Episode Details

Michael Ramsay is the co-founder of STRONG Pilates, a rapidly growing boutique fitness brand that has expanded to more than 100 locations around the world.

He joins Kenny Santucci on the Strong New York Podcast to talk:
- Why most underperforming gyms have a leads, sales conversion, or retention problem.
- The biggest mistakes gym owners make when trying to scale.
- How STRONG Pilates uses presales and community building before a studio even opens.
- Why accountability, management, and the right operators are critical to running a successful gym.
- How Michael went from working in corporate and becoming an F45 franchisee to building STRONG Pilates.

Chapters: 
0:00 Intro - Michael Ramsay
2:46 How Michael Ramsay Built STRONG Pilates to 130 Locations
5:19 Why Traditional Pilates Doesn’t Like STRONG Pilates
10:05 How STRONG Pilates Chooses Franchise Owners
14:20 From Broke at 25 to F45’s #1 Franchisee
20:26 How to Launch a Gym: Presales, Community & $1M Revenue
21:36 Boutique Gyms vs. Equinox & Life Time
27:53 Why Gym Owners Should Collaborate, Not Compete
31:05 Why Gyms Fail: People, Management & Accountability
38:08 The Gym Growth Playbook: Marketing, Leads, Sales & Retention
41:56 How to Build a Profitable Gym Business Model
48:57 Fitness Marketing in 2026: UGC, Influencers & Affiliates
52:00 Why Results Matter More Than Fitness Hype
58:03 The Fitness Brands Michael Ramsay Studies
60:00 Why Australia Produces So Many Fitness Brands
64:24 Why Long Island Is Crushing It + How to Expand Your Gym
69:48 Inside an $83M Fitness Franchise
74:08 The Future of Fitness: Longevity, Tech & Strength Training

Connect with Michael 
Instagram: @ramslegit

Connect with Kenny and Strong New York: 
Instagram: @kennysantucci
Instagram: @strongnewyork

Follow the Strong New York Podcast: 
Instagram: @strongnewyorkpod

For more raw, unfiltered, and strong conversations, subscribe to Strong New York to never miss an upload.

Follow us on Spotify for exclusive content:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7aZJACuPsaawNIbWTHUkBp?si=bbc2dde469e44982

This episode is sponsored by:
🔥 Celsius — the energy drink that fuels every Strong New York workout. Follow @celsiusofficial on Instagram for all the new flavors.
🩸 Marek Health — optimize your hormones, recovery, and performance at marekhealth.com. Use code KENNY for 10% off Diagnostics, Supplements, and Guided Optimization.
🤝 Founders Club — a trusted circle of 2,500+ builders across North America who share resources, open doors, and raise the bar for entrepreneurship. Learn more at FoundersClubOfficial.com.