10 Automations Every Gym Should Run By Monday: The Prompt Playbook by Dave Dunham
THE PROMPT PLAYBOOK

10 Automations
Every Gym Should
Run By Monday

Ready-to-paste Claude prompts for the 10 automations that actually run your business while you sleep. Copy. Paste. Build one this weekend.

"Stop using AI to make pictures.
Start using it to run your business."

How to use
this playbook

Most gym owners are using AI to make prettier carousels and fancier webpages. That's a graphic designer with a faster turnaround. Not AI.

Real AI runs the back end of your business. Triages leads. Recovers failed payments. Flags at-risk members. Drafts your weekly scoreboard. Every prompt below is built to do that.

1
Open Claude
Go to claude.ai and start a new chat. Free tier handles most of these. Pro ($20/mo) if you'll run them daily.
2
Copy & Paste
Hit the copy button on any prompt. Paste into Claude. Replace anything in [brackets] with your gym's real data.
3
Run & Refine
Most prompts get sharper after 2-3 rounds with your real inputs. Once dialed, save it as a Claude Project.
POWER MOVE

Build a Claude Project for each automation. Drop in your gym's brand voice, offer details, KPI targets, and member personas once. Every chat inside starts with your full context loaded. This is the difference between hobby AI use and operator AI use.

AUTOMATION #1

Daily Lead Triage

Every overnight lead sorted, scored, and a first-touch message drafted before 6am. No lead waits more than 12 hours for a real response.

THE PROMPT: COPY & PASTE INTO CLAUDE
You are my lead triage assistant for [GYM NAME], a [TYPE OF GYM, e.g., semi-private personal training studio] in [CITY]. Our average client value is [$X/month] and we target [IDEAL CLIENT DESCRIPTION]. I will paste new leads below. For each lead, output: 1. Lead Score: HOT / WARM / COLD (based on source, urgency words, specificity of inquiry) 2. Recommended First Action: CALL NOW / SMS / EMAIL / NURTURE 3. A 1-2 sentence first-touch message in a warm, professional tone. Never pushy. Reference any specific detail they shared. 4. Recommended follow-up timing if no response Format your output as a clean table I can scan in 30 seconds. Lead data: [PASTE LEADS HERE - name, source, contact info, any message they sent]
HOW TO USE IT
  1. Export overnight leads from your CRM each morning
  2. Paste them under "Lead data" in the prompt
  3. Claude returns scored list with draft messages
  4. Send the hot ones first, queue the rest
HOW TO SET IT UP
Frequency
Daily, 6:00 AM
Source
CRM lead export (CSV or copy-paste)
Owner
Sales lead or GM
Output
Triage list pasted to team Slack/SMS
Pro tip
Save as Claude Project with offer + ICP loaded
AUTOMATION #2

No-Show Recovery

Missed consultation triggers a same-day reschedule sequence. SMS, email, and coach task. No prospect dies in silence.

THE PROMPT: COPY & PASTE INTO CLAUDE
You are my no-show recovery coordinator for [GYM NAME]. A prospect just missed their scheduled consultation. Draft same-day outreach in 3 parts. Prospect info: - Name: [NAME] - Missed appointment: [DATE/TIME] - Lead source: [FB AD / REFERRAL / GOOGLE / etc.] - Reschedule link: [YOUR BOOKING LINK] Output: 1. SMS (under 160 characters): friendly, zero guilt, includes reschedule link. Make it easy. 2. Email (5 sentences max): empathetic opener, offer 3 specific reschedule windows, reschedule link, sign off warm. 3. Internal coach task: 1-line note for personal follow-up call within 24 hours, with what to say. Tone: warm, professional, never desperate. They missed, not failed. Make it easy to come back.
HOW TO USE IT
  1. Trigger fires the moment a no-show is logged
  2. Fill in prospect info, run the prompt
  3. Send SMS within 15 minutes of no-show
  4. Send email 2 hours later, assign coach task
HOW TO SET IT UP
Frequency
Triggered by missed appointment
Source
Booking software (GHL, Calendly)
Owner
Sales coordinator or owner
Output
SMS sent, email queued, coach task created
Pro tip
Pair with GHL workflow for full automation
AUTOMATION #3

Failed Payment Recovery

Declined card triggers a 4-step recovery sequence before the member ghosts you. Saves $3-5K per month in most gyms.

