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Best Practices for Pricing Unattended Access with HybridAF

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:15:52 GMT

Best Practices for Pricing Unattended Access with HybridAF

Unattended access through HybridAF isn’t just a convenience: It’s a strategic advantage for the small gym owners.

By offering unattended or 24/7 access, you can boost member satisfaction, trim down staffing costs, and tap into new revenue streams, all while setting your facility apart in a crowded fitness market.

One of the keys, however, is choosing a pricing strategy that works well for your community, and your business, and there are lots of ways to skin the pricing cat, all of which have possible value.

Five Ways to Price

1. Add-On Fee

Members pay an extra monthly fee on top of their base membership to unlock unattended access. This creates an optional upgrade for those who want more flexibility.

Lexi Bengston at Hybrid Fitness in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, for example, charges an add-on fee of $75 a month for members to be able to use open gym, unattended access. Twenty five percent of her members pay for unattended access, and she was able to gain 10 new members in the first two months who joined specifically for this service. Read Bengston’s story here.
Katie Jobe of CrossFit Sedalia in Missouri also charges an add on membership fee, but she opts for just $10 a month. Still, she generates an additional $1,000 per month in largely passive revenue. Even more importantly, adding unattended access allowed Jobe to step away from the gym entirely on Sundays.
Chris Merrit of Beyond Strength in Sterling, Virginia takes a slightly different approach and charges $10 per week, rather than per month, to add unattended access. This helps Merritt generate around $800 a month in hands-off revenue.

2. Stand Alone Membership

A separate membership type that gives members access to the facility during unstaffed hours, but does not include classes.

Amalie Flowers of Breakfast Club Barbell in Medina, Ohio offers unattended access as a $35 per month add-on, or as a standalone membership for $50 per month. Approximately 75 percent of her members take advantage of the unattended option, which she says has become a major selling point for her gym.

3. Drop-In Memberships

Drop-in membership offers non-members access to the gym for a limited time, typically a day or one week, for a one-time fee. They’re useful for travelers, college students, or short-term users.

Ben Benson of Victory Gym in Savannah, GA has had a ton of success selling drop-in passes, including day passes, two or three-day passes, as well as one-week and one month passes. In fact, half of his clientele are drop-ins, allowing him to increase revenue without any additional work on his part, as drop-ins sign the waiver, pay for their pass and access the gym all with the help of HybridAF technology (which integrates with his gym management platform).

4. All-Inclusive (But with an Initial Rate Increase)

Unattended access is added as a standard benefit for every member, but the overall membership price is raised to reflect the added value.

Kurt Miller of South Mountain Community Fitness in Allentown, Pennsylvania doesn’t charge more for HybridAF, and simply builds it into his membership rates. That being said, when he first added unattended access with HybridAF, he increased his base membership rates as he was now offering a higher value service to his members. As a result, he has seen an increased client retention because of it (his average client sticks around for more than two years, while the industry average according to Two-Bran Business is less than eight months).

5. All-Inclusive

Unattended access is included in the standard monthly membership at no additional cost. Every member automatically has access during both staffed and unstaffed hours.

William Tirado of Los De La Isla CrossFit in Puerto Rico used to charge an additional fee for unattended access, but then he realized those who used it tended to stick around, so he decided to add it to his regular membership. And although he hasn’t seen an increase in revenue directly, he has seen a huge increase in client retention, he said, which ultimately means more revenue long-term.

Weighing the Pros and Cons

Add-On Fee: Charging an additional fee for unattended access can be a great way to generate additional revenue; however, if priced too high it can be challenging to convince members to pay more.

Stand Alone Membership: Unattended access-only memberships can be a great way to bring new people into the gym; however, you run the risk of having current clients deciding to go this route, which would likely reduce their monthly payment.

Pro Tip: If you’re going to offer unattended access-only memberships, consider pricing them higher than you might initially think you should. Those who value it will pay it, while current clients might be less inclined to drop classes.

Drop-Ins: Drop-ins allow for easy passive revenue for the gym owner; however, it might require more monitoring as you have strangers in your gym. Further, the income is less predictable.

All-Inclusive: An all-inclusive membership allows you to charge everyone slightly more each month, as you’re now offering a greater value service, and it might also increase client retention. However, it doesn’t allow you to screen members in terms of who you trust to train on their own during unattended access hours, and those who might not want to use it may look elsewhere for a gym with a lower priced membership.

Three Common Pitfalls

Pricing too low: If your add‑on is too cheap, you may have too many people using off hours heavily, and maintenance and wear and tear might rise.
Pricing too high: This might create low uptake and even pushback from members, who may think you’re nickel and diming them.
Too many options: Keep it simple. Too many options confuse people and is hard to administer.

Other Key Considerations

When deciding how to price unattended access, some factors to consider looking into include:

Demand: Survey current members. How many would use off‑hours? What times? Would they pay extra? What drop‑in rates are acceptable? Adjust pricing according to local income, culture and usage patterns.
Competition: What are similar gyms in your area doing? Do any offer 24/7 or unattended access? How much do they charge? If none do, you have an opportunity to differentiate.
Your Message: How will you market and sell your new offering to your members? What message do you want to put out to your members? For example: “You can now train when it’s convenient with your schedule.” “You can now train on Sundays.” “You can stick around after the last class of the day to get your accessory work finished.”
Trial periods: To help adoption, will you give existing members free or discounted access early on to establish buy‑in before charging more for it?

The Bottom Line

Owning a gym isn’t an easy gig, and any help you can get as a small gym owner to boost revenue is generally welcomed.

In light of this, if you’re smart about your pricing structure, adding HybridAF can position your gym to not only boost revenue, but also enhance member experience and client retention.

One last thing: The average gym with 100 members that utilizes HybridAF sees a positive $5,300-plus return on investment in year one and even higher in the following years.

HybridAF Helps Build Community, Increase Client Retention for William Tirado

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:54:58 GMT

English

HybridAF Helps Build Community, Increase Client Retention for William Tirado

After seven years of gym ownership, William Tirado decided it was time to add more value to his clients, to grow his business at Los De La Isla CrossFit in Puerto Rico.

“I wanted to grow the community and provide more access in a secure way that would work for me as an owner and for the clients,” he said.

That’s when, in 2022, Tirado turned to HybridAF for a solution.

Three years later, HybridAF has done more than just “grow the community.”

Tirado is such a fan that he is teaming up with HybridAF to host an event for 40-plus gym owners in the area to introduce them to unattended access.

The details and date are still being sorted out , but the day will begin with a workout, and then Tirado and HybridAF founders Phil Tabor and Albert Steed will walk attendees through how the HybridAF system works and the various benefits to offering unattended access, especially in a place like Puerto Rico

Why HybridAF is Perfect in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has long been a popular tourist destination, one that attracts millions each year.

For the consistent gym-goer or CrossFit enthusiast , traveling usually means looking for a gym to workout at while on vacation.

This is what makes HybridAF especially useful in a place like Puerto Rico, as the potential for adding hands-off, passive revenue through drop-ins to the gym is especially high.

Case in point: Joe Tepe, the owner of The Strip Barbell in Las Vegas, a city that makes its living on visitors, saw 3,844 drop-ins in 18 months in 2024 and 2025, each of whom pay $25 for access to the facility for one workout.

Four Ways HybridAF has Helped Los De La Isla CrossFit

New Members

Tirado offers both CrossFit classes and open gym memberships at Los De La Isla CrossFit, with about 20 percent of his 150 members being open gym customers.

Many of his open gym members today have joined in the last three years specifically for unattended access, he explained.

“They saw the promotions we were doing online and then they tried it for a month and they really like it and then they join,” he said. “It’s not just open gym anymore; it’s open gym all day.”

Another big selling point for attracting new open gym members is that, unlike the other big corporate gyms in the area that offer 24/7 access, Tirado’s gym offers a quieter environment.

“We have a workout space with the right equipment and a safe environment and less people. Those other facilities (with unattended access) are crowded and you have to share equipment,” Tirado said. “We offer a higher-value membership when compared to the typical corporate gym for $60 a month. It’s a premium clean and cared for facility, and it’s not so busy.”

Accommodates Class-Going Members

Unattended access has also been valuable to those who do CrossFit classes, Tirado explained, as now they’re able to come early before the first class of the day, or stick around after the last class of the day to do additional accessory work, to just hang out in the lounge area.

Further, they can now arrange to come in with other members during times when the gym doesn’t offer classes, such as in the middle of the day, to hit workouts together.

“It’s a bonding experience for them,” Tirado said, adding that HybridAF has ultimately provided additional opportunities for people to spend time together, which has made his community a lot closer.

Client Retention Has Soared

When Tirado first started offering unattended access, he charged an additional $20-a-month fee. But soon he realized what a great retention tool it was, which led him to open the floodgates and offer it to everyone as part of their membership, as he knew what he would generate through increased client retention would quickly eclipse what he was earning charging $20 a month to those who elected to pay for it.

Today, his client retention is higher than ever, and Tirado credits this, at least somewhat, to unattended access.

Added Convenience for Tirado

Finally, for the gym owner, HybridAF adds nothing but convenience, Tirado explained.

“I can manage memberships remotely, so I don’t even have to be there and I can provide access to a client, or if someone is delivering something, I can give them a guest pass and they can leave it in the lounge or lobby and I don’t have to be there anything,” he said of the unmatched convenience he didn’t have prior to HybridAF.

Final Thoughts

What began as a way to add value for clients has evolved into a key pillar for Tirado’s gym, one that builds community and increases convenience and client retention.

As Tirado prepares to introduce dozens of other gym owners to unattended access at his upcoming event, one thing is clear: HybridAF hasn’t just made his life easier. It has helped elevate his gym experience for everyone who walks through the door.

“Depending on your market, it can give you an advantage . It has provided us with a big edge,” he said.

Spanish

HybridAF Ayuda a William Tirado a Construir Comunidad y Aumentar la Retención de Clientes

Después de siete años con su propio gimnasio, William Tirado decidió que era hora de ofrecer más valor a sus clientes para que su negocio en Los De La Isla CrossFit en Puerto Rico siguiera creciendo.

“Yo quería que la comunidad creciera y darles más acceso de una forma segura que me funcionara a mí como dueño y también a los clientes,” dijo él.

Y así es como, en el 2022, Tirado acudió a HybridAF para buscar una solución.

Tres años después, HybridAF ha hecho mas que solo “crecer la comunidad.”

Tirado es tan fanático que se ha unido con HybridAF como anfitrión de un evento para los dueños de gimnasios de 40 y pico del área, para introducirles esto del acceso sin supervisión.

Todavía se están afinando los detalles y la fecha, pero el día empezará con un buen entrenamiento, y
luego Tirado y los fundadores de HybridAF, Phil Tabor y Albert Steed, le
explicarán a los presentes cómo funciona el sistema HybridAF y los beneficios de ofrecer acceso sin supervisión, especialmente aquí en Puerto Rico.

Por que HybridAF es Perfecto en Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico siempre ha sido un destino turístico popular, atrayendo a millones cada año.

Para el que va al gimnacio consistentemente o el fanático del CrossFit , viajar usualmente significa buscar un gimnacio para entrenar mientras está de vacaciones.

Esto es lo que hace que HybridAF sea especialmente útil en un lugar como Puerto

Rico, ya que el potencial de añadir ingresos pasivos y sin esfuerzo mediante a base de visitas espontáneas al gimnasio es particularmente alto.

Caso en punto: Joe Tepe, el dueño de The Strip Barbell en Las Vegas, una ciudad que vive del turismo, metió 3,844 visitas espontáneas en 18 meses entre el 2024 y el 2025, cada uno pagando $25 para usar el gimnasio por un entrenamiento.

Cuatro Maneras en que HybridAF ha Ayudado a Los De La Isla CrossFit

Nuevos Miembros

Tirado ofrece ambas opciones de clases de CrossFit y membresías de gimnasio abierto en Los De La Isla CrossFit, con un aproximado de 20 por ciento de sus 150 miembros siendo clientes de gimnasio abierto.

Muchos de sus miembros de gimnasio abierto de hoy en día se han unido en los últimos tres años, específicamente para el acceso no atendido, explicó.

“Ellos vieron las promociones que ofrecimos en línea y luego lo trataron por un mes y realmente les encantó y luego se unieron,” dijo. “Ya no es nada más gimnasio abierto; es gimnasio abierto todo el día.”

Otro gran atractivo para atraer nuevos miembros al gimnasio abierto es que, a
diferencia de otros grandes gimnasios corporativos de la zona que ofrecen acceso las
24 horas, los 7 días de la semana, el gimnasio de Tirado ofrece un ambiente más tranquilo.

“Tenemos un espacio para hacer ejercicio con el equipamiento adecuado y un ambiente seguro con menos gente. Esas otras instalaciones (con acceso desatendido) están saturadas y tu tienes que compartir el equipamiento, “ dijo Tirado. “Nosotros ofrecemos membresía de alto valor cuando se compara con el típico gimnasio corporativo por $60 al mes. Es una instalación limpia y bien cuidada, y no tan ocupada.

Acomoda a Los Miembros Que Asisten a las Clases

El acceso desatendido también ha sido valioso para quienes hacen clases de CrossFit, explicó Tirado, porque ahora ellos pueden llegar temprano, antes de la primera clase del día, o quedarse después de la última clase del dia para hacer trabajo adicional de accesorio, o nadamas para pasar el rato en el área de salón.

Además, ahora pueden coordinarse para venir con otros miembros durante horarios en donde el gimnasio no ofrece clases, como por ejemplo a mediodía, para hacer ejercicios juntos.

“Es una experiencia de unión para ellos,” dijo Tirado, agregando que HybridAF finalmente ha proporcionado oportunidades adicionales para que las personas pasen tiempo juntos, lo que ha hecho que su comunidad sea más unida.

La Retención de los Clientes se ha Ido para Arriba

Cuando Tirado empezó a ofrecer acceso sin supervisión, el cobraba $20 adicionales al mes. Pero pronto se dio cuenta de la gran herramienta de retención que esto era, cual lo llevó a abrir las compuertas y se lo ofreció a todos como parte de su membresía, dándose cuenta que lo que generaría a través de una mayor retención de clientes eclipsará rápidamente lo que ganaba cobrando $20 al mes a quienes decidían pagar por ello.

Hoy, su retención de clientes es más alto que nunca, y Tirado acredita esto, de alguna manera, al acceso sin supervisión.

Agregando Conveniencia para Tirado

Finalmente, para el dueño del gimnasio, HybridAF no aporta nada más que conveniencia, explicó Tirado.

“Yo manejo las membresías a distancia, así que ni siquiera tengo que estar allí y puedo dar acceso al cliente, o si alguien está entregando un pedido, puedo darles un pase de invitado y lo pueden dejar en el salón o en el recibidor y ni siquiera tengo que estar allí,” él dijo sobre la conveniencia inigualable que no tenía antes de HybridAF.

Pensamientos Finales

Lo que empezó como una manera de agregar valor para los clientes ha evolucionado a un pilar clave para el gimnasio de Tirado, uno que construye comunidad e incrementa la conveniencia y retención del cliente.

Mientras Tirado se prepara para introducir a docenas de otros propietarios de gimnasio al acceso sin supervisión en su próximo evento, una cosa queda clara: HybridAF no solo ha facilitado su vida. Esto ha ayudado a elevar su experiencia en el gimnasio para todos lo que entran por la puerta.

“Dependiendo de tu mercado, puede darte una ventaja. Nos ha dejando una gran punto de inflexión,” el dijo.

Jessica Lee Saves $1,600 a Month in Payroll Costs with HybridAF (And that’s Just the Tip of the Iceburg)

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:42:58 GMT

Jessica Lee Saves $1,600 a Month in Payroll Costs with HybridAF (And that’s Just the Tip of the Iceburg)

Three Quick Results

1. Cost Savings

Although Lee isn’t charging her existing members for unattended access, she is now saving $1,600 a month on payroll, a huge savings for a small gym owner.

She is still working a full-time job on top of being a gym owner, but this savings is the first step she needs to start the transition of leaving her job to run the gym full-time.

2. Accommodates Drop-Ins

Lee is still in the early days of offering unattended access, but generally in the summer her gym sees four to five drop-ins a day—it is located near busy resort and near a lot of summer homes—so having HybridAF will make it a whole lot easier for drop-ins to register and pay for a day pass or a week pass.

3. Accommodates Shift-Working Members

Four Suns Fitness Center is also located near a county prison, so a handful of Lee’s members work at the prison and often get off work at 2 AM.

Prior to HybridAF, Lee handed out physical keys to some of her members so they could workout at 2 AM when they got off work, but now these members are able to access her facility through the HybridAF app, and the cameras she set up give her the peace of mind she needs to know her gym is safe even when she isn’t there.

One More Thing: HybridAF also helps Lee in the event that something unexpected happens.

For example, a little while ago she had a flat tire and was “panicking” as she was late to open the gym at 5 am. Today, it’s no longer a problem, as members can access the facility if something unexpected happens.

Final Thoughts

Financially and operationally, unattended access with HybridAF has changed the game for Lee and Four Suns Fitness Center.

By reducing payroll costs, simplifying access for drop-ins, and better serving the gym’s shift-working members, HybridAF has created a more flexible, efficient gym environment.

One App, Full Access: How HybridAF and StreamFit Are Simplifying Unattended Access and Gym Management

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:38:53 GMT

One App, Full Access: How HybridAF and StreamFit Are Simplifying Unattended Access and Gym Management

What Other Gym Owners are Saying

Chris Romeo, the owner of Rising Fitness & Nutrition in Cape Coral, Florida , started using StreamFit two-and-a-half years ago, and then added HybridAF six months after that.

He calls the integration between the two systems “seamless,” and has high praise for both systems individually, as well.

“I love the customization of StreamFit and that they are always adding more features. I can do everything I can think of from the app,” he said.

As for HybridAF, Romeo appreciates no longer having to get keys cut for coaches and members, and it provides more flexibility both to members and to himself, and it has added an additional revenue source for the business.

Leah Wheeler, the owner of Five Alarm Fitness in Bloomington, Illinois started using HybridAF at the start of 2022, and in October 2023, she switched to StreamFit.

Like for Panchik, the process for Wheeler was “incredibly easy,” she said.

“It was easier to integrate these two systems than it was with Zen Planner when we used them,” she said.

Further, StreamFit software is easy to use, does everything she needs, and is reasonably priced, Wheeler explained.

“ We don’t get dinged for growing our membership base (by having to pay more like with some other software companies) and they are constantly improving things and taking feedback from customers,” she said.

Wheeler added:“I truly appreciate that with the integration with StreamFit, I don’t need to utilize both apps. It’s a one-stop shop.”

Tiffani Arndt, the owner of CrossFit Ground Up in Hastings, Nebraska mimicked Wheeler’s sentiment.

She began offering unattended access to her members through HybridAF five years ago and switched to StreamFit two years ago, and says the integration between the two has been “seamless.”

“It’s one of the reasons I changed systems,” Arndt said, adding that she also appreciates that both StreamFit and HybridAF give off a “small company feel with big company features.”

As for HybridAF, Arndt said “it’s easy, affordable” and has been a huge client retention tool for her gym.

The Bottom Line: The HybridAF-StreamFit Combo Works

As a result, Wheeler said she recommends the HybridAF-StreamFit combo to “anyone who asks.”

“We have been 100 percent satisfied with both platforms and their ease of use. The customer service from both has also been fantastic. In today’s world, that part alone goes a long way for me,” she said.

Arndt, too, said the cost and the integration between the two platforms makes recommending them a no-brainer.

“The cost of the previous systems I used just kept going up and up,” she said. “The service for both HybridAF and StreamFit is top notch. And if there is an issue with either of them, it’s minutes to get a response.”

“Nothing needs to change in terms of how they work together,” she added.

5 Smart Ways to Ensure Your Members and Business are Extra Safe with Unattended Access

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:33:20 GMT

5 Smart Ways to Ensure Your Members and Business are Extra Safe with Unattended Access

1. Set Limited Unattended Hours

Unattended access doesn’t have to mean 24/7.

One of the simplest and most effective strategies is to limit after-hours access to times you feel comfortable with. For example, you can set the HybridAF app to grant access to your facility between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., providing your members and drop-ins plenty of flexibility without allowing them to workout at 2 a.m.

One HybridAF gym owner, for example, used to offer 24/7 access but soon realized because her gym is located near a lot of bars, members sometimes came in to use the bathroom after a night out on the town, which she was able to put a quick stop to by limiting her unattended access hours to between 5 a.m. until 10 p.m.

2. Require Members to Pass an Assessment First

Not every member is ready to work out solo.

Thus, one solution is to add a basic movement and equipment assessment that members must pass before they earn the right to enter unattended. This helps ensure that members understand both their abilities and how to use equipment properly and safely when a coach isn’t present.

