The Mentor with Mark Bouris (REVISIT) The Yard Gym Story: Dan Bova on building a Fitness Franchise powerhouse
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Jan 19, 2026 Dan Bova, co-founder of The Yard Gym and a fitness franchise leader, shares his inspiring journey from backyard training to building a franchise powerhouse. He discusses his early influences, including his passion for coaching and hybrid workouts. Dan relives his experiences with F45, the pivotal decision to focus on strength training, and the rapid growth of The Yard, now with goals to expand globally. He also highlights innovative programs like RIG and TURF, while offering candid advice on franchising pitfalls and the importance of selecting the right partners.
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Backyard Bootcamp Beginnings
- Dan started training friends in his mum and dad's front yard and built sessions that attracted 40–50 people three nights a week.
- That grassroots community origin inspired The Yard name and taught him the value of group atmosphere.
F45 Franchise Experience
- Dan bought his first F45 in 2012 and eventually owned three studios over eight years, learning how to build community and run a business.
- That franchise experience directly informed the support and systems he later built for The Yard.
Programming Shift To Strength
- Dan used himself as the programming guinea pig and observed training trends moving toward strength and conditioning.
- That insight drove The Yard's shift away from pure HIIT toward a strength-focused curriculum.