How a New Gym Owner Built a Risk Management Strategy With Cleary Insurance
Ray Peleckas spent years working in the fitness industry before starting bodyburn by Ray. He understood the market from the inside: the operations, the competition, and the risks. Opening a gym means navigating general liability for member injuries, workers’ compensation for staff, and commercial auto for company vehicles. And it means doing all of that while also running a business that has to stand out on the quality of its service.
Ray found that the same principle that makes bodyburn successful — taking the time to really understand each person’s specific situation — is exactly how Cleary Insurance operates.
“There’s a ton of gyms out there. I should know, I worked at a bunch of them. I actually came up with the idea for bodyburn while I was still employed at one. So I knew opening another gym was a big risk. But I also knew what all those other gyms were missing that would make this risk worthwhile: great customer service. We pride ourselves on taking the time to get to know our clients so we can help them achieve their specific goals. And that’s exactly what Cleary Insurance does for us, to help mitigate that risk. They helped me figure out my liability, workers comp, even helped me lease company vehicles. Cleary isn’t just my insurance agency, they’re my business partner.”
The Challenge: Starting a Gym in a Crowded Market
Fitness studios carry risks that require careful coverage design. General liability is the obvious starting point — member injuries happen, and a gym without proper liability coverage is exposed. But workers’ compensation for instructors, commercial auto for company vehicles, and business property coverage are all part of a complete risk picture for a studio like bodyburn.
When Ray started bodyburn, he needed a broker who could help him think through that picture strategically, not just hand him a standard policy and move on. Cleary did the work to understand the business and build coverage that fit it.
What a Business Partner Looks Like
The distinction Ray draws — between an insurance agency and a business partner — comes down to ongoing engagement. A vendor sells you a policy and renews it annually. A partner understands how your business works, notices when your coverage needs to change, and is reachable when questions come up.
For bodyburn by Ray, Cleary has been the latter. Helping navigate liability limits, handling workers’ comp for a growing team of instructors, sorting out commercial auto coverage for leased vehicles — the relationship has extended well beyond a renewal conversation. That’s what we mean when we say we become part of how you run your business.