Gym owner makes $45K/month training special needs athletes

What’s up Gym World?

Back in 2014, Damon Vincent was asked to run a boxing class for 15 individuals with special needs. Little did he know, it would lead to building the largest—and only—fitness program for special needs athletes in his area.

Six years later, he opened Train Unique to exclusively serve athletes with intellectual and adaptive disabilities. Today, the gym generates $45K/month in revenue with just 159 members.

And the wildest part? It only operates from 10am to 5pm.

It’s not a business model we see often, so I brought Damon on the pod to break it all down.

Here’s the story: 👇

The road to Train Unique

Damon has a background in mixed martial arts (MMA) and worked as a personal trainer at UFC Gym. In 2014, a local non-profit approached the gym about running a boxing class for 15 individuals with special needs.

The staff thought Damon would be a good fit to run the class, purely based on his vibe, and offered it to him. What they didn’t know was that Damon has a condition called congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and growing up, was on experimental medication to manage it.

Damon knew what it was like to feel different from his peers, which helped him relate to the special needs community and empathize with their struggles. The opportunity to coach the group felt right, so he took it.

However, it didn’t go as expected. Boxing can be challenging even for individuals without special needs, and for those who need more support, instruction, and accommodations, it was more difficult. So, Damon switched to general fitness classes—and things turned around from there.

Parents and caretakers loved how Damon connected with their kids (it’s hard to find someone who understands individuals with special needs). They started posting about his classes on social media, and soon, more and more people reached out.

Eventually, the UFC Gym shut down, and Damon started working at an MMA gym. But he kept running the classes, and his client base kept growing.

He capped his personal training roster and ran three group classes, each with 15-18 special needs athletes. The only way to scale was to hire another coach, but it felt awkward to do that while still working at the gym.

When COVID hit, all the non-profits and support the special needs community relied on were shut down. Like everyone else, they needed:

• Movement

• Community

• Positivity

With rent prices low and demand for his services high, Damon saw an opportunity to open his own gym. So, he found a space in Lafayette, Louisiana, and opened Train Unique in 2020, where he’s still operating today.

Inside Train Unique

Train Unique is a 2,750 sq ft space that serves individuals of all ages with conditions such as:

• Down syndrome

• Autism

• Cerebral palsy

• Traumatic brain injuries

• Spinal cord injuries

The gym is equipped like any other strength and conditioning facility, featuring:

• Turf

• Power racks

• TRX straps

• Therapy table (from Facebook Marketplace)

• Parallel bars (from Facebook Marketplace)

Today, there are 159 members who can choose from three programs, each with different levels of customization:

1️⃣ Personal Training - Recommended for all new athletes, especially those who haven’t worked out before. This program offers the most customization and a controlled environment, perfect for those needing more 1-on-1 support. It’s $70 per session.

2️⃣ Small Group Personal Training - Ideal for athletes with autism who benefit from social interaction but may struggle with sensory overload. Sessions have 1-3 athletes and are $58 per session.

3️⃣ Group Training - Classes are capped at 15 athletes, with 2 coaches. This is the least customized program but offers a great community feel. It’s $25 per session.

Damon only gets prospects through referrals or word of mouth. Earning trust is important with any prospect, but even more so with the special needs community.

To build that trust, Damon:

• Engages in face-to-face interactions

• Attends events for this demographic

• Participates in galas, runs, festivals, picnics, and more

Damon follows a simple sales process for all prospects. It starts with a consultation to learn about the athlete’s needs and abilities, where he asks questions like:

• What are you here for?

• What environments are overstimulating?

• Are you in physical therapy?

Afterward, prospects are presented with training packages that require a 6-month commitment upfront.

There are 6 coaches at Train Unique, including a client success manager and a head coach. The team has diverse backgrounds, including:

• Powerlifter

• MMA fighter

• Strongman

• Mom

And since connecting with special needs individuals is key, Damon hires coaches who have:

• A great personality

• Strong communication skills

• A passion for the gym’s mission

• Basic health and fitness knowledge

Quick summary 🔎

In 2014, Damon got the chance to coach a special needs class because of his great vibe. He found it so rewarding that he continued running the classes and growing his client base.

Six years later, he opened Train Unique to exclusively serve athletes with intellectual and adaptive disabilities. Now, the gym has 159 members and generates $45,000 per month in revenue.

As far as Damon knows, Train Unique is the only gym running a program like this in his area. He believes any gym owner who opens a gym to make money and truly help people can do the same.

While he shares space with another gym, Damon’s advice for those seeking a partner is simple:

• Find someone whose values align with yours

• Over-communicate

• Ensure the partnership is mutually supportive

For more on the biz, be sure to watch or listen to Damon’s full interview on Gym World.

cheers,

j

📣 P.S. Found this interesting? Share it with another gym owner who’d think so too.