3. Six-Month Rule

Another layer of safety is to avoid granting unattended access privileges until a person has been a member of your gym for at least six months.

This grace period gives you time to get to know the member, evaluate their reliability, and decide whether they’re ready for this level of access. It also reinforces your gym’s culture by ensuring newer members earn trust before gaining full privileges.

4. Install Cameras for Peace of Mind

Video surveillance is one of the most powerful deterrents to unsafe behavior. With cameras installed, you can keep an eye on who’s in your gym, how they’re treating your space, and whether anything suspicious is happening.

In the event of an incident, recorded footage also provides you with evidence and peace of mind. Cameras don’t just protect your property—they protect your members, too.

5. Take Advantage of HybridAF’s Real-Time App Notifications

HybridAF doesn’t just open the door; it keeps you in the loop.

For peace of mind, you can turn on the app’s notifications to inform you any time someone accesses the facility. And if you have cameras installed, you can always take a quick peak if you’re at all concerned.

Ultimately, with HybridAF you’ll always be able to see who is coming and who is going, even when you’re out of town.

Worth Noting: The HybridAF app also includes an emergency call button, giving members a fast way to request help if something goes wrong. That extra layer of security helps everyone breathe a little easier.

Final Thoughts: Unattended Doesn’t Mean Unprotected

HybridAF empowers gym owners to grow their business by offering members more freedom and flexibility. With freedom, though, sometimes comes apprehension on the part of the gym owner.

But by following these five strategies—limiting hours, requiring assessments, delaying privileges until you trust the member, installing cameras, and using app alerts—you can confidently open your doors even when you’re not there.

The Result: increased value to your members, decreased labor costs, and possibly even increased revenue for the business.

With the right safeguards in place, unattended access doesn’t mean giving up control. It means running your gym smarter.

HybridAF Adds Revenue, Reduces Payroll Costs for Five Alarm Fitness

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:29:04 GMT

HybridAF Adds Revenue, Reduces Payroll Costs for Five Alarm Fitness

Prior to 2022, Leah Wheeler’s gym, Five Alarm Fitness in Bloomington, Illinois, offered six hours a day of open gym time.

This meant, each day, from 7-9 am, from 10 am-1 pm and from 3-4 pm , Wheeler had to pay to staff the gym.

That all changed in 2022 when Wheeler saw a Black Friday special HybridAF had put out on Facebook. She and her husband quickly decided it would be a great solution for her business and her now close to 100 members.

And just like that, Wheeler was immediately able to save 120 hours on payroll hours each month, as she no longer needed to staff the gym.

Three Other HybridAF Benefits for Five Alarm Fitness

Holidays Off

Prior to offering unattended access, Wheeler found herself opening the gym on holidays, as she felt pressure because her members still often still wanted to train.

Such is not the case anymore.

“It makes it so much easier to close for holidays and not feel guilty,” Wheeler said.

“We have also been able to close early for a couple emergencies and still allow access,” she added.

More Value for her Members

It goes without saying, adding unattended access has increased the value Wheeler can now offer to her members, she explained.

“The ones who use it the most are either our most driven members, or those with odd work hours,” Wheeler said. “The 24/7 access allows them to come in seven days a week, or on holidays when we are typically closed.”

She added: “And for those who have strange work hours, they’re able to come in at their convenience.”

The Big Picture

The decision Wheeler and her husband made on a whim after a Black Friday offer on Facebook has proven to be a win for both their business and their community of members.

From cutting down payroll expenses, to unlocking new revenue streams, to finally being able to take a day off on a holiday, to adding value to her members, HybridAF has transformed Wheeler’s entire gym for the better.

Boost Your Merchandise Sales With Unattended Access Via HybridAF

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:22:49 GMT

Boost Your Merchandise Sales With Unattended Access Via HybridAF

For small gym owners, every dollar counts. Membership dues make up the bulk of revenue, but any additional income stream—especially one that doesn’t require extra staff or time—is a huge win.

Enter merchandise sales.

From water and recovery drinks, to protein, to apparel, gym owners who advocate for pro shops explain it can be a great passive revenue stream for any small gym owner.

Case in point : Josh Grennel, the owner of CrossFit Progression in Rochester, MN generates between $3,500 and $6,000 a month in pro shop revenue – $1,500 to $3,000 of that being profit – selling drinks and snacks alone.

Similarly, Zia Rohrbaugh, the owner of CrossFit Counter Culture in Encinitas, CA, does $5,000 and $8,000 in merchandise sales per month selling supplements, protein powder, electrolyte drinks, collagen, MCT, and coffee.
And Jade Jenny, the owner of Champlain Valley CrossFit in VT, generates $3,000 a month in retail sales, from drinks to protein bars. (Jenny did $10,000 last year in LMNT sales alone, a product where he gets a 100 percent mark up).

How HybridAF Unlocks More Sales Opportunities

Without unattended access, members are limited to shopping during staffed class times.

But with HybridAF, your store is open when your gym is open, which, for many facilities, is 24/7.

That means:

The Honor System in Action

Leah Wheeler, the owner of Five Alarm Fitness in Bloomington, Illinois, runs her pro shop on trust, and it’s working well.

“We have not had any theft as a result of [keeping the pro shop open] during unattended access. Any discrepancies in our inventory have come as a result of athletes, or kids, taking product and forgetting to write it down,” Wheeler said, adding that all of those incidents happened during class times, not during unattended access.

Five Alarm’s shop offers everything from protein supplements to creatine, to pre-workout products, snacks, drinks and apparel and brings in around $750 per month. And the fact that her store is always open has made a big difference to her members, she said.

“It’s nice for folks who come in during unattended access to be able to grab a bar or drink after their workout. If they want protein, they can grab a tub of that, as well,” she said.

Wheeler added: “For folks who only have unattended access, they’d be unable to do that if we didn’t have the honor system in play, and we’d lose out on the sale.”

Similarly, at Charlotte Strength in North Carolina, owner Chris Yandle has seen significant results at his pro shop, and has experienced “minimal instances of theft,” he said.

A HybridAF user for five years, he, too, uses an honor-system model, supported by clear signage and an iPad for purchases, and it brings in around $2,000 a month in retail sales, including drinks, snacks and clothing.

“The honor system helps in two ways: We don’t have to hire someone to be there all day, and it gives our members access to drinks and snacks at their convenience,” Yandle said.

Better yet, it’s a low-maintenance system.

“It only takes about two hours of work a month to order and stock supplies,” he added.

The PushPress Kiosk in Action

Kelly Edwards, the owner of CrossFit Local in Chapel Hill, NC, and a HybridAF user since 2018, ties her pro shop directly to her PushPress store via a tablet kiosk. This means she doesn’t have to manually process any of the sales, as PushPress software does it for her when a member purchases a product.

“The kiosk definitely helps because of the convenience. It’s just added to their account, and HybridAF makes it possible for people to purchase anytime without a staff member around,” Edwards explained.

Her shop stocks hydration supplements like LMNT, protein powder, snacks, blender bottles, athletic tape and apparel, all of which are passive income for Edwards.

Honor System vs. Kiosk: Which Is Right for You?

Both approaches have their advantages:

Honor system : It’s simple to set up, no tech is required, and it relies on community trust. It’s best for tight-knit gyms with strong relationships.
Kiosk (via PushPress or similar): It provides accountability, integrates with billing, and reduces error. It’s great for gyms that want structure and convenience.

If you do go with the honor system, protect yourself with a few safeguards:

Keep signage clear on how to pay.
Use cameras or an iPad as a subtle accountability measure.
Do regular inventory checks so you can spot discrepancies quickly.

The Big Picture: Why Passive Revenue Matters

No one’s getting rich off protein shakes and bottled water, but that’s not the point.

For small gyms, every extra dollar counts. Even an additional $750–$2,000 a month can cover utilities, offset equipment purchases, or go straight back into growing your community.

And perhaps more importantly, having a stocked pro shop accessible during unattended hours makes your gym more valuable to members. It feels like a perk, a service, and a convenience that keeps them loyal.

As Leah Wheeler put it: “It’s just a win, win for everyone.”

Four Ways HybridAF Makes Summer Easier (and More Profitable) for Gym Owners

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:16:05 GMT

Four Ways HybridAF Makes Summer Easier (and More Profitable) for Gym Owners

Everyone loves summer. Except gym owners.

It’s generally a slow time in the gym, and it feels like you’re constantly putting someone’s membership on hold until September.

And while others are vacationing, you find yourself stuck in the gym when the sun is shining, unable to take that week or two off that your mind and body are so desperately craving.

…And to rub salt in the wound, there you are coaching classes of just two or three people, hoping, praying things will pick up again when the summer ends.

What if we told you HybridAF’s 24/7 unattended access can make all those problems disappear.

Four Ways HybridAF Can Help You in the Summer

1.Take that Guilt-Free Vacation. Finally.

With unattended access in place, gym owners can step away for a few long weekends, or maybe even a full week, in the summer without feeling like they’re letting their members down, as members can continue to train as normal even if you are away.

As gym owner Christina Mazzullo, the owner of two Tarheel CrossFit locations in North Carolina,
put it, “HybridAF makes our life easier because we have the freedom to give our staff time off for holidays and not have to close the gym down,” she said.

This, of course, is true for other times of the year, as well, like Christmas.

Scott Panchik , a nine-time CrossFit Games athlete and owner of CrossFit Mentality in Ohio
explained that he takes off to go to Buffalo for a week each Christmas, and his gym operates basically on its own without hassle for that week).

2. Accommodates Unpredictable Schedules, Stops the Summer Holds

Summer brings unpredictability for many gym members; The kids are out of school, people have travel plans, BBQs, and last minute plans always seem to come up. Often this means members can’t always hit their usual class times.

Unattended access, of course, allows them to continue to show up and work on their fitness when it’s convenient for them. Maybe that’s at 5 am before their kids wake up, or maybe it’s at 8 pm after your last class has ended.

• As Jenn Green, the owner of CrossFit Greer in South Carolina, put it: “If they aren’t able to attend a normal class time, they can come at another time. The space is open and they have the same access to workouts, warm-ups etc that we post daily in SugarWOD.”

And it goes without saying, because members’ summer schedules can now be accommodated with unattended access, the gym owner benefits from fewer people putting their memberships on hold until normalcy resumes in September (and as we all know, some people who hold in the summer never return as they said they would).

3. Captures Vacation Drop Ins, Adds Passive Revenue

Tourists and travelers in town also want a flexible place to workout. With unattended access, they can sign an electronic waiver, pay, drop in, and train without any staff required.

Joe Tepe, the owner of The Strip Barbell in Las Vegas, Nevada, for example, has had more than 4,000 drop-ins over the last 18 months, each paying $25 per visit, essentially generating thousands of dollars in passive revenue each month.

4. Cancel Poorly Attended Classes

If you or your coaches find yourselves coaching a two or three-person class during the summer, why not reduce your summer class schedule to save you time and money?

Without HybridAF, there might be push back, as members never like something being removed; however, with HybridAF, members can still come and do the workout of the day, so you’re less likely to have to deal with disgruntled members after making a smart business decision to reduce class times until things pick up again.

Final Thoughts

In a season where flexibility is everything, HybridAF gives gym owners the tools to adapt, stay profitable, and reclaim their time—without compromising member experience.

Whether it’s taking that much-needed vacation, trimming under-attended classes, or welcoming a flood of drop-ins, unattended access ensures your gym runs smoothly all summer long and beyond.

How HybridAF is Helping Gym Owners Accommodate Those Training for HYROX

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:07:21 GMT

How HybridAF is Helping Gym Owners Accommodate Those Training for HYROX

In case you missed it, HYROX is sort of the biggest talked about thing in the fitness space right now.

More than 500,000 people participated in HYROX races in 2025, and this number is expected to hit well over one million in 2026.

As a result, HYROX Training Centers are popping up all over the place to accommodate the tens of thousands of people training for an upcoming HYROX race.

In Charlotte, North Carolina:

“HybridAF integrates into our payment and member processing system. Drop-ins are able to get access to the gym with limited to no communications from us outside of our automated messages,” he said.

He added: “This also helps when members have missed a payment for any circumstance. They lose access to the facility which encourages them to fix the issue on their own.”

In Tuckerton, New Jersey:

The Big Picture

As HYROX continues to grow at an explosive pace, gyms like Charlotte Strength and Clamtown CrossFit are stepping up to meet the evolving needs of athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike.

And thanks to HybridAF, accommodating both their dedicated members and transient drop-ins has never been easier—or more efficient.

“I would highly recommend HybridAF.
The service is very reliable, communication has been great, and to drive home the point of integration
we are able to give access and deny access to the correct people,” Yandel said.

How 24/7 Access Through HybridAF is Giving Lexi Bengston Newfound Freedom, And Bringing in New Members

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:58:55 GMT

How 24/7 Access Through HybridAF is Giving Lexi Bengston Newfound Freedom, And Bringing in New Members

Running a gym wasn’t just a 9-to-5 job for Lexi Bengston, the owner of Hybrid Fitness in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, a gym she opened in June, 2024.

Although she has a team of two coaches, and one substitute coach, “getting away” from the gym was very challenging at times. Further, after just one year in operations, Bengston realized she wanted to better serve her clients by giving them access to the gym “whenever it worked best for them,” she said.

She reached out to HybridAF in May to tackle both problems — and just two months later, things are looking better than ever.

Quick Results

One More Thing: An Easy Transition

Bengston also credits HybridAF with making the implementation and transition process smooth and easy.

Read more here about the implementation system and how HybridAF makes it easy. Other gym owners share their experiences here.

Bengston explained HybridAF handled all of the heavy lifting, so to speak, and everything she needed to do was communicated to her clearly, including updating her waiver, creating a 24/7 rules sheet for members to follow, installing a camera and automatic lights, and writing a new music system.

Once it was set up, Bengston notified all of her clients and they were off to the races.

Bengston’s Message: HybridAF Helps the Small Gym Owner

For any gym owner looking for, either a little more guilt-free freedom, or a way to increase value or increase revenue in an easy way, HybridAF is a great solution.
“I would absolutely recommend HybridAF to other gym owners. It’s been a smooth process, great communication, and so simple once it’s installed,” Bengston said.
She added: “And it gives gym owners an ability to have some freedom without feeling guilty.”

The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Tiered Gym Access

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:55:16 GMT

The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Tiered Gym Access

Today’s gym members want flexibility—early morning workouts, late-night training, open gym between meetings, or just a quick day pass while traveling. But managing who gets in, when, and for how long can quickly become a headache for studio owners.

That’s where tiered access comes in.

With the right tools, you can automate access based on membership type, without relying on staff or spreadsheets. In this guide, we’ll show you how to set up a smart, secure access system that will help you serve more members with less friction and zero compromise on control.

The Problem with Manual Access Control

How HybridAF Can Help You Automate Tiered Access Control

HybridAF removes the manual burden of managing who enters your facility and when. With smartphone-based door access and real-time syncing, you can offer flexible access to your members, without needing someone at the front desk. Whether you’re managing open gym, scheduled classes, or day-pass traffic, HybridAF makes it easy to:

Control access without physical keys or door codes
Sync member status with your management platform (like Zen Planner)
Automatically grant or revoke entry based on real-time data
Offer 24/7 entry to qualified members while keeping others restricted
Ensure applicable Waivers and Rules are acknowledged before entering the facility

It’s a smarter, safer way to run your facility and is designed for owners who want to scale without sacrificing control.

Core Access Control Models Supported by HybridAF

HybridAF supports three key access models that let you tailor entry rules based on your studio’s unique membership structure:

Tag-Based Access

Best for: Studios that want to manually approve members before granting unattended entry.
How It Works: Members are tagged in your management platform (like Zen Planner) once they’ve been vetted. Only tagged + active members get access via HybridAF.
Why It Works: Ideal for facilities with safety protocols or personal equipment requirements.

Offering-Based Access

Best for: Studios offering self-service memberships or drop-ins.
How It Works: Access is granted automatically when a member purchases a qualifying plan with no manual tagging required.
Why It Works: Streamlines onboarding and is perfect for 24/7 gyms and day-pass purchases.

Class Reservation Access

Best for: Group fitness or time-restricted training sessions.
How It Works: Members can only access the facility during their booked class times.
Why It Works: Prevents early arrivals or unscheduled usage, ensuring smooth session flow.

These models can be used individually or combined to build a tiered access system that matches your business goals.

How Zen Planner Powers Seamless Tiered Access?

Smarter Access Starts with Smarter Systems

Tiered access doesn’t have to mean more complexity. With HybridAF and Zen Planner working together, you can build a flexible, secure, and scalable access system that meets your members where they are, without overloading your team.

Whether you want to automate day-pass entry, manage class-only access, or vet members before allowing 24/7 use, this integration gives you the tools to do it all with confidence. With HybridAF and Zen Planner, you have tools to:

Unlock unattended access without compromising safety
Automate member onboarding, tagging, and plan-based entry
Keep access in sync with real-time member status
Protect your time, space, and peace of mind

Want to see how it all fits together? Explore the Zen Planner + HybridAF Integration to build a studio that runs on systems without any stress and hassle.

Opening Doors Worldwide: HybridAF Brings 24/7 Gym Access to a Global Market

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:49:09 GMT

Opening Doors Worldwide: HybridAF Brings 24/7 Gym Access to a Global Market

Did you know that we’re not just in the United States?
We currently operate in eight different countries—the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Guam and Puerto Rico—with plans of continued global expansion.

Recently we caught up with Dan Olford, the co-owner of Nepean CrossFit in Jamisontown, Australia to hear his experience turning his gym into a HybridAF facility.

In fact, he was the first Australian gym to use HybridAF, and has been relying on us since 2018.

Olford admitted he was “a little” apprehensive at first to move to an unattended access model at his gym.

For one, he was a bit concerned it would take away from members coming to classes, as people would opt to come in on their own.

Another concern he had was how the installation process would go, considering he was located across the world from the United States.

But his excitement to try “something new and different” outweighed his apprehensions.

So he took the plunge. And it turned out to be a seamless transition, right from the installation process.

The Big Picture: We’re Here for You, Wherever you Are in the World

Olford’s experience is a testament to how HybridAF is transforming gym access around the globe. And the benefits extend well beyond convenience.

Thanks to our seamless international installation, we’re helping gyms add value to their members to increase member satisfaction and client retention, all the while increasing freedom for the gym owner and revenue for the business.

No matter where you are in the world, we’re here to help you open doors, literally and figuratively.

Five Things You Might Not Know the HybridAF App Can Do

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:44:54 GMT

Five Things You Might Not Know the HybridAF App Can Do

HybridAF was created with the needs of gym owners, coaches, and members in mind.

For gym owners, it’s a tool designed to add value to their offerings, provide them with freedom to take time off (and not feel guilty about it), and create opportunities for additional revenue and new revenue streams. And for members, HybridAF was built to enhance experience by offering unattended access, giving them more freedom and flexibility to train on their own schedule or follow their own training program.

And for everyone, it eliminates the hassle of clunky keys by streamlining access through modern technology.

That’s HybridAF in a nutshell, and it’s all rolled into a very easy-to-use, convenient app that does more than you think.

Five Things You Might Not Know About the HybridAF App

Final Thoughts: The HybridAF App is More than You Realized

Whether you’re a gym owner looking to streamline operations and boost client retention, or you’re a member craving more flexibility and freedom to train on your own, the HybridAF app delivers unexpected value in a simple, tech-savvy package.

From attendance tracking to seamless integrations and enhanced security features, HybridAF is more than just a digital key: It’s a smart business tool designed to grow with you.

How HybridAF Enhances Security for these Two Gym Owners

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:35:57 GMT

How HybridAF Enhances Security for these Two Gym Owners

When it comes to putting their heart into their business—and their customers—nobody does it better than the small gym owner, whose generosity and commitment often goes far beyond just fitness.

This is what happened to PJ Martinez, the owner of BridgeLakes CrossFit in Cypress, Texas.

A Similar Story In Wisconsin

Final Thoughts: Beyond Unattended Access

For gym owners like Martinez and Elliot, HybridAF has done so much more than add value for their members.

By enhancing security, simplifying access control, and freeing up valuable time, HybridAF empowers them to serve their communities without sacrificing peace of mind.

Adding HybridAF to Your Gym’s Offerings is a Breeze, Gym Owners Say

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:30:27 GMT

Adding HybridAF to Your Gym’s Offerings is a Breeze, Gym Owners Say

As a busy gym owner, sometimes the thought of making a big change is daunting, overwhelming, just one thing too many.

Or at the very least, the thought of big changes can cause you to drag your heels and procrastinate changing something you really want to change, but you’re fearful it will take up time that you just don’t have.

