From Garage Side Hustle to Scalable Studio: How Mindbody Powers DDunc Athletics

For Deris Duncan, fitness has never just been about workouts—it's about vision, systems, and building something bigger than himself.

After nearly a decade with OrangeTheory Fitness, rising from coach to regional head coach overseeing six studios across the Austin market, Deris took a leap that would change his career, and his family's future, forever.

Today, he's the founder of DDunc Athletics, a rapidly growing strength and performance studio in the Austin area, built on the same operational discipline and systems mindset that powered one of the largest boutique fitness brands in the world.

And at the center of it all? Mindbody.

Learning the power of systems with Mindbody

Deris's journey with Mindbody began long before DDunc Athletics ever existed.

At OrangeTheory, Deris worked his way up through the ranks: first as a coach, then head coach, senior head coach, and eventually regional head coach. In that role, he managed five to six studios, coached classes, mentored head coaches, and analyzed performance across locations.

"My day-to-day was split between coaching and managing," Deris explains. "I'd visit a different studio each day, sit down with head coaches, and use Mindbody reports to understand what was actually happening in the business."

By leveraging Analytics 2.0's attendance reports, sales-by-service data, and scheduling sales reports, Deris gained a clearer, more comprehensive view of business performance, allowing him to evaluate:

• If a class was underperforming because of the time slot, or the coach?
• Were early-morning classes better suited for suburban locations or downtown studios?
• Which instructors were consistently driving higher attendance?

"Mindbody gave me a helicopter view of the business," he says. "Without that data, you're just guessing." That same visibility powered payroll and studio compensation, automatically adjusting coach pay based on attendance tiers, a performance-driven system that kept operations efficient. "Everything needs to be systemized," Deris adds. "Systems make businesses run smoothly—and Mindbody provides that system."

When one door closed, another opened

Deris's turning point came when the Westlake Orangetheory studio he helped build into one of Austin's top performers was forced to close due to a leasing issue. The closure displaced a loyal membership base and left uncertainty in its wake. But it also created an unexpected opportunity. Members immediately began reaching out, eager to continue training with him.

He began training clients out of his 500-square-foot garage while continuing to coach at another Orangetheory location. What started as a temporary solution quickly gained traction as word-of-mouth referrals increased. Client demand grew steadily, validating that there was an appetite for something more personal and performance-driven. The side hustle was evolving into a viable business. "I saw the momentum," he shares. "I realized I could replace my income faster than I thought."

From a 500-square-foot garage to a full-scale studio

Despite the risk—supporting two kids, carrying a new mortgage, and operating without guarantees—Deris decided to fully commit to DDunc Athletics. When he officially left Orangetheory, he had 20–25 clients. Within a year, that number grew to 60, all training in his garage. The sustained growth made it clear that expansion was the logical next step.

That opportunity came in the form of a 3,400-square-foot former bank-turned-storage facility in Tarrytown. Where others may have seen a renovation project, Deris saw potential. He could clearly picture the layout, the energy, and the community it could support.

"I could envision the gym before it existed," he says. "I always think in terms of what something can become."

Why DDunc Athletics chose Mindbody

Initially, Deris used Square to process payments for DDunc Athletics, a practical choice. But as the business grew, the limitations of Square became clear. "Square wasn't built for what I wanted to do," he says. "Class scheduling, capacity management, scaling...it just wasn't there."

In December, DDunc Athletics officially transitioned to Mindbody. Deris cites that key advantages of Mindbody included:

• Advanced class scheduling tailored to group training
• Capacity management across multiple zones and coaches
• Scalable systems designed for growth
• Integrated reporting and payroll support

"I always knew I'd come back to Mindbody after using it at OrangeTheory," Deris says. "The software is built for businesses that want to scale."

Built to scale from day one

DDunc Athletics operates on a unique multi-zone training model, with multiple groups and coaches running simultaneously, and Deris is excited to continue to grow the brand.

"As we scale, the business can't depend on me," Deris explains. "It has to run on systems."

That's where Mindbody plays a critical role.

"If I want five, ten, or even 100 locations one day, Mindbody can support that," he says. "Without Mindbody, that scale doesn't happen."

Advice for aspiring studio owners

Deris's advice for fitness professionals considering going independent is straightforward: take action before you feel fully ready. "Take the first step. Just do it," he says. "You don't need everything figured out. You learn as you go." For him, clarity didn't come from endless planning—it came from execution. Momentum builds through experience, and the operational details become clearer once you're in motion.

When it comes to choosing the right software to support that growth, he's equally direct. "Anybody running a business with classes or appointments, especially if they have big aspirations, should use Mindbody," he says. "If you think big, go Mindbody." In his view, scalable systems aren't just helpful—they're foundational. The right platform doesn't just manage the day-to-day; it creates the infrastructure needed to grow with confidence.