Introduction
Meet Jose Perez, founder and owner of Barbell Effect, a Phoenix-based private personal training facility built around personalized coaching, community, and long-term results. Inspired by his own fitness journey, Jose created a space where people of all fitness levels can feel supported, encouraged, and empowered through individualized training in a welcoming environment.

Learn more & support at www.barbelleffect.com

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1. Where is your business based?
Phoenix, Arizona

2. What does your business do, and who do you serve?
Barbell Effect is a private personal training facility in Phoenix that offers personalized one-on-one coaching, group training, youth fitness, and specialized programs designed to help individuals at any fitness level reach their goals. We serve people looking for a supportive, community-driven training experience in a private gym setting.

3. When did you launch your business?
August 2016

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The Entrepreneurial Journey

4. What’s the origin story of your business? What inspired you to start it, or what problem did you see that needed solving?
I started Barbell Effect after my own personal fitness journey highlighted a gap in the industry. As a teenager, I realized I was overweight and making unhealthy choices, but health and fitness were not emphasized or supported in my environment. When I eventually hired a personal trainer, I saw firsthand how much personalized coaching mattered.

Commercial gyms felt impersonal and unwelcoming. Staff were disengaged, trainers lacked connection, and there was no real sense of community. I wanted to create a space where people felt supported, encouraged, and seen, while receiving training tailored specifically to their needs.

In 2016, I founded Barbell Effect as a personal training-only gym built around results, relationships, and community.

5. What are you most proud of in your entrepreneurial journey so far?
I’m most proud of the longevity and impact we’ve built. I’m entering my 10th year of training, our facility has thrived consistently for the past five years, and each year we’ve expanded our reach to help more people in our community. Seeing the lasting physical and mental impact our team has made on so many lives over the years is incredibly rewarding.

6. What has surprised you most about being an entrepreneur?
The biggest surprise has been how much adaptability the role requires. You’re constantly problem-solving, adjusting, and pivoting, and the financial demands are often higher than expected, even with careful cost management.

7. What has been the most challenging part of running your business—and what has it taught you?
The most challenging part has been learning to let others help. Trusting people to handle responsibilities to the same standard I hold myself to hasn’t always come easily, which at times led me to take on too much. That experience has taught me that sustainable growth requires investing in the right people, processes, and tools, and that building momentum is faster and stronger when you don’t do it alone.

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State Forty Eight Foundation & What’s Next

8. What have you gained—or what do you hope to gain—from being part of the State Forty Eight Foundation community?
I hope to gain deeper insight into how to build meaningful connections, collaborate with other local entrepreneurs, and find impactful ways to give back to the community I serve. Being part of the State Forty Eight Foundation community feels like an opportunity to grow alongside others who value purpose-driven business.

9. How are the grant funds supporting your business?
While we haven’t finalized allocation yet, we intend to use the grant funds to upgrade equipment and strengthen our systems, including client tracking, progress monitoring, and sales processes, so we can continue to grow sustainably and serve our community well.

10. Where do you hope to take your business next?
Our goal is to expand into a larger facility by 2027 that can accommodate triple our current membership while bringing on more high-quality trainers. We also plan to expand our services to include Pilates and athletic coaching to better serve a wider range of clients.

11. What does it mean to you to be an Arizona business owner?
Being an Arizona business owner means resilience and adaptability. It means building something from the ground up in a fast-growing, competitive environment while staying grounded in community and values. Arizona’s growth has shaped my mindset as a business owner and continually pushes me to evolve and raise the standard.

It’s also deeply personal. I’ve built this business less than half a mile from where I was raised and lived most of my life. Having the opportunity to give back to the community that shaped me and to create a space where people can prioritize their health, especially in ways that weren’t available to me growing up, is incredibly meaningful.

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