Scott Panchik in Ohio

The nine-time CrossFit Games athlete Scott Panchik started using HybridAF more than eight years ago at his gym CrossFit Mentality in Mentor, Ohio, and even then it didn’t take much effort, he said.

“It wasn’t a difficult challenge. They send someone out so you’re not the one setting it up. They put the system in your door and link it to your Internet and now you can access your gym with the click of a button,” Panchik said.

And when Panchik switched his gym management platform to StreamFit, HybridAF didn’t integrate with StreamFit yet, as it was a new gym management platform at the time.

Dan Messinger in Colorado

Christina Mazzullo in North Carolina

Christina Mazzullo is the owner of two CrossFit gyms—Tarheel CrossFit in Spring Lake, NC and Tarheel CrossFit South in Fayetteville, NC—and also a competitive athlete who won the 2023 CrossFit Games in the Upper Extremity division .

She is also a long-time HybridAF user, and said the implementation process couldn’t have been easier.

“When I set HybridAF up, all I had to do was download an app. The set-up was a breeze. HybridAF provides a true white glove experience. And If I ever have problems, HybridAF leaders communicate with me right away and work toward a speedy resolution.”

Joe Tepe in Nevada

Like Panchik, Joe Tepe, the owner of The Strip Barbell in Las Vegas, Nevada, added HybridAF before they were integrated with his gym management software, Acuity.

And like with Panchik, HybridAF quickly worked to create an integration between HybridAF and Acuity to accommodate Type, his members, and the countless drop-ins he gets (For the record, he has had more than 6,000 drop-ins pay $25 a head since adding HybridAF, revenue that is entirely hands off for Tepe).

“Over a year later, we do 60-plus day passes a week with very little work on my end,” Tepe said.

The Bottom Line

Change can be scary, but oftentimes it’s not as hard as we think it will be. And gym owners who have taken the plunge with HybridAF say that’s definitely the case with implementing unattended access at their gyms.

As Messinger put it: “ I’d say to any gym owner thinking about going 24/7 with HybridAF, just do it. It seems like a big undertaking, but it really isn’t at all and once you do it, you’ll look back and wonder why you didn’t do it on day one.”

Considering Adding Unattended Access? Don’t Sweat the Setup: We Make It Easy

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:17:43 GMT

Considering Adding Unattended Access? Don’t Sweat the Setup: We Make It Easy

Change is scary. Especially when you’re a busy gym owner, and you know changing any kind of operations in your gym will likely be a time-consuming, possibly overwhelming and stress-inducing, process.

Maybe you have been considering adding unattended access to your members, but you have been dragging your heels because of your hesitation to undertake such a seemingly daunting transition.

We know this, which is why we have created a simple five-step process (and hold your hand every step of the way).

Step 1. Set-Up

When you come on board, you’ll have a welcome call and will receive a welcome email with our Installation Guide and Best Practices.

The email will also ask you to answer some simple questions, including your facility address, phone number, business email, logo etc.

You will also be asked to schedule a time for the pre-install walk through, where you will meet with our implementation team (This only takes about 15 minutes).

Step 2. Install

We will activate your gym on the HybridAF app, and will come on-site for a few hours to install the goods at your facility.

At the end of today, you will now have the ability to unlock your door utilizing the HybridAF app. (That being said, you can still use your normal keys to open your door, as well, if need be).

Step 3. Pre-Launch

During the pre-launch phase, you will need to update your waiver and rules to reflect unattended access and upload them into the app so everything is ready for your members before you launch HybridAF., Further, you should let your insurance company know that you’re about to go live with 24/7 access. Then you will connect the HybridAF app to your current member management system.

In case you missed it, HybridAF integrates with every member management software under the sun: PushPress, Zen Planner, Wodify, StreamFit, MindBody, Trainerize, Pike13, Mariana Tek, Kilo, Chalk It Pro, Xplor Triib, RxGym, FitHive, Plan2Play, Shopify, Acuity Scheduling, Camio, MyStrengthBook, Exercise.com and WODBoard.

Check out how easy it is to both use the HybridAF app, and to integrate it with your current software here .

Step 4. Soft Launch

During the soft launch, you will become familiar with the user and admin features on our platform so you can easily manage your gym and your members. And, of course, our support team is here to answer any of your questions.

Then you will roll out access to a test group, which likely includes your coaches and maybe a few members. The test group will now be able to access your facility easily with their phones. This phase is where our integrations shine, as you’ll be able to enable access via integration with your gym management software to provide a simple, seamless experience for your members.

When you’re ready to go, it’s time to make the announcement that you’re a HybridAF gym (and we always appreciate you tagging us on your posts when you do, so we can share the news, as well).

Step 5. Full Launch

It’s time to unlock the doors and roll out unattended access to your members in whatever way you choose to do so.

It’s also the time to begin billing for the service (which can easily be done through your member management software).

As we mentioned, there are various ways to offer unattended access. Some of these include:

Early Adopters/Founders Club: Some gym owners give the first 20 to 30 members who sign up for unattended access a reduced rate to get the ball rolling. This puts immediate cash in your pocket to recover the install expenses.
Member Price Increase: Other gym owners (who might have been wanting to raise their memberships rates) use the value-add that unattended access provides as a great time to increase their membership rates across the board.
Add-On Membership: Another option is to offer unattended access at a cost only to those members who want it.
Open Gym Membership: Others still offer unattended access memberships only. Sometimes they’re a great way to capture new clientele you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to cater to. Most gyms charge between $40 and $85 a month for unattended access, and it’s largely passive revenue. Conversely, you can use open gym memberships as a way of selling individual program design, again increasing your revenue.

Check out these four real life examples of how gym owners are benefiting financially from HybridAF in different ways:

The Big Picture: Why Add HybridAF?

Change is hard, but we make sure it’s not too hard for the gym owner.

As HybridAF owner Albert Steed put it: “We do all the heavy lifting and install work” and the gym owner mostly just needs to decide how they’re going to use it.

The Time Breakdown

15 minutes for the first meeting with our install team
One hour to update your waiver and rules
A couple hours to integrate the HybridAF app with your gym management software, and to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of the platform
Be largely available the day of the install, although you don’t even need to be there the whole time (just at the beginning and end).

And then the fun begins. You get to decide how you’re going to roll out your new service, and then you can sit back and reap the benefits in the form of possibly capturing new clients, building new revenue streams, and adding value to your members, thus improving client retention in the process.

How HybridAF is Building Community, Revenue and Improving Client Retention at Beyond Strength

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:01:21 GMT

How HybridAF is Building Community, Revenue and Improving Client Retention at Beyond Strength

Chris Merrit was simply looking for a way to accommodate his members’ ever-changing schedules a little bit more effectively.

His gym, Beyond Strength in Sterling, Virginia is closed on the weekends. Further, like many gyms, “there is this ebb and flow in seasonal shifts,” he explained, but he didn’t necessarily want to add or remove classes all the time depending on the season.

“So we thought, instead of removing x hour from this day, we can offer people (unattended) access,” explained Merritt, who opened his gym in 2011.

That’s when, last year, Merritt turned to HybridAF for a solution.

Unattended access has definitely helped accommodate members’ schedules at Beyond Strength, providing them with way more flexibility, Merritt said, but it has also helped both his business and community in a few other unexpected ways.

1. Revenue

Merritt charges members $10 a week to add unattended access to their membership, which they can easily do on their own using the PushPress app, as HybridAF integrates seamlessly with PushPress software , (as well as various other gym management platforms).

Today, this accounts for approximately $800 in additional monthly revenue, revenue that is largely hands off for Merritt.

2. Weekend Love

Unattended access also means those who want to train on Saturdays and Sundays are now able to access the gym and complete their workout.

Prior to HybridAF, Merritt always programmed an equipment-free workout on Saturdays

that members could do on their own. But now he programs two options, one for those who don’t have access to a gym and one for those who do.

It has created a whole new community within his community—a regular Saturday crew, who come in and workout together, and then stick around for a bit to “kick back and relax,” Merritt explained. Sometimes Merritt joins them, giving him a chance to just be a part of the community without feeling like he’s at work.

Further, Merritt also has a group of members and coaches training for an upcoming Hyrox in Washington DC. Unattended access has given the group the opportunity to come together on Saturdays and train for Hyrox.

3. Perfect in an Emergency

Most recently, on Valentine’s Day, one of Merritt’s coaches was out of town while another fell sick, putting the burden on Merritt to coach the Valentine’s Day classes.

He did so during the day, but if he didn’t want to “mess with my marriage,” he laughed, meaning he needed a solution for the Friday evening class.

HybridAF offered the solution in a pinch, as he was able to provide everyone who had registered for a class a one-time access to the gym.

“I put a more seasoned member in charge to manage the clock and everyone had free access to check in,” he said.

It went off without a hitch, and he was able to remain hitched.

4. Remote Access

Similarly, another time Merritt was in the Bahamas and had sold a piece of equipment. Instead of losing the sale because he was away on vacation, he was able to let the buyer into his facility to grab the equipment Merritt had sold him.

Merritt had no problem doing this, as he has three cameras that cover the entire facility, giving him peace of mind at all times as to what is happening inside his gym.

The Big Picture: Why Add HybridAF?

Depending on your gym, Merritt said there are four possible reasons he recommends HybridAF to other gym owners: revenue, community, flexibility, and ultimately client retention.

In his case, as already mentioned, Merritt has seen a nice little revenue bump for the business, and the Saturday option has helped “create a tighter knit community” at his gym, he explained.

Further, the added flexibility has added more value to his members, something they have been incredibly appreciative of.

“I’ll run into people during off hours and they’ll be like, ‘Thank you so much. I mean, they’re paying for it, but they’re like, ‘If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t have gotten this session in,’” he said.

Finally, Merritt said all of this has led to an increase in client retention, as members are getting exactly what they want.

5 Types of Members Gym Owners Can Support Using HybridAF

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:53:04 GMT

5 Types of Members Gym Owners Can Support Using HybridAF

More than 200,000 gym-goers (214,121, to be exact) rely on HybridAF to access facilities around the world.

That said, HybridAF is used in different ways by different people, depending on their unique needs, goals, priorities, and schedules. Similarly, no two gyms are exactly alike.

We understand this, which is why HybridAF allows gym owners to offer unattended access in a way that best suits their community, culture, and members.

For some, this means charging an additional fee for unattended access, while others include it as part of their regular memberships to add value. Some gyms offer unattended access-only memberships, while others provide one-time or weekly access for visitors and drop-ins.

The Five Types of Members HybridAF Can Service

The Bottom Line

Unattended access offers gym owners a unique opportunity to serve a diverse range of gym-goers, each with different needs, goals, priorities, and schedules.

For members, it means getting the training they need. For gym owners, it can generate additional revenue through upselling current members, attracting new members, selling drop-ins, and ultimately improving client retention.

Five Ways HybridAF Can Help Your Gym (That You Maybe Haven’t Considered)

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:46:57 GMT

Five Ways HybridAF Can Help Your Gym (That You Maybe Haven’t Considered)

Gym owners turn to HybridAF for plenty of reasons, the most common being:

They want to provide more value to their members, and having the freedom and flexibility of unattended access does exactly this.
They see it as a potential revenue-generating source, as they can (if they choose to) sell unattended access, either as its own membership or as an add-on cost to a regular membership.
They want more freedom to, for example, go on vacation without feeling guilty. As Christina Mazzullo, the owner of two Tarheel CrossFit locations in North Carolina, put it: “HybridAF makes our life easier because we have the freedom to give our staff time off for holidays and not have to close the gym down. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and we believe our members appreciate the freedom and flexibility that comes with that.”

HybridAF does all of the above, but long-time owners say it has also brought unexpected conveniences to their lives in other ways.

Five Unexpected Ways HybridAF Helps Gym Owners, Coaches and Members

HybridAF Helps Breakfast Club Barbell Double Membership Revenue in One Year

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:41:51 GMT

HybridAF Helps Breakfast Club Barbell Double Membership Revenue in One Year

For many small gym owners, the story goes like this: They open their doors and begin to grow. Their membership and revenue continues to grow for a year, three years, five years, but eventually it stagnates.

They become stuck at 80 members, or 100 members, their costs have increased, and they’re not turning much of a profit. So they start looking for ways to increase their membership.

This was the case for Katie Jobe , the owner of CrossFit Sedalia in Missouri. She turned to HybridAF after nearly a decade of gym ownership and was quickly able to increase her monthly revenue by $1,000 without adding any more work to her plate.
And it was the case for Dan Messinger , the owner of CrossFit Breckenridge in Colorado, a gym that sees a ton of drop-ins. He added unattended access and today 20 to 25 percent of his revenue comes from drop-ins, meaning virtually hands off revenue for him.

“Prospective members love the idea of 24/7 access through an app, and it helps us really sell those memberships… Members love the flexibility,” she said, adding that customer service “has always been helpful if we have an issue.”

She added: “We wanted to be able to offer open gym to our class members, but also as a stand alone option for those not taking our classes.”

Today, Flowers estimates that 75 percent of her members take advantage of the unattended access option to train.

By adding unattended access, she is able to charge a bit more for those who want to opt in. She charges an additional $35 a month for the add-on, and $50 a month for an unattended access-only membership

Two More Things

Easier Access
For Flowers, whose gym is located in northeast, Ohio, where temperatures often drop below freezing during the winter months, the quick access to the gym “is so helpful.”
“Having the ability to open the door quickly and not mess around with a key is something I’m proud we offer to our members and coaches,” she added.
Remote Access
Being able to open her door remotely, be it for a delivery person or otherwise, is also a nice touch, Flowers explained, saying, “I love the capability of HybridAF to open the door remotely as an admin,” she said.

Bottom line:
HybridAF makes life easier, and has helped her business grow quickly in the first fifteen months in operation..

How Two Gyms are Taking Advantage of the Class Feature to Run their Business and Capture Newfound Revenue

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:36:53 GMT

How Two Gyms are Taking Advantage of the Class Feature to Run their Business and Capture Newfound Revenue

Though HybridAF is known for its ability to provide 24/7 access to members, there are other ways it can be used to add value to both members and the business.

At its heart, HybridAF is about unattended access—rather than 24/7 access, per se—meaning it allows people to access a facility on their own, either during regular business hours or otherwise. And this access can also be restricted to a specific day or days, to specific times, or even for a one-time use.

Enter HybridAF’s Class Feature:

It allows gym owners to provide one hour access to, for example, a drop in from out of town.

How it works:

HybridAF integrates with a host of gym management and gym registration platforms, including Zen Planner, PushPress, Pike 13, StreamFit, Mariana Tea, Wodify, Acuity, shopify, Kilo to name a few (Check out a full list of these integrations here ).
The member or drop-in, then, signs up for a time slot or class in whatever software their gym uses, and the HybridAF software then steps in and provides them physical access to the facility.

Worth noting: Tepe also owns a CrossFit gym in the same parking lot as The Strip Barbell, so many of his CrossFit members also pay for unattended access at The Strip Barbell. He said this has gone a long way in increasing his client retention.

“It gives so much more availability to my members. My thought is, if you can give clients more exposure to your gym, and not make them seek it somewhere else, then their length of engagement at your gym will increase, and it has,” he added.

Further, it has helped accommodate CrossFit members who have specific goals they want to work on outside of regular classes, or who want to follow their own programming.

“People will come to my CrossFit gym and they want to do HWPO programming or snatch in the corner, and I can tell them, ‘No, not here, but you can do it at my other gym’ across the parking lot. It means I’m no longer turning down revenue,” he said.

Final Thoughts

For gym owners who are apprehensive about offering unattended access, Tepe said this: “More than 6,000 people have used it and I have never had an issue.”

He added: “People who are worried are worrying about the half of a half of a percent of people, so to not do something very useful for fear of that half of a percent, is silly.”

Ready to Learn More About HybridAF?

To provide you with a comprehensive understanding of HybridAF and how it can benefit your business, we have attached an overview and a link to a demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA5UVQmhijQ

We invite you to explore these resources and gain valuable insights into our offering. Our dedicated team is ready to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the process of implementing HybridAF at your gym.

Thank you for your interest in HybridAF. We look forward to partnering with you and elevating the fitness experience for your members

844-927-43136 (844-HYBRIDAF)

SALES@HYBRIDAF.COM

Eight Years in, Scott Panchik Still Crushing it with HybridAF

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:32:47 GMT

Eight Years in, Scott Panchik Still Crushing it with HybridAF

Three More Perks Thanks to HybridAF

Makes the Holidays Easier

While some gym owners just feel like they can’t escape over Thanksgiving weekend, or during the Christmas holidays—as they feel guilty for abandoning their members who are eager to come in and train—Panchik doesn’t have to worry about this.

“We can step away and people can still workout. We have a workout written and people can come in and do it or do their own workout,” Panchik said, adding that he takes off to
Buffalo, NY for a week each Christmas.

He added: “People want to come in and do their holiday workouts, but our coaching staff also deserves some time to recharge. We have to fill up our own cups before we can give the community everything we have.”

Integrates with StreamFit

Another piece of the puzzle for Panchik to run his gym the way he does is that the HybridAF app integrates seamlessly with his all-in-one gym management software, StreamFit.

The two platforms work together on either iOS or Android, to be able to provide access (either temporary of 24/7 access) to members, or vendors for deliveries.

For the member, the user experience is fully embedded into the StreamFit app, so they can open their StreamFit app and be granted access to the gym straight from there without having to download another app.

“Or if someone decides over Thanksgiving they want to come in and do a workout, they can purchase a membership (in StreamFit), fill out the waiver, and then it gives them a virtual key and they can come in,” Panchik said.

He added: “The integration gives people lots of options.”

Accommodates Deliveries

As an added bonus, Panchik also doesn’t have to worry about missing a UPS delivery, as he can let the delivery person into the facility to drop off a delivery, “even if I’m in Buffalo,” he said.

And because he also has a camera set up, Panchik can watch the delivery person walk in and walk out, he explained.

Meet Two Gym Owners who are Generating Hands off Revenue with HybridAF

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:28:56 GMT

Meet Two Gym Owners who are Generating Hands off Revenue with HybridAF

One of the most underrated aspects of adding HybridAF’s unattended access to your small gym is the diversity with which you can roll it out.

Yes, it provides the option to offer 24/7 access, but that’s up to the gym owner. If 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. makes more sense for your gym, then you can easily set those hours of operation.

Further, as the gym owner it’s up to you whether you want to provide your entire membership access to HybridAF without charging them more, or whether you want to roll it out as a potential upsell, as a way to increase your average client value.

Or, like Kurt Miller, the owner of South Mountain Community Fitness in Pennsylvania did, you might choose to add HybridAF at the same time as you increase your rates, as a way to show that increased rates are coming with increased value.

Or, like Ben Benson in Savannah, Georgia, you might use it to build a business focused on drop-ins. Benson uses HybridAF in conjunction with PushPress software to sell one day, one week and one month memberships. Read more about how Benson is doing it here.

Generating Revenue with HybridAF

HybridAF: Yet Another Way for 12-Year Gym Owner Kurt Miller to Add Value to his Members

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:26:01 GMT

HybridAF: Yet Another Way for 12-Year Gym Owner Kurt Miller to Add Value to his Members

More recently, Miller turned to HybridAF as yet another way to add value to his members and increase their overall experience.

Prior to that, his members were able to access his gym using clunky key fobs, he explained.

“I was totally sick of using key fobs and HybridAF has allowed us provide easy access 24/7, streamline new additions totals hands off, [without] clunky fey fobs,” he said , adding that it also makes signing up a visitor or drop-in completely hands off and seamless.

Two years in, one hundred percent of his members today take advantage of HybridAF to access the gym, Miller said, adding that it has helped him increase both his client length of engagement (client retention) and average revenue per member.

More specifically, his average member length of engagement today is 25 months, more than three times the industry average of 7.8 months as per the 2023 Two-Brain Business State of the Industry Report .

“My members love it. It’s easy, safe, secure access that feels very professional,” Miller added.

More than anything, though, having HybridAF in his corner has given Miller a lot of time back as a busy gym owner wearing all of the hats.

“I would recommend HybridAF because of the time that it has given me back in my life,” Miller said. “Time is money, as they say, and I have completely won the lottery with getting way more time back.”

Miller also stresses the importance of having an efficient gym management software system like he does with PushPress if you’re going to roll out unattended access.

“The direct plan integration [with PushPress and HybridAF] is amazing. It has made it so easy,” he said.

He added: “Set up a plan in PushPress, boom automatic access to HybridAF. No more plan, no more access, easy peasy. I don’t have to schedule a meet up to get a new client access to my gym. Full automation.”

