Consulting for boutique studio owners

Set the line.
Lead the climb.

Brand, culture and team systems that run your studio day to day, so you're free to lead its growth. Built by the founder of Sherpa in Westport, CT.

12 questions, about 3 minutes. Your score shows instantly, no email needed.

  • Founder of Sherpa, Westport CT
  • Former US Marine
  • Former pro cyclist
  • Cofounder, EQwell

Why studios stall

More leads won't fix a leaky studio.

Most gym coaching sells you ads and funnels. The money usually walks out a different door: clients who drift away, coaches who leave, and an owner too busy running the day to day to grow the business.

1 in 3

gym members leave every year. Industry retention sits at 66.4%.

HFA 2025 Benchmarking Report
70%

of operating costs are rent and staff. Your team is your biggest investment.

HFA data via ABC Fitness
12%

projected growth in trainer jobs through 2034. Great coaches have options.

BLS via Trainerize

The method

Three pillars. One foundation.

On big mountains, Sherpa guides climb first and fix the ropes everyone else clips into. We do the same for your studio: set the systems your people can climb on, so the studio runs without you and your time goes to growth.

Great Brand

  • A story your clients can retell
  • Pricing that holds
  • Every asset on one system

Outcome: premium pricing

Real Culture

  • Standards on the floor, with or without you
  • Rituals that recognize wins
  • Clients who refer friends

Outcome: clients stay

Reliable Team

  • Hire for character
  • Clear pay tiers
  • Coaches who lead

Outcome: coaches stay

Foundation: your numbers, your client journey, and simple AI tools that take admin off your desk

AssessBuildEvolve

Free Line Check

Where is your studio slipping?

Answer 12 quick questions across brand, culture, team and foundation. You'll see your score and your weakest pillar right away.

0 of 12 answered

Answer every question to see your score.

Work with us

Pick your route.

Start with an audit, then climb as far as you need. No 12 month contracts.

Route Audit

$2,500
Founding offer: 3 audits at $1,500

A deep look at your brand, culture and team: your Line Check reviewed, a 90 minute working session, a video or on site walk through, and a written 90 day plan you keep either way.

Claim a founding audit →

The Ascent

$4,500 per owner
12 week cohort, starts Jan 11, 2027

Six to eight studio owners, biweekly working calls, the Sherpa playbooks and templates, and a 1:1 session each. Founding cohort pricing available.

Save a seat →

Lead Guide

$2,500 per month
1:1, three owners at a time

Two calls a month, direct access between calls, and a quarterly on site day. Six month minimum.

Ask about a spot →

Rope Team Day

$5,000 plus travel
On site with your whole staff

One day on culture and coaching standards with your team, built around what your Line Check shows.

Plan a team day →

Come see it working. Every client is welcome to visit Sherpa at 1555 Post Road East in Westport.

Build a studio that runs without you. Then lead its growth.
The Fixed Line promise

About Jean

Your guide has made this climb.

I founded Sherpa, a longevity and functional strength studio in Westport, Connecticut. Before that I graduated first in my class at Marine boot camp and raced as a professional cyclist. I cofounded EQwell, a holistic wellbeing company, drawing on how Bridgewater cares for its people.

Fixed Line exists because the hardest parts of running a studio aren't in any marketing course. Keeping great coaches. Building a brand people talk about. Freeing yourself from the day to day so you can lead growth. These are the systems we built at Sherpa and now share with other owners:

  • A complete brand system, from logo suite to email templates and member surveys
  • Tiered coach pay built for real local market rates and labor law
  • A second package playbook that keeps new clients past their first pack
  • Client analytics that show who is quietly drifting before they leave
  • An AI chief of staff that drafts the weekly brief and answers new leads fast

Questions

Before you clip in.

Do I have to sign a long contract?

No. The Route Audit is a one time project. The Ascent runs 12 weeks. Lead Guide has a six month minimum, then runs month to month.

What size studio do you work with?

Independent personal training, semi private and small group studios with one to three locations, a few coaches on staff, and an owner ready to step out of the day to day and lead growth.

Is it remote or in person?

Mostly remote on video. Audits can include an on site walk through, Lead Guide includes a quarterly on site day, and Rope Team Day is always in person.

Do you work with studios near Westport?

No. Out of respect for our neighbors, we don't take clients within 25 miles of Sherpa.

How is this different from the big gym coaching programs?

They mostly sell lead generation and sales scripts. We focus on brand, culture and team, the things that decide whether clients and coaches stay. And your guide runs a studio today.

Next step

Book a 30 minute call.

Tell us a little about your studio. Jean will reply personally within one business day with times that work.

We only use your details to reply to you.

Take the free Line Check