From Backyard Training to Gym Empire: How Brando Hasick Built a Fitness Business While Balancing Family Life

In this inspiring episode of The Nathan Newberry Show, fitness entrepreneur Brando Hasick shares his journey from training clients in his backyard to building a network of successful gyms across Sydney. Brando's story demonstrates how persistence, innovation, and a willingness to learn from failure can lead to business success while still maintaining balance for family life.

The Humble Beginnings of a Fitness Empire

Like many successful entrepreneurs, Brando Hasick's journey began with humble origins and a willingness to hustle. After completing his sports science degree with the intention of becoming a physiotherapist, Brando had a realization that would change his career trajectory forever.

"Rather than waiting for people to get injured and helping them, why don't I help them before they get injured?" This insight led him to pursue fitness training instead of physiotherapy.

His entrepreneurial journey started at an F45 gym, where he worked as a head coach. The commute was challenging—a 50-minute drive each way—which led to one of his first entrepreneurial adaptations:

"I used to sleep in the gym a lot because it was so far from home... I'd finish at like 7:30, and by the time I set up for the next day, it was like 8:00-8:30, and I had to be back there by 5:00 the next morning. So I set up this little air mattress in the upstairs loft and did that."

After nine months of this grueling schedule, Brando began to realize there could be more to his career. He met mentors who opened his eyes to the possibilities of entrepreneurship and started training clients in his backyard on alternating days from his F45 job.

The backyard venture began to gain traction, but with only $4,000 in his account, Brando needed help to grow. He invested in a Facebook marketing course that cost $6,000, negotiating a deal to pay $2,000 upfront and the remainder after seeing results:

"I had the phone call and he said, 'You know, it's a $6,000 course,' and I was like, 'Holy sh*t, I've only got $4,000 left in my account, I can't even afford this.'"

This investment paid off, bringing in leads that Brando converted to clients. However, his outdoor gym faced a significant challenge when winter arrived:

"It was raining, and these clients just stopped turning up. I think I got down to about three clients in my backyard, and I remember saying to my mom, 'I'm on like $600 a week again.'"

This moment of crisis became a pivotal turning point when his mother suggested he should "pack it in and go get a real job." Rather than discouraging him, this comment fueled his determination:

"It's definitely like a pivotal moment that I just vividly remember... being that turning point for me was like, 'Well, no, I'm going to prove you wrong, and I'm going to prove everyone else wrong.'"

Learning Through Failure: The Path to Business Growth

Brando's transition from a backyard trainer to gym owner came when a connection offered him space in what became affectionately known as "The Shred Shed"—a small 45-square-meter space with the primary advantage of having a roof. This humble beginning allowed him to continue growing his business regardless of weather conditions.

His business acumen developed further when he purchased an existing personal training business. Using negotiation skills he had recently learned, Brando made a deal to pay $30,000 upfront and $1,000 a week for 30 weeks. Thanks to his growing revenue—reaching $8,000-$10,000 weekly from combined operations—he paid off the entire amount in just six weeks.

With this foundation, Brando set a goal to reach 100 members, which he achieved within six months. This success emboldened him to expand to a second location, but the rapid growth led to valuable lessons through failure:

"I just rushed it. I had no idea what I was doing, but it's been a really good learning curve because we only stayed open for six months... We only got to like 30 members there, couldn't afford the rent."

This setback cost him approximately $80,000 in equipment and a $10,000 lease-breaking fee. Rather than being deterred, Brando used this experience to identify crucial areas for improvement:

1. Training staff properly to maintain standards
2. Learning to manage those standards
3. Developing marketing strategies for multiple locations

After regrouping and growing his original location to 150-160 members, Brando attempted expansion again—this time purchasing an existing gym in Watson's Bay. Initially, this second attempt also seemed headed for failure:

"We were still down to like 50 members and losing members every day... because we had to change the model. A lot of them left... I remember talking to my partner, 'I've done it again. I've made a mistake. Maybe gyms just aren't scalable.'"

However, persistence paid off when a well-executed campaign brought in 25 new members, turning the business around. The location eventually grew to 180 members and became highly profitable, validating Brando's approach and providing the blueprint for further expansion.

Today, Brando has four successful gyms with a fifth location opening soon, along with a consulting business where he teaches other gym owners how to replicate his success.

Innovative Adaptations: Pivoting During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic presented an existential threat to fitness businesses worldwide, but Brando's innovative approach turned potential disaster into opportunity. When lockdowns hit, Brando had eight to nine staff members he wanted to protect while keeping the business afloat.