Six Months In, CrossFit Sedalia Seeing Big Gains with Hybrid AF

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:17:57 GMT

Six Months In, CrossFit Sedalia Seeing Big Gains with Hybrid AF

Last spring, Katie Jobe decided she wanted to find a way to offer more value to her members at CrossFit Sedalia in Sedalia, Missouri, a gym she has owned for a decade.

She turned to Hybrid AF for a possible solution.

A few short months later, not only is Jobe offering more value to her members, but she’s also generating well over $1,000 more each month in newfound revenue, and she’s finally able to take Sundays away from the gym, which Jobe explained is priceless.

The college pays the athletes’ membership fees, and it is generating an additional $1,000 a month for the gym. Best of all, it’s revenue that is zero work for her, Jobe explained.

“We’re not doing anything except providing the space,” she explained.

Further, Jobe is able to provide the Track and Field coach at the college a report each month detailing which athletes are showing up to her gym each week, so the coach is able to monitor their athletes’ compliance to their training program.

Worth Noting: Jobe also pointed to the importance of having gym management software that integrates with HybridAF in order for it to be a seamless experience for the member.

“Overall, it is so easy. All I have to do is attach a HybridAF plan to my members on PushPress Core, and within 30 minutes they’re getting an email asking them to join HybridAF,” she said.

One more thing: Not only do the track and field athletes from State Fair Community College take advantage of the unattended access at CrossFit Sedalia, but Jobe and her team also work with the college’s softball and soccer teams.

This has also been hugely beneficial to her business, Jobe explained, and she recommends other gym owners who are looking to generate additional revenue to tap into a potential partnership with a local college near their gym.

Final Thoughts: Hybrid AF is a No Brainer

Ultimately, the decision to add unattended access via Hybrid AF has improved both Jobe’s life and business, making them better and easier.

Jobe can now enjoy a consistent day off from work each week, and her business revenue has seen an easy increase.

“It’s just awesome. Our members love it. I love it. It gives me a break, too, as a gym owner…We’re loving it, and we hope to continue to grow with it,” she said.

Ben Benson Breaking New Grounds in Unattended Access Technology

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:14:38 GMT

Ben Benson Breaking New Grounds in Unattended Access Technology

Ben Benson had an idea for his gym: Victory Gym in Savannah, Georgia.

The city of Savannah is quite transient and sees a lot of one-time drop-ins, as well as weekly and single month visitors, and he wanted to be able accommodate them via HybridAF’s 24/7 unaccompanied gym access.

• “What I needed was for someone to walk up to the door, scan a QR code, buy a pass, get their pass, and gain access to the gym to workout,” said Benson, who has been in the CrossFit space for 16 years now.

When he first proposed the idea to HybridAF, the technology wasn’t there, so Benson pushed, as he knew this would have the ability to be a big game changer for his business.

• “The idea seems so simple on paper, but the actual process of building that system is quite complex,” he explained.

To make it happen, he needed HybridAF to be able to work with PushPress Core (the billing software he uses).

• “The two companies weren’t set up for this, but they saw what it could be,” he said.

So Benson collaborated with both HybridAF and PushPress to build the technology he needed, and today he credits both companies with listening to his feedback and acting to build what he needed to make his vision a reality.

Philip Tabor, VP of Sales for HybridAF, championed the vision and added: ” Gym owners are finding significant value in the HybridAF platform, which offers safe and secure access for their clients, from class users wanting an extra session, open gym users and those using personal training. This innovative approach enhances the community, offers flexibility and revenue potential, integrating seamlessly with member management systems like PushPress, positioning HybridAF uniquely in the evolving fitness landscape.”

Today, it’s up and running and Benson sells one to three day passes each day for $20 each, as well as at least one new longer term membership—either a one week or one month pass—every other day, essentially generating passive, completely hands off revenue for his business.

As a double gym owner—he also owns Terminus Strength & Conditioning in Atlanta, Georgia—and a father of two children, nothing could be more appreciated than passive revenue, he explained.

While Terminus Strength & Conditioning (CrossFit Terminus) is your classic CrossFit facility that focuses largely on group classes, Victory Gym has become a truly hybrid model, where 50 percent of the clientele do CrossFit classes and another 50 percent of the membership base are DIY members who use HybridAF for unattended access (half of his CrossFit clients also take advantage of unattended access as for an additional fee).

Next up for Benson is to open a second CrossFit Terminus location, where he’s planning on offering unattended access via HybridAF.

For gym owners looking to take on a similar model to the one Benson operates at Victory Gym, he is adamant “it can be a very profitable thing to boost your revenue, however it’s not simple,” he said. “It’s a work-in-progress to make it as easy as possible for both the client and gym owner.”

That being said, he knows it’s only going to grow from here, as both HybridAF and PushPress offer incredible customer service and “the ability to have conversations,” he said.

• “I want to give my utmost respect and appreciation to both HybridAF and PushPress . There is no us without them. The key to bringing this to market has been exceptional customer service and open lines of communication, which in turn, has allowed all companies to grow and evolve,” he said.

John Batdorff, VP of Sales for PushPress added: “At PushPress, we’ve witnessed firsthand how the HybridAF integration creates a seamless experience for PushPress gym owners. By reducing the need for registration forms and streamlining processes, plan landing pages enable remote client sign-ups and grant HybridAF access, all without requiring physical presence at the gym.”

Ben had some final thoughts on his mission: “All these people have a mission, and the mission is to make the affiliate owner’s life easier by listening to the gym owner’s needs. They are listening to me and they’re trying to give me everything I need.”

CrossFit Barrington Qualifies 27 to Quarterfinals, Made Easier with HybridAF

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:12:04 GMT

CrossFit Barrington Qualifies 27 to Quarterfinals, Made Easier with HybridAF

After 14 years of CrossFit, CrossFit Barrington owner Craig Niven still embraces the Open. This year, that meant 103 of his members competed in the CrossFit Open, 27 of whom went on to qualify to Quarterfinals.

It’s something that would have been a lot more challenging to accomplish, he said, without HybridAF and the option for unattended access.

“We programmed every Open workout in the classes on Fridays, but with 103 registered, there were always a few people each week who couldn’t make it on Friday. They’d use HybridAF to access the gym on Saturday or Sunday,” said Niven, a Level 2 coach who started CrossFit in 2010 and opened his gym in Illinois in 2011.

Niven isn’t the only one: Read about what two CrossFit Games champions and gym owners said about how HybridAF makes their lives easier during the Open.

Being able to provide the unattended access option to his clients, not only gave them a better Open experience, but it also took the stress off him, as well. In fact, that’s true not just during the Open, but on a weekly basis.

“We see a high volume of gym-goers during early Saturday mornings, Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday. Previously (before HybridAF), we offered a manned two-hour open gym on Sunday mornings. The freedom of no longer staffing the gym on Sundays, and the associated cost reductions, has been fantastic,” said Niven, whose gym has been with HybridAF for the last two-and-a-half years.

Today, Niven estimates that about 25 percent of his members regularly take advantage of HybridAF—a feature that’s included in his regular membership offering—and the ability to come in when best suits their schedule.

For the record: Although Niven includes unattended access in his regular membership, some HybridAF-using gym owners also use HybridAF to generate additional revenue they otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Read about that here .

The bigger picture: Needless to say, Niven calls HybridAF a no-brainer for the busy, often overworked gym owner looking to save both time and money.

“Simplify your life and enjoy more family time,” he said.

And for those gym owners who are still hesitant at the thought of their members showing up to the gym after hours, Niven admits he was there once too, but that the fears were unfounded.

“Initially, I had concerns about members accessing the gym independently, but those worries vanished. Over the past two-and-a-half years, we have experienced zero issues or problems,” he said.

“We should have added HybridAF a long, long time ago,” he said.

Dan Miller Looks to Defend his CrossFit Games 65-Plus Title

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:07:53 GMT

Dan Miller Looks to Defend his CrossFit Games 65-Plus Title

and has HybridAF as his Secret Weapon this Season

When Dan Miller first showed up to compete at the CrossFit Games in 2022, his hands were shaking.

“I didn’t know what to do, what to think, or how it was going to go,” admitted the 67-year-old who trains at Sheepdog Athletics and Fitness in Taunton, Massachusetts.

“But then when the 3, 2, 1 goes off, I just forgot about everything and just competed,” he added.

By the end of the weekend, Miller wound up fourth overall in the Men’s 65-plus division, a finish that gave him the confidence to know he belonged. And so he entered the 2023 season with a different mindset.

And last year’s season unfolded, his confidence grew. He placed fourth in the age group Quarterfinals and first in the Semifinals, and headed to Madison, WI ranked first in the world.

When he got there, the stars were just kind of aligned.

“Fortunately, the workouts were in my wheelhouse,” said Miller, who admitted he felt a certain amount of pressure after winning the Semifinals.

He lived up to the pressure, and after six events last summer, Miller was crowned the Fittest 65-Plus Man on Earth.

Looking To Repeat In 2024?

After winning last season, Miller admits the pressure has only increased, however, he also knows the competition will be even more stiff this season, as many of the men from the 60-64-year-old division have aged up into the 65-plus division, and they’re a couple years younger than him.

Miller, though, is trying not to think about the pressure and is just using this as motivation.

“It pushes me a little bit to work harder, to work on the skills that I might be lacking,” he said.

This year, Miller also has a secret weapon in his pocket: His gym became a HybridAF member in January, so he now has the opportunity to work on these skills whenever is convenient, as he has 24/7 access to the gym.

Miller still works—as a contractor in IT in healthcare—and he knows he has some time-consuming projects coming up work-wise, so having the ability to go to the gym whenever he can leading up to this summer’s Games “will be very convenient,” he said.

“I still need to get my workout in, so whether it’s 5 a.m. or 8 p.m., I’ll take advantage of (unattended access),” he said.

But first, Miller has Quarterfinals to get through, and hopefully Semifinals, where he’s hoping to punch his third straight ticket to the 2024 CrossFit Games by Legends.

The Bigger Picture For Miller

Though he loves training and competing—Miller is at the gym six days a week—the more important piece of the puzzle is about being healthy and fit as he ages.

He credits his coaches—his son Dan Miller and his daughter-in-law Tonya Miller—for helping him stay physically fit, and his wife for her delicious and healthy meals.

“She’s a tremendous cook, so we eat really well,” he said.

As a result, Miller doesn’t feel like he’s slowing down. In fact, he still gets PRs here and there.

Last year, for example, after eight years of CrossFit, Miller PRed all of his powerlifting lifts, hitting a 427-pound deadlift, a 377-pound back squat and a 237-pound bench press.

“I feel stronger, or at least I don’t feel like I’m getting weaker…I’m not slowing down,” he said.

He’s not slowing down and he just feels better when he moves.

“I have no complaints, other than being a year older, but I feel great during and after workouts and just want to continue in that manner as long as I can,” Miller said.

This is also his message to other aging adults: “Just keep moving. Once you stop moving, that’s when things start to fail. So, even if it’s just walking, just keep moving,” he said.

“And stop eating at those fast food restaurants,” he added with a laugh.

HybridAF Gym OwnerChristina Mazzullo Wins2023 CrossFit Games Title

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:04:12 GMT

HybridAF Gym OwnerChristina Mazzullo Wins2023 CrossFit Games Title

Christina Mazzullo Was Born With Both Syndactyly And Symbrachydactyly.

In layman’s terms, Mazzullo was born with a webbed hand on her left arm—which is shorter than her right arm—and has three partial fingers. As a young child, she underwent surgery to remove the webbing and a finger that had no bone.

Today, at 42, Mazzullo is not only the owner of two gyms , but also a recently crowned CrossFit Games champion. She won the Upper Extremity division at the recent 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games in Madison, WI by 95 points over her closest competitor.

She credits both CrossFit, who she said has “given us the platform to show the world what is possible,” and her husband with helping her get to where she is today.

“Justin was the first person to push me past my comfort zone. He is always asking me,

‘Why can’t you?’ If I say I cannot do something. I would not be where I am today without him, she said.

Standing on the top spot on the podium, after finishing second last season, provided Mazzullo with “a level of accomplishment I had never felt before,” she said.

Beyond The CrossFit Games

More important than the Games for Mazzullo—who owns Tarheel CrossFit in Spring Lake, NC and Tarheel CrossFit South in Fayetteville, NC—with her husband, is to spread their message to as many people as possible, a message about CrossFit’s ability to change lives.

“CrossFIt changed my life. It’s all inclusive and, if done correctly, life changing,” she said, adding that it helped her not only become more physically capable, but it also helped her change her nutrition.

Most importantly, however, is that it gave her confidence she never had.

“As an adaptive athlete, confidence is not something I ever had growing up. CrossFit gave me confidence and that confidence took me to the next level,” she said.

Confidence, not only in her body, but confidence in whatever else she pursues in life, including owning a gym.

To be a successful gym owner, she has learned doesn’t mean you have to be able “to do.” You have to be able to teach and lead, she explained.

“If you cannot perform a muscle-up or some other cool movements, chances are most athletes in your gym can’t either,” she said.

She added: “You do not have to be a Games athlete to own a gym. You just need to be good at running a business and have a passion for CrossFit.”

The Dream Job

As a result, Mazzullo feels like she is living her dream job, calling it the “single most rewarding job in the world because you are healing people of disease.”

“Whether that is a psychological (or) emotional distress, a physical disease, or a chemical dependency, you are playing a huge role in healing people,” she continued. “It hasn’t been easy, it is the most rewarding job because once you see someone through their darkest times, they are forever grateful to you.”

While Mazzullo admitted gym ownership is challenging, becoming a HybridAF gym and offering 24/7 access to the members of both of their gyms, has made it a lot easier.

“HybridAF makes our life easier because we have the freedom to give our staff time off for holidays and not have to close the gym down. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and we believe our members appreciate the freedom and flexibility that comes with that,” she said.

Mazullo’s Next Step

As an adaptive athlete, Mazullo would love to reach more people with physical disabilities, one of her goals being to begin speaking in schools to catch them when they’re young.

“My message to adaptive athletes is start doing what you think you cannot do early, and don’t be scared to fail or look a little silly. It’s part of the process and you will become more resilient and stronger for it,” she said.

The proof is in the pudding: Adopting this attitude helped Mazullo become the Fittest Upper Extremity athlete in the world.

Unattended Access Helps Tarheel CrossFit Qualify 38 Athletes to Quarterfinals

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:01:01 GMT

Unattended Access Helps Tarheel CrossFit Qualify 38 Athletes to Quarterfinals

When the 2024 CrossFit Open wrapped up last month, Tarheel CrossFit athletes from Spring Lake, North Carolina discovered that 38 of them had qualified to the next round of competition: Quarterfinals.

This year, twenty five percent of Open participants qualified for Quarterfinals, compared to 10 percent in past years. But in Tarheel CrossFit’s case, 33 percent of their 114 participants have made it through.

Long-time gym owner Justin Mazzullo credits HybridAF with having made it much easier for his athletes to both prepare for and compete in the Open.

“And if athletes wanted to retest a workout after our scheduled Friday Night Lights, they were able to do so, as well, with a judge during off hours,” Mazullo said.

Further, his gym offers a competitive fitness programming track, which syncs with the daily class programming, but also provides more competitive athletes with additional programming. Having unattended access via the HybridAF app makes it easy for them to complete this additional programming before or after class, or at another time.

“Athletes will continue to use HybridAF to get their additional programming in (leading up to Quarterfinals),” he said.

Unattended access will also help prevent Quarterfinals getting in the way of, or causing Mazullo to cancel any of his regular group classes.

“Athletes wishing to participate in quarters will need to schedule hybrid hours with a registered judge to do and film the workouts outside of class hours. We encouraged everyone who wishes to advance to take the judges course so they can help each other out,” he said.

Mazullo’s Advice: HybridAF Is A No Brainer

Tarheel CrossFit has been with HybridAF since the beginning, and it has made his life easier as a gym owner, not only during competition seasons, but at all times of the year.

His entire client-base has access to unattended access, and he said more than half of them take advantage of it, some to workout and others to come in for a sauna, a cold water plunge or a Normatec session in the recovery room.

For any gym owner considering unattended access, but who might be apprehensive or fearful about things like equipment getting damaged or members choosing not to come to classes anymore, Mazullo is adamant this won’t be the case.

“The CrossFit community is special and isn’t like other gyms,” he said. “Our members truly care (about the gym) and the equipment in the gym, and most of the time they just want to go in and work on some skills or maybe hit some additional strength or metcon” he said.

He added: “My goal as a coach is to educate and empower my athletes to be able to not need me through providing outstanding value inside of our hour together through world class coaching, (so) they still come to class even with unaccompanied access.”

“I love that my members would rather go to the gym on a Saturday night after it’s closed than go to the bar. There are far worse things than doing an extra workout,” he added .

Why the Affiliate Owner Should Consider Heading to Madison, WI This Summer

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:58:14 GMT

Why the Affiliate Owner Should Consider Heading to Madison, WI This Summer

Join HybridAF at the Crossfit Games!

for

Happy Hour

On Friday August 4th in Madison at the Alliant Energy Center, there’s a
CrossFit APN social for affiliate owners, sponsored by HybridAF,
that will be held on site at the Games . Come join us!

OK, so maybe you are one of those gym owners who finds watching CrossFit competitions boring. And maybe Madison, WI isn’t the sexiest place to vacation. But if you’re a gym owner, you should know that it’s more than worth it to make a trip to the CrossFit games for multiple reasons.

But If You’re A Gym Owner, You Should Know That It’s More Than Worth It To Make A Trip To The CrossFit Games For Multiple Reasons.

At least, that’s what affiliate owners who go year-after-year tell us.

The Number One Reason: Your Business Will Reap All Kinds Of Benefits

Traie Roberson Miles is one of these gym owners. As the owner of Rushmore CrossFit in Rapid City, South Dakota—a HybridAF Affiliate —this will be her fifth year going to the CrossFit Games. Part of the reason she heads to the Games each year is because of the connections she forms, she explained.

“I have met and made connections with other owners and CFHQ staff…I was also fortunate enough to win a year of affiliate fees at the affiliate raffle in 2021,” she said.

David Timm, the owner of CrossFit Credence in Rochester, Minnesota and another HybridAF Affiliate, also heads to Madison every year, and said it’s a great opportunity to learn from others about ways to improve his business.

“The biggest benefit is meeting people (other gym owners) and seeing what things there are to offer our clients,” he said.

Bottom Line:

The opportunities to form connections with other gym owners and industry experts, learn and share business ideas, and build mutually beneficial business relationships, are endless during the week of the Games. And all of this, of course, has the possibility of leading to a more successful business (and you can expense the trip).

“Madison is a time to connect with other gym owners and network,” explained HybridAF owner Phil Tabor. This is especially important in today’s world, where many gym owners are looking to make business changes, he explained.

“There are a lot of affiliate owners doing really great stuff as we see a shift from the traditional CrossFit gym model to a more open, hybrid model,” Tabor said. And learning how to implement these changes—almost by getting free mentorship—couldn’t be easier than doing it in-person in Madison.

CrossFit APN: On a similar note, the HybridAF team will be on hand for the second straight year as part of the CrossFit APN (Affiliate Partner Network) and will be available to gym owners looking to learn more about adding unattended access at their gyms, ultimately to expand their business potential.

3 More Tips…

Where to Stay: If you’re looking to save money on accommodations, there’s an RV campground onsite at the Games, which Roberson said “makes the experience so much better.”

Where to Eat: Three must try places include State Street Brats, Short Stack Eatery and Rare Steakhouse for the best steak and wine in the city.

Where to workout: While there are tons of local affiliates who open their doors to visitors during the Games, there’s also a mock affiliate on site that is offering classes to affiliate owners, which makes it easy to get a workout in, especially if you’re not renting a car. The HybridAF crew will be there, as well.

Pro Tip from Roberson: Rent a bike (or bring one), as the town is super bike friendly “and you can get just about anywhere on them,” she said.

And, And, And…

Even if you think watching people workout for time gets boring, there’s no chance you won’t be inspired, motivated, excited to recommit yourself to your fitness after being around the fittest people in the world all week. Just saying.

How to Generate Revenue during the Dark Hours at your Gym with HybridAF

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:50:14 GMT

How to Generate Revenue during the Dark Hours at your Gym with HybridAF

$1.6 Million: That’s How Much Elon Musk Allegedly Earns Per Hour. Twenty Four Hours A Day.
Even When He’s Asleep.

And while a number like this is unfathomable to the small gym owner (nor is it even the goal), it’s worth tackling the topic of passive or residual income, and how your business can make you money when you’re not putting in hard hours—aka during the dark hours of the gym.

Food for thought: According to the Two-Brain Business State of the Industry Report (in partnership with software companies PushPress and Wodify), the average micro gym generated $15,900 per month in revenue in 2022, and at CrossFit gyms specifically, 76 percent of this revenue came from group classes, while another 14 percent came from personal training.

