Sept. 17, 2025

Bootstrapping a NYC Fitness Studio to $200k a Month with Victor Valle

Bootstrapping a NYC Fitness Studio to $200k a Month with Victor Valle
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Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Spotify podcast player icon

Victor Del Valle went from aspiring dentist to MPC bodybuilder to scrappy trainer hustling through the pandemic, literally converting his NYC apartment into a one-on-one gym. Within weeks he was booked 6am–9pm, charging $100/hr and even spinning up daily Zoom classes for eBay employees.

He parlayed that traction into Aesthetic Lab: first a bright, SoHo studio, then a larger TriBeCa flagship. Today he leads a 9-trainer team focused on high-touch personal training, nutrition, and recovery (cold plunge + sauna), powered by 3D body scans and a “results first, vibes high” culture. 

We dig into his leap from employee to owner, the cost/revenue math behind two NYC studios, and the unglamorous ops of hiring, quality control, and delegation.

We cover:

  • How Victor pivoted from biochemistry and dentistry into bodybuilding and fitness
  • Turning a NYC apartment into a 13-clients-a-day business during the pandemic
  • Landing a corporate contract with eBay to train employees virtually
  • Saving cash and bootstrapping his first SoHo studio with a $250K buildout
  • Why he doubled down with a $500K TriBeCa location—without outside investors
  • Hiring and management lessons: from desperate early hires to building a strong team
  • The importance of natural light and location in gym design (never a basement!)
  • Seasonality in NYC fitness and how he plans staffing around it
  • Branding and exposure as the next big hurdle in growing Aesthetic Lab

If you’re interested in opening a fitness studio, this episode is packed with practical lessons on validating demand, budgeting for buildouts, hiring the right team, and staying in control while scaling.

Resources & Links

Opening Soon Links & Resources
→ Signs and furniture for retail stores: https://signsandmirrors.com
→ NYC and Houston’s first self-portrait studio: https://fotolab.studio
→ Follow us on Instagram: @openingsoonpodcast
→ More episodes and guest info: https://www.openingsoonpodcast.com
→ Your Host Alan Li: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-li-711a8629/