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How Big Tex Gym Grew From a $5K Buyout to $785K and Turned Down an $80K Deal

Rob Impastato explains how he and his wife bought a bankrupt Austin gym, grew it to 1,200 members, and why he declined Nathan's $80K offer for a cheaper bank loan.

Rob Impastato · Big Tex Gym

Published September 16, 2026
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What you’ll learn

Rob Impastato, owner of Big Tex Gym in North Austin, explains how he and his wife bought the bankrupt gym with about $5K on a credit card and grew it to roughly 1,200 members and about $785K in revenue last year. Nathan Latka offers $80K of funding for ads and equipment, but Rob passes in favor of cheaper bank financing.

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Buying the gym for about $5K

“We talked the landlord into not liquidating the equipment and we paid them off. We took out a small credit card for about 5 ks, if I'm being honest.”
Watch at 02:10

From zero paying members to 300

“Within about three to six months, we had grown another 100 members. And by the end of the year, we were sitting at about 300 members.”
Watch at 04:19

Losing 75% of members in COVID

“after COVID, we dropped. We lost 75% of our memberships.”
Watch at 14:54

Test organic before paying for ads

“I take several videos and I try to shoot a certain style without any paid marketing and I see how well they do. And then from there, I'm like, okay, well that's what I need to stick with.”
Watch at 12:39

Why a bank loan beat the offer

“If we were to do like SBA or something like that for, let's just say like a 100 K, I think it's like a 7% interest or something like that.”
Watch at 19:17

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About the speaker

Rob Impastato

Owner · Big Tex Gym

Company revenue
$785K

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