This means, give or take, 90 percent of revenue generated happens when there’s a coach on the floor working, and only 10 percent of revenue comes from revenue streams that have the possibility of being passive income for the gym (such as supplement or other merchandise sales, online or individualized programming, or open gym or unattended access to the facility).

Further, when we consider the average gym’s weekday schedule, they tend to offer group classes from 5 or 6 AM until about 8 or 9 am. Then there’s usually a lull during the day (minus perhaps a couple personal training clients here and there) before they host classes again between about 4 pm and 8 pm.

Bottom Line: There Are 24 Hours Of The Day And Most Small Gym Businesses Are Earning Close To 90 Percent Of Their Income During Eight Of Those 24 Hours Each Day, Leaving A Lot Of Time (Aka Opportunity To Earn More Money) On The Table.

AND, there are even more dark hours on the weekends, as the average gym only offers a couple classes each day, while some remain closed entirely on Sunday.

What does all this mean?

It means there’s an opportunity to take advantage of those dark hours!

Two No-Brainer Ways To Generate Revenue During The Dark Hours

Step 1: Unattended Access With HybridAF

HybridAF offers the possibility to increase average client value by charging more for unattended, uncoached access to the gym, either 24 hours a day, or whatever hours you deem appropriate for your clientele.

Consider this: You charge an additional $50 a month (on top of the client’s regular group class membership) for access to the HybridAF app and unattended access to the facility.

Or you could create an unattended access only membership and possibly attract new clients who aren’t interested in group classes but are willing to pay $150 a month for access to your facility 24/7.

In practice: 100 members paying an additional $50 a month is an additional $5,000 a month that is essentially passive income for the gym owner. Further, it adds incredible value to the client, who now has the opportunity to come train in the middle of the day, on weekends, or at 5 am before the 6 am class gets started.

And as two-time team CrossFit Games champion Andrea Nisler put it, offering 24-7 access to her clients also took the pressure off herself and her other coaches (and saved her money on labor costs).

“Going into a 24/7 access gym just kind of took the stress off trying to staff the gym all the time, and it has actually been amazing,” said Nisler, the owner of Timberwolf Fitness in Minneapolis. “I just feel so at ease, because I felt bad when people couldn’t utilize their membership, so knowing they can now makes me happy.”

Step 2: Double Dip With HybridAF And Individual Design

Another way to increase client value even more is to provide individualized programming for clients who want it, as well as access to the facility via the HybridAF app.

Now you have the opportunity to upsell clients on both unattended access and a personalized program that caters to their strengths and weaknesses, all the while generating additional revenue for your business during the traditional dark hours of the day.

For Drew Reeves, the owner of CrossFit Katy in Texas, the result here has been an increase in client performance and ultimately client retention.

After a client has been a member for a while, there comes a time when they want to devote more time to specific skills and goals, Reeves explained. “And if you don’t have Open gym time, then they will look at other options to fill that need,” he said.

“We saw over time people would try and do extra work during other class times. They would begin buying their own equipment, or even go to other gyms or facilities that had 24-hour options to get this work in,” he said. “We felt we needed to capture that revenue, and as well keep that member committed to our facility, and Hybrid has provided us that option.”

Final Thought: Addressing the elephant in the room

Fear, apprehension, concern. These are three very real emotions many gym owners have when they’re considering offering unattended access.

If you’re in this camp, this article is for you: What could possibly NOT go wrong with Unattended Access?

How to Turn Drop Ins into an Easy, Hassle-Free Revenue Stream with HybridAF

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:46:34 GMT

How to Turn Drop Ins into an Easy, Hassle-Free Revenue Stream with HybridAF

Dan Messinger started using HybridAF last January at his gym, CrossFit Breckenridge in Colorado, after he dropped in at a gym while he was traveling.

“After the class ended, everyone left, and the gym was closed up. Then, I had an epiphany. It just seemed like such a waste to close the place up. Why not give these members access?” he said of his thought process at the time.

“Then I got to thinking about all the drop-ins that come to our open gym between classes. I have to be there or pay a coach to be there. It just seemed so silly,” he added.

Further, Messinger started thinking about all the drop-ins that contact him about coming in for open gym after classes, or on the weekend when he’s open a limited number of hours.

When he got home, he called HybridAF.

The Result

Messinger’s drop-in traffic and revenue have increased considerably, and his loyal members have benefited a ton, too.

Today, while it depends on the month as his gym is in a seasonal tourist town, Messinger gets anywhere from 50 to 150 drop-ins a month that he’s now able to easily service. Fifty percent of these drop-ins use the open gym time, he explained.

Needless to say, his drop-in revenue is considerably more than he ever would have been able to do pre-HybridAF.

“We generate good revenue from drop-in traffic. It varies month to month but we take in about 20-25% of membership revenue from drop-ins,” he said.

Further, Messinger no longer needs to be at the gym to service members or drop-ins, nor does he have to pay coaches to be—yet another cost savings for the business.

One big concern for some gym owners is opening their gym to strangers.

Messinger admitted he, too, had “reluctance.” But this went away quickly.

“I started to realize how silly it is to see drop-ins as strangers. When we start new members, they are strangers, too. Most people are looking for a CrossFit gym to train in after they ski or mountain bike all day. They are not going to kick holes in your walls or steal your kettlebells. And if one weirdo does, it’s worth the risk,” he said.

But They’re Strangers!

“We have cameras and are notified whenever anyone enters the gym. Can people get hurt? Sure. That’s a risk but I don’t believe it’s a big one. People tend to be a little more responsible when they’re alone in the gym. Just like you scale your weight when benching without a spotter,” he added.

How It Works.

Messinger explained everything is automated via their website. So visitors both sign a waiver and pay online beforehand.

After this they get an email about how to download and navigate the easy-to-use app, and then they can access the gym when they arrive (It’s worth noting that HybridAF integrates with all billing software gyms use, such as PushPress, Wodify, Zen Planner etc).

“Basically, they pay, sign the waiver, enter the gym, workout, and leave without us being involved,” Messinger explained.

You might think you’re not, but there’s a bit of a snowball effect from being part of the HybridAF network.

One of the hidden values of being a HybridAf gym is that there are many other HybridAF gyms who also have members who travel. And these members generally seek other Hybrid facilities to train while on the road, meaning more people than you might expect will come your way.

As HybridAF co-owner Albert Steed put it: “Being part of the network is another avenue to provide opportunities for drop-ins to choose your gym instead of one down the street.”

What If I’m Not In A High Drop-In Area?

How Unattended Access with HybridAF can Make Your Gym Recession Proof

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:44:05 GMT

How Unattended Access with HybridAF can Make Your Gym Recession Proof

Gym ownership is hard. No matter what’s going on with the larger economy. Period.

But now, in a time of high inflation, and what’s looking more and more like a time with a certain degree of economic hardship for many, it can leave the small business owner scratching his head wondering if gym ownership was the right path to go down.

Enter HybridAF: Beyond providing additional value to the client, and being another revenue source for the gym owner, unattended gym access is also a way to make your gym recession proof, so to speak.

Three Ways HybridAF Helps Buffer Economic Struggles

It Can Provide An Option
To Keep Your People There

When economic hardships hit, people often panic, and through the panic they just might think about, or act on, canceling their gym membership.

Many times they don’t want to quit. They know that quitting is only going to hurt their physical and mental health in an already tough and stressful time, but something in their brain is telling them they can no longer justify paying $200-plus a month on their fitness.

So sitting down with the panicked member and being able to offer them another, more affordable option, is sometimes just what they need to keep them focused on their fitness (and prevent you from losing yet another member).

The solution: You can then offer them an open-gym time gym access only for a lower rate than their current group class or high-ticket individual design membership, a win for all, as now the member will stick around and is more likely to convert back to classes or individual design in the future than they would be if they fell off the bandwagon altogether.

Essentially what this does is drive a sense of community letting people continue to train on their budget and time.

Andrew Charlesworth, HybridAF user at CrossFit Turbor in Fenton, Michigan, put it this way:

“I think regardless of what the future holds, if people have to downsize their membership, but still want to be part of our community, the 24-hour access offers this,” he said.

It Accommodates
All Schedules

One big perk, Jenn Green, the owner of CrossFit Greer in South Carolina, has found especially useful right now is that offering unattended access easily allows her to accommodate all schedules.

“If they aren’t able to attend a normal class time, but can come another time, the space is open and they have the same access to workouts, warm-ups etc that we post daily in SugarWOD,” Green said, adding that her gym has several nurses who work 12-hour shifts who this perk is especially useful for.

During economic hard times, it means people can “have flexibility in their business,” Charlesworth explained, because they are no longer tied to particular gym start times. This goes a long way when people are having to work additional hours, or even take on an additional job, as they might be at the moment, to bring in a good living.

Further, for Charlesworth, increased accommodation means he can service more members, as he’s less likely to need to implement a group class size cap, because members can come whenever works for them, which ultimately spaces people out throughout the day and evening a little more evenly.

It Can Provide Additional
Income For The Gym

It’s not just your members who are maybe going through some economic hard times; inflation has likely trickled down to you as the business owner, as well.

For Green, HybridAF has translated to all-important additional revenue streams for her business since she began offering unattended access in 2022.

“We use it as an add-on to the monthly membership. It’s linked with our CRM system and adding and removing (the add on) is so easy and effortless,” she said. “For new members, we use it as a selling tool. If they are new to CrossFit, it will be an option later on, however, we have gotten new members due to having it, and other local affiliates not offering it.”

Further, Green has several coaches who do personal training sessions with non-members, and often once these clients become more autonomous they end up adding the 24/7 access to be able to train without their coach. “It’s additional revenue and the coach can earn additional (money too) through more programming for the client,” she said.

On top of this, prior to turning to HybridAF, Green often paid a coach to show up to the gym early for an open gym session, where maybe only one person attended. She no longer has to waste money this way, “thus reducing the need to pay a coach and also freeing up my schedule,” she explained.

Finally, if you have a system set up, be it an honor system or a marketplace system via something like the PushPress app, your members can continue to purchase snacks, drinks—or even t-shirts and other swag should you have frequent out-of-town visitors train at your gym—when you’re not even at the gym. Though that’s not going to make or break your wallet as a gym owner, sometimes every little bit counts.

The Bottom Line:

Recession or not, offering unattended access simply provides more options to the client, and increased freedom and revenue for the gym owner.

Green admits she was hesitant at first, as she was “very much a group class model,” she explained, but since adding HybridAF she realizes her fears were unfounded.

She realizes now that HybridAF helps provide those who couldn’t make a class the chance to workout.

“It wasn’t that they didn’t want to be a part of a group class. It was what they had to do to get a workout in,” she explained.

“Also, it has given me the freedom to not have to be in my gym 24/7 and not feel guilty. My husband and I were in our gym seven days a week for the longest time. Serving our members is what we do, but we need to invest back into ourselves so that we can continue to serve our community. This gave us that,” she added.

Unattended Access via HybridAF Makes the CrossFit Open Easier

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:30:47 GMT

Unattended Access via HybridAF Makes the CrossFit Open Easier

According to Two CrossFit Games Champions

Every year, preparing for the CrossFit Open demands significant mental effort from gym owners who are already stretched thin with their regular duties. They find themselves organizing intramural events or Friday Night Lights, adding yet another layer to their workload.

This Often Prompts The Question:
Why Am I Doing This Again?

Even if the Open isn’t a major focus, simply running the workouts during regular classes can be demanding. Gym owners often spend late hours at the gym mapping out the setup, preparing scoresheets, validating results, and fielding requests from athletes wanting to redo workouts.

The bottom line is, gym owners deserve a break during the Open, and that’s where HybridAF comes in.

But don’t just take our word for it; listen to the experiences of two HybridAF gym owners and CrossFit Games champions, Andrea Nisler and Christina Mazullo. (Nisler, owner of Timberwolf Fitness and a two-time CrossFit Games team champion with Rich Froning’s CrossFit Mayhem, while Mazullo, owner of Tarheel CrossFit and Tarheel CrossFit South, is 2023 Upper Extremity CrossFit Games champion. )

Andrea Nisler

Christine Mazullo

Four Ways HybridAF Helps Athletes And Gym Owners During The Open

#1: Facilitates Open Preparation

For Nisler, who is eight months pregnant, providing her members with the option to access the gym when she or another coach isn’t available during the Open season significantly eases their preparation. Members can work on skills crucial for the Open, boosting their confidence. Nisler can offer guidance during these sessions, enhancing the value for her members.

Mazullo shares a similar experience:

“Athletes tend to linger after class or arrive early to work on skills they need to focus on during the Open season.”

#2: Promotes Open Recovery

During the Open, members are often more committed to recovery activities like foam rolling or using lacrosse balls, but having unattended access facilitates this without requiring the gym owner or coach to be present. Nisler encourages her members to utilize HybridAF for recovery activities, making the most of the gym’s downtime outside of class hours.

“I encourage my members to utilize their hybrid access as much as possible, even to come in and mobilize or roll out,” Nisler said. “CrossFit gyms tend to have a lot of empty downtime, I like when I can see it being utilized outside of class time.”

#3: Accommodates Schedules

Unattended access offers flexibility for athletes, particularly for scheduling redo workouts. With HybridAF, athletes can schedule their workouts at times when the gym is less crowded, minimizing disruptions to regular classes.

“I find that my members are wanting to come in and work on skills that might be coming up in the Open that they don’t quite feel confident in yet. This typically happens before a class, which is the perfect time to come in and work on some gymnastics skills,” she said.

This goes a long way in adding value to her members, as Nisler is able to provide them with direction when they come in.

“I have recommended many specific programs to members in the last month or so that people are coming in to do outside of class time, (like) bar or ring muscle-up progression work (or) handstand work,” she said.

Mazullo’s experience during the Open is similar.

“Athletes tend to stick around after class and come in before classes to work on skills and things that they need to focus on during the Open season,” she said.

#4: Streamlines Additional Revenue Opportunities

Offering individualized training programs, either before or after the Open, is a smart way to generate revenue. With HybridAF, gym owners can provide these services without the need for additional coaching staff during off-hours.

“We do offer individual design and competitor programming for those who are interested (and) they have the opportunity to use their unaccompanied access via HybridAF to take care of those things,” Mazullo said.

Final Thoughts from Mazullo:

“Having HybridAF not only simplifies life as an affiliate owner year-round but especially during the Open season. It gives us the freedom to operate more flexibly, allowing athletes to practice skills and redo workouts on their own schedule with a registered judge.”

In Conclusion, HybridAF Offers A Host Of Benefits For Both Athletes And Gym Owners, Making The CrossFit Open Season More Manageable And Rewarding For Everyone Involved.

What Could Possibly NOT Go Wrong with Unattended Access?

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:27:20 GMT

What Could Possibly NOT Go Wrong with Unattended Access?

We get it. The thought of giving your clients unattended access to your affiliate gym, even when you’re not there, is a scary one.

What if,

what if,

what if…

Ohio Strength affiliate owner Ryan McFadyen had these types of fears, too, but decided to give Hybrid AF a shot, and “pretty much every fear that I had about starting 24/7 access quickly went away after implementing it,” he said. “I wish I would have done it sooner.”

Affiliate owner Saul Garcia mimicked this sentiment: “We were worried, too, but we went full 24/7 and have no regrets,” he said.

Myth Buster Time!

Will my insurance cover
unattended access?

Hybrid AF is 100 percent approved by all major insurance providers, including AGuard, the most popular insurance provider of the small functional fitness and CrossFit affiliate, and CrossFit RRG, meaning your coverage will be the same as it always is should you go the unattended access route.

Further, as affiliate owner John Murie explained, “Nothing worse can happen after hours that can’t already happen during the day.”

I won’t know what is
happening in my own gym

Incorrect. The Hybrid AF security system has an option that allows you to be alerted whenever the facility is accessed, so it’s easy to check your cameras to see what is going on in your gym, providing you with that all important peace of mind.

Some affiliate owners, like Andrea Nisler, the owner of Timberwolf Fitness in Minneapolis, use this feature to her advantage. For Nisler, it’s a chance to pop in virtually and say hi and greet members who are accessing her facility when she isn’t there.

“I’d rather see everyone in person, of course, but knowing I can just pop on the camera and say hi gives it a more personal feel still to keep that CrossFit-type family, community vibe going,” she said.

Further, this also means Nisler can let in, for example, UPS or FedEx, as she can simply buzz them in to drop the package off when she’s not there.

I’m concerned about
midnight gym goers

Although the thought of people working out at midnight or 3 a.m. might make you apprehensive, most Hybrid AF affiliate owners have found it’s actually incredibly uncommon for people to use the affiliate gym after midnight. More often, people take advantage of the 24/7 access during the day during off-hours, or shortly after or before the first class of the day.

Check This Out

That being said, if you’re not super stoked about people showing up when you’re asleep, you can set your system up to limit the access times to be, for example, between 4 a.m. and 10 p.m. The sky is really the limit with the Hybrid AF app.

What if the doors are
left unlocked?

Because Hybrid AF relies on a secure app, no keys are involved, so your door will remain safely locked, and only those who have been granted the ability to open the door via the app will be able to access the facility.

This also makes it incredibly easy to add or remove people from the list, or limit their access times if need be. What makes this especially easy is how the Hybrid AF integrates with all the major CRM systems affiliate owners use, such as PushPress, Zen Planner, Wodify, Triib and Mindbody to name a few.

Soooo…..
What can go RIGHT?

Now that the myths about what can go wrong have been busted, let’s consider what can go right with Hybrid AF.

For Tim Pedersen of CrossFit 15-501, 24/7 access has added a ton of value to his clientele, especially to his doctor and nurse clients, as well as parents who “come in all over the place,” he said.

And depending on whether or not you charge for 24/7 access, it can also be a revenue generator, like it is for Kelly Barcol, the owner of CrossFit Winnersville, an affiliate who has been with Hybrid AF since 2017. But even if you don’t charge more for the service, it can still be a money-saver, as you no longer have to pay a coach to be there, for example, during open gym time, he explained.

For Andrea Nisler, introducing 24/7 access has taken the pressure off her to open the affiliate gym early, or stay late, something she said has been a huge relief, as she knows her members are being accommodated even in her absence.

Michael Duff, the owner of CrossFit Culpeper, put it this way: “It’s one of those things you don’t think too much about until you have it and now you can’t live without it.”

And at the very least, having Hybrid AF in your corner can ensure you can, maybe, finally, take a few extra days off over Christmas, and come back fresh and ready to go.

Why Two-Time CrossFit Games Champion Andrea Nisler Turned to HybridAF

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:23:18 GMT

Why Two-Time CrossFit Games Champion Andrea Nisler Turned to HybridAF

Andrea Nisler still remembers her first day training at CrossFit Mayhem in Cookeville, Tennessee in 2019, the day she started training with the famous Mayhem Freedom team headed by four-time individual CrossFit Games champion Rich Froning.

It was cold outside and Nisler arrived early at the barn ready to train.

“I got there really early thinking people would get there really early. I was by myself in this cold barn, thinking, ‘Did I miss something?’ I didn’t really know what was going on,” she said.

She didn’t miss anything. Nisler soon realized there’s a “one hour cushion” on the back side of stated start time, something she now refers to as “Cookeville time.”

Nisler soon got used to “Cookeville time” and “get in the flow,” she said, so much so that over the course of the next two seasons, Nisler went on to help Mayhem Freedom win two more back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, something she and her other female teammate Taylor Williamson say felt like “a long time coming” for them.

Nisler soon got used to ‘Cookeville time’ and ‘get in the flow’

2022 was more exciting than 2021, she said.

“The first time, we started off with a first place win and it just kind of kept going and there was never a time where we were battling for it,” she said. “So it didn’t give you the adrenaline rush you’d normally get in a competition.”

That was not the case in 2022, however, when

Mayhem Freedom started the week with an uncharacteristic second, a third and a thirteenth place finish.

“First place was kind of handed off throughout the week and we had some not so great finishes,” she said.

Ultimately, though, this made eventually winning that much more rewarding, as they were “battling for first place” all weekend.

“It kind of felt like everything we worked for was more worth it,” she said.

Dispelling the Mayhem Urban Legend

Rumor has it that training in Cookeville means doing whatever Froning writes on the whiteboard on any given day, which usually means insane amounts of volume, complete with 500 GHD sit-ups everyday, that has the potential to kill even the fittest of the fittest of the fit.

Even Australian Games athlete Kara Saunders, for example, who started following Mayhem’s programming last season, admitted that it took her a number of months to be able to make it through the entire training day, as it was just way more volume than her body was used to.

But Nisler said that wasn’t the case for her.

Yes, Rich would write things on the board, but oftentimes Nisler would “make up my own stuff,” as well.

