Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Laura Alvarado, Founder of Gym Lead Converter, located in Auburn, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I show gym owners the way to build a profitable business that impacts the lives of their clients while providing them with greater time and financial freedom.

Tell us about yourself

I was a one-on-one personal trainer who traded all of my time for money. I loved working directly with clients. But there was a ceiling on my business. I only had so many hours in the day, so there was always a limit on the number of clients I could work with.

In 2015, I opened my first studio! But I had a horrible business model. I rented my space to other personal trainers, who were all independent contractors. It was the worst business model I could have chosen. I made no money, so I had to find a way to switch the model to something that worked fast.

By 2017, I had multiple locations, which meant I had multiple seven-figure businesses. I'd built my business from the ground up, but I was still spending a ton of my time making sure each location ran smoothly. My next step was to find a way to keep the businesses running without me needing to be there 24/7.

In 2018, I became an absentee gym owner! I managed all of my facilities remotely, spending a maximum of 10 hours per week working on them from home. Best of all, I got to choose when I wanted to visit those locations. During this time, I had my second child. With this model, I could limit my in-person visits to my locations to once per quarter while keeping everything running from home. It was ideal!

I sort of fell into coaching in 2019. So many people were asking me how I built a seven-figure business working only 10 hours per week. They wanted the results I'd achieved. They just had no idea how to get them. I launched my coaching business from home so I could have a positive impact on the lives of my fellow trainers and gym owners. And I did it before the world got swamped with coaches who are trying to offer the same thing.

But I realized I needed to build it into the type of business I wanted. I decided to focus on developing a small business with a high success rate that allows me to work directly with my clients. It's not about the money for me. It's about helping you build a business that serves your life.

Read the full details on this link: https://www.gymleadconverter.com/about

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Building a 7-figure business where I managed all of my facilities remotely, spending a maximum of 10 hours per week working on them from home. This allowed me to show up as a parent and wife in an amazing way for my family.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Learning how to respond to and manage stress without being reactionary.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Get a mentor - find someone who has been successful on the path you want to take and model their success.
  2. Just start - don't stress if things aren't perfect. You can make improvements along the way. Done is better than perfect. If you wait for everything to be perfect, you'll never launch.
  3. Read - never stop learning.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.gymleadconverter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gymleadconverter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gymleadconverter/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-alvarado-gymleadconverter/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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