THE PROMPT: COPY & PASTE INTO CLAUDE
You are my payment recovery sequence writer for [GYM NAME]. A membership payment just declined. Draft a 4-step recovery sequence that assumes the best (expired card, bank glitch) and makes updating payment frictionless. Member info: - Name: [NAME] - Membership tier: [TIER NAME] - Months active: [#] - Payment update link: [LINK] Output: - Day 0: SMS with update link (under 160 chars, friendly) - Day 2: Email with link, address common reasons (expired card, new bank), 5 sentences max - Day 4: Coach call script with 3 talking points and 2 likely responses - Day 7: Personal voice note script from owner, 60 seconds max, voicemail-friendly Tone: warm, never accusatory. They're a member, not a problem. The goal is to make it embarrassing-free for them to fix.
HOW TO USE IT
  1. Decline notification triggers the workflow
  2. Pull member data, run the prompt
  3. Schedule SMS, email, and coach task by day
  4. Owner records voice note if Day 4 fails
HOW TO SET IT UP
Frequency
Triggered by decline event
Source
Stripe / GHL / Mindbody / MyTime
Owner
Retention coordinator
Output
4 messages scheduled across 7 days
Pro tip
Track save rate by day to find your sweet spot
AUTOMATION #4

Weekly KPI Scoreboard

Sunday 8pm. Raw numbers in, scoreboard out. Red/yellow/green status on the 5 metrics that run your gym. Ready for Monday huddle.

THE PROMPT: COPY & PASTE INTO CLAUDE
You are my weekly business scoreboard analyst for [GYM NAME]. Build a clean scoreboard from the numbers I paste below. Output: 1. Each of 5 KPIs (CAC, Churn Rate, Sales Conversion, Average Client Value, LTV) with this week's number vs target 2. RED / YELLOW / GREEN status for each 3. ONE focus area for next week based on the data 4. A 2-sentence executive summary I can paste into my Monday huddle doc Targets: - CAC: under [$X] - Churn: under [X]% - Sales Conversion: above [X]% - ACV: above [$X]/month - LTV: above [$X] This week's raw numbers: - New members: [#] - Lost members: [#] - Total ad spend: [$] - Total leads: [#] - Consultations booked / completed: [#] / [#] - New sales: [#] - Total revenue: [$] - Active members start / end of week: [#] / [#] - Avg membership price: [$] - Avg member lifespan in months: [#]
HOW TO USE IT
  1. Pull weekly numbers Sunday afternoon
  2. Paste into prompt, run it
  3. Drop scoreboard into your team doc
  4. Open Monday huddle with the focus area
HOW TO SET IT UP
Frequency
Weekly, Sunday 8:00 PM
Source
CRM + booking + payment processor
Owner
Owner or operations lead
Output
Scoreboard ready for Monday huddle
Pro tip
Save targets in a Claude Project so you don't repaste
AUTOMATION #5

At-Risk Member Alert

7+ days without a check-in triggers a coach task. Catch churn before it shows up in the numbers and the cancel request hits.

THE PROMPT: COPY & PASTE INTO CLAUDE
You are my member retention analyst for [GYM NAME]. I'll paste member check-in data below. Identify at-risk members and output a coach task list with draft outreach messages. Threshold rules: - 7-9 days inactive: friendly text check-in - 10-13 days inactive: phone call from coach - 14+ days inactive: in-person outreach + save offer ready For each at-risk member, output: 1. Name + last visit date + days inactive 2. Recommended action (text / call / in-person) 3. A draft outreach message (warm, curious, not guilt-trippy). Reference their goal or last workout if I provided it. 4. Priority order for the coach: most urgent first Member data: [PASTE: name, last visit date, days inactive, coach assigned, goal if known] Tone: "we miss you" not "where have you been". Make them feel seen, not judged.
HOW TO USE IT
  1. Pull attendance report from your check-in system
  2. Filter members with 7+ days inactive
  3. Run prompt with the at-risk list
  4. Assign tasks to coaches the same morning
HOW TO SET IT UP
Frequency
Daily or every other day
Source
Check-in system (Mindbody, MyTime, Wodify)
Owner
Retention lead or head coach
Output
Coach task list with messages ready to send
Pro tip
Tie save rate to coach scorecards monthly
AUTOMATION #6

Cancellation Save Flow

Cancel request triggers a 4-step save sequence with pause options, coach call script, downgrade offer, and exit survey. 31% save rate vs 12% industry average.