“It’s not like a controlling situation…If you want to do your own thing, that’s absolutely fine, as long as you’re staying fit. I have been doing this long enough to know when I’m at my peak and when I’m feeling a little fat and should pick it up,” Nisler said.

Overall, in her two seasons training there, Nisler doesn’t think she did more volume in Cookeville than anywhere else she has trained.

Then again, she admits, “I have always been an over-trainer,” she laughed.

Nisler, a HybridAF-Using Affiliate Owner

Training in Cookeville for two seasons meant Nisler went back and forth between Cookeville and Minneapolis to help run her affiliate Timberwolf Fitness, a gym she bought in April 2019. It was a go, go, go life that was hard to sustain.

So most recently, after returning home from the Games and then getting married, Nisler decided she needed to do something to make both staffing her gym and accommodating her members a little bit easier.

Nisler signed up for HybridAF and began offering 24/7 access to her members, a decision that has been “a relief” to her as a gym owner, and an “added bonus” for her experienced members.

Before HybridAF, Nisler’s gym offered a lot of open gym times, but being a competitor and not being around as much made it hard to staff those time slots.

“So going into a 24/7 access gym just kind of took the stress off trying to staff the gym all the time, and it has actually been amazing,” she said. “I just feel so at ease, because I felt bad when people couldn’t utilize their membership, so knowing they can now makes me happy.”

Nisler especially likes that she can see who is accessing the gym, and sometimes she even pops on the camera to greet the member virtually, helping her keep in touch with her members, she explained.

Further, HybridAF means she can leave the gym and run an errand if need be, and she can even let a UPS or FedEx employee in if need be.

“It’s so great. We can talk through the cameras. You don’t have to race to the gym for a package delivery,” she said.

And from the member’s end, Nisler said HybridAF has gone a long way in allowing those who want to come in on a weekend the ability to do so, “and some members just want to go to the gym on their own, too,” she said.

“To go to an empty gym by yourself for an hour, sometimes that’s a form of meditation for some people,” she added.

What’s Next for Nisler?

Nisler isn’t sure what the future holds for her, but after finishing in the top 10 as both an elite individual and on an elite three-woman team at Wodapalooza in Miami, Florida in January, she shrugged, smirked and said she doesn’t quite know.

“Maybe a team, maybe not,” she said.

Regardless, Nisler does know she will keep HybridAF in her pocket as a gym owner.

“I would recommend it because it makes your life a lot easier. I just cannot stress enough, if you’re a gym that hosts open gym hours, I can’t stress this enough how awesome this is,” she said.

How HybridAF Affiliates are Giving Back in Small Ways to Make Big Differences this Year

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:18:44 GMT

How HybridAF Affiliates are Giving Back in Small Ways to Make Big Differences this Year

As an often overworked affiliate owner, it can be a challenge to find the time and energy to get into the holiday vibe and find ways to give back, but three HybridAF affiliates—who have freed up time since joining HybridAF and offering 24/7 service to their members—say it can be done and it doesn’t even have to be overwhelming.

In Pennsylvania:

In Virginia:

Over at Halo Fitness Experience—home of CrossFit 703—in Burke, Virginia, part of owner Adam Waddell’s mission is to “do some good in this world…and give back,” so each year they pick a different charity they believe in to raise money for, he explained.

In 2019 they raised $8,500 for abused women living in a shelter house, and in 2020, they raised $20,000 for Charity Water, money that helped build two water wells in Africa. Finally, last year they raised more than $43,000 for Anti Human Trafficking International.

This year, they’re raising money for Convoy of Hope, a non-profit that raises funds for disaster relief. They started the fundraising in August already, and the fundraising, and they’re focusing on putting together hygiene kits used in disaster relief around the world,
Waddell explained. “It’s a team effort.”

“They could go to hurricane victims or to help refugees in Ukraine. It’s at the discretion of the Convoy of Hope and whoever needs them,” he added.

In Illinois:

Craig Niven, the owner of CrossFit Barrington in Illinois, recently ran a Thanksgiving Team Marathon Row, where teams of four to six completed a marathon row.

One hundred and four people participated, and each team was responsible for donating items to give to their local food pantry. All in all, they donated 15 boxes of food.

Beyond giving back, the event was huge in generating a great feeling of community.

“This is easily one of my favorite community events that we have run. The feeling and energy in the gym was amazing. It was more than just a workout. People were truly happy and thankful to be together and be a part of something meaningful…This will most definitely be a tradition going forward,” Niven said.

For the record, just so we’re not a hypocrite, we also give back in various ways throughout the year: We sponsor affiliate events and competitions, offer discounted services to new affiliates while they grow, or offer installation payment options. And we’re an active sponsor of small business incubators, and we give donations for scholarships for affiliate memberships, as well as to various non-profits in the health and wellness space.

The bottom line: Not only does giving back make you feel good and give you a sense of purpose, but it also brings affiliate communities together and creates strong connections through being part of something bigger than working out.

This goes a long way in securing member loyalty, too, because really, who’s going to quit or put their membership on hold the week after taking part in an experience that feels so good?

What are you doing to give back this year?

BIG LITTLE GYMS BUSINESS MENTOR, WILL HURST, TALKS CLIENT ACQUISITION AND RETENTION, AND HOW HYBRIDAF CAN HELP

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:14:46 GMT

BIG LITTLE GYMS BUSINESS MENTOR, WILL HURST, TALKS CLIENT ACQUISITION AND RETENTION, AND HOW HYBRIDAF CAN HELP

“Set yourself apart.”

That’s one of gym business mentor Will Hurst’s top tips for the small gym owner looking to be successful in a competitive, sometimes oversaturated, market.

And while it goes without saying that offering 24/7 gym access to clients through HybridAF is a value add to current clients, Hurst explained that his clients who use HybridAF, say it also helps generate new clientele.

“It’s a really good bridge for anyone who is unaware of what a group community gym can offer. A lot of people think that all gyms are just basically access to the gym, so having a 24-7 access gets your gym on the radar for people who think this way. It’s just another hook you can throw into the water and a differentiator that other gyms don’t have. And the more hooks you can throw into the water to differentiate yourself the better,” Hurst said. Further, the 24-7 access is especially useful for more experienced members who might want individual design, which can also act as a revenue generator for the business, Hurst explained. “You can offer other services like individual design with the 24/7 access and essentially upsell clients, as opposed to people just using the space during this time,” he added.

THREE MORE CLIENT ACQUISITION AND RETENTION TIPS FROM HURST

Capture Online Leads More Effectively

One of the biggest shortcomings Hurst sees in the small gym industry is the inability to capture leads online, saying he constantly sees owners leaving a lot on the table in this area.

According to Hurst, if your gym has been around for three to seven years, you’re probably getting more traffic to your website through Google searches than you realize, but oftentimes your website just isn’t designed to capture many of these leads.

“When people land on your website, get them in,” he said.

The problem right now is that many people have outdated websites. Even a 2017 website is likely outdated, Hurst explained.

“And often it reads like a long-form brochure and by the time the person is halfway through the last paragraph, they’re out,” he said. “So much has changed now with how you have to connect with that lead. So if your website looks like something from five years ago, it’s probably not going to perform very well.”

A second issue many gyms face is that they pay to run ads for a service, but then the leads all end up in a funnel that doesn’t convert them into members, Hurst explained.

Helping gyms create more effective funnels, as well as modern website design, are two of the things Big Little Gyms help their clients with, and the moment gyms make the switch they notice a huge uptick, he said.

THE BOTTOM LINE

“People don’t care if you’re the best gym in town. They want to know that you know where they’re coming from, that you understand their pain. They want you to solve a problem they have, and if that’s the message on your website, it will hook them immediately,” Hurst added.

BONUS TIP

Know When to Sell

Another mistake Hurst sees gym owners make is trying to sell someone before they even come in to see the gym.

“It’s a bit like you being on date number one and trying to get them into bed with you instead of waiting until date number three,” Hurst joked.
If you wait for date number three, so to speak—which in this case means waiting to tell someone about the price and the details about the gym until you meet them in person—the conversion rate is much higher. It’s usually between 80 and 90 percent, Hurst explained.

The point: If you get a prospect into your gym, the chances of converting them increases dramatically. So instead of having that price conversation via email or on the phone, book them in to meet in-person.

Have an Ascension Strategy

When it comes to client retention, Hurst’s biggest advice is to have an ascension strategy in place to keep people around longer.

What he means by this is that results are what will keep people around longer, and oftentimes gym owners leave more experienced clients to their own devices, and then these clients might stay another year or two and then move on.

But, if you keep the client on a journey where they’re constantly experiencing new things—be it individual design to help them get their first muscle-up or nutrition coaching—the client is more likely to remain engaged and moving forward with their fitness.

This is especially true for larger gyms, Hurst explained.

“It’s like Cheers, where everyone knows your name, but as the gym grows, retention becomes harder because it becomes more like a larger restaurant where you just can’t have all those connections with everyone,” he said. “So the key is to make sure there are still touch points with your clients.”

And a great way to do it is through offering new ways to keep clients moving forward on their fitness journey, ultimately to ensure they don’t become stagnant and bored.

At the end of the day, it comes down to brain chemistry, Hurst explained.

“It’s at the root of all of our behavior,” Hurst said. “We’re all trying to find the dopamine or endorphin hit, so if you can keep being the driver to fulfill that dopamine hit—if you can keep being the drug dealer—people won’t leave,” he added.

Female Gym Owners Praise HybridAF for Improving their Gyms, Improving their Lives

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:11:29 GMT

Female Gym Owners Praise HybridAF for Improving their Gyms, Improving their Lives

Courtney Zwirn used to be at her gym, CrossFit Sango in Clarksville, TN every morning. And every evening. And even though they were closed in the middle of the day, “people would be messaging me asking to come in early,” she explained. Sigh.

And because Zwirn wanted to accommodate her members, she would come back to the gym early before the evening classes began.

Even the weekends weren’t a time to rest, and like many moms, Zwirn would drag her two-and-a-half year-old toddler to the gym with her, who would hang out upstairs for a couple hours.

“We’re also a big military town so a lot of our members work from 8 until 5 and they have trouble getting to class, so we wanted to be able to offer them more,” she explained.

This is why Zwirn decided to sign up with HybridAF, as it seemed like the perfect solution to her two-fold problem: Her desire to accommodate her clients, and her desire to avoid living at the gym, not to mention having her child spend his weekend there.

This is also why Tiffani Arndt, another gym-owning mother who is also a chief nursing officer, joined HybridAF with her gym CrossFit Ground Up in Hastings, Nebraska in 2020: She just didn’t have a whole lot of extra time.
Joining HybridAF has made all the difference, Arndt explained, not just for her, but for her members.

“It has been a really great thing for our members. It has offered great flexibility and has been a really big benefit,” said Arndt, who estimates that 40 percent of her members make use of the 24/7 access.

She added: “And as a gym owner, it has been helpful because there were always requests to come in and do extra things, and someone always needed to be there to open the door, and now we don’t need to. And it’s also just really nice to see the gym flowing throughout the day, nice to see the gym being used, and people can come in whenever.”

Further, because Arndt always knows what’s happening in her gym because of the HybridAF app, it’s a “sense of security,” she said.

The same is true for 46-year-old Ann Robatin Fuerst the owner of Essential CrossFit in Wilmington, NC.

Fuerst signed up with HybridAF in March, 2021 and it has been a game changer for various reasons, including helping with client acquisition and client retention, all the while allowing her to avoid burnout, as well as giving her a sense of security when she’s working out alone in her gym.
“If I’m there by myself at weird hours, having the door locked all the time except for member access only makes me feel safe so nobody random can walk through the door,” McClintock explained.

Further, like Zwirn and Arndt, having HybridAF in her corner simply means “me not having to be there all the time, so I have freedom,” she said, adding that she spends probably 50 percent less time at the gym now than she did before.

“The number one thing is not getting burnt out. I have days off now, and as a mother with kids there is nothing more important than spending time with my family while letting my members still have the ability to chase their fitness goals,” she explained.

And the best part is, Fuerst realizes that even though she isn’t there as much as she used to be, the 24/7 service has helped her acquire more clients and improve her client retention.

“People are able to come in whenever they want, so it’s a huge benefit. My clients love it,” she said.

How HybridAF Can Help a Gym Owner in Today’s Climate

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:23:11 GMT

How HybridAF Can Help a Gym Owner in Today’s Climate

GYM OWNER

Zac Zuspann

Reflects on how HybridAF Can Help a Gym Owner in Today’s Climate

When Zac Zuspann opened his gym 12 years ago, the climate in the industry was a whole lot different than it is today.

“In 2010, you could have an old barn filled with rusty equipment and be successful. You could have hobby coaches who coached one to two times a week before or after their full-time job,” said Zuspann, a CrossFit LLC affiliate rep who runs two gyms out of Oklahoma City, CrossFit Complete and CrossFit Complete West. Such is not the case anymore.

Successful gyms are far more professional and thorough with their processes compared to when I started. Now, gyms have to be on point with their facility, equipment, professional staff and overall business processes to be relevant and successful,” he explained.

Along with these added expectations and responsibilities today, compared to a decade ago, comes the potential for a whole lot more work for the small gym owner.

THAT’S WHERE

COMES IN

HybridAF’s 24/7 service helps the often overworked gym owner and their coaches from overworking themselves and burning out, and provides more options and added value for the client, explained Zuspann, adding that it’s something a do it yourself approach to having a 24/7 facility wouldn’t be able to provide.

“It is completely hands off, responsibility-free for me as an owner, which is important. Time, effort, and attention are everything. These are finite resources and I want to pour them into the right places. Hybrid keeps the logistics of 24-hour access 100 percent off my mind,” he said.

Zuspann added: “And the service provides a very easy and user-friendly option for my members who wish to train outside of normal gym times…We always have members that have that extra itch to train more and this provides a simple and easy solution for those members and myself.”

Further, becoming a HybridAF client has increased his ability to take time off during holidays, something foreign to many a burnt out gym owner. “This allows myself and my staff to enjoy more down time and compression knowing the members who feel the need to train on Christmas Day have that option,” he said, adding that the way he uses HybridAF means his open gym membership options have also become an additional REVENUE STREAM for the business.

THE BOTTOM LINE

In today’s 2022 gym environment—in a climate where members expect much more value and professionalism than they did 12 years ago—HybridAF goes a long way in adding value, all the while making gym ownership manageable, and even more profitable.

“It’s a simple way to increase value and accommodate hard working members. It’s a hands off source of revenue, and provides an ability to leverage revenue from those who may not want to do classes,” he said.

24 / 7 ACCESS IS A GAME CHANGER

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:19:55 GMT

24 / 7 ACCESS IS A GAME CHANGER

As a small gym owner, it’s easy to accidentally find yourself at the gym for 12 hours on any given day.
It wasn’t your plan, but then a client texted you and asked if she could come in to work on her muscle-ups at noon when there’s no class going on. SIGH. You want to accommodate this motivated client, so you skip your lunch break and stick around for another hour.

ENTER HYBRIDAF’S 24/7 SERVICE,

which allows you to provide safe access to your clients to your facility. So you can take that well-needed lunch break. Or a Christmas holiday. Or a weekend getaway. So you can stop living at your gym.

See what a difference 24 / 7 service makes:
When you talk to members who have had the opportunity to train at a HybridAF facility and take advantage of the 24/7 access option, it becomes clear that it’s a win, win situation.

“It’s super stressful to organize my schedule, so having an option to access the gym whenever I can is less stress on my plate. Before (24/7) access, I would put off school work because my window to study before the gym was too small. [Now] I go to the gym almost every day, so I use HybridAF daily. ”

Alexandria Alpy – Member, CrossFit Hilliard & College Student

“The service has helped me keep going at the gym because my schedule has been changing so much lately, (and) now I can go anytime I want to.”

Alejandro Delgado – Member, CrossFit Hilliard

A simple click of a button allows or removes accessibility…It is super easy for me to add a member to it and monitor their access requests.I get a simple notification that the gym door wasopened and who is in my facility.”

Graham Holmberg – Owner of CrossFit Hilliard in Ohio

“It gives me so much more flexibility with respect to when I can workout, which is really
nice. I’m not limited to working out during class times, which can sometimes limit the equipment I am able to use, and also have the ability to work on extra strength and skill work in the gym without someone having to be there to open the gym.”

Aninda Manocha -Member, CrossFit Durham in North Carolina

CONTACT US TODAY TO GET STARTED!

HYBRIDAF.COM | 844-927-4313 | SALES@HYBRIDAF.COM

HybridAF Joins CrossFit’s APN

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:17:22 GMT

HybridAF Joins CrossFit’s APN

Last October, CrossFit LLC announced the introduction of the

CrossFit Affiliate Partner Network (APN),

a program that allows affiliate owners to access to some of the community’s most trusted brands, while also offering a variety of affiliate-only discounts, revenue-generating opportunities, and member acquisition programs.

The APN began with 20 brands, ranging from apparel to consumables to software companies, and most recently HybridAF has been added to the list.

HybridAF couldn’t be more excited and honored about the opportunity to be included in this exclusive network.

“The opportunity to join the CrossFit Affiliate Partner Network involved a rigorous process of review and vetting by the CrossFit team, and we are delighted to successfully complete that process to offer our services to CrossFit affiliates through the APN,” explained HybridAF Vice President of Business Development Phil Tabor.

HybridAF President Albert Steed added: “Gym access and security is one of the most important priorities for affiliates who want to ensure their members can take advantage of their memberships at the times that work best in their schedules. The CrossFit APN will allow CrossFit affiliates to discover and use HybridAF’s solutions to address those important needs.”

How does HybridAF’s inclusion in the Affiliate Partner Network support CrossFit?

HybridAF has a proven track record with integrations in over 300 CrossFit affiliates worldwide. After engaging with affiliate owners and hearing their testimonials about the positive support and service that HybridAF delivered, CrossFit saw an opportunity to formally bring HybridAF into the CrossFit community as a trusted brand within the APN – all as a means to serve affiliates. CrossFit is excited to work with HybridAF to help facilitate and enable CrossFit affiliates to increase revenues, enhance the member experience, and reinforce the affiliate’s core group classes by helping affiliate owners monetize the closed hours of their business.

According to Mike Marrone, Sr. Manager for the Affiliate Partner Network, “ After discussing with numerous affiliate owners about the opportunities that HybridAF provided in helping them grow their affiliate, we were really excited to bring HybridAF into the APN. When we look at crafting opportunities to support affiliates and help their business thrive, this is a key APN brand that – if affiliates see it as fitting their culture – can serve to augment and amplify their core CrossFit classes. ”

HybridAF’s integrations with other key APN partners, including CrossFit RRG, PushPress, and Zen Planner, are also great benefits of the relationship.

Including HybridAF’s 24/7 access and security into the APN provides an opportunity to help affiliate owners generate increased revenues that coincide with their core group classes, all the while providing maximum convenience for the client. This not only enhances the member experience, but augments the affiliate’s prime group classes by helping affiliate owners monetize the closed hours of their business, and generating additional revenue for the affiliate owner , who can now offer “additional membership levels for open gym access,” Tabor explained.

“CrossFit affiliates can immediately see an increase in revenue and capitalize on the square footage that is not being used during class times or when the affiliate is not staffed,” Tabor said.

Further, being part of HybridAF—a network that currently includes 330 affiliates worldwide—makes it easier to transition new members who might move from a city where they use a HybridAF affiliate and want those same services in their new home.

Finally, in terms of being part of the CrossFit APN, this means “ CrossFit has negotiated the most favorable rate, ” Tabor explained, so that the affiliate owner knows they will be getting the best possible rate to join the HybridAF community.

He added: “We hope that the success we have shown over the past five years will help enable new affiliate owners the ability to grow faster, while also giving themselves and their members more flexibility, particularly as we work towards a new normal that has emerged out of the last two years. We continue to strive to be the best in class tool for affiliate owners to capitalize on their facility 24 hours a day.”

10+ Year Affiliate Owners Weigh In

Mike Garrett from CrossFit Goldsboro (he was gym #3 that was one of the 3 original launch partners). All 3 originals are still part of the network.
My fitness faculty Crossfit Goldsboro has been in busy for 13 years now and we joined HybridAF in 2016! 24/7 has been a game changer for our clients. My Crossfit, Weightlifters, Endurance, and Weight Loss clients can train around their schedules not just our group fitness schedule. Clients are busy and this allows our business to eliminate a excuse

Danny from CrossFit Soul :
Hybrid Athlete Foundation was a perfect addition to our services here at Team Soul. Including a 24 hour access option has made life much easier on our staff and added a ton of value to our membership offerings. Their customer service is awesome and are always willing to support us when needed. Easy set up, and simple to use. We love it and so do our members.

Dave from Courage Fitness Durham :

We first installed of November 2018, just after Thanksgiving. It’s honestly one of the top 3 things we’ve done since opening in 2008. When we first went online with it, we decided to include “open gym” access for all of our folks on unlimited memberships, which was probably 90% of them. Day one, we increased rates on those folks by $5/month, which at the time was about $1000/month in added revenue. We’ve since grown to 400 members, pre-Covid, and sit at about 290 right now. Better part was we decided to increase our new member rates at that point an additional $10 on top of the $5 increase for our existing folks. So, in 3 years that’s amounted to literally 10s of thousands of dollars we may not have otherwise charged or collected.

We currently sell an “open gym only” membership at a rate of $129 (13 payments a year). We generate between $3500 and $4000/month on that membership alone. We also have increased our ability to provide individual programming for members to do outside of normal class times. This comes at a rate of $199/month…currently around $3000 to $4000 monthly in added revenue as well.

Beyond these straight financial benefits, having the ability for members to use the gym during non staffed, non class hours means easier membership sales and fewer cancelations. In both situations, the excuse of “the schedule doesn’t work” or “i don’t have time” is a lot easier to overcome.

Ultimately, this partnership has given us the ability to generate more revenue, provide more overall value to our members, remove many of the barriers people have to joining and/or leaving, and has removed pressure from the coaching team to always be present 24/7/365.

How The DIGITAL DOOR KEY Powers the ALWAYS OPEN GYM NETWORK

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:31:04 GMT

How The DIGITAL DOOR KEY Powers the ALWAYS OPEN GYM NETWORK

Are FacilKey and HybridAF the same company?

Do I have to be a micro-gym to be a FaciliKey or HybridAF member?

Does being part of HybridAF mean I have to allow 24/7 access drop-ins at my gym??

These are questions we constantly field, and it’s time to clear everything up and explain how FaciliKey or HybridAF can help your business grow, no matter what type of business it is.

But to answer the above questions first: Facilikey and HybridAF are sister companies, and being part of Facilikey doesn’t automatically
mean you will also be part of the HybridAF community.

FacilKey is designed for any small business that wants the ability to grant their members’ access to their facility. HybridAF then takes the FaciliKey features a step further and provides additional functionality and member benefits designed for micro gyms, functional fitness and CrossFit affiliates.

No. You can be part of HybridAF and not allow 24/7 access to members of other gyms. In fact, 99% of all drop-ins happen during class times. In short, HybridAF’s network becomes just another avenue to attract members and drop-ins alike to your location.

FaciliKey-HybridAF In Practice

FaciliKey is the engine that powers all access with the Digital Door Key platform. In this sense, it provides digital access and security solutions to small businesses, be it a CrossFit gym, a Pilates or yoga studio or even a church, allowing the business owner to say goodbye to clunky keys or universal passcodes, all the while giving them the peace of mind of knowing who is in their facility at any given time.

HybridAF, on the other hand, is an extension of this and really focuses on the functional gym market, both to provide them marketing power to help with member acquisition, as well as additional value to current members, who now have access to their gym 24/7.

If I sign up with FaciliKey, does this mean anyone with access can enter the facility any time they want?

No. Our apps also allow the owner the ability to grant access to a client, or even a group, on a specific day or specific times, and access can easily be removed at any given time. That being said, our apps do, of course, also allow an owner to offer 24-hour a day access. The bottom line is they provide the owner endless access options to whoever needs access to your facility at any given time.

So what’s the point of HybridAF then?

As we mentioned, FaciliKey functional fitness facility owners also have the option to become a part of the HybridAF gym community, and being part of the HybridAF community also offers other features specific to gyms, namely integration and a value add to members.

Don’t Take It From Us.
Take It From Our Customers

“With HybridAF and Wodify (working together), gym owners can save time keeping track of who has access and increase their revenue by providing more value for their clients Wodify.” – CMO Brendan Rice

“It is the best system we have ever implemented in our gym. It has taken our 24/7 gym access to a professional level.” – Rhianon Schuman, owner of Denver Barbell Club

FIND OUT MORE! VISIT FACILIKEY!

How the HybridAF App Seamlessly Integrates with your Client Management System

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:25:49 GMT

How the HybridAF App Seamlessly Integrates with your Client Management System

Having everything in one place makes life easier. Period.

Never is this more true than when it comes to the gym owner’s administrative headache of trying to organize all things client management in one place.

“Most systems that are stand alone require you to manage users in that system and they do not talk to other systems,” explained HybridAF’s Albert Steed.

In other words, when you have systems that don’t talk to each other, the gym owner finds themselves having to use four different systems for four different tasks, manually turning people on and off in different places. Tedious and time consuming, to say the least.

Enter integration

This is why HybridAF integrates seamlessly with just about every client management software under the sun, including Wodify, Zen Planner, PushPress, MindBody, Mariana Tek, Plan 2 Play, ArBox, Trainerize, Pike 13 and Acuity , and we’re also in the process of interfacing with FitHive and Xplor .

Currently, HybridAF is the only company “this deeply within all the gym management platforms,” Steed said.

“When we enable the interface, the member management platform starts feeding information to the Hybrid app,” he explained. “Our integrations to all the different providers allow (gym owners) to use their member management system as the system of truth.”

Practically speaking, when a member is given permission to use the gym by whatever software that gym owner uses, HybridAF is notified and grants access to open the door. And when a member needs to be removed, the gym owners make the changes in their client management system and HybridAF is notified and removes access.

More recently, HybridAF has also been “going even deeper,” Steed explained, so that the member management platform can also let HybridAF know which classes a member has registered for, allowing the gym owner to grant access to the facility during specific days and times.

Ultimately, this makes the HybridAF app leaps and bounds ahead of anything else that’s out there, not to mention safe and secure.

“The entire goal for us and the integrations with our partners is to provide the most seamless, safe and secure way for granting additional access to the gym,” all the while ensuring those who shouldn’t have access no longer do, Steed said.

Praise from Wodify

Wodify’s CMO Brendan Rice reiterated how easy it has been for the gym owners he works with to integrate Wodify with HybridAF.

“With just a few simple steps to connect the accounts, owners can easily add and remove secure 24-hours access to their gym to select clients’ profiles,” Rice said, adding that the integration has made a world of difference to his HybridAF customers, gym owners whose were “looking to add more flexibility to their membership offering,” he explained.

The bigger picture, however, is that “with HybridAF and Wodify, gym owners can save time keeping track of who has access and increase their revenue by providing more value for their clients,” he said.

LEARNING FROM DENVER BARBELL CLUB: DON’T TRY 24/7 ACCESS ON YOUR OWN

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:20:13 GMT

LEARNING FROM DENVER BARBELL CLUB: DON’T TRY 24/7 ACCESS ON YOUR OWN

DENVER BARBELL CLUB TRIED DOING THE 24/7 THING ON THEIR OWN

“ It went as well as you can imagine ,” said Rhianon Schuman, one of the Barbell Club’s owners.
It worked, sort of, but was “ very clunky and we took a huge risk leaving ourselves open to a lot of liability ,” she explained.

One problem: They gave their athletes the combination to the lock, but even after people quit, they were still able to enter the gym, and Schuman had no way of tracking who was in the gym or when.

“ Also, the sign up process was cumbersome. I think we were spending on average 20 minutes per new client getting them signed up, between all the back and forth emails,” she added.

ENTER HYBRID ATHLETE FOUNDATION

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, Schuman and her team started looking for options and found Hybrid AF was the only system around that would allow them to open back up safely and abide by COVID regulations. Further, it is a system created specifically for gyms, “not a system that we could find work arounds to be able to implement,” she explained.

And what they found was that Hybrid AF was incredibly useful beyond just working around the pandemic. It helped their business become more efficient, and is less stressful for the owners.

“ It automated the process . Once folks sign up online and complete their waivers they automatically get all the info they need to access the gym,” she said. “Having it controlled from the phone and also not having to deal with stupid key cards/fobs is also a game changer.”
Further, the system makes handling drop-ins easier . “It makes the process so easy and we never miss a drop-in request any longer because we don’t have to be attached to our email so we don’t miss a last minute request,” she said.

Finally, it has given the owners “peace of mind,” Schuman explained. “We have the right insurance in place to protect our business now for 24/7 access. We know exactly who is in there.”

She added: “ It is the best system we have ever implemented in our gym. It has taken our 24/7 gym access to a professional level….We looked at a few systems and by far this was the best one .”

TOP 5 WAYS HYBRIDAF IS HELPING CROSSFIT KATY’S CLIENTS, COACHES AND BUSINESS

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:17:52 GMT

TOP 5 WAYS HYBRIDAF IS HELPING CROSSFIT KATY’S CLIENTS, COACHES AND BUSINESS

In July 2017, Drew Reeves, the owner of CrossFit Katy in Texas, was brainstorming ways he could use his facility during off hours to give his members more flexibility with their training schedule, all the while limiting additional business costs.

Then he stumbled across Hybrid Athlete Foundation and it seemed like the perfect solution: His members would have access to the facility 24/7, and the business could actually make some money in the process. And when he found out HybridAF already had “a system in place and would install and provide support on both the hardware and software side,” Reeves said he was sold.

Four years later, with 61 of CrossFit KATY members taking advantage of the 24/7 service, Reeves said signing up for HybridAF has been one of the best business decisions his team has made.

TOP 5 WAYS HYBRIDAF IS HELPING CROSSFIT KATY
1. Increased Flexibility for Members:

Not only do CrossFit Katy members have access to the gym whenever they want, allowing them to get to the gym more frequently, they also get to use other Hybrid affiliate gyms at either for free or at a discounted rate, depending on the other gym’s policy.

This has been hugely valuable to many of his members, Reeves explained, as many of them travel for work.

2. Increased Performance and Client Retention:

This flexibility has paid off in his athletes’ performance, Reeves explained, adding that this is especially true of more veteran clients.

After a client has been a member for a while, there comes a time when they want to devote more time to specific skills and goals, Reeves said. “And if you don’t have Open gym time, then they will look at other options to fill that need,” he said.

“We saw over time people would try and do extra work during other class times. They would begin buying their own equipment, or even go to other gyms or facilities that had 24-hour options to get this work in,” he said. “We felt we needed to capture that revenue, and as well keep that member committed to our facility, and Hybrid has provided us that option.”

3. Reduced Coach Burnout:

Like any hard working business owner, Reeves and his coaches wanted to be able to take some time off, especially during various holidays. Before offering 24/7 service, it was a difficult thing to do, as members wanted to continue to workout to burn off all the Christmas party eating and drinking.

With HybridAF, Reeves and his team are able to take some time off, all the while their members can continue to train.

“Now, clients know they have the ability to add on to their membership for a small price without having to go add an additional membership or purchase equipment for their garage,” he said.

4. Caters to the Unique Business:

“The flexibility that Hybrid provides in allowing you to set up how you offer the program to your clients was a huge major plus for us,” Reeves said. “It’s very similar to the CrossFit model of allowing you the ability to use their concept, but implement it how you think it might work best for your affiliate.”

For example, some HybridAF gyms use the system for open gym memberships only, while others use it to give clients access to other services, such as karate or dance classes, and others still use it to sell individual program design to their clients. Not only that, but each gym can decide how much they want to charge for 24/7 access.

5. Provides Ongoing Support:

The technical support and service HybridAF provides is unmatched, Reeves explained.

“If there is ever an issue with the equipment and software, they fix the issue in less than 24 hours, and most of the time they will respond within 10 minutes of an email or request for help,” he said.

The bottom line: Becoming part of the HybridAF network has done exactly what Reeves wanted it to do: Help his clients, and the business’ bottom line.

“It has been one of the best decisions we made as an ownership team to date,” he said.

HYBRID AF PROVIDES COST SAVINGS AND MORE FOR GYM OWNERS

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:13:49 GMT

HYBRID AF PROVIDES COST SAVINGS AND MORE FOR GYM OWNERS

In a recent Morning Chalk Up article about cost-saving tips, they reported that Traie Roberson, the owner of Rushmore CrossFit, has been able to save by money reducing 30 staffing hours a month since becoming a HybridAF gym and adding a 24/7 service option to her members. Turns out, she’s not the only one cutting costs through using HybridAF:

KELLY BARCOL

The owner of CrossFit Winnersville in Valdosta, GA has been a member of HybridAF since October 2017. He says it has not just saved him money, but has also helped him earn additional revenue.

• His gym had been open for four years prior to introducing 24/7 access to his members, and during this time he “rarely closed on holidays,” he explained. “I always had the mindset that athletes are paying so much a month, I need to provide them class times,” he said.
• Since installing HybridAF, he has been able to close on holidays, or at least put out a limited schedule, meaning he doesn’t have to pay coaches on holidays.
• Further, Barcol offers the 24/7 service as an add-on service, which has allowed him to earn an additional $800 in revenue each month. “I can honestly say it has been extremely hands free, zero issues, (and) and extra $800 in my hand every month,” he said.

BEYOND COST SAVINGS

Lifestyle Improvements: Because he no longer has to be open on holidays, Barcol explained it has helped him stay closed “guilt free on holidays, I have much more fun time on my hands,” he said.

COVID: Dave Rubin, the owner of Courage Fitness in Durham, NC, said adding HybridAF has been the best decision he has made in 12 years of business. And the pandemic made that even more true.

“During COVID, it has given us an added advantage of giving our members a way to feel as comfortable as possible to get their workouts in…It really puts the gym in a great position to serve people in the safest way possible,” Rubin said.

THREE MORE QUICK COST-SAVING TIPS

1. Small things add up: Though tedious, take the time to go through all your subscriptions (be it software or otherwise) and your phone bill and make sure you’re using everything you’re paying for. Doing this helped one gym owner we spoke with immediately save $1,100. Small things can add up to big savings.

2. Hire slowly: Make sure you take the time to hire the right people in the right positions. Retraining staff is expensive, not to mention time consuming.

3. Understand your revenue streams: Similar to how a restaurant owner should know exact profit margins on each dish on their menu, you should know how each revenue stream is doing. If your competitor’s program is costing you money, it might be time to rethink how you pricing is or roll it out.

SALES@HYBRIDAF.COM

Scott Panchik on the Open and COVID 19 Recovery

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:10:52 GMT

Scott Panchik on the Open and COVID 19 Recovery

Flash back to the 2012 CrossFit Open. As a teacher Scott Panchik’s schedule did not allow him access to a CrossFit gym on a regular basis, instead he made due with equipment at the school and doing several burpees. It was a cold night in Ohio and Scott Panchik’s CrossFit journey was about to soar! 12.1 was 7 minutes of burpees! Scott took 1st place in the world and has never looked back! With his personal experiences as a competitor and as an affiliate owner, Scott understands the importance of accessibility to the gym at various times.
Scott has been using #HybridAF since 2018. He has always seen the value of providing access to help his members meet their goals, but 2020 proved to add an additional value for members returning to the gym.
“This has been a game changer for our members coming back from Covid-19” stated Panchik. “It not only provides access for our members 24/7/365, it has also allowed our members to train within the proper social distancing protocols”

• SET YOUR GYM APART FROM YOUR COMPETITION.
• MEET THE SCHEDULE DEMANDS OF YOUR MEMBERS, WITHOUT HAVING TO ADD ADDITIONAL CLASS TIMES.
• PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR MEMBERS WHO ARE AT RISK OR NEED TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE BECAUSE OF THOSE IN THEIR CARE WHO ARE AT RISK.
Listen to how 8 time CrossFit Games Athlete and CrossFit Mentality Owner, Scott Panchik uses #HybridAF to help his members:

Get Back Our Lives

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:07:53 GMT

G et Back Our Lives

Get Back Our Lives

The great New Year’s Resolution rush is upon the fitness industry. We know that people around the globe have made health and wellness goals for 2021. You, as a gym owner are instrumental in helping people meet those goals . With the Covid shutdowns and the pandemic still at large, gym owners are having to find creative ways to grow their business but most importantly take a HYBRID approach. Gyms choose to partner with #HybridAF to expand hours of operations while they are forced to limit their class sizes.

2021 is your time to set your facility apart from your competitors by offering 24/7/365 access to your members and the community in which you serve. Let us help you reach your 2021 business goals by giving you back time with our stress free, compliant platform!

Holidays StressfulAF? Not with 24/7 Access with #HybridAF

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:05:21 GMT

Holidays StressfulAF? Not with 24/7 Access with #HybridAF

One of the greatest complaints we have heard from gym owners around the world is that they have spent years sacrificing weekends and more importantly, sacrificing holidays with their families in order to run their business.

#HybridAF has given that time back to the gym owners that we partner with.

Gym owners have always been stretched thin and 2020 has not pulled any punches. Prior to becoming a member of #HybridAF many gym owners had never taken time off during the holiday season and rarely throughout the year. Ask yourself, when was the last time you had the opportunity to spend a holiday with your family and not be interrupted by a class or an open gym schedule?

Husband and wife team Phillip and Holly Tabor are owners of CrossFit Coordinate in Cary NC and are all too familiar with that life.

“Before #HybridAF we would offer open gym hours on Sundays, Turkey Day WODs, and be open most major holidays. We felt obligated to do this! In 2017 we took the plunge and began to offer 24/7 with #HybriadAF. Since then we have been able to securely open our gym to our members by using the #HybridAF app while we were able to enjoy time with our family during some weekends and all holidays. Best of all we have been able to reduce costs by not having to staff the open gym hours. But most importantly our members love the flexibility of 24/7 access!” Philip loved the solution so much he joined the Hybrid team in 2018 and is now our VP of Business Development and Sales.

24-Hour Gym Access Serving Affiliates Now More Than Ever

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:02:07 GMT

24-Hour Gym Access Serving Affiliates Now More Than Ever

Check out this awesome article written by Morning Chalk Up about how we are helping gyms around the world maintain social distancing in a safe and effective way! Let us help you get your members back into classes or times that fit their schedule and level of comfort.

With social distancing and class size limits the name of the game right now, more and more CrossFit affiliates and functional fitness gyms have turned to HybridAF, a company that works with the insurance provider Affiliate Guard to install access systems to provide 24-hour access to members, seven days a week.

In April, we reported 105 CrossFit affiliates were registered with Hybrid AF. Today, 127 CrossFit affiliates and 52 functional fitness gyms are taking advantage of HybridAF’s 24-hour member access, said Albert Steed, the president of the company.

David Rubin, the owner of Courage Fitness Durham in NC is one of these gyms. He has been a HybridAF member for almost three years and says “it’s the best decision we have ever made in our 12 years of business.” This is especially true in the face of the worldwide pandemic, he explained.

“Our members have always taken advantage of it, but during COVID, it has given us an added advantage of giving our members a way to feel as comfortable as possible to get their workouts in…It really puts the gym in a great position to serve people in the safest way possible,” Rubin said.

One big thing: Gym owners say 24/7 member access is helping those who are fearful of being in a group continue to workout.

Some members are using the 24-hour option because they want to limit their gym exposure to the quieter times, Rubin explained. It helps them “feel a little more private and separate from larger groups,” he added.
Other gym owners are using their 24/7 access option to help control who comes in the gym when, Steed said. “For example, they’re opening registration at certain times for people who might live with someone who is vulnerable, and during those times they might limit it to just three or four people in the gym, so it’s really helping a lot of people right now,” he explained.

Reopening During COVID

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:59:52 GMT

R eopening During COVID

Let us help you open your gym! Our strategy is CDC compliant and supported by industry leading insurance providers across the globe.
Experience one of our members’ journeys below to see how becoming HybridAF helped his gym achieve its goals.

24/7 Access – The Social Distance Champ

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:56:19 GMT

24/7 Access – The Social Distance Champ

Hit a WOD at 2 a.m.?

Other CrossFit affiliates are embracing the idea of running a 24-hour gym through HybridAF, a company that works with the insurance provider Affiliate Guard to install access systems to provide 24-hour access to members, seven days a week.

Currently, HybridAF works with 126 member gyms in the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK and Germany, 105 of which are CrossFit affiliates. They have also picked up six new affiliates in the last few weeks as more and more gyms prepare to reopen their doors.

“With the changes in gyms, Hybrid AF 24/7 is really becoming a viable part of gyms as they reopen with smaller class sizes and the need to have a management system that would allow members to access the gym,” said Philip Tabor, the VP of sales at HybridAF.
“The benefit is that as phase one plans roll out and gyms are asked to limit class sizes to 10 (people), being open 24/7 allows their members more access in a safe and compliant manner…And members who are concerned about going to a class have the option to go in at an off time (when the facility is quiet),” said Arthur Steed, the president of HybridAF.

Hybrid AF’s management software also allows gyms to control and limit the number of people who can access the facility at any given time, based on their state regulations, Steed added.

