Hidden Gems: Meet Brian Wisely of The Well Fitness, Laguna Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Wisely.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In my early adult years, I was a competitive beach volleyball player and studied fitness training to become the best athlete I could be. Before long, people began asking me to train them, so I earned my Personal Trainer certification and started a career as a fitness professional. Within a couple of years, it became clear that I could make a living doing what I loved. I left my restaurant job and began training clients full-time as an independent contractor.

In 2008, I decided to take the next step and open my own gym. I understood the industry, had built a solid client base, and had saved enough money to get started. I launched a personal training studio in my hometown of Laguna Beach, and business grew quickly. Within a few years, I had hired several trainers, and after five years, we outgrew our original space and moved to a larger location—where we still operate today.

Then came 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which nearly bankrupted my business. It was a difficult time, but eventually, I saw it as an opportunity to reinvent and strengthen what I’d built. I shifted my model to include memberships, and the response was incredible. Today, business is stronger than ever.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Getting my gym open in the first place was no easy task. Navigating the city’s permitting process was a real headache—it’s both difficult and expensive to start a new business, especially when you’re doing it for the first time. Between zoning issues, parking restrictions, and endless paperwork, the process felt overwhelming at times. But eventually, I got the gym open, running, and growing.

Just over five years later, moving to a larger space brought its own set of challenges, but it was the right move, and business continued to thrive. Then came COVID-19, and like so many others, we were forced to shut down. Revenue dropped to zero overnight. I spent my days in an empty gym navigating PPP loans, applying for every grant I could find, and worrying about the future.

Then one day, it hit me—this was my chance to rebuild my business in a smarter, stronger way. I introduced memberships, invested in new equipment, and by late 2022, we had established a steady stream of recurring income. Today, The Well Fitness is performing better than ever, with a supportive community of members and a renewed focus on helping people live stronger, healthier lives.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Well Fitness, Laguna Beach?
The Well Fitness is a small, neighborhood gym with a genuine community feel. Most of our members walk here, and over time, many have become friends—it really feels like a family. We take pride in keeping the gym exceptionally clean and well maintained, and we keep things simple by offering just one type of membership: month-to-month. Our members appreciate that flexibility and the fact that there are no long-term contracts or hidden commitments.

What I’m most proud of, though, is hearing members tell me how much they love the cleanliness, the welcoming atmosphere, and the sense of belonging they feel here. For many, The Well Fitness has become an important part of their daily lives—a place close to home where they can workout among neighbors and friends.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I took a big risk. With income nearly nonexistent, I was offered an SBA Disaster Loan. Despite the uncertainty, I believed the pandemic would eventually end—and that people would want to return to the gym not just for the equipment, but for the sense of community and connection. So, I decided to invest the loan money into upgrading The Well Fitness, purchasing new equipment, and making key improvements throughout the gym.

Taking that risk turned out to be one of the best I’ve made. The investment paid off, and today the gym is thriving. I’m proud to say that The Well Fitness now provides a place where 7 Professional Personal Trainers earn their living and we serve as a welcoming space where neighbors come together to stay healthy and connected. And as a result, I enjoy a steady, healthy income.

Pricing:

• Membership is: $125 per month
• Personal Training Services are priced by each Trainer

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thewelllfit.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jXhNNTgipc