THE PROMPT: COPY & PASTE INTO CLAUDE
You are my member retention specialist for [GYM NAME]. A member just submitted a cancellation request. Draft the 4-step save sequence. Member info: - Name: [NAME] - Cancel reason given: [REASON, e.g., budget / time / moved / injury / other] - Months active: [#] - Membership tier: [TIER] - Average attendance: [#/week] Output: 1. Pause option email: offer 1-3 month pause as alternative. 5 sentences max. 2. Coach save call script: 5 discovery questions, 3 likely objections with response framework 3. Downgrade offer (only if budget is the cause): one tier down with specific value swap 4. Exit survey: 4 questions max, optimized for honest feedback, easy to complete Tone: respect their decision. Zero guilt. Make it easy to stay if anything in their life changes, but never beg.
HOW TO USE IT
  1. Cancel request triggers workflow
  2. Run prompt with member info
  3. Coach uses script within 24 hours
  4. If lost, exit survey goes out automatically
HOW TO SET IT UP
Frequency
Triggered by cancel request
Source
Cancel form / member portal
Owner
Owner or retention lead
Output
Save sequence + survey data captured
Pro tip
Review exit survey data monthly for patterns
AUTOMATION #7

Daily Sales Huddle Brief

Yesterday's calls. Today's pipeline. Stuck deals. Coaching focus. Ready before your team walks in. Sales team huddles on real numbers, not feelings.

THE PROMPT: COPY & PASTE INTO CLAUDE
You are my sales team huddle prep assistant for [GYM NAME]. Output a 1-page brief my team reviews before our morning huddle. Scannable in 60 seconds. No fluff. Yesterday's data: - Calls made: [#] - Sets booked: [#] - Closes: [#] - Revenue: [$] - Notes from each rep: [PASTE EACH REP'S NOTES] Today's pipeline: [PASTE: prospect name, deal stage, deal size, last activity, next action] Output: 1. Yesterday's scoreboard: calls / sets / closes / revenue 2. Top 3 priorities for today (name, deal size, status, next action) 3. Stuck deals: 1-line on each + recommended next action 4. ONE rep coaching focus for today, based on yesterday's data 5. Daily goal: specific # of closes and revenue target Format: clean headings, scannable. Avoid corporate language.
HOW TO USE IT
  1. Pull yesterday's call data each evening or morning
  2. Paste rep notes and today's pipeline
  3. Run prompt, paste output into team channel
  4. Open huddle by reading the brief together
HOW TO SET IT UP
Frequency
Daily, Mon-Sat 7:00 AM
Source
CRM pipeline + rep daily report
Owner
Sales manager or owner
Output
1-page brief in Slack or huddle doc
Pro tip
Track which days the brief drives more closes
AUTOMATION #8

New Member Onboarding

Day 1, 7, 14, 30 touchpoints automated. Members feel seen from day one without you lifting a finger. 90-day retention up 22%.

THE PROMPT: COPY & PASTE INTO CLAUDE
You are my new member onboarding coordinator for [GYM NAME]. Draft a 4-touchpoint onboarding sequence for a new member. Personalize to their stated goal. Member info: - Name: [NAME] - Stated goal: [their primary goal] - Membership tier: [TIER] - Assigned coach: [COACH NAME] Output 4 touchpoints: 1. Day 1: Welcome message (SMS + email). What to expect at first session. What to bring. Coach intro. Excitement, not info-dump. 2. Day 7: Check-in form with 3 specific questions tied to their goal. Trigger a coach call task. 3. Day 14: Progress photo prompt + nutrition guide delivery. Frame as a milestone marker, not homework. 4. Day 30: Milestone celebration referencing their goal. If they've shown progress, ask for a 5-star review with one-tap link. Tone: encouraging, specific to their goal, never generic. They should feel like the only member you have.
HOW TO USE IT
  1. New member signs up, info goes in
  2. Run prompt once at signup
  3. Schedule all 4 touchpoints in your CRM
  4. Coach gets task notification each touchpoint
HOW TO SET IT UP
Frequency
Per new member, runs 30 days
Source
New member intake form
Owner
Onboarding coordinator or head coach
Output
4 touchpoints scheduled across 30 days
Pro tip
Add milestone photo share post Day 30
AUTOMATION #9

Google Review Request

Asks at the right moment. After a win, a milestone, or 90 days in. Personalized so it never feels templated. 4x review volume with zero manual asks.

THE PROMPT: COPY & PASTE INTO CLAUDE
You are my Google review request writer for [GYM NAME]. Draft a personalized review request SMS based on the trigger that fired. Member info: - Name: [NAME] - Trigger fired: [90 days active / PR or milestone logged / referral made] - Specific detail: [PR weight, referral name, milestone description] - Coach: [COACH NAME] - Google review link: [YOUR ONE-TAP LINK] The SMS must: 1. Reference the specific moment by name or number (the actual PR, the referral, the milestone) 2. Sound like the coach wrote it personally, not a template 3. Include the one-tap review link 4. Stay under 280 characters 5. Treat the ask like it's been earned, not like it's transactional Output: 1 SMS, ready to send. Tone: genuine. Like a coach who genuinely cares, asking a favor. Never sales-y.
HOW TO USE IT
  1. Trigger fires (PR logged, 90 days, referral)
  2. Pull member context into prompt
  3. Run it, coach reviews the message
  4. Send via SMS from coach's number
HOW TO SET IT UP
Frequency
Triggered by member events
Source
CRM events + workout tracker
Owner
Assigned coach
Output
Personalized SMS, sent by coach
Pro tip
Coach sends it, not gym number. Personal hits harder.
AUTOMATION #10

Weekly Content Repurpose

One client win story becomes 8 platform-specific posts. Your content calendar fills itself every Sunday at 4pm.

THE PROMPT: COPY & PASTE INTO CLAUDE
You are my content repurpose engine for [GYM NAME]. Turn the client win story below into 8 platform-specific posts. Brand voice: direct, operator-mindset, no fluff. Never use em dashes. Never sound generic. Tone is honest and grounded. Story input: - Client name: [NAME or initials] - Transformation: [before / after specifics] - Time frame: [X weeks/months] - Specific results: [lbs lost, lbs gained, lifts increased, etc.] - What they say worked: [direct quote or key insight] Output 8 posts: 1. Instagram carousel: 3-slide outline (hook slide, story slide, lesson slide) + full caption 2. Facebook: 2 long-form posts (one story-driven for members, one framed as a lesson for fellow gym owners) 3. TikTok: 2 short video hooks under 15 seconds each (no script, just hooks + concept) 4. Email: 1 client spotlight, 300-400 words, for member newsletter Each post should feel native to the platform. No copy-paste blandness.
HOW TO USE IT
  1. Pick one client win story each Sunday
  2. Get permission and key details
  3. Run prompt, get 8 posts back
  4. Schedule across platforms for the week
HOW TO SET IT UP
Frequency
Weekly, Sunday 4:00 PM
Source
Client wins log or coach reports
Owner
Marketing lead or owner
Output
8 posts ready to schedule
Pro tip
Rotate story types: weight, strength, life, mindset
YOUR NEXT MOVE

Three Ways to
Work With Me.

You now have the prompts. The real lift is installing them inside a business that actually runs them. SOPs, role clarity, the data that feeds them, the team that owns them.

Pick the path that matches where you are right now.

TIER 1 · START HERE

Profit Catalyst App

The operator app that turns your gym numbers into clear next moves. Track your KPIs, get AI-driven recommendations, run your business from one screen.

GET THE APP →
TIER 3 · GO ALL IN

Freedom Formula

Direct coaching for gym owners doing $20K+/month who are ready to stop running the business and start leading it. 28-day cycles, 90-day minimum, invitation reviewed.

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Or follow along for more operator playbooks → @THEDAVEDUNHAM
PROFIT FAVORS THE DECISIVE.