Dave Rubin, the owner of CrossFit Durham in NC said the 24/7 option is about to become even more valuable to his members.

“It gives us more freedom to provide the safest environment for our members, and work within our city and state’s regulations and restrictions. Our members will appreciate having the option to train in the manner that they personally deem the safest for themselves, as well,” Rubin said.
“Being part of the HybridAF network has been the best decision we’ve made in our 12 years as a CrossFit affiliate,” he added.

Read the full article here: MorningChalkUp.com

Gym Owners Seek Creative Solutions as They Plan Re-Opening

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:27:01 GMT

Gym Owners Seek Creative Solutions as They Plan Re-Opening

Hit a WOD at 2 a.m.?

“With the changes in gyms, Hybrid AF 24/7 is really becoming a viable part of gyms as they reopen with smaller class sizes and the need to have a management system that would allow members to access the gym,” said Philip Tabor, the VP of sales at HybridAF.
“The benefit is that as phase one plans roll out and gyms are asked to limit class sizes to 10 (people), being open 24/7 allows their members more access in a safe and compliant manner…And members who are concerned about going to a class have the option to go in at an off time (when the facility is quiet),” said Arthur Steed, the president of HybridAF.

Hybrid AF’s management software also allows gyms to control and limit the number of people who can access the facility at any given time, based on their state regulations, Steed added.

Dave Rubin, the owner of CrossFit Durham in NC said the 24/7 option is about to become even more valuable to his members.

“It gives us more freedom to provide the safest environment for our members, and work within our city and state’s regulations and restrictions. Our members will appreciate having the option to train in the manner that they personally deem the safest for themselves, as well,” Rubin said.
“Being part of the HybridAF network has been the best decision we’ve made in our 12 years as a CrossFit affiliate,” he added.

Read the full article here: MorningChalkUp.com

Covid-19 Recovery

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:23:37 GMT

Covid-19 Recovery

We came together as a community and through 24/7 access we were able to extend the life of access for our affiliates in the early parts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the new rules announced by the US Government for how to Re Open America Again we are proud to know that 24/7 access with

#HYBRIDAF WILL BE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A SUCCESSFUL GYM’S TOLL SET TO MAINTAIN SMALLER CLASSES & GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO THEIR MEMBERS.

Are you ready to make the jump into 24/7 access to benefit you and your members and are curious about what it takes to get it done?

#HYBRIDAF CAN BE INSTALLED & READY FOR USE IN LESS THAN A WEEK!

With so many options and ways to implement 24/7/365 access we are proud to say that our #HybridAF driven implementation is fully compliant with major insurance providers and even endorsed by Affiliate Guard. Why do key cards or a punch code that come with so many potential issues when you can give your members a mobile app that was designed from the ground up for 24/7 access in the fitness space? Once the decision is made to start offering 24/7/365 with the #HybridAF app

YOU’RE ONLY 4 SIMPLE STEPS FROM THE ACCESS BEING ENABLED!

Internet Connection is needed for our team to complete the transaction.

Our installation team reviews your facility on-site and procures the necessary commercial grade hardware to enable the #HybridAF app to control your door. All of our install teams are bonded and insured and we use only the best equipment to ensure your facility works without a hitch.

Did you know that our #HybridAF system works either wired or via WiFi for internet? Our commercial grade hardware makes it simple and easy to provide access to your facility with the #HybridAF app.

Our installation team completes each job with pride and ensures that the hardware looks clean and functions without any issues. For almost 4 years and with over 120 gyms, we have had less than 10 service calls to repair malfunctioned equipment.

Once the system is online your members are ready to rock and roll 24/7/365 using the #HybridAF app. Access is provided in a safe and secure way that allows the gym owner to monitor access, enforce waivers and rules, and best of all integrate it into their membership management platforms like Wodify, Zen, etc.

HYBRIDAF.COM

24/7 Access: Hype or Hit?

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:17:08 GMT

24/7 Access: Hype or Hit?

A common question from gym owners is; “ Is this 24/7 thing hype or a hit ?”. We understand that gym owners are being flooded with ads for processes and systems that make promises to bring hundreds of new members and thousands in new revenue. #HybridAF is not one of these overnight guru’s promising you crazy results. If the “guru” way was that attainable every gym owner would be rolling in dough, instead they are looking for strategic directions to continue to build their revenue base.

After being in business for over 3 years and helping 120+ gym owners in 4 countries we have the metrics and feedback to substantiate what we talk about. All gym owners have the same goal in wanting to increase revenue but, there is always a side story of what is genuinely important to them . Instead of taking our word for it we asked some of our gym owners to give us feedback on what has been the game changers for them since starting to offer 24/7 access with us and here is what they had to say:

“Our members are loving having 24 hr access, especially during the odd hours of the day. This is another way we differentiate from other gyms in the area. Hybrid has built more value into our memberships, giving members more options. Holidays, and request for open gym on Sunday no longer present a problem. We allow our members to add it to a membership at any time.”

Scott Panchik, Owner of CrossFit Mentality

“I am so grateful for such an easy, painlessprogram and app for my members to access Platform Strength whenever they want. The team at Hybrid is incredible! They answered all my questions, made sure we were taken care of, and even helped make the app exactly what we were looking for. 5 out of 5!!!”

Emily Norine, Owner of Platform Strength

“Partnering with HybridAF was a no brainer when it came to a business value add. Since joining the network we have nearly doubled our average monthly client spend through custom one on one programming. This program has been so successful we recently expanded to a second locationthat will be a Hybrid only access for those specific clients. None of that would have been possible without the support / integration of the Hybrid team.”

Greg Buck, Owner of CrossFit Arioch

“I own Alpine CrossFit and we partner with hybrid because their services align perfectly with why we exist as a gym. We exist to provide everyone on Colorado’s Front Range the resources necessary to achieve the fullest expressions of themselves, help those around them, and send positive ripples throughout the world. With 24/7 access are members will never again be restricted to pursue their wellness. That’s big time. Thanks for offering us a needed service! You guys are the best.”

Annie Brunner, Owner of Alpine CrossFit

So, if you are looking for a PROVEN way to INCREASE REVENUE, REDUCE STAFF COSTS, ATTRACT AND RETAIN MEMBERS then setup a call with us. We know you have questions and we can work with you on how to move past the question of Hype and help you with your next Hit in the gym.

HYBRIDAF.COM

Welcome to 2020!

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:00:22 GMT

Welcome to 2020!

Gym owners – Welcome to 2020! The great New Year’s Resolution rush is upon the fitness industry. We know that people around the globe have made goals for 2020 that include health and wellness as well as personal and professional goals. You, as a gym owner are instrumental in helping people meet these goals along with goals they haven’t even personally considered.

When you were doing your 2020 business planning did you have goals for your facility to become more profitable ? How about the goal to allow yourself more free time to grow the business while still maintaining a positive work life balance with your family? If the answer is yes then it’s time to begin offering 24/7/365 at your facility. Joining #HybridAF empowers your facility with the best in class, app driven, access

system for your members and yourself as an owner. The system checks off all the boxes that insurance underwriters are looking for to safely and securely offer unattended access in your space.

Hybrid Athlete Foundation is excited to announce that we have over 115 participating gyms in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia . We have also made a big push to help make 24/7/365 even more seamless for our owners by integrating our system the top membership management systems in the fitness industry. #HybridAF is fully integrated

for member access management with Wodify , Push Press , Zen Planner , Pike 13 and Mind Body .

What does this mean to you? For example, while you are in Wodify, you can simply update your athlete to have #HybridAF access and they will receive an email with the information they need to access your facility. If your member were to cancel his or her membership you simply remove access in Wodify and they no longer have access to the door. No longer will you have to manage access in two places, change keys, reset codes, or other tedious ways of managing access since all systems work together. No other access system can claim the features and integrations that #HybridAF brings to your facility and when you read the reviews from gym owners and members you won’t just be taking our word on that. 2020 is your time to set your facility apart from your competitors by offering 24/7/365 access to your members and the community in which you serve. Let us help you reach your 2020 business goals by giving you back time with our stress free, compliant platform!
Let us help increase your revenue and membership satisfaction today. Visit our website at https://hybridaf.com . Call 84-HYBRIDAF (844-927-4313) or email sales@hybridaf.com .

Setup A Call Now!

#Hybrid100 and Beyond A big thank you to the #First100 that trusted us with empowering their gym and members with 24/7/365 access.

Welcome to our new 24/7/365 Facilitates!

CrossFit Explode – West Chester, PACrossFit Forward – Fredericksburg, VADogTown CrossFit – Los Angeles, CACrossfit Manassas – Manassas, VACrossFit Endemic – Fountain, COCrossFit West Geist – Fishers, INTrue Peak Health & Performance – Manchester, NHCrossFit SFS – Hume, ACTCrossFit 413 – Fort Smith, ARCrossFit Menace – Brighton, MISantiam CrossFit – Albany, ORCrossFit Belmont Heights – Long Beach, CAMint Strength – Scottsdale, AZBlack Bolt CrossFit – Cary, NCCrystal Coast Strength & Conditioning – Swansboro, NCAnderson Creek CrossFit – Spring Lake, NCCrossFit Pine Creek – Pittsburgh, PANuclear CrossFit – Lubbock, TXPerry Hall CrossFit – White Marsh, MDCummings Strength & Conditioning – Cumming, GANoskov Fitness – Northvale, NJCrossFit Land Mine – Pahrump, NVPivotal Training – Southampton, NJCrossFit 8035 – Des Moines, IA

About Us It is the Hybrid Athlete Foundation’s mission to connect gyms and athletes into one solid, supportive network of 24 hour, 7 day a week gyms that encourages athletes to take accountability and pride in their own fitness. Our platform is built to enable gym owners to offer 24/7/365 services to their members seamlessly. To unsubscribe email us at support@hybridaf.com

Why Piecemeal When You Can HybridAF?

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:51:16 GMT

Why Piecemeal When You Can HybridAF?

What is your time worth to you?

Maybe in addition to being a gym owner or coach, you are a father or a mother . You may be a full-time employee , a student , a son or a daughter . Nonetheless, you are not just a coach or gym owner. You wear several hats, as we all do.

How satisfying would it be to you if we said we can give you back some of your time and bring in extra revenue to your facility?

The #HybridAF platform can give you back your time. Along with the countless ways we offer your gym members an extended amount of value to their memberships and additional revenue in your pockets; you will also see the benefits of having the application personally on day 1 with our streamlined implementation process.

We know as humans not all two things are created equal, so why would you utilize your time trying to piecemeal a similar, low grade, “cheaper” version of our system to your gym when we have created a streamlined platform for you? We hear it all the time from gym owners in the network that looked into DYI that the #HybridAF platform is the best value they could find.

“If you think you can do it on your own, not saying you cannot, it’s just not worth the time, effort and brain cells to work it out. #HybridAF is simple to set up, it works, the app is a way better system than any fob or code and they are super easy to work with. They are always quick to respond and obviously care about each customer. Very happy to be a part of the Hybrid network and will be for years to come.” Lieven DeGeyndt – Petworth Fitness

#HybridAF has created an platform that is a one stop shop for 24/7/356 access to facilities. Our application has features built into the program that you will not find anywhere else. Some of those gyms have been trying to replicate the #HybridAF system on their own, but can’t seem to duplicate with the ease, convenience, support and value our system offers.

When looking at the “DIY” route versus the #HybridAF platform see how many features you can check off based on the list of features that #HybridAF delivers to you:

Your waiver built in the app
Your gym rules easily available on the app
An emergency call button for your members (no need for a lanyard or dedicated 911 device)
Alerts to you when people access the facility, register, request access and more
Easy installation of the system with our bonded install teams (you don’t have to track down multiple third parties and permits)
Best Practice Recommendations for running an “unattended” facility that have been vetted and approved by insurance providers all across the globe
Marketing collateral around 24/7
Integration with gym management platforms like Wodify
Frequent updates and advancements based on facility owner feedback and needs
Most importantly you are giving your members access to all #HybridAF network members for free! No more drop in fees or searching for a “good” gym when traveling. They are part of an international fitness family.

Our process is simple. Stop wasting your time searching for the right equipment, finding supporting software vendors, securing a contractor for installation and adding the additional supporting fees and still not being able to add the value that #HybridAF can for you and your members.

#HybridAF is your one stop shop for a 24/7/365 system. Don’t waste your time, let us give that back to you so you can focus on what is important to you.

Are you ready to increase your revenue by diversifying your gym from the competition? Visit our website at Hybridaf or contact us at sales@hybridaf.com if you want to learn more about becoming a 24/7/365 facility.

Set Up A Call Now!

Welcome to the newest #HybridAF Affiliates!

CrossFit Charlotte, Charlotte NC
CrossFit Hoka Hey, Hemet CA
CrossFit Kainos, Soldotna AK
Grid CrossFit, New Berlin WI
Power Performance, Loveland OH
West Metro CrossFit, Wheat Ridge CO

A Night At The Box With Scott And Elijah

Box Owners Night

Friday, August 24th from 4PM – 8PM

You are invited to a night reserved just for you!

We are offering you the chance to get together with your peers for a night of insights, ideas, and inspiration.

Nepean CrossFit and #HybridAF along with Elijah Muhammad and Scott Panchik are hosting a box owners’ night where you meet other box owners and their coaches. You can spend time with experts in nutrition, recovery, movement, and more. In addition, you will meet and talk with Elijah and Scott.

The night is all about you, the box owner, and how you can add value to your box. Find out from experts how you can utilize their services or services like theirs.

Chat with other box owners about what they do and how they tackle challenges. Talk to Scott and Elijah about how they run their boxes and manage to train and compete at a high level.

The night will include:

Meet and greet Elijah Mahammad and Scott Panchik

Hybrid Athlete Foundation all hours access demonstration and information

RX Smart Gear demonstration/tuition and giveaways

Balance Health and Performance movement/mobility talk

Fortitude Nutrition coaching information Q & A

Massage Gun Australia demonstration/tuition

Blue Dinosaur giveaways

True Protein information and samples

Rock Tape information and giveaways

Food and beverages

T-Shirt for all participants

$275 per affiliate owner or $375 per affiliate owner + 1 coach

To register please click here .

Are you always open during the OPEN?

social@trueipsolutions.com (Albert Steed) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:16:22 GMT

Are you always open during the OPEN?

World renowned, 7x Games Athlete, Scott Panchik, explains why it is important to stay OPEN.

According to Statista.com in 2017:

There are over 38,000 gyms in the United States increasing by roughly 2,000 additional gyms per year.
Worldwide, there are over 201,000 health clubs, not including the gym or CrossFit category.
Virtual fitness and nutritional planning are an entire category on its own.

That is a lot of competition for a gym owner.

Have you asked yourself, what makes my gym different? What do you offer to your members that puts you in front of your competition not only locally but worldwide? How are you enhancing the customer experience?

The #HybridAF platform provides a system that will put you ahead of your competition. The system offers value not only for your members, but also for you as a gym owner. Without franchising your footprint, your members will have access to over 70+ other gyms in the #HybridAF network, have 24/7/365 access to your facility and have the opportunity to train on his or her own schedule while saving you overhead expenses during open gym hours.

Here is feedback from two of our #HybridAF affiliates as to why they implemented the #HybridAF platform

Scott Panchik, 7x Games athlete and owner of CrossFit Mentality, felt there was something missing in his personal training. “When I first started into CrossFit, I had a very busy schedule. My time was limited, and it was challenging to do the training I needed to do with limited access to a gym. This system would have given me more opportunity to train on my schedule when I began in CrossFit. The #HybridAF system gives you flexibility. You can implement it however is best for you and your gym.”

The system immediately brings value to your current members who chose to utilize the app, but it also opens your market by expanding your current services. Panchik says, “it has offered options that diversify us from our competitors.” and “any gym looking to diversify and give their members more opportunity to reach their full potential should implement this platform at their gym.”

Matt Temesy, owner of CrossFit Clayton in North Carolina, launched the system in May of 2018 and has since seen a large increase in his monthly revenue. “Annually, the system will increase our revenue by over $21,000.00,” said Temesy. CrossFit Clayton has added 16 new Open Gym members and over 40 members added the 24/7 option onto their existing membership totaling over $1,700 more in revenue per month for his gym. Bringing his three-year return on investment to over $56,000 and they are just getting started.

Welcome to the newest #HybridAF Affiliates!

CrossFit Charlotte, Charlotte NC
CrossFit Hoka Hey, Hemet CA
CrossFit Kainos, Soldotna AK
Grid CrossFit, New Berlin WI
Power Performance, Loveland OH
West Metro CrossFit, Wheat Ridge CO

If you are interested in earning more income and reducing stress what are you waiting for? Visit our website at Hybridaf or contact us at sales@hybridaf.com if you want to learn more about becoming a 24/7/365 facility.

Set Up A Call Now!

hybridaf

Best Practices for Pricing Unattended Access with HybridAF

Best Practices for Pricing Unattended Access with HybridAF

Five Ways to Price

1. Add-On Fee

2. Stand Alone Membership

3. Drop-In Memberships

4. All-Inclusive (But with an Initial Rate Increase)

5. All-Inclusive

Weighing the Pros and Cons

Three Common Pitfalls

Other Key Considerations

The Bottom Line

HybridAF Helps Build Community, Increase Client Retention for William Tirado

HybridAF Helps Build Community, Increase Client Retention for William Tirado

Why HybridAF is Perfect in Puerto Rico

Four Ways HybridAF has Helped Los De La Isla CrossFit

New Members

Accommodates Class-Going Members

Client Retention Has Soared

Added Convenience for Tirado

Final Thoughts

HybridAF Ayuda a William Tirado a Construir Comunidad y Aumentar la Retención de Clientes

Por que HybridAF es Perfecto en Puerto Rico

Cuatro Maneras en que HybridAF ha Ayudado a Los De La Isla CrossFit

Nuevos Miembros

Acomoda a Los Miembros Que Asisten a las Clases

La Retención de los Clientes se ha Ido para Arriba

Agregando Conveniencia para Tirado

Pensamientos Finales

Jessica Lee Saves $1,600 a Month in Payroll Costs with HybridAF (And that’s Just the Tip of the Iceburg)

Jessica Lee Saves $1,600 a Month in Payroll Costs with HybridAF (And that’s Just the Tip of the Iceburg)

Three Quick Results

1. Cost Savings

2. Accommodates Drop-Ins

3. Accommodates Shift-Working Members

Final Thoughts

One App, Full Access: How HybridAF and StreamFit Are Simplifying Unattended Access and Gym Management

One App, Full Access: How HybridAF and StreamFit Are Simplifying Unattended Access and Gym Management

What Other Gym Owners are Saying

5 Smart Ways to Ensure Your Members and Business are Extra Safe with Unattended Access

5 Smart Ways to Ensure Your Members and Business are Extra Safe with Unattended Access

1. Set Limited Unattended Hours

2. Require Members to Pass an Assessment First

3. Six-Month Rule

4. Install Cameras for Peace of Mind

5. Take Advantage of HybridAF’s Real-Time App Notifications

Final Thoughts: Unattended Doesn’t Mean Unprotected

HybridAF Adds Revenue, Reduces Payroll Costs for Five Alarm Fitness

HybridAF Adds Revenue, Reduces Payroll Costs for Five Alarm Fitness

Three Other HybridAF Benefits for Five Alarm Fitness

Holidays Off

More Value for her Members

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The Big Picture

Boost Your Merchandise Sales With Unattended Access Via HybridAF

Boost Your Merchandise Sales With Unattended Access Via HybridAF

How HybridAF Unlocks More Sales Opportunities

The Honor System in Action

The PushPress Kiosk in Action

Honor System vs. Kiosk: Which Is Right for You?

The Big Picture: Why Passive Revenue Matters

Four Ways HybridAF Makes Summer Easier (and More Profitable) for Gym Owners

Four Ways HybridAF Makes Summer Easier (and More Profitable) for Gym Owners

Four Ways HybridAF Can Help You in the Summer

1.Take that Guilt-Free Vacation. Finally.

2. Accommodates Unpredictable Schedules, Stops the Summer Holds

3. Captures Vacation Drop Ins, Adds Passive Revenue

4. Cancel Poorly Attended Classes

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Final Thoughts

How HybridAF is Helping Gym Owners Accommodate Those Training for HYROX

How HybridAF is Helping Gym Owners Accommodate Those Training for HYROX

In Charlotte, North Carolina:

In Tuckerton, New Jersey:

The Big Picture

How 24/7 Access Through HybridAF is Giving Lexi Bengston Newfound Freedom, And Bringing in New Members

How 24/7 Access Through HybridAF is Giving Lexi Bengston Newfound Freedom, And Bringing in New Members

Quick Results

One More Thing: An Easy Transition