In 2010, Austen Tanner and Eddie Zhang, founders of Training Grounds, were looking to improve their health while gaining muscle mass. After joining countless gyms and integrating countless workouts all over Columbus, they hadn’t achieved their desired results. Enter Brandon, their trainer and expert on nutrition, form, technique and strategy.

When Brandon went independent, the clientele followed. From garages to church weight-rooms, every proper facility wanted either 40% of total revenue or a long-term lease. Austen and Eddie saw the opportunity to build a better gym, a facility where trainers could run their own business without the percentages, without the risk, but with all of the perks of ownership.