From Solo Hustle to Scalable Success: How CNU Fit Built a High-Impact, Multi-Revenue Studio with WellnessLiving
After transforming his own health through fitness and nutrition, Evans Armantrading set out to help others do the same. In 2009, he launched CNU Fit from his living room. Since then, the business has grown into a high-performing personal training and recovery studio with multiple locations, a nationally licensed stretch therapy certification program, and a loyal client base.
The driving force behind that evolution? Evans didn’t wait to grow into a CEO—he thought like one from day one. With a relentless focus on excellence, data, strategic hiring, and emerging trends, he built not just a service, but a scalable wellness company grounded in results and relationships.
For more than seven years, WellnessLiving has been a key partner in that growth—powering scheduling, staffing, performance tracking, and multi-location operations. For Evans, it’s not just about building a successful business. It’s about building one that runs—and grows—even when he’s not in the room.
Customer Overview
CNU Fit is a personal training and wellness business with multiple locations in Delaware. The studio serves two core client segments:
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Busy professionals (ages 40–60): focused on fat loss, energy, and workplace performance
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Older adults (65+): seeking support with mobility, pain, and strength
They operate with a semi-private model and offer:
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Personal training (typically 2–4 clients per coach)
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Assisted stretch therapy
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Nutrition coaching
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CNU Stretch Certification (licensed to other gyms nationally)
What makes CNU Fit stand out is its commitment to systems, mentorship, and outcomes. Clients come for the physical transformation and stay because they feel seen, supported, and part of something bigger.
The Challenge
As demand grew for Evan’s services, it became clear he needed more than passion to scale—he needed structure. In the early years, his business model was based on one-on-one sessions that consumed Evans’s time without generating the margins needed for long-term growth. He was working long hours, undercharging, and had no capacity to step away from the day-to-day without revenue taking a hit.
As CNU Fit began to expand services and hire staff, the limitations of his software setup became even more obvious. He eventually realized he needed a system that could:
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Eliminate the inefficiency of 1:1 sessions
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Support more profitable training formats
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Enable staff management and development
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Offer reporting tools to guide strategic decisions
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Scale with the business as it grew to multiple locations
These pain points led Evans to reimagine not just how he trained clients—but how he ran his business.
“I didn’t come up through a gym. I started as a business owner. That gave me a different lens. I knew I needed to build something sustainable from the beginning.”
The Solution
Designing for Scalability, Not Just Service
Evans didn’t just adapt his training model—he reengineered it for growth. By:
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Shortening sessions from 1 hour to 30 minutes
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Moving to semi-private training (4:1 ratio)
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Having clients self-manage warmups and cardio
…he created a more flexible and profitable structure that honored both his clients’ time and his team’s capacity.
“Our clients are CEOs, parents, and professionals. If I can offer a solution that fits into their lives without sacrificing outcomes, that’s a win.”
From Stretch Sessions to a National Certification
In 2014, one client asked to skip her workout and just stretch. That request became a game-changer. Over time, Evans developed an entire assisted stretch therapy system, which grew from $13K/year to $246K/year in revenue by 2024.
He then launched CNU Stretch, a licensed certification program that helps other gyms replicate his success. Key wins include:
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100+ professionals certified to date
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20 gyms licensed in the first year
Building a Business That Runs Without Him
Evans now works on the business, not in it.
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Weekly one-on-ones keep staff aligned and supported
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Staff are trained in multiple disciplines (stretch, nutrition, training)
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Each role has a dashboard with custom reports powered by WellnessLiving
“We don’t just promote someone to manager because they’re a good trainer. We build layers and career paths. That’s how you retain talent.”
Partnering with WellnessLiving
Evans has used WellnessLiving for 7+ years and relies on it to support:
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Multi-location management: One login, customized experiences per location
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Appointment-based scheduling: Unlike class-based platforms, WellnessLiving allows staff to book different types of services in the same slot, ensuring that availability and demand are optimized.
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Custom dashboards by role: Entry level trainers see what they need (birthdays, waitlists, attendance); more advanced staff see metrics like lifetime value, revenue, at-risk clients. This supports a sense of shared ownership for the business’s success.
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Integrated HSA/FSA processing: By allowing customers to use HSA and FSA cards to pay for services, CNU Fit has brought in hundreds of thousands of additional revenue.
“Business should run on numbers, not emotion. WellnessLiving gives me what I need to make fast decisions and coach my team with data.”
The Results
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Revenue Growth:
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$246K from stretch therapy in 2024 (up from $13K in 2020)
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$580K in net owner income in 2024
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Operational Expansion:
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Multi-location model with seamless scheduling and reporting
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CNU Stretch licensed in 20+ gyms nationally
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Staff Development + Retention:
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Positive team culture through weekly mentorship, KPIs, and career pathways
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Team trained to manage upsells, retention, and client experience
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Client Retention + Satisfaction:
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Customized dashboards help staff personalize service
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Milestone celebrations (e.g. lifetime visits) foster community loyalty
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“If you need to collect revenue, book appointments, and systematize your business without confusion, WellnessLiving is your platform. If you’re newer, it’ll help you get organized. If you’re experienced, it’ll help you optimize. Either way, it’s a smart investment.” — Evans Armantrading, CEO, CNU Fit
Closing Thoughts: From Founder to Visionary
Evans believes small business owners have a duty to create jobs, not just work them. With the right systems, mindset, and software in place, he’s been able to step back from day-to-day operations and focus on the future.
“Your job is to lead, develop your team, and guide the ship. If you’re stuck doing everything yourself, you’re not really running a business—you’re running on fumes.”
CNU Fit proves that when passion meets process, anything is possible. With WellnessLiving as a long-term partner, Evans is just getting started.
👉 Ready to take your business to the next level like Evans did? Book your free demo today and see firsthand how the right tools can power your growth, streamline your operations, and free you to lead with vision.