His solution was remarkably creative—leasing out all of the gym's equipment to members:

"We leased out all of our equipment, so we made sure everyone got like a dumbbell and a kettlebell package, or a barbell package, or a conditioning package."

This strategy served multiple purposes:

• Provided value to members who were paying premium rates (nearly $100 AUD per week)
• Utilized equipment that would otherwise sit unused
• Maintained revenue streams during closure
• Created a reason for members to continue their subscriptions

The team divided clients among staff members, with each trainer responsible for checking in with 30-40 clients daily. They supplemented this with Zoom workouts and personalized programming through their training app.

Brando also leveraged the gym's strong community spirit to encourage continued support:

"We ran with the narrative, 'If you guys want us to be here when gyms open back up, there needs to be a little bit of give and take... if we stop paying, then there's not going to be a gym to go back to.'"

This approach to the pandemic demonstrates Brando's ability to innovate under pressure and turn obstacles into opportunities—a recurring theme throughout his entrepreneurial journey.

Balancing High Performance and Family Life

One of the most significant challenges Brando has faced is adapting his high-performance work ethic to accommodate family life. With a two-year-old son and another child on the way, finding balance has required intentional adjustments to his schedule and mindset.

"I was used to doing 14-15 hour days and pretty happy doing it... but now that I've got a 2-year-old, it really changed things because I had to stop thinking so much about just go, go, go, and I had to sort of schedule someone else into my life."

Rather than abandoning his hustle mentality, Brando has adapted it:

"I'm still hustling in a different way. Now I just get up a little bit earlier. I'm up at sort of 5 so I can work before [my son] gets up."

His current daily schedule reflects this commitment to balance:

• Up by 5:30-6:00 AM
• Planning staff tasks and addressing recurring weekly responsibilities
• Two main "project blocks" for focused work on gym or consulting business initiatives
• Finishing work by 3:30 PM to spend time with family

Despite these adjustments, Brando maintains his entrepreneurial drive, focusing on two primary goals:

1. Financial freedom: "To have my house fully offset or bought out right"
2. Time freedom: "Getting to the stage where I'm doing no more than four to five hours of work per day so I can focus on hobbies"

These goals have allowed him to pursue new interests like surfing and flying, both of which he began at age 30—achievements made possible by the foundation he built through years of intense work.

Leadership and Team Development as Keys to Scaling

A crucial element of Brando's success has been his approach to team development. Rather than hoarding knowledge or being afraid to develop his staff, he's embraced the philosophy that helping his team grow accelerates his own business growth.

"If you want your company to grow, help your team grow. That's the fastest way to get there."

This mindset has led him to an innovative business structure where he's begun selling shares in individual gym locations to his managers:

"I've started selling my shares down in the gyms themselves to the managers, so the manager now is starting to own the individual gyms, and I just own the brand. So we've almost gone for like a license model, which has been really cool for me and really cool for them because now they've got something to work towards."

One of his favorite quotes, from Jack Dooley, captures this philosophy perfectly:

"Someone said, 'I want to train my team, but every time I train them, they end up leaving me, and I feel like they're going to take all my trade secrets.' And Jack was like, 'Well, you know what if you train them and they leave, but what if you don't train them and they stay?'"

This approach to leadership—empowering team members rather than limiting them out of fear—has been instrumental in Brando's ability to scale his business while maintaining quality and freeing up his own time.

Conclusion: Lessons from Brando's Journey

Brando Hasick's journey from sleeping on an air mattress in a gym loft to owning multiple successful fitness facilities offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs at any stage:

1. Start with what you have: Beginning with just a backyard setup, Brando built the foundation of his business before seeking a commercial location.
2. Invest in knowledge: Despite limited funds, Brando prioritized learning marketing skills that would help him grow his business, negotiating terms when necessary.
3. Learn from failure: Rather than being defeated by his first failed expansion, Brando used it as a learning opportunity to improve his approach.
4. Innovate during challenges: The COVID-19 equipment leasing program demonstrates how creative thinking can turn potential disasters into opportunities.
5. Develop your team: By focusing on helping his staff grow rather than limiting them, Brando created a path to scale his business while reducing his own workload.
6. Adapt your hustle: Rather than abandoning high performance when family entered the picture, Brando adapted his schedule to maintain productivity while being present for his family.

Perhaps most importantly, Brando's story embodies the power of mindset in entrepreneurial success:

"Your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, and your actions become your destiny... If a kid from out west of Sydney that didn't really have too much going for him can do it, like there's definitely things you can do... Find the right people, put yourself in the right environment, and if you got enough hustle and bite in you, then you'll probably get there."