needs will, too. Maybe you’ll outgrow basic bookkeeping. Maybe you’ll need deeper strategic help — like fractional CFO services for fitness entrepreneurs who want to expand, scale, or create multi-location gyms.
That’s exactly why Healthy Bodies of Finance exists — because fitness leaders like you deserve financial partners who understand your industry, your dreams, and your heart for this work.
You’re not meant to white-knuckle your way through the next level. You’re meant to grow with guidance, with strategy, and with a financial plan that’s aligned to your vision.
4. Stay Mindful of What Success Means Now
When you started, success might have meant filling classes or hitting revenue goals.
Now?
Success looks like rocking your daughter to sleep at night without your brain spinning about payroll.
Success looks like building a gym that funds memories, not just memberships.
Stay connected to this version of success.
Because the world will try to tell you that you always need more — more clients, more locations, more noise.
But real leadership is mindful.
It’s knowing when to expand — and when to savor what you’ve built.
At Healthy Bodies of Finance, we teach financial growth rooted in mindfulness.
Because there’s no point in building a business if it costs you the moments that actually matter.
🍃 A Mindful Thought to Carry Forward:
“Money isn’t just a measure of success.
It’s the soil that your life grows in.
Tend it with care, and it will nourish everything you love.”
Here’s your next step, Flexing:
Keep leading yourself with the same heart you lead your family with.
And if you want help setting the financial strategy for your next season of growth — whether that’s adding a second location, hiring more coaches, or creating more breathing room for yourself — we’re here for you.
Visit HealthyBodiesofFinance.com.
Let’s build a financial future that’s strong enough to carry your dreams — and gentle enough to hold your family close.
You’re doing more than running a gym.
You’re building a life your daughter will one day be proud to call her legacy.
Lots of Love, Coffee and Chocolate,
Dangerously in Love with Finance and the HBoF Family
This article is designed to provide information only and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Because of the complexity of the law and the variables in your own personal tax and accounting situation, you can’t rely on our advice specifically related to your unique circumstances. In order to get the best tax savings and legal advice available to you, you should consult with your own accountant, attorney or advisor regarding your particular facts and circumstances. Healthy Bodies of Finance is an accounting firm that specializes in working with health and wellness providers. We provide monthly accounting & bookkeeping services and financial education. For more information on our specialized services for health and wellness providers please contact us at info@healthybodiesoffinance.com