The health of the franchise industry is strong. The franchise industry has grown by 10% over the past decade. That growth is expected to continue as we surge ahead.
It’s undoubtedly an exciting and promising time to enter into a new franchise opportunity and the health and wellness industry specifically holds tremendous potential. The fitness market as a whole is expected to grow by 1.5% according to IBISWorld, with franchise brands growing twice that fast.
But before you get too far into the process, there are a few things to know about owning a fitness franchise.
1. You Must Staff Your Franchise For Success
If you’re inspired to open a fitness franchise, you probably love health and wellness. You might even have worked in the industry before. Still, as much as you love helping people get in shape, you cannot operate as a solopreneur in most fitness franchises. You’ll need a staff to help with the workload.
Finding the right people is essential but can be difficult. For example, if you decide to open a Club Pilates franchise, you’ll need a team of quality pilates instructors to help teach your classes. Or, if you open an Anytime Fitness franchise, you’ll want to ensure you have motivated, enthusiastic, yet humble staff available to your members to answer questions when you’re not available.
2. Be Ready to Work Long Hours
Fitness franchises are not turnkey solutions. You cannot set up shop and then never show up. You’ll need to make yourself available to your clients and members, as well as to your team. This requires that you put in long hours, and may even mean you’ll have to work nights, weekends, or holidays to keep up the momentum in your business.
3. It’s a Competitive Industry
There is a wide range of franchises available in the fitness industry. For kids, there are franchises, such as Skyhawks Sports Camps. On the wellness side of things, there are franchises like Serasana, a yoga, acupuncture, massage, and tea bar franchise. Regardless of how specialized your franchise is, it’s important to remember that you’re competing with the industry as a whole.
Before you open your new business, take a look at the competitive landscape in your area. What other franchises and fitness programs are available? What other classes and programs will your clients have to choose from?
In some cases, you might find strategic business partners that you can align yourself with prior to opening. In other cases, you’ll want to keep a close eye on the competition, so you’re differentiating yourself. Every region is unique and in constant flux, so it’s vital that you analyze yours on a regular basis.
4. Goal-Driven Franchise Owners Do Best
The fitness franchise industry is all about attracting new members and lowering attrition rates. Every month presents a new opportunity to grow, which means you must take a goal-oriented posture to succeed. This often requires you to get creative when it comes to marketing, revisit the people who are representing your new business (see point #1), and dedicate enough resources to spread the word about what you offer in your community. This requires hard work, but if you sprint to your end goal, you’ll increase your chances for tremendous success in this exciting industry.
3, 2, 1, GO!
This is your time. More Americans are looking for ways to get fit. With a fitness franchise, you get the foundation you need to help others look and feel their best. All it takes is the right team, the right work ethic, and the right creative approach.
Susan Guillory is the President of Egg Marketing & Communications, a marketing firm specializing in content writing and social media management. She’s written three business books, including How to Get More Customers With Press Releases, and frequently blogs about small business and marketing on sites including Forbes, AllBusiness, The Marketing Eggspert Blog, and Tweak Your Biz. Follow her on Twitter @eggmarketing.