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Franchising

Thinking about franchising a fitness business, or joining one? These conversations explore what happens between running a successful location and supporting a wider network. Will Bartholomew revisits D1’s expansion, including the challenge of building processes that work without the founder nearby. James Hurlock discusses preparing infrastructure before selling franchises and weighing studio layouts, property choices, and lease commitments. Rick Mayo explains why Alloy sought a private equity partner and what additional financial expertise and resources could mean for its next stage. Along the way, the discussions ask how operators can test a model, support franchisees, and distinguish awarded territories from open locations. It is a practical starting point for considering the responsibilities, tradeoffs, and questions behind growth in these businesses.

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Latest conversations

Jim Donnelly - The Rise of Humanaut Health64 min

longevity

Jim Donnelly - The Rise of Humanaut Health

Jim Donnelly

Todd Durkin - "True Strength" & Impact X Fitness52 min

operators

Todd Durkin - "True Strength" & Impact X Fitness

Todd Durkin

Jim Crowell - 2023: The Year in Review46 min

capital

Jim Crowell - 2023: The Year in Review

Jim Crowell

Rick Mayo - Alloy Personal Training & A Simple Brand Promise52 min

operators

Rick Mayo - Alloy Personal Training & A Simple Brand Promise

Rick Mayo

Kory Angelin - The DRIPBar & A Great Customer Experience50 min

operators

Kory Angelin - The DRIPBar & A Great Customer Experience

Kory Angelin

Tom Dowd - The Future of F4552 min

operators

Tom Dowd - The Future of F45

Tom Dowd

Mike Taylor - BeaverFit & Bespoke Training Solutions46 min

capital

Mike Taylor - BeaverFit & Bespoke Training Solutions

Mike Taylor

Eric Casaburi - Serotonin Centers & The Anti-aging Industry48 min

operators

Eric Casaburi - Serotonin Centers & The Anti-aging Industry

Eric Casaburi

Jim Donnelly - Restore Hyper Wellness53 min

operators

Jim Donnelly - Restore Hyper Wellness

Jim Donnelly

Mark Fisher - The Unicorn Buys An Alloy Franchise48 min

operators

Mark Fisher - The Unicorn Buys An Alloy Franchise

Mark Fisher

Bryce Henson - Fit Body Bootcamp & Lessons In Leadership44 min

operators

Bryce Henson - Fit Body Bootcamp & Lessons In Leadership

Bryce Henson

Brandon Cullen - MADabolic & The Vast Effects of Decision Fatigue63 min

operators

Brandon Cullen - MADabolic & The Vast Effects of Decision Fatigue

Brandon Cullen

Ramon Castillon - Row House & Seeing The Opportunity in 202249 min

operators

Ramon Castillon - Row House & Seeing The Opportunity in 2022

Ramon Castillon

Jeff Stokes - Stride Franchise & The Wellness Economy55 min

operators

Jeff Stokes - Stride Franchise & The Wellness Economy

Jeff Stokes

Rick Mayo - The Great Resignation & It's Effects on Fitness51 min

operators

Rick Mayo - The Great Resignation & It's Effects on Fitness

Rick Mayo

Lindsay Junk - YogaSix & Innovation In Yoga50 min

operators

Lindsay Junk - YogaSix & Innovation In Yoga

Lindsay Junk

Rick Mayo - Finding Your Place In The New Wellness Ecosystem45 min

operators

Rick Mayo - Finding Your Place In The New Wellness Ecosystem

Rick Mayo

Andy Peat: Attention On Data-Driven Retention43 min

operators

Andy Peat: Attention On Data-Driven Retention

Andy Peat

Fitness Industry Review 2020 - Jim Crowell51 min

capital

Fitness Industry Review 2020 - Jim Crowell

"54D" - Emerging From Latin Markets to The Global Stage - Omar Yunes43 min

operators

"54D" - Emerging From Latin Markets to The Global Stage - Omar Yunes

Shifts in Leadership and the "New Normal" - Adam Zeitsiff23 min

operators

Shifts in Leadership and the "New Normal" - Adam Zeitsiff

Systems are Saviors - Travis Barnes56 min

operators

Systems are Saviors - Travis Barnes

Travis Barnes

Choosing The Right Business Coach - Pat Rigsby63 min

operators

Choosing The Right Business Coach - Pat Rigsby

Micro Franchising - Mark Norton59 min

operators

Micro Franchising - Mark Norton

Mark Norton

Voices in the conversation

From the conversations

What advice did Will Bartholomew receive before scaling D1?

“He said, Never start scaling anything until you've scaled it yourself.”

Will Bartholomew - From Peyton Manning's Teammate to D1 Training Founder · 9:16 ↗

How does James Hurlock describe preparing the business before offering franchises?

“We've built this plane, we've put in every possible layer of infrastructure we can in the most sustainable way. And only now, 12 months later, are we actually going out to franchise?”

James Hurlock (Fitura Brands Founder & CEO) on Scaling Padel and Pilates Franchises · 0:00 ↗

What financial expertise gap did Rick Mayo identify as Alloy prepared to grow?

“I think for us, maybe the biggest gap was the only way I know how to describe it would be strategic finance. So examples would be just financing growth and understanding how to be ahead of it a little bit.”

Rick Mayo - No Pressure, Just Strategy: Why Alloy Took a PE Partner After 30 Years · 24:55